Pitt QB Kenny Pickett on Jesse Palmer's suggestion on ESPN that UCF had an easy win. "What’s his name? Jesse Palmer? That’s his name right? On ESPN. It’s an easy win against Pitt, I guess every week. He said it last week. He said it this week. We watch. We see."
Pat Narduzzi was OK w/almost everything, except: "(Expletive) police escort we had down here. It was embarrassing. I'm not happy with the fans throwing bottles at our kids. Felt like I was down in Morgantown, I guess. I don't know. Throwing stuff at our kids is classless move."
Bub Carrington said he and Jaland Lowe make up "one of the best backcourts in the country."
"We're coming back, stronger, better. We can definitely make some real noise next year, for sure."
BC quarterback and Pine-Richland grad Phil Jurkovec, comparing Boston to Pittsburgh: "Boston is a very cool city because of how many good sports teams there are. They try to say it's the city of champions, but it's not really the city of champions. Pittsburgh always will be."
Aaron Donald does more than show up every day to use Pitt's football facilities. The university announced this morning Donald has made a seven-figure (at least $1M) donation to the Pitt Football Championship Fund. First floor now named: Aaron Donald Football Performance Center.
Narduzzi on next Saturday's Clemson game at Heinz Field: "The Pitt fans better come out strong. It's going to be an epic game. We're looking forward to it already."
Pitt free safety Damar Hamlin has pulled out of the East-West Shrine Game, which will be played Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla. That might be an indicator he got a fifth year from the NCAA and is returning to Pitt for the 2020 season.
The NCAA record for yards per play is 13.5 (Georgia Tech vs. Kansas in 2011). Pitt recorded 13.9 vs. VT, but there is a qualifier of a minimum of 50 plays. Pitt had only 47. And, by the way, Pitt reached third down only eight times.
Just got confirmation from the NCAA that Pitt's 7 points in the first half is the fewest on all three levels of college basketball this season. One field goal ties the record in the shot-clock era.
Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas on the comportment of the Pitt players this week: "Yes, sir. No, sir. Please, thank you. They say hello to you before you say hello to them."
Responded Pat Narduzzi: "They take their hats off, too."
Led by quarterback Nick Patti, Pitt seniors walk through a lineup of their teammates, a Narduzzi tradition started as a way for seniors to say goodbye after the last full practice of the season.
Looking out at an expansive, 100% empty Heinz Field, I have a difficult time believing a 90% empty stadium , with proper social distancing, would pose a threat to public health.
I've looked at the ACC Coastal standings until my eyes hurt, but now that Miami lost to Duke and Virginia Tech lost to BC, Pitt will clinch the division by beating Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. Last game at Miami meaningless.
Narduzzi on the NFL scheduling Steelers/Browns opposite Pitt home game Thursday night: "What are we doing here? It's not good for the ACC. They have to start to look and say what make sense for the city of Pittsburgh and that obviously wasn't done."
Pat Narduzzi on Iowa’s charge of PSU players faking injuries. “I don’t agree with James Franklin on a whole bunch, but, James, I got your back. When you’re not playing a fast tempo offense, a team that huddles, nobody goes down with a cramp. That’s a bunch of baloney.”
More Pickett: "I really wish they would have let family members come to the game. It’s a 70,000-seat stadium. I think they could be 6 feet apart from each other."
Court will be flipped at the Pete (benches will be flipped to the opposite side of the court), partially to showcase the Oakland Zoo for TV, including the ACC Network. "Oakland Zoo is critical to our success," she said.
More from Morrissey: Asked why he chose Pitt over Penn State, he said, "I was a walk-on. I didn't get offered anywhere. I wouldn't have gone there, anyway, if I had an offer."
Congrats to Bill Hillgrove, named by the National Sports Media Association as winner of the second Woody Durham Voice of College Sports Award. Sponsored by Learfield IMG College and University of North Carolina athletics. 45 seasons, Pitt football; 51, Pitt basketball.
Just this minute, Pitt officials have confirmed that Frank Cignetti Jr. will be their next offensive coordinator. I know there are a lot of former players who worked with Cignetti in the past who believe this is a big win for
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RIP, Alex Kramer, who served five Pitt football coaches as director of operations and was student manager from 1948-51. Life well-lived for 90 years. Invaluable resource for those of us interested in how CFB used to be played. And a really nice guy.
Pitt offensive left tackle Carter Warren has some good deeds to perform at the Boys and Girls Club in Millvale before the start of training camp in August.
Narduzzi on Addison: "The guy blocks. He's not one of those prima donna wideouts who doesn't block anybody. There was a play he knocked two guys down. This guy's not thinking he's too good."
When new WVU coach Neal Brown was asked if he has learned to dislike Pitt, yet, he smiled and said, "They don't let your sign a contract until you dislike Pitt."
Pitt's Paris Ford, Patrick Jones II and Jaylen Twyman named to Bednarik Award Watch List. Only LSU, USC and Pitt have three players selected as preseason candidates for the nation's top defensive player. Also named, WVU's Darius Stills and PSU's Micah Parsons.
Fans who wish/hope/pray for a coach to get fired give fandom a bad name. You may disagree with how a coach runs his program or some of the decisions he makes or the results, but you never should pray for another man's misfortune. Especially when he wants to win more than you do.
Major pats on the back to West Virginia for scheduling the first three games of its 2023 football season at Penn State and home to Duquesne and Pitt. I'm also thinking Duquesne/Pitt at Heinz Field is a game long overdue. Most recently played 1939 @ Pitt Stadium. Dukes won, 21-13.
Capel hits another home run: Pitt's basketball players leave today for a weekend trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Arlington National Cemetery and take walking tours of the U.S. Capital. National Mall and Memorial Park.
Sophomore Justin Champagnie on Pitt's scheduled game next season against St. John's where his twin brother Julian plays: "I’ve been wanting that game since freshman year. I talk to coach about it all the time. I can’t wait to get out there and hoop against him."
Linebacker John Petrishen: “There is a lot on the line this game as far as conference play, a lot for this program. You can’t deny it. It’s a huge game for Pitt football.”
Pitt C Jimmy Morrissey, one of the nicest men ever to wear a Pitt uniform, gets it started. Asked Pitt/PSU, he said, "I can't wait. Some of my closest friends go to Penn State. I don't like them one bit. That's pretty obvious. I play for Pitt."
Andy Toole knows Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants First Four NCAA games played sans fans in Dayton. “I would wish the governor luck in keeping my wife out of that game. He's going to call my 7-year-old and my 5-year-old and tell them they can't come to the NCAA Tournament. Good luck."
Pitt freshman Ryan Baer is from Eastlake, Ohio, but he grew up a Steelers fan, thanks to his grandparents, who are from Pennsylvania. "Plus, the Browns suck," he said.
Pat Narduzzi on the report that WVU fans would fill 75% of Acrisure Stadium: "I was kind of real upset when I heard the night before there were going to be 75% West Virginia fans, which I knew ESPN had some bad facts, disrespecting our fans. Our fans showed up."
Double shot of big news at Pitt this morning: Kenny Pickett named finalist for Maxwell Award (outstanding player in CFB) and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award. Jordan
Addison finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (outstanding receiver).
Pitt freshman QB Davis Beville ran scout team this week, giving defense a look similar to what they'll see vs. UCF -- right down to throwing it left-handed to simulate Dillon Gabriel. "Pretty talented kid,"
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said of Beville. "I was shocked. `What did he just do?'"
Good news for Tre Tipton: He has been invited to Pitt's rookie minicamp for a tryout May 12-15. All the best to the former Apollo-Ridge wide receiver, and one of the finest of Pitt men.
Counting 'em all up, Kenny Pickett is now a finalist for six national awards: Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas, Maxwell, Senior CLASS and, announced just today, the Manning. Not to mention his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy.
I don't get the criticism of Collinsworth. He was merely commenting on and having some fun with a fascinating situation. It was great theater and he was in the middle of it. Nice job, Cris.