The lead-up to Saturday’s impending City Game showdown at Acrisure Stadium between Pitt and Duquesne has not been without fanfare or hype.
That excitement soon will reach a crescendo as the Dukes and Panthers wrapped fall camp and are turning to preparation for one another at noon Saturday.
But, ultimately, for Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, the historic element of his season-opener vs. the Dukes, combined with the mixing of two passionate collegiate fan bases in Pittsburgh, are a combination of bells, whistles and outside noise.
Narduzzi and his Panthers, eager to wash away the stain of last season’s collapse, have a football game to win, plain and simple.
So despite Saturday being the first game between Pitt and Duquesne since 1939, it’s business as usual for Narduzzi.
“They’re talented,” he said of Duquesne on Monday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. “It’ll be a battle in Pittsburgh Saturday at noon.”
Announced by both universities in early January, the game at Acrisure Stadium originally was floated publicly by former Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke in March 2023.
Lyke was fired by Pitt last September, departing Oakland long before her efforts (as well as those of Dukes athletic director Dave Harper) will culminate Saturday afternoon.
But Pitt’s change in athletic leadership didn’t impact what Narduzzi embraced as beneficial for both programs and universities.
“Our old athletic director asked, ‘Hey, would you be interested?’ I said, ‘They’re right down the road,’ ” Narduzzi said. “We can bring somebody from Youngstown, somebody from Rhode Island. Why not take care of somebody inside the state, let them have an opportunity to come play in their city, for their city? I think it’s a great game.’ ”
When the opening betting lines for Saturday’s game emerge, expect the ACC’s Panthers to be favorites by multiple touchdowns over Duquesne, which competes at the Football Championship Subdivision level within the Northeast Conference.
But that’s standard procedure anytime a Football Bowl Subdivision team squares off against one from another level of college football.
Narduzzi, for one, is expecting a fierce fight from Duquesne, led by 21st-year coach Jerry Schmitt.
On top of his respect for the Dukes’ talent, Narduzzi recognizes their roster is heavily composed of former WPIAL players who are eager to take a crack at the top program in town.
“They will play their best game, they will be cranked up that they get to go play in that stadium, whether they played there in high school for a WPIAL championship or this is their championship game,” Narduzzi said. “It’s their opportunity to go out, show who they are and, no doubt, prove some people wrong.”
Offensively, Narduzzi singled out Duquesne quarterback Tyler Riddell, a first-year player on the Bluff who transferred from Gardner-Webb after throwing for 2,573 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall.
Previously, Riddell spent five seasons at East Tennessee State.
Duquesne tailback Taj Butts, entering Year 3 with the Dukes, was also name-dropped by Narduzzi, as was receiver Joey Isabella.
Defensively, Narduzzi said Duquesne was akin to Pitt structurally, in significant part because of coordinator Mickey Jacobs’ history as a Panthers graduate assistant.
“I see them trying to do a lot of what they do,” Narduzzi said. “… They trust their guys to play coverages like we do. I’m sure they’ll play some man free, and we anticipate a lot of Cover 3, as well.”
Narduzzi said it won’t take long Saturday to learn whether his players decided to take Duquesne lightly.
But Narduzzi is stressing not to pay too much mind to the school name on the front of the opponent’s jersey but focus on getting the season started on the right note.
It’s a safe bet Schmitt is preaching a similar message to his players.
“Duquesne’s got a really good football team,” Narduzzi said. “Well-coached. Obviously, Pittsburgh tough with a bunch of Pittsburgh guys. Those guys will come into Acrisure Stadium cranked up and wanting to play their best game of the year, without a doubt. We expect that.
“I got a ton of respect for Jerry Schmitt. It’s good for them, good for us, a short trip for them, so we’re excited.”
