The one, unmistakable takeaway gleaned from a chat with Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. is this:

There is no need to wish him a great day. He’s already having one.

“Every day’s a great day,” he said, sporting a broad smile, after he had spent nearly 15 minutes Wednesday chatting with local reporters about the 2023 season.

It’s been a turbulent season for the 58-year-old coaching veteran and football lifer who has directed offenses, designed and called plays and tutored quarterbacks for more than three decades on the collegiate and NFL levels.

He hitched his fortunes this season to quarterback Phil Jurkovec after developing a strong football connection and personal relationship with the Pine-Richland graduate when both men were at Boston College in 2020 and 2021.

But Jurkovec did not play well enough to keep his job. After five games (1-4) and with coach Pat Narduzzi’s approval, Cignetti decided to bench Jurkovec in favor of the inexperienced Christian Veilleux.

“We just felt like it was time to make a change,” Cignetti said. “I was so proud of how Phil Jurkovec handled the situation.”

He related what Jurkovec said to Veilleux after Pitt upset Louisville on Oct. 14, the Panthers’ first game with a new quarterback.

“Phil was the very first player to respond to Christian,” Cignetti said. He said Jurkovec told his former backup, “Wow, did you play a great game.”

It’s never easy to bench a quarterback in midseason, especially one in whom Pitt and Cignetti were so deeply invested.

“Those decisions need to be made because you have to do what’s best for the future and good of the program,” Cignetti said. “I’m really pleased with how, not only the quarterback room, but how the whole team responded.”

Veilleux has lacked consistency in his three starts, hitting bottom at Notre Dame last week when he threw four interceptions in a 58-7 loss.

“It starts with fundamentals and techniques,” Cignetti said. “It takes time. It all starts with coaching.

“Football is a game of execution. It comes down to you trying to improve the individual to improve the group. Our job as coaches is to put the play design, hopefully, to our advantage. And it’s hard. Life is difficult. Football is difficult.

“Football really comes down to this: blocking, tackling, throwing, catching, covering. We just have to continue to coach the fundamentals better and put our guys in position to be successful.”

Cignetti likes the tangible qualities Veilleux brings to the position.

“When you watch Christian throw a football, he can spin it. He’s got a really nice delivery. He’s got a quick delivery. It’s compact. The ball comes off his hand really well. He can make all the throws.

“I think he sees the field well. He’ll only see it better every day that he plays. The one thing he can do is make really good, quick decisions. He can get the ball out of his hands fast. He can beat defenses with his release. (Quarterback) hits and sacks have gone down.”

Jurkovec was sacked 12 times in 4 1/2 games. He played only the first half of the North Carolina game before he left with an injury. Veilleux has been sacked four times in 3 1/2 games while throwing twice as many interceptions (six to three).

Cignetti said he told Veilleux when he enrolled this year that it’s a long process to proper development for quarterbacks.

“It’s not where he was in January,” Cignetti said, “but where he wants to go in his three years.”

Meanwhile, Cignetti said Jurkovec has told him that losing his starting job and working with the tight ends in practice has helped him recognize how important the game is to him.

“He loves football,” Cignetti said. “He loves coming in here, just practicing. He said, ‘This has really made me realize how much I love football.’ ”

Does Jurkovec have a future at tight end?

“He has measureables (listed by Pitt at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds),” Cignetti said. “If you’re recruiting or drafting a tight end, you look for certain measureables. He has really good natural, soft hands. He’s athletic.”

Beyond that, at least for the moment?

“He just wants to help this team win.”

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