The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
Kain Colter, a quarterback and receiver who completed his college football career in 2013, announced that several Northwestern football players wished to join a labor union during a press conference at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago on Jan. 28, 2014.

Column | College athletes should take ownership of the business they sustain

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • August 30, 2020
The risks the COVID-19 pandemic poses have exacerbated the unfair power disparity that exists in college sports. From waivers meant to free individual schools of liability should a player die or suffer long-term health defects after contracting COVID-19 on campus to allegedly lying about safety precautions, college football is doing all it can to push through to a 2020 season.
The Panthers say they are working on attendance plans, and will announce them “very soon.”

Panthers, Steelers won’t have fans at September home games

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • August 27, 2020
When Pitt football takes the field for their season opener against Austin Peay, not a single fan will sit in the stands.
Due to COVID-19, a football season is questionable for the Panthers.

Point-Counterpoint: College football this fall is too dangerous

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • August 25, 2020
As schools move toward an online-only semester amid an unprecedented pandemic, college football shouldn’t play this fall
Due to COVID-19, a football season is questionable for the Panthers.

Point-Counterpoint: Benefits will outweigh the consequences for college football this fall

By Griffin Floyd, Staff Writer • August 25, 2020
Game-altering concessions must occur to pull it off, such as the absence of fans, but the benefits outweigh the compromises that must be made in what will be a year like no other.
Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi called the NCAA "nonexistent" in his Zoom press conference Monday

Narduzzi discusses COVID concerns, Jaylen Twyman opt-out, and Joey Yellen waiver at latest presser

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • August 19, 2020
Narduzzi told reporters in attendance that the Pitt training facility is the safest place the players can be.
The Panthers hope to take another step toward the ultimate goal set by head coach Pat Narduzzi to add a 10th national title to a trophy case barren of recent additions.

Uncertainty hangs over season of promise for Pitt football

By Ben Bobeck, Senior Staff Writer • August 18, 2020
Now, after reaching the ACC Championship for the first time in 2018 to earn his first bowl win as the Panthers’ head coach, the time has come for that project to take another step forward toward what Narduzzi has boldly set as the ultimate goal — a 10th national title to add to a trophy case barren of recent additions.
Temporarily scrapping the traditional Atlantic and Coastal divisions, the ACC football teams will act as a singular division, with each school assigned five home games and five away games.

ACC announces fall sports plans: what are they and what do they mean for Pitt?

By Alex Lehmbeck, Sports Editor • August 17, 2020
After a summer of ambiguity, the Atlantic Coast Conference released an updated schedule in late July for ensuing fall sports seasons, creating a separate plan for football and the rest of the fall sports.
Even if a college football season survives until its scheduled start, it seems unlikely that fans will be welcome, especially in Pennsylvania.

Status of fall sports becomes progressively shaky

By Stephen Thompson, Assistant Sports Editor • August 17, 2020
Now — even as cases and deaths continue up a steady incline — sports leagues are beginning to plan their comebacks. But in college athletics, return to play procedures have led to more questions than answers.
Head football coach Pat Narduzzi opened his sixth training camp as head coach last week.

Narduzzi opens 2020 training camp with mixed optimism, uncertainty

By Stephen Thompson, Sports Editor • August 10, 2020
Pitt head football coach Pat Narduzzi is a self-proclaimed optimist, and he said Friday even the stress of opening a football season in a pandemic hasn’t put a strain on his sunny outlook. 
Pitt Chancellor Pat Gallagher and Athletic Director Heather Lyke stand on the field before the game. (Photo by Wenhao Wu / Assistant Visual Editor)

Lyke talks football scheduling, gambling and campus returns

By Stephen Thompson, Sports Editor • July 24, 2020
Athletic Director Heather Lyke said she is not encouraged by the way the COVID-19 pandemic mitigation is progressing. As cases continue to rise across the country — particularly in Pitt’s home of Allegheny County — she offered a pessimistic, yet not definitive answer to what she called “the million dollar question” — will college football be played in 2020?
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