Pitt Take 5: Panthers, Orange hope to write happier Bronx tale inside Yankee Stadium
Share this post:
Pitt’s game against Syracuse on Saturday will be staged at Yankee Stadium to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first college game played at the historic venue in the Bronx, New York.
ACC officials aren’t getting a marquee matchup, with Pitt (2-7, 1-4) and Syracuse (4-5, 0-5) trying to stay out of last place. The Orange can gain bowl eligibility by winning two of their last three games, but they have lost five in a row. Pitt can match coach Pat Narduzzi’s worst season (5-7 in 2017), but the Panthers must win all three of their remaining games.
Let’s hope both teams score more than their predecessors did in 1923. Syracuse won 3-0. No one needs to be reminded of the 2008 Sun Bowl.
Over the years, Pitt has played seven games in New York’s baseball stadiums. Pitt defeated Army, 7-6, at the original Yankee Stadium in 1962 but lost to Syracuse, 51-13, at one-year-old Shea Stadium in 1965, coach John Michelosen’s final season. When Fordham played big-time football, it served as Pitt’s host at the Polo Grounds through three consecutive scoreless ties in 1935-1937.
Then, there was the Pinstripe Bowl in the current Yankee Stadium in 2016 when Pitt lost James Conner, Nathan Peterman and Dorian Johnson to injuries and lost the game to Northwestern, 31-24.
Pitt owns a 42-32-3 all-time edge over Syracuse, including 7-1 under Narduzzi. Best game of the eight: Pitt’s 76-61 victory Nov. 26, 2016, with Matt Canada calling the offensive shots for the Panthers. Pitt scored 10 more points that day than the basketball team did the next time it played Syracuse.
1. No upgrade at quarterback
If you’re looking for offensive fireworks, change the channel. Syracuse has scored 44 points in five ACC games. Pitt has two touchdowns in its past two games.
Maybe it’s a good sign that quarterback Christian Veilleux nearly doubled his aerial yardage total from the Notre Dame game to Florida State (127 to 244). But can it continue to rise? Maintaining the 230-240 range might be enough for Pitt to win the game.
Veilleux has completed only 50% of his throws (81 of 162) with seven interceptions in 4 1/2 games. He has not been an upgrade over Phil Jurkovec, who threw only three picks in 4 1/2 games (all in the West Virginia game).
Narduzzi won’t admit it, but it’s difficult to shake the notion that Veilleux is auditioning for 2024 as much as he’s trying to win games this season.
2. It’s 100 yards, right?
Narduzzi is confident that Yankee Stadium officials made sure the football field was marked off properly.
“It’s a 100-yard field,” he said.
So, it’s basically like any other, right?
“Some of the end zones get a little tight if you’re throwing a 7 route into the pylon,” he said. “I don’t know if it will be a big difference.”
So, it’s just another game at just another venue for Pitt, with one exception, he said.
“I know my mom loves the Yankees, so I’m kind of excited to go back for her,” said Narduzzi, who admitted he’s not much of a baseball fan.
He said the only motivation for players is the opportunity to play another game and restore some of their confidence.
”I hope they have energy because they get to play another Saturday,” he said. “If we need a new environment to play good, we have problems.”
3. A Jeter guy
Unlike his wide receivers coach, Narduzzi didn’t grow up a Yankees fan in New Jersey. So he can excuse New Brunswick, N.J., native Tiquan Underwood if he brings a bit more juice — and several friends and family members — to the game.
As a younger man, Underwood was a Derek Jeter fan.
“A lot of history in that stadium. A lot of great players have come through there,” he said. “I told the players this is special. Don’t treat this like a regular football game. This is different.”
As an NFL wide receiver, Underwood played for the New England Patriots, so he learned to respect the Red Sox, too. In fact, he has a Red Sox hat that he said will remain tucked away at home Saturday.
4. ‘Smack someone in the mouth’
Brandon George may be turning into Pitt’s best bet as a run stopper at middle linebacker.
George played the best game of his career Saturday against Florida State, recording 10 tackles (2 1/2 for a loss). Narduzzi said George has been helped by — of all things — not thinking as much.
“We got the thinking out of it and started to use his physical ability,” the coach said. “Read your keys. It’s not that hard. Get downhill and smack someone in the mouth. That’s what he’s been doing.”
5. ‘Special’ freshman
Ryland Gandy is pushing for more playing time on scrimmage plays. Apparently, he has mastered the art of special teams.
“Nobody shut down (Florida State’s) gunners all year. No one touched them. No one’s blocked them all year, and he did,” Narduzzi said. “He’s wiring them up at the line of scrimmage.”
Gandy, a redshirt freshman cornerback, hasn’t played much outside special teams, largely because Pitt has three solid veterans at that position in M.J. Devonshire, A.J. Woods and Marquis Williams.
With three games left, it’s probably time to start figuring out if Gandy can handle the workload next season.