Narduzzi shifts focus from PSU to Oklahoma State

Although Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi seemed eager to move forward to this week’s game against Oklahoma State, he opened his Monday press conference by reflecting on last Saturday’s monumental 42-39 win against Penn State.

“Just to close the chapter on last week’s game, obviously it was an exciting win,” Narduzzi said. “I want to thank Panther Nation for the crowd that was there Saturday. It was electric.”

The atmosphere in the Panthers’ locker room after the game might have been even more energetic than the raucous crowd.

The players hoisted Narduzzi into the air and carried their coach around the room with his arms extended and fists raised as the team yelled out Pitt’s fight song in unison. Narduzzi said the moment tops his list of postgame celebrations as a head coach.

“I’ve never had that done before,” Narduzzi said. “First place, for sure.”

While the Panthers racked up an impressive 341 yards rushing in the win, Narduzzi emphasized that the team could have had even more.

“There are plays that we left out there,” Narduzzi said. “I think we played a really good first half. The second half was really a different ballgame … There were a lot of plays left on the field that we could have made.”

After allowing zero points on defense in week one against Villanova, Pitt let up five touchdowns to Penn State running back Saquon Barkley and 39 points overall. Still, the Panthers held Barkley under 100 yards rushing and controlled the time of possession in the game.

Moving on to the game against Oklahoma State, Narduzzi knows he will have to prepare his defense for the Cowboys’ explosive spread attack on offense.

“There are a bunch of different coverage adjustments we’re going to have to make. They are fast, and their wideouts can play,” Narduzzi said. “Quarterback Mason Rudolph runs the show, and their two wideouts –– Jalen McCleskey and James Washington –– are blazers. There are some different things we need to do coverage-wise to eliminate the big plays.”

Still, Narduzzi won’t change the team’s main focus on defense: stopping the run. Against Penn State, the Panthers constantly allowed the Nittany Lions to complete short passes into the flat while stuffing the box to defend against Barkley and the running game.

The Cowboys should be extra motivated to knock off the Panthers after suffering a highly controversial 30-27 loss at home last week to Central Michigan. Officials mistakenly awarded the Chippewas an untimed down after time ran out, and Central Michigan scored the game-winning touchdown on an unbelievable 51-yard Hail Mary hook-and-lateral.

Narduzzi said he expects Oklahoma State’s players to be upset and angry after such a devastating defeat, but his focus is on his team.

“I’m not worried about their mindset –– I only worry about our mindset,” Narduzzi said. “I would imagine we’re going to be walking into an angry stadium on Saturday.”