Pitt: The Panthers may have found something in Yarnell. He showed poise, mobility and accuracy, things that were issues at times for Jurkovec and Veilleux. A stiffer test awaits next week at Duke and Pitt will likely see what's available in the portal, but Yarnell has thrust himself into the conversation for 2024.
And: “We run the ball at Pitt,” Dave Wannstedt once said, and the Pitt running back has been the soul of the team for decades: Tony Dorsett, Elliot Walker, Craig Heyward, Curvin Richards, Curtis Martin, James Connor, Izzy Abanikanda, those are just who are on the tip of my tongue. We had two last year, Izzy and Rodney Hammond, Jr. We still have Hammond but I don’t know why he hasn’t been used this year as the workhouse. Tonight he was and the “Panthers” had a decent—and balanced—big play O. Hammond ran for 145 yards on 15 carries in bursts of 40 and 66 yards. Hammond will be back next season.
We beat a decent BC (now 6-5) team tonight, not a Wofford cupcake, a legitimate, decent Power 5 team. Our only other win was the inexplicable 38-21 beatdown of then no. 14, now no. 10 Louisville, the “Cardinals” only loss this season. If memory serves that was Christian Veilleux’ first start for the “Panthers”. A new QB who the opponent has little to no film on gives his team a significant advantage over the opponent’s D and I think that is what happened in that startling Louisville win. What happened tonight with Yarnell may have been the same chimera that will vanish next week vs Duke. But in a season of offensive dysfunction Narduzzi “may have found something” tonight, in Yarnell and in the recalled-to-life Hammond.