NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 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 January 2nd, 2010 by Admin
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| Date | Game | Time (Eastern) |
| Sat, Sept. 5 | Pittsburgh 38 – Youngstown State 3 | W |
| Sat, Sept. 12 | Pittsburgh 54 – Buffalo 27 | W |
| Sat, Sept. 19 | Pittsburgh 27 – Navy 14 | W |
| Sat, Sept. 26 | N.C. State 38 – Pittsburgh 31 | W |
| Fri, Oct. 2 | Pittsburgh 35 – Louisville 10 | W |
| Sat, Oct. 10 | Pittsburgh 24 – UConn 21 | W |
| Fri, Oct. 16 | Pitt 24, Rutgers 17 | W |
| Sat, Oct. 24 | Pitt 41, USF 14 | W |
| Sat, Nov. 7 | Pitt 37, Syracuse 10 | W |
| Sat, Nov. 14 | Pitt 27, Notre Dame 22 | W |
| Fri, Nov. 27 | West Virginia 19, Pitt 16 | L |
| Sat. Dec 5 | Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44 | L |
| Sat. Dec 26 | Meineke Car Care Bowl – Pitt 19, UNC 16 | W |
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.
Pitt fans would salivate at the prospect of playing Penn State and Ohio State each and every year. Both schools are less than three-hours away from Pittsburgh and would no doubt bring plenty of fans to Heinz Field on Saturday afternoons.
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 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 November 11th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy www.pittsburghpanthers.com
University of Pittsburgh senior tight end Dorin Dickerson has been named the “John Mackey Tight End of the Week” by the Nassau County Sports Commission for his performance in the Panthers’ 37-10 victory over Syracuse this past weekend.
Dickerson (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) compiled a career-high 118 receiving yards on seven receptions (16.9 avg.) and caught his 10th touchdown of the year in leading Pitt past Syracuse. His 14-yard scoring catch in the third quarter gave the Panthers a 24-point lead and essentially sealed the result.
With his 10th TD catch, Dickerson established a new single-season Pitt record for a tight end, eclipsing the prior mark of nine set by Kris Wilson in 2003. Dickerson also had the first 100-yard receiving game by a Pitt tight end since 2004 (Erik Gill, 126 yards at South Florida).
Dickerson ranks No. 1 among the nation’s tight ends in touchdown catches (10). The next closest tight end has only seven TDs. (Among all receivers, Dickerson ranks second in TD catches, only one behind the national leader).With three regular-season games remaining, he has 39 total receptions for 450 yards (11.5 avg.).
Dickerson is also a viable candidate for the John Mackey Award, annually presented to the nation’s top tight end. The 2009 recipient will be announced at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. 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 ranking since 1982. The Panthers are 12th in this week’s Bowl Championship Series ratings, their highest BCS listing ever.
Pitt achieved its lofty rankings after winning five consecutive games to improve to 8-1 on the year, its best start since the 1982 Panthers, led by quarterback Dan Marino, also started 8-1
Posted on November 9th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
This was easily considered a “trap-game” for the Pitt Panthers.
Having a team with a losing record visiting Heinz Field and a future filled with big-time games staring them right in the face, the Panthers were able to overcome a sluggish start and defeat Syracuse 37-10 on Saturday.
The formula Pitt used all year to manufacture eight wins in nine games was again on display. Freshman running back Dion Lewis operated behind a punishing offensive line, rolling up 110 yards on 18 carries and one touchdown. Although the Orange were employing eight-man fronts in an effort to stop the run, Pitt did not care. The Panthers rushed for 247 yards and controlled the line of scrimmage from the midway point of the second quarter on.
Quarterback Bill Stull again was efficient and mistake free. Stull threw for 225 yards and a score, a 14-yard toss to Dorin Dickerson in the third quarter. Although he was sacked twice and under pressure most of the day, the fifth-year senior displayed poise and an ability to get the ball to the right receiver at the right time.
Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti continues to dial up the right plays and get the ball to his playmakers. Dickerson finished with seven receptions for 118 yards while receivers Jonathan Baldwin and Cedric McGee did damage on reverse runs. The electrifying Baldwin raced 61 yards with one reverse that set up a score in the third. McGee also got into the act with two runs for 56 yards, one of which was a 29-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Panthers had issues stopping Syracuse’s Delone Carter, allowing him to gain 143 yards on 17 carries. Carter gashed the Panthers with a 58-yard gallop on their second play from scrimmage. But the Panthers eventually tightened up and held him and the rest of the Syracuse running game in check.
Pitt continues to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. The Panthers racked up six sacks and three interceptions. Greg Williams returned one of those interceptions 51 yards for a touchdown that stopped a potential Syracuse scoring drive and gave the Panthers a 13-3 lead late in the first half. Williams’ interception was possibly the biggest play of the game. Syracuse was trailing only 6-3 and was moving towards a possible tying or go-ahead score.
Pitt’s defensive line is a nightmare for quarterbacks. The Panthers have 38 sacks in nine games. Brandon Lindsey had two sacks of Syracuse Greg Paulus on Saturday, as did defensive tackle Chas Alexcih. Defensive end Greg Romeus paces the Panthers with seven and one-half sacks on the season.
Posted on November 8th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
If Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt wanted to see how his players would respond to being punched in the mouth by a fired-up opponent, he got his wish.
He also must have liked what he saw on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field.
The Panthers fell behind 3-0 early to Syracuse, but responded with 37 unanswered points and cruised home to a comfortable 37-10 win over the Orange. Pitt improved their record to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Big East while the improving Orange fell to 3-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
“I knew that this was going to be a challenge for us,” Wannstedt said following the game. “You get a week off and you win the way we won against South Florida and the players go home for the weekend and everybody is patting them on the back and talking about rankings. It’s very difficult for 18-year old kids to handle.”
Syracuse, which entered Saturday’s game without the services of leading receiver Mike Williams (quit the team earlier this week) and three other players who were suspended, brought plenty of fight to Pitt early in the contest. Orange running back Delone Carter ripped off a 58-yard run on the game’s second play, setting up Ryan Lichtenstein’s 29-yard field goal that gave the Orange an early lead.
Carter finished with 144 yards on 17 carries, the most permitted by Pitt’s defense this year. But the unit held strong when it needed to and kept the Orange out of the end zone until the game’s waning moments.
The Panthers offense then revved up the 46,885 in attendance with a nine-play, 93-yard drive that culminated in Dan Hutchins’ 30-yard tying field goal. Pitt would not trail again, but would struggle to finish drives throughout the first half.
Pitt’s offense rolled up 481 yards, 247 of which came on the ground against a defense that came into the game allowing less than 90 yards per game rushing, good for the top spot in the conference.
Freshman Dion Lewis continued his stellar campaign with an 18-carry, 110-yard and one touchdown performance. He also caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 31-yard catch and run that set up his one-yard scoring plunge early in the third quarter that gave Pitt a 20-3 lead and essentially iced the game.
“Dion Lewis did a good job and he had his runs,” Wannstedt said. “Billy Stull played extremely well again.”
Stull’s performance was nothing less than business-like. The fifth-year senior operated offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s system with precision, completing 16 passes in 23 attempts for 225 yards and one score.
Tight end Dorin Dickerson notched his 10th touchdown of the season when he gathered in a 14-yard scoring toss from Stull in the third quarter. Dickerson finished with seven receptions for 118 yards and appeared to be unstoppable yet again.
Although the Panthers defense struggled to contain Carter at times, they did shut down the Orange most of the day. The front-wall continually pressured quarterbacks Greg Paulus and Ryan Nassib. The defense finished with six sacks and three interceptions, one of which was returned by linebacker Greg Williams for a 51-yard touchdown late in the second quarter when it appeared the Orange were threatening to score.
Defensive end Brandon Lindsey and defensive tackle Chas Alecxih had two sacks while Greg Romeus added a sack and a diving interception of a tipped Paulus pass late in the third quarter.
Safety Jarred Holley had an interception of a Jovani Chappel deflection early in the third and added a team-high nine total tackles.
Pitt will face Notre Dame next Saturday night at Heinz Field. Kickoff against the Fighting Irish, who lost 23-21 at home to Navy on Saturday, will be at 8 p.m. and be televised nationally on ABC.
“Everybody is excited about Notre Dame,” Lewis said. “Everybody is going to be fired-up and ready for this game.”
Posted on November 4th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said his players will not look down the road before climbing another hurdle this week.
The Panthers, ranked 14th in both major polls and 13th in the latest BCS standings, will entertain Big East rival Syracuse Saturday at Heinz Field. Pitt (7-1, 4-0) rolls into the contest as a 21-point favorite to the Orange (3-5, 0-3).
Syracuse has fallen on hard times this decade. The Orange have won only three of their previous 30 conference games and are under the direction of first-year head coach Doug Marrone, who took over for the beleaguered Greg Robinson.
Pitt has not lost to the Orange in the Wannstedt era. The Panthers did escape the Carrier Dome last year with a come-from-behind 34-24 win. Pitt trailed Syracuse in the fourth quarter but rallied late to earn the win.
“Last year, we had to fight from behind to win the game up there,” Wannstedt said. “We all remember that. They’re playing better now. They are much improved. They are well coached. I think that Doug Marrone has them believing in the Syracuse tradition.”
Syracuse will enter Saturday’s game shorthanded. Star receiver Mike Williams quit the squad after a Monday meeting with Marrone. The coach also suspended tailback Antwon Bailey, offensive guard Andrew Bailey and defensive end Torrey Ball. Marrone said he suspended the players for violation of team rules.
The loss of Williams will hamper their already struggling offense. Williams was the Big East leading receiver with 66 receptions for 746 yards and six scores.
Quarterback Greg Paulus entered the season with much fanfare. Paulus, a Syracuse native, was the starting point guard at Duke before graduating. He had one-more year of eligibility and decided to use it quarterbacking his hometown Orange.
Paulus has had an up and down season so far. He has completed 65 percent of his throws for 1,377 yards and 10 scores. However, he has thrown 11 interceptions, one of which squashed a scoring opportunity last week against Cincinnati in a game the Bearcats won 28-7.
“They were in position to tie it up before the half when they threw the interception,” Wannstedt said. “Who knows if that does not happen?”
Syracuse will try to run the football with Delone Carter, who has 580 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on the season.
“He is a tough guy that runs the ball hard,” Wannstedt said. “They’re going to spread you out and try to pound the ball inside.”
Syracuse’s team strength is their defense.
“Defensively, they’re mixing in a lot of pressure,” Wannstedt said. “They create some problems, some mismatches that we have to be ready for.”
The Orange play particularly well against the run, allowing a Big East-leading 88.9 yards rushing per game.
Outside linebacker Derrell Smith is the defense’s impact player. He leads the squad with 71 total tackles, 10 of which are for losses. Smith also leads a strong pass rush with six sacks. The Orange defense has 20 total sacks on the season.
Although Pitt is riding a national ranking and four-game win streak into Heinz Field on Saturday, Wannstedt is aware the Orange could pull off an upset.
“They’re giving phenomenal effort in all three phases of the game,” he said. “They’ve got talent. They’re well-coached. Our players understand the importance of this game.”
Posted on November 1st, 2009 by David WhipkeyThe Pitt football team continued its climb up the national polls today, earning a No. 14 ranking in both the Associated Press writers and USA Today coaches polls.
In the weekly Bowl Championship Series standings, Pitt moved up to No. 13, its highest BCS rating ever.
The Panthers are off to their best start since 1982 with a 7-1 overall record. Pitt also boasts a 4-0 Big East record and is tied atop the league standings with Cincinnati. (The Bearcats are ranked No. 4 by the Associated Press and No. 7 by the coaches. They are fifth in the BCS ratings.)
Dating back to its monumental victory at West Virginia to close the 2007 season, Pitt has won 17 of its last 22 games. That victory cost the Mountaineers a shot at the national championship.
Pitt returns to action this Saturday, Nov. 7, against Syracuse at Heinz Field. The game will kick off at noon and will be televised on ESPNU. The Panthers earned a come-from-behind 34-24 win last year in the Carrier Dome, knotting the all-time series between the two longtime rivals at 30 wins apiece with three ties.
Posted on October 29th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey
This is a bye week that the Pitt Panthers surely deserved.
The Panthers are in the throes of enjoying their best start since 1982 and are staring at a golden opportunity square in the face.
At 7-1 overall and in possession of a sterling 4-0 Big East mark, Pitt has a shot of making large waves on a national scale. The Panthers have defeated five bowl game participants from last year (Buffalo, Navy, Connecticut, Rutgers and South Florida). But the meat of the schedule remains as home games against Syracuse, Notre Dame and Cincinnati along with the annual grudge match at West Virginia await.
No two people involved in the Panthers football operations should feel more accomplished at this point of the season than Coach Dave Wannstedt and quarterback Bill Stull.
About three months ago, questions were swirling around both the coach and quarterback regarding the Panthers reaching another level of success. Many of those questions were answered.
Stull was named the starter by Wannstedt during the early stages of fall camp. This did not sit well with a large faction of Panthers fans that remembered his uneven play down the stretch in 2008 and horrific performance during a 3-0 loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.
He was even booed during the Panthers season-opening win over Youngstown State. However, the fifth-year senior has responded by having a huge year. Stull has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for 1,654 yards, 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions. His performance this season earned him a spot on the midseason watch list for the Manning Award earlier this season. Earlier this week, Stull was again recognized when he was named as a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award.
Finalists for the O’Brien Award, which is awarded to the best quarterback in the NCAA via a panel of writers, broadcasters and former winners, will be named Nov. 23. The winner will be named during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.
The fact that Stull is even mentioned for these awards is an accomplishment in itself. Stull has overcome a season-ending thumb injury in early 2007, a concussion against Rutgers in 2008 and never-ending criticism from the fans and media in Pittsburgh.
All Stull has done this season is win ball games and become the most efficient passer in the conference this season. No question, this young man deserves everything that comes his way, especially if he can help navigate Pitt through the treacherous rough waters of this late season.
Wannstedt also deserves all the accolades that are being heaped onto the program this season.
The former NFL coach was named to the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year watch list by virtue of the Panthers scintillating start.
Thanks to his patience and the ability to build the program in a steady way, Pitt has won 17 of their past 22 games; a far cry from the disasters of 2005, 2006 and most of 2007.
It is an undeniable fact that Pitt’s talent base has expanded exponentially. When Wannstedt returned to Pittsburgh, he declared he would build a fence around western Pennsylvania and target areas such as Florida for players.
Ten of Pitt’s 22 starters hail from the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League. They include Stull, receiver Jonathan Baldwin, tight end Dorin Dickerson, offensive tackles Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix offensive guard John Malecki, defensive tackle Mick Williams, linebacker Adam Gunn, and safeties Elijah Fields and Dom DeCicco. Up and comers including receiver Mike Shanahan, kick returner Cam Saddler, defensive end Brandon Lindsey and linebacker Dan Mason also hail from western Pennsylvania.
But Wannstedt knows Pitt cannot win on local talent alone. He fetched defensive linemen Greg Romeus, Jabaal Sheard and Gus Mustakas along with receiver Cedric McGee from Florida; running backs Dion Lewis and Ray Graham hail from football-rich New Jersey, while fullback Henry Hynoski was recruited from eastern Pennsylvania.
Wannstedt clearly knows talent and knows how to bring it to Heinz Field. Now his labor is bearing a bountiful collection of fruit.
Many laughed as they watched Pitt’s undermanned defense get blowtorched by West Virginia’s Steve Slaton and Pat White during a 2005 game in Morgantown. Wannstedt said during a halftime interview that his players simply had to run faster. Deep down, he knew that was impossible at the time.
Now, he has a team that outran a lightning fast South Florida squad and outhit Rutgers and Connecticut when it counted earlier this season.
No one is laughing now.
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