{"id":53767,"date":"2022-09-16T10:23:29","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T14:23:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/?p=53767"},"modified":"2022-09-21T23:16:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T03:16:21","slug":"pitt-gameday-preview-at-western-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ngscsports.com\/2022\/09\/16\/pitt-gameday-preview-at-western-michigan\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitt GameDay Preview: at Western Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>16 Minute, 31 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>

The University of Pittsburgh has a storied history in football that dates back to 1890. The Pitt Panthers are 9-Time National Champions and many of the greatest players in the history of football are proud to call Pitt their alma mater. <\/em><\/p>\n

Pitt has 97 First Team All-Americans, 25 members in the College Football Hall of Fame and nine Panthers have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.<\/em><\/p>\n

NGSC Sports<\/a> brings you the ultimate Pitt Game Day Preview 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 Keys to Victory, score prediction, crucial game day information, and a detailed breakdown of each team.<\/em><\/p>\n

Heck, you’ll even know the weather at kickoff! The only thing you\u2019re missing is a game uniform!<\/em><\/p>\n

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Panther’s resolve to be tested if top two QB’s are out<\/h1>\n

A few weeks ago, every returning player on Pitt’s roster had this game circled as a revenge game.<\/p>\n

Now the Pitt Panthers (1-1), coming off a heartbreaking 34-27 overtime loss to Tennessee, might be heading to Kalamazoo to face Western Michigan (1-1) without both starting quarterback Kedon Slovis, and back-up Nick Patti, each suffering injuries in the loss to the Vols.<\/p>\n

Last year, the Broncos stunned Pitt 44-41.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I have to say anything?\u201d Narduzzi said when asked if his players were extra motivated to make amends for last year. \u201cI mean, I think the game speaks for itself, you know, so I really don\u2019t need to say much.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Broncos torched the Panthers for 517 yards of total offense last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe got kind of torn apart a little bit,” Narduzzi said.<\/p>\n

This year, Pitt’s defense will face a local kid when they take the field.<\/p>\n

WMU quarterback Jake Salopek, is a Norwin HS graduate.<\/p>\n

\u201cPitt was my first scholarship offer,\u201d Salopek said, \u201cI thought it would have been cool being the quarterback for the hometown team.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, when then OC Shawn Watson was let go, and Mark Whipple took over, plans changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when they brought in coach Whipple,\u201d Salopek said. \u201cThat\u2019s when coach Narduzzi kind of said they wanted to let coach Whipple look at some other quarterbacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey kind of pulled back my offer, I guess you could say.\u201d<\/p>\n

Narduzzi, even though not offering Salopek, likes what he sees from the local kid.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s tough. I think he\u2019s a tough guy,\u201d Narduzzi said. \u201cWhen you watch him, from everything we gather, just a very coachable guy who\u2019s going to do it exactly the way they\u2019re supposed to do it. He does a nice job.\u201d<\/p>\n

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**A Word Regarding Future Pitt GameDay Previews**<\/h1>\n

Sadly, for the foreseeable future, this will be the last Pitt GameDay Preview. Since 2017, I have been credentialed with Pitt (sans the crazy covid year of 2020), and I have thoroughly enjoyed bringing you all the best Pitt game previews you will find anywhere. I challenge you to search the net and find a more detailed game preview than you get from me.<\/p>\n

Suddenly this year, coming off of an ACC Championship after many decades of average at best football by the program, I was informed by Pitt that I no longer met their “guidelines” to be credentialed.<\/p>\n

How did I meet them the previous five years?<\/p>\n

No answer.<\/p>\n

I put a lot of time, work, and effort into bringing you all the best product possible, so for Pitt to blatantly disrespect me, why should I continue to care and support a program that blackballs me? If Pitt wants to cater to those in the media who constantly toss Pitt under the bus over those who actually give a damn about Panther football, then so be it.<\/p>\n

For now, I need a break after being let down so badly by a team I’ve loved since I was born.<\/p>\n

Thank you all for reading and supporting my work over the years.<\/p>\n

Hey, I’ll still have Against All Odds and Steelers GameDay Previews for you to enjoy.<\/p>\n

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Keys to Victory<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Overall<\/strong><\/p>\n