Pittsburgh football head coach Pat Narduzzi has demanded respect from voters throughout the season, and after his squad defeated Virginia Tech on the road despite losing quarterback Mason Heintschel to a torn ACL, he was hoping people would place more trust in the Panthers. Rece Davis is skeptical, however. The ESPN College GameDay host was forced to take cover on Saturday morning.
Narduzzi had a concise yet effective response upon learning that Davis left Pitt off his latest Associated Press Poll ballot. “Rece, wake your a** up,” he said. “I told you last week, you didn't wake up. You were taking a damn nap.”
Davis justified his Panthers omission by expressing uncertainty about the current QB situation. Unfortunately, Holden Geriner validated those concerns versus North Carolina, tossing interceptions on consecutive drives during the third quarter and missing other key throws. Even if Pitt survives the Tar Heels, Narduzzi will probably have to tweak his offensive game plan.
The longtime program leader had his squad positioned for a big year and possible ACC title game appearance, but Heintschel's season-ending injury dramatically lowers the Panthers' ceiling. That is how it appears to Rece Davis and so many others, anyway.
Pat Narduzzi relishes the doubt, however. This squad needs all the bulletin board material it can store, because it will take an abundance of self-belief to overcome this devastating setback.
Perhaps No. 25 Pitt can convince voters to be a bit more generous by vanquishing NFL all-time great Bill Belichick and North Carolina. The offense got the ball back with 2:26 left in the game, but a fourth-down fumble essentially sunk the Panthers' chances.