France wins World Cup
By Ben Zimmer, For The Pitt News
July 18, 2018
Filed under Sports
The 2018 FIFA World Cup came to a close Sunday as France defeated Croatia 4-2 to claim its second World Cup trophy.
Tight end Charles Reeves dismissed
By Joanna Li, Senior Staff Writer
July 14, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Reeves was dismissed without specific reason from the University, which cited "disciplinary actions."
World Cup recap: France makes finals, Germany goes under
By Ben Zimmer | For The Pitt News
July 11, 2018
Filed under Sports
The 2018 FIFA World Cup has been the stage for major upsets and shock performances, which have many considering it as one of the most dramatic to have ever occurred. With Croatia and England playing in the second semi-final Wednesday, the world is looking toward which unlikely team will face France — ...
Pitt Football gains 11 recruits
By Joanna Li | Senior Staff Writer
June 20, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Entering June with zero commitments from the 2019 recruiting class, Pitt’s football team found itself stuck with a late start to its recruiting trail. But despite the slow start, the pace suddenly changed as the the count rocketed to 11 commits in just one weekend, with nine of those players verbally ...
Panther pride: O’Neill, Whitehead and Maddox’s journeys to the NFL
By Trent Leonard | Senior Staff Writer
May 30, 2018
Pitt’s 2018 NFL Draft selections — offensive lineman Brian O’Neill, safety Jordan Whitehead and cornerback Avonte Maddox — all share common skills that made them appealing to professional teams — positional diversity and exceptional speed. Had these athletes played for different college teams, they may ...
Tampa Bay selects Jordan Whitehead with the 117th overall pick in the NFL Draft
By Trent Leonard | Senior Staff Writer
April 28, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt football had its second player taken off the board— after offensive lineman Brian O’Neill— when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected safety Jordan Whitehead in the fourth round with the 117th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Despite dealing with two shortened seasons after an impressive first year, Whi...
Minnesota Vikings pick Brian O’Neill 62nd overall in NFL Draft
By Trent Leonard | Senior Staff Writer
April 27, 2018
It took nearly two rounds, but the Pitt football team finally saw some recognition in the NFL Draft Friday night when the Minnesota Vikings selected offensive lineman Brian O’Neill with the 62nd overall pick. This is the culmination of a successful three-year career with the Panthers for O’Neill, whe...
Spring Game analysis: Pitt defense shined while offense struggled
By Cale Berger | Staff Writer
April 15, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt’s annual Blue and Gold Spring Game may be the first chance of the year for Pitt students, alumni and fans to tailgate and bring their favorite jerseys out of retirement, but it is also an opportunity to get a small taste of what the upcoming season will bring on the field. This year was no ...
Gallery: Spring Blue and Gold game
By Thomas Yang | Visual Editor
April 15, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Visual
The Panthers split their football team into Blue and Gold sides Saturday afternoon for their annual Spring Game, a contest in which neither offense looked exceptional. It proved fitting that a defensive touchdown — junior defensive back Dane Jackson’s 60-yard interception-turned-touchdown — handed...
Blue beats Gold, 10-3, in Spring Game defensive battle
By Trent Leonard and Joanna Li | TPN Staff
April 14, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
The Panthers split their football team into Blue and Gold teams Saturday afternoon for their annual Spring Game, a contest in which neither offense looked exceptional. It proved fitting that a defensive touchdown — redshirt junior defensive back Dane Jackson’s 60-yard interception-turned-touchdown ...
Pickett proves worth as rising Panthers star
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
March 21, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Features
First-year Kenny Pickett wasn’t supposed to take a snap last year, much less lead the team to the biggest win of the season. As the third-string quarterback for the Pitt football team entering the 2017 season, he was firmly entrenched behind redshirt senior Max Browne and sophomore Ben DiNucci. The expec...
Narduzzi rounds out staff for 2018 season
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
February 28, 2018
Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi announced three coaching appointments Saturday, finalizing his 2018 staff. Narduzzi promoted defensive line coach Charlie Partridge to assistant head coach, hired Cory Sanders as safeties coach and brought in Paris Johnson Sr. as assistant director of player perso...
Pitt nabs top recruits on National Signing Day
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
February 7, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt football has almost rounded out its squad for the 2018 season after National Signing Day Wednesday. Some players who signed were expected, including Belle Vernon offensive lineman Blake Zubovic and linebacker Wendell Davis of Richmond, Virginia, who both gave their verbal commitments to Pitt last year. Still, five brand-new Panthers have si...
Pitt receives commit from 3-star recruit Erick Hallett II
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
February 4, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt football received another commit for the 2018 class in Erick Hallett II, according to a tweet posted Sunday morning. The 5-foot-11 and 175-pound defensive back is a 3-star recruit, according to 247sports.com, and was one of the top uncommitted players in Texas. He helped lead his team at Cy-Fair High School to a 6A-DII championship in...
Column: Hating on the Super Bowl is so last year
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
January 31, 2018
Filed under Sports, Sports Columns
The biggest mistake I continually make, over and over, is logging onto Facebook during a huge sporting event. This year, I’ll probably slip up again with the 2018 Super Bowl. It isn’t memes about Tom Brady’s bizarre-looking — but also somehow handsome — face or general trash talk from eith...
Wendell Davis brings linebacker depth to Pitt
By Alex Lehmbeck | Staff Writer
January 17, 2018
When Wendell Davis committed to Pitt in June of 2017, the Panthers realized right away they had gotten a good one. Head coach Pat Narduzzi tweeted his excitement fewer than 20 minutes later, with a hearty “PITT IS IT!! #L1TS8URGH #H2P #X2.” The three-star prospect, according to rivals.com, is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker from Richmond, Virginia, and one of 17 players to sign their National Letters of Intent to Pittsburgh on Dec. 20. The selection of Pitt comes over some major offers, including Boston College, Duke, Michigan State and UCF. ...
Defensive coordinator Josh Conklin leaves Pitt
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
January 2, 2018
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt defensive coordinator Josh Conklin will be leaving the team for Wofford College, head coach Pat Narduzzi confirmed Tuesday. Reports Monday night said Wofford — an FCS school in South Carolina — would hire Conklin as the new head coach of the Terriers, which Pitt confirmed Tuesday. “We...
DiNucci announces transfer from Pitt
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
December 14, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Backup Pitt quarterback Ben Dinucci has announced his decision to transfer, according to a Tweet posted Thursday afternoon. The redshirt sophomore and Pine-Richland High School graduate announced, with two years of eligibility left, he will be moving to an undisclosed school in January of 2018. ...
Whitehead announces entry into NFL Draft
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
December 11, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt football has lost yet another member of the squad to the NFL, as junior defensive back Jordan Whitehead declares for the 2018 draft. The Aliquippa native and former WPIAL player made his announcement Monday morning on Twitter. “After much thought and discussion with my family, I have decided to begin prepar...
Junior-college quarterback commits to Pitt
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
December 10, 2017
Pitt football just signed a junior-college quarterback for next season, extending their roster under center. Tyler Zelinski of Erie Community College said Sunday on Twitter he committed to Pitt as a walk-on. After some consistent performances at the end of the season, first-year Kenny Pickett emer...
Athletes, educators discuss activism in sports
By Brian Salvato | For The Pitt News
December 6, 2017
Filed under Campus, News, Sports, Sports Features, Top Stories
When former third-string Pitt kicker Ian Troost took a knee during the national anthem at the team’s Oct. 14 loss to NC State, his motivation was rooted in his background. “My reason, other than to highlight police brutality and social injustice in the United States, was because I came from a b...
Editorial: NFL player safety more important than politics
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
December 6, 2017
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
It seems like the National Football League won’t leave the headlines. The week 13 game Monday night between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals turned violent, resulting in a potentially life-altering spinal injury for Steelers’ linebacker Ryan Shazier and multiple players’ ejections...
Pitt football’s rebuilding shows in final game
By Kevin Bertha | Staff Writer
November 27, 2017
For the second year in a row, and nearly 10 years to the day since the infamous “13-9” win over West Virginia, a mediocre Pitt football team upset another No. 2 team in the nation. The victory over Miami marked a satisfying end to a frustrating rebuilding campaign for the Panthers. Pitt started of...
Pitt sports gobble up wins over Thanksgiving break
By Brandon Glass and Trent Leonard | TPN Staff
November 27, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
Pitt sports had a lot to be thankful for over the holiday break. Aside from turkey and stuffing, teams saw historic wins and conference championship titles on the menu. While the Pitt men’s basketball team had uneven results on the court, football, volleyball and women’s basketball brought in...
Pitt upsets No. 2 Miami, 24-14, to finish season
By David Leftwich / Senior Staff Writer
November 24, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports
Playing the spoiler role for a second straight season, the Panthers pulled off their biggest upset win of the year conquering the previously undefeated No. 2 Miami Hurricanes 24-14 at Heinz Field. Marking its second straight year with a late-season victory against a top-three team, Pitt football (5-...
Weekend sports: women sweep, while men suffer
By Trent Leonard and Jordan Mondell | TPN Staff
November 20, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports
As the fall sports teams near the end of their regular seasons and the winter teams get underway, five teams took the field, court, pool and mat this weekend. Women’s basketball triumphed over Towson in double digits, and volleyball swept two ACC teams in straight sets, but the wrestling team was pinne...
Pickett Pitt’s only promising prospect
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
November 19, 2017
The Pitt football team’s heartbreaking 20-14 loss to Virginia Tech on Saturday brought their season record to 4-7, while also disqualifying them from bowl contention for the first time since 2007. The loss also overshadowed what should have been an exciting occasion — the emergence of first-year ...
Gallery: Pitt football falls to Virginia Tech, losing bowl eligibility
By John Hamilton / Managing Editor
November 18, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories, Visual
The Pitt football team couldn’t convert on four straight plays at the goal line with a minute to go in the fourth quarter — losing 20-14 to the Virginia Tech Hokies and any chance at a bowl game. Read the recap here. ...
Prediction: Hokies to win, and that’s what it’s all about
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
November 17, 2017
There isn’t much optimism surrounding the Pitt football team after the Panthers fell to North Carolina, 34-31, in their last game. That loss, which gave the woeful Tar Heels their first ACC win of the year, brought the Panthers’ season record to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the ACC. And with a form...
The Pitt News ACC power rankings, week 11 results
By The Pitt News Staff
November 17, 2017
As the end of the regular season approaches, college football teams in the ACC inch toward rounding out their records and competing for coveted bowl slots. While Clemson and Miami stand firm at the top of the pack, Pitt, Duke and Florida State all suffered losses — resulting in a slide to the bott...
Panthers make fatal mistakes against Tar Heels
By David Leftwich | Senior Staff Writer
November 13, 2017
A kickoff returned for a touchdown, a fumble near the goal line and a trick play touchdown may have been the biggest plays of the day Thursday — and they all went against the Panther football team. A late touchdown by the North Carolina Tar Heels was the final blow to the Panther football team Thu...
Gallery: The Weekend in Sports
By TPN Staff
November 13, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports, Visual, Women's Basketball
...
Gallery: Pitt football falls to UNC, 34-31
By John Hamilton and Christian Snyder / TPN Staff
November 10, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Visual
...
Prediction: Panthers share quarterback woes with Tar Heels
By Adin Link | Staff Writer
November 9, 2017
The narrative for the football programs of Pitt (4-5 overall, 2-3 ACC) and UNC (1-8 overall, 0-6 ACC) have been similar this season. Not only are both teams experiencing hangovers from successful 2016 campaigns, but the teams’ disappointing seasons can be attributed to one major similarity — the...
Weekend sports: volleyball splits matches, while men’s soccer faces shut out
By Kait French | Staff Writer
October 30, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports, Uncategorized
This weekend was cold and rainy in Pittsburgh, but it didn’t stop the Panthers from taking to the field, pitch and pool in heated competition. While football conquered their second ACC team in a row, and swimming and diving made waves, men’s soccer faltered and cross country didn’t quite lead t...
Weekend sports: Panther soccer falters, while swimming and diving make a splash
By Kait French | Staff Writer
October 23, 2017
Filed under Sports, Sports / Other Varsity Sports, Top Stories
Swimming and diving The Panthers opened their home season this weekend as they hosted Virginia and Louisiana State in a two-day tri-meet at Trees Pool. The weekend opened up Friday with the divers taking to their boards to start off the meet. Senior diver Meme Sharp took fourth place on the 3...
Darrin Hall adds a needed spark to Pitt offense
By Trent Leonard | Staff Writer
October 22, 2017
In his breakout performance, junior running back Darrin Hall led Pitt to a 24-17 victory over Duke Saturday, rushing 24 times for an incredible 254 yards and three touchdowns. Hall accounted for more than half of the Panthers’ total 485 offensive yards and all three of their touchdowns. His 92...
That was then, this is now: Pitt football undefeated 100 years ago
By Colin Martin | For The Pitt News
October 17, 2017
The year was 1917 — neither the Cathedral of Learning nor the Pittsburgh Steelers existed, and the Pittsburgh Pirates had finished last in the MLB standings with a 51-103 record. This was also the same year Pitt’s football team completed a perfect 10-0 season. Times have certainly changed. ...
Narduzzi’s quarterback shuffle costs Panthers
By Adin Link | For The Pitt News
October 15, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns
This season’s Panther football team has certainly not been afraid to make unconventional choices in their game plan, especially when it comes to the quarterback position. Pat Narduzzi has used two different quarterbacks in every game this season and in Saturday’s 35-17 loss to NC State, he did no...
Gallery: NC State defeats Pitt, 35-17
By Thomas Yang and Anna Bongardino | TPN Staff
October 14, 2017
Filed under Football, Sports, Visual
...
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...
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...
Trump’s NFL comments ignore players’ real concerns
By Will Schulman | For The Pitt News
October 6, 2017
After taking the gold and bronze medals in the 200-meter dash at the 1968 Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos shocked the world — the two Olympians held up black gloved fists for the entire anthem. When Colin Kaepernick, then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback, decided last year to kneel for th...
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’ gutless play calling continues to disappoint
By Abbot Zuk | Staff Writer
September 25, 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...
Editorial: Critics of anthem protests aren’t patriotic
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 24, 2017
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
When the Steelers walked onto the field before yesterday’s game against the Chicago Bears, the booing they received wasn’t just because they were the away team. Shortly before the game began, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told Jamie Erdahl of CBS Sports that Pittsburgh’s NFL team would rem...
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...
Tailgate Guys company partners with Pitt
By Jesse Madden | For The Pitt News
September 17, 2017
Filed under City, News, Top Stories
Peng Su’s first time tailgating at a Pitt game consisted of the usual tailgate staples — KanJam, food and cornhole. But he found his favorite part about the pre-game tradition was the view he and his fellow tailgaters had from their position on the Great Lawn, the grassy area near Heinz Field bet...
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...
Rival fans flock to Happy Valley for Pitt vs. PSU
By Grant Burgman | Staff Writer
September 11, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Campus, News
Stephen Fastuca gallivanted around the tailgate grounds surrounding Beaver Stadium dressed head-to-toe in Penn State attire. He wore blue and white suede dress shoes and Penn State-colored pants, topping his outfit off with a giant Penn State belt buckle on his waist and a Nittany Lions fedora on his h...
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...
Video: Pitt students make Penn State game predictions
By Kyleen Considine / Visual Editor
September 8, 2017
Don’t punt on LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports
By Henry Glitz | Opinions Editor
September 7, 2017
Filed under Columns, GameDay, Opinions
When Pitt’s football team faces off against Penn State tomorrow at Beaver Stadium, both teams will continue a tradition which began in the 19th century — but in a vastly different culture. At the teams’ first meeting in 1893, Pitt had yet to integrate, and Penn State had never admitted a black s...
Tailgate tunes: Pitt vs. PSU game day playlist
By Jack Mulligan / For The Pitt News
September 7, 2017
Filed under Culture, GameDay, Music
Every college football fan in Pennsylvania has a reason to get excited for this Saturday’s game. Thousands of fans from both teams will meet at the massive Beaver Stadium for the in-state matchup. After Pitt’s stunning victory last year at Heinz Field, a lot is riding on this game for both teams....
Party in the parking lot: students talk tailgating
By Janine Faust and Caroline Bourque | Assistant News Editor
September 7, 2017
Filed under Campus, GameDay, Top Stories
For Keith Miller, the best part of tailgating is giving out food to strangers and listening to “dad music.” “I’ve got a huge grill that barely fits in my SUV that I bring to games, and I always share the hot dogs and hamburgers that I make with people passing by,” Miller said. “And I like the ...
Retro Oakland: Pitt’s catwalk of football fashion
By Lexi Kennell / Culture Editor
September 7, 2017
Filed under 2. Featured, Culture, GameDay
Sporting black long-sleeved turtlenecks and dark pants, Pitt’s 1899 football team looks like a bunch of brooding postmodern writers. But the beatnik era didn’t happen for another 50 years, making our athletic predecessors look like fashion-forward icons. And as our school went from the Western...
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...
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...
GALLERY: Pitt football’s Spring Game
By Anna Bongardino | Staff Photographer
April 15, 2017
After Wednesday's draft, Pitt's Gold Team defeated the Blue Team in the annual Spring Game held at Heinz Field Saturday, April 15. Quadree Henderson racked up 137 yards and a touchdown for the Gold Team in a 23-14 win. ...
Pitt football decimates Duke in highest scoring game of season, 56-14
By Dan Sostek | Senior Staff Writer
November 19, 2016
The last time the Pitt football team broke out its retro uniforms, the Panthers needed every page in their playbook to pull out a win, as a last-second stop sealed the game against Georgia Tech in early October. Donning the royal blue-and-mustard yellow outfits for the second time this season on Sat...
GALLERY: Pitt vs Duke Football
By Jordan Mondell and John Hamilton | Visual Staff
November 19, 2016
Filed under Football, Sports, Visual
...
Team effort pays off for Pitt football against Clemson
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
November 14, 2016
After back-to-back losses, the unranked Pitt football team was an unlikely match for the No. 2 Clemson Tigers this weekend. But in a shocking upset thanks in large part to kicker Chris Blewitt in the final six seconds of the game, the Panthers handed the Tigers their first loss and shook up the College F...
ACC reprimands Narduzzi after Virginia Tech game
By Ashwini Sivaganesh | Assistant Sports Editor
October 31, 2016
In the wake of Pitt’s loss to Virginia Tech, the ACC issued a public reprimand Sunday evening to Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi for criticizing the game’s referees after Thursday night’s game. In a statement, the ACC said Narduzzi’s criticisms violated the league’s Sportsmanship Policy and w...
Panthers thwarted in Thursday night throwdown against VT, 39-36
By Dan Sostek | Senior Staff Writer
October 27, 2016
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports
Pitt’s chances at an ACC Coastal Division title were likely shattered during a rare Thursday night game at Heinz Field. In a high-scoring affair typical of this season, the Panthers (5-3, 2-2 ACC) lost their first home game of the year, falling to the No. 25 Virginia Tech Hokies (6-2, 4-1 ACC) in...
Gallery: Pitt vs. Villanova 9/3/16
By Jeff Ahearn and Matt Hawley
September 3, 2016
Filed under Sports, This Week In Photos, Visual
Standout players emerge in Pitt’s Blue Gold Game
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
April 17, 2016
As a sloppy, defense-oriented contest, Saturday’s Blue-Gold spring scrimmage wasn’t much to watch. But there was a silver lining in Pitt football’s disappointing season premier at Heinz Field. Three players emerged as standouts, some of whom made surprising comebacks from last season. Jester Weah, ...
Blue team defeated Gold 19-17 in Pitt spring game
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
April 16, 2016
While most spring football games tend to end up as high-scoring shootouts, Pitt’s Blue-Gold game was a defensive struggle. In the end, honorary captain and former Pitt legend Tony Dorsett’s Blue Team defeated his former Pitt quarterback Matt Cavanaugh’s Gold Team 19-17 in the program’s...
Pitt facing nationwide issue of alcohol sales at sporting events
By Meg Millure / Staff Writer
April 15, 2016
Filed under Beer Edition 2016, Football, Specials, Sports
When Pitt’s Athletic Director Scott Barnes first took the position in 2015, he told a local reporter he was open to the idea of selling alcohol at Panther football games. The next day’s headline, “Pitt considers alcohol sales at Heinz Field,” prompted Barnes, months later, to laugh about how he ...
Time is right to bring beer to Heinz Field
By Steve Rotstein / Staff Writer
April 15, 2016
Filed under Beer Edition 2016, Football, Specials, Sports
There are few places more intrinsically college than a football stadium. So why is it that at most schools, gridirons are the fall’s only beer-free weekend destinations? During the 2015-2016 season, only 34 out of 128 Division I college football stadiums served alcohol to the general public. Only 11 of the stadiums selling booze ...
Ejuan Price looking forward to pairing with Dewayne Hendrix
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
April 6, 2016
Last season, Ejuan Price was undoubtedly ‘the guy’ on Pitt’s defensive line. With top-end quickness and pass-rushing technique, Price amassed 11.5 sacks. Now, Price might have some competition in that proverbial pecking order. After sitting out the past season due to transfer rules, Dewayne Hendrix...
James Conner to throw out first pitch at Pirates’ Opening Day Sunday
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
March 30, 2016
James Conner will be taking the field in the North Shore, but not the one you’d expect. Pitt and the Pittsburgh Pirates announced that Conner, the Panthers’ star running back, will throw out the first pitch at PNC Park on Opening Day Sunday. “I’m honored and thrilled to throw out the first pitch ...
Football is so gay: Forced masculinity in pro sports halts social progress
By Elizabeth Lepro / Assistant Sports Editor
February 12, 2016
John Kichi thinks football players are kidding themselves. That’s an understatement — the Sewickley, Pennsylvania, author and illustrator actually thinks the entire sport is really, really gay. Kichi’s most recent picture book, “Football is Soooo Gay” is a diatribe to what he considers an e...
Pitt football wraps up 2016 recruiting class on National Signing Day
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
February 3, 2016
Filed under 2. Featured, 3. Breaking, Football, Sports
After some drama, surprises and countless “Pitt is It” tweets, Pitt finalized its 2016 recruiting class during National Signing Day. The Panthers class includes 24 players — as well as transfer tight end Chris Clark and senior Ejuan Price, who the NCAA granted a sixth year of eligibility — and...
Central Catholic’s Damar Hamlin commits to Pitt
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
February 1, 2016
Filed under 2. Featured, 3. Breaking, Football, Sports
On Monday evening, Pitt football learned that a local high school star would be staying home. Central Catholic’s Damar Hamlin committed to the University of Pittsburgh via an announcement on KDKA Pittsburgh. Hamlin is a six-foot-one, 179 pound defensive back. He is a consensus four-star recruit...
ACC announces 2016 Pitt football schedule
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
January 26, 2016
Filed under 3. Breaking, Football, Sports
The Atlantic Coastal Conference announced finalized schedules for Pitt and other ACC schools for the 2016 football season on Tuesday afternoon. The Panthers will face eight teams that made bowl games and four that won 10 or more games as part of their 12-game schedule. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi...
Boyd still has room to improve draft stock
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
January 21, 2016
When former Pitt wide receiver Tyler Boyd penned his farewell poem and left Pitt for the NFL draft, fans thanked the star wideout for his production. As it turns out, Tyler Boyd will need to produce even more, as various draft scouts grade Boyd as a second- or third-round talent leading up to April...
Military bowl generates $17 million in revenue for Annapolis/Washington
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
January 14, 2016
Even though the Pitt football team struggled in the 2015 Military Bowl, losing to the Navy Midshipmen 44-28, the team helped provide different kind of win that week in Maryland. The Military Bowl announced Wednesday that this year’s bowl game generated $17 million of revenue for the Annapolis and Washing...
Boyd declares for NFL Draft, foregoing senior year
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
January 2, 2016
Filed under 3. Breaking, Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt junior wide receiver Tyler Boyd, declared his intention to enter the 2016 NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season, per his Instagram account. Boyd’s announcement came in the form of a poem, in which he thanked the city of Pittsburgh, noting, “I will carry you with me, I will continue to mak...
Storify: Social media reactions to Pitt’s bowl loss to Navy
By Amy Beaudine / Social Media Editor
December 28, 2015
[View the story "Social media reactions to Pitt's bowl loss to Navy" on Storify]...
Freshmen performances highlight senior leadership in final Pitt football game
By Chris Puzia / Assistant Sports Editor
December 28, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
While some of Pitt’s freshmen made headlines with explosive plays on Monday, including Quadree Henderson’s opening kick return touchdown, bowl games always mark the end of careers just as much as the beginning of them. Freshmen accounted for all four of Pitt’s touchdowns in a 44-28 loss to No. 2...
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney departing Pitt for Georgia
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 12, 2015
Filed under 3. Breaking, Football, Sports
Pitt football offensive coordinator Jim Chaney is leaving the team and accepting the same position at the University of Georgia, a source confirmed. 2015 was Chaney's first season as Pitt's offensive coordinator, as he joined new head coach Pat Narduzzi's staff in January. Chaney has served as...
Military Bowl matchup features plenty of intrigue
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 8, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Sports Columns
When Pitt learned it’s bowl destination on Sunday afternoon, many Pitt fans were frustrated that the team earned a trip to one of the two lowest tier ACC-affiliated bowls. The Panthers finished with a better record than all four ACC teams who received higher tier bowls than them, but geographic and f...
James Conner diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 4, 2015
Filed under 2. Featured, 3. Breaking, Football, Sports, Top Stories
Pitt star running back James Conner announced that he has been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a form of cancer, at a press conference Friday afternoon. Conner, who missed the season with a torn MCL, received the diagnosis on Thanksgiving. “When I heard I got cancer, I was a little...
Hometown hero: Dan Marino honored at alma mater Central Catholic
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 2, 2015
Hall of Fame quarterback and Pitt alum Dan Marino returned home Tuesday morning, receiving another honor to add to his decorated resumé. But unlike the Pro Bowl berths, the 1984 MVP or his Hall of Fame bust, this award also celebrated what led to those accolades and the place that fostered the legendary si...
Whitehead, Ollison earn ACC Rookie of the Year awards
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 1, 2015
Filed under 3. Breaking, Football, Sports, Top Stories
The Pitt football team swept the conference’s rookie of the year awards Tuesday, becoming the first team in ACC history to take both rookie honors. One day after the Panthers placed eight players on All-ACC teams, freshman safety Jordan Whitehead earned the ACC overall and defensive rookie of the year...
Storify: Football recruiting Twitter barrage sends Pitt fans into frenzy
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 1, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
[View the story "#H2P Madness" on Storify]...
Pitt football places eight on All-ACC teams
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
December 1, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Following an ACC loss on Friday to Miami, the Pitt football team received a conference “win” of sorts on Monday afternoon. The Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association selected eight Panthers in total to either the first, second, third or honorable mention teams, recognizing them as some of the best player...
A tale of two halves: Comeback attempt falls short in 29-24 loss
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
November 30, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
If Pat Narduzzi watched his Pitt football team on television, the offensive display might tempt him to fast-forward to the second half of most of his team’s games. After slow starts, Narduzzi said the second half is where the team’s offense — and its resilience — emerge. But for the seniors...
Late comeback not enough as Pitt ends season in 29-24 loss to Miami
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
November 27, 2015
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports
With 2:34 remaining, Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman scampered five yards and found the endzone to bring the score to 29-24. But his run, and Pitt’s run of success this season, proved to be too little, too late on Saturday. A failed two-point conversion attempt and onside kick gave Miami the bal...
Man down: Ejuan Price’s five sacks power Pitt past Louisville
By Chris Puzia / Assistant Sports Editor
November 22, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Big numbers dominated Pitt’s shootout win over Louisville Saturday — 830 yards of total offense, 79 points scored — but despite its small size, one stat stood above the rest: five. Pitt senior defensive end Ejuan Price registered five sacks, which tied for the most in a single game by a Football ...
Panthers of the Week
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
November 18, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Women's Basketball
MIKE CAPRARA- Linebacker, football Caprara had the best game of his Pitt career Saturday in Durham, North Carolina, playing a integral role in Pitt’s 31-13 win over the Duke Blue Devils. Caprara, a graduate of Woodland Hills High School, compiled eight tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery and a ...
Road warriors: Pitt football wins at Duke
By Chris Puzia / Assistant Sports Editor
November 15, 2015
Filed under Football, Sports, Top Stories
Trading ties for tackles, Pat Narduzzi calls road football games — which his team have dominated — business trips. The Panthers, following their last road game of the season Saturday, now sport a 5-1 road record and have created their own Heinz Field atmosphere away from home with consistent, smar...
Pitt retires Jimbo Covert’s number at halftime of Saturday’s loss
By Chris Puzia / Assistant Sports Editor
November 8, 2015
After Pitt’s running backs totaled 34 rushing yards in the first half Saturday, fans may have wished Jimbo Covert was still on the team instead of in the crowd. While Pitt’s present prospects looked bleak in a 42-30 letdown loss to No. 5 Notre Dame, the school took a moment at the half to look ba...
Kizer’s aerial attack leads No. 5 Notre Dame over Pitt, 42-30
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
November 7, 2015
Filed under 2. Featured, Football, Sports
Notre Dame didn’t need the luck of the Irish against Pitt, as overwhelming talent and execution thoroughly got the job done for the visitors. Led by five touchdown passes from DeShone Kizer -- three to wide receiver Will Fuller -- the No. 5 Fighting Irish defeated the Panthers 42-30 at Heinz Field...
Gallery: Pitt Football vs. Notre Dame 11/7/15
By Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor
November 7, 2015
Filed under Top Stories, Visual
Boyd, Pitt confident ahead of Saturday matchup with No. 5 Irish
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
November 5, 2015
Each week, Pitt’s football coaching staff preaches an even-keeled mindset, so players will maintain their focus throughout the season. This week against Notre Dame, getting that message across became a bit tougher for wide receiver Tyler Boyd and the rest of the Pitt team. Saturday’s matchup isn’t j...