Browne out for the season following injury
By Mackenzie Rodrigues | Sports Editor
October 12, 2017
Filed under Football
Redshirt senior quarterback Max Browne is out for the remainder of the football season after sustaining an injury to his throwing arm Saturday, Oct. 7, in the loss to Syracuse. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi announced the end of Browne’s season Thursday afternoon. Browne underwent surgery Wednesday morn...
Forget the Pete, hit the street: Pitt to play at Cathedral
By Abbot Zuk | Staff Writer
October 11, 2017
Filed under Men's Basketball, Top Stories, Women's Basketball
The Pitt basketball teams are leaving the Pete behind Friday night, but for this spectacle they’re not travelling far. Migrating from upper campus to Bigelow Boulevard, the Panthers will be putting all of their skills on display under the lights outside the Cathedral of Learning. The men’s an...
Alex Kessman named ACC Specialist of the Week
By Jordan Mondell / Assistant Sports Editor
October 10, 2017
After setting a record-breaking field goal kick at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse last weekend, Pitt redshirt freshman placekicker Alex Kessman has been named ACC Specialist of the Week. Though the team narrowly lost to the Orange, Kessman did his part by nailing field goals at 42, 49 and 56 yards — th...
Pitt mens soccer edges out PSU in overtime, 3-2
By Trent Leonard / For The Pitt News
October 10, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Coming off of a tough loss against No. 16 Duke last Friday, Pitt men’s soccer was looking for a revival. In a tense matchup against in-state rival Penn State Tuesday at Ambrose Urbanic Field, they found just that. Pitt (7-6-0, 1-4 ACC) edged out Penn State (2-8-2, 0-5 Big 10) in a heart-pounding ...
‘DiNucci is the guy’: Narduzzi announces quarterback changes
By Abbot Zuk | Staff Writer
October 9, 2017
Filed under Football
Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi named redshirt sophomore Ben DiNucci as Saturday’s starting quarterback in Monday’s press conference. Redshirt senior Max Browne sustained an injury to his throwing arm in the weekend’s loss to Syracuse. Unsure of how long that injury will put him out, Na...
Panthers’ secondary shows improvement in Syracuse loss
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
October 9, 2017
Filed under Football, Top Stories
Pitt’s defense — particularly the secondary — has become an easy target for criticism during the last two years. There have been low moments, such as last year’s 37-36 loss at North Carolina and this year’s 59-21 loss to Oklahoma State, but in Saturday’s loss against Syracuse, the Pitt defense earned som...
Weekend sports: Panthers’ performances vary from court to field
By Trent Leonard | For The Pitt News
October 9, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
While the Pitt women’s cross country and volleyball teams excelled this weekend, other Panther performances were less than ideal. Both men’s and women’s swim teams opened their seasons with unsatisfactory performances, and the women’s soccer team extended its losing streak. Women’s Vo...
Orange squeeze out win over Panthers, 27-24
By David Leftwich / Senior Staff Writer
October 7, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports
Down three on their own 5-yard line with 50 seconds remaining, the Panther football team needed to drive the ball into field goal range to send the game into overtime. Their backup and third string quarterbacks each took snaps, but both failed to launch a comeback final drive, leading to a 27-24 Syrac...
Blue Devils take down Panthers, 2-0
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
October 6, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
The Pitt men’s soccer team’s winning streak ended abruptly Friday night after No. 19 Duke’s 2-0 victory. The Panthers (6-6-0 overall, 1-4-0 ACC) fell to the Blue Devils (9-2-1 overall, 3-2-0 ACC) after Pitt’s mistakes gave Duke too many opportunities. “The game started one way that wasn’t...
Syracuse stomps Pitt women’s soccer, 2-0
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
October 5, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Though the Pitt women’s soccer team led the game with 15 shots to Syracuse’s eight, the Panthers couldn’t find the mark and dropped Thursday night’s game, 2-0. The Panthers (3-7-3 overall, 0-4-1 ACC) entered the contest against the Orange (6-4-2 overall, 1-2-1 ACC) fresh off a 7-0 loss to ...
The Pitt News ACC power rankings, week 5 results
By TPN Sports Desk
October 5, 2017
Filed under Football
While five undefeated ACC football teams entered the fifth week of play, only two escaped unscathed. Clemson and Miami remain in the first and second spots, respectively — a result of their unbeatable performances. The Hokies, Blue Devils and Demon Deacons all suffered their first losses of the 2...
Fullback George Aston out for Syracuse game
By Mackenzie Rodrigues | Sports Editor
October 5, 2017
Filed under Football
Redshirt junior fullback George Aston will not play in Saturday’s game against Syracuse. He is listed as “out” after sustaining an injury in Pitt’s Sept. 30 42-10 win against Rice. After taking a hit in the first quarter, Aston spent the remainder of the game off the field. Pitt head coach Pat Na...
Panthers prove professional worth
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
October 4, 2017
Filed under Men's Basketball
With the NBA regular season tip-off only a few weeks away, a couple former Panther basketball players have found their way onto NBA rosters. After fellow Panther James Robinson struggled to get any playing time, only Michael Young and Jamel Artis remain with the chance to secure a spot on an NBA roster...
Prediction: Panthers to crush the Orange
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
October 4, 2017
Filed under Football
The last time Pitt and Syracuse met, the Panthers won a hectic back-and-forth offensive game 76-61 — the highest combined total score in NCAA history. But now the Panthers and the Orange both come into this game 2-3 and are desperate for a win, especially in the ACC. Pitt dominated Rice 42-10 last week, ending its three-game losing streak and giving the team some much-needed life. R...
Men’s soccer defeats no. 14 Columbia, 1-0, improves to winning record
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
October 3, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports, Top Stories
The Pitt men’s soccer team won their second consecutive game against a ranked opponent on Tuesday night. The Panthers (6-5-0) shut out No. 14 Columbia 1-0, handing the Lions (5-1-2) their first loss of the season. The game was Pitt’s third win in a row after last week’s big wins over West Vir...
Men’s soccer shows progress, but faces tough competition ahead
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
October 3, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
When Pitt men’s soccer beat No. 21 Syracuse 2-1 at home on Friday, it was a historic win. The Panthers recorded their first ever ACC win since joining the conference in 2013. Then, they doubled down Tuesday, snagging a 1-0 win against another ranked team — No. 14 Columbia. These wins are a s...
Students sport game day garb
By Sarah Connor, For The Pitt News
October 2, 2017
Filed under Sports Features
As music blasted through speakers in the trunk of a crossover SUV, scores of students tossed footballs and played cornhole in parking lots outside of Heinz Field Saturday before the football team’s game against Rice University. Students wearing blue-and-gold hoodies and knit Pitt beanies danced to the music and took part in th...
‘Max is back’: Narduzzi praises Browne, previews Syracuse
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
October 2, 2017
Filed under Football
Pitt football is coming off a victory for the first time since its season-opener, and head coach Pat Narduzzi made it known at Monday’s press conference. “Obviously it was a much more pleasant Sunday here with our kids,” Narduzzi said. “I couldn’t be happier for our kids. I mean, that’s kind of why ...
Pitt offense bolstered Browne in matchup against Rice
By Abbot Zuk | Staff Writer
October 1, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns
It took until the last day of September for the Pitt Panthers to finally shake their losing streak and defeat the Rice Owls. This was only their second win of the season and their first since Sept. 2. Many marquee players did their part in the Panthers’ success Saturday afternoon — particularly re...
Panthers dominate the pitch, court, trail in weekend sports
By Brandon Glass | Staff Writer
October 1, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
For Pitt’s varsity athletics, the weekend ended with results ranging from historic to dismal. The men’s soccer team set the tone going into the weekend on Friday night, recording the team’s first ACC win since joining the conference in 2013. While cross country had standout performances and ...
Pitt fries Rice, 42-10, snaps losing streak
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 30, 2017
Filed under Football
As redshirt senior Max Browne threw a 48-yard touchdown in the Panthers’ opening drive, he finally solved the Panther quarterback dilemma. In a 42-10 rout of the Rice Owls (1-4), the Panther offense found its footing, putting up more than 400 yards through the air as the team picked up its second...
Gallery: Pitt fries Rice, 42-10, snaps losing streak
September 30, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Uncategorized
...
Powders, pills and proteins: students and athletes explore diet supplements
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
September 28, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Sports, Sports Features
Every morning when Rui Tanimura wakes up, she makes sure she has enough fuel to survive her morning lectures — a bowl of oatmeal, a handful of fruit and a spoonful of peanut butter. In addition to making herself a filling breakfast, she also prepares the rest of her meals for the day — rice, vegetabl...
The Pitt News ACC power rankings, week four results
By TPN Sports Desk
September 28, 2017
Filed under Football
College football is entering week five of play, and fans are learning where ACC teams stand. Clemson has continued to steamroll competition and is secure in the top-ranked spot. Pitt, however, began in the middle of the pack and has dropped all the way to last place. With multiple matchups with undefeated...
Pat Narduzzi’s football radio show review
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
September 27, 2017
Filed under Sports Columns
It’s easy to wonder if Pitt’s administration has to ask Bill Hillgrove his opinion before they hire a coach, because more times than not they’re also hiring his cohost. Hillgrove, the play-by-play man for the Pitt men’s basketball and football teams, has hosted radio programs with former P...
Prediction: Panthers’ improvements could inspire victory
By Abbot Zuk | Staff Writer
September 27, 2017
Filed under Football
The Pitt Panthers will face off against the Rice Owls for the first time since 1951 in Pitt’s final non-conference game of the 2017 season on Saturday. Already four games into the season, the Panthers and the Owls are both struggling to find their groove. Each team is entering Saturday’s game with a 1...
Column: NCAA transfer rules unfair to student athletes
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
September 26, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports Columns
Nick Saban, head coach of Alabama football and four-time national championship winner, is poised to be paid an astounding $11 million this year and has an eight-year deal that will pay him $65 million through 2025. These lucrative contracts are highly desired by all college coaches, and you can’t b...
Panthers maul Mountaineers, 7-0, in highest-scoring game since 1998
By Brandon Glass | Staff Writer
September 26, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Pitt men’s soccer snapped West Virginia’s 10-game Backyard Brawl unbeaten streak, dominating the Mountaineers 7-0 in the Panthers’ highest scoring game since 1998. The Panthers (4-5-0, 0-3-0 ACC) held the momentum all night against their rival Mountaineers (6-2-2, 0-0-0 Big 12) on Tuesday at P...
Henderson named ACC Specialist sixth time
By Mackenzie Rodrigues | Sports Editor
September 25, 2017
Filed under Football, Top Stories
Quadree Henderson was named the ACC Specialist of the Week following his standout performance against Georgia Tech — his sixth time receiving the honor in his Pitt career. This is the first time this season the junior wide receiver received the weekly specialist honor. His standout performance i...
Narduzzi’s press conference leaves questions
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 25, 2017
Filed under Football
After three straight losses, head coach Pat Narduzzi isn’t panicking — he’s focusing on improving the Panthers football team’s execution. In a press conference with the media on Monday, Narduzzi addressed some of the team’s issues executing plays against Georgia Tech in last week’s game and looked ahead to this week’s matchup against...
Panthers’ gutless play calling continues to disappoint
By Abbot Zuk | Staff Writer
September 24, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Over the course of their three losses this season, the Panthers have surrendered more than 30 points in each matchup. It would be far too easy to pin the Panthers’ woes on the defense. This Saturday’s game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets was anything but a defensive farce, though. The...
Preview: Panther softball, tennis prepare for spring through exhibition
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 24, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
The Panther softball and tennis teams have been preparing for the spring season through fall exhibition play, both while working through major hang-ups from last season. Winning only seven combined games in the ACC, the two teams are looking for big turnarounds this year. After bursting out of the g...
Yellow Jackets sting Panthers, 35-17
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 23, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports
With four separate opportunities to make the Yellow Jackets pay after turnovers, the Panther offense failed to convert any of these chances into points leading to Saturday’s 35-17 loss in their first ACC game of the season. On the day, the Panther offense put up less than 200 yards and only one t...
Prediction: Georgia Tech, offensive threat
By Abbot Zuk | For The Pitt News
September 21, 2017
Filed under Football
The last time the Pitt Panthers and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets squared off, it took two exemplary scoring plays by Pitt — with less than five minutes of play remaining — to seal a victory. Quarterback Nathan Peterman connected with tight end Scott Orndoff, who bolted down the field for a 74-yard ...
Pitt women’s soccer ties, ends losing streak
By Adin Link | For The Pitt News
September 21, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
The Pitt women’s soccer team snapped a four-game losing streak, but not with a win. The Panthers (3-4-3, 0-1-1 ACC) returned home to Ambrose Urbanic Field Thursday evening for a match against the Virginia Tech Hokies (6-2-2, 0-1-1 ACC). The Hokies scored in the 47th minute, and after being down...
Men welcome: Club field hockey encourages coed participation
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
September 20, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Club Sports
Every now and then you’ll read a story about a high school woman joining the football or baseball team. It’s a feat that defies gender norms and expectations. But rarely do you hear the opposite. In field hockey, a sport dominated by women, scenarios for men to join don’t present themselves of...
The Pitt News ACC power rankings, week three results
By TPN Sports Desk
September 20, 2017
Filed under Football
After several teams faced game cancellations in the last two weeks, this week welcomed play for all teams. Even though Florida State and Miami have only played one game each this season, they remain at the top of rankings based on preseason and early season performances. Pitt’s second loss of the...
Pitt men’s soccer conquers Western Pa. foe RMU, 2-1
By Kaitlyn French | Staff Writer
September 19, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Outfitted in butterscotch-yellow jerseys, Pitt men’s soccer (2-4-0, 0-1-0 ACC) took to Ambrose Urbanic Field Tuesday to defeat Western Pennsylvania neighbor Robert Morris (0-6-1). Led by goals from first-year forward Colin Brezniak and junior midfielder Joshua Gaspari, the Panthers controlled...
Column: Watching sports forges connections, unites in history
By Abbot Zuk | For The Pitt News
September 19, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports Columns
Whether it was my mother or father taking me to a ball game, or everyone in Catholic grade school sporting Steelers jerseys on Fridays before pivotal games — sports have been ingrained in me since the start. Like most decisions made at a young age, my sports-rooting interests were predetermined by...
Quarterback remains questionable following Narduzzi’s press conference
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 18, 2017
Filed under Football
After Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi addressed the media Monday, the most important question remained unanswered. Who will be the starting quarterback against Georgia Tech? During a brief press conference Monday afternoon, Narduzzi talked about the Panthers’ struggles against No. 6 Oklahoma...
Volleyball analysis: Error-prone Panthers struggle against top teams
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 18, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports, Top Stories
After fighting their way back from a two-set deficit against No. 25 Iowa State, the Panthers held serve with a chance to win the volleyball match in the fifth set. In losing that point and eventually the match on Sept. 2., the team squandered a big win and fell to 1-3 on the season. Despite now holding...
Panthers stampede, hit kills, save goals in weekend sports
By Brandon Glass | For The Pitt News
September 17, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
It was a busy weekend in Pitt sports, as varsity teams traveled near and far to take on fearsome foes in competition. Though it was a rough trip to North Carolina for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams, the men’s cross country team trampled over the competition and women’s volleyball ac...
Analysis: Narduzzi, Conklin must realize weaknesses in Pitt defense
By Kevin Bertha | Staff Writer
September 17, 2017
Oklahoma State made history in its matchup against Pitt on Saturday. Not only was it Pitt’s worst loss at Heinz Field, but — for the first time in 12 years — an FBS team had four different receivers rack up at least 100 yards each in the same game. The Panthers on the field aren’t the only ones to blame...
Cowboys crush Panthers, 59-21, in Pitt football’s worst loss at Heinz Field
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 16, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football
As if last week’s loss to in-state rival Penn State wasn’t demoralizing enough, the Panthers were blown out in their worst loss ever at Heinz Field by the Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday. Senior quarterback Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys’ passing offense were too much for the Panthers, posting...
Gallery: Oklahoma State crush Pitt football, 59-21
September 16, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports, Visual
The Oklahoma State Cowboys lead Pitt 49-14 at halftime. ...
Q&A: Penny Semaia helps student-athletes attain success
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
September 14, 2017
Filed under Sports Features, Top Stories
Standing at 6 feet 5 inches, Penny Semaia can seem like a pretty intimidating figure. But once Semaia starts talking, any intimidation falls away. He makes you feel welcome from the moment you shake his hand and exudes friendliness. It’s an infectious positivity many in the Pitt community have beco...
Prediction: Panthers could pull upset against Cowboys
By Ryan Zimba | Staff Writer
September 14, 2017
Filed under Football
The Panthers entered the fourth quarter tied at 38 against the Oklahoma State Cowboys last year in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Cowboys took over — with a chance to win — with just under two minutes to go. They capitalized on the possession, as quarterback Mason Rudolph took advantage of Pitt’...
Cowboys’ combo more threatening than PSU
By Abbot Zuk | For The Pitt News
September 13, 2017
Filed under Sports Columns
Trace McSorley’s aerial attack and Saquon Barkley’s electrifying footwork from Saturday’s football game against Penn State will look like child’s play compared to what senior quarterback Mason Rudolph and senior wide receiver James Washington of Oklahoma State have in store for the Panthers....
The Pitt News ACC power rankings, week two results
By TPN Sports Desk
September 13, 2017
Filed under Football
With eight of the ACC’s 14 teams going up against Power Five competition in week two, it was a pretty exciting weekend for the conference as we started to figure out where teams truly stand. Clemson stays on top of our rankings this week, but there was a lot of movement in the middle as there were...
Column: How former Panthers fared week one of the NFL
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
September 12, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns, Top Stories
The NFL regular season started last Thursday, and while some familiar Pitt alumni took to the field once again, some new Panthers joined them in the hopes of making it to the Super Bowl. Pitt is known for producing all-pros — a distinction the Associated Press gives to players who are considered...
TPN Panther spotlight: Nika Markovic, Qadree Ollison, Javi Perez
By Jordan Mondell and David Leftwich | TPN Staff
September 12, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Fall sports are just starting to get exciting, and there has already been a fair share of pitfalls and triumphs across the board. But regardless of the games outcomes, here are some Panthers who have stepped into their roles and proven their worth on the court, field and pitch. Nika Markovic Mar...
Quick takes: Pitt football
By TPN Sports Desk
September 11, 2017
Filed under Football
Following Saturday's game against rival Penn State, The Pitt News sports staff looked at a few specific aspects of the football team’s game — offense, defense and head coach Pat Narduzzi’s — and how they will need to adjust as they take on Oklahoma State this weekend. Here are a few of our takeaways on the Panth...
Narduzzi talks loss and looks ahead to Oklahoma State
By Ryan Zimba | Staff Writer
September 11, 2017
Filed under Football
Despite Pitt facing another top 10 team in the Oklahoma State Cowboys this weekend, Pitt football Head Coach Pat Narduzzi focused much of Monday’s press conference on last week’s rivalry game against Penn State. The Panthers lost the game with a lopsided score of 33-14, but they came close to m...
Not just football: volleyball, cross country, soccer compete over weekend
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 10, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
While most Panther fans focused on the football team’s 33-14 loss to Penn State Saturday, Sept. 9, four other Pitt sports teams were in action this weekend. The women’s soccer team and the men’s soccer team suffered close defeats while the women’s cross country team and the volleyball team...
DiNucci deserves starting slot over Browne
By Kevin Bertha | Staff Writer
September 10, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Max Browne has started two games for the Pitt Panthers in his career, and he shouldn’t start a third. Unfortunately, head coach Pat Narduzzi doesn’t share this sentiment — yet. When asked if Browne was still the starter after Saturday’s performance against Penn State, Narduzzi responded with a...
Kent State Golden Flashes outplay Panthers, 1-0
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
September 10, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
In the first of a four-game stretch on the road, the Panthers lost in the 89th minute to the Kent State Golden Flashes on Thursday night in Kent, Ohio. Pitt came out firing with three shots in the first 10 minutes. Sophomore forward Christiana Davey hit a saved shot on goal, and redshirt junior forward...
Pitt drops the ball: Penn State wins 33-14
By Ryan Zimba | Staff Writer
September 9, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, GameDay
Just like Pitt did last year at home, the Nittany Lions jumped out to an early lead, but the Panthers couldn’t catch up — eventually falling 33-14 during Saturday’s rivalry football game. Despite piling up more yards than the Nittany Lions (2-0) at Beaver Stadium, Penn State’s red zone def...
Prediction: Lions loom over Panthers
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
September 7, 2017
Filed under Football, GameDay, Top Stories
When Ryan Lewis hauled in the last season’s game-clinching interception against Penn State, he secured a year of bragging rights. Regardless of Penn State’s ultimate Big Ten success last year, Pitt fans could flaunt their 42-39 triumph. But as the renewed rivalry with Penn State approaches its second...
Amid trash talk, some promote unity
By Mackenzie Rodrigues | Assistant Sports Editor
September 7, 2017
Usually college football rivalries bring out the absolute worst in fans. Although this week’s Pitt-Penn State game has generated its fair share of tasteless trash talk, some people are trying to use the contest for some good. If you spend any time on social media and you have any friends or followers claimin...
Panthers need press: Narduzzi’s blackout is unnecessary and limits coverage
By Ryan Zimba | Sports Editor
September 7, 2017
Filed under GameDay, Sports Columns, Top Stories
Two weeks ago, the alteration of Pitt football’s biggest tradition — singing “Sweet Caroline” at the end of the third quarter — left the program searching for a new tradition to take its place. Thanks to Head Coach Pat Narduzzi, they may have found it. Narduzzi and the Pitt football pr...
Pitt defense demands new approach
By Kevin Bertha | Staff Writer
September 7, 2017
Filed under GameDay, Sports Columns
With victories over the national champions Clemson and Big Ten champions Penn State, the 2016 Pitt football team racked up some of the program’s biggest accomplishments in recent memory. But to continue the success in 2017, head coach Pat Narduzzi will have to find different ways to win games — s...
Pitt vs. Penn State: Unrequited rivalry
By Mackenzie Rodrigues | Assistant Sports Editor
September 6, 2017
Filed under Sports Columns
When you’re in the stands at a Pitt football game, there are a handful of cheers you’re bound to hear: “Hail to Pitt,” “P-I-T-T: Let’s Go Pitt,” and the infamous anti-Penn State chant. Regardless of whether or not Penn State is the opponent on the field, that chant will echo throughout th...
The Pitt News ACC power rankings, week one results
By TPN Sports Desk
September 6, 2017
Filed under Football
After week one of the college football season, there’s already a shake-up at the top of our standings: top-ranked Florida State lost to No.1 Alabama and lost quarterback Deondre Francois for the season. As for Pitt, it moved down one spot after the nail-biting overtime win against the Youngstow...
2017 NFL preview: Patriots vs the field
By Steve Rotstein / Senior Staff Writer
September 5, 2017
After one of the most stunning and unforgettable Super Bowls in recent memory, the 2016-17 NFL season ended the same way it always seems to — with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy as the champions. For the third time in their five Super Bowl seasons, the Patriot...
Men’s soccer scores second win, improves to 2-2
By Dominic Campbell / Staff Writer
September 4, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
In its last game before conference play next weekend, the Pitt men’s soccer team hit the road to take on the Loyola Greyhounds, winning by a score of 1-0 to improve to 2-2 on the year. First-year forward Alexander Dexter was the lone goal scorer of the night, putting the Panthers up 1-0 in the ...
Max Browne buckles in Panthers debut
By David Leftwich / Staff Writer
September 4, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns
As redshirt senior quarterback Max Browne hit wide receiver Jester Weah for the game-winning touchdown this Saturday against Youngstown State, Panther fans saw a flash of what made Browne a five-star recruit coming out of high school. But that wasn’t an accurate representation of Browne’s Panth...
Women’s cross country dominates Duquesne Duals
By Dominic Campbell / Staff Writer
September 4, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
On a wet and soggy Saturday morning in Schenley Park, Pitt’s men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in their first races of the year, overcoming the subpar conditions to finish in the top two at the annual Duquesne Duals. The women’s team won the 5k race handily, beating second-place...
Women’s soccer surrenders to Illinois State, 1-0
By Brandon Glass / Staff Writer
September 4, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
After going undefeated through its first five games, the Pitt women’s soccer team dropped its first game of the season Sunday afternoon at Ambrose Urbanic Field, losing 1-0 to the Illinois State Redbirds. The two teams got roughly the same amount of shots on the day, with the Redbirds (2-3-1) outshoo...
Women’s volleyball goes 1-1 at Dayton Invitational
By Grant Burgman / Staff Writer
September 4, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Facing some of the nation’s best teams at the start of the season, the Pitt women’s volleyball team got off to a disappointing 1-2 start last week, and after their first match this past weekend in Dayton, Ohio, it looked like the massive amounts of errors were becoming a trend. “I'm really disap...
Linebacker Quintin Wirginis out for season with injury
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
September 4, 2017
Pitt linebacker Quintin Wirginis will miss the rest of the season due to injury, head coach Pat Narduzzi revealed Monday. “Quintin Wirginis will be out for the year with a non-football related injury,” Narduzzi said at a press conference. “[It’s] disappointing, but it’s something that we de...
Pitt football bars players from speaking to media ahead of Penn State
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
September 4, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt football announced Sunday that head coach Pat Narduzzi would be the sole spokesperson for the team this week, shutting down player interviews ahead of their rivalry game against Penn State on Saturday. The program followed the same policy last year in an attempt to keep the players focused on...
Men’s soccer secures first season win with defeat of Lancers, 2-0
By Kait French | Staff Writer
September 2, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Friday night’s men’s soccer game looked as though it would end in a 0-0 draw for the Panthers and Longwood Lancers. But Pitt junior Javi Perez scored with a penalty kick in the 76th minute, followed shortly by a goal from first-year Colin Brezniak to give the Panthers the 2-0 win. With the home...
Men’s basketball adds guard Danya Kingsby
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
September 2, 2017
Filed under Men's Basketball, Sports
Head coach Kevin Stallings and the Pitt men’s basketball team added their second commit in the class of 2018 Friday as 6-foot-1 guard Danya Kingsby committed to the program. Kingsby announced his decision on Twitter saying, “I want to compete against the best and I feel the ACC conference is the ...
Panthers escape against Youngstown in overtime thriller, 28-21
By Ryan Zimba | Sports Editor
September 2, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football
Leading by seven in overtime against the Youngstown State Penguins, Pitt redshirt freshman defensive back Bricen Garner made a leaping interception in the end zone, ending the Penguins’ drive and giving the Panthers their first win of the season, 28-21. The Pitt football team (1-0) opened its 2017...
Gallery: Pitt vs Youngstown State
By Anna Bongardino and Wenhao Wu | Assistant Visual Editors
September 2, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports, Visual
In the season opener, Pitt beat Youngstown State 28-21 in overtime. (Photo by Anna Bongardino | Assistant Visual Editor) (Photo by Wenhao Wu | Assistant Visual Editor) (Photo by Wenhao Wu | Assistant Visual Editor) (Photo by Wenhao Wu...
The Pitt News ACC Power Rankings
By TPN Sports Desk
August 31, 2017
Filed under Football
In preparation for ACC play, The Pitt News sports desk had a panel of seven writers rank the conference. Writers ranked the 14 ACC teams and then we tallied up the totals. We will update the rankings toward the end of every week — taking into account the most recent conference results — but for now,...
Underrated Penguins pose threat to Panthers
By Ryan Zimba | Sports Editor
August 31, 2017
Filed under Football
Five years ago to the day, the Youngstown State Penguins came into Heinz Field and handed the Pitt football program one of the most embarrassing losses in its history, 31-17. The game marked the Penguins’ first-ever win over a Bowl Championship Series team, spoiling former head coach Paul Chryst’s...
Leave it to Lyke: Six months of progress
By Mackenzie Rodrigues | Assistant Sports Editor
August 31, 2017
Filed under Sports Columns
When Scott Barnes resigned as athletic director last December, the Pitt athletic department was left without a leader for the second time in two years. Over the next five months, three head coaches had either retired or been fired, and the basketball program was in shambles. Things were looking down...
Panthers pounce on Titans to remain unbeaten, 3-1
By Dominic Campbell | Staff Writer
August 31, 2017
Filed under Sports / Other Varsity Sports
With its third win of the season, the Pitt women’s soccer team surpassed its previous season’s winnings while maintaining an unbeaten record. The Panthers (3-0-2) took on the Detroit Mercy Titans (2-1-1) Wednesday night at the Ambrose Urbanic Field. Pitt’s total shots nearly tripled those o...
Narduzzi’s disciplinary actions prove continuing commitment
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 29, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns
With his disciplinary actions against four players at the start of training camp, Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi proved something the past three head coaches weren’t able to. He’s committed to the program — for the long run. The Panthers have had four head coaches since 2010 who left th...
Perez on the pitch: Adjusting to studies, soccer
By Jordan Mondell / Contributing Editor
August 29, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports, Sports Features, Top Stories
For Pitt midfielder Javi Perez, the atmosphere at the Petersen Sports Complex is a lot different than what he is used to. The green of the turf beneath his feet is the same, as are the meshy nets of the goals, but in Spain, soccer — correction, futbol — is a bit different. At a top collegiate lev...
Predicting Pitt football’s 2017 campaign
By Dominic Campbell / Staff Writer
August 29, 2017
Coming off a season in which it beat both the national champion and the Big Ten champion, this year’s Pitt football team will have a hard time providing bigger fireworks than it did a year ago. But head coach Pat Narduzzi expects his team to pull it off, setting the bar just as high as previous seas...
Narduzzi keeps focus on Youngstown ahead of PSU rematch
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 28, 2017
With Pitt football’s highly anticipated matchup against Penn State only 11 days away, some might look at this week’s game against the Youngstown State Penguins and dismiss it as an easy win for the Panthers. Just don’t count head coach Pat Narduzzi among them. At his weekly press conference ...
More of the same: Men’s soccer falls to 0-2
By Wyatt Geller / For The Pitt News
August 27, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
After finishing 2-13-3 in head coach Jay Vidovich’s first season, the Pitt men’s soccer team hoped to make drastic improvements this year and notch their first-ever ACC win. After this weekend, though, the team looks similar to the 2016 squad, as it dropped a pair of games in Columbus, Ohio to s...
Volleyball drops two of three to open season
By David Leftwich / Staff Writer
August 27, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
After making it to their first NCAA Tournament since 2004 last fall, the Pitt women’s volleyball team began its 2017 season by traveling to Seattle to take part in the Husky Invitational. In their three games over the weekend, the Panthers (1-2) struggled to play error-free volleyball and squande...
Women’s soccer ties twice, remains unbeaten
By Mackenzie Rodrigues / Assistant Sports Editor
August 27, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Coming off back-to-back wins to start the season, the Pitt women’s soccer team played two similar games this weekend, one on Thursday against the Cincinnati Bearcats and another on Sunday against the Xavier Musketeers. Both were away, both went into double overtime and both ended in a tie. Thursd...
Column: ‘Sweet Caroline’ change not enough
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 27, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns, Top Stories
The Pitt football program’s decision to alter the “Sweet Caroline” tradition was a step in the right direction for the team’s Heinz Field experience, but it could’ve — and should’ve — gone further. The unoriginal tradition of singing Neil Diamond’s 1969 tune has been a trademark o...
Pitt alters “Sweet Caroline” tradition
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 25, 2017
Ahead of its opening week game against the Youngstown State Penguins next Saturday, the Pitt football program announced Friday its nine-year tradition of singing “Sweet Caroline” at the end of the third quarter has come to an end. The tradition, which started during Pitt’s 2008 game against t...
Central Catholic DL David Green joins Panthers
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 24, 2017
The Pitt football program added its second recruit of the week Thursday, as local product David Green committed to head coach Pat Narduzzi. A 6-foot-1 defensive lineman from Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, Green chose the Panthers over Virginia Tech, Minnesota and Rutgers, among others. ...
Florida CB Marquis Williams commits to Pitt
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 22, 2017
Head coach Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt football team added another piece to their 2018 recruiting class Monday, as Florida cornerback Marquis Williams verbally committed to the program. Williams chose the Panthers over 21 other schools including Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Central Florida. He is rated as...
ICYMI: Summer sports timeline
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 22, 2017
Filed under Sports
April 28 - Football head coach Pat Narduzzi dismisses senior defensive tackle Jeremiah Taleni for disciplinary reasons. April 28-29 - Five Panthers are selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, including James Conner, who the Steelers picked in round three. May 2 - Gymnastics head coach Debbie Yohman ret...
Kirk Christodoulou: The punter from Down Under
By Steve Rotstein / Senior Staff Writer
August 21, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Features, Top Stories
Kirk Christodoulou didn’t grow up around the same game as everybody else on the Pitt football team — to him, it’s called “footy.” He doesn’t say he’s going to go practice some punting — he’s going to “have a kick.” He wears cleats just like his teammates — but to him, they’re his ...
Q&A: Akeo talks tournament, travel from Hawaii
By David Leftwich / Staff Writer
August 21, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
When junior setter Kamalani Akeo arrived at Pitt in the fall of 2015, she didn’t quite know what to expect — either on or off the court. After all, she was traveling over 4,500 miles from her hometown of Kapolei, Hawaii, where she played on one of the best high school teams in the state. In her j...
Stallings needs time to execute plan
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 21, 2017
Filed under Men's Basketball, Sports, Sports Columns
“No wonder the Bucs lost last night ... what a jackass.” “Tonight was probably the only setting in which [he] was not the most hated individual in the place.” “Maybe he will throw his back out and be done for the season.” This was the reaction on Twitter when Pitt men’s basketball ...
Pittsburgh pushes Panthers from spotlight
By Dominic Campbell / Staff Writer
August 21, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports Columns
Walking around Pittsburgh, it’s hard to go too long without seeing someone wearing Steelers, Penguins or Pirates gear. The teams are some of the most decorated and storied franchises in American sports — especially in recent years, with the city taking home five championships since 2005 — and...
Q&A: Gavin prepares for first head coaching gig
By Steve Rotstein / Senior Staff Writer
August 21, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
The Pitt wrestling team’s 2016-17 season had a little bit of everything — off-the-mat incidents, suspicious absences, dismissals, a coaching change and even three individual ACC champions. While the program was far from being in dire straits, it was in desperate need of stability. Newly-appointed Athlet...
Women’s soccer survives Hofstra, Duquesne, starts season 2-0
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 20, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Considering they won just two games last year, it’s safe to say the Pitt women’s soccer team didn’t have high expectations coming into the 2017 season. But those expectations might’ve taken a bit of a jump this weekend, as the Panthers equaled their win total from last year after beating Hofstra...
Pitt to honor James Conner with bobblehead
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 17, 2017
The Pitt athletic department announced Thursday there will be a James Conner bobblehead night to honor the former running back at the team’s Oct. 14 homecoming game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. The bobblehead — featuring Conner wearing Pitt’s throwback uniform — will be given ...
Men’s basketball lands 2017 forward Kenechukwu Chukwuka
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 8, 2017
Filed under Men's Basketball, Sports
Pitt head coach Kevin Stallings added the final piece of his 2017 recruiting class Tuesday, getting a commitment from junior college transfer Kenechukwu Chukwuka. Chukwuka, a native of Sweden, announced his decision on Twitter. “After a lot of thinking, I have decided that I’ll be furthering my academic and basketball career at The University of Pittsburgh,” Chukwuka sai...
Football lands Alabama WR Cameron O’Neil
By Ryan Zimba / Sports Editor
August 1, 2017
The Pitt football team’s first day of fall camp ended on a positive note Monday as wide receiver Cameron O’Neil committed to the program’s 2018 class. O’Neil announced his decision on Twitter, also thanking the other schools that gave him the chance to further his career. “I also want ...