PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Panther fans, you might be more nervous about Saturday afternoon than Pitt players and coaches. A win hosting Virginia, and Pitt clinches the ACC Coastal Championship.
When brought up to Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi about the win-and-championship aspect and lose and potentially miss out of Saturday's game. He sent a message to all, directed at the media in attendance.
"I think you guys get stressed out sitting with your computers and phones," Narduzzi said. "I think you guys are a little tight right now. I think you're a little worried."
"Hey, you know, it's, like, this is a football game. That's all it is. We get to go out and have fun and get to coach and play the game you love."
Narduzzi leans on his captains and his leadership council to make sure all of the players have a similar thought. No matter the significance of the game.
"For example, last week I told the guys, I said, 'hey, you guys didn't listen to me in the Miami game about having composure and poise'," Narduzzi said Monday of an address to his leaders. "I said, 'it's on you guys'. I want you to stress it when you guys meet with them.
On Friday night I let our captains talk to our team. On Saturday before we leave the hotel I let our captains talk to the football team. It's on you.
Maybe they'll listen to you."
That means veteran players like Heisman hopeful Kenny Pickett, linebacker Cam Bright, defensive end Deslin Alexandre and special teams snapper Cal Adomitis.
"I rely on them a lot," Narduzzi said.
"Sometimes you know growing up you might not listen to your mom or dad, but then when someone else or your uncle told you, it's, like, 'Oh.' Who are you listening to?"
"The leaders are the guys in the room that sit in those chairs, and those captains are critical. Sometimes hearing it from a different voice. They're hearing from me, and I mentioned it too, but I thought our guys were exceptional as far as that goes because we thought there would be another game where they were going to talk a lot of stuff that we were going to have to have composure, and our guys did an outstanding job there."
So Narduzzi has the team relay messages, but there is something Narduzzi does not believe in. He does not believe in pressure.
"Pressure comes and stress comes when you are unprepared," Narduzzi said. "We'll be prepared. Our kids will be prepared. I think they're excited. It's another football game, and that's the only way I know how to look at it.
"I don't think they're stressed out at all. They get to go play football."
Asked again about this being a must-win game to win a division championship.
"That was the tenth straight one," Narduzzi said of must-wins. "There was ten of them."
They've won eight, one more against Virginia and they'll play for an ACC title.
Panthers pregame begins Saturday at 12:30p with kickoff at 3:30 on 93.7 The Fan.
