Unfamiliar Territory
PITTSBURGH — The superficial touches are done. Every last symbol of Pittsburgh's time playing football in the Big East has vanished, as if the program hit control/alt/delete to erase two decades of only sporadic success.
The school's fresh start in the Atlantic Coast Conference has pumped life into every corner of the athletic department. Nowhere is it more evident than in the sport that triggered the biggest conference shakeup in major college sports history.
Yet Pitt football coach Paul Chryst understands it will take more than splashing “ACC” over every poster, media guide and jersey for the Panthers to feel at home in their new home.
Winning will help, something the Panthers didn't do quite enough of during 21 seasons in the Big East. Chryst's first year on the job may have been a microcosm of the school's Big East stay. The Panthers fell into an early hole, made a little noise but failed when they had a chance to get over the hump from competitive to compelling while finishing 6-7.
Here are five things to look for from Pitt this season.
1. IN A RUSH WITHOUT RUSHEL: The departure of senior running back Ray Graham appeared to swing the door wide open for the Rushel Shell Era to begin. Yet the all-time leading rusher in Pennsylvania high school history decided to transfer after just one season. He ended up at West Virginia, where he'll have to sit out a year before attempting to resurrect his career. Shell's abrupt about face leaves Pitt with more questions than answers in the backfield. Isaac Bennett and Malcolm Crockett — who combined for all of 191 yards rushing a year ago — will get the first chance to start.
2. JOURNEY'S END: Tom Savage appeared destined for stardom in 2009 after he threw for 2,211 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman at Rutgers in 2009. Now Savage is nearly three years removed from his last meaningful snap. He transferred to Arizona in 2011 and sat out the year only to find out he wanted to be closer to home. Savage sat out last season after coming to Pitt but barring injury will almost certainly have the starting job against Florida State. “Tom's got a good feel for the game,” Chryst said. “He's got a good command out in the huddle and he loves to compete.”
3. FINDING HIS GUYS: This is the first time since 2010 the Panthers begin a season with the same coach as the year before. Chryst has spent the last 12 months weeding through his locker room trying to see who “really likes to play football” at Pitt. That list apparently didn't include Shell or junior linebacker Todd Thomas, who left the team early in training camp. Chryst insists he is not sending a message but listen to his players and you'll get a different story. “He's making changes around the locker room and everyone has accepted it and no one is complaining,” Bennett said.
4. STREET STAYS: Senior wide receiver Devin Street contemplated leaving early for the NFL but instead returns as one of the top wideouts in the ACC. He caught 58 passes for 975 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.
5. DOMINANT DONALD: Senior defensive tackle Aaron Donald comes into his senior year with 16.5 sacks over the last two years. He begins his final season as an NFL-ready talent at the heart of a defense that will be tested by the speed of the ACC. Donald is the linchpin of a defense that finished near the top of the Big East in every major category.
Date Opponent TimeSept. 2 Florida St. 8 p.m.Sept. 14 New Mexico 12:30 p.m.Sept. 21 at Duke TBASept. 28 Virginia TBAOct. 12 at Virginia Tech TBAOct. 19 Old Dominion TBAOct. 26 at Navy 1 p.m.Nov. 2 at Georgia Tech TBANov. 9 Notre Dame TBANov. 16 North Carolina TBANov. 23 at Syracuse TBANov. 29 Miami TBA
