PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In town to be a part of the Pitt kickoff luncheon on Friday, ESPN analyst and former Panther Louis Riddick spoke of his love for Pat Narduzzi and the history of the program.
A running back, turned defensive back from 1987-1990, Riddick spoke of the passion he has not just for the program, but the university. Recently he was on campus and said he just took in the Cathedral of Learning and reflected on his time at Pitt and what it meant to him. It’s something he previous had not really done.
An ESPN football analyst for a decade, Riddick says they have conversations at work about their schools. You can imagine with peers owning degrees from Ohio State, Michigan, Alabama, LSU, among others, those talks get intense about who has the best school. Riddick never backs down from blue and gold.
“Our all-time team can match up against anyone,” Riddick said Friday. “Absolutely anyone, USC, Notre Dame, Oklahoma it doesn’t matter who. Those greats love to see what they built back in the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, built upon.”
When he gets with other Panther graduates, he’s one that believes what we have seen, with 20 wins in the last two seasons, is laying the foundation. He believes then you can grow to elite air after that.
“Would you like to see it translate more to national success, of course,” Riddick said. “But you have to build what Pat is trying to build first before you get to that. That’s part of the process.”
It’s not just about Alliance 412 and the NIL opportunities alumni have helped create for the players. It’s about getting the right players from the start. While admitting five-star players have talent and you want talent in your program, you’re better off getting three and four stars who want to work.
“It’s culture building,” Riddick said. “Everyone talks about it. You hear it ad nauseam in sports-culture, culture, culture. You know how Pat is when you talk to him, that’s how he is. He doesn’t give you something, then behind closed doors give everyone else something else. He’s a hard-nosed, tough-assed dude. Who wants his teams to be like that. That’s how they play. Those are the kind of kids they recruit.”
Riddick singled out players he thinks are not just great players, but great people who have come through a Pat Narduzzi-led Pitt team-Dane Jackson, Damar Hamlin, Tyler Boyd, James Conner, as just a few he called A+ people.
“Pat is not for everyone, he’s for me,” Riddick said. “I like what he’s trying to do. I like the kids he’s recruited. I like the character that this team plays with.”
Riddick believes this will only lead to bigger things with the season starting September 2.
Captains
Panthers named three captains for the 2023 season
· Senior DL David Green
· Senior LB Shayne Simon
· Senior OL Matt Gonzalves