Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi has spent the past week working with his team, trying to get them back to winning ways against Virginia Tech Saturday night, 8:00 p.m. in Blacksburg, Va.
The Panthers are currently 1-3 for the first time since 2017 and on their first three game losing streak since 2020. They lost to rivals in the Cincinnati Bearcats at home and then the West Virginia Mountaineers on the road, before falling short to the then ranked No. 20 North Carolina Tar Heels at home last week.
WPXI sports reporter Jenna Harner held her weekly sit-down with Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi on Thursday.
The duo spoke on what Pitt needs to do to get their first ACC win of the season against Virginia Tech and one thing is the turnover battle. Pitt has turned the ball over six times over the past two games and has only forced three turnovers on defense and scored just seven points on them.
They also discussed how you stay together after tough few games. Narduzzi said that despite the losses the team is fully committed to winning and has played better than the final scores have indicated.
He still didn’t commit to a starting quarterback prior to the Hokies matchup, but complimented redshirt senior Phil Jurkovec for his performance against UNC.
Jurkovec completed 11 of his 15 passes for 109 yards and two carries for 29 yards, but suffered a big hit towards the end of the first half, knocking him out of the game in the 41-24 loss to the Tar Heels.
He wants to see Jurkovec start the same against the Hokies and discussed why it is important to stick to what they’ve done so far instead of panicking and changing everything up.
Narduzzi praised the leaders on his team, who discuss with him their thoughts and ideas every Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the leadership council. It helps him understand his players better and he is confident going into a sold out Lane Stadium.
(0:53) Coach by the way two TD drives like those first two you mention having them in the 2nd Half would still leave you down 41-38.
(1:59) And we the fans also want to see Jurkovec where he was at the end of the 2nd Half, … on the sidelines.
Besides those three turnovers, eleven flags on your squad at Home does not help. No need for DBs with two mouthguards not using either of them hitting someone and getting a 15er for taunting. Worse, not yanking them out to think about it.
Yes, It’s All True!
Virginia Tech stinks and we’ll see if this hype continues. Terrible, terrible coaching!