There’s been some bitterness spewing on the board lately about the kids coming home and playing for Pitt after each of them failed to make an impact on a bigger stage. That's understandable. However the kids, the local coaches, parents and others didn’t believe Pitt could win at a higher level. Winning the last two years has changed their opinion. Read their own words…
https://www.si.com/college/pittsbur...ers-different-pitt-panthers-after-two-seasons
McMillon: McMillon said he took notice after Pitt won the 2021 ACC Championship. He said that season was an exciting time to follow the Panthers and it made him hungry to deliver a similar moment to his home city.
“I think Duzz and the whole staff is really making something happen right now," McMillon said. "The 2021 ACC Championship, for example, that was an exciting thing to see and watch, not seeing an ACC Championship in a while. I’m excited to be a part of that and go get another one.”
“Having the experience of losing the past two years didn’t really sit well with me and I feel like Pitt is on the rise and they just keep going," McMillon said. "I think we have an opportunity to go win and go do those big things and win an ACC Championship.”
Davis: “I was able to see the build-up going on here and honestly, [head coach Pat] Narduzzi was able to turn this program around a lot in tremendous ways," Davis said. "So for me to be able to see that first-hand, I was like ‘Okay, Pitt has something’. Now they’re going to have something for real.”
Davis said he was able to see something different in this Pitt program while he watched from afar. After Pitt won 20 games over the past two seasons and ended both years ranked in the top 25, Davis sees the program in a much better light now than he did when he was recruited coming out of Gateway High School in the class of 2021.
Jurkovec: "There’s a lot of hardworking people and winners on this team," Jurkovec said. "They won a couple of years ago and this past year they had some success. Nine wins - that’s not where they want to be, but I really like that attitude. They’re not happy with nine wins even though they still had a lot of success a year ago.”
The reoccurring theme in their comments is winning. I’ve always said, winning cures everything. I said they needed to win with their 2, 3, and high 3-star players and the rest will take care of its self. They finally did it in 2021. Kids want to be associated with winners. It means more to them than lots of NIL money and atmosphere.
I’ve always hated the fact that locals went elsewhere and then wanted to come back, but the times have changed with the portal. We must put all that behind us and recruit kids that can keep the program winning regardless of circumstances.
https://www.si.com/college/pittsbur...ers-different-pitt-panthers-after-two-seasons
McMillon: McMillon said he took notice after Pitt won the 2021 ACC Championship. He said that season was an exciting time to follow the Panthers and it made him hungry to deliver a similar moment to his home city.
“I think Duzz and the whole staff is really making something happen right now," McMillon said. "The 2021 ACC Championship, for example, that was an exciting thing to see and watch, not seeing an ACC Championship in a while. I’m excited to be a part of that and go get another one.”
“Having the experience of losing the past two years didn’t really sit well with me and I feel like Pitt is on the rise and they just keep going," McMillon said. "I think we have an opportunity to go win and go do those big things and win an ACC Championship.”
Davis: “I was able to see the build-up going on here and honestly, [head coach Pat] Narduzzi was able to turn this program around a lot in tremendous ways," Davis said. "So for me to be able to see that first-hand, I was like ‘Okay, Pitt has something’. Now they’re going to have something for real.”
Davis said he was able to see something different in this Pitt program while he watched from afar. After Pitt won 20 games over the past two seasons and ended both years ranked in the top 25, Davis sees the program in a much better light now than he did when he was recruited coming out of Gateway High School in the class of 2021.
Jurkovec: "There’s a lot of hardworking people and winners on this team," Jurkovec said. "They won a couple of years ago and this past year they had some success. Nine wins - that’s not where they want to be, but I really like that attitude. They’re not happy with nine wins even though they still had a lot of success a year ago.”
The reoccurring theme in their comments is winning. I’ve always said, winning cures everything. I said they needed to win with their 2, 3, and high 3-star players and the rest will take care of its self. They finally did it in 2021. Kids want to be associated with winners. It means more to them than lots of NIL money and atmosphere.
I’ve always hated the fact that locals went elsewhere and then wanted to come back, but the times have changed with the portal. We must put all that behind us and recruit kids that can keep the program winning regardless of circumstances.