For Pitt, Bounce Back Games Come Best Served as Revenge
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PITTSBURGH -- The words "charged up" came out of Pitt Panthers head coach Pat Narduzzi a half dozen times during his final press conference before the Western Michigan game.
I’m charged up, so if they aren’t charged up, I’m charged," Narduzzi said. "They better be charged. … Everybody’s got to be charged. You come off a tough loss, whatever. You play good, but not good enough to win. I’m charged."
He's not alone.
Sometimes, when you ask players about past games - like Pitt losing to Western Michigan 44-41 last season - they blow it out. Not everyone is looking to live in the past, and with a season come and gone, and an ACC Championship under their belt, maybe the Panthers would've moved on.
They haven't. Which is much better.
"It’s not in the past," defensive end David Green said. "I feel like Michael Jordan in the documentary. This is it. Yeah, it definitely is [personal]."
Pitt walks into Kalamooz as 10-point favorites despite it being a home opener for the Broncos. They're coming off a loss to Tennessee in Week 2, and have uncertainty at who will start at quarterback due to injuries. With everything from this season built up, they're also thinking about the daunting loss of 2021.
"I expect it to be packed," safety Erick Hallett said. "I expect a good crowd, a really energetic crowd in Kalamazoo … so I’m expecting an exciting game."
It's not always best to live in the past. It's not always best to rely on revenge to add the juice for a game, especially when your emotions are already high from a loss the week before.
Some teams make mistakes when there's that much energy coming out of the locker room. Pitt has used it to concentrate, relax, and remember those championship goals they will not settle below.
"I love that type of environment where everybody boos us and we’re the underdog," Green said. "To shut everybody up, it’s a beautiful feeling."
Revenge isn't always the best formula for a bounce-back game. It most certainly feels like it is for this one, though.
"It’s like I’ve said earlier — do I have to say anything? I think the game speaks for itself," Narduzzi said.
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