Blogs

Dave Wannstedt started getting anxious about Saturday’s season opener against Eastern Michigan while walking around Pitt’s campus today for the first time since July. Wannstedt talked about his stroll through Oakland, seeing an inflated Pitt helmet in front of the William Pitt Union and the anticipation of a bonfire and pep rally. “There’s a buzz [...]

Pitt has only played Eastern Michigan once before, in 1995, a meeting that had a local flavor because Steel Valley graduate Charlie Batch was the Eagles’ quarterback. Now in his seventh season with the Steelers, Batch spent a few moments this week reflecting on that game with Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Steelers beat reporter Scott Brown. The [...]

With nine players preparing for their first start and a handful of freshmen ready to make their college debut, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt was asked what he told his Panthers heading into Saturday’s opener against Eastern Michigan. “I’ve always believed that playing in a football game, whether it be your first game or your last [...]

Pitt kicker Conor Lee is one of 29 candidates named to the watch list for the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the top kicker in college football. Lee, a redshirt junior from Upper St. Clair, converted all 47 point-after kicks and was 12 of 14 on field-goal attempts, with a long of 47 yards [...]

The mere mention by Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt that Eastern Michigan employs a read-option offense immediately brought a number of follow-up questions about how it will prepare the Panthers for West Virginia. Wannstedt could have quashed them with one answer: It won’t. Not that the time invested preparing for Eastern Michigan’s scheme is going to [...]

Pitt’s football game against Connecticut Sept. 22 at Heinz Field is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff, the Pitt athletic department announced today. Although there is a possibility the game will be televised, the start time will not be affected by television coverage. The game is the Big East Conference opener for the Panthers, who [...]

The big news on the final day of training camp came when Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt finally, officially named junior Bill Stull the starting quarterback. It was perhaps the worst-kept secret at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex, considering Stull had taken every first-team rep throughout camp. The announcement came as a surprise to at least [...]

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt on Wednesday named Bill Stull the starting quarterback for the Panthers’ Sept. 1 season opener against Eastern Michigan. Stull, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound junior from Seton-La Salle High School, beat out redshirt freshman Kevan Smith and true freshman Pat Bostick for the starting job. “It’s pretty obvious Billy Stull is the starter [...]

The end of training camp is near, and the Panthers have to welcome the idea of getting into a regular routine. Their last morning practice was in shoulder pads and shells, and a handful of starters sat out to nurse minor injuries. Right tackle Jason Pinkston, left tackle Jeff Otah, tight end Darrell Strong and [...]

Dave Wannstedt was disappointed after a lackluster afternoon indoor session on the next-to-last day of training camp, especially because he had just rewarded his team. “Today’s practice was probably the first one where we didn’t come out and practice with the same intensity and execution and effort we previously had during camp,” Wannstedt said. “Today [...]