Confidence builds during streak
Panthers respond with 3 wins after 1-3 October mark
When Pitt lost to North Carolina, the Panthers’ hopes to be back- to- back ACC Coastal champions, let alone conference champions, were dashed. It could’ve been a point when they fell apart and lost focus in the midst of disappointment. But three weeks later, the Panthers have launched a three-game win streak that’s put them in prime position to finish with the fifth eight-win season under Pat Narduzzi in his eighth year as head coach.
It would also set the Panthers up for an opportunity at back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time since the 2008-2009 seasons under Dave Wannstedt. Records or not, Narduzzi has noted the commitment from his players during a 3-0 November turnaround after a rough 1-3 October.
“It’s about wins,” Narduzzi said during his Monday press conference from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “It’s about who you are. I don’t think there’s a focus problem at all. They’re doing the same Monday that they normally do, except they’re excited to not have classes later this week. But there’s excitement that they get to play football. They feel like they’re in the NFL. You only get 12 opportunities.”
Narduzzi’s 2020 Panthers went through a similar time when they went 0-4 in October that ended with a 45-3 loss to Notre Dame, the widest losing margin for the Panthers since 2018. The response was a 3-1 record in November with Pitt’s only loss coming on the road to No. 3 Clemson.
It was a rally that set the tone for Kenny Pickett’s return for a final season when Pitt would win the ACC in 2021 and have its first 11-win season since 1981. Pitt might not have the same confidence in Kedon Slovis to have a similar rise as Pickett at quarterback, but there’s still a value to a strong finish and maintaining focus.
“You’re playing for a bowl game,” Narduzzi said. “You’re playing for pride. I don’t think anybody wants to just go out there and slop around. That tells you a lot about their character.”
Pitt gets a chance to show how ready it is against Miami, a similarly disappointing team that’s 5-6, 3-4 in the ACC. Narduzzi’s Panthers have beaten the Hurricanes only once, back when Pickett made his debut as a starter and delivered a major 24-14 upset against No. 2 Miami. This time, Pitt should be the favorite, and come into the game with plenty to prove in the regular season finale.
Dayon Hayes update
Junior defensive end Dayon Hayes returned to play for Pitt on Saturday against Duke, only 13 days after he was charged with simple assault in an alleged incident with his girlfriend. But simple assault is a misdemeanor, which doesn’t trigger Pitt’s policy to indefinitely suspend a player. Hayes did not play for one game in Pitt’s road win against Virginia, but did practice with the team.
“You’re always innocent until proven guilty, but we’ve made him guilty until he’s innocent,” Narduzzi said of Hayes. “He’s paid a price with the team and paid a price on the field when he was out for a weekend. We’ll wait and see how the whole thing goes and move on from there.”
Hayes’ preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.
Weekly honors
Pitt dominated the ACC’s weekly football awards.
Four Panthers were honored: Israel Abanikanda (running back of the week); SirVocea Dennis ( linebacker), Brandon Hill (defensive back) and Ben Sauls (specialist).
Abanikanda achieved his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season, the most by a Pitt player since Dion Lewis logged 10 in 2009. He rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries (6.6 avg.), and added a 2-point conversion rush that ultimately provided the winning margin. This is Abanikanda’s fourth ACC Running Back of the Week accolade of the season and his fifth weekly ACC award overall.