Jordan Addison shrugs off individual honor while preparing for Pitt’s final three games
When someone poked his head into Brennan Marion’s office with good news for Jordan Addison — risking a rebuke for interrupting focused video study — there was no reaction. “We kept watching the film,” Pitt wide receivers coach Brennan Marion said. “It’s tunnel vision time.” The news Tuesday morning was...
Coaching rivals now, Jeff Capel will reunite with old friend Jerry Stackhouse when Pitt meets Vanderbilt
Born three months apart and growing up in North Carolina hometowns separated by 83 miles, Jeff Capel and Jerry Stackhouse were friends, rivals and teammates on the basketball court. As high school freshmen, they had no intentions of coaching. Playing was their thing as Capel went to Duke and Stackhouse...
Pitt confronts trappings of success while preparing for Syracuse
Coaches hate outside distractions and will do almost anything to lessen their influence. That said, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi might need to do his best coaching job away from the X’s and O’s this week while preparing his team for the regular-season finale Saturday night at Syracuse. After nailing down the...
4 Pitt players receive invitations to 2022 Senior Bowl
At one point in their lives, the NFL seemed far into the future for Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett and some of his teammates. But it came into focus for four players Monday when they received invitations to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 5, 2022. The Senior Bowl is...
Pitt men’s soccer advances to Sweet 16
Pitt men’s soccer took another step forward in its quest to return to the College Cup on Sunday. The fifth-seeded Panthers scored a 5-2 victory over Northern Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Ambrose Urbanic Field in Oakland. Pitt (12-5-1), which reached the NCAA semifinals College...
Pitt’s problems with pass defense will be Pat Narduzzi’s top priority before ACC Championship Game
During his postgame gathering with media members, Pat Narduzzi was asked in two different ways by two different reporters how the 2021 ACC Coastal championship differs from Pitt’s first in 2018. Without amplification, he allowed that this season’s team is an “older group.” No doubt, the group’s maturity and loyalty...
Pitt wins thriller against Virginia to nail down ACC Coastal championship
With the lights high above Heinz Field bouncing off the ACC Coastal championship trophy Saturday night, Pat Narduzzi couldn’t help thinking about an even greater prize. After all, winning half a title was never a goal. “Winning the division is nice, but I’ve been part of division championships,” Pitt’s seven-year...
Pitt rallies to defeat Towson, wins 2nd game in a row
William Jeffress hit a big shot late in the game that kept heat on Towson and, eventually, led to Pitt’s 63-59 victory Friday night at Petersen Events Center. That was on the court. Off the court, while discussing Pitt’s second consecutive victory with reporters, he was a bit defiant. But...
Take 5: ACC Coastal title within Pitt’s grasp while Clemson won’t go away
The focus inside Heinz Field on Saturday will be on the ACC Coastal championship, but perhaps we should pay a little more attention to what’s happening on the other side. Anyone have a taste for a Pitt/Clemson rematch? It’s possible. First of all, Pitt (8-2, 5-1) needs to win the...
Despite so many new faces, Pitt seeks to create an identity
When a team loses its top five scorers from the previous season, some unfamiliar faces might surface as leaders on and off the court. That’s what happening to Pitt (1-2) early in the season while it tries to create an identity and win games at the same time. The Panthers...
Despite the headaches, Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi grew to know, respect Mark Whipple
When Pat Narduzzi was a 28-year-old defensive line coach at Rhode Island in 1994, he knew a headache awaited him when he saw Brown on the schedule. All Narduzzi had to know was Mark Whipple was Brown’s head coach. “The passing game just blew us up,” he said. Same deal...
First Call: Far-too-early ESPN mock draft has Kenny Pickett gone before Steelers; Le’Veon Bell may not be done with Ravens
Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell has fallen on hard times but may not have fallen out of favor with the Baltimore Ravens. An “all-too-early” NFL mock draft has Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett off the board before the Steelers have a chance to select him. A former WPIAL and Penn State star...
Kenny Pickett’s love for football started at an early age
You’d never know it by watching the first 10 games of Pitt’s season, but there was a time when Kenny Pickett couldn’t stand up straight while holding a ball in his hands. “My wife used to hold him standing up to shoot basketball,” Ken Pickett Sr. said in an interview...
In the ACC, picking the top quarterback won’t be easy task
Someone is getting snubbed. Virginia has Brennan Armstrong, who is third in the country with 3,557 passing yards. Pittsburgh has Kenny Pickett, who vaulted himself into the Heisman Trophy conversation with 32 touchdown passes this season. Wake Forest has Sam Hartman, who may wind up leading the Demon Deacons into...
Pitt holds off UNC Wilmington rally for 1st victory of the season
Jeff Capel didn’t say he has a bad team. He didn’t say he has a good one, either. “Our team is interesting,” Pitt’s coach said. Pitt also is no longer winless after the Panthers (1-2) blew most of a 17-point lead in the second half before surviving a UNC Wilmington...
Senior Cal Adomitis knows stakes will be high Saturday for Pitt’s final home game
They were exhausted and sweaty, soaked and chilled from the steady rain that pelted Heinz Field. But Pitt seniors Kirk Christodoulou and Cal Adomitis didn’t care. When they finally reached the locker room just before midnight Thursday after Pitt’s 30-23 overtime victory against North Carolina, the two close friends —...
Pitt’s Kenny Pickett ranked No. 1 QB by ESPN NFL Draft analysts McShay, Kiper
Five months before the 2022 NFL Draft, there is no consensus No. 1 overall choice. But Kenny Pickett remains No. 1 among quarterbacks on the ranking boards of ESPN draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper. Pickett climbed to No. 14 from No. 27 on McShay’s list of overall prospects....
University of Pittsburgh athletic trainer donating kidney to colleague’s 4-year-old son
Mary Beth and Bobby George have searched since May for a living kidney donor for their 4-year-old son, Daniel, who suffers from chronic kidney disease. Little did the Pittsburgh family know how close to home a donor would be found. Mary Beth George is a strength and conditioning coach at...
Pitt, Femi Odukale hope to benefit from tough lessons learned at WVU
When Femi Odukale scored in the first half of Pitt’s game at West Virginia on Friday night, he blew a kiss to the crowd as he ran back on defense. That was all the large group of students at WVU Coliseum needed to see. He became a target all night,...
Pitt, Penn State earn 1st-round byes in NCAA men’s soccer tournament
Pitt and Penn State earned first-round byes as the NCAA revealed the bracket for its men’s soccer tournament Monday. Pitt, seeded fifth, will host the winner of Thursday’s first-round matchup between Northern Illinois and Oakland in the second round Sunday. Penn State, seeded 12th, will face the winner of Thursday’s...
Pitt’s Jordan Addison gets good news from mother after he is named Biletnikoff semifinalist
When Pat Narduzzi got word Monday that wide receiver Jordan Addison had been named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, the first call he made was to the woman who made it all possible: Addison’s mom, Keisha Blackman. “She was screaming on the phone, excited,” he said. “I said, ‘Do...
What pressure? Pat Narduzzi laughs off question about stress while Pitt protects 1-game lead in ACC Coastal
Pat Narduzzi thought the question was funny — truly knee-slapping, are-you-kidding-me? hilarious. So he allowed himself a chuckle and a sarcastic remark when asked about the stress that grows from trying to protect a one-game lead atop the ACC Coastal, especially when a loss Saturday against Virginia could all but...
Another big game for Pitt: This time it counts for everything
Three weeks ago, all eyeballs turned to Clemson/Pitt. The Panthers had slipped into the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 23. No one was laughing anymore when Kenny Pickett’s Heisman Trophy candidacy was mentioned. The six-time defending ACC champion Clemson Tigers were making their first appearance in Pittsburgh, and Pitt...
West Virginia rolls over Pitt, gives coach Bob Huggins milestone victory
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — William Jeffress understands the dire situation standing like a fortress between Pitt and success on the basketball court. “Most nights we walk in the gym,” he said, “the odds aren’t in our favor. Our team has been through a lot. We lost a lot. “That’s OK because...
Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi allows his pride, bravado to show after victory against North Carolina
Sometimes, Pat Narduzzi just can’t help himself. Pitt’s coach is justifiably proud of his team’s 8-2 record as it moves closer to a second ACC Coastal championship since 2018. If Pitt defeats Virginia on Nov. 20 at Heinz Field and Miami loses any of its three remaining games, the Panthers...
