Pat Narduzzi prefers structure and routine, but the Pitt head football coach has faced daily challenges with those lifestyle choices because of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Monday, the ACC opted to indefinitely postpone its virtual media days, which were scheduled from July 21-23. No makeup dates have been announced. Plus, the Patriot League canceled fall sports and said a decision about winter sports would be made at a later date.
The Atlantic Coast Conference has postponed its virtual ACC Football Kickoff media event until further notice.
The event was originally scheduled to be held July 21-23, 2020. https://t.co/A95JjnKEDe
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) July 13, 2020
It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks, and, when it comes to its fall sports season, the ACC is taking a wait-and-see approach, hoping it can make a decision in late July.
As talk of new schedules circulate and uncertainty clouds the picture, Narduzzi can do only one thing with his team: prepare as usual, or at least prepare as if the season is going to start as planned.
"Usually you have structure coming up until Sept. 1, so it does bother me that our kids don't know," Narduzzi said Monday during a segment on the ACC Network's "Packer and Durham."
"You sit there and think about what I'm thinking, what do you think our kids are doing when they see what the Big Ten did last week? They're kind of going, 'What is going on here? We're supposed to open up with Miami of Ohio, is that going really happen?' I don't know. If I knew I would tell our kids, but, you know, there is some, you know, anxiousness I guess that, as a coach, you want things organized. You want to have a plan. I mean camp is supposed to open up Aug. 6. Is it really opening up Aug. 6, or are we going to have to wait a little longer?"
Will the season be delayed or shortened? These are questions in need of an answer.
Narduzzi can't provide them to his players, but he feels the team is ready for any changes that might occur.
"As a football coach, that is kind of what we do. It's called sudden change," Narduzzi said. "You know, you didn't expect the offense to turn the ball over, but now the defense gotta go out and play."
Another variable thrown at Narduzzi and the Pitt staff is dealing with the spike of positive coronavirus test results in Allegheny County.
After a two-week quarantine in mid-June, the strength and conditioning staff began holding workout sessions with up to 10 players. Initially, Pitt planned to move to 50 players in a workout session, but after the spike in cases, the team must stick with a state-mandated maximum of 25.
"We're working this week and next week in groups of 25," Narduzzi said. "Then we'll find out what the next, you know, the next direction is."
Narduzzi also was asked about the direction of his football team and, not surprisingly, he likes where things are headed. Pitt finished 8-5 last season and returns multiple starters in all three phases.
As for the defense, which features three players named to the Bednarik Award watch list -- given to the defensive player of the year -- in defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, defensive end Patrick Jones II and safety Paris Ford, Narduzzi said he only has once concern.
"That their heads don't get so big that they think they're just going to line up and be there," Narduzzi said. "You're only as good as the last snap you took, and, you know, we've got a ton of talent. They've got to play together as a football team. It ain't about the one individual guy that's in the back end or the linebacker that nobody's talking about."
Narduzzi believes his linebackers -- Cam Bright, Phil Campbell III and Chase Pine -- are an overlooked group. He said the same about defensive end Rashad Weaver, who missed last season with a knee injury.
But he also took time to talk up the offense.
"You got Jimmy Morrissey at center, snapping the ball every down to Kenny Pickett. I think it starts there. The two people who touch the ball every darn snap of the season are going to be those two guys," Narduzzi said. "Kenny Pickett is an underrated guy. Threw for 3,000 yards last year. In my opinion, that guy's going to play a long time in the NFL. I've seen some good quarterbacks where I've been in the last 10, 15 years, and that guy's as good as any that I've coached."
Coach Pat Narduzzi caught up with @MarkPacker and @WesDurham this morning on the @ACCNetwork ?#H2P pic.twitter.com/b7iBeCApp7
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) July 13, 2020
