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Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Pitt’s spring player draft canceled as Pat Narduzzi seeks better matchups for Blue-Gold game
Pat Narduzzi likes the camaraderie and bonding created when his seniors draft players onto teams for Pitt’s annual Blue-Gold Spring Game. But for the first time in nine seasons, Narduzzi has canceled the draft in the name of better matchups. “I love the draft. It’s fun to get them in...
‘I know that we can win here’: New Pitt women’s basketball coach Tory Verdi ready to compete in ACC
Tory Verdi officially was introduced as Pitt’s 10th women’s basketball coach Friday afternoon at the Petersen Events Center, and he celebrated his arrival surrounded by family, friends, Panthers players, Pitt’s athletic administration, and other university athletics dignitaries. Verdi said he is ready to hit the ground running and is optimistic...
UMass’ Tory Verdi will be Pitt’s new women’s basketball coach
The University of Pittsburgh will hire UMass’ Tory Verdi as its next women’s basketball coach. The school made the announcement Friday morning. Verdi will bring to Pitt a wealth of experience as a head coach and assistant on the high school, collegiate and WNBA levels. The Minutewomen improved steadily under...
Pat Narduzzi’s day packed tight, even in the spring
Clocks on the South Side barely crossed midday Thursday when Pat Narduzzi walked off the practice field, muttering, “Long day.” Pitt had just completed its 12th of 15 spring practice sessions, and now it was time for Pitt’s ninth-year head coach to speak to several inquiring media members. (No injury...
With Pat Narduzzi pushing him, Pitt LB Bangally Kamara seeks perfection
If Bangally Kamara has discovered anything about spring football — and playing for Pat Narduzzi — it’s that he can always do better than what he shows in practice. With time and patience, Kamara might finally reach a point by the start of the 2023 season that satisfies him and...
Pitt forward Nate Santos enters transfer portal
Pitt sophomore forward Nate Santos, whose playing time diminished toward the end of the basketball season, has entered the NCAA transfer portal. He is the second member of the 2022-23 team to announce plans to transfer. Center John Hugley, who missed all but eight games with a knee injury and...
Pitt gets approval to build $240M arena, sports performance center in Oakland
The University of Pittsburgh’s $240 million plan to build an arena and sports performance center on the Oakland campus earned approval Tuesday from the city’s Planning Commission. Victory Heights will be located near Petersen Events Center on Terrace Street — on the site of the former Pitt Stadium, which was...
Pitt’s Phil Jurkovec ascends to top of QB depth chart — but no guarantees
Pat Narduzzi likes to talk about competition at every position. No one is safe. No one should feel comfortable, especially in April. When Pitt’s coach was asked Tuesday how his quarterbacks are progressing this spring, he curiously turned his attention to the position battle at backup quarterback. By doing so,...
On Sports: Recalling when UConn’s championship coach picked Huskies over Pitt; Penguins start critical 5-game stretch
Dan Hurley proved himself a national championship-caliber coach. Could it have happened in … Pittsburgh? Speaking of Monday’s men’s national title game, it was a tough act to follow in regards to viewership after the women’s game Sunday. Unlike college basketball, the NHL isn’t a single-elimination sport. But the Penguins...
Pitt fires gymnastics coach Samantha Snider after 6 seasons
Pitt gymnastics coach Samantha Snider has been relieved of her duties after six seasons, athletic director Heather Lyke announced Monday. Snider’s teams compiled an overall record of 50-83-1, including 10-15 during the 2023 season that ended Friday when Pitt gymnasts Hallie Copperwheat, Natalia Pawlak and Reyna Garvey competed in the...
Pitt Take 5: With 2 weeks of spring drills remaining, competition continues at several positions
Among Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s main goals for spring drills, the two that stand out are keeping players physically sound through 15 practice sessions and getting the opportunity to conduct at least one scrimmage at Acrisure Stadium. Narduzzi hopes to scrimmage at Acrisure on Saturday, but there’s a lot of...
Pitt’s Blake Hinson named nation’s top college basketball transfer
While Pitt coach Jeff Capel seeks to replace four departing seniors who arrived through the transfer portal, Panthers junior forward Blake Hinson has been named winner of the Riley Wallace Award, presented annually by CollegeInsider.com to the top transfer in Division I college basketball. Hinson helped lead Pitt to a...
Assistant Andre Powell teaches Pitt’s backs that running is only part of their job
In his role as Pitt’s running backs coach, Andre Powell likes to create real-life situations to illustrate what it takes to succeed in college football. Not long ago, he gathered his backs in their meeting room and asked freshman T.J. Harvison to get on the board and draw everyone’s assignment...
2021 ACC champion John Petrishen returned for his 2nd Pitt Pro Day, chasing a dream
At first, Pat Narduzzi wasn’t sure about allowing John Petrishen to work out on Pitt’s Pro Day. That day usually is intended for draft-eligible players from the previous season. Petrishen played outside linebacker to considerable acclaim while helping Pitt win an ACC championship two years ago. But it’s hard to...
Calijah Kancey, Izzy Abanikanda open NFL eyes at Pitt’s Pro Day
Perhaps the two most significant takeaways from Pitt’s Pro Day belong to defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and running back Izzy Abanikanda. First, Kancey: • It’s interesting to listen to what Kancey said to reporters after the NFL came into Pitt’s practice facility Wednesday and measured him. “They thought I was...
Pitt notebook: 14 former Panthers poised to work out Wednesday for NFL scouts
Pitt will welcome scouts, coaches and executives from most, if not all, NFL teams Wednesday for Pro Day at the indoor practice facility it shares with the Pittsburgh Steelers. A total of 13 players from the 2022 team, plus linebacker John Petrishen, whose last season was 2021, will participate in...
Bub Means excited by potential for greater opportunity in Pitt’s aerial game
In football and life, spring is a time for optimism and rebirth. Such was the case Tuesday when wide receiver Bub Means bounced off Pitt’s practice field — outdoors for the first time this year — and displayed large doses of confidence and enthusiasm for the upcoming season. Some examples...
Pitt lands 2nd Pa. offensive lineman, boosts 2024 class rank to No. 9 nationally
Nearly three weeks before the end of spring practice and nine months before signing day, Pitt reached double digits in 2024 verbal commitments Tuesday when prep offensive lineman Adham Abouraya pledged to enroll next year. Coach Pat Narduzzi’s 10-man class is now ranked No. 9 in the nation and tied...
Pitt receives 2 more verbal commitments, boosting 9-man class of ’24 to 12th in nation
Pitt picked up two more commitments Monday when defensive end Zachary Crothers of Hollywood, Fla., joined defensive back Tayshawn Banks of Cincinnati’s Taft High School in the Panthers’ nine-man class of 2024. Both gave coach Pat Narduzzi verbal pledges that they will enroll next year. I just wanted to say...
Pitt gets verbal commitment from Erie Cathedral Prep offensive lineman Jiavani Cooley
Pitt’s recent recruiting surge continued Saturday when coach Pat Narduzzi received a verbal commitment from three-star offensive lineman Jiavani Cooley of Erie Cathedral Prep. 100 % committed @CoachBorbs @CoachDuzzPittFB @Kzovko @graham_wilbert @Pitt_FB @mike_krahe @jbrzezinski12 @snoozie223 @marcus_lewko pic.twitter.com/WMQbP7gRDr— Jiavanioffical (@JiavaniOfficial) March 25, 2023 Cooley (6-foot-6, 265 pounds) is the third member...
Belief led kicker Ben Sauls to become one of the most reliable players on Pitt’s roster
Two years ago, equipped with a scholarship and a strong leg, Ben Sauls could not win Pitt’s kicking job over a walk-on who is no longer on the team. But in the fall of 2022 and now, in the spring of 2023, Sauls is and has been one of the...
‘Near-death’ experience as a child motivates Pitt long snapper Byron Floyd to give back
On a cold December day, a week before Christmas 2011, two young brothers walked outside their grandpap’s house in the tiny town of Waite Hill, Ohio. They planned to toss a football around for a short time before returning to the warmth of the house where they had been watching...
Blake Zubovic, Jake Kradel return for final opportunity on Pitt’s offensive line
Blake Zubovic was honest about the 2022 Pitt football season. “It was a good year,” he said. “Nine wins, you know, it doesn’t happen that often.” But he was sweating inside Pitt’s indoor practice facility Thursday after the fifth day of spring drills for a specific reason. “We felt there...
With new ‘shark’s teeth,’ Pitt defense hopes to thrive under familiar coaching staff
Brandon George called the process of changing the look of Pitt’s defense not unlike what happens when a shark loses a tooth. “Replace it after one falls out,” he said. A shark enjoys lifelong regeneration of its teeth, but a college football team only can hope to be as fortunate...
Pitt moves ahead with $240M plan for new arena, sports performance center
University of Pittsburgh officials Tuesday provided city planners with an overview of their plans for a $240 million arena and sports performance center on the Oakland campus. The proposed Victory Heights facility would be located near Petersen Events Center on Terrace Street, on the site of the former Pitt Stadium,...


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