PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Coaches and players will say it’s a new year when asked about avenging a loss. Pitt isn’t mincing words, they want revenge against Western Michigan.
“I think the game speaks for itself,” said Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. “I really don’t need to say much.”
“No one likes to lose to anybody,” said Pitt safety Erick Hallett. “We are able to play them again and get revenge. There is added motivation for that.”
“Most definitely and based on the loss last week we have as much motivation as anything,” said Pitt offensive lineman Carter Warren.
“It’s not in the past,” said Pitt defensive lineman David Green. “I feel like Michael Jordan in the documentary. This is it (it’s personal).”
Green says he knows what this game means to have a ranked team visit a Mid-American Conference school. He vows they will be ready.
“I love that type of environment,” Green said. “I love when everyone boos us and we are the underdogs and everyone is against us. To shut everybody up is a beautiful feeling.”
What They Got
Gone are two of the biggest contributors from Western Michigan’s 44-41 upset of the Panthers last year. What are the Broncos looking like for this year?
WMU would go on to win seven other games in 2021 including the Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit, scoring 52 points against Nevada. The two leaders of that offense that averaged 32.5 points a game graduated—quarterback Kaleb Eleby (23-34, 337 yards and 3 touchdowns against Pitt) and receiver Skyy Moore, a second-round pick of the Chiefs. The Pittsburgh native caught 11 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown last September.
This year the quarterback is a Pittsburgher, 6’3”, 186-pound Norwin grad Jack Salopek who has a touchdown and a pick completing 58% of his passes for 423 yards in two games this season. He’s also rushed for 66 yards combined against Michigan State and Ball State. Salopek owns the Westmoreland County career record with 6,150 yards and 40 touchdowns.
With Moore gone, the team still has Corey Crooms. The 5’11” receiver had eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers last year in what was by far his best game. Crooms has 15 catches this year for 143 yards. Jehlani Galloway has eight for 113 yards and 6’3”, 230-pound tight end Blake Bosma with seven receptions for 41 yards.
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Sean Tyler still leads the Broncos ground game with 176 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Standing 5’8”, 185-pounds, Tyler rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown against Michigan State. He also returns kicks and had 84 yards with a rushing and receiving TD against Pitt. La’Darius Jefferson rushed for two touchdowns at Heinz Field last year and has three already on the season. Jefferson started his career at Michigan State and was Mr. Michigan football in high school.
Only two of the starting offensive linemen return and they have a true freshman kicker.
Ali Fayad had a pair of sacks and Jake Moertl with five tackles and a TFL against Pitt last year, but a number of their key defensive players return. LB Zaire Barnes starred against Pitt with 10 tackles, two for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries. LB Corvin Moment had a forced fumble and six tackles. Obama Academy grad Dorian Jackson returns after a pick last year along with former Panther safety Bricen Garner.
The WMU defense only has one sack this year allowing 35 points to the Spartans and 30 to Ball State.
Expectations aren’t high for Western Michigan even in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos picked to finish fourth in the MAC West behind Northern Illinois, Toledo and Central Michigan. They were picked ninth overall above only Eastern Michigan, Akron and Ball State.
Mixed results
Pitt has played precious few games at MAC schools, while the majority since the turn of the century were positive results. The two losses are memorable.
9-12-15 at Akron W, 24-7
10-20-12 at Buffalo W, 20-6
9-12-09 at Buffalo W, 54-27
9-17-05 at Ohio L, 16-10
9-20-03 at Toledo L, 35-31
9-9-00 at BG W, 34-16