Pitt Panthers running back Rachid Ibrahim will be lost of the season to an Achilles tendon injury, according to head coach Pat Narduzzi. The junior running back played in all 13 games in 2014 as a backup to James Connor, gaining 263 yards on 33 carries, for a stellar 8.0 yards per carry average. He also added 11 catches for 73 yards. Ibrahim was expected to split time behind Connor with sophomore Chris James in the Panthers backfield. His role will likely be assumed by true freshman Darrin ... Read More
Pitt’s schedule could benefit Panthers in 2015
Entering Pat Narduzzi’s first season as the Pitt Panthers head coach, no one really knows what to expect. If Narduzzi can find a way to sure up the defense and the offense does what it is capable of, then Pitt very well could be a surprise in the ACC’s Coastal Division. One thing that very well could help out the Panthers cause is a schedule that could be relatively soft, at least on paper. The first AP Poll was released on Sunday with defending champion Ohio State a unanimous choice ... Read More
Penn St, WVU receive votes; Ohio State tops preseason AP poll
Penn State and West Virginia both received votes in the preseason AP college football poll, which was released on Sunday. The Nittany Lions received 20 points in the voting, while the Mountaineers received just one. Their neighbor to the west overshadowed both schools, as the reigning national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, were unanimously voted as the No. 1 team in the country. Both Penn State and West Virginia will face tough conference schedules this season. The Big Ten has three ... Read More
Pitt well represented on 75th Anniversary FWAA team
The Football Writers Association of America announced its 75th Anniversary All-America Team on Thursday and the Pitt Panthers were very well represented as five former Pitt legends made one of the three teams. The five Panthers selected were tight end Mike Ditka, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, running back Tony Dorsett, offensive lineman Bill Fralic and defensive end Hugh Green. Fitzgerald was a first-team selection while the other four were named to the second team. The five Pitt ... Read More
Gannon No. 1 in PSAC West preseason poll
The Gannon Golden Knights have been picked as the preseason favorites to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference’s Western Division. The 2015 PSAC preseason football poll, which surveys the league’s head coaches, chose Gannon (9-2) to repeat as champions after sharing the title with Slippery Rock in 2014. Senior running back Brock Jones will return to lead the Golden Knights powerful rushing attack. Gannon led the PSAC West with 239.6 rushing yards per game last season. Slippery ... Read More
Top 5: 2015 Penn State football edition
With the transition from summer to fall comes the start of the college football season. Before long, it will be time to break out the travel grills, hop in the car, and watch your favorite boys suit up on the field. Here are the top five things to look forward to in the 2015 Penn State football season. 5. Another Winning Season Bill O’Brien’s two short years with the Nittany Lions were both winning seasons, but James Franklin’s takeover has changed the way Penn State fans think about the ... Read More
W&J picked to finish atop PAC again
Coming off another successful season in 2014. The Washington and Jefferson Presidents find themselves in a familiar position heading into 2015. That would be as the favorites in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. W&J is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as conference champions, finishing atop the 2015 PAC Preseason Football Poll. It is the eighth time since 2000 that the Presidents have been tabbed the conference’s preseason favorite. W&J collected 28 first-place votes, while ... Read More
Pitt suspends Boyd, Blair for opener
University of Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi has suspended junior wide receiver Tyler Boyd and sophomore defensive lineman Rori Blair for the team’s season opener on September 5 against Youngstown State. The one-game suspensions are a result of separate off-the-field incidents this offseason. “In addition to their game suspensions, Tyler and Rori have been, and will continue to be, subject to internal discipline and accountability,” Narduzzi said in a press release. “The ... Read More
Pitt WR Tyler Boyd receives probation for DUI charge
Pitt wide receiver Tyler Boyd will receive one year of probation as a result of his arrest for driving under the influence. On Friday, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert C. Gallo accepted Boyd in to the ARD program, which is for nonviolent, first-time offenders. In addition to his one year of probation, he will have his driving license suspended for 90 days, he will have to take safe driving classes, and will responsible for court costs and fees over $2,500. “Tyler has ... Read More
COLUMN: Removing names from jerseys will heal, not hurt
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team announced last week that going forward, the names on the back of the jerseys will be removed, returning to the “Basic Blues” that the university wore for more than 100 years. By now, it’s old news, and the change has been welcomed by almost all, especially alumni. “That simple tradition, I feel, takes away from a lot of the chest-beating and ‘look at me’ mentality we have in society and puts the importance on working together and being a team,” said ... Read More