Good not good enough for Pitt in 2023’s new era of college football
Share this post:
Pitt football began in 1890 with a team that played three games, never bothered to name a coach and managed one victory, 10-4, at Geneva.
Today, there are 55 Pitt coaches and staff members — from coordinators to nutritionists — who make significant contributions to a program that is among the best in the ACC.
Yet rising “among the best” no longer is good enough. College football is a big, cut-throat business, with coaches making millions of dollars and livelihoods often depending on whether a field-goal attempt flies between two uprights. Fans demand special, or something closely resembling it. At the outset of the 134th season of Pitt football, the 11th in the ACC and ninth with Pat Narduzzi in charge, good is nice, but special is the goal.
Expectations have been raised by the 2021 ACC championship and nine victories last season. Meanwhile, the battle for TV revenue rages on, wiping out conference borders and threatening programs that lag behind. Pitt must keep up, and the best way to do that is to win.
Good was OK when coach Paul Chryst’s team won seven games in 2013. Today, Pitt aspires to greater heights. Narduzzi must maintain or surpass the best of the ACC while increasing the nationwide respect that will boost recruiting, keep fans and donors engaged and allow Pitt a preferred seat at the table in the next wave of conference realignment.
Which brings us to Wofford next Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
Pitt opens the season against the tiny FCS school in Spartanburg, S.C. (enrollment, 1,759). Pitt may score in the 50s. Some fans will not be satisfied with anything less.
The immediate schedule beyond Wofford is manageable. A couple of Big 12 schools — Cincinnati and West Virginia picked to finish 13th and 14th (last) in their conference — are next before Pitt must find a way to neutralize Heisman Trophy candidate and North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye in a difficult ACC opener at Acrisure Stadium.
Pitt will run into another ACC Player of the Year candidate, Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis, on Nov. 4, a week after visiting South Bend to tangle with Notre Dame. The Irish have won five of their past six against Pitt, including 45-3 three years ago at Heinz Field.
The schedule is challenging, but optimism and confidence are high among players (not a surprise) and there is experience in some form at every position.
Quarterback Phil Jurkovec (Pine-Richland) is the unquestioned leader of the offense. He will be supported by:
• Four running backs who know their way to daylight, including Rodney Hammond, who bookended his injury-plagued 2022 season by rushing for a combined 167 yards and four touchdowns in victories against WVU and UCLA.
• Wide receivers Bub Means and Konata Mumpfield, who have emerged from Jared Wayne’s shadow in a big way (at least in practice). And you can’t mention the pass catchers without recognizing the hope offered by freshmen Kenny Johnson, Zion Fowler-El, Lamar Seymore and Izzy Polk.
• A well-stocked tight end room that includes junior Gavin Bartholomew, former defensive lineman Karter Johnson, who was named most improved offensive player in the spring, and 6-foot-6, 255-pound USC transfer Malcolm Epps.
• Four well-seasoned offensive linemen, led by center Jake Kradel (Butler) and possibly welcoming to the starting lineup 6-7, 330-pound redshirt freshman Ryan Baer.
• Pitt has three potential game changers at cornerback, with M.J. Devonshire, A.J. Woods and Marquis Williams. All three have become team leaders, and all three have good ball skills. Total career interceptions: 12.
But Pitt must replace four major defensive contributors: tackle Calijah Kancey, linebacker SirVocea Dennis and safeties Erick Hallett and Brandon Hill.
For the most part, their replacements aren’t young, led by defensive tackles Devin Danielson (Thomas Jefferson), Tyler Bentley, David Green (Central Catholic) and Deandre Jules and middle linebackers Shayne Simon and Brandon George.
Keep an eye on the safety position. Javon McIntyre and P.J. O’Brien have lined up previously, but not as regular starters. Coaches believe Stephon Hall (Central Valley) and Florida transfer Donovan McMillon (Peters Township) can provide insurance at safety.
If the game is close, Pitt has Ben Sauls, a reliable kicker who hit 20 of 24 field-goal attempts last season, including 5 for 5 on a windy day in El Paso, Texas, in the Sun Bowl.
Is there enough talent to withstand the rigors of a schedule that gets tougher as the days grow colder?
There’s enough for Narduzzi to construct a good season. Be assured, his aim is much higher.