Pitt Panthers Spring Prospectus
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2012 PITT SPRING FOOTBALL Pitt Panthers Spring Prospectus Table of Contents 2012 Schedule 2012 Schedule 1 Date Opponent Time 2011 Results 1 Sept. 1 Youngstown State 6 p.m. Spring Practice Coverage Policies 2 Sept. 6 (Thurs.) @Cincinnati* (ESPN) 8 p.m. Quick Facts 2 Sept. 15 Virginia Tech TBA Pitt Coaching & Support Staff Listing 2 Sept. 22 Gardner-Webb TBA 2012 Spring Practice Schedule 3 Oct. 5 (Fri.) @Syracuse* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Spring Positional Analysis 4-6 Oct. 13 Louisville* (Homecoming) TBA Personnel Breakdown 7 Oct. 20 @Buffalo TBA Final 2011 Pitt Two-Deep 8 Oct. 27 Temple* TBA Head Coach Paul Chryst 9-10 Nov. 3 @Notre Dame (NBC) 3:30 p.m. Assistant Coaches/Support Staff 11-24 Nov. 9 (Fri.) @Connecticut* (ESPN2) 8 p.m. Spring Rosters 25-26 Nov. 24 Rutgers* TBA Alphabetical 25 Dec. 1 @USF* (ABC, ESPN or ESPN2) TBA Numerical 26 Player Profiles 27-37 * Big East game 2012 Pitt Recruits 38-42 Due to television, TBA kickoff times will be announced at a later date. Recruits Listing 38 Biographies 39-42 2011 Results (6-7) Final 2011 Pitt Statistics 43-54 Date Opponent (TV) Result Team Statistics 43 Sept. 3 Buffalo (ESPN3.com) W, 35-16 Individual Statistics 44-47 Sept. 10 Maine (ESPN3.com) W, 35-29 Game-by-Game Results & Attendance 46 Sept. 17 at Iowa (ESPN2) L, 27-31 Team Statistics Game-by-Game 48 Sept. 24 Notre Dame (ABC) L, 12-15 Opponent Statistics Game-by-Game 49 Sept. 29 (Thurs.) USF* (ESPN) W, 44-17 Pitt Individual Game Highs 50 Oct. 8 at Rutgers* (ESPNU) L, 10-34 Pitt Team Game Highs 51 Oct. 15 Utah (ESPNU) L, 14-26 Opponent Individual Game Highs 52 Oct. 26 (Wed.) Connecticut* (ESPN) W, 35-20 Opponent Team Game Highs 53 Nov. 5 Cincinnati* (ESPNU) L, 23-26 Pitt Red Zone Statistics 54 Nov. 12 at Louisville* (Big East Network) W, 21-14 Opponent Red Zone Statistics 54 Nov. 25 (Fri.) at West Virginia* (ESPN) L, 20-21 Final 2011 Big East & NCAA Rankings 55 Dec. 3 Syracuse* (ESPN2) W, 33-20 2011 Honors and Awards 56 Jan. 7 vs. SMU# (ESPN) L, 6-28 2011 Game-by-Game Pitt Starting Lineups 57 2011 Game-by-Game Review 58-64 * Big East game # BBVA Compass Bowl 1 www.PittsburghPanthers.com www.PittsburghPanthers.com 2012 PITT SPRING FOOTBALL Spring Media Information Spring Practice Coverage Policies Pitt Coaching & Support Staff Spring Drills Itinerary: HEAD COACH: Pitt will hold spring drills from March 15 through April 14. Coach Paul Chryst, head coach Paul Chryst has scheduled 15 practice sessions. All workouts are open to the media for observation. Please note the following media ASSISTANT COACHES: Joe Rudolph, offensive coordinator & tight ends guidelines: Dave Huxtable, defensive coordinator Brooks Bollinger, quarterbacks Interview Coordination: Inoke Breckterfield, defensive line All coach and player interviews must be arranged through Pitt’s Bobby Engram, wide receivers football media relations contacts, E.J. Borghetti and Mendy Nestor. Chris Haering, linebackers There will be general media availability following each practice, in- Matt House, secondary cluding the following specific opportunities: Jim Hueber, offensive line Desmond Robinson, running backs Coach Paul Chryst Press Briefings: Coach Chryst will address the media at the conclusion of each work- FOOTBALL ADMINISTRATION: Chris LaSala, assistant athletic director/football operations out. Requests for lengthier one-on-one interviews should be made at Bob Junko, director of football relations & program enhancement least 24 hours in advance to E.J. Borghetti. Dann Kabala, player personnel director Player and Assistant Coach Interviews: GRADUATE ASSISTANTS: Players and assistant coaches are available for brief interviews (5 to Dave Bucar, offensive graduate assistant 10 minutes) following each practice. Lengthier interview requests Mike Buscemi, defensive graduate assistant should be made at least 24 hours in advance to the media relations Eric Wicks, quality control office. STRENGTH & CONDITIONING: Photography: Todd Rice, head strength and conditioning coach Craig Buckley, assistant strength and conditioning coach Video cameramen are not permitted to shoot 11-on-11 drills or for- Dantonio Burnett, assistant strength and conditioning coach mations. Please consult a media relations staff member if you have Shaun Snee, strength and conditioning graduate assistant any questions regarding video guidelines and what can be shot. All photographers (video and still) should shoot from the sidelines and TRAINING STAFF: refrain from stepping onto the practice field. Rob Blanc, head athletic trainer Tim Dunlavey, assistant athletic trainer Additional Guidelines: A.J. Coronado, graduate assistant trainer Live blogging and tweeting during practice is prohibited. Detailed reporting of practice scripts and personnel groupings is also not per- VIDEO: mitted. David Blaker, video coordinator Spencer Whipple, video assistant 2012 Pitt Quick Facts Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Starters Returning: 14 (8 offense, 4 defense, 2 specialists) Enrollment: 28,766 Starters Lost: 10 (3 offense, 7 defense, 0 specialists) Founded: 1787 Lettermen Returning: 53 (27 offense, 23 defense, 3 specialists) Conference: Big East Conference Lettermen Lost: 18 (4 offense, 12 defense, 2 specialists) Nickname: Panthers Offensive System: Pro Style Colors: Blue and Gold Defensive System: 4-3 Chancellor: Mark A. Nordenberg Football Office Phone: (412) 648-8700 Athletic Director: Steve Pederson Media Relations Phone: (412) 648-8240 2011 Overall Record: 6-7 Media Relations Fax: (412) 648-8248 2011 Big East Record (place): 4-3 (T-4th) Ticket Office: (800) 643-PITT Home Stadium: Heinz Field (65,050/grass) Web: www.PittsburghPanthers.com Press Box: (412) 697-7198 Pitt Football Twitter: @GoPittFootball Head Coach: Paul Chryst Sr. Assoc. AD/Media Relations: E.J. Borghetti (football contact) Alma Mater: Wisconsin (1988) Borghetti e-mail: [email protected] Record at Pitt: 0-0 (first season) Communications/New Media Director: Mendy Nestor (co-football contact) Overall Collegiate Record: 0-0 (first season) Nestor e-mail: [email protected] 2 www.PittsburghPanthers.com www.PittsburghPanthers.com 2012 PITT SPRING FOOTBALL 2012Spring PĎęę S PracticeĕėĎēČ DėĎđđĘ Schedule SĈčĊĉĚđĊ SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 March 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 PRACTICE #1 15 16 PRACTICE #2 17 Practice: Practice: 8:45-11 a.m. 9:45-Noon Interviews: Interviews: 11 a.m. Noon PRACTICE #3 18 19 PRACTICE #4 20 21 PRACTICE #5 22 23 PRACTICE #6 24 Practice: Practice: Practice: Practice: 9:45-Noon 8:45-11 a.m. 8:45-11 a.m. 9:45-Noon Interviews: Interviews: Interviews: Interviews: Noon 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon PRACTICE #7 25 26 PRACTICE #8 27 28 PRACTICE #9 29 30 PRACTICE #10 31 Practice: Practice: Practice: Coaches Clinic Practice: 9:45-Noon 8:45-11 a.m. 8:45-11 a.m. 9:45-Noon Interviews: Interviews: Interviews: Interviews: Noon 11 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY April 1 2 PRACTICE #11 3 4 PRACTICE #12 5 6 7 Practice: Practice: 8:45-11 a.m. 8:45-11 a.m. Interviews: Interviews: 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 8 9 PRACTICE #13 10 11 PRACTICE #14 12 13 PRACTICE #15 14 Practice: Practice: Spring Game 8:45-11 a.m. 8:45-11 a.m. Interviews: Interviews: Easter 11 a.m. 11 a.m. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 NFL Draft Day 1 NFL Draft Day 2 NFL Draft Day 3 29 30 Practice dates and times are subject to change. 3 www.PittsburghPanthers.com www.PittsburghPanthers.com 2012 PITT SPRING FOOTBALL Pitt Positional Outlook Paul Chryst will oversee his first set of spring drills as head Big East. football coach at the University of Pittsburgh beginning Graham will be limited during the spring as he continues March 15. his rehabilitation. Competing for tailback repetitions in his ab- As offensive coordinator at Wisconsin, Chryst established sence will be a pair of sophomore lettermen, Isaac Bennett and a reputation for building powerful and prolific units that pro- Corey Davis. Bennett pulled off his redshirt following Gra- duced Big Ten titles each of the past two seasons. Chryst and ham’s injury and rushed for 237 yards and two touchdowns on his staff will be looking to replicate that championship for- 58 carries (4.1 avg.) over the final five contests of the season. mula at Pittsburgh. The process will commence this spring in Davis had 48 yards on 17 carries, while also contributing as a the form of 15 practices, concluding on April 14. kick returner. Pitt returns 53 lettermen from last season’s 6-7 team. That Malcolm Crockett enters his first active season following a total includes 14 starters, including eight on offense, four on freshman redshirt. Additionally, senior Desmond Brown en- defense and two specialists. ters his second year as a walk-on and will vie for reps. The following is a position-by-position look at the Panthers At fullback, sophomore Mark Giubilato returns after letter- for 2012 spring drills. ing at that position last season. He will be pushed by senior Kris Wildman and sophomores Derrick Burns, Randy Morris OFFENSE and Adam Lazenga. Quarterbacks Tino Sunseri enters his senior season having started every game the past two years (26 games). As a junior, Sunseri com- pleted 64% of his passes (247 of 385) for 2,616 yards, while throwing 10 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. For his ca- reer, Sunseri has passed for 5,302 yards (sixth all-time at Pitt) with 28 TDs against 20 INTs. Competition will come from a pair of sophomore lettermen, Trey Anderson and Mark Myers. Anderson was the primary backup to Sunseri for most of last season. In four appearances, he completed 12-of-33 passes for 55 yards and threw three in- terceptions.