PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Their starting quarterback leaving with an undisclosed injury and the back-up hobbled late in the game, Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi offered no news as to the availability of either Kedon Slovis or Nick Patti for the game at Western Michigan Saturday night.
"Like I always say, I'm not talking personnel," Narduzzi said. "On Monday we all know what we know. I know nothing."
Patti was visibly limping around after plays late in the fourth quarter and overtime against Tennessee. However, Narduzzi said the injury appeared worse than it really is.
"It didn't look that bad from the videotape that I saw," Narduzzi said. "You guys made it look worse than it was. First of all, Nick is tough. Nick doesn't like to get hurt and he's going to say 'I'm good'. I don't see what you guys see just from watching the game tape."
"Maybe in-between snaps. I don't watch that. When he was out there he moved around well. We weren't moving the pocket or running nakeds with him. So, we didn't feel that good."
If neither can play, the Panthers are down to redshirt freshman Nate Yarnell (6'6", 215 pounds) or 6' Dartmouth graduate transfer Derek Kyler at quarterback.
"I would say it's still unsettled," Narduzzi said of their third-string quarterback. "Kyler has been good. Nate Yarnell has been good. Nate Yarnell, two out of the three team periods, Nate giving us a look (scout team) because he's done it before. He's played more ball than Kyler has, as far as playing ball (for Pitt). It's a toss-up for who the third quarterback would be."
Yarnell was a top 25 high school, pro-style quarterback from Austin, Texas. Kyler played in 30 career games (20 starts, going 18-2) playing in the Ivy League, winning the championship last year. In his career, he completed an Ivy League-record 69.3% of his passes for 4,409 yards, 42 touchdowns and six interceptions.
"He's smart, number one," Narduzzi said of Kyler. "We have trust we can operate the offense. We know he's had the experience in games. He's got one year of eligibility and he can operate. His touchdown to interceptions is crazy. He's a leader and a great kid."
Slovis injury mistake
"I'm a dumb-ass."
What Narduzzi said to Tribune-Review reporter Jerry DiPaola when he asked if he should have taken a knee instead of trying to throw a pass with Slovis from the Pitt 37 with 21 seconds to play in the first half.
"There's no doubt about it," Narduzzi said. "We didn't put a returner back (on the punt preceding the play). Even on that play if we throw it to Bub (Means) in the flat wide open. We just throw it there and take that, we are feeling pretty good right now."
Instead the Panthers may have a third-string quarterback who will either make a first college appearance or a first FBS appearance Saturday night on the road.
