Pitt Coach Narduzzi Blasts Voters After Undefeated Win
Pat Narduzzi, head coach of the University of Pittsburgh's football team, expressed frustration with AP Top 25 voters following his team's 5-0 start.
University of Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi has called on college football voters to "wake their ass up" after his team's dramatic 35-33 road victory over previously unbeaten Virginia Tech propelled the Panthers to a 5-0 record. The win, secured Friday night in Blacksburg, Virginia, left Pitt as one of the nation's remaining undefeated teams, yet the Panthers were still receiving minimal recognition in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
Pitt entered the game with just 52 points in the latest poll, while Virginia Tech, despite its 4-1 record, had garnered 86 points. Narduzzi voiced his displeasure during his postgame interview, stating, "We got a hell of a football team. Any of those voters, if they wake their ass up, they might figure it out."
The Panthers secured their victory in a hard-fought contest, overcoming an early 14-0 deficit. Pitt managed to cut the Hokies' lead to 24-21 by halftime and took its first lead early in the third quarter. They extended their advantage to 35-24 before Virginia Tech responded with a safety and a late touchdown, narrowing the gap to 35-33.
The game's outcome hinged on a controversial field goal attempt by Virginia Tech's John Love in the final seconds. The kick was ultimately ruled wide left, though Narduzzi's team survived despite being outgained 499 to 295 yards, aided by forcing four Virginia Tech turnovers.
"To be honest with you, from my angle, I don’t know," Virginia Tech coach James Franklin told reporters regarding the final field goal. "I think John Love is the best kicker in the country. I had so much confidence that that thing was going to go through. From my angle, I couldn’t tell you one way or another. … [At] the end of the day, they said it didn’t go through so everything else, doesn’t really matter a whole lot."
This 5-0 start marks Pitt's best since 1991. The Panthers' previous wins this season include victories over UCF and Syracuse, along with high-scoring offensive performances against Miami (Ohio) and Bucknell.