NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on August 28th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The most anticipated season in the Dave Wannstedt era of Pitt football is inching closer and closer by the day. Training camp is over and the two-deep roster is set as the nationally ranked Panthers are preparing for a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah for a battle with Mountain West Conference heavyweight Utah. The Utes hammered Pitt in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl by a 35-7 count. Utah sacked then Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko nine times as Utes coach Urban Meyer put the finishing touches on an undefeated season before heading east to lead the Florida Gators to prominence. Both squads are much different this year from New Year’s Night 2005. Wannstedt had accepted the Pitt job days before the game while Kyle Whittingham was getting ready to take over the reigns from Meyer. This year, Pitt appears to have the slightly better roster and higher expectations. But question marks at several key spots along with an ambitious schedule could put a damper on what is thought to be a breakthrough year for the Panthers. Pitt brings back many key performers from last year’s 10-3 squad that earned a tough victory over ACC heavyweight North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis (1,799 yards rushing, 17 touchdowns) is believed to be a Heisman Trophy candidate while Jon Baldwin (57 receptions, 1,111 yards, eight scores) is the next great Pitt receiving threat. Bookend defensive ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard lead a unit that garnered 47 sacks last year, tops in the nation. Safeties Dom DeCicco and Jared Holley are also expected to help solidify the secondary. But personnel losses need to be addressed, spots such as right tackle, center and the all important quarterback position need to be filled on offense. Sophomore Tino Sunseri will start at quarterback. He has shown a strong arm and ability to escape, but has little experience. But if offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti can do with Sunseri as he did with last year’s starter; Bill Stull, the offense will move. Senior Alex Karabin and junior Greg Gaskins are expected to start at center and right guard respectively. Chris Jacobson started the bowl game last December at left guard and acquitted himself nicely. No drop-off is expected at that position. Replacing Gus Mustakas and Mick Williams at defensive tackle will be hard. But Myles Careagin and Chas Alecxih received valuable playing time as part of line coach Greg Gattuso’s rotation. They are expected to fill in nicely. Freshman Aaron Donald from Penn Hills could also be part of the rotation. Fellow Penn Hills Indian Dan Mason will start at middle linebacker and is seen as an athletic upgrade over the graduated Adam Gunn, though the former Kiski Area Cavalier was a keen leader in the middle for the Panthers last year. Rick Gary and Antwuan Reed will man the corners, taking over from the departed Aaron Berry and Jovanni Chappel. Both Gary and Reed had strong camps this summer. The Panthers also face one of the more daunting schedules this season. After beginning the season at Utah, Pitt will face Miami at home and travel to Notre Dame. Big East foes Rutgers and West Virginia visit Heinz Field, while road tests at Connecticut and South Florida await. A Big East title and BCS berth is there for the taking, whether or not these Panthers can cash in is yet to be seen. 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 April 18th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The Pitt Panthers ended their spring football season with the annual Blue-Gold Game on a blustery Saturday afternoon before approximately 6,500 hearty souls at Heinz Field. Pitt’s defense, which comprised the Blue squad, had their way with the Gold side as they romped to a 62-24 win. As was expected, the defense showed they were well ahead of the offense. But that is to be expected this time of the year, since the coaching staff did not install much of an offensive game plan for both quarterbacks Tino Sunseri and Pat Bostick. Sunseri, a redshirt sophomore, appears to have a firm grip on the starting job heading into the fall. He finished the day with nine completions in 17 attempts for 82 yards and one rushing touchdown. The Pittsburgh Central Catholic product displayed a strong arm and escapability from the rush. Bostick, a redshirt junior, completed six of 13 throws for 59 yards. He was sacked twice and threw one ugly interception to second team safety and former quarterback Kolby Gray. Bostick clearly is the team’s second option behind center but does have game experience with wins over West Virginia and Notre Dame in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Jonathan Baldwin made one highlight reel catch, an 11-yard one-handed grab of a poorly thrown Susneri pass in the first quarter. He led all receivers with four catches for 37 yards. The junior also took advantage of some coaching from former Panther and current Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who returned to Heinz Field to take in some of the action. Fitzgerald was one of many former Panthers on hand Saturday afternoon. He stayed all day and chatted with several recruits in the hallway next to the Panthers locker room. Offensive tackle Jason Pinkston had a solid afternoon, walling off all-Big East defensive end Greg Romeus much of the day. Pinkston could take comfort in his performance, knowing if he could handle Romeus, he should overpower all other defensive ends he will face this year. Pitt’s linebackers showed they have big play capability. Sophomores Manny Williams and Dan Mason were all over the field. Williams made five tackles and one interception while Mason spent much of the day in the offensive backfield. Converted quarterback Greg Cross and tight end Mike Cruz showed they could add to the receiving weapons for Sunseri this season. Cross seems to have gained confidence playing the position as was evidenced by a nice 15-yard grab of a Bostick floater in the second period while Cruz hauled in a 20-yard bullet from Sunseri in the third. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis broke off a 52-yard run in the first quarter, showing he is ready to make a run at 2,000 yards this season. He finished with 74 yards on five totes. But the day belonged to the defense. Pitt’s defensive line garnered five sacks and controlled play all day, putting a large smile on defensive line coach Greg Gattuso’s face much of the afternoon. Notes: Romeus was named to the watch list for the 2010 Lott Trophy, which is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football. Last season, he garnered 8 sacks and 43 tackles, 11.5 of which were for a loss. He was named Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year along with teammate Mick Williams. Pitt’s season opening contest at Utah will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 2. It will be broadcast nationally on Versus. Posted on March 30th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey It has taken nearly five years, but Pitt Coach Dave Wannstedt has established a program that is more than capable of contending for Big East championships and berths in BCS bowl games. For that hard work that just two-plus years ago, was bearing no fruit; the Pitt administration bestowed a two-year contract extension to Wannstedt. The extension was announced during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. It will also ensure Wannstedt will roam the sidelines at Heinz Field through at least 2014. “I greatly appreciate the confidence that Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, (Athletic Director) Steve Peterson and the entire administration have in what we are building and accomplishing,” the coach said Tuesday. “While we are all proud of the strides we have made, we look forward to even greater accomplishments in the future.” Those strides include 19 wins in two years. Last season saw the Panthers achieve heights they have not reached since the early 1980s. The Panthers finished 10-3 and capped the season with a hard-fought 19-16 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte. With several retuning starters such as running back Dion Lewis, fullback Henry Hynoski; receivers Jonathan Baldwin and Mike Shanahan; defensive ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard; and offensive tackles Lucas Nix and Jason Pinkston; the Panthers are expected to field a deep squad that should be favored to win the Big East. This is all heady stuff that seemed light-years away in mid-2007. The Panthers were foundering along and sputtering towards their third consecutive non-winning season under Wannstedt. Although plenty of young talented players populated the roster at the time, wins were hard to come by. Then came December 1, 2007. The seemingly undermanned Panthers marched into Morgantown, W.Va. and outhit West Virginia beat the Mountaineers and knocked them out of a spot in the National Championship Game. Since then, the Panthers have knocked off the likes of South Florida, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Iowa. Pitt now boasts a devastating ground game thanks to the likes of Lewis and the departed LeSean McCoy along with a defense that has feature the likes of Romeus, Sheard, and former players Scott McKillop, Mick Williams, Aaron Berry and Adam Gunn. Pitt appears poised to make the next step and earn that coveted BCS berth and a chance against a true college football heavyweight. The administration has done the right thing and will allow Wannstedt to have the security of an extended contract, giving him the opportunity to build the program even stronger. “We have always believed that when you have the right person, you should give them the time and support to accomplish all the goals they have for our program,” said Pederson. “Dave has done an outstanding job leading our football program.” 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 17th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Talk of expanding one of the nation’s premiere collegiate athletic conferences may include the inclusion of the Pitt Panthers in their fold. Big Ten officials admitted to the media earlier this week that the conference is looking into adding a 12th member and in the process, creating a conference title game that could become an economic bonanza for all involved. Rutgers, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Missouri and Nebraska along with Pitt have been mentioned by speculators as possible candidates as the conference’s newest addition. Notre Dame was offered an invite in 1999 and would likely turn it down again due to having NBC as its medium for promoting the program for three-plus hours on fall Saturday afternoons from South Bend. Rutgers and Syracuse are attractive due to both school’s proximity to the coveted New York City television market. Rutgers becomes more of a tantalizing entre due to recent success in football, a large student population and the school’s reputation as a fine research institution. But for my money, Pitt is a more than attractive option for the Big Ten honchos. If Pitt is invited in the near future, they should not only listen, they should accept with the glee of a high-school aged girl being asked to the prom by the school’s star quarterback. The Panthers were one of the Big East’s charter members in both basketball and football. They are one of the burgeoning conference flagships in football while their basketball program is firmly entrenched as a conference power on the basis of their performance this decade. An additional upside is having two ready-made rivalries at hand should the Panthers be included at the Big Ten table. Add Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa and Wisconsin to the menu and you have quite an impressive schedule in the works each and every year in both football and basketball. Plus, Heinz Field could be used every so many years as a site for the conference title game. Even without Pitt as a title game participant, Ohio State and Penn State or even Michigan fans would fill the stadium and bring much needed tourism driven dollars to the region. Yes, Pitt could and probably would keep West Virginia on both the football and basketball schedules. I do not think the Backyard Brawl would be affected more than moving it on the schedule. However, this is all merely speculation. The Big Ten has admitted that the matter is merely under investigation and that action will not be taken any time soon. But if the Big Ten wants to talk, Pitt Chancellor Mark Nordenberg and his associates better listen and act accordingly. 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. 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. Posted on December 2nd, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy www.pittsburghpanthers.com Junior Greg Romeus has been named a finalist for the prestigious Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award, it was announced today by the Ted Hendricks Foundation. Romeus (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Glades) is one of seven finalists selected by a vote of the Hendricks Award selection committee. The winner will be announced on Dec. 9. For more information on the award and the Ted Hendricks Foundation, go to www.TedHendricks.com. Romeus is the second Pitt player to be named a finalist for a national award. Last week, senior tight end Dorin Dickerson was named one of three finalists for the John Mackey Award. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Romeus is having an outstanding season for Pitt’s nationally ranked defensive unit, compiling 38 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. One of the country’s most disruptive defensive linemen, Romeus also has two forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked PAT. His eight sacks pace a Pitt defensive unit that leads the entire country in that category. The Panthers have a national-best 42 sacks, their highest total since 1988. The Panthers (9-2, 5-1 Big East) are ranked as high as No. 14 this week heading into their regular-season finale at Heinz Field against the undefeated Cincinnati Bearcats (11-0, 6-0), ranked No. 5 nationally. The game, a noon national ABC telecast, will decide the 2009 Big East championship and the league’s BCS bowl entrant. Posted on December 1st, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The statement that the Pitt Panthers have been waiting make all year can be made with one win. That goal can be accomplished this Saturday when the No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats visit Heinz Field for a noon kickoff. Winner of this game will take home the Big East title and a spot in a BCS bowl game. Pitt was in a winner-take-all game once before while a member of the Big East. In 2003, the Panthers hosted Miami on a cold late November night and were throttled 28-14. It would be the Hurricanes last Big East title before joining the Atlantic Coast Conference. Pitt won the Big East the following season. Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt said instilling a strong mental game plan is key during game preparation. “You can let your mind get really cloudy and you can start pressing,” said Wannstedt. “You have to make sure that you’re preparation is what it needs to be off the field. We have to take care of the details on the field.” Cincinnati still has an outside shot of playing in the BCS National Championship game. Their high-powered offense is the main reason for their undefeated season. Senior quarterback Tony Pike is back and fully functional after suffering an arm injury at mid-season. Pike torched Illinois last week to the tune of 399 yards passing and six scores in the Bearcats 49-36 win. Despite missing three games with the injury, Pike still has thrown for 2,048 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has thrown only three interceptions all season. Pike enjoyed a breakthrough performance against the Panthers last year with a 26-of-32, 309 yard, three touchdown game as Cincinnati beat Pitt 28-21 at Nippert Stadium. “I know we underestimated him last year,” said Wannstedt. “We won’t this year. He’s back and he’s playing extremely well.” Pike’s number one target is senior receiver Mardy Gilyard. His monster 2009 season includes 75 receptions for 1,038 yards and 10 scores. Gilyard will have the Panthers full attention on Saturday afternoon. “We know about his speed and his hands as a receiver,” said Wannstedt. “He has great run skills. I think that’s what you see on his kick returns. He makes a lot of plays in the passing game where he runs after the catch. That carries over to his return game.” Gilyard also averages 30 yards per kickoff return and has one touchdown. Receiver Armon Binns (51 catches, 755 yards, 9TDs) and tight end Ben Guidugli (19 catches, 325 yards, 3TDs) are also more than capable of making big plays in the passing game. “You can look at the tape, game by game, and you can see great examples of all of them making big plays,” said Wannstedt. “Our players see that on film. They know that these guys have talent.” Cincinnati’s running game is also a threat to blow a game open. The Bearcats average more than 150 yards rushing per game and have been even more potent as the weather grows colder. “Before the Illinois game, they ran it for 200 yards against West Virginia and Connecticut,” said Wannstedt. “They are capable of running it. They have talented backs. They have a good run scheme.” Sophomore Isaiah Pead leads Cincinnati with 685 yards rushing. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry and has scored eight touchdowns. |
 
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