Wannstedt, Pitt players appear today on ESPN
The Pitt Panthers have received plenty of offseason publicity because expectations are as high as they've been heading into a season for quite some time.That will continue today as Dave Wannstedt and All-American candidates Dion Lewis and Greg Romeus will be live at ESPN headquarters and appear on various shows all day.It will be an excellent chance for the trio to gain exposure for the program, and for Lewis and Romeus to climb further into the spotlight."This is one of the most anticipated seasons for the University of Pittsburgh in recent history," Pitt spokesman E.J. Borghetti said. "In addition to ...
Pitt arrives in Ireland to play international hoops
Pitt is getting ready to play the Irish, but it has nothing to do with Notre Dame.After months of preparation, passports and practice, the Pitt men's basketball team is getting an international flavor."I think a lot of us are excited," fifth-year senior Gilbert Brown said Thursday afternoon, a couple of hours before the team's departure to Dublin. "We're kind of jittery just thinking about going overseas for our first trip."The Panthers were scheduled to arrive in Ireland this morning for a six-game, 12-day trip.Pitt, which returns seven of its top eight scorers from a 25-9 team, will play high-caliber competition, ...
Pitt basketball ready for six Ireland games
Talk about hitting the ground running. Pitt's freshman basketball class won't have to worry about a baptism by fire when preseason practice in October rolls around.J.J. Moore and Cameron Wright have been experiencing firsthand what Division I practices look and feel like for more than a month now as the Panthers prepared for their foreign competition trip to Ireland.In a sport where participants always try to gain an edge, getting an early look at freshmen in June and July instead of October has been quite beneficial for coach Jamie Dixon.In previous years, Dixon and his peers would not have been ...
Cornerback Chestnut joins Pitt's class of 2011
Highly rated quarterback/defensive back Terrell Chestnut of Pottsgrove High School announced Thursday that he would join Pitt football's class of 2011.Chestnut had more than 30 scholarship offers, among them Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and Michigan. In his mind there was no contest."I've known for a while," Chestnut said of his decision to join the Panthers. "I just wanted to get it over with."Chestnut, ranked a four-star recruit by some scouting services, rushed for 995 yards, scored 19 touchdowns and led Pottsgrove to its first PIAA District 1 Class AAA title last season.He visited Pitt officially in June and the ...
More good recruiting news for Pitt
A day after reeling in highly touted running back Jameel Poteat , Pittsburgh landed another big-time commitment.
Terrell Chestnut , a three-star prospect from Pottstown, Penn., gave Dave Wannstedt the good news this afternoon. Chestnut is ranked as the No. 54 athlete in the 2010 class by ESPN's Scouts Inc. and was chased by Penn State, Rutgers, West Virginia and many others.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Chestnut plays quarterback and defensive back in high school and is projected as a cornerback or safety with the Panthers.
Pitt looks well on its way toward a top-notch recruiting ...
Woodall Scared of Leprechauns on Irish Trip
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Paterson, N.J., Travon Woodall has never traveled outside the United States. When he and his Pittsburgh teammates left Thursday for a 12-day, six-game, three-city tour of Ireland, he had one overriding fear. “I’m nervous because the thing I’m scared of the most is Leprechuans,” cracked Woodall, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound point guard who starred at St. Anthony under legendary coach Bob Hurley. If the Leprechauns don’t get him, the food might. “I have no clue what I’m going to eat,” Woodall said. “I’m ...
A Chestnut of Wisdom
Once again, Bryan at Pitt Script was all over a verbal commit. So be sure to check his stuff out. The kid from Pottsgrove picked Pitt.“I loved the campus, the city, and what the school has to offer education-wise,” the 6-foot, 180-pound senior said. “It’s a great fit for me.”On Wednesday, Pittsburgh received an oral commitment from Jameel Poteat, a running back from Harrisburg’s Bishop McDevitt. The 5-11, 195-pound speedster, rushed 269 times for 1,664 yards and 27 touchdowns last season.Chestnut, a four-year starter projected to be either a cornerback or safety in college, ...
Pitt lands recruit Chestnut
The University of Pittsburgh cashed in on another four-star football recruit when Terrell Chestnut verbally committed at a school press conference today.The dual threat quarterback and defensive back, is Pitt's second four-star recruit in the last two days and the fourth this summer.Running back Jameel Poteat, from Bishop McDevitt high school in Harrisburg, committed to Pitt on Wednesday, while receiver Bill Belton from Atco, N.J., and defensive tackle Marquise Wright from Paramus, N.J., committed this past June.Last season, Chestnut, rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and scored 19 touchdowns to lead Pottsgrove High School to its first PIAA District 1 Class ...
Prep star running back Terrell Chestnut verbally commits to Pitt
Terrell Chestnut, ranked sixth among the state's prep football players, today verbally committed to Pitt.The 5-11, 175-pound running back opted for the Panthers over several schools ? including Big East rivals West Virginia, Rutgers and Syracuse.Chestnut, who carries a 3.5 grade point average at Pottsgrove High School in Pottstown, has rushed for more than 2,000 combined yards the past two season. He rushed for 995 yards on 174 carries and scored 19 touchdowns.Chestnut, ranked 229th national and 26th at his position, was recruited by Brian Angelichio. Chestnut is the 12th recruit to commit to Pitt.
Big East lunchtime links
Pitt's Jabaal Sheard had his hearing postponed as his attorney works on a possible settlement .
Louisville cornerback Johnny Patrick pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and entered a diversionary program . No word yet on his playing status.
Charlie Strong and Kentucky's Joker Phillips are close friends who are starting a feel-good rivalry -- for now.
Running back recruit Jameel Poteat doesn't fear the shadow of Shady McCoy .
Syracuse's Bud Tribbey is doing good work on and off the field.
Could ...
Summer Classic Saturday at Fordham; Anderson Loaded With Offers; Young Leading NY All-Star Team to T
The July recruiting period will wind down with a one-day event known as the Summer Classic on Saturday at Fordham University. Among the featured teams expected are: New Heights, NJ Playaz, Long Island Lightning, Metro Hawks, Expressions, NY Panthers, Team NJABC and Juice All-Stars. Some of the top players on hand will be Maurice Harkless, Jermaine Sanders, Sidiki Johnson (Arizona), Myles Mack, Myles Davis, Desmond Hubert, Derrick Randall, Nkereuwem Okoro and Daniel Dingle. “We love traveling, but we also wanted to create ...
Football. Pitt Panthers to make all-day stop at the studios of ESPN
The Pitt Panthers will be making an all-day stop at the studios of ESPN -- the "World Wide Leader of Sports" -- in Bristol, Conn., this Friday, July 30.Coach Dave Wannstedt, senior defensive end Greg Romeus and sophomore tailback Dion Lewis will take part in the famous ESPN "Car Wash," where they will do interviews and make appearances on various ESPN shows throughout the day.Be sure to keep up with behind-the-scenes pictures and information all day long by following Pitt media relations staffers E.J. Borghetti and Mendy Nestor on Twitter (@PittBorghetti and @PittMendyNestor).This will be the latest national exposure for ...
Poteat on the Lines
Bloodlines, pipelines, whatever it is Jameel Poteat is ready to embrace the challenges of being a top recruit following others who came before.Numerous college coaches told Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg) standout Jameel Poteat that, if he chose Pitt, he always would play in the shadow of former McDevitt and Panthers star LeSean McCoy. They also told him he should come to their school to carve out his own legacy.Not only did such a sales pitch not work, it had the opposite effect on Poteat, who made a verbal commitment Wednesday to the Panthers in ...
Key stretch: South Florida
Here's the sixth installment of a series examining the most crucial stretches of the schedule for each Big East team.
Key stretch: at West Virginia (Oct. 14), at Cincinnati (Oct. 22), Rutgers (Nov. 3)
Breakdown: Skip Holtz can endear himself to South Florida fans right away by doing one thing: winning Big East games when the calendar flips to October. That was Jim Leavitt's obstacle the past couple of years, and the Bulls don't get an easy path this October.
After opening conference play at home with ...
An Unsurprising Postponement
I don’t think anyone really expected anything other than this for the initial preliminary hearing for Jabaal Sheard’s adventure in Barkleyism.A preliminary hearing for suspended Pitt defensive end Jabaal Sheard has been postponed to Aug. 4.Sheard’s attorney, William Difinderfer, asked for a postponement while he and the prosecutors attempt to negotiate a plea agreement, prosecutors said.By the time the plea agreement is reached, you can expect the felony charge (aggravated assault) to be reduced to some sort of misdemeanor level.Training camp opens August 7, so you know that Sheard’s attorney is pushing to get a resolution by the ...
Big East practice start dates
Football is just around the corner. How close? Here are the dates for when each Big East team reports for fall camp and when practice starts.
Cincinnati
Players report: Aug. 8
First practice: Aug. 9
Connecticut
Players report: Aug. 8
First practice: Aug. 9
Louisville
Players report: Aug. 4
First practice: Aug. 5
Pittsburgh
Players report: Aug. 5
First practice: Aug. 7
Rutgers
Players report: Aug. 5
First practice: Aug. 6
South ...
Hearing postponed for Pitt's Sheard
A preliminary hearing for suspended Pitt defensive end Jabaal Sheard has been postponed to Aug. 4 while prosecutors and his lawyer try to work out a settlement to have the case withdrawn.Sheard was arrested July 18 after Pittsburgh police broke up a fight between him and Edward Parker, 27, on a South Side street.Police said Sheard, 21, of Hollywood, Fla., remains free on bond, pending a hearing on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct in connection with the incident outside LaFond Galleries on East Carson Street.The university suspended Sheard indefinitely from the team, pending the ...
Pitt gets commitment from RB Poteat
Numerous college coaches told Bishop McDevitt High School (Harrisburg) standout Jameel Poteat that, if he chose Pitt, he always would play in the shadow of former McDevitt and Panthers star LeSean McCoy. They also told him he should come to their school to carve out his own legacy.Not only did such a sales pitch not work, it had the opposite effect on Poteat, who made a verbal commitment Wednesday to the Panthers in large part because he wants to carry on the Panthers' running-back tradition.Poteat, the cousin of former Pitt star and Steelers defensive back Hank Poteat, chose the Panthers ...
PG East: Woodland Hills senior adds to Pitt pipeline
When Woodland Hills standout Lafayette Pitts decided to pick a college, he said he chose the school of which he felt the most a part.After all, you can't spell Pitts without Pitt.A do-everything senior for the Wolverines, Pitts committed to Pitt in late June, selecting the hometown Panthers over six schools, including BCS contenders Iowa, Maryland and West Virginia. He became the Panthers' eighth recruit from the class of 2011 and first from the WPIAL.Pitts was long rumored to be likely continuing his career at the Oakland campus, the result of a bond that formed because of his relationship with ...
Ohio State's Heyward a mirror image of his father
What could a defender do when powerful running back Craig "Ironhead" Heyward -- who packed 250-325 pounds of muscle during his playing days at Pitt and in the NFL -- ran the football directly at him?"I would go straight-up with him, see how tough he really was, make him bring it," 6-foot-6, 287-pound defensive lineman Cameron Heyward of Ohio State said of his father, the late Ironhead.A wide smile crossed Cameron's face."That's my mentality; I'd take it head-on, see who had the stronger head. I mean, they called him Ironhead, but I'd make him bring it."Ironhead Heyward (who died in ...
MERNAGH: ORLANDO AAU NOTEBOOK
Leave a Comment Things are still going strong in Orlando as the 16-U AAU National Championships have their quarterfinal match-ups set for Thursday afternoon:BABC Sophs vs. Southern Kings GoldRising Stars Gold vs. Southern SelectAll-Ohio Red vs. Boo Williams 16’sArkansas Wings vs. TM Daniels Q6 ASAlso, bracket play in the 17-U classification gets underway as pool play is completing tonight. Ray Mernagh runs through some of the players that he has gotten a good look at in his first couple days in Orlando below…You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 ...
Big East Notebook: Huggins Released From Hospital; Calhoun High on St. John’s; UConn Charity Game
West Virginia coach Bob Huggins was released Wednesday from a Las Vegas hospital. “He’s resting, feeling better,” a source with knowledge said. Huggins had been hospitalized since breaking seven ribs in a fall in his hotel room on Friday while in Nevada on a recruiting trip. CALHOUN HIGH ON ST. JOHN’S UConn coach Jim Calhoun said he expects big things from St. John’s under first-year coach Steve Lavin. The Johnnies return nine seniors this season. “I have no ...