Pitt Take 5: A week full of football, Apple Jacks and Pat Narduzzi kicking up his heels
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Two weeks into training camp — and with two weeks remaining — Pitt’s players and coaches have reached a point where football matters most, but everyone can see there’s more to life than turnover drills and trying to throw a football into a little net.
Pitt quarterbacks practice throwing footballs into tight windows. pic.twitter.com/wQUanX30m1
— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 12, 2022
There are also Apple Jacks, the players’ cornhole tournament, a 6-foot-7, 335-pound freshman offensive tackle showing uncommon leadership skills and a coach who dances.
Here are a few thoughts on all of that in advance of the scrimmage scheduled for Saturday on the South Side.
1. SirVocea makes an announcement
Before he took questions from reporters after practice Friday, senior linebacker SirVocea Dennis had something to say.
One reporter interrupted, trying to predict what was next by saying, “You’re running for president.”
“No, no. No. Not yet,” Dennis replied.
What Dennis wanted to talk about was cereal, specifically his favorite. It’s Apple Jacks.
“Everybody said they don’t eat Apple Jacks anymore,” he said. “Why? I love Apple Jacks. If I could buy Apple Jacks every day and eat it, I would.
“It’s apples and cinnamon combined. Boom! Apple Jacks.”
An older reporter (me) suggested that in his later years, Dennis might prefer Raisin Bran for reasons that don’t need to be explained here.
“I love Raisin Bran, too,” Dennis said. “That’s No. 2. When I was a kid, I used to take the raisins out (and eat it without the bran).”
Thank you, SirVocea, for helping to lighten up what can be an intense football atmosphere.
2. Cornhole champion
Before practice, coach Pat Narduzzi was asked about sophomore tight end Gavin Bartholomew. Even while he was pressed for time — the walkthrough was starting in five minutes — Narduzzi veered off the football-only course.
The coach reported that Bartholomew won the players’ cornhole tournament Thursday night, teaming with redshirt freshman Dylan Bennett to defeat sophomore offensive lineman Matt Alstman and quarterback Nick Patti. Not only did the Bartholomew/Bennett team win, the duo “kicked the heck” out of the competition, Narduzzi said.
For those readers who demand only football information, Narduzzi had more to say about Bartholomew, who will be one of the most important players on offense this season.
“He’s playing a lot of different positions,” he said. “He’s playing out wide. He can play the tight end on the line of scrimmage (up against the tackle). He does a little bit of everything.
“He’s better than he was in the spring. He’s improved his run-blocking a lot, and he’s leading that tight end room right now.”
Bartholomew caught 28 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns as a freshman last season, but Bartholomew is more than a pass-first tight end, Narduzzi said.
“If you have a tight end who’s pass-first, you have a little bit of an issue.”
3. Freshman speaks up
At the outset of every practice, Narduzzi allows one player to address his teammates with some inspirational words. First-year freshman Ryan Baer, a backup offensive tackle, was the chosen one Friday.
“I’m not a big talker. I was very nervous,” said Baer, who joins linebacker Sam Okunlola as the only freshmen on the team’s Eagles leadership council. “I spent all day in meetings thinking about what I was going to say.”
Baer, who has received favorable reviews this summer, said he believes he was picked by teammates to be an Eagle due to his maturity and serious nature. Also, he said, “I’m a very likeable person.”
Added senior left guard Marcus Minor: “He’s going to be a monster when he gets his chance.”
Baer said his goal in the scrimmage is to “play as much as I can and put as many on the ground (as I can).”
4. Duzz dancing?
Believe it or not, there is an unconfirmed report from defensive end John Morgan that Narduzzi kicked up his heels a bit when running back Vincent Davis played “When I See You” by Fantasia during a team meeting.
“He might be from up north, but he got a couple dance moves you haven’t seen yet,” Morgan said. “He can do a little something.”
Morgan said “When I See You” might become the team song. “The song that gets everybody juiced up, (puts) a little soul in our hearts. I think we can get the whole stadium singing that.”
Don’t worry, Pitt fans. Morgan said it won’t replace Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” on game day.
“Not at all. Not a chance,” he said.
5. Pay attention to the portal
Minor transferred from Maryland last year, and he is joined this season by several transfers who are on the doorstep of making an impact.
They include quarterback Kedon Slovis, wide receivers Konata Mumpfield and Bub Means, running back C’Bo Flemister, tight end Karter Johnson and linebackers Shayne Simon and Tylar Wiltz.
“All those guys are going to make an impact on who we are as a team this year,” Narduzzi said.
The coach said he and his staff believe the transfers will fit nicely into the team concept. “We’ll find out a little bit more Saturday afternoon,” he said.
Selecting experienced transfers has the potential to bear more immediate fruit than recruiting high school players.
“You’re evaluating talent,” Narduzzi said, “but you’re also saying, ‘OK, he’s done it before.’ ”