NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on August 6th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey And now comes the hard part. Not since the early 1980s have the Pitt Panthers entered a college football season with this level of anticipation and expectation. Coach Dave Wannstedt greeted the media Thursday to kickoff fall practice for a squad that was overwhelmingly picked by the media to win the Big East conference for the first time since 2004. “I think it is great recognition for our team and players,” said the coach. “As a coach, you want people talking about this in December. The recognition is not going to win any games for us. Our focus is now on training camp and preparing ourselves to have the chance to receive such an accolade.” The Panthers won 10 games last season, including a 19-16 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. But it could have been so much more. Pitt saw the Big East title slip from their grasp last December when Cincinnati came from behind and took the championship with a 45-44 win before a packed Heinz Field. All off season, the Panthers stewed and prepared themselves for another run at the top spot in the conference and the prize it brings; a coveted BCS bowl berth and national recognition. Now, this star-studded lineup that includes 2009 Big East offensive player of the year running back Dion Lewis, wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin and conference defensive player of the year defensive end Greg Romeus, is primed to take what eluded them last year. “We have good guys that know what it takes to win and they don’t take anything for granted,” said Wannstedt. “It is a team game and we’re only as good as our team is.” One of Pitt’s other key performers, starting defensive end Jabaal Sheard, did find himself in hot water as the off-season wound to c lose. Sheard was charged with assault along with other charges after he allegedly threw a man through a glass door during a fight on Pittsburgh’s South Side in late July. He was suspended indefinitely but reinstated after he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Coach Wannstedt said the matter will now be handled internally. “After gathering all the information and our legal system took its curse, we are very comfortable with the decision we have made concerning Jabaal,” said Wannstedt. “You all know that we have had players in the past, as every school does, whether they are reasons on or off the field where it has not worked out. However, my responsibility to this university and to these kids is to be consistent and fair with the facts and handle it accordingly.” With the Sheard issue resolved, the Panthers staff now can focus on getting the squad ready, especially quarterback Tino Sunseri, who will take over for the graduated Bill Stull. “This is Tino’s time,” said Wannstedt. “He has the arm to make all the throws that we need to make. He’s more athletic on his feet than what people give him credit for. He’s very intelligent. He understands the big picture of what we’re trying to do from an offensive standpoint and I think that is very important.” Pitt officially opens fall practice Saturday August 7 at the UPMC South Side Complex. Posted on January 8th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Pitt enjoyed their finest football season in nearly 30 years with a 10-win campaign that was capped by a 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last month. Their achievements were rewarded with a No. 15 ranking in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls that were released Friday morning after Alabama’s 37-21 win over Texas in the BCS National Championship Game. The Panthers final ranking is their highest since the end of the 1982 season, when Pitt finished in the Top 10 in both major polls. Their 10-win season was the most in a campaign since an 11-1 mark was achieved in 1981. Pitt’s 19 combined wins in 2008 and 2009 are the program’s most since the 1981-82 seasons. The Panthers three losses were by a combined 11 points, an average of just 3.6 points per game. Although coach Dave Wannstedt must replace multiple seniors, the Panthers will bring back several top-notch performers that should not only keep Pitt in contention in the improving Big East conference but for possible national honors as well. Freshman running back Dion Lewis will return to Pitt’s backfield. Lewis compiled 1,799 yards rushing and scored 18 touchdowns. The nation took notice by virtue of his conference offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards along with his National Freshman of the Year Award from The Sporting News and CBSSports.com. Junior receiver Jonathan Baldwin will draw the attention of defensive backs in 2010. Baldwin had 57 catches for 1,111 yards and eight scores. The Aliquippa, Pa. native also garnered all conference awards this season. Defensive end Greg Romeus is expected to return and terrorize quarterbacks next season. Romeus was named Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year with teammate Mick Williams. Romeus logged 11.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and a blocked kick. His running mate at defensive end, Jabaal Sheard; will also return. Safety Dom DeCicco, offensive tackle Jason Pinkston and place kicker Dan Hutchins were also all-Big East performers. All will be returning seniors in the fall. Burgeoning players such as receiver Mike Shanahan, linebackers Dan Mason and Elijah Fields, offensive guard Chris Jacobson, safety Andrew Taglianetti, safety/cornerback Jarred Holley and fullback Henry Hynoski are all expected to take on larger roles and help take the program to the next step. The Panthers will take on a daunting schedule in 2010. Non-conference games include trips to Utah and Notre Dame along with a home game against former Big East rival Miami (Fla.). Pitt will host conference foes Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia and visit Cincinnati, Connecticut, South Florida and Syracuse. Posted on January 2nd, 2010 by Admin
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| Date | Game | Time (Eastern) |
| Sat, Sept. 5 | Pittsburgh 38 – Youngstown State 3 | W |
| Sat, Sept. 12 | Pittsburgh 54 – Buffalo 27 | W |
| Sat, Sept. 19 | Pittsburgh 27 – Navy 14 | W |
| Sat, Sept. 26 | N.C. State 38 – Pittsburgh 31 | W |
| Fri, Oct. 2 | Pittsburgh 35 – Louisville 10 | W |
| Sat, Oct. 10 | Pittsburgh 24 – UConn 21 | W |
| Fri, Oct. 16 | Pitt 24, Rutgers 17 | W |
| Sat, Oct. 24 | Pitt 41, USF 14 | W |
| Sat, Nov. 7 | Pitt 37, Syracuse 10 | W |
| Sat, Nov. 14 | Pitt 27, Notre Dame 22 | W |
| Fri, Nov. 27 | West Virginia 19, Pitt 16 | L |
| Sat. Dec 5 | Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44 | L |
| Sat. Dec 26 | Meineke Car Care Bowl – Pitt 19, UNC 16 | W |
Posted on December 27th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
No, it wasn’t a win in a BCS bowl game, but the Pitt Panthers did indeed have their finest season since 1981.
Pitt’s hard-fought 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte gave the Panthers a 10-3 record, their best since Ronald Regan was in the Oval Office. Although the elusive Big East championship slipped through their fingers in a heart-wrenching 45-44 loss at home against Cincinnati earlier this month, the season was saved but a gutsy effort against a game Tar Heels squad geared to play the same smash-mouth style of football Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt enjoys.
“We really got down to business,” said Wannstedt. “I don’t think people really understand what 10-3 says about a program, even though nine wins is outstanding. Ten wins separates you and I don’t think that these guys know what they have accomplished here tonight and probably won’t for a few weeks or a month or however long.”
The usual suspects were at work for the Panthers against the Tar Heels. Freshman Dion Lewis again showed the nation he will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Lewis gashed the nation’s No. 6 defense for 159 yards on 28 carries and one score. Wannstedt said he was surprised his prized running back did not get the ball even more.
“Compared to last time (a 47-carry, 194-yard performance against Cincinnati), he took the day off,” Wannstedt said jokingly. “He is clearly a difference maker.”
Pitt’s final drive was vintage smash-mouth football. The Panthers took nearly nine minutes to travel 79 yards. Of the drive’s 17 plays, Lewis carried the ball on 12 of them for 62 yards.
“That last series, there was no question that a lot of the yards he made were not easy,” said Wannstedt. “Every inch counts and that made the difference in the game today.”
Lewis, the game’s Most Valuable Player, said he was quite pleased with the coaching staff’s faith in him, even with a lost fumble in the first quarter.
“It’s great to know that the coaches trust me like that,” said Lewis. “They trust me in a tough situation to get me the ball. I just want to make them happy. My teammates trust me and everyone trusts me so I just have to go out there and go to work.”
Pitt’s defense, somewhat maligned after the loss to Cincinnati, stepped up large Saturday night.
The pass rush was consistent all night. Co-Defensive Big East Player of the Year Mick Williams notched two sacks. Defensive end Jabaal Sheard notched the team’s third of the night while his cohort Greg Romeus, the other half of the Big East Defensive Player of the Year tandem; was a disruptive force all night.
With the three sacks, Pitt notched 47 sacks for the season, good for No. 1 in the nation.
Freshman linebacker Dan Mason stopped one Tar Heels drive with an interception while Jarred Holley and Max Gruder teamed up for force another North Carolina turnover in the first quarter.
The formula Pitt used to win games this season, ball-control offense and opportunistic defense; was on display on Saturday night. It is a formula that has brought the Panthers back to prominence and will surely be used as a springboard for greater things in 2010.
Posted on December 27th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
It may not have completely washed away the bad taste of the loss to Big East champion Cincinnati earlier this month, but it did help put a nice bow on the most successful Pitt football season in nearly 30 years.
Dan Hutchins’ 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining provided the No. 17 Panthers the winning margin in a thrilling 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl Saturday evening in Charlotte. The victory gave Pitt a 10-3 record, their best season since an 11-1 campaign in 1981 that ended when Dan Marino’s touchdown pass to John Brown beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl at the end of that year.
“I think that people know that we are back as a program and you have to go out and prove it,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt after the game. “You have to show up and you have to win games like this.”
Plenty of Pitt players showed up and put on a stout performance in the Tar Heels’ backyard. Freshman sensation running back Dion Lewis gained 159 yards on 28 carries against the nation’s No. 6 defense. Quarterback Bill Stull had yet another efficient performance, completing 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards and no interceptions. Stull’s favorite target was freshman receiver Mike Shanahan, who hauled in five receptions for 83 yards.
Pitt’s defense acquitted itself nicely after the fourth-quarter collapse against Cincinnati earlier this month. The Panthers sacked Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates three times, intercepted him once and recovered one fumble. The unit held on fourth-and-10 near midfield late in the contest to seal the win.
“We knew we were going to be in a 15-round fight,” said Pitt linebacker and Charlotte native Max Gruder. “We didn’t expect anything other than that.”
Gruder led Pitt’s defense with 11 tackles and recovered an Erik Highsmith fumble that helped set up Hutchins’ 31-yard field goal in the second quarter.
The Tar Heels (8-5) got on the board first on their opening drive when Yates hooked up with Greg Little on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Little then inexplicably punted the ball in the Bank of America Stadium bleachers and forced the Tar Heels to kick off from their own 15 due to his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Pitt appeared poised to even the score on their next possession, but Lewis fumbled the ball through the end zone after North Carolina defensive end E.J. Wilson punched the ball free, giving the Heels the ball on their own 20.
The Panthers got back into the contest when Hutchins booted a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The kick was set up when safety Jarred Holley stripped Highsmith of the football and Gruder recovered near the North Carolina 40.
Lewis made up for his earlier fumble (the first and only one he lost this year) by capping a 45-yard drive in the second quarter with an 11-yard scoring run. Hutchins’ kick was true and Pitt led 10-7 early in the second quarter.
North Carolina then went on a 14-play, 58-yard drive that looked to either give the Tar Heels the lead or at least tie the score. But Pitt’s Dan Mason made a huge play when he intercepted Yates on the Pitt two-yard line.
The Heels eventually tied the score with 1:05 left in the first half when Casey Barth drilled a 37-yard field goal. But Pitt responded when Stull engineered a 46-yard scoring drive that culminated with Hutchins’ 31-yard field goal which gave the Panthers a 13-10 halftime lead.
Hutchins’ third field goal, a 42-yard boot ending Pitt’s opening drive of the second-half, extended Pitt’s lead to 16-10 early in the third quarter.
But Yates and the Tar Heels snatched momentum for their own on their next possession. North Carolina marched 70 yards in 11 plays. Yates capped the drive with a 14-yard strike to Little midway through the third quarter. Barth’s kick was good and the Heels were up 17-16.
Yates finished with 183 yards passing on 19 completions. Little grabbed seven passes for 87 yards. Ryan Houston paced North Carolina’s ground game with 83 yards on 24 carries.
But Pitt was able to summon additional strength and finished the game in winning style.
North Carolina was in position to put the Pitt away midway through the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels had the ball at the Pitt 29. But sacks by Jabaal Sheard and Mick Williams pushed North Carolina out of field goal range.
With a little more than nine minutes remaining, Pitt took possession of the ball at their own five-yard line following a North Carolina punt. The Panthers were able to march deep into Tar Heels real estate thanks to Lewis’ 58 yards rushing on the drive and the conversion of a fourth and inches play on their own 30. Pitt reached the North Carolina 30 with 1:56 remaining. The Panthers were lined up for a 47-yard field goal on fourth and two, but the Tar Heels jumped offside and gave Pitt an important first down.
“They were jumping the gun a little bit, so we told our center to take his time adjusting the ball,” said Wannstedt. “If they didn’t jump offside, we were going to kick the field goal. The extra 20 yards sure did help.”
Pitt advanced to the North Carolina 16 and set the stage for Hutchins’ clutch kick.
“I had a weird feeling with a strong defensive team that I would be kicking a lot today,” said Hutchins. “I am excited.”
Pitt held on for the win when Yates fourth and 10 pass from midfield fell incomplete, giving the Panthers a much-needed bowl win and boost into next season.
“They are a good football team,” said North Carolina coach Butch Davis. “There is a reason that they were 35 seconds away from going to a BCS bowl as Big East champions. We have a lot of respect for Pitt and their football team.”
Notes: Lewis’ 159-yard day gave him 1,799 yards rushing this season, good for second all-time at Pitt behind Tony Dorsett’s 2,150-yard Heisman Trophy campaign in 1976. His second-quarter touchdown gave him 17 rushing scores on the year and 19 total, both freshman records. Lewis also has ten 100-yard rushing days this season, tying him with Dorsett’s 1973 campaign for first in school history. Hutchins’ four field goals in a bowl game is a school record.
Posted on December 23rd, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
A chance to salvage a good season is still possible for the Pitt Panthers should they take care of business in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against a strong ACC squad playing in their home state.
The North Carolina Tar Heels (8-4) will surely benefit from playing this game on the day after Christmas in front of a baby blue clad crowd in Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium. Pitt was relegated to this bowl game after falling to Cincinnati 45-44 in the Big East title tilt at Heinz Field earlier this month.
Although it will not be a BCS venue, the Panthers are still playing for more than pride. Coach Dave Wannstedt has the Panthers (9-3) in a position to win 10 games in a season for the first time since 1981.
Wannstedt and UNC head coach Butch Davis are more than familiar with one another. They both coached together under Jimmy Johnson at Oklahoma State and Miami in college and with the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL.
“Dave Wannstedt is a guy I have known for many, many years since 1979 on Jimmy Johnson’s staff (at Oklahoma State),” said Davis earlier this week. “He is an outstanding coach. His teams are extraordinarily well coached and he has an excellent coaching staff – guys that have a lot of experience and some which have been with Dave for many years.”
Davis said he is impressed with the physical nature the Panthers display on a weekly basis.
“They are always a very physical football team. This year, they lead the nation in sacks. They have one of the nation’s premier running backs,” said Davis. “They are a very good football team. A nine-win team, like ourselves; smarting from the last game of the season and would certainly like to end the season on a positive note.”
Like the Panthers, the Tar Heels like to establish the running game on offense. UNC averages nearly 138 yards on the ground per game. Their rushing attack is paced by tailbacks Ryan Houston and Shaun Draughn. The duo has combined for 1,226 yards rushing and 10 scores.
Quarterback Tyler Yates has had an up and down season. He has completed 60 percent of his throws for 1,953 yards and 12 scores. But he has also tossed 14 interceptions on the season. This will be an opportunity for players such as Aaron Berry and Jarred Holley to make big plays in Pitt’s secondary.
Greg Little is the Tar Heels leading receiver with 637 yards receiving on 55 receptions. Freshman Jheranie Boyd is UNC’s big play threat with 22 yards per catch and four touchdowns.
But the Tar Heels calling card is a defense that can be destructive.
Defensive ends Robert Quinn and E.J. Wilson are disruptive forces on the defensive line. Quinn has 11 sacks to go with a team leading 19 tackles for loss while Wilson checks in with 11 tackles for loss.
Linebacker Quan Sturdivant leads the unit with 75 total tackles. He also has 12 tackles for loss. Safety Deunta Williams paces the pass defense with six interceptions.
The Tar Heels defense has terrorized offenses to the tune of 31 sacks and 19 interceptions. They also allow only 92.8 yards rushing per game.
No doubt the Tar Heels will serve as a mountainous challenge for Pitt in Charlotte.
Posted on December 22nd, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
Another prospect from western Pennsylvania has verbally pledged his services to Pitt.
Penn Hills receiver/defensive back Brandon Ifill said Monday night he will play for coach Dave Wannstedt’s Panthers. Ifill chose Pitt over West Virginia, Michigan, Cincinnati, Boston College and Rutgers.
Ifill is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com and is the 25th ranked athlete in the state of Pennsylvania.
The six-foot, 174-pound athlete caught 22 passes for 253 yards for the Indians this season. He will most likely play either cornerback or safety when he arrives on campus next fall.
Ifill said his comfort with the Pitt coaching staff, campus and academic atmosphere is what made him choose his hometown school.
Posted on December 6th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
Contrary to what many esteemed football experts based in Western Pennsylvania may say, the Pitt Panthers still have much to play for this season.
Yes, the Panthers are heading to the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte later this month against North Carolina on the heels of two painful losses by a combined four points against West Virginia and Cincinnati.
Yes, a BCS berth in the Sugar Bowl was taken from them by Mardy Gilyard, Tony Pike and the rest of the Bearcats on Saturday.
And yes, it is well known that Pitt’s fan base may very well not make itself known in Charlotte the day after Christmas this season.
But this season still has some life and can still be deemed a success if the Panthers beat the Tar Heels in front of what will assuredly be a pro-North Carolina crowd in Charlotte.
Pitt has won nine games for the second consecutive season for the first time since the early 1980s. Coach Dave Wannstedt has the program on its feet and running in the right direction. Critics will say they still have no signature win in the Wannstedt era. But this program has won 18 of its past 24 games and is established as a Big East contender for years to come. Recruiting is at an all-time high and as a result; an improved talent base is in place. BCS berths and big wins are closer to the program more so than they were in the dark ages of the 1990s and early 2000s.
Pitt’s defensive line established itself as one of the premiere units in the nation. The Panthers racked up 45 sacks this season, 36 of which came from the defensive front. Seniors Mick Williams and Gus Mustakas will move on following the bowl game. But ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are juniors and will probably return. Talented tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih along with ends Brandon Lindsey and Shayne Hale are also slated to return.
Linebackers Greg Williams and Max Gruder made strides this season. Talented Dan Mason will take over for departing senior Adam Gunn. No drop off will be expected from the linebackers.
The secondary will lose corners Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel. Safety Jarred Holley may shift back over to corner to assist with man coverage. Safeties Dom DeCicco and Elijah Fields each notched three interceptions and both will return. Fellow safety Andrew Taglianetti is slated to return following his knee injury. Antwuan Reed, Buddy Jackson and Ricky Gary will fight over the open cornerback positions.
Pitt will miss the services of quarterback Bill Stull. The fifth-year senior threw for 2,470 yards with 21 touchdowns. He had a marvelous season following an erratic 2008 performance. Now offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti has the chance to mold Pat Bostick or Tino Sunseri into a similar, if not better player in 2010.
Who ever gets to start at quarterback will get to throw to the sensational Jonathan Baldwin. The sophomore nabbed 54 receptions for 1,080 yards and eight scores. Although seniors Cedric McGee, Oderick Turner, Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson all move on, players such as Mike Shanahan, Cameron Saddler and Aundre Wright will have a chance to step up in 2010.
Pitt does lose three starters along the offensive line in guards John Malecki, Joe Thomas and Robb Houser. Tackles Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix will return. Reworking the offensive line will be a priority after the bowl game and in the spring.
The Panthers do return their biggest weapon in running back Dion Lewis. As a freshman, Lewis shattered school records for rushing and scoring with 1,640 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns. His 47 carry, 195 yard, three touchdown performance against Cincinnati was simply remarkable.
The explosive Ray Graham will also return and spell Lewis. He could start for any other team in the conference or across the country. Fullback Henry Hynoski will also be back clearing the way.
Not all is lost for Pitt this season. A win over the Tar Heels would give the Panthers 10 wins for the first time since 1981. Ask any Pitt fan in August if they would accept a 10-win season as a success, most likely they would say yes.
With the returning roster in 2010, another similar season could be in the offing, making the future of Pitt football still very bright.
Posted on December 5th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
It was all right there on the table for the Pitt Panthers.
But Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike simply reached and took everything away from the Panthers.
Pitt was poised to win their second Big East title Saturday before a sell-out crowd at Heinz Field, but the explosive Bearcats blew up in the game’s final quarter and nipped the Panthers 45-44 and in the process, took the conference title and a berth in a BCS game.
“With this being my last year and to go out like that, it’s tough,” said defensive tackle Gus Mustakas. “We just have to keep out heads up and prepare for whatever bowl game we get invited to.”
The Panthers held leads of 31-10 in the second quarter and 38-24 in the fourth quarter but could not seal the deal. Super freshman running back Dion Lewis carried the day for Pitt, rushing a school record 47 times for 194 yards and three scores. Quarterback Bill Stull threw two touchdown passes but also added two interceptions. Jonathan Baldwin continued his development by catching six passes for 113 yards and two scores.
Pitt’s defense played well for three quarters. They sacked Pike three times and intercepted him three more. At one point, Pike was 8-for-23 passing in the second half, but he rose up and finished with 304 yards passing on 22 completions. Suffice it to say, he recovered nicely.
But it was the last point that Pitt did not get late in the fourth quarter that was most damaging.
Lewis put the Panthers on top 44-38 with a five-yard touchdown run. Kicker Dan Hutchins never had a chance to kick the extra point. Holder Andrew Janocko botched the center snap and was unable to place the ball for the kick, leaving Pitt’s lead at six points.
Cue Pike and the rest of the Bearcats offense as the fifth-year senior marched his offense 63 yards in less than a minute for the go-ahead score. Pike capped the march with a beautiful 29 yard scoring pass to Armon Binns. Jacob Rodgers kick was true, giving the Bearcats their first and only lead of the game.
It was a crushing end to a marvelous game for those in blue and gold.
After forcing Cincinnati to punt, Pitt began the scoring parade with a 12-play scoring drive that was capped by Lewis’ four-yard scoring run. The Bearcats responded with a 66 yard touchdown drive that was climaxed by Jacob Ramsey’s two-yard scoring run.
The rest of the first half was all Panthers.
Stull struck twice in the half with scoring passes to Baldwin of 22 and 40 yards. Pitt expanded its lead to 31-10 when Stull scampered in from three yards out late in the first half. Stull’s touchdown run was set up by Nate Nix’s blocked punt. It appeared the Pitt was poised to put Cincinnati away for good.
But Gilyard turned into Superman and simply would not need the Bearcats lose. Gilyard returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the end zone and sliced the Panthers lead to 31-17 late in the first half.
“I thought the kickoff return for a touchdown completely changed the momentum of the game,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. “I thought we had it in the first half. We knew Gilyard was good. But the first three kickoffs, he did not get past the 25.”
He would not be finished by a long shot.
Gilyard struck again midway through the third quarter when he gathered in Pike’s floater near the Pitt 35 and raced in for a 68 yard touchdown pass that cut the Panthers lead to 31-24.
Lewis answered with a 12 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave Pitt a seemingly comfortable 38-24 lead. But no lead is safe against the Bearcats, a truth that the Panthers found out in a most painful fashion.
Cincinnati scored the game’s next 14 points in swift fashion. Gilyard’s long kickoff return to the Pitt 24 set up one short scoring drive that was capped by D.J. Woods eight-yard touchdown catch. Rogers’ kick banked off the right upright, leaving Cincinnati’s deficit at eight points with 11:09 left in regulation.
The Bearcats struck again when Isaiah Pead scampered in the end zone from one-yard out. Pike found Gilyard in the end zone for the two-point conversion, knotting the score at 38 midway through the fourth quarter.
Stull, Lewis and Baldwin again brought the Panthers back, marching 67 yards in nine-plays, the capper coming on Lewis’ five-yard scoring run. But the extra-point was botched, Pike became unstoppable and Cincinnati was on their way to the BCS.
“Tony Pike just stuck with it today,” said Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly.
Posted on December 3rd, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
The building blocks of a program can fulfill the promise of creating a championship-caliber football team with one more win.
Eighteen seniors will play their final game as a Pitt Panther at Heinz Field Saturday when they take the field against the undefeated and fifth-ranked Cincinnati Bearcats in what amounts to a de facto Big East title game.
These seniors came to Pitt four years ago with the goal of creating a championship contender. There were the lows of a five-game losing streak to end a once-promising 2006 season to the highs of a shocking upset of West Virginia in 2007 in between then and now.
Players such as the highly-recruited tight ends Dorin Dickerson and Nate Byham, along with quarterback Bill Stull, receivers Oderick Turner and Cedric McGee; offensive linemen Joe Thomas and John Malecki; defensive tackles Mick Williams and Gus Mustakas and cornerbacks Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel all contributed to turning the Panthers into a tough-minded outfit that coach Dave Wannstedt envisioned the program becoming when he arrived in 2005.
Now, this group has a chance to leave its mark in grand style and bring a conference title and a coveted BCS berth.
“It’s probably the biggest group of seniors that we have had since I’ve been here,” said Wannstedt. “Most of these kids are guys that came in as freshmen during that first full recruiting season when I first came to the university. So it’s been really neat seeing these kids grow as young men and also become better football players and build this program back up.”
This group of seniors is known for its leadership. That was evident in the waking moments following last week’s loss at West Virginia. The squad got together for meetings and practice the very next day, which was scheduled as an off-day for the team.
“These kids were in here bouncing around this weekend getting ready to play in this game,” said Wannstedt. “They’re looking forward to playing this football game.”
Wannstedt said having a large contingent of senior leaders on this team will allow for the Panthers to remain focused and keep their eyes on the prize: a Big East title and a spot in a BCS bowl game.
“It’s an opportunity to play their last game in front of a home crowd, a sell-out crowd, on national TV and ultimately play for the Big East championship,” said Wannstedt. “It’s a great script for our football team. It’s a great script for our seniors. Now, we obviously have to take care of business to make sure we are prepared to go out and play the best game that we’ve played all season.”
It is hard to imagine that these senior leaders will not make that happen.
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