Questions surround Pitt midway through ACC schedule
Pitt has reached the halfway point of its ACC season, and it’s difficult to tell if the Panthers are good, mediocre or headed for another slump. All three are reasonable assessments of where the season is headed. A 5-5 record can create so many questions. Here are three: 1. Why...
Virginia turns close game into 73-66 victory against Pitt
Whether the coach is embarrassed or proud — and Jeff Capel has been both in the past week — every loss looks the same in the standings. It’s one more rung you get pushed down the ladder you’re trying to climb. But during the 73-66 loss to No. 14 Virginia...
Up-and-down Pitt gets first-place Virginia next
If coach Jeff Capel was inclined to list all the significant ups and downs that have occurred to his team, it might sound like Pitt (9-5, 5-4 ACC) had played a full season. Of course, he has no time for such nonsense, so here’s a quick look: • An almost...
After taking it ‘on the chin,’ Pitt showed resilience by beating Virginia Tech
Jeff Capel said his Pitt team was “out of character.” Xavier Johnson remarked, “We know we were a good team at first, and we just let it go.” But Au’Diese Toney put Pitt’s recent troubles in terms everyone can understand: “(Opponents) just busted (us) in our mouth,” said Toney, who...
Pitt knocks off No. 16 Virginia Tech, stops 3-game losing streak
Two years later, Au’Diese Toney still feels the pain. Worse, he sensed more coming after Pitt lost three games in row. So, with the memory of the 13-game losing streak of 2019 too real and still on his mind, the junior forward called together teammates and friends Justin Champagnie and...
Powerhouse Clemson leads way again in ACC recruiting rankingsVideo
Clemson’s most recent berth in the College Football Playoff arguably was its least successful, but a 49-28 semifinal loss to Ohio State didn’t appear to damage the Tigers’ appeal to recruits. Six consecutive appearances in the game’s final four, with national championships in 2016 and ‘18, are difficult to overlook....
Pitt will travel to No. 14 Virginia as replacement for postponed game with Florida State
Pitt no longer has an open date Saturday after the ACC announced several schedule changes Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers will play at No. 14 Virginia for a 4 p.m. tip-off, a replacement for the Florida State game that was postponed because of covid-19 complications. The game will be televised on...
With top 25 class locked up, Pitt introduces transfers on 2nd official signing day
The first Wednesday in February used to be a big day at Pitt and everywhere else across college football. The fax machine whirled, spitting out national letters of intent. Coaches from Walt Harris to Todd Graham to Pat Narduzzi stalked the halls outside their office, seemingly attached to their phones...
Pitt hopes to end 3-game losing streak, but No. 16 Virginia Tech stands in the way
Pitt is reeling from a three-game losing streak, hoping to prevent it from growing to the lengths it did the past two seasons. From the start of February through the remainder of the regular season, Pitt was 1-9 in 2019, 2-8 in 2020. The Panthers’ first game of the last...
On short notice, Pitt’s Jimmy Morrissey shows off love for football at the Senior Bowl
Jimmy Morrissey had just finished his morning workout in Pensacola Beach, Fla., when his phone rang. Morrissey’s agent, Jason Bernstein, was calling with some good news. Bernstein patched Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy into the call, and, all of a sudden, Morrissey’s weekend plans changed. He was going to...
Pitt’s game Saturday vs. Florida State postponed again
Pitt’s game with Florida State, scheduled for Saturday at Petersen Events Center, has been postponed for a second time because of a positive covid-19 test within the Seminoles’ program. The game originally was to be played Jan. 10. The postponement is the sixth of a Pitt game this season. Games...
Rebounding, defense among chief concerns for Pitt’s Jeff Capel
On the list of matters that concern Jeff Capel, perhaps, the loneliness of Petersen Events Center might be the least worrisome (even though on game days it seems more like a big, empty barn than an ACC basketball arena). Still, he did comment Monday about what has happened to home-court...
After losing 3 in a row, Jeff Capel hopes Pitt can regain ‘mojo’
Even in the pre-covid days (and especially now), Pitt basketball practice is closed to outsiders. For strategic and privacy purposes, coach Jeff Capel understandably insists on conducting business behind closed doors. Too bad, though. Pitt’s practice Monday — the first after the 26-point loss to a sub-.500 Notre Dame team...
Hot-shooting Notre Dame sends Pitt to 3rd straight loss
Jeff Capel had plenty to say after Notre Dame did anything it wanted Saturday night in an 84-58 demolition of Pitt at Petersen Events Center. There were so many negative remarks that it was hard to pick out the one that told the true story of what has happened to...
Buccaneers, Chiefs head into Super Bowl littered with connections to Steelers, region
Before being pushed into “retirement” after the 2011 season, Bruce Arians enjoyed an eight-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the final five as offensive coordinator. Although Arians’ departure was turbulent, he didn’t forget the connections and friendships he made during his time with the organization. That is apparent by...
Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty leaving Pitt to join Chargers staff
Pitt’s football staff lost a valuable member Friday when wide receivers coach Chris Beatty accepted the same job with the Los Angeles Chargers. Thank you, Coach Beatty. pic.twitter.com/cNadOfO34T— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) January 29, 2021 Hired in 2019, Beatty has been one of coach Pat Narduzzi’s most productive recruiters, especially in...
Pitt venturing into tough portion of ACC basketball schedule
The covid-19 pandemic has created quirks in every college basketball team’s schedule, and Pitt is no exception. The Panthers played only one game from Dec. 23 through Jan. 15. Four games were postponed and two have been rescheduled, including the Panthers’ meeting Saturday with Notre Dame (5-9, 2-6 ACC) at...
Closer look at Pitt’s 2021 football schedule
Predicting the outcome of football games is difficult enough in August when the roster is finalized and there’s been time to accept or reject the coach’s optimism. Attempting the same exercise in January — two months before spring ball — can be a waste of time. It also can be...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel hopes lessons from Duke career stand the test of time
Jeff Capel has played and worked at the pinnacle of college basketball for most of the 27 years since his freshman year at Duke. Blessed with that background, his talks with players can be as instructive as they are entertaining. Pitt is preparing to play Notre Dame on Saturday at...
Pitt sues former wrestling coach, claims he manufactured discrimination lawsuit
A former University of Pittsburgh wrestling coach who lost his racial discrimination lawsuit against the school is now being sued by the university, which is seeking to recoup attorneys’ fees and other damages allegedly caused by the “frivolous” claims. Jason Peters served as the university’s head wrestling coach from 2013-17....
Pitt’s football schedule features Clemson, North Carolina at Heinz Field
Pitt will play six-time College Football Playoff semifinalist and two-time champion Clemson in consecutive seasons, the second coming at Heinz Field on Oct. 23, according to the ACC schedule released Thursday morning. It will be a rematch of Pitt’s 52-17 loss at Death Valley last season. This season’s ACC schedule...
For Pitt, more shots for Justin Champagnie could translate into more wins
Pitt’s Justin Champagnie believes he has the cure for what has been ailing his team, losers of two games in a row after an encouraging 4-1 start to the ACC season. “We have to get in the gym,” he said. Which is what Champagnie has done throughout his basketball-playing life,...
Pitt falls to North Carolina for 2nd straight loss
Short of setting up ladders in the paint, there didn’t seem to be much Pitt could do Tuesday night to combat North Carolina’s superior size. Too many times to suit Pitt coach Jeff Capel, the Tar Heels missed a shot and either Armando Bacot, Garrison Brooks or Day’Ron Sharpe –...
Pitt hires former Bucknell defensive coordinator Ryan Manalac to coach linebackers
Pat Narduzzi turned to a familiar face — and someone who played the position — when he named Ryan Manalac as Pitt’s linebackers coach Tuesday. Manalac, who was the defensive coordinator at Bucknell the past two seasons, worked with Narduzzi at Cincinnati and Michigan State. Manalac replaces Rob Harley, who...
First Call: Support from Washington for new Steeler Dwayne Haskins; celebrating ‘Send it in, Jerome!’
New Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is getting some support from a former teammate as he leaves Washington. And it comes from a guy who helped keep him on the bench. We also flashback to a great moment in Pittsburgh sports. A Duquesne player gets a mid-season honor. And an update...
