MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Pitt redshirt senior quarterback Phil Jurkovec didn’t have a great game against WVU in the loss in the Backyard Brawl Saturday night.
He completed just eight of his 20 throws, only had 81 yards and threw three interceptions with zero touchdowns in the 17-6 loss to the Mountaineers.
His three interceptions are the most in a Backyard Brawl since Rod Rutherford threw three picks in 2003, although Rutherford also threw for four touchdowns in the 52-31 loss. His 84 passing yards are also the least in a Backyard Brawl since Pat Bostick threw for 67 yards in 2007. Bostick also won that game, as it ended in the famous 13-9 victory for Pitt who knocked off No. 2 WVU and stopped them from going to the BCS National Championship game.
The West Virginia defense will take pride in the three interceptions they forced from Jurkovec. Those three interceptions are the most in Jurkovec’s career, although he has thrown two interceptions in a game five times previously in his six year college career.
WVU redshirt senior Beanie Bishop Jr., who caught his second interception, didn’t think the Pitt signal caller was all that good to begin with and told the media following the game his thoughts.
“We knew he wasn’t too good at his job,” Bishop said post game.
Jurkovec has played poorly in these past two games. He completed just 10 of his 32 passes for 179 yards and three touchdowns, with many of his throws inaccurate, overthrown, underthrown or poorly placed, in the 27-21 loss to Cincinnati in the River City Rivalry last weekend.
Following the loss to the Mountaineers, Jurkovec did not speak to the media. His comments after the defeat to the Bearcats focused on not being happy with the fans for booing him throughout the game.
He is also the first Pitt quarterback to throw three interceptions or more in a game since Kenny Pickett did so against Clemson on the road in 2020. Pickett also completed two touchdowns in that game and played against one of the best teams in the country, as Clemson would go on to make the College Football Playoff.
PAT has a problem. Someone needs to talk to him.
Maybe Lyke, can.
Time for a New Head Coach – Pat Narduzzi is Inept and Slow Minded!
Yep luck seems to be the answer with Whipple & Picket the one year. Cause the other years with that combination the offense was garbage.
That’s her job, I hope she finally does it. Without pressure from the top, this foolishness will continue.
Thank you Jurkovec Family for ruing Pitt football
Jurkovc: Loser at ND, Loser at BC
It’s so sad that a low IQ DB from West Virginia can figure this out, yet Narduzzi cannot. It’s going to be a long season, but I won’t be watching much.
I will be watching only bc it’s like a train wreck that you sadly can’t take your eyes off. Narduzzi’s inexplicable coaching decisions have not only destroyed this season, but now it’s to the point where his resistance to replacing this loser of a qb is going to destroy the PROGRAM!
Since his bud Dantoni got appointed as Acting Head Coach (in effect) at Michigan State, maybe he knows he’s going back to East Lansing and wants to wreck the program, so it will seem like…..oh well he left…and now Pitt is terrible.
For the record this is the worst DB in the worst secondary on the worst team in the Big12 and he has every right to do so. Our QB and coaching sux. If Narduzzi doesn’t have the balls to make the hard decisions then maybe we need to see if Lyke can do her job.
This is the same sentiment most players parents are feeling.
Pitt keeps playing these transfer portal rejects from other schools when Nate Yarnell has waited for a fair shot. I would transfer if I was him. Obviously Narduzzi is playing Slovis ii.
Indeed! Narduzzi let’s his terrible assistants recruit, coach, and play their pathetic favorites. We need to clean house and find a smarter man than Narduzzi. I really believe that Pat isn’t pulling a full train.
Yarnell is good. All the players know Cignetti won’t play him because he did not recruit him.
Reminds me of Slovis playing over Patti. In the sun bowl it was obvious Patti always the teams dude. Even in the spring, Patti was throwing the better ball. No wonder JA transferred after the spring, I was angry with him then but looking back I’m not upset with him anymore.
Who’s JA?
Jordan Addison
That’s what Duzzi he get these transfers and passes up the better players in the program. Then he ends up losing them sad coaching.
Calm down fellas we had our run it’s over … It was nice while it lasted
It’s all too clear now that Pat Narduzzi cannot recruit, in fact; he has let’s PSU and others get the good players while he sits in his golf cart. Yes, he has to go!
Lyke and Narduzzi have betrayed the players , fans, staff and university. They have allowed a con man Frank Cignetti destroy this team. They let this con man put the blame on Slovis last year.
Narduzzi should be fired nor this betrayal. He is obviously incompetent or he is too much of a pussy to fire Cignetti.
Jurkovec himself can’t be so delusional to believe he deserves another start.
Don’t be too sure about that. He’s always gotten want he wants, so yes spoiled kids to think they deserve everything. And you can tell by his pointing at other players to deflect attention off of his poor plays….he still thinks he’s a primadonna.
he will just run away from it and go to another school
I’m pretty sure the clock strikes midnight for him at the end of this season unless he is interested in Arena League 2. Last night should have been his last career college start.
Lyke and Narduzzi have betrayed the players , fans, staff and university. They have allowed a con man Frank Cignetti destroy this team. They let this con man put the blame on Slovis last year.
Narduzzi should be fired for being conned by Cignetti and allowing Cig to ruin a formally good team. Narduzzi is OBVIOUSLY incompetent or he is too much of a pussy to fire Cignetti.
Several Questions:
Why is Nardo married to Jerk ?
What kind of dirt does Jerk have on Cigs?
Is Mr. Jerk some kind of big booster/mover/shaker ?
I’m pleading with Jerk to bench himself coz the blind blowhard Dom Dinucci won’t
#50 right guard missed three big blocks in 1st Half. Go back and watch the film.
The biggest argument you can have is that is a mistake running a route any great than twenty five yard radius of the QB. His eyes are bigger than his arm strength at present. The 2nd interception the guy was open over top but the pass fell way short. The intermediate throw was there to a wide open RB.
In my 50 + years of following Pitt football he is the worst QB. Has zero confidence and looks very disinterested. Tino would be a huge upgrade over him.
decommits coming..Dugger will have everyone in his ear about this offense
You read Sun Tzu or something? You seem masochistic when PITT has a stumbling block. Don’t poo poo on PITT troll. Even if it is Rent Free.
People are wondering if Phil even knows the “playbook.” I’m not sure he can even read a book. Open challenge to Phil… prove that you can read a book. Heck, I’ll make it simple for you… read to us “A Cat In The Hat.” And if you can read that I will refrain from posting any other comments about you buddy.
Narduzzi is on the verge of losing the team. It’s bad enough that everyone watching, even the announcers can see the glaring issue at QB, but the head coach refuses to make the needed change. And Narduzzi calling out the other positions claiming they need to play better while the QB gets to skate by unscathed is a good way to piss your players off. If Jurkovec starts and plays the whole UNC game and Pitt loses big, then I expect there to be a bunch of players transferring out of the program Also #50 better not see the field… Read more »
You Pitt fans love putting down and name calling WVU
But our Secondary was good enough to pick off 3passes and beat your tails If We are the worst in the country where does that leave PItt. I guarantee WVU WINS MORE GAMES THIS YEAR THAN PITT DOES
I never mentioned WVU. What are you talking about?