FOOTBALL OPENS 2016 SEASON AGAINST VILLANOVA AT HEINZ FIELD
The Panthers kick off their 127th all-time football season.
EMAIL- Pitt Game Notes (vs. Villanova)
GAME STORYLINES
- Pitt opens its 127th season of intercollegiate football when the Panthers host Villanova at Heinz Field. Under the direction of second-year head coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers are looking to build off last season's 8-5 record and runner-up finish in the ACC's Coastal Division.
- Villanova is led by Coach Andy Talley, who enters his 32nd season at the school. Talley, who led the Wildcats to the 2009 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national title, has announced he will be retiring following the 2016 campaign.
- The Villanova game marks the highly anticipated return of Pitt tailback James Conner, a 2014 first team All-American who missed virtually all of last season due to a knee injury.
- Conner's journey back to the field has been nothing short of heroic. Three months after his knee injury, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Declared cancer free in May, Conner was full-go during training camp and will take the field in the opener as a team captain.
- Conner and the Pitt offense will be spearheaded by four returning starters up front, including All-ACC performers in tackle Adam Bisnowaty and guard Dorian Johnson.
- The Panthers' offensive front has produced a 1,000-yard rusher each of the past two seasons. Conner rushed for 1,765 yards in 2014 and Qadree Ollison had 1,121 yards last season.
- Defensively, Pitt returns one of the nation's most disruptive linemen in end Ejuan Price. He was named All-ACC last year after compiling 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks. Price led the ACC and ranked eighth nationally in sacks per game (0.88 avg.).
- Pitt and Villanova have played just twice before. The most recent meeting occurred in the 1998 season opener, won by the Panthers, 48-41. The inaugural game was a 12-0 Pitt win in 1911.
- Pitt is 81-43-2 (.651) all-time in openers. Since the 2000 season, Pitt is 11-5 (.688) in its initial game.
SERIES NOTES
Although both schools reside in the state of Pennsylvania, this will be only the third all-time meeting between Pitt and Villanova on the football field...the Panthers are 2-0 against the Wildcats...the last meeting occurred at Pitt Stadium on Sept. 5, 1998, the season opener for both teams...Pitt outlasted the Wildcats, 48-41, despite 428 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns by Villanova's Brian Westbrook...the inaugural meeting took place in 1911, a 12-0 Pitt win...under Coach Andy Talley's direction, Villanova ranks as one of the most accomplished programs at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, advancing to the NCAA playoffs 11 times and winning the 2009 national title...Pitt is 13-1 all-time vs. FCS foes.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1911
Series Overall: Pitt leads 2-0
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 2-0
At Villanova: DNA
Last Meeting: Sept. 5, 1998 (Pitt 48, Villanova 41)
Current Series Win Streak: Pitt has won 2
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (1911, 1998)
Longest Villanova Series Win Streak: DNA
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 12 points (12-0, 1911)
Largest Villanova Victory Margin: DNA
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • ACC Network Extra
Dave Weekley, play-by-play
John Gregory, analyst
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove, play-by-play
Bill Osborn, analyst
Larry Richert, reporter
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 106, XM Channel 94, Internet Channel 956
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com via CSLive
Pitt Gameday LIVE App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)
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