NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on September 21st, 2010 by David WhipkeyCourtesy University of Pittsburgh and Comcast Pitt and The Comcast Network are proud to announce the launch of Pitt Panthers Television, a breakthrough programming service that will annually present more than 500 additional hours of Pitt athletics coverage to area fans exclusively on The Comcast Network, including live broadcasts of men’s basketball games this season and football coach Dave Wannstedt’s weekly press conferences as well as re-airs of all home football games. Pitt Panthers Television, which debuts Sept. 21, will also broadcast live football and men’s basketball pre- and postgame shows, women’s basketball games and women’s volleyball games as well as other Olympic sports and original programming. It will also bring rebroadcasts of football and basketball games to Comcast’s Xfinity On Demand platform, allowing Comcast digital customers to enjoy all the Panthers’ great moments whenever they want. “Comcast is excited to make this exclusive programming available to our customers,” said Jerry Norris, Comcast Vice President of Marketing for the Keystone Region. “Just as Pitt is committed to athletic excellence, Comcast is committed to giving our customers more of the programming they want, and Pitt Panthers Television gives them more choice and – with its Xfinity On Demand content – more control.” Comcast digital customers living in Western Pennsylvania and parts of Central Pennsylvania will see Pitt Panthers Television throughout the week on The Comcast Network (channel 188 or 210, see listing below), including eight consecutive hours every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Those customers can also access Xfinity On Demand by selecting the Get Local, Sports and Pitt Panthers TV folders. Pitt and Comcast’s joint efforts will offer the best Panthers coverage available. For the latest television schedules, visit Panthers On The Air at PittsburghPanthers.com. “We are so pleased to team with Comcast to bring Panthers fans hundreds of new hours of Pitt programming,” Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. “We know from our current viewership numbers that the public wants as much Pitt sports programming as we can give them. This will also give us an opportunity to showcase our entire program in a way that has not been previously seen. With quality sports content being so important right now on television, this partnership with Comcast stands out in particular. We know that our fans will enjoy the launch of Pitt Panthers Television.” The Comcast Network is on channel 188 in the following systems: The Comcast Network is on channel 210 in the following systems: ABOUT THE COMCAST NETWORK ABOUT COMCAST Comcast’s Eastern Division serves approximately 5.7 million residential and business customers across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, DC. The Eastern Division is based in Oaks, Pennsylvania and employs more than 20,000 people. 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. 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 6th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy the University of Pittsburgh The Pitt Panthers today accepted an invitation to play in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., it was announced by the bowl’s officials. Pitt will face the North Carolina Tar Heels from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday, Dec. 26, at Bank of America Stadium. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN and kick off at 4:30 p.m. The Panthers, ranked as high as No. 16, head into the postseason with a 9-3 record, their three losses coming by a combined 11 points (3.6 points per game). “We are tremendously excited to have the University of Pittsburgh play in the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl,” said Will Webb, Executive Director. “The Panthers have had a tremendous season, and they have proven worthy of their national ranking. The anticipation of fans has been tremendous already. We have only a limited number of lower level seats left. We feel that this Pittsburgh team will make the Meineke Car Care Bowl a very exciting and competitive game.” “Our program is excited to play another football game and have the opportunity to potentially earn a 10th victory,” Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt said. “The Meineke Car Care Bowl organizers are outstanding people and professionals, and I know our team will have a first-class experience when we visit Charlotte later this month. Playing a national ESPN television game against a quality ACC opponent is a great opportunity and we are looking forward to the challenge.” This will be Pitt’s 26th all-time bowl game, and its second visit to Charlotte for the postseason. The Panthers played in the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl, losing to Virginia, 23-16. North Carolina went 8-4 under coach Butch Davis this past season. Wannstedt and Davis served together under Jimmy Johnson at three different stops, including with the Dallas Cowboys, University of Miami and Oklahoma State. 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 16th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy www.pittsburghpanthers.com Pitt sophomore wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin has been named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers’ 27-22 victory over Notre Dame this past Saturday. Baldwin (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) thrilled a sold-out Heinz Field and national ABC television audience with high-leaping grabs and spectacular circus catches to lift Pitt past the visiting Irish. He averaged 28.4 yards per catch, finishing with 142 receiving yards on just five receptions. On the year, Baldwin has 40 receptions for 840 yards (21.0 avg.) and five touchdowns. The Notre Dame contest marked his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the year. Baldwin is part of a Pitt offense that averages 33.80 points per game, which ranks 15th nationally and second in the Big East. Wrote Matt Hayes in this morning’s Sporting News Today, “(Pitt’s) trifecta on offense –QB Bill Stull, TB Dion Lewis, WR Jonathan Baldwin–is the best in the nation.” 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. Pitt will conclude its regular-season against Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0) at Heinz Field on Dec. 5. The game against the Bearcats, rated fifth in this week’s BCS standings, will decide the winner of the 2009 Big East championship and resultant Bowl Championship Series berth. Posted on November 15th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey All the elements were there for a special Saturday night at Heinz Field for the Pitt Panthers. A sell-out crowd of 65,374 walked through the turnstiles, more than 100 recruits were on hand, temperatures hovered around 50 plus degrees, ABC’s Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit were on hand to call the action and Notre Dame was the opponent; presenting a stiff challenge for the Panthers. Consider this test aced. Pitt controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage and held on for a scintillating 27-22 win over Notre Dame Saturday night, pushing the Panthers record to 9-1 overall. The Panthers have a week off before their annual grudge match against West Virginia in Morgantown on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The Panthers defense was strong all night, holding the Irish to 66 yards rushing and sacking Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen three times. Pitt defensive end Greg Romeus stripped Clausen on a third and 16 play late in the fourth quarter, sealing Pitt’s third win against the Fighting Irish in their last four meetings. Pitt’s offense was efficient, outgaining Notre Dame in total yardage 429-349. Freshman running back Dion Lewis showcased his talents to a national television audience. The Albany, N.Y. native gashed Notre Dame for 152 yards on 21 carries. His 50-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave Pitt a seemingly comfortable 27-9 lead. Notre Dame roared back courtesy of Clausen’s right arm and receiver Golden Tate’s legs and hands. Clausen capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring pass to Tate, slicing Pitt’s lead to 27-16 midway through the final quarter. Pitt was forced to punt on their next possession and Tate made them pay, returning Dan Hutchins’ punt 87 yards for a touchdown. The two-point pass failed, but the Irish were very much alive trailing by five late in the contest. Pitt quarterback Bill Stull enjoyed another solid performance. The fifth-year senior completed 15 of 27 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. Stull’s scoring strike came courtesy of a 36-yard hook up late in the first half with sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin, who dived to snare the pass in the end zone behind Irish cornerback Darrin Walls. The play capped six-play, 80 yard drive and gave the host Panthers a 10-3 lead at halftime. Baldwin struck again the third quarter when he made a circus-like 51-yard catch that set up Hutchins’ 38-yard field goal, giving the Panthers a 13-3 lead. Baldwin finished with five catches for 142 yards and his one score. Lewis’ understudy, freshman Ray Graham, got his chance to shine on Pitt’s next possession. Graham ran and spun through the Notre Dame defense for a 53-yard run to the Irish 2. On the next play, Graham bulled into the end zone and gave the Panthers a commanding 20-3 lead. Notre Dame finally got into the end zone early in the fourth when Clausen climaxed an 11-play, 80 yard drive with a one-yard sneak. Clausen and his receivers kept the Irish in the game. He completed 27 of 42 passes for 283 yards. Tate finished with 113 yards on nine receptions while his partner Michael Floyd contributed seven catches for 107 yards. Panther safety Jarred Holley intercepted Clausen in the second quarter. Posted on November 11th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt remembers what happened the last time Notre Dame visited Heinz Field. The Fighting Irish dismantled the Panthers 42-21 on Labor Day Weekend 2005. It was Wannstedt’s first game as Pitt’s coach and he could do nothing to keep Charlie Weis from winning his debut as Notre Dame head coach. “We thought we were a heck of a lot better than what we really were,” said Wannstedt. “We found out very quickly that we had a lot of work to do. I think we had good leadership then, but we were probably just a little ahead of ourselves.” Pitt never recovered from that blow and finished 5-6 while the Irish earned a trip to the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. Notre Dame’s offensive and defensive lines shoved the Panthers up and down the field that night. The Irish ran for 275 yards and sacked Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko five times. Wannstedt inherited a team that was defending Big East champions and were fresh off a Fiesta Bowl appearance the previous year. The Irish brought a large and experienced offensive line to Pittsburgh that year and will do so again Saturday night. All five Irish offensive linemen are seniors and average 315 pounds across the front. They have only permitted 18 sacks this season, five of which came in a close loss to Southern California in October at South Bend. The biggest difference this year is Pitt’s experienced and skilled defensive front. Ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard along with tackles Gus Mustakas and Mick Williams are more than capable of not only holding their own against the Irish offensive front wall. Other defensive linemen such as Brandon Lindsey, Chas Alecxih and Myles Caragein provide depth and have shown the ability to “We’ve got more depth now,” said Wannstedt. “We had to play some freshmen in that game. Gus Mustakas played. Rashaad Duncan played. We’ve got more depth now.” Some of that depth and better talent were on display last year at Notre Dame Stadium where Pitt outlasted the Irish 36-33 in four overtimes. The Panthers overcame deficits of 17-3 and 24-17 before taking home an improbable win. The Panthers have racked up 38 sacks this season, five more than their total in 2008. The Panthers are also strong against the run, only permitting 106.8 yards rushing per game in 2009. Pitt’s ability to control the line of scrimmage has not gone unnoticed in South Bend. “Unlike a lot of teams that bring pressure, pressure, pressure; they pressure about 10 to 15 percent of the time,” said Weis during his weekly press briefing. “They just tell those big, bad muchachos up front to get after the quarterback. And they do a very good job.” In many ways, the Wannstedt Era at Pitt is about to come full circle. A prime-time game against Notre Dame at home in front of a sold-out crowd and national television audience is at hand Saturday night as it was more than four years ago. This time, it appears that the Panthers are better equipped to handle the load. “I think that every year is a new year,” said Wannstedt. “That is something that these kids will take with them. I’m sure that they have players on their team that were with them four years ago. Every year is a new year. Our guys respect these players. They know they have a lot of great players on that sideline. I know that Charlie Weis is an outstanding coach. We just have to be the better team on Saturday night.” Posted on November 10th, 2009 by David WhipkeyCourtesy of PittsburghPanthers.com Pittsburgh mayor Luke Ravenstahl has declared Friday in Pittsburgh “Turn it Blue Day” in anticipation of the Pitt football team’s Saturday night showdown with Notre Dame at Heinz Field. The Panthers, ranked as high as No. 8 in the country, will face the Fighting Irish in front of a soldout crowd and national ABC television audience. Pittsburghers are encouraged to wear their Pitt Blue on Friday to get ready for the game. Fans should also wear their Pitt Blue to Heinz Field Saturday night as Pitt and Pittsburgh are showcased to the rest of the country. “This weekend, let’s `Turn it Blue’ and show our support for our own hometown team as they take on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame,” Ravenstahl said. “We’ll have the eyes of the nation watching us, and I’m confident that with the talent we have this season and with the support of Pitt fans, our team will be successful. Go Pitt!” “Pittsburgh has been named the No. 1 sports city in America for good reason and college athletics is an important part of what makes this such a great place to live and work,” Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. “The Mayor’s declaration of Friday as `Turn it Blue Day’ is another example of what makes Pittsburgh so special. We thank Mayor Ravenstahl and the City of Pittsburgh for getting behind our team.” “The city of Pittsburgh loves its football and we are looking forward to a great crowd Saturday night when we play Notre Dame,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We appreciate the support from Mayor Ravenstahl and the City of Pittsburgh. I know our city’s Pitt Pride will be on display throughout the weekend as we play one of our biggest games of the year.” 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. The Pitt-Notre Dame game is being televised as part of this week’s ABC Saturday Night Football package and will be aired locally on WTAE-TV, channel 4. Brent Musburger (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color) and Lisa Salters (sideline) form the broadcast crew. Posted on November 10th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Finally, the meat of Pitt’s 2009 schedule is here. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-3) will look to shake down the thunder Saturday night at Heinz Field before a national television audience in a game that may look eerily similar to the last time Pitt (8-1, 5-0) and Notre Dame squared off on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Both Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis led their respective squads onto the Heinz Field grass in early September 2005 as first-time college head coaches. The Irish, behind 275 yards rushing, routed the Panthers 42-21 en route to a BCS berth in the Fiesta Bowl while Pitt was heading towards a disappointing 5-6 season after winning the Big East the previous year. Again, the Panthers and Irish will square off in a high-stakes contest at Heinz Field. Notre Dame could potentially finish with a nine-win season, the most since 2006 while Pitt is chasing their first conference title since 2004. “This will be a big, big challenge for us without a doubt,” said Wannstedt. “We need to jump from conference play to non-conference play, and that will be the biggest challenge for us.” Notre Dame brings one of the most explosive offenses in college football to town on Saturday night. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen has been as good as advertised all season long. The strong-armed junior has completed nearly 68 percent of his passes for 2,770 yards and 20 touchdowns. Clausen averages 307.8 yards passing per game and has a firm control of Notre Dame’s potent offense. “I think that Jimmy Clausen is playing as good as any quarterback around,” said Wannstedt. “Playing him, I’ve had a chance to follow his career. From where he has come from, he is much improved in all aspects of his game.” Clausen has a bevy of weapons to use in his toolbox. Receiver Golden Tate is Clausen’s go-to-player. Tate has 65 catches for 1,059 yards and 10 touchdowns. “I would say without a doubt that Golden Tate is the best player that we have faced,” said Wannstedt. “He does it all. This guy is exceptional at catching the ball. He is exceptional at making guys miss. He is a tough guy. Where ever they line him up, whatever responsibility they give him, this guy is special. He is very impressive.” Notre Dame can run the ball effectively with Armando Allen leading the way. Allen has 514 yards rushing and three scores. “We know what kind of running backs they have,” said Wannstedt said. Protecting Clausen and opening holes for Allen and company is a senior-laden offensive line that averages 315 pounds-per-man. “They are a veteran group with size and experience,” said Wannstedt. “They’ve got as good an offensive line as anyone in the country.” Notre Dame’s defense is led by safety Kyle McCarthy. The senior paces the squad with 72 total tackles and five interceptions. Linebacker Darius Fleming and defensive tackle Ethan Johnson each lead the defense with three sacks. Fleming paces the team with 11 tackles for losses. “They’re a pressure team,” said Wannstedt. “They will force us to cover all of our bases from an offensive-standpoint. We will have our hands full when we have the ball.” Posted on September 15th, 2009 by AdminNavy Midshipman (1-1) at Pittsburgh Panthers (2-0)Heinz Field | Pittsburgh, PA Kickoff Time 6:00 p.m. TV: ESPN360.com Announcers: John Sanders (play-by-play) and Drew Haddad (color) Sirius Radio Channel: 91 Point Spread: Pitt -7 Series Record: 21-13-3 Pittsburgh |
 
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