Meet Kenny Pickett’s Heisman competition
If you paid any attention to what was happening at Heinz Field and inside ACC football stadiums this season, you know about Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. But who are those other three Heisman Trophy finalists? Here’s a closer look: Aidan Hutchinson DE, Michigan, 6-6, 265 Pickett and Hutchinson will be...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans still wound up after win over Ravens; Pitt fans in a snit over Kenny Pickett ‘fake slide’ criticism
With the Steelers playing Thursday night, part of me considered holding “U mad, bro?” until Friday morning. You know, just in case the Steelers lost. As you will soon read, though, between the Kenny Pickett slide debate and the tense Steelers-Ravens game last Sunday, I wasn’t exactly lacking for material....
Pitt hopes confronting Colgate turns into antidote for 2 ‘gut punches’
Imagine getting punched in the stomach. You lose your breath, the pain shoots through your entire body and you fall to your knees. Now, imagine having it happen twice within the same week. By that time, you’re so mad, you want to do something about it. That’s the feeling Pitt...
Pitt volleyball team remains focused as it prepares to host Kansas in Sweet 16
Finals looming, coupled with the pressure of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball tournament, hasn’t worn on Chinaza Ndee. The fifth-year Pitt middle blocker routinely uses meditation to find her emotional center. Meeting with a sports psychologist once a week in addition to her own plan has Ndee focused on the moment....
Mark Whipple accepts OC job at Nebraska; Kenny Pickett ‘undecided’ on playing in Peach Bowl
Add another employer to Mark Whipple’s long coaching resume. A day after leaving Pitt as its most successful offensive coordinator in decades, Whipple was named to the same position at Nebraska on Tuesday, joining Scott Frost’s reconfigured staff. #Pitt QB and #Heisman finalist Kenny Pickett told DP that he's "undecided"...
First Call: John Harbaugh grumbles about officiating after loss to Steelers; Vikings star may try to play Thursday
Wednesday’s “First Call” has some agitation from Baltimore in the wake of the Ravens’ loss at Heinz Field Sunday. The Steelers are working out some special teams players. The Vikings might get a star player back before the Steelers visit Thursday night. There was a little ripple effect from the...
Mark Whipple resigns as Pitt’s offensive coordinator
Pitt offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who helped engineer one of the most prolific scoring units in college football and led quarterback Kenny Pickett through a record-breaking season, resigned Tuesday and will not coach the Panthers in the Peach Bowl. Whipple, 64, is the fourth offensive coordinator to work under coach...
Football rules experts agree: Controversy over Kenny Pickett’s fake slide needs to be addressed ‘effective immediately’
Former NFL referee and current CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore is weighing in on the fake slide controversy surrounding Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. Pickett caused Wake Forest defenders to ease up during an open field run in the first quarter of Saturday’s ACC championship game when it appeared he was...
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett named winner of Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Kenny Pickett ran an offense at Pitt that scored touchdowns at a fast pace. In the ACC championship game, for example, Pitt’s five touchdown drives averaged 80 seconds each. The postseason honors aren’t coming that fast, but he collected two big ones in a span of 15 hours from Monday...
On to NYC: Kenny Pickett named 1 of 4 finalists for Heisman Trophy
There are only 54 miles and a 70-minute car ride between Kenny Pickett’s home in Oakhurst, N.J., and New York City. Which makes it convenient for Pitt’s record-breaking quarterback and his family to attend the 2021 Heisman Trophy ceremony Saturday night. Pickett was invited, along with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson...
7 Pitt players named to Associated Press All-ACC teams
Seven Pitt players, including Offensive Player of the Year Kenny Pickett, were named Monday to The Associated Press’ 2021 All-ACC teams. The teams were chosen by a panel of 14 journalists — one from each conference city — who regularly cover the ACC. Pickett and Jordan Addison were unanimous selections...
Analysis: What if 12-team College Football Playoff was here?
IRVING, Texas — A fun thing to do this season has to been ponder how the College Football Playoff race would have played out if expansion to 12 teams had already happened. The CFP selection committee set the four-team field on Sunday, matching top-seeded Alabama against No. 4 Cincinnati in...
Westmoreland campus clippings: County connections help Pitt to ACC title
Pitt mania is sweeping across the country as the Panthers continue to work their way back to national respectability. The football program’s exploits this season are fitting in with their proud glory days of the past. The ACC champion Panthers have plenty of Westmoreland County connections as they prepare for...
Mark Madden: Kenny Pickett resurrected Pitt football but should not feel obligated to play in Peach Bowl
Hail to Pitt, certainly. But, mostly, hail to Kenny Pickett. The same could be said about the quarterback of most championship teams. That job’s occupant must be a catalyst. Pickett is that, and then some. Even breaking Dan Marino’s passing record pales next to Pickett taking a program that had...
Heather Lyke’s belief in her coach paid off for Pitt in the form of a championship
Before she climbed atop the stage on the field at Bank of America Stadium, Heather Lyke stood apart from the wild, confetti-laced celebration that ensued after Pitt defeated Wake Forest to win the ACC championship. Yet her role was instrumental in keeping Pitt’s football program stable after years of coaching...
Pat Narduzzi gets a shot at his former team after Pitt earns berth in Peach Bowl vs. Michigan State
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi will be back on a football field with Michigan State, but this time, he will be on the opposite sideline. After Pitt (11-2) won its first ACC championship Saturday night and vaulted to No. 12 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the Panthers earned a berth...
Wake Forest coach: NCAA should review rules on fake slides
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said the NCAA needs to review its rules on whether quarterbacks should be allowed to “fake slide” after escaping the pocket. Clawson’s statement came after his team’s 45-21 loss to Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game Saturday night in which...
Hundreds of Pitt fans celebrate ACC championship peacefully in Pittsburgh
Hundreds of University of Pittsburgh Panthers football fans gathered in Oakland on Saturday night into Sunday morning to celebrate the team’s ACC victory. They first gathered at Forbes and Oakland avenues to cheer and sing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” The group, many wearing blue-and-gold garb, then walked along Forbes to...
Former Pitt players take to social media to celebrate ACC championship
Pitt’s first ACC Championship had wide-reaching impact Saturday night as former Panthers took to social media to celebrate the team’s accomplishment. Pitt defeated Wake Forest, 45-21, before a crowd of 57,856 at Bank of America Stadium. Former Pitt and NFL greats took to Twitter to offer congratulations: ACC CHAMPS on...
Defense leads Pitt to victory over Wake Forest in ACC championship game
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Through 12 games, Kenny Pickett made every throw, broke all the records and made the end zone his personal playground. When it came time for No. 13 Saturday night on the ACC’s biggest stage, Pitt’s defensive players all but shouted, “Make room for us. It’s our turn.”...
Pitt women’s volleyball team advances to Sweet 16 with win over rival Penn State
Kayla Lund was elated to have an opportunity to take down Penn State, one of the Pitt women’s volleyball team’s oldest tormentors, Saturday night at Petersen Events Center. The Panthers graduate student and outside hitter decided to take advantage of the extra year provided because of the pandemic before Pitt...
Pitt men’s soccer falls to Notre Dame in NCAA quarterfinals
The Pitt men’s soccer team was ousted from the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night after falling to No. 4-seeded Notre Dame in penalty kicks. With the quarterfinal game tied 1-1 after regulation and overtime, the Fighting Irish (14-5-4) held a 4-2 edge in penalty kicks to decide the match. No....
Pitt loses ACC opener to Virginia on late putbackVideo
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Jayden Gardner scored 15 points, including a last-second putback of a missed 3-pointer that bounced in, lifting Virginia to a 57-56 win over Pitt in the ACC opener for both teams Friday night. In a game that saw four ties and 14 lead changes, Gardner scored the...
Pitt, Penn State women’s volleyball teams to meet in 2nd round of NCAA TournamentVideo
After earning victories in Friday’s opening round, the Pitt and Penn State women’s volleyball teams will square off in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday. At Petersen Events Center, Penn State opened the evening with a 3-1 victory over Towson. The Nittany Lions (21-10) started with a...
Take 5: Right here, right now may be best chance for Pitt to win ACC championship
For years, Pitt football players have gathered in a circle before practice and chanted “ACC championship” before going about the day’s business. Pitt gets to take those words and make them real Saturday night when it confronts Wake Forest at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., with the conference...
