NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on August 9th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey • Decorated defensive end Greg Romeus tweaked an ankle in practice on Saturday afternoon while reserve safety Andrew Taglianetti is still battling stiffness in his surgically repaired left knee. Coach Dave Wannstedt said he believes both should be back on the field in the very near future. • Romeus along with running back Dion Lewis and receiver Jonathan Baldwin were all selected as preseason candidates for several prestigious awards. • Romeus was named a candidate for the Chuck Bednarik Award which is given annually to the nation’s top defensive player. Both Lewis and Baldwin were named candidates for the Maxwell Award which honors the most outstanding overall player in college football. • Safety Dom DeCicco also got into the act by being named to the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list. The award is given annually to the nation’s top defensive back. • Pitt was rated no. 15 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, one spot behind former rival Penn State and nine spots ahead of conference arch-rival West Virginia. • According to Wannstedt, one of the early preseason surprises has been the play of freshman defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Though juniors Myles Caragein and Chas Alexcih are penciled in as the starters, Donald should help give the unit some depth in the middle while Brandon Lindsey is expected to do the same on the edge. 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 February 2nd, 2010 by David WhipkeyCourtesy University of Pittsburgh Following an outstanding year on the field for the Pitt football team that included a 10-win season, top 15 ranking in the final polls and victory in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Panthers earned yet another distinction today, this one for achievement in the classroom. Ten Pitt players were named to the Big East Football All-Academic Team, which recognizes student-athletes who have posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or better and completed a minimum of two semesters of academic work. Leading Pitt’s honorees is linebacker Adam Gunn (Vandergrift, Pa./Kiski Area), who was named to the All-Academic Team for a third time. Gunn recently completed his master’s degree in Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. The Panthers’ two-time All-Academic Team honorees include kicker Luke Briggs (Midland, Mich./Herbert Henry Dow), defensive lineman Myles Caragein (Pittsburgh, Pa./Keystone Oaks), fullback Henry Hynoski (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia), quarterback Andrew Janocko (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area) and offensive lineman John Malecki (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional). Four Panthers were honored for the first time: receiver Jonathan Baldwin (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa), punter Pat Costello (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area), linebacker Steve Dell (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Santaluces Community) and receiver Mike Shanahan (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin). Baldwin, Gunn and Malecki were also each named to the coaches’ All-Big East First Team following exceptional seasons at their respective positions. Posted on January 19th, 2010 by David WhipkeyCourtesy University of Pittsburgh Scott Turner, an offensive assistant the past two seasons for the Pitt football program, has been promoted to wide receivers coach, it was announced Monday by Panthers head coach Dave Wannstedt. “It is always gratifying to be able to reward a member of our staff with a well-deserved promotion,” Wannstedt said. “Scott Turner was a major contributor in our offensive staff room this past season. He is a very bright football coach whose strong knowledge is matched by his equally strong energy and commitment. Our receivers are going to benefit tremendously from his influence. He is also going to be a great asset on the recruiting trail, especially in his assigned areas of Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.” “I am very grateful for this opportunity to coach the wide receivers here at Pitt,” Turner said. “I have had the honor of being a part of this football program under Coach Wannstedt for the past two years. Pitt has such a great tradition as well as a very bright future and I am excited to continue to be a part of it. As a member of Pitt’s offensive staff the past two seasons, Turner aided in the accomplishment of back-to-back 1,000-yard rushers in LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis. He also contributed to a 2009 unit that produced a 1,700-yard rusher (Lewis) and 1,000-yard receiver (Jonathan Baldwin). Lewis was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, compiling a Pitt freshman record 1,799 rush yards and 18 total touchdowns. Pitt averaged 32.1 points per game in 2009, the fourth highest scoring average in school history. A former quarterback at UNLV, Turner joined the Pitt staff in 2008 after working the prior two years on the prep level at South County Secondary School in Virginia. As South County’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, he helped the program to its first-ever playoff berth and also orchestrated an offense that produced two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. In 2005, Turner was an administrative graduate assistant at Oregon State under Mike Riley. His responsibilities included assisting in all aspects of the Beavers’ program with a special focus on the offense’s weekly preparation. Turner was a three-year letterman at UNLV, earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the university in 2005. Scott is the son of Norv Turner, the current head coach of the San Diego Chargers. Norv and Dave Wannstedt served together on Jimmy Johnson’s Dallas Cowboys staffs of the early 1990s. Norv additionally was offensive coordinator with the Dolphins in 2002 and 2003 during Wannstedt’s head coaching tenure in Miami. 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 December 18th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The play of Pitt’s offense would not have reached their level of productivity if it was not for the play of the offensive line. It was the front five populating the Panthers offensive line that was responsible for paving the way for freshman All-American running back Dion Lewis this season. They also provided all Big East quarterback Bill Stull ample protection to throw to Jonathan Baldwin and Dorin Dickerson. As a result of their work, Pitt offensive line coach Tony Wise was selected as FootballlScoop.com Offensive Line Coach of the Year. Wise has coached for nearly for decades in both college and professional football. He was hired by head coach Dave Wannstedt two years ago and has made a world of difference in the play of Pitt’s offensive line. The Panthers averaged 33.2 yards per game on offense during the regular season, the fourth-highest in school history. Pitt’s offensive line permitted a mere 1.08 sacks per game and also paved the way for Lewis to rush for 1,640 yards. Under the tutelage of Wise, senior guard John Malecki and junior tackle Jason Pinkston garnered first-team all Big East selections. “It is an honor to be selected for this award,” said Wise. “As we know, line coaches are not used to this type of this recognition. We have a great group of guys here at Pitt who love to hit people, down after down.” Coach Wannstedt was quite pleased such an honor was bestowed upon Wise. “Coaching is teaching and there is no better teacher than Tony,” said Wannstedt. “The way he communicates with the players, they understand him. He is very effective. On the field and off the field, he cares about his players. The players know it and appreciate it.” Notes: More awards continue to come freshman running back Dion Lewis’ way. Lewis was named 2009 Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year for his monster season. It is the fourth such honor for Lewis, who previously was named the Freshman of the Year by Sporting News and CBSSports.com, and the Offensive Freshman of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com. As the Rookie of the Year, Lewis will be honored in February at the annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, N.J. Posted on December 15th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy www.pittsburghpanthers.com The Pitt football team continues to garner impressive individual honors during the postseason. Freshman tailback Dion Lewis’ status as the top newcomer in college football continues to be solidified with his growing list of honors. Lewis (Albany, N.Y./Blair Academy [N.J.]) was the only true freshman named to The Associated Press All-America Team that was announced today. He was a second-team All-America selection by the AP as well as by Sporting News, CBSSports.com, SI.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com. Lewis has also been named the National Freshman of the Year by CBSSports.com and the Offensive Freshman of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com. The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Lewis enters the Meineke Car Care Bowl against North Carolina as the country’s third-leading rusher (136.67 yards/game). His 1,640 total rushing yards are the most ever for a Big East freshman. One of the players who helped open holes for Lewis, junior offensive tackle Jason Pinkston, also has garnered national accolades. Pinkston (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) was named a second-team selection on the SI.com and Rivals.com All-America teams. Senior tight end Dorin Dickerson (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) last week was named to the Football Writers’ 25-player All-America Team after catching 45 passes for 508 yards and 10 touchdowns. He additionally has been named a first-team All-America selection by CBSSports.com and is a second-team honoree by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Sporting News. Sophomore Jonathan Baldwin gained recognition with his 1,000-yard receiving season (1,080 yards, 20.0 yards per catch) and was named a third team All-American by Rivals.com. On the other side of the ball, junior defensive end Greg Romeus was named a third team All-American by Sporting News and Rivals.com. Romeus has compiled 40 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and eight sacks. He additionally has an interception, a fumble recovery, a blocked PAT and two forced fumbles. Posted on December 9th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Three Panthers recently received top Big East player awards for their performance on the field this season. Freshman running back Dion Lewis was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year while junior defensive end Greg Romeus and senior defensive tackle Mick Williams shared the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award. Lewis set the conference ablaze with 1,640 yards rushing to go with 17 touchdowns. He leads the Big East and is third nationally in rushing yards per game (136.67 avg.). The Albany, N.Y. native is the most prolific freshman ground gainer in conference history. He stands 46 yards shy of Tony Dorsett’s 1973 mark of 1,686 yards rushing. Lewis’ 102 points is the new record for points scored by a freshman, overtaking LeSean McCoy’s 90 points set just two years ago. Former Pitt receiver and current Arizona Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald earned the conference’s offensive player of the year award in 2003. Romeus led Pitt’s fierce defensive line with 40 stops, including 10.5 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks. The Coral Springs, Fla. native also has two forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and one blocked kick. Williams was a dominant force in the middle. The senior from Monessen is second in the conference in tackles for loss with 15. He also has three sacks and three forced fumbles to with his 39 total tackles. Former Pitt linebackers H.B. Blades (2006) and Scott McKillop (2008) also garnered conference defensive player of the year awards. The Panthers also had 10 first-team all Big East selections overall. In addition to the unanimous selections of Lewis, Romeus and Williams, other Panthers included on the first team were sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin, senior cornerback Aaron Berry, senior tight end Dorin Dickerson, senior linebacker Adam Gunn, senior offensive guard John Malecki, junior offensive tackle Jason Pinkston and senior quarterback Bill Stull. Second team all-Big East included senior tight end Nate Byham, junior safety Dom DeCicco, junior placekicker Dan Hutchins and senior defensive tackle Gus Mustakas. Notes: Three members of Pitt’s coaching staff were selected as finalists for the FootballScoop.com Coaches of the Year award. They are offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, offensive line coach Tony Wise and Director of Football Operations Chris LaSala. |
 
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