THE BRONX, N.Y. — A couple of weeks ago, Pat Narduzzi made comments — that he apologized to the Pitt team for — about the talent on his current roster.
Well, two weeks later, whether it’s a coincidence or not, fans saw one of the most uninspiring, heartless, embarrassing games that a Pitt football team has played in many, many years.
If you think that’s harsh, it’s not — it’s actually kind. The Pitt athletic department should personally apologize to every Pitt fan who made the mistake of spending money to travel to New York for that putrid performance by both the players and coaches.
What fans have been subjected to can no longer be chalked up as one or two bad performances. Pitt has a major problem on its hands.
How many times this season has Narduzzi apologized in his postgame press conference for certain aspects of his team’s performances and taken accountability only to once again apologize for it the following week? Too many times.
The major question now is whether anyone is capable of fixing it or if the CEO is a large part of the problem, too.
Pitt offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. has been under fire for months, but it’s become very apparent things go much deeper than Cignetti himself.
Since winning the ACC championship two years ago, this Pitt program has become stale, predictable and boring. It makes you wonder if some of these issues were there two years ago but were covered up or overlooked by a first round quarterback. I’ve raised that question before and still feel as though it’s a valid question.
Kenny Pickett covered up a lot of things and made his head coach look a lot better than he was. I can tell you that Narduzzi wouldn’t be under contract till 2030 without that ACC championship.
That night in Charlotte, N.C. seems like a million years ago, and it’s time that Pitt, Heather Lyke included, realizes that this isn’t close to a championship program and major changes need to be made.
Here are three major concerns as we are now — mercifully — near the end of this season:
1.) How will this disaster impact 2024 season ticket sales? Good luck marketing and getting fans interested in spending money on this product.
2) What will this do to recruiting — high school and transfer portal — in 2024 and 2025?
3) Will Pitt players be running towards the transfer portal? Players may not have forgotten what Narduzzi said following the Notre Dame loss.
While that might sound extreme, it’s really not. There are serious questions for the Pitt coaches and the Pitt administrators to think about as Pitt spirals toward the worst season in decades — coming off the best two-season stretch in 40 years.
Honestly, after what I’ve seen this year in terms of on-field performance, undisciplined play, coaching decisions and talent evaluation, nothing should be off the table. Nothing.
While I’m not suggesting Narduzzi should be fired, I will say that he has to be willing to make major changes to his coaching staff (more than just getting rid of Cignetti), along with hiring an offensive coordinator with a 2023 approach to offense or Pitt might need to be in the market for more than just assistant coaches.
2024 starts now, and Narduzzi cannot wait until the calendar changes.
Yes sir .. to me his starting over in every way or he’s going down like the Titanic
If you are a betting man, do you think that Narduzzi will make the changes needed to turn the program around? He will sacrifice Cignetti and then hire another coach that will run a Big Ten type offense. He will then say all the problems are fixed and it will continue until they can scrape up the money to get rid of him…
He can’t recruit! 3 star and a couple four star are much like the Pirates! Over the course of time, he’ll pull some upsets but that lack of talent will catch up!
Narduzzi should be fired for malfeasance.
Fired for malfeasance? This has been a terrible season, but why would Narduzzi be fired? He has provided stability and honesty to the program that we have not seen since Wannstedt’s tenure ended in 2010. In the years since, did we forget the Haywood era (which lasted 2 1/2 weeks). Maybe Todd Graham’s one year would make you feel better when comparing him to Narduzzi. How about Paul Cryst producing a .500 record before he bailed out after two years. Maybe Narduzzi is not the answer to the future, but he has added stability to our program. The trajectory has… Read more »
Your comment reveals delusion. We are eight years in and the worst Pitt season since JM II is happening. College football is about today, not fears dominating your life in the present. Fire his ass.
Wow, you should write comedy. Narduzzi has lost complete control of this team, and likely the respect of the majority of players. The so-called stability he brought to the team has radically degraded to severe instability. You name lots of past failed coaches but making the point that Narduzzi should be given even a longer leash because he’s the ‘best of the worst’ is a failed strategy for a program that supposedly desires to be a consistent winner. This is like saying the captain of the Titanic should get another chance. Narduzzi has caused years of damage to Pitt football… Read more »
There are only several programs in the country that have been what I would consider winning programs. Consider this: There are 128 FBS programs with 65 in the power five. Of those 128 programs only 7 have consistently been in the top 10 since Narduzzi eight seasons at Pitt with only three teams winning 7 championships in those eight seasons. The point is winning consistently is not an easy proposition unless you are Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, or Clemson. Even Clemson is in a down turn since both coordinators departed. I think Narduzzi needs and Lyke with another set… Read more »
Did you not see MJ snatch his hand off Narduzzi when tried to shake it. He lost the team it’s over
I would love an offensive coordinator like Brennan Marion and I was pulling for him to get the job before Cignetti was hired, but those that have been calling for Narduzzi to fire Cignetti and hire Marion should stop. I’m pretty sure I remember Narduzzi ripping/insulting Marion on his way out a couple years ago after he didn’t get the oc job just like Narduzzi has ripped so many of his other former coaches after they left. This guy burns a lot of bridges.
Sam, the same guy , when asked who will be the QB to start next game , his answer was , ask coach Cignetti… What the hell kind of head coach turns over that kind of authority to an assistant, well he did and we saw the result of that mess, got our azz kicked by a team on a 4-5 game losing streak and mostly because of terrible QB play. Thanks Narduzzi, Wake up Heather.
“Boo City” need to to become “F You City” for Narduzzi from here on out.
Narduzzi has surrounded himself with weak coaches that he is not threatened by. He has no leadership courage.
Cignetti was a weak hire. Narduzzi knows he blew it, but failed to add it.
Fire Cignetti and start Yarnell now. That might provide a spark.
With all do respect, any of you who think Narduzzi is gone forget it, The University isn’t going to pay him the buyout to go away, it’s not going to happen.
I would be all in on Chris Beatty as a potential offensive coordinator to bring back to Pitt? He was a key recruiter during his time at Pitt. He was great at developing his WR. He now has NFL experience with aspirations of becoming an NFL coordinator. Since it has not happened yet he might consider this opportunity.
He was a good recruiter but his receivers led the acc in drops for two years. James Franklin is a great recruiter how’s that working out for Penn State?
Fire Cignetti and everyone else on the offensive side then hire Canada problem solved. Pitts not going to buy out PN contract plus bringing a new coach and we’ll set the program back a few years. They can win next year with a good oc perhaps transfer in another quarterback if the said coordinator has a reputation for developing QBs. I think it’s the quickest way to straighten the ship IMHO
Pitt was completely dominated by Notre Dame’s defense but Yarnell comes in under a ridiculously difficult situation and smoothly drives Pitt to their only touchdown. Narduzzi/Cignetti finally puts Yarnell in the Syracuse game and once again he looked impressive with his throwing accuracy and poise — that is, until the horrible fumble call on Hammond long after the whistle had blown. How terribly bruised Narduzzi’s and Cignetti’s egos, and pride, must be as it is becoming more and more evident that the QB who should have won the job from the get-go they kept on the bench as the 3rd… Read more »
Everyone loves the QB who never plays. The problem with Cignetti’s offense isn’t the QB’s…..it’s him. That should be obvious to all.
This team needs a total reset top to bottom.How in the Mother F do you allow a tight end,a frickin tight end run for 150 yards out of the wildcat?!?!?!Blows my mind.For me this was the final straw.Im eating Thursday nights tickets.I just can’t watch this crap anymore this year..And next years season tickets are up in the air with the no renewing them being the betting favorite.
Hope all those who threaten to not renew season tickets DONT. I don’t want their sorry asses next to mine. Life is full of disappointments and this is only football. I hope you enjoy the rest of your life
If Cignetti is still there, I won’t be. I’m in my 40s and I have loved pitt football since I was 4 in a psu household. I go to bowl games. I go to away games.
I don’t tolerate ineptitude or spending my dollars on people who don’t deserve it. I’ve watched a paid for football team quit mid-season. I’ve watched a coaching staff regress to the worst power 5 team offense.
You do you but calling me sorry….well sorry but I got standards. We used to have those in this country.
I think Naduzzi deserves a year to get this program back on tract. BUT… Starts with new OL coach, OC, and Special Teams. This team is very undisciplined in all aspects. From dead ball penalties, WRs not blocking, to players standing 3 yds deep in the end zone to down a punt. I could go on and on, but the eye gouging is over the top! It seems like Narduzzi has checked out. Maybe he is headed to Mich St., but I’m not sure anyone would want him.
H2P!!!
Good article Mike. Unfortunately, you and Mark Madden are the only members of the Pittsburgh Media that appear to have the stones to call out the clown show that Narduzzi is currently presiding over. All the rest are bobble heads that agree with every talking point that Borghetti feeds them as long as they get invited to the press box buffet spread.
Our only hope out of that BS contract is if Dantino decides to rescue his buddies reputation and take him back to MSU.
Team responded when Patti was finally given a start in the Sun Bowl. Call it garbage time or whatever, but Yarnell seems to get results when finally given the same opportunity. Let the kid start and play (loose without the training wheels).
Complete overall of staff with young, aggressive coaches living in the present era of college football that can recruit like minded talent otherwise they can move 2024 home games to the Wolverina with plenty of available game day seats.
The reset should have been done in the first quarter of the hoopie game. At the very least the players would have seen a coach that is doing what he needs to do to win that day. As the losses mount you can see the lack of enthusiasm. Thought they played inspired last week against FSU but were let down again by poor coaching. I said this before that I hope the players know that changes are coming. He should probably at least fire Cignetti now but we all know he won’t. If he waits more than 1 minute after… Read more »
the Jimbo Fisher news certainly will start the musical chairs spinning … could be some nice names moving about if we want to pay up and make a change. H2P !
Can someone in the media ask Heather Lyke if she thinks her decision to extend Narduzzi’s contract well into the future was a good one?
Also, are there any examples in college football in which a long-tenured (i.e. existing) Head Coach was able to resurrect a program that faces what Pitt does currently? My guess is “probably not” which is why Pitt needs a dynamic, innovative and inspirational head coach who has the potential to revitalize the program.
Gary Pinkel at Mizzou to an extent. I’m sure I could find other examples if I care enough to do the research. But Nodoze needs to go, before 2-10, 3-9, 4-8 becomes the norm.
The defense has actually been good most of the year, understandable they’d be frustrated after a season when being down 10 means they’ve already lost. My hope is that by the time the plane lands on the trip back from Duke every offensive coach from Cignetti on down is unemployed. The next offensive coordinator hire will be the most important decision Narduzzi ever makes during his tenure at Pitt.
This guy’s defenses and his defensive prowess have ALWAYS been overrated going back to his horrible defenses in his 2nd year. Worse than any Potato Paul defenses and he was an OC type coach. Cuse was avg’g 14 points a game, and yet……
A&M just axed Fisher
Ped St. averaging almost 20 more points a game just fired their offensive coordinator. Quite a difference in “standards.”
The whole team is 💩 and should all be in the portal. Can you portal the whole program. Nobody is safe and needs a big change. Total team let down should not happen. I think team knows their coach and AD will be looking at Big 18 pastures real soon. RINSE AND REPEAT.
I’ve been following the Pitt football program very closely since 1980. I thought I had seen it all but I’ve never seen a football team fall this far this fast.
I just can’t believe it. It’s a nightmare.
I like you, Mike but this is a bad take. If a huge program like PSU (USC, ND, etc.) can’t make the jump with all of its money and infrastructure how will Pitt?
Duzz is a good coach at a small school in the NIL era. No coach can come in and be your messiah. We get three stars and coach them up. This is coaches speciality. Frankly, I think the predictable clamouring for a new coach is infantile and belies a lack of understanding of the realities of the era and our place in it.
Fatduzzy is lazy
Just look at Narduzzi on the sideline, he always looks confused. Please find a young division 2 up and coming coach. He is stubborn, abrasive and not very bright. After Pitt his career will be over.