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The University of Pittsburgh has a rich tradition of football that dates back to the early 1900’s. The Panthers are nine-time National Champions and many of the greatest players in the history of football call Pitt their alma mater. Pitt has 25 members in the College Football Hall of Fame and nine have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. NGSC Sports brings you the best Pitt Game Day Guide you will find anywhere! This is where true Panther fans come to find out about Pitt and their upcoming opponent! Mike Drakulich (@PghSportsNation) brings you inside the huddle for both teams, providing all fans with a weekly game story, Pitt’s game plan for victory, score prediction, crucial game day information, and a detailed breakdown of each team. Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff! The only thing you’re missing is a game uniform!
Pitt opens 2021 season with elevated expectations
The warm days of Summer may be winding down, but the expectations for the Pitt Panthers in football are up as Pat Narduzzi and his team prepares for the season opener this Saturday at 4pm vs UMass.
Heinz Field will have fans in the stands for a Pitt game for the first time since November 30, 2019, when the Panthers played Boston College.
“The pageantry of a real football game. We missed it a year ago,” Narduzzi said. “We were having scrimmages in empty stadiums. I see a locked-in team like they were last year against Austin Peay (in a 55-0 victory in the opener). I sense the same maturity right now out of our guys.”
Pitt also heads into week one at full strength, a welcome sight after so much turmoil last year.
“We’re healthy going into this opener,” Narduzzi said.
As for his opponent, the Massachusetts Minutemen, who went 0-4 last year and were outscored 161-12, Narduzzi and his team will not be overlooking this game in anticipation of a big road game next week at Tennessee.
“I expect them to come in and play the best game they will play all year. They will be motivated,” Narduzzi said.
Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple, who coached UMass to a National Title in 1998, expects his offensive unit to be vastly improved over the 2020 version, especially the big man up front.
“The line’s better,” Whipple said. “Talking with the guys on defense, we’re a little more physical than we’ve been in the past.”
And as for the talent…?
“I think we have more receivers than teams have corners,” said Whipple. “If we can keep our guys fast and guys aren’t loafing, which they haven’t ever done here, it comes down to the fourth quarter (where) you are going to have to win a lot of games in the ACC. Hopefully, that will help us down the road.”
One position Pitt fans and their coaches are eager to see contribute again will be the play of the tight end, where Lucas Krull is expected to make an impact.
“We put a lot of stuff in last year for (Krull) exclusively, and all of a sudden he got hurt,” Whipple said. “He’s going to be a big part of what we’re doing where he becomes No. 1 in some of these concepts, stuff the Patriots have done with (Rob Gronkowski) and we did next door (when he was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback coach) with Heath Miller.”
The players, especially the seniors, some who have returned for an extra year due to COVID, want to see this team elevate to new heights and get back to the ACC Championship and beyond.
Wideout Tre Tipton, a senior out of Apollo-Ridge, has been at Pitt since 2015.
“As for the seniors,” Tipton said, “it’s the last go-around. So how do you want to be remembered?
“Nobody remembers the 5-7 team. Nobody remembers the 7-6 or the 8-5. The only way you’re going to be remembered is how you leave your legacy. We want to leave a true legacy here.”
The last Pitt team to reach 10 wins was in 2009.
Tipton knows Panther fans are apathetic but he has a message for everyone who counts them out in 2021.
“Everybody is more up front. We all believe we can go out there and win a championship,” he said. “We’re more together than we’ve ever been. We’re stronger than we’ve ever been. The key word: together.
“And we love each other. And that is one of the biggest, brightest things I’ve seen from this team overall.”
Prediction
Not much to say here for Pitt. It will be a beautiful day at Heinz Field, with the sun out and temps in the high 70’s. The fans will be back as well, and they will be eager to see some Panther football for the first time in person since November of 2019.
The talent is there. Can Pitt put it all together and finally break through the mediocrity that has witnessed heartbreak every year and the typical 7-5 and 6-6 records?
Know one thing… Pitt’s success will hinge on the arm of QB Kenny Pickett, who is as eager as anyone for kickoff this week at 4pm.
“I feel comfortable with the offense right now and how Coach Whip calls it,” Pickett said. “With our guys, too, it’s not just myself that’s been in the system for some time. Coach Whip has been here for three years, so a lot of these guys have a coordinator and an offense that’s theirs’. They can master it. Everyone’s clicking a little bit better.”
We’ll get a glimpse of what the 2021 season will bring as the Panthers should have this wrapped up by halftime, if not sooner.
Pitt 54 UMass 10
Pitt’s Game Plan for Victory
Offense
- Start fast and don’t let up: UMass was carved up for over 40 points a game last year, so the Pitt offense behind Kenny Pickett should come out guns a blazing. Too much talent on offense for this not to be a blowout.
- Establish dominant running game: Pitt has a trio of talented backs–four, really with Sibley, so it would be nice to see Pitt get out to a big lead and then pound UMass into the ground with the running game.
Defense
- Terrorize Tyler Lytle: It’s his first start in a game since he was a senior in high school… that was in 2016. The Pitt defense needs to make Lytle wish he waited till next week to make his debut as starting QB.
Scouting at the Pitt Panthers
Overall Record: 0-0 | ACC Record: 0-0 | Rank: n/a
Head Coach: Pat Narduzzi (7th Season with Pitt)
- Lifetime Record: 42-34
Pitt Team/Individual Statistics
Previous Game: Season Opener
Pitt Offense (Pro Style)
- Points per game: 0.0
- Total offense yards per game: 0.0
- Passing yards per game: 0.0
- Rushing yards per game: 0.0
Scouting report: Kenny Pickett returns for his 4th season as QB for Pitt. When healthy last year played very well. Pickett has a good, accurate arm and can burn defenses with his running ability out of the pocket.
Taysir Mack gives Pitt a steady and reliable senior presence at wide receiver, while Jordan Addison is primed to become a household name if he continues his upward trajectory. Shocky Jacques-Louis has the talent to take his game to the next level. Jaylon Barden is shooting up the depth chart with his play in training camp. Jared Wayne and Tre Tipton will see time in the passing game as well.
A.J. Davis will start, but expect to see plenty of carries given to both Israel Abanikanda and Vincent Davis. The coaches will be watching the trio very closely and would love for one of them to become the lead back. Time will tell. Todd Sibley has opened eyes during training camp, too.
Tight end has been a disappointing position for Pitt the last few years, but it appears Lucas Krull may bring it back into a main part of the passing game very quickly. If Krull can shine, Kenny Pickett and the Panthers could have a dynamic offense at their behest.
Starting Quarterback: Kenny Pickett | Back-ups: Nick Patti and Davis Beville
Running Backs: A.J. Davis, Israel Abanikanda, Vincent Davis, Todd Sibley
Wide Receivers: (Outside) Taysir Mack, Shocky Jacques-Louis , Jared Wayne, Tre Tipton
(Slot) Jordan Addison and Jaylon Barden
Tight Ends: Lucas Krull, Gavin Bartholomew
Offensive Line
Left Tackle: Carter Warren
Left Guard: Marcus Minor
Center: Owen Drexel
Right Guard: Jake Kradel
Right Tackle: Gabe Houy
Pitt Defense (Base 4-3)
- Points per game allowed: 0.0
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 0.0
- Passing yards allowed: 0.0
- Rushing yards allowed: 0.0
- Sacks: 0.0
- Interceptions: 0.0
Scouting report: The Panthers have become one of the nation’s most feared pass rushing defenses, as they have recorded 97 sacks over the past two seasons.
Defensive End: Habakuk Baladonaldo
Defensive Tackle: Calijah Kancey
Defensive Tackle: Keyshon Camp
Defensive End: Deslin Alexandre
Money LB: Phil Campbell III
Mike LB: Wendall Davis
Star LB: Cam Bright
Cornerback: Marquis Williams
Strong Safety: Brandon Hill
Free Safety: Erick Hallett II
Cornerback: Damarri Mathis
Special Teams
Placekicker: Ben Sauls
- Extra Points: 0-0
- 1-19 yards: 0-0
- 20-29 yards: 0-0
- 30-39 yards: 0-0
- 40-49 yards: 0-0
- 50+ yards: 0-0
Punter: Kirk Christodoulou
Kickoff Returners: Jaylon Barden and Isreal Abanikanda
Punt Returner: Jaylon Barden and MJ Devonshire
Scouting report: Ben Sauls takes over kicking duties for Pitt with Jaylon Barden being the primary kick returner. Isreal Abanikanda will see some kickoff returns as will MJ Devonshire as punt returner. Devonshire is a former Aliquippa star who transferred from Kentucky in the offseason.
Scouting the Massachusetts Minutemen
Overall Record: 0-0 | Rank: n/a
Head Coach: Walt Bell (3rd Season with UMass)
- Lifetime Record: 1-15 | 1-15 (with UMass)
UMass Team/Individual Statistics
Previous Game: Season Opener
Massachusetts Offense
- Points per game: 0.0
- Total Offense per game: 0.0
- Passing yards per game: 0.0
- Rushing yards per game: 0.0
Scouting report: Tyler Lytle steps in as the new starting QB for the Minutemen. Lytle is a grad transfer from Colorado and will be making his first start in a real game since November 11th, 2016, when he was in high school.
Ellis Merriweather will start at running back, but will likely share duties with Rutgers transfer Kay’Ron Adams.
Jermaine Johnson, Jr. is one of three returning receivers for UMass, along with Victor Santiago and Melvin Hill. Michael Fitzgerald has great size at 6’1 and Jamir Roberts is a former track star.
The UMass offense will look to improve on the horrific numbers posted last year, as they went 0-4 and scored a total of 10 offensive points. That’s averaging under a field goal a game for all you stats geeks.
Starting Quarterback: Tyler Lytle | Back-up: Garrett Dzuro
Running Backs: Ellis Merriweather, Kay’Ron Adams, Jonathan White
Wide Receivers: Onuma Dieke, Jermaine Johnson, Jr., Tray Pettway, Micheal Fitzgerald, Victor Santiago, Rico Arnold, Jamir Roberts
Tight Ends: Taylor Edwards, Josiah Johnson
Massachusetts Defense (Base 4-3/4-2-5)
- Points per game allowed: 0.0
- Total offense yards per game allowed: 0.0
- Passing yards allowed: 0.0
- Rushing yards allowed: 0.0
- Sacks: 0.0
- Interceptions: 0.0
Scouting report: It can’t get any worse than last season, can it? The Minutemen defense was shredded in every game in 2020, giving up an average of 40.2 points per game.
Safety Tanner Davis is the team’s leading tackler from last year with 24.
Game Day Information
Pitt Panthers vs Massachusetts Minutemen
- Venue: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA. | Field: Natural Grass
- Game-time: Saturday, September 4th at 4:00 PM ET
- Game Tickets Link
- TV: ACC Network | Announcers: Wes Durham (play-by-play) Roddy Jones (analyst) | Lericia Harris (reporter)
- Local Radio: Pittsburgh- 93.7 The Fan | Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Pat Bostick (analyst) | Larry Richert (reporter)
- Online Radio: 937thefan.radio.com
- Satellite Radio: Sirius Channel 132, XM Channel 194, SXM App Channel 970
- Weather at Kickoff: 77 and sunny. Winds out of the S 5-10 MPH.
- Vegas Line: Pitt -38.5
Pitt vs UMass Series History
Series Began: 2021
Pitt is 0-0 overall vs UMass
- At Home: 0-0
- On Road: 0-0
- Neutral Site: 0-0
- ACC Series: n/a
- Streak: n/a
- Last Game: n/a
Did You Know?*
- Pitt is 85-44-2 (.657) all-time in openers. Since the 2000 season, Pitt is 15-6 (.714) in it’s initial game, including 5-1 (.833) under Pat Narduzzi.
- Quarterback Kenny Pickett enters his fourth season as the Panthers’ starter. Pickett has played in 39 career games, making 36 starts.
- The Panthers’ 2021 roster has 13 players designated as “super seniors.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCAA did not count the 2020 season against a student-athlete’s eligibility clock.
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Pitt offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple served two tenures as head coach at UMass (1998- 2003 and 2014-18).
*Courtesy of pittsburghpanthers.com
Injury Report (9/2/21)
Pitt Panthers
- Out: None reported
- Doubtful:None reported
- Questionable: TE Grant Carrigan (shoulder), DL Nate Temple
Massachusetts Minutemen
- Out: None reported
- Doubtful: None reported
- Questionable: None reported
Author Profile
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From Midland, "The Basketball Capital of Pennsylvania", located 35 miles NW of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. This former steel town was home to storied athletes such as Dave Alston, Norm Van Lier, Simmie Hill, and the legendary 1965 Midland High School Basketball Team.
There's nowhere on earth that is more dedicated to its sports teams like Western Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh. The passion and pride of Pittsburgh's fan base is second to no one. From the NFL, NHL, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, to W.P.I.A.L. high school sports, "The City of Champions" has it all!
As Editor of Pittsburgh SportsNation, Mike Drakulich provides top notch opinions and coverage of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Pitt Panthers football & basketball, Robert Morris Colonials basketball, and Duquesne Dukes basketball, as well as all sports teams that represent Western Pennsylvania, including WPIAL High School Football.
For a refreshing view of sports, mixed with humor and uncensored opinions, check out Pittsburgh SportsNation today on Facebook, Twitter @PghSportsNation and videos with over 1,000,000 views on YouTube!
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Great read, info as always!