NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on December 14th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt will have to replace three players from an offensive line that paved the way for freshman running back Dion Lewis and fifth-year senior quarterback Bill Stull’s productive 2009 seasons. Guards Joe Thomas and John Malecki along with center Robb Houser are all seniors. But the Panthers took a large step towards filling those voids with a solid offensive line prospect from nearby Maryland. Shane Johnson, a six-foot, five-inch, 301-pound guard from Hyattsville DeMatha made a verbal commitment to the Panthers on Saturday. Johnson is slated to join fellow DeMatha product Jeff Knox on the Panther squad. Johnson picked Pitt over Boston College, Maryland, South Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia. The D.C. area product could compete with the highly-regarded Chris Jacobson at one of the soon-to-be-vacated guard positions. 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 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 October 3rd, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Working on a short week, Pitt was able to get up off the canvas and deliver a knockout blow to Louisville and earn a 35-10 road win over the overmatched Cardinals. Friday night’s performance was a welcome sight for those who believed the Panthers were exposed last week at N.C. State. The reasons why Pitt was able to get off to a good start in Big East play were numerous: • Stull continues to display a maturity he did not show much of last year. His numbers were solid (16 for 23, 242 yards and three scores) and his management skills were on point. The senior made big throws when they were needed such as the 71-yard strike to Jonathan Baldwin that gave Pitt a 21-10 lead. • Baldwin and tight end Dorin Dickerson give the Panthers two perimeter performers other defenses will have a difficult time containing. Baldwin gives and will continue to give the Panthers a downfield threat that has not been seen in Blue and Gold since Larry Fitzgerald was carrying the Pitt offense earlier this decade, while Dickerson adds a toughness and reliability to the passing game. Both were on full display Friday night and should give Pitt an advantage on the flanks against many of their future opponents this season. • This is clearly Pitt’s best offensive line since the 1980s. Right guard John Malecki is a true mauler while tackles Jason Pinkston and sophomore Lucas Nix are standing firm. Left guard Joe Thomas appears to have found a home at left guard. The unit has only allowed two sacks this season and gave Stull an uncluttered pass pocket all evening long against the Cards. • The backfield tandem of Dion Lewis and Ray Graham were a devastating one-two punch Friday, combining for 162 yards and a score. Either one can make a man miss and break a long run. • There may not be a better fullback in the Big East than Henry Hynoski. The junior from Southern Columbia High School in central Pennsylvania is a bulldozer that eliminates linebackers at the point of attack. • Defensively, it begins and ends with the line. End Greg Romeus racked up three and a half of the team’s six sacks. Bookend Jabaal Sheard’s fourth quarter takedown of Froman ended the Cards last threat to stay in the game while tackle Mick Williams commands double teams and disrupts the middle. Posted on September 25th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey North Carolina State coach Tom O’Brien knows physical football from his time coaching at Boston College. Posted on July 1st, 2009 by panther
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