NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on November 17th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Pitt fans should feel very good about themselves this week. In fact, they should feel almost 10-feet tall and bulletproof. The Panthers made a large statement Saturday night at Heinz Field by virtue of their 27-22 win over Notre Dame in front of more than 65,000 patrons and a national television audience. Pitt controlled the flow of the game for three-plus quarters until the Fighting Irish made it interesting in the end. Now, the squad heads into their second bye week before traveling south on Interstate 79 to take on rival West Virginia in what will most certainly be the most hostile environment they will see this season. But that is nearly two weeks away. Panther Nation has plenty of time to bask in the glow of what has been a special season. Certainly, their reason for puffing their chests out can be understood. Once again, the Panthers are showing that they are not the flashy but flimsy squads that were taking the field earlier this decade. Yes, then coach Walt Harris took a pass-happy team to five consecutive bowls, but they were never a serious contender for anything but a mid-level post-season game each year. They did win the Big East title in 2004. But that was mostly due to West Virginia and Boston College imploding down the stretch. In many instances, when the Panthers were punched in the face, they tended to back down. Offensive lines from Notre Dame, West Virginia, Virginia Tech and Miami ran roughshod over Pitt’s defense while quarterbacks Tyler Palko and Rod Rutherford were seen running for their lives. Those days appear to be over. Coach Dave Wannstedt has instilled a sense of toughness and physicality that was a Pitt trademark a generation and a half ago. That has been apparent all year long and was on full display Saturday against a talented Notre Dame squad. Pitt ran the ball to the tune of 193 yards against the Fighting Irish. More impressively, they averaged six yards per rush. Dion Lewis did his best Tony Dorsett impression Saturday with his 152-yard, one touchdown performance. His running mate Ray Graham added an electrifying 53-yard dash in the third quarter which also set up his two-yard touchdown run late in the third period. Pitt fans are salivating at the fact both of these backs will be in the Panthers backfield for at least two more years following this season. The offensive line along with fullback Henry Hynoski imposed their will all night long. Hynoski cleared the way on both scoring runs and was regularly seen clearing Notre Dame linebackers from the point of attack. Quarterback Bill Stull was not sacked and given the time to pass for 236 yards to go with his 36-yard touchdown toss to the superb Jonathan Baldwin. Baldwin also had a coming out party against the Irish. Not only did he snag five catches for 142 yards, he was simply the star of offensive stars. Baldwin’s 51-yard catch along the sideline over Notre Dame’s Darrin Walls could easily have been compared to Steelers legend Lynn Swann’s levitating leap against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X. Pitt’s defensive front made life miserable for Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The Panthers sacked him three times, forced one interception and harassed him throughout the night. Defensive end Greg Romeus made the play of the night when he strip-sacked Clausen on third down and 16 late in the fourth quarter. This is all heady stuff for a fan base that has not seen such play by the Panthers since the early 1980s. They should be even more encouraged that the best may very well be yet to come. Notes: Tight end Dorin Dickerson was named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award. He leads the nation with 10 touchdown receptions on the season. The Pitt-West Virginia game slated for Friday, November 27 will be televised nationally on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Posted on November 12th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The Notre Dame-Pitt series has provided the football world with some of the most vivid memories and best players to ever step foot on the gridiron. Coaches such as Knute Rockne, Elmer Layden, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine and Lou Holtz have led the Irish into battle against the Panthers while Pitt coaches Jock Sutherland, Johnny Majors, Jackie Sherrill, Foge Fazio, Walt Harris and Dave Wannstedt have prowled the sidelines in contests against Notre Dame. Players such as Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis, Paul Hornung, Johnny Lujak, Daryle Lamonica, Raghib Ismail, and Ricky Watters along with other Irish legends have squared off against Panthers such as Dan Marino, Tony Dorsett, Bill Fralic, and Larry Fitzgerald Notre Dame holds a decisive 44-19-1 series lead over Pitt. However, the Panthers have won two of the past three contests. Here is a brief synopsis of the rivalry’s modern history. November 15, 1975: Panthers running back Tony Dorsett basically beat the Irish by himself on a crisp fall day at Pitt Stadium. Then a junior, Dorsett torched the Irish for 303 yards on the ground in a 34-20 win. September 11, 1976: Pitt kick-started their national championship season with an impressive 31-10 win over the Irish in South Bend. Dorsett, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner, ran for 181 yards in the win. ABC moved the game, which was previously scheduled in the middle of the season to week one. Legend has it the Notre Dame grounds crew allowed the natural playing surface to grow higher than usual in an effort to slow down the fleet Dorsett. September 10, 1977: The Joe Montana-quarterbacked Irish spoiled Pitt’s home opener with a come-from-behind 19-9 win. Notre Dame’s fierce defense knocked Panther quarterback Matt Cavanaugh from the contest. The Irish used the win as a spring board to a national championship. November 6, 1982: Dan Marino and his Panthers entered the showdown with the Irish at Pitt Stadium ranked Number 1 in the country and had visions of winning a national title. But the Gerry Faust-coached Irish hung tough all day and upset Pitt 31-16 before an overflow crowd. Notre Dame running back Allen Pinkett helped salt the game away midway through the fourth quarter with a 76-yard touchdown run. October 10, 1987: Notre Dame entered the 1987 game at Pitt Stadium undefeated and with a roster that included players such as receiver and eventual Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and quarterback Tony Rice. But Pitt running back Craig “Ironhead” Heyward was unstoppable in a 30-22 win over coach Lou Holtz and his Irish. November 13, 1999: The Panthers sent Pitt Stadium out in grand style with a pulsating 37-27 win before an overflow crowd of 60,190. Pitt quarterback John Turman tossed two touchdown passes to Antonio Bryant and running back Kevan Barlow scored twice. The Pitt student section took the field and the goal posts with nine seconds remaining on the clock. Approximately 300 former Pitt players were saluted in a stirring halftime tribute. October 12, 2002: The eighth-ranked Irish used defense and opportunistic offense to hold off the Panthers 14-6 at Notre Dame Stadium. Pitt outgained Notre Dame in total yardage by a margin of 402-185. But the Irish defense sacked Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford eight times. Rutherford threw for 313 yards in the game. October 11, 2003: In their first visit to Heinz Field, Notre Dame secured a 20-14 win over Pitt. Notre Dame’s Julius Jones enjoyed a career day against Pitt’s defense, rushing for 262 yards and two scores. Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald finished with five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. The Irish defense again terrorized Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford and sacked him eight times. November 13, 2004: Pitt earned their first win over Notre Dame since 1999 by virtue of a thrilling 41-38 win at Notre Dame Stadium. Panthers quarterback Tyler Palko tossed five touchdown passes and led a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter that culminated in Josh Cummings 32-yard field goal. Palko finished with 26 completions in 42 attempts for 334 yards. Pitt’s defense intercepted Brady Quinn twice. September 3, 2005: In a game that was the first contest along the sidelines for Notre Dame’s Charlie Weis and Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt, the Irish defeated the Panthers 42-21 at Heinz Field. Notre Dame’s offense bulldozed its way to 275 yards rushing and paved the way to victory. Brady Quinn threw for 233 yards for the Irish. November 1, 2008: Pitt outlasted Notre Dame 41-38 in four overtimes. It was the longest game in the history of Notre Dame Stadium. Panther running back LeSean McCoy ran for 169 yards on 32 carries and had one touchdown. Pitt’s Conor Lee drilled a 22-yard field goal to win the game after Notre Dame’s Brandon Walker missed a 38-yard try. Posted on September 25th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Pitt’s previous encounter with North Carolina State ended the Panthers 2001 season in grand style. Posted on September 17th, 2009 by AdminBy David Whipkey | Pitt Panthers Gameday Correspondent It appears a full-fledged, no-holds-barred quarterback derby could be brewing for Dave Wannstedt’s Pitt squad in 2010. Wednesday’s verbal commitment by Bethlehem Liberty senior signal caller Anthony Gonzalez will give the Panthers four scholarship quarterbacks next year. Filling out the roster will include veterans Pat Bostick, Central Catholic’s Tino Sunseri and Kolby Gray. Many pundits and fans have been calling for the coaching staff to upgrade the position. The howls grew louder and louder last season as current starter Bill Stull performed inconsistently throughout the year. The nadir came in the 2008 Brut Sun Bowl, a 3-0 Panthers loss to Oregon State of the Pac-10. Stull’s 7-for-24, 52 yard day on New Year’s Eve was a performance that created questions amongst legions of Panther followers. Stull supporters will point to solid performances against South Florida, Navy, Louisville and the first half against Rutgers as evidence the senior from Seton-LaSalle High School can perform at the Division I level. A concussion late in the third quarter of a 54-34 loss to the Scarlet Knights at Heinz Field ended Stull’s day and may be a factor in his erratic performance down the stretch last year. So far, Stull has shown he can manage Pitt’s attack in the early part of this season. His five touchdown passes combined against Youngstown State and Buffalo are more than half of the nine total scores he threw for last year. But tougher tests lurk in the future for Stull as defenses from N.C. State, Notre Dame, South Florida and West Virginia await. At least Pitt has the luxury of having a quarterback with a year’s worth of starting experience in 2009. That luxury will not be available come September 2010. Even with the signing of Gonzalez and the coaching staff’s seemingly increasing infatuation with the local product Sunseri, Bostick should have the inside track on the starting job next year. Remember, Bostick was the most heralded Pitt quarterback recruit since Rod Rutherford. Schools such as Tennessee, Penn State and others courted the Manheim Township product and for good reason. Bostick was selected as 2006 Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year. His 7,259 yards passing is good for fifth all time in the annals of Pennsylvania high school football. As a freshman, Bostick took over for an injured Stull and ineffective Kevan Smith. Though there were growing pains along the way and questions about his mobility and arm strength, Bostick engineered wins over ranked teams such as Cincinnati and West Virginia. Last year, he helped guide Pitt to a four-overtime win over Notre Dame in South Bend. Both Wannstedt and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. have raved in the past about Bostick’s desire to improve and his work ethic. But that does not guarantee he will take the reins next year. Sunseri took his fair share of first-team reps this summer and appears to have a good grasp of the offense according to published reports. Coaches said they are also impressed with Gray’s athleticism and potential. But an arm injury forced the staff to bestow upon him a medical redshirt. Added into the mix is the intriguing Anthony Gonzalez. Western Pennsylvania high school football fans should know him well. As a junior, Gonzalez put his Liberty squad on his shoulders and led them to a PIAA Class AAAA title game win over Bethel Park. Gonzalez received offers from powers Penn State, Florida State, Oregon, Missouri and Maryland before deciding to call Pittsburgh home for the next three to four years. Gonzalez’ athleticism and talent is tantalizing. He also played defensive back in high school and was recruited by the Nittany Lions to play in their defensive backfield. If longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley believes you can play his secondary, you are a tremendous athlete. Give Wannstedt and his staff credit. There will be legitimate options for the Panthers at the quarterback position in 2010, and for the first time since Tyler Palko was leading Pitt to a Big East title in 2004, the future is bright behind center. Posted on September 15th, 2009 by Admin2009 Pittsburgh Panthers Football Coaching Staff Head Coach Dave Wannstedt Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Greg Gattuso Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.
Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett Tight Ends Brian Angelichio Wide Receivers Bryan Bossard Secondary Jeff Hafley
Linebackers
Joe Tumpkin Running Backs David Walker
Offensive Line
Tony Wise Offensive Graduate Assistant
Scott Turner Defensive Graduate Assistant
Rod Rutherford Assistant Athletic Director/Football Operations
Chris LaSala Assistant Director of Football Operations Mike Antonoplos Director of Football Relations & Program Enhancement
Bob Junko
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Buddy Morris
Head Athletic Trainer
Rob Blanc
Posted on September 12th, 2009 by Admin2009 Pittsburgh Panthers Football Coaching Staff Head Coach Dave Wannstedt Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Greg Gattuso Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr.
Defensive Coordinator Phil Bennett Tight Ends Brian Angelichio Wide Receivers Bryan Bossard Secondary Jeff Hafley
Linebackers
Joe Tumpkin Running Backs David Walker
Offensive Line
Tony Wise Offensive Graduate Assistant
Scott Turner Defensive Graduate Assistant
Rod Rutherford Assistant Athletic Director/Football Operations
Chris LaSala Assistant Director of Football Operations Mike Antonoplos Director of Football Relations & Program Enhancement
Bob Junko
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Buddy Morris
Head Athletic Trainer
Rob Blanc
Posted on September 11th, 2009 by AdminWhen Dave Wannstedt took over the reins of the Pitt program from Walt Harris, he made it a priority to make the Panthers a more physical football team on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Five years later, the Panthers calling card can now be described as being a tough, strong squad, not the aerial circus Harris constructed that at times could be construed as soft. It is obvious that the days of watching Rod Rutherford and Tyler Palko firing 40 plus passes a game is long gone. As entertaining as the 2000-06 Panthers were to their fans, they lacked a physicality that could close games out in the fourth quarter (see the 2006 Connecticut contest, a heartbreaking 46-45 loss in double overtime). The growing pains endured by the program have been evident as Wannstedt worked to transform the Panthers into a strong and physical outfit. Offenses such as Notre Dame, West Virginia, Louisville and Michigan State routinely rolled up 250 plus yards rushing against the Panthers defense in 2005 and 2006. But the talent Wannstedt recruited along the defensive and offensive fronts began to bear fruit. Pitt’s defensive line began to take control of games in 2007 and throughout 2008. Players such as Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus were pillaging pass pockets from their defensive end positions while tackles Rashaad Duncan, Mick Williams and Gus Mustakas stood firm against the run. Offensive linemen such as Jeff Otah, Jason Pinkston and John Malecki paved the way for a strong ground game and helped make running back LeSean McCoy a high draft pick with the Philadelphia Eagles. Playing solid defense and using a punishing ground game is now the Panthers recipe for success. That formula helped spring back-to-back wins over the rival Mountaineers and victories over South Florida, Connecticut and Notre Dame last season. Yes, many believe Pitt’s offense may be too vanilla and the defense does not blitz enough to the liking of some. But controlling the clock on offense and pressuring the passer with only your four down linemen is how Wannstedt wants to win. It worked last year to the tune of a 1,488 yards rushing, 21 touchdown season, 33 sacks by the defense and most importantly, nine wins. More is expected this season, even with the losses of McCoy and All-American Linebacker Scott McKillop to the NFL. The culture has been established with strong fronts on both sides of the ball. Freshman running back Dion Lewis ran for 129 yards, two scores in last week’s 38-3 win over Youngstown State; has the look of a performer who can carry the load on his muscular 5-foot 8, 195 pound frame. The defense garnered six sacks and appears ready to live up to preseason expectations.  Pitt RB Dion Lewis The formula that Wannstedt and his staff developed has a proven track record. His Miami Dolphins won 30 games between 2000 and 2003 using a Ricky Williams-led offense and punishing defense. Other college teams rode the running game/defense formula to national prominence. The 1986 Penn State Nittany Lions, 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide and more recently, 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes all had great running games and rock-hard defenses. Each won national titles using this recipe against the more flashy Miami Hurricanes. There is precedent for the Panthers to follow. The transformation appears close to completion and for coach Wannstedt, the table appears to be set. |
 
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