Pitt Football HC Pat Narduzzi No Fan Of New ACC Scheduling
PITTSBURGH -- The 2018 Pitt Panthers closed their season with three straight loses, one of which was a brutal, 42-10 beatdown at the hands of No. 2 Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. But a five game win streak in conference games, spanning from early October to mid November, propelled them to a Coastal Division title, an experience that Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said helped fuel the 2021 ACC Champion squad.
At ACC Media Days last week, Narduzzi reaffirmed his love for the Atlantic-Coastal dichotomy, which is in it's last season of existence. He claims winning one of those divisions, even if it results in a loss in Charlotte, can help a team lay a foundation for the next step.
'I'm still a proponent of the two divisions,' Narduzzi said. 'I love the two divisions. I think Pittsburgh has come to where we are today, winning the ACC Championship a year ago, but it was developed from our 2018 Coastal Division Championship. I think there has to be a starting point.'
He claims to have seen the same phenomena happen during his time as defensive coordinator at Michigan State and likened the division championships to the NFL's AFC and NFC Championships.
'You take little steps as you go, and I think it's a big deal to be a division champion,' Narduzzi said. 'I think just like AFC and NFC championships, those are big games. There are celebrations after that game. I think it's the same thing with the Coastal and Atlantic.'
But nevertheless, Narduzzi was happy that the new scheduling model will give Pitt three permanent opponents in close proximity and added that, while he'll play anyone, he will miss the divisions.
'Again, you give them to us, we'll play whoever you tell us to play, we'll play,' he said. 'We'll play one division. We'll play 12 divisions. I don't care what we play, but I truly believe there was some merit to keeping the divisions.'
Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and so much more!
Pitt Football HC Pat Narduzzi's Media Day Comments Par for Course
Pitt Football S Brandon Hill Makes Thorpe Award Watch List
Pitt F Guillermo Diaz-Graham Wins FIBA U20 Title
Pitt Football Adds Commitment from 2023 OL B.J. Williams
Pitt Football TE Gavin Bartholomew Named To Mackey Award Watchlist
Pitt Football HC Pat Narduzzi Calls For Stricter Anti-Tampering Rules
Pat Narduzzi, Pitt Football Hope to Summit a Higher Peak in 2022
Pitt Football Transfer Bub Means Earns Waiver, Will Play in 2022
College Gameday Visiting Pitt Football For Backyard Brawl
ACC Commissioner Calls for Congressional Help With NIL
- Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt
