Punter
Andy Lee will be the latest former Panther to play in the Super Bowl when his
San Francisco 49ers face the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday. E.J. Borghetti
reflects on the impressive NFL career Lee has enjoyed since his Pitt days.
Discussions on Pitt's premier performers in the National Football
League typically focus on receiver Larry
Fitzgerald and cornerback Darrelle
Revis.
That's understandable. Fitzgerald, who played in his seventh Pro
Bowl this past weekend, is widely considered the game's elite pass catcher.
(Please, Arizona, find No. 11 a quarterback this year!)
Revis, when healthy, can stake a claim to being the best defensive
player in the NFL. He defines the term shutdown corner and will also smack you
in the chops on run support.
In short, both men will add to Pitt's Hall-of-Famer wing in Canton
someday.
But in the bright spotlight of Super Bowl week, another former
Panther should get his due as one of the NFL's very best - San Francisco punter
Andy Lee.
Saturday's
men's basketball game against No. 6 Syracuse is obviously a big game for the
Panthers. Join us as we Gold Out the Petersen Events Center for the noon
tipoff. Upon arrival to the arena, every fan will be handed a gold shirt.
Please plan accordingly in order to be able to wear the shirt and cheer on Pitt
to a victory over the Orange.
The
following letter is from the Oakland Zoo, the Nation's top student section, to
all fans that will be in attendance.
We
appreciate your participation and your support of Pitt basketball!
Hail to
Pitt!
Fellow Pitt Fans,
This Saturday, February 2nd, is another huge game on the Big East
slate. Pitt needs to assert its home court advantage, and we as fans have to do
our part to help. The game will be a Gold Out, and each fan in attendance will
receive a free gold shirt to wear. As a result, we hope each of you prepare
accordingly and are ready to don the gold.
The Zoo needs your help and we ask
each of you to join us in guiding the Panthers to the win and defending our
home court. Don't hesitate to join in on the cheers or get on your feet during
any part of the game. Look around and implore the other Pitt fans to join you,
because we need all of the help we can get. Wear the gold, be loud, stand up,
and cheer with us as we re-introduce Syracuse to the Oakland Zoo! This won't be
the normal Zoo, it will be one that fills the entire Petersen Events Center!
The Pitt wrestling team currently ranks 17th in
the country heading into the home stretch of its season. One of the main
reasons for the Panthers' success this season has been the performance of their
upper-weight wrestlers including senior Zac Thomusseit. Recently, the seventh-ranked heavyweight and three-time EWL Wrestler of the Week sat down with Pitt
Live Wire.
Can you talk about your season so far?
Thomusseit: "It's going well for my first year as a
heavyweight. I've had two losses. I didn't really want to lose two during the
season but I think that those are going to help me going down the line. I'm
still kind of upset about my loss at Oklahoma State. I think that's a guy that
I could see at Nationals, maybe in the quarters but the losses have given me
more motivation. I've started to watch more film, which I normally don't do and
have been starting to crack down on some little things that I learn from the
film. Like I said, the losses give me more motivation. I've got two more months
of this and then I'm done so I've just got to suck it up and train as hard as I
can."
How excited are you for Nationals?
Thomussiet: "I'm excited. I've been thinking about it
the whole year. I'm just trying to go out there and compete. I just want to
approach the National Tournament with the attitude that I've got to lay it all
on the line because I want to leave as an All-American. I can't be hesitant
there. I want to be an All-American so I've got to go out attacking and make it
my best tournament yet."
Talk about your leadership role on the team.
Thomusseit: "I'm more of a quiet person so coming
through the program I learned from the older guys to lead by example and that's
what I've wanted to do. I just want to show the younger guys to get it done in
Division I you have to lead by example with hard work."
You mentioned some of the older guys who
helped you when you were an underclassman. Can you talk about them?
Thomusseit: "Right before I came in, (current
assistant coach Matt) Kocher was here and he was an All-American. Keith Gavin
was the National Champ. I didn't get to wrestle with them but I came in on my
recruiting process and got to see them and the work they put in. Being around
those guys and guys like that really helps. Guys like Zach Sheaffer as a
heavyweight when I was a freshman and Tyler Nauman last year just sets the bar
to strive to be an All-American. I think they have that presence and are able
to teach you what they did, some of the little things that they did that helped
them get on the podium, and that can really help."
Probably the most soft-spoken of the Panthers, sophomore
Cora McManus is definitely not a quiet presence on the court. She has earned
the start in the past three games and made the most of the opportunity,
averaging seven points and six rebounds over that span.
Last season, McManus spent most of the season on the
sidelines due to an injury and season-ending surgery. The Seattle native -- who
began playing basketball in the sixth grade because her team needed more
players -- is ready to be more of a vocal leader in 2013 on and off the court.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of Jerome Lane's dunk against Providence on Jan. 25, 1988. Pitt Live Wire traveled to see Jerome and sat down with him to get his reflections 25 years later. Tell us about your memories of that night on Twitter. Use #SendItIn.
Take an in-depth look at Pitt rising senior defensive tackle Aaron Donald. "He's a guy that can absolutely play on Sundays. But we're glad we have him on Saturdays for one more year." -- Coach Chryst
The Pitt men's basketball team returns to action on Saturday
when they host league foe Connecticut at noon at the Petersen Events Center. The
Panthers are coming off another impressive road win at Villanova, 58-43. A few reminders for Saturday's events:
Saturday's contest will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and on the radio
at Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan.
Fans are reminded that you are able to pass along your
tickets to friends and family, sell them online or donate to a charity if you
are unable to attend through the Panthers' digital
ticketing system. The Panthers Ticket Office opens 2.5 hours prior to
tipoff for each game and will call and game day ticket sales (if available) are
located at the outside windows at the front of the building.
Gates to the Petersen Events Center arena will open 1.5
hours prior to tipoff and a free shuttle service begins operating three hours
prior to game time.
TheCampus View Clubopens90
minutes prior to tip-offduring
the regular season. For Big East Conference games with a tip-off of 6 p.m. or
later, the Club will open two hours prior to tip-off.For Big East Conference games with a
tip-off earlier than 6 p.m., the club will open 90 minutes prior.
Download the official Pitt Athletics app on your iPhone,
iPad or Android
for free, and follow along with the game on gametracker, check out rosters and
the upcoming schedule, or browse the numerous other features. Fans can also
access live audio and video with a paid, in-application upgrade.
For additional information on all men's basketball game day
reminders, visit Game
Day Central.
Stay after the men's game to see the women's squad take on
Marquette at 3 p.m., for their annual Girl
Scout Day. For tickets for the Girl Scout promotion, contact the Panthers
Ticket Office at 1-800-643-PITT (7488).
The game will be broadcast live on Pitt Panthers Television
on Comcast 188 or 210 and will be on the radio on WJAS 1320 AM. For additional
information on women's basketball gameday, visit Game
Day Central.
This week ESPN is celebrating home courts through social
media. This is your chance to tell @ESPNCBB what makes the Petersen Events
Center the best home court in the nation.
To take part, simply tweet @ESPNCBB and use #MyHomeCourt to
tell them why. You can post photos, videos or just short reasons as to what
makes the PEC so special.
You can also post to Facebook. Go to https://www.facebook.com/ESPNCollegeBasketball
and post your favorite memories or photos and videos. We have some fun and
exciting reasons, but we'd love to hear what you have to say!
Coming off its most impressive and exciting win of the
season, a 28-point victory at No. 19 Georgetown, the Pitt men's basketball team
is set to host Marquette on Saturday. Game time is set for noon at the Petersen
Events Center and will be broadcast live on ESPNU and on the radio at
Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan.
Those in attendance, however, will be present to celebrate a
special presentation to recognize Pitt's 2,000,000 fans at the Petersen Events
Center. Be sure to be in your seats at the half.
Fans are reminded that you are able to pass along your
tickets to friends and family, sell them online or donate to a charity if you
are unable to attend through the Panthers' digital
ticketing system. The Panthers Ticket Office opens 2.5 hours prior to
tipoff for each game and will call and game day ticket sales (if available) are
located at the outside windows at the front of the building.
Gates to the Petersen Events Center arena will open 1.5
hours prior to tipoff and a free shuttle service begins operating three hours
prior to game time.
TheCampus View Clubopens90
minutes prior to tip-offduring
the regular season. For Big East Conference games with a tip-off of 6 p.m. or
later, the Club will open two hours prior to tip-off.For Big East Conference games with a
tip-off earlier than 6 p.m., the club will open 90 minutes prior.
Download the official Pitt Athletics app on your iPhone,
iPad or Android
for free, and follow along with the game on gametracker, check out rosters and
the upcoming schedule, or browse the numerous other features. Fans can also
access live audio and video with a paid, in-application upgrade.
For additional information on all men's basketball game day
reminders, visit Game
Day Central.
Stick around in Oakland following the men's game and see the
women's basketball team host their Big East opener against Villanova at 6 p.m.
The Panthers are 9-5 overall and looking for their first conference win on
Saturday against the Wildcats. Villanova is 11-2 overall and 1-0 in conference
play. They will host Cincinnati Wednesday night prior to traveling to
Pittsburgh.
The game will be broadcast live on the Big East Network.
Check your local listings. For additional information on women's basketball
gameday, visit Game
Day Central.
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