Anyone that thought the Pitt Panthers wouldn't hold a grudge against former head coach Todd Graham, they can think again. Rightfully so, Pitt wasn't happy with the way Graham left to be the coach at Arizona State, less than a year after the Panthers hired him. The Panthers did not give permission for Graham to talk to Arizona State, so he resigned to take that job. Then in classy Graham style, he sent a text message to players on his way out instead of meeting with them. That action made ... Read More
Opportunity is knocking on the door of Pitt’s Isaac Bennett and Malcolm Crockett
It is always said that opportunities don't come that often, but when they do you have to be ready to take advantage of them. That's the case for Pitt running backs Isaac Bennett (junior) and Malcolm Crockett (redshirt sophomore), who suddenly have been presented with a golden opportunity to emerge as the feature back in Paul Chryst's offense. With the transfer of Rushel Shell, Bennett and Crockett have risen to No.1 and 2 on the current Panthers' depth chart as spring practice ... Read More
Rushel Shell to transfer from Pitt
The Rushel Shell saga seems to have come to a swift end and it is bad news for the Pitt Panthers football team. According to Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Shell told Panthers head coach Paul Chryst he will transfer from the university, ending his stay with the team after one season. Shell was absent from spring practice last week amid rumors of potential transfer and later in the week Chryst issued a statement that Shell was taking time away from football to sort out ... Read More
Rushel Shell to reportedly take time away from football
Yesterday's shocking news that Pitt sophomore running back Rushel Shell was looking to transfer has taken another turn, as now it looks as if Shell will be taking a step back from football for the time being. Shell, as I reported yesterday, was looking to transfer, but has not formally requested the paperwork to do so, according to multiple sources. Pitt head coach Paul Chryst issued a statement on the situation. “Like many college freshmen, Rushel is working through some challenges ... Read More
Rushel Shell reportedly to transfer from Pitt
As the Pitt Panthers football team prepares to head to the ACC this season, one position on the field that Pitt head coach Paul Chryst didn't think he would have to worry about is running back. Following the graduation of Ray Graham, all signs pointed to sophomore Rushel Shell stepping into the feature back role and excelling at it. Not so fast though, as there are now signs that Shell may not follow in the footsteps of LeSean McCoy, Dion Lewis and Graham as the next great Pitt running ... Read More
The 5 biggest question marks as Pitt continues spring practice
Paul Chryst and the Pitt Panthers have taken a break from spring practice as Pitt students are on spring break, but the Panthers will be back on the field on Sunday, this time in full pads. As they continue to put in work with eyes on their Labor Day matchup against Florida State, there are a few major questions that Chryst is going to have to find an answer to in order for Pitt to have a chance at competing during their inaugural ACC season. Here's a look at the five biggest burning ... Read More
Pitt QB job up in the air during spring practice
For the first time in a very long time there will be a competition to be the Pitt Panthers starting quarterback in 2013. Pitt fans can rejoice in the fact that Tino Sunseri will no longer be under center for the Panthers, but there hasn't been a true quarterback competition since the 2008 season when Bill Stull beat out Pat Bostick for the job. As the Panthers entered spring practice, all eyes will be on the quarterback spot as four guys will attempt to impress head coach Paul Chryst and ... Read More
Panthers, Seminoles to kick off 2013 season
Many are excited to see how Pitt's first season as a member of the ACC plays out and at the minimum, things have gotten better for the Panthers already. Pitt will open league ACC play on Labor Day against Florida State at Heinz Field, in a nationally televised game (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) between two programs that haven't met in 30 years. The Seminoles' last trip to Pittsburgh was in 1983. While Pitt will be double-digit underdogs in their season opener, the national exposure the Panthers will ... Read More
Pitt promotes Matt House to defensive coordinator
Pitt Panthers head football coach Paul Chryst announced the filling of three open positions on his staff, including filling the hole of defensive coordinator. Defensive backs coach Matt House was promoted to the role of defensive coordinator, while Chryst hired veteran coach John Palermo as defensive ends and linebackers coach. He also announced that former Pitt defensive back Hank Poteat (1996-99) will join the staff as a graduate assistant and work with the cornerbacks. Last season, ... Read More
Pitt’s Ray Graham invited to NFL Draft Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine is an opportunity for a player to open eyes and improve one's draft stock for this spring's NFL Draft. Pitt running back Ray Graham is hoping to do exactly that. Graham, who finished his college career as the second leading rusher in Pitt history, has been invited to participate in the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine, held Feb. 23-26 in Indianapolis. He is the only Panther player selected to join the more than 300 of the nation’s top college players who were invited ... Read More