NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
|
 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 20th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Pitt’s ascending football program will be well-represented in two college football all-star games that will take place later this month and serve as a showcase for prospective NFL talent. Three performers from the Panthers 10-3 squad will participate in the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl. Cornerback Aaron Berry and tight end Nate Byham will play in the East-West Shrine Game this Saturday in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2. All-American Tight End Dorin Dickerson will participate in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Kickoff for the Senior Bowl is Saturday, January 30 at 4 p.m. The game will be televised by the NFL Network. Berry, Byham and Dickerson were integral parts to Pitt’s solid 2009 season. Berry notched 31 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and an interception during his 2009 campaign. He was selected to the all-Big East squad for the second time in his career following this season. Byham was also named all-Big East this year, also his second for his career. Although his 10 catches for 108 yards were not eye-popping statistically, he was a devastating blocker and helped provide the platform for Pitt’s conference-leading ground attack (180.3 yards rushing per game). Dickerson emerged as a big-play threat in 2009. His 10 touchdown receptions set a new school record for scoring grabs in a season. The senior from Imperial, Pa. finished the year with 49 catches for 528 yards. He was named to the 25-player All-American Team selected by the Football Writers Association of America. Dickerson is the first Pitt tight end to earn All-American status since Mike Ditka did so in 1960. He was also a finalist for the John Mackey Award and named all-Big East this season. The Panthers finished no. 15 in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. Pitt ended their season with a dramatic 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. 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 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. Posted on November 30th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Clint Session: Colts linebacker: Session enjoyed his best day as a pro with nine tackles and a game-clinching 27 yard interception return for a touchdown in Indianapolis’ 35-27 win over Houston. Indianapolis remains perfect at 11-0. Darrelle Revis: Jets cornerback: Revis turned in a signature performance in the Jets 17-6 win over Carolina. The third-year pro intercepted Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme twice and returned one of the picks for a 67 yard touchdown. LaRod Stephens-Howling: Cardinals kick returner: Stephens-Howling was a bright spot in Arizona’s 20-17 loss at Tennessee. The rookie returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and gave the Cards momentum before the Titans won on the game’s last play. Antonio Bryant: Buccaneers receiver: Bryant has struggled this season with an injured knee along with an uncertain situation at quarterback. But the veteran did his best to keep the Bucs competitive with a three-catch, 91-yard performance at Atlanta. His 42 yard touchdown catch gave Tampa Bay life, but Atlanta still earned a 20-17 win. LeSean McCoy: Eagles running back: McCoy gained 101 yards combined rushing and receiving and scored an important two-point conversion in the Eagles come-from-behind 27-24 win over the Washington Redskins. Shawntae Spencer: 49ers cornerback: Spencer logged six tackles in the Niners 20-3 shelling of Jacksonville. Posted on November 28th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey No doubt this is a loss that stings, but a great opportunity is still within reach for the Pitt Panthers. Friday night’s 19-16 loss at the hands of West Virginia in the 102nd edition of the Backyard Brawl did not end Pitt’s Big East title hopes. Those are still very much in play when undefeated Cincinnati visits Heinz Field Saturday for a noon kickoff. With a win over the high-powered Bearcats, the Panthers can still earn a coveted BCS berth and a spot in the Orange, Sugar or Fiesta Bowl. Pitt could have won their third straight against their arch-rival Friday night. For all intents and purposes, the Panthers have the more physical outfit, better defense and more solid quarterback. But in a rivalry game on the enemy’s turf, all bets are off. Credit West Virginia’s defensive coaches for formulating a game plan that helped shut down a potent Panthers offense. The Mountaineers were able to pressure Bill Stull into his worst performance of the year. Stull tossed two costly interceptions and was sacked twice The fifth-year senior did lead the Panthers on a swift 75 yard scoring drive in the final stanza that was capped by his 50 yard touchdown bomb to Jonathan Baldwin. The connection tied the game at 16 a piece and appeared to shift the momentum to the Panthers. The Mountaineers also did a fine job in taking Stull’s primary weapon away from him most of the night. Tight end Dorin Dickerson was limited to two harmless receptions. He entered the contest with 10 scoring receptions but was held out of the end zone by a staunch Mountaineers defense. West Virginia’s defensive front of Julian Miller, Chris Neild and Scooter Berry along wth linebackers Reed Williams and J.T. Thomas were able to match the Pitt offensive line in the trenches most of the evening. They did keep Pitt’s Dion Lewis under wraps for much of the game, but Lewis still finished with 155 yards rushing on 26 carries. Pitt’s offensive line eventually found its groove and began to establish control of the game midway through the third quarter. This is when Lewis started breaking off solid runs and Stull was finding more time to hit his receivers. If Pitt’s line can establish control from the beginning against the Bearcats instead of waiting until the second half to find their traction, a Big East title trophy will be in the Panthers locker room. West Virginia’s Noel Devine’s final numbers did look very impressive. Devine finished with 134 yards on 17 carries, 88 of those yards came on his long touchdown run in the third quarter. Take away that run and Devine finishes with 46 yards on 16 attempts. Pitt’s defense was solid. Defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus each recorded sacks of WVU quarterback Jarrett Brown while tackles Gus Mustakas and Mick Williams spent a good deal of time in West Virginia’s backfield. Brown did make some key throws and was able to keep the game-winning drive alive with two big scrambles. Yes, this is a loss that will hurt for a bit. But in the big picture, there is still a large prize on the table to be won for the Panthers. Should coach Dave Wannstedt and his staff clean up a few issues, there is no reason to believe Pitt’s goal of a Big East title will be achieved. Posted on November 28th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey There will be no three-game winning streak for the Pitt Panthers in the Backyard Brawl. West Virginia used a big-play by running back Noel Devine, stout defense and the clutch leg of kick Tyler Bitancurt to overtake Pitt 19-16 Friday night before a less-than-sellout crowd at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown. Bitancurt’s 43-yard field goal with three seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Mountaineers (8-3, 4-2) the hard-fought win. His kick capped a 10-play; 52-yard drive in the game’s waning moments. Devine led the Mountaineers with 134 yards rushing on 17 carries. His 88-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter sent the Panthers normally staunch defense reeling. Quarterback Jarrett Brown completed 19 of 31 throws for 164 yards. Although he was sacked twice and pressured most of the evening, he did not throw an interception. The same could not be said for the Big East’s leading passer Bill Stull. Stull was under siege from the Mountaineers pass rush most of the night. West Virginia sacked him twice and hounded him into numerous misfires. The fifth-year senior completed 16 of 30 passes for 179 yards. Stull also threw two costly interceptions. Mountaineer safety Keith Tandy intercepted Stull right before the end of the first half, helping to set up Bitancurt’s game-tying 20-yard field goal. Cornerback Robert Sands pilfered a Stull pass in the fourth-quarter to snuff out another Pitt drive and create a scoring opportunity for the Mountaineers. The Panthers (9-2, 5-1)started out the contest in fine fashion. The defense forced a three-and-out series on West Virginia’s first possession. After a Mountaineer punt, Pitt marched down to the WVU 29-yard line. However, Dan Hutchins missed his 46-yard field goal attempt. Both squads were locked in a defensive battle for much of the first half. Pitt managed to cobble together a 54-yard scoring drive late in the half that was capped by Hutchins’ 37-yard field goal. West Virginia took a 6-3 lead early in the third period when Bitancurt climaxed a 48-yard drive with a 47-yard field goal. Pitt responded with an eight-play, 46-yard drive that was highlighted by Dion Lewis’ 30-yard run on fourth and 1 at midfield. Hutchins’ 30-yard field goal knotted the score at six apiece late in the third. But Devine struck back for the Mountaineers. The junior running back juked Pitt safety Dom DeCicco and out ran the rest of the Panthers for a tide-turning 88-yard touchdown run. The play effectively swung the momentum in favor of the Mountaineers and forced the Panthers to play catch-up the rest of the night. West Virginia took advantage of Sands’ interception near midfield in the fourth quarter and turned it into points. Bitancurt’s 39-yard boot gave West Virginia a seemingly insurmountable 10-point lead. But Pitt rose from the deck and decided not to go quietly. The Panthers moved 33 yards in seven plays, setting up Hutchins’ 36-yard field goal midway through the final quarter, slicing West Virginia’s lead to 16-9. After Pitt’s defense held, Stull and his mates went to work. The Panthers moved 75 yards in three-plays, all of which were pass completions. Stull ended the march with a gorgeous 50-yard touchdown strike to Jonathan Baldwin. The connection tied the game at 16 apiece late in the fourth-quarter. Both Baldwin and Lewis enjoyed productive evenings. Baldwin finished with eight catches for 127 yards while Lewis added 155 yards rushing on 26 attempts. But the Mountaineers had nearly three minutes to work with. Brown used this time to lead his offense on a methodical 52-yard drive that led to Bitancurt’s heroics. Notes: Pitt still has a chance to win the Big East title with a win over undefeated Cincinnati next Saturday at Heinz Field. Kickoff is at noon and will be televised nationally on ABC. Posted on November 24th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy of www.pittsburghpanthers.com Pittsburgh senior Dorin Dickerson has been named a finalist for the prestigious John Mackey Award, annually presented to the nation’s top tight end by the Nassau County Sports Commission. Dickerson (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) was one of three finalists selected by a vote of the John Mackey Selection Committee. The other finalists include Florida junior Aaron Hernandez and Brigham Young senior Dennis Pitta. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show. For additional information on the John Mackey Award, please visit www.johnmackeyaward.org or www.nassausports.org. Ranked No. 8 by The Associated Press and No. 9 in the USA Today coaches’ poll, Pitt has its highest November rankings since 1982. The Panthers are ninth in this week’s Bowl Championship Series ratings, their highest BCS listing ever. Pitt achieved its lofty rankings after winning six consecutive games to improve to 9-1 on the year, its best start since the 1982 Panthers, led by quarterback Dan Marino, also started 9-1. The Panthers will put their undefeated Big East record (5-0) on the line at West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) this Friday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m. The game will be a national ESPN2 telecast. Pitt will conclude its regular season against Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0) at Heinz Field on Dec. 5. The game will have a noon kickoff and decide the winner of the 2009 Big East championship and resultant Bowl Championship Series berth. Less than 5,000 seats remain for the Pitt-Cincinnati game. To purchase tickets, log on to www.PittsburghPanthers.com or call the Pitt Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT. Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey They were five simple words. Five words that at the time made him look overly simple, but they were five words that were too true to be embellished. In Dave Wannstedt’s first year along the Pitt sidelines, he knew he had a football team that simply was not athletic enough to compete with the likes of West Virginia’s Pat White and Steve Slaton. Both White and Slaton ran past and around the Panthers on a cold Morgantown, W.Va. on Thanksgiving night in 2005. It was evident to Wannstedt that his Panthers were too slow. As he was walking towards the halftime locker room, he was interviewed by an ESPN sideline reporter before halftime and was asked how Pitt could stop WVU’s lightning-fast spread option attack. Wannstedt simply responded with the five words that mocked him for two-plus years: “We have to run faster.” West Virginia, led by Slaton and White, hung 90 total points on Pitt in 2005 and 2006. Pitt looked especially helpless in 2006 when both Slaton and White rushed for more than 200 yards in a 45-24 win at Heinz Field. Then came December 1, 2007. West Virginia entered the 100 edition of the Backyard Brawl with aspirations of a playing in the BCS National Championship game. The Mountaineers were 11-1 and were again led by an offense powered by quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton. They also throttled Connecticut 66-21 the previous week, giving them the Big East title and a ticket to one of the prestigious bowl games in early January. Pitt was reeling at the time. They were sporting a 4-7 record and were assured of missing out on post-season play for the third straight year under Wannstedt. The Panthers were 28 point underdogs and apparently were simply invited guests to West Virginia’s coronation before a sold-out Milan Puskar Stadium. Then came kickoff. The Panthers showed how much they learned in two years and how faster they had become. Pitt’s defense held the high-powered Mountaineers to 183 total yards, nine first downs and in check all night long. Pitt churned out enough offense thanks to then freshman running back LeSean McCoy and shocked West Virginia in Morgantown with a 13-9 upset. It would be Rich Rodriguez’s last game as Mountaineers coach. Days later, West Virginia’s then favorite son announced he was bolting for the vacant coaching job at Michigan. West Virginia was also not going to play for a national title in 2007 and has not been close since that year. Pitt parlayed the upset into a banner-year recruiting wise. The Panthers gained steam and won nine games in 2008, one of which included a 19-15 win over WVU at Heinz Field in late November. It is the Panthers that appear to be the superior team that will take the field in Morgantown on Friday night. Pitt’s defensive line, led by ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard along with tackles Mick Williams and Gus Mustakas; appear to have a distinct advantage against WVU’s strong but young offensive line. Players such as safety/linebacker Elijah Fields, linebacker Adam Gunn, safety Jarred Holley and cornerback Aaron Berry are the athletic-types that can run with WVU’s speedy skill players. It is obvious the Panthers needed to become faster. Five years after watching the Mountaineers run past his players, Wannstedt has a team that can and should short-circuit West Virginia’s speed. Posted on November 18th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy www.pittsburghpanthers.com Pitt freshman tailback Dion Lewis has been named one of 15 “Players to Watch” for the 2009 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, it was announced today by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. Lewis is the only freshman on the Walter Camp list and one of just four running backs. The list will be pared down to five finalists on December 2, with the 2009 winner announced on December 10 during the 6 p.m. edition of ESPN SportsCenter. Pitt boasts three previous winners of the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, including running back Tony Dorsett (1976), defensive end Hugh Green (1980) and receiver Larry Fitzgerald (2003). This is the latest recognition for Lewis (Albany, N.Y./Blair Academy [N.J.]), who is also a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award (nation’s top running back) and Maxwell College Football Player of the Year Award. The 5-foot-8, 195-pound freshman is also poised to become the first player since Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick in 1999 to be selected the Big East’s Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the same season. Lewis is first in the Big East and sixth nationally in rushing yards per game (129.1 avg.). Overall he has 1,291 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 224 carries (5.8 avg.). He has scored 14 total TDs on the year. Lewis needed just eight games to reach 1,000 yards, matching Dorsett’s Pitt freshman record set in 1973. With three games remaining, he trails Dorsett’s Pitt freshman rushing record of 1,686 by only 395 yards. “I love watching the kid,” said Dorsett. “It brings back a lot of memories for me. I’m really happy for him that he has been able to excel. What I like most is he has no ego. He just runs the ball.” Lewis is also ready to become the most prolific freshman rusher in Big East history. He is just 37 yards away from matching former Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy’s Big East frosh mark of 1,328 yards set in 2007. Ranked No. 8 by The Associated Press and No. 9 in the USA Today coaches poll, Pitt has its highest November rankings since 1982. The Panthers moved up to ninth in this week’s Bowl Championship Series ratings, their highest BCS listing ever. Pitt achieved its lofty rankings after winning six consecutive games to improve to 9-1 on the year, its best start since the 1982 Panthers, led by quarterback Dan Marino, also started 9-1. The Panthers have a bye this week before putting their undefeated Big East record (5-0) on the line at West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) on Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. Pitt will conclude its regular season against Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0) at Heinz Field on Dec. 5. Kickoff for the de facto Big East title game will be at noon and be televised nationally on ABC. |
 
 |
|
PittPanthersGameday.com is NOT affiliated with the Pittsburgh Panthers, the Big East or the NCAA |
||
