(Don’t forget to read the preceding article posted this morning also)
Oct. 12, 2015
PITT vs. GEORGIA TECH
October 17, 2015 • 12:30 p.m., ET
Bobby Dodd Stadium (55,000/Natural Grass) • Atlanta, Ga.
ACC Network • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
PittsburghPanthers.com • @GoPittFootball • #PITTvsGT
LINK: Where to Watch Pitt-GT
LINK (PDF): Pitt Game Notes (GT) (Pages 1-3 are handy for watching the game)
GAME STORYLINES
* Owning a 4-1 overall record and 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference mark, Pitt hits the road for the fourth time in six games when it visits Georgia Tech. The Panthers are tied for first in the Coastal Division with Duke.
* Pitt is eyeing its first 5-1 start since 2009. The Panthers have not won their opening three league games since 2010 when they were in the Big East. Pitt is 2-0 in the ACC for the first time.
* Although the Yellow Jackets are 2-4, their losses are to teams with a combined 19-3 record. Georgia Tech lost at No. 6 Clemson, 43-24, last week. The Panthers are 0-2 against Georgia Tech since joining the ACC in 2013.
* It will be strength against strength when Pitt’s nationally ranked defense faces the Yellow Jackets’ prolific rushing attack. Pitt ranks sixth nationally in rushing defense, yielding just 84.8 yards per game. Georgia Tech is producing 271.7 yards on the ground to lead the ACC and rank ninth nationally.
* The Panthers lead the country in quarterback sacks with an average of 4.20 per contest. Pitt has collected 21 sacks in five games, already two more than it had in 13 games last season (19 sacks for an average of 1.46 per game).
* Pitt ranks seventh nationally in total defense, giving up just 264.6 yards per game. The Panthers surrendered an average of 359.8 yards last year.
* On the other side of the ball, Pitt features a viable All-America and ACC Offensive Player of the Year candidate in receiver Tyler Boyd. The junior leads the ACC in receptions (8.25 avg.) and is second in receiving yards (82.0 avg.). Boyd is the nation’s active career leader with 6.53 catches per contest.
* Tyler Boyd needs seven receptions to become the most prolific pass catcher in Pitt history. Boyd has 196 career receptions, second only toDevin Street, who had 202 for the Panthers from 2010-13.
SERIES NOTES
This is the 10th meeting between Pitt and Georgia Tech in a series that began in 1918…Pitt leads the overall series, 5-4, but has lost each of the past two games…the Panthers are 3-1 in games played in Pittsburgh and 2-1 at Georgia Tech…Pitt and Georgia Tech have twice met in bowl games with the Yellow Jackets winning each time…Georgia Tech defeated the Panthers in the Jan. 2, 1956 Sugar Bowl (7-0) and the Dec. 29, 1956 Gator Bowl (21-14)…the 2015 game marks the third Atlantic Coast Conference encounter between the two schools…in Pitt’s inaugural ACC campaign in 2013, the host Yellow Jackets defeated the Panthers, 21-10…in 2014, Georgia Tech won at Heinz Field, 56-28…
last year’s game marked the Yellow Jackets’ first visit to Pittsburgh since 1920…in fact, the initial three games of the Pitt-Georgia Tech series from 1918-20 were all played in Pittsburgh…led by legendary coach Glenn “Pop” Warner, Pitt won each of those three contests by an aggregate score of 58-9…before the 2013 revival of the series, the two schools had not played since a pair of games at Georgia Tech in the 1970s…in 1976, Tony Dorsett scored three touchdowns as Pitt routed the host Yellow Jackets, 42-14…under the direction of Coach John Majors, Pitt would go 12-0 in 1976 and claim the national championship, while Dorsett would win the Heisman Trophy…the Panthers also defeated Georgia Tech, 27-17, during the 1974 season.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1918
Series Overall: Pitt leads 5-4
ACC Series: Georgia Tech leads 2-0
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 3-1
At Georgia Tech: Pitt leads 2-1
At Neutral Sites: Georgia Tech leads 2-0 (two bowl games)
Last Meeting: Oct. 25, 2014 (Georgia Tech 56, Pitt 28)
Last Meeting at Georgia Tech: Nov. 2, 2013 (Georgia Tech 21, Pitt 10)
Current Series Streak: Georgia Tech has won 2 (2013-14)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 3 games (1918-20)
Longest Georgia Tech Series Win Streak: 2 games (twice, most recent: 2013-14)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 32 points (32-0, 1918)
Largest Georgia Tech Victory Margin: 28 points (56-28, 2014)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ACC Network (WTAE, Channel 4, in Pittsburgh)
Tim Brant, play-by-play
Dave Archer, analyst
Roddy Jones, reporter
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Pat Bostick, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 119, XM Channel 202
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive
Pitt Gameday LIVE App iOS Android TuneIn
LETS GO PITT!!!
Right about the offense, going to need lots of points and some sustained drives.
Scoring too quick will tire out our D.
GT will not miss on the long throws to the open receivers.
I don’t see Pitt having the offense to keep up unless Chaney and NP have a real break through game.
I suck at predictions so I hope I am wrong.
GT wins, 33-27
One thing we all should take into consideration is that Narduzzi had, and still has, closed all the practices, except a small 15-25 min pre-practice ‘viewing window’ to the media and is pretty strictly limiting what info flow comes out of the staff and the players.
As far back as I can remember Pitt HCs hadn’t done that so it was a lot easier then to write about actual football issues than it is now. Pitt’s media department is a very good one and puts out a ton of stuff so that is almost the only thing the writers have to use as subjects between games.
What then happens with closed practices is that writers get some info tidbits from close sources and have to write about those specific issues in a more ‘speculative’ manner because they can’t really let the world know how they got the info.
It isn’t cloak and dagger or anything, just that some people at Pitt and close to, or in, the program will discuss things in more depth than others… especially in the spring and fall camps. During the season thing close down to almost a dribble or are strictly controlled as the video above is. Either way nothing earth shaking happens in the fall that the media dept isn’t all over before anyone else gets a chance to make it public. Sometimes arrests and other bad behavior but News outlets won’t write about that until the Pitt people do… that is when bloggers and readers provide the most timely news.
I like Werner’s work. I really liked Paul Ziese’s stuff and thought it was ridiculous for the P-G to decide that because his son was on the roster he couldn’t be objective. Especially since none of the sportswriter ever get very critical of individual players.
If someone is a good professional in his business then let him keep doing it.
Kirk Herbstreit is excellent, actually goes out of his way to play fair with Ohio State and the Big Ten when he is national.
So much so, that he has received so much flak from Ohio State faithful, that he was contemplating moving because his kids were getting harassed at school because their Dad wasn’t a “real” Buckeye.
Don’t know if he ever did move, but it was getting pretty serious a few years back.
Zeise is excellent, enjoy listening to him, should not have been an issue with him.
–I cringe at the thought of those GT receivers being wide open down the field. Really though, I think it’s kind of understandable when you spend so much effort trying to stop the option – then it’s really tough to also stick like glue to somebody who, instead of blocking you, all of a sudden takes off past you downfield…
I wish Paul Johnson would get a job in a different conference…
Go Pitt.
Paris Ford1? ?@DiddyBop1_ 2m2 minutes ago
Blessed To Say I’ve Committed To The University Of Pitt?!!!!! #MyCityMyTeam #412Crew? #BeyondBlessed??
I forget which team ripped off a long run against Pitt. Four defenders were chasing the opposing RB down and Pitts passed them all to catch the guy. So the speed is there.
He just doesn’t get his head around for the ball and when he does he has no ball skills.
I hope he plays lights out the rest of the year.
I’m not so sure that he is now where he would prefer to be …. Pitt BB beat writer; he was a basketball player in college.
Worried about GTech O line handling our under wt D line.
A very close game and unless Peterman plays his best game… A Pitt loss!
HTP
Pitt 31
GT 19
Take a look – these are really informative:
“I’m trying to bring everyone here with me,” he said. “I’m working on everyone. Every top guy. We want to bring a national championship home.”
Yea baby!
This team is in a Clusterphuck storm right now. Injuries at key positions, a four game losing streak, and a lack of both on field leadership and confidence to get the job done on both sides of the ball. A perfect situation for Pitt to pull a SOP on the road.
The only thing GT has going for them is that they’re playing at home. Not enough. This Pitt team wants it too bad and is in the process of burying SOP BS.
BTW, Pitt has beaten GT already last night, in volleyball! Good omen. Paris Ford’s commitment more positive energy! Pitt wins today!
As Coach Duzz commands his charges to chant before game time, WE WILL WIN, WE WILL WIN, WE WILL WIN.
And I believe WE WILL WIN! H2P!
I’m not expecting a major shootout but the offense has to do its share … and no turnovers (or at least win the turnover battle.)