PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We saw five weeks where at times it seemed easy for Pitt redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein. Not as much in the sixth. How will the first-year starter respond Thursday night as the Panthers host Syracuse?
Holstein had three touchdown passes in every one of his first five starts including huge comeback wins at Cincinnati and against rival West Virginia. Every week he was winning awards with 15 touchdown passes, three TD runs and only three interceptions. At North Carolina, where the program never won, Holstein threw for 381 yards and rushed for 76 yards combining for four touchdowns.
Last time out, struggles.
Pitt did win the game, but Holstein had career-lows in completion percentage (50), passing yards (133), rushing yards (1) and an unfortunate career-high with two interceptions. After that victory, Holstein said he played like a freshman. He tried to do too much, making unnecessary plays in what was a struggle for the offense. That’s the point head coach Pat Narduzzi wants to reinforce, just make the plays in front of you.
“I’m not looking for anything special,” Narduzzi said Tuesday. “He does not need to be Superman. He needs to be Eli Holstein and just do what Eli needs to do.”
Senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew said he’s been impressed with how Holstein takes blame for things he doesn’t do. For mistakes he doesn’t make. He said it goes a long way in support within the team to have an accountable quarterback or even one that will take the public fall.
“He’s slick,” Narduzzi said. “It washes right off of him. He’s confident and resilient. He’s got a short memory.
It’s what you want a corner to have and it’s what you want a quarterback to have.”
“He’s just a guy who comes in and works,” Bartholomew said. “Whenever he is watching film, he’s always figuring out what he can do to be better at what he did. Who he can get the ball to? He’s always the guy who is going to come in and try and find solutions to problems.”
“You gotta learn from your mistakes, but there's no lost trust in Eli,” Narduzzi said. “I think he's spectacular. I think he's going to bounce back. But sometimes when you try too hard, that's a problem. But he's going to be fine.”
Narduzzi said it’s a growing process, Thursday night is another new test.
Pregame starts at 4:30 on Thursday on 93.7 The Fan with the Voice of the Panthers, Bill Hillgrove calling the action starting at 7:30 joined by Pat Bostick, Larry Richert and Dorin Dickerson.