Panthers in control in ACC Coastal
All of the sudden, the Pittsburgh Panthers find themselves in the thick of the ACC title race after last week’s 23-13 win over then-No. 23 Virginia.
With three ACC games left, including Saturday’s matchup against Virginia Tech (4-4, 3-2 ACC), the Panthers (5-4, 4-1 ACC) reside atop the ACC Coastal Division standings with an opportunity to take a stranglehold on the reins.
“The focus has got to be on the preparation we need to do to win this football game, period. Nothing else matters,” Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “Those standings mean absolutely nothing. They really don’t. What are we going to do, stare at those, Google those all day, look at them on Twitter. If that’s our focus, you got a problem.”
Pittsburgh has won three of its last four games, dating to Oct. 6, putting the Panthers in position to control its destiny to reach the ACC title game, where Clemson likely awaits (although Boston College will still have its say).
“Ultimately you play one game at a time,” Narduzzi said. “To me it comes down to the overall leadership of the program. What are we doing? We just got to keep moving on and focusing on what we can do to change things.”
Virginia Tech, which started the season with plenty of promise, is on a slide, having lost three of its last four games. That included a 31-21 loss to Boston College last week.
The Hokies have had problems stopping the run, which plays right into what the Panthers would like to do. Pitt has rushed for an average of 275.8 rushing yards per game in its five victories.
This will be Senior Day as Pitt plays its final home game. The Panthers finish at Wake Forest and Miami.
“Senior Day is always an emotional day for our kids, families, parents, aunts, uncles, high school player that may be walking a player out there on game day,” Narduzzi said.
“It’s an emotional game. Sometimes the emotions can get to you and be a negative as well. We got to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
