PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – ‘By Any Means’ is one of the traditional Pitt football slogans. What is happening this week seems more WWE than ACC as the Panthers prepare for Syracuse Thursday night.
The Pitt tight ends were given crowbars this week.
They could be useful, if not illegal, in a game. Folding chairs and brass knuckles were not a part gift package. It’s just another creative way that first-year Pitt tight ends coach Jacob Bronowski tries to get a message to his players.
Don’t be mistaken, they were actual crowbars. Senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew explained very plainly the reaction from the guys was ‘what the hell’ when they walked in Sunday and crowbars were on their desks.
As they sat down, Coach Bronowski, who earlier this season smashed a trash can over his head to fire the team up, explained with a little more advanced technology. He made a power point including synonyms for ‘crowbar’ for this purpose.
“To pry the D-ends open,” senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew explained. “We got a big responsibility this week. We got some big-time blocks that we got to make. That is our mindset this week.”
There was talk in the preseason of giving Bartholomew more opportunities. Last year he caught only 18 passes, but averaged 18.1 yards-per-reception. He had 28 receptions and four touchdowns as a freshman. It hasn’t quite come together yet in 2024 (17 receptions, 146 yards, no touchdowns), but he says he isn’t concerned.
“My mentality every play is dominate the play that I’m on,” Bartholomew said. “I’m never looking back or looking forward to what could have happened? What is going to happen? I always try to stay locked in on every play.”
“The ball is going to find me. I’m not worried about it. I never have been.”
It’s a huge year for him to show his potential for the NFL, but that’s not on his mind. He said you have to enjoy everything that you do. When things don’t go your way, you got to be happy. It’s about buying into the team and right now that means getting ready for the 5-1 Orange Thursday night.
“Anytime you get to play Thursday night, everyone is watching,” Bartholomew said. “The whole world is watching. That is our time to display who we are as a team and show our identity.”
They’ve displayed a high-scoring offense, 10th in the nation even with the struggles against Cal. They are ahead of schools like Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Oregon. Yet even being unbeaten and having the offensive punch, they rank 19th in the AP college football poll, behind a couple of teams with two losses.
“Our mindset is that should be higher,” Bartholomew said. “We are going to go out there on Thursday and prove it.”
Panthers pregame starts at 4:30 on Thursday before kickoff at 7:30 and the broadcast crew of Hall of Famer Bill Hillgrove, Pat Bostick, Dorin Dickerson and Larry Richert on 93.7 The Fan.