NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on September 12th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey It looks like a new star has been born in the Pitt offensive backfield. Spelling a struggling Dion Lewis, sophomore running back Ray Graham rushed for 115 yards on only nine carries as the Panthers squared their record at 1-1 with a 38-16 win over FCS power New Hampshire Saturday before 50,216 at Heinz Field. Graham’s day also included scoring runs of 64 and eight yards as the Panthers eventually pulled away from a scrappy Wildcats squad. “Teams are going to key in on Dion, so when I get a chance or an opportunity to play, I want to make something happen,” said Graham. “We came out and fought today. After the game against Utah (a 27-24 loss in overtime), we could have put our heads down, but we want to get things going in the right direction as soon as possible and we did that today.” Just like the Utes, New Hampshire came out and focused their defensive attention towards Lewis. The Wildcats did hold Lewis to 27 yards rushing, but they missed the mark on Graham and quarterback Tino Sunseri, who finished with 24 completions in 34 attempts for 275 yards and two scores. His favorite target was junior wide receiver Jon Baldwin, who finished with six catches for 100 yards. “From a game standpoint, we have a lot of upside and a lot of work to do. It’s exciting to be the coach of this team,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. “We have so many young players with so much growth potential. As long as our players keep working like we have worked over the past couple of weeks, we should expect to improve week after week.” Pitt’s defense was perhaps the brightest star of the show, sacking New Hampshire quarterback R.J. Toman six times. They also held the high-powered Wildcats rushing attack to 73 yards rushing. Junior defensive tackle Chas Alecxih led the sack parade with three while backup defensive end Brandon Lindsey garnered two. Lindsey was playing in place of all-American end Greg Romeus, who was out with a back injury and did not dress for the game. “I thought our defensive line showed up today,” said Wannstedt. “They needed to show up and they did.” Pitt’s offensive line is still a work in progress. They allowed two sacks and could not open up holes for Lewis in the first half and into the third quarter. But the passing game along with the elusiveness of Graham helped stabilize the offense and get the Panthers in the win column before a Sept. 23 date at home against the Miami Hurricanes. “Now we start preparing for Miami,” said Graham. “It was great to come here and play well. I had a lot of support. I’m glad that my friends and family got to see me play well,” said Jeannot. “I give credit to QB R.J. Toman for passing the ball well and our offensive coordinator. But, it would have been nice to get a win. I would take not having any catches for winning the game. You can’t help but have that feeling whenever you lose, no matter how well you played.” Posted on August 28th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The most anticipated season in the Dave Wannstedt era of Pitt football is inching closer and closer by the day. Training camp is over and the two-deep roster is set as the nationally ranked Panthers are preparing for a trip to Salt Lake City, Utah for a battle with Mountain West Conference heavyweight Utah. The Utes hammered Pitt in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl by a 35-7 count. Utah sacked then Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko nine times as Utes coach Urban Meyer put the finishing touches on an undefeated season before heading east to lead the Florida Gators to prominence. Both squads are much different this year from New Year’s Night 2005. Wannstedt had accepted the Pitt job days before the game while Kyle Whittingham was getting ready to take over the reigns from Meyer. This year, Pitt appears to have the slightly better roster and higher expectations. But question marks at several key spots along with an ambitious schedule could put a damper on what is thought to be a breakthrough year for the Panthers. Pitt brings back many key performers from last year’s 10-3 squad that earned a tough victory over ACC heavyweight North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis (1,799 yards rushing, 17 touchdowns) is believed to be a Heisman Trophy candidate while Jon Baldwin (57 receptions, 1,111 yards, eight scores) is the next great Pitt receiving threat. Bookend defensive ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard lead a unit that garnered 47 sacks last year, tops in the nation. Safeties Dom DeCicco and Jared Holley are also expected to help solidify the secondary. But personnel losses need to be addressed, spots such as right tackle, center and the all important quarterback position need to be filled on offense. Sophomore Tino Sunseri will start at quarterback. He has shown a strong arm and ability to escape, but has little experience. But if offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti can do with Sunseri as he did with last year’s starter; Bill Stull, the offense will move. Senior Alex Karabin and junior Greg Gaskins are expected to start at center and right guard respectively. Chris Jacobson started the bowl game last December at left guard and acquitted himself nicely. No drop-off is expected at that position. Replacing Gus Mustakas and Mick Williams at defensive tackle will be hard. But Myles Careagin and Chas Alecxih received valuable playing time as part of line coach Greg Gattuso’s rotation. They are expected to fill in nicely. Freshman Aaron Donald from Penn Hills could also be part of the rotation. Fellow Penn Hills Indian Dan Mason will start at middle linebacker and is seen as an athletic upgrade over the graduated Adam Gunn, though the former Kiski Area Cavalier was a keen leader in the middle for the Panthers last year. Rick Gary and Antwuan Reed will man the corners, taking over from the departed Aaron Berry and Jovanni Chappel. Both Gary and Reed had strong camps this summer. The Panthers also face one of the more daunting schedules this season. After beginning the season at Utah, Pitt will face Miami at home and travel to Notre Dame. Big East foes Rutgers and West Virginia visit Heinz Field, while road tests at Connecticut and South Florida await. A Big East title and BCS berth is there for the taking, whether or not these Panthers can cash in is yet to be seen. Posted on August 6th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey And now comes the hard part. Not since the early 1980s have the Pitt Panthers entered a college football season with this level of anticipation and expectation. Coach Dave Wannstedt greeted the media Thursday to kickoff fall practice for a squad that was overwhelmingly picked by the media to win the Big East conference for the first time since 2004. “I think it is great recognition for our team and players,” said the coach. “As a coach, you want people talking about this in December. The recognition is not going to win any games for us. Our focus is now on training camp and preparing ourselves to have the chance to receive such an accolade.” The Panthers won 10 games last season, including a 19-16 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. But it could have been so much more. Pitt saw the Big East title slip from their grasp last December when Cincinnati came from behind and took the championship with a 45-44 win before a packed Heinz Field. All off season, the Panthers stewed and prepared themselves for another run at the top spot in the conference and the prize it brings; a coveted BCS bowl berth and national recognition. Now, this star-studded lineup that includes 2009 Big East offensive player of the year running back Dion Lewis, wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin and conference defensive player of the year defensive end Greg Romeus, is primed to take what eluded them last year. “We have good guys that know what it takes to win and they don’t take anything for granted,” said Wannstedt. “It is a team game and we’re only as good as our team is.” One of Pitt’s other key performers, starting defensive end Jabaal Sheard, did find himself in hot water as the off-season wound to c lose. Sheard was charged with assault along with other charges after he allegedly threw a man through a glass door during a fight on Pittsburgh’s South Side in late July. He was suspended indefinitely but reinstated after he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Coach Wannstedt said the matter will now be handled internally. “After gathering all the information and our legal system took its curse, we are very comfortable with the decision we have made concerning Jabaal,” said Wannstedt. “You all know that we have had players in the past, as every school does, whether they are reasons on or off the field where it has not worked out. However, my responsibility to this university and to these kids is to be consistent and fair with the facts and handle it accordingly.” With the Sheard issue resolved, the Panthers staff now can focus on getting the squad ready, especially quarterback Tino Sunseri, who will take over for the graduated Bill Stull. “This is Tino’s time,” said Wannstedt. “He has the arm to make all the throws that we need to make. He’s more athletic on his feet than what people give him credit for. He’s very intelligent. He understands the big picture of what we’re trying to do from an offensive standpoint and I think that is very important.” Pitt officially opens fall practice Saturday August 7 at the UPMC South Side Complex. Posted on April 18th, 2010 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey The Pitt Panthers ended their spring football season with the annual Blue-Gold Game on a blustery Saturday afternoon before approximately 6,500 hearty souls at Heinz Field. Pitt’s defense, which comprised the Blue squad, had their way with the Gold side as they romped to a 62-24 win. As was expected, the defense showed they were well ahead of the offense. But that is to be expected this time of the year, since the coaching staff did not install much of an offensive game plan for both quarterbacks Tino Sunseri and Pat Bostick. Sunseri, a redshirt sophomore, appears to have a firm grip on the starting job heading into the fall. He finished the day with nine completions in 17 attempts for 82 yards and one rushing touchdown. The Pittsburgh Central Catholic product displayed a strong arm and escapability from the rush. Bostick, a redshirt junior, completed six of 13 throws for 59 yards. He was sacked twice and threw one ugly interception to second team safety and former quarterback Kolby Gray. Bostick clearly is the team’s second option behind center but does have game experience with wins over West Virginia and Notre Dame in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Jonathan Baldwin made one highlight reel catch, an 11-yard one-handed grab of a poorly thrown Susneri pass in the first quarter. He led all receivers with four catches for 37 yards. The junior also took advantage of some coaching from former Panther and current Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who returned to Heinz Field to take in some of the action. Fitzgerald was one of many former Panthers on hand Saturday afternoon. He stayed all day and chatted with several recruits in the hallway next to the Panthers locker room. Offensive tackle Jason Pinkston had a solid afternoon, walling off all-Big East defensive end Greg Romeus much of the day. Pinkston could take comfort in his performance, knowing if he could handle Romeus, he should overpower all other defensive ends he will face this year. Pitt’s linebackers showed they have big play capability. Sophomores Manny Williams and Dan Mason were all over the field. Williams made five tackles and one interception while Mason spent much of the day in the offensive backfield. Converted quarterback Greg Cross and tight end Mike Cruz showed they could add to the receiving weapons for Sunseri this season. Cross seems to have gained confidence playing the position as was evidenced by a nice 15-yard grab of a Bostick floater in the second period while Cruz hauled in a 20-yard bullet from Sunseri in the third. Sophomore running back Dion Lewis broke off a 52-yard run in the first quarter, showing he is ready to make a run at 2,000 yards this season. He finished with 74 yards on five totes. But the day belonged to the defense. Pitt’s defensive line garnered five sacks and controlled play all day, putting a large smile on defensive line coach Greg Gattuso’s face much of the afternoon. Notes: Romeus was named to the watch list for the 2010 Lott Trophy, which is presented annually to the best defensive player in college football. Last season, he garnered 8 sacks and 43 tackles, 11.5 of which were for a loss. He was named Big East co-Defensive Player of the Year along with teammate Mick Williams. Pitt’s season opening contest at Utah will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 2. It will be broadcast nationally on Versus. Posted on December 6th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey Contrary to what many esteemed football experts based in Western Pennsylvania may say, the Pitt Panthers still have much to play for this season. Yes, the Panthers are heading to the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte later this month against North Carolina on the heels of two painful losses by a combined four points against West Virginia and Cincinnati. Yes, a BCS berth in the Sugar Bowl was taken from them by Mardy Gilyard, Tony Pike and the rest of the Bearcats on Saturday. And yes, it is well known that Pitt’s fan base may very well not make itself known in Charlotte the day after Christmas this season. But this season still has some life and can still be deemed a success if the Panthers beat the Tar Heels in front of what will assuredly be a pro-North Carolina crowd in Charlotte. Pitt has won nine games for the second consecutive season for the first time since the early 1980s. Coach Dave Wannstedt has the program on its feet and running in the right direction. Critics will say they still have no signature win in the Wannstedt era. But this program has won 18 of its past 24 games and is established as a Big East contender for years to come. Recruiting is at an all-time high and as a result; an improved talent base is in place. BCS berths and big wins are closer to the program more so than they were in the dark ages of the 1990s and early 2000s. Pitt’s defensive line established itself as one of the premiere units in the nation. The Panthers racked up 45 sacks this season, 36 of which came from the defensive front. Seniors Mick Williams and Gus Mustakas will move on following the bowl game. But ends Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard are juniors and will probably return. Talented tackles Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih along with ends Brandon Lindsey and Shayne Hale are also slated to return. Linebackers Greg Williams and Max Gruder made strides this season. Talented Dan Mason will take over for departing senior Adam Gunn. No drop off will be expected from the linebackers. The secondary will lose corners Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel. Safety Jarred Holley may shift back over to corner to assist with man coverage. Safeties Dom DeCicco and Elijah Fields each notched three interceptions and both will return. Fellow safety Andrew Taglianetti is slated to return following his knee injury. Antwuan Reed, Buddy Jackson and Ricky Gary will fight over the open cornerback positions. Pitt will miss the services of quarterback Bill Stull. The fifth-year senior threw for 2,470 yards with 21 touchdowns. He had a marvelous season following an erratic 2008 performance. Now offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti has the chance to mold Pat Bostick or Tino Sunseri into a similar, if not better player in 2010. Who ever gets to start at quarterback will get to throw to the sensational Jonathan Baldwin. The sophomore nabbed 54 receptions for 1,080 yards and eight scores. Although seniors Cedric McGee, Oderick Turner, Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson all move on, players such as Mike Shanahan, Cameron Saddler and Aundre Wright will have a chance to step up in 2010. Pitt does lose three starters along the offensive line in guards John Malecki, Joe Thomas and Robb Houser. Tackles Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix will return. Reworking the offensive line will be a priority after the bowl game and in the spring. The Panthers do return their biggest weapon in running back Dion Lewis. As a freshman, Lewis shattered school records for rushing and scoring with 1,640 yards on the ground and 16 touchdowns. His 47 carry, 195 yard, three touchdown performance against Cincinnati was simply remarkable. The explosive Ray Graham will also return and spell Lewis. He could start for any other team in the conference or across the country. Fullback Henry Hynoski will also be back clearing the way. Not all is lost for Pitt this season. A win over the Tar Heels would give the Panthers 10 wins for the first time since 1981. Ask any Pitt fan in August if they would accept a 10-win season as a success, most likely they would say yes. With the returning roster in 2010, another similar season could be in the offing, making the future of Pitt football still very bright. Posted on November 24th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey For the better part of a quarter-century, the Backyard Brawl usually ended with West Virginia defeating Pitt with ease. Although Pitt leads the all-time series with 61 wins against 37 defeats and three ties, West Virginia enjoyed a run of success under former coaches Don Nehlen and Rich Rodriguez. From 1983-2006, WVU took 15 of 23 contests with two ties (1985 and 1989). It appeared West Virginia, with their speed-laden roster, would control the series for the foreseeable future. But then came December 1, 2007. Pitt kept West Virginia out of the 2007 National Championship Game by virtue of a stunning 13-9 win before a shocked sold out at Milan Puskar Stadium. The Panthers have won 18 of 23 games since that cold night in Morgantown while West Virginia has taken a couple of steps backwards since coach Bill Stewart took over for Rodriguez, who left for the Michigan job days after the loss. One of those wins also included a come-from-behind 19-15 Pitt win over West Virginia last year at Heinz Field. “I think that win, when you look at it, gave us life,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt during his Monday press conference. “That would be the way I would classify it.” Wannstedt does not deny that game brought many prospective recruits that were sitting on the fence between Pitt and West Virginia over to his sideline. “We had so many recruits that were right on the bubble,” added Wannstedt. “It gave us an opportunity to get one more shot at these guys and to say to them that it would happen and to believe in us. I think that it was energizing for our players.” Then blue-chip prospects Cameron Saddler and Shayne Hale of Gateway High School in Monroeville were on the West Virginia sideline that night and were expected to sign with the Mountaineers on Signing Day in February. Both are now Panthers. Pittsburgh Central Catholic quarterback Tino Sunseri was on a visit to Louisville that night. He watched the game in the dorm room of several Cardinals players. Two months later, he signed with Pitt. “I remember going out there for pregame warm-ups and the recruits were all lined up on the sidelines and I looked over and could see all of these kids that we were recruiting and that they were recruiting,” said Wannstedt. “Within 10 to 14 days (after the game) we got eight commitments. Two or three of those kids were right there (at the game) and committed with us.” No doubt Wannstedt and his staff see Pitt’s 2007 win as a moment that shifted not only balance of power in the Backyard Brawl, but as one that kick-started the program in general. “Winning that game, I can remember the first day of the off-season program in January,” said Wannstedt. “We had as much enthusiasm, from a team standpoint, to get started and build on the following year. I’m sure just for our fans it was a shot in the arm, a little bit of hope. I think it helped our program in several areas that today we look back on and probably it was the turning point since I’ve been here, without a doubt.” Posted on October 24th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey In what was their most complete performance of the season, the Pitt Panthers demolished South Florida 41-14 Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field. Pitt’s offense rolled up 486 yards against a Bulls defense that appeared deflated after last week’s loss to No. 5 Cincinnati. The Panthers scored on all five of their first half possessions and were never seriously threatened all afternoon long. Panthers quarterback Bill Stull had another fine performance. The senior completed 18 of 25 throws for 245 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. He completed his first 11 throws and was not sacked. Freshman Dion Lewis spearheaded a ground game that consumed 214 yards of real estate. Lewis rushed for 111 yards on 23 carries. Fellow freshman Ray Graham added 88 yards on 11 totes. Sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin continues to improve on a weekly basis. His six catch, 144-yard, one touchdown performance thrilled the Homecoming crowd. Tight end Dorin Dickerson notched his ninth touchdown of the season, a five-yard toss from backup quarterback Tino Sunseri, in the fourth quarter. Pitt’s defense picked up five sacks of South Florida quarterbacks. B.J. Daniels was dumped to the turf twice while backup signal caller Evan Landi was sacked three times in the fourth quarter. Aaron Berry, Elijah Fields and Antwuan Reed each had interceptions. The Panthers struck first when Stull ended an 80-yard march with a two-yard scoring toss to tight end Mike Cruz. Pitt made it 14-0 in the first quarter when Stull found Baldwin for a 40-yard scoring strike. South Florida responded in the second when Daniels engineered an 80-yard drive that was capped by Mike Ford’s four-yard touchdown run which cut Pitt’s lead to 14-7. But it was all Panthers from the midway point of the second quarter. Lewis ended a five-play, 68-yard drive with his first one-yard touchdown on the day, pushing Pitt’s lead to 21-7 midway through the second. Dan Hutchins’ 36-yard field goal added three points and the rout was on. Pitt’s next possession ended in another score. Lewis capped the 54-yard march with his second one-yard touchdown plunge, increasing the Panthers lead to 31-7. Hutchins added a 32-yard field goal late in the third before Sunseri hooked up with Dickerson for a nine-yard score in the fourth quarter. South Florida added a window-dressing touchdown late in the game when Landi found Dontavia Bogan in the end zone from 20-yards out. Pitt is off until a Nov. 7 home contest against Syracuse. Pitt’s win gave the Panthers their first 7-1 start since the 1982 season and also clinched a bowl berth for the second year in a row. 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 8th, 2009 by AdminCourtesy of PittsburghPanthers.com
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