Pat Narduzzi short on injury updates for Pitt’s bowl game, but confident opt-outs will be minimized
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Pat Narduzzi was in a good mood Thursday when he met virtually with reporters in advance of the GameAbove Sports Bowl, where Pitt will conclude its season Dec. 26 against Toledo.
So good, as a matter of fact, that he made a bad joke when asked how quarterback Eli Holstein is feeling. Holstein missed Pitt’s last game of the regular season with a lower-leg injury after he dealt with two previous head injuries.
“He feels great. He usually feels with his 10 fingers,” the coach said, holding up his 10 fingers to the Zoom crowd.
OK. We get it. Narduzzi doesn’t like to talk about injuries. But he does like the bowl season.
He said he’s pleased to return to Detroit’s Ford Field, probably because he has good memories of another victory there. Pitt defeated Eastern Michigan in what was then called the Quick Lane Bowl in 2019.
“I’m old-school,” he said. “The bowls are still a lot of fun to me. I’ve never been to a bad bowl game. This game is no more or less (important) than the last game. Every win matters. We’re excited to get to Detroit and get this thing rolling.”
Narduzzi, like all coaches, appreciates the extra days of practice that bowl participation allows. But he’s also aware of how much rest his team needs after a string of injuries helped lead to the current five-game losing streak.
“Our kids need time off,” he said. “We will be fresh coming into that game. We will not overwork them. We won’t practice during final exams.”
He called this team “probably the most banged-up football team I’ve been around in my career.”
Asked about Holstein’s possible participation, Narduzzi said, “We’re hoping. I’m praying every morning when I’m driving in (to work).”
He’s also confident that Pitt won’t have many significant opt-outs such as what he had for the 2022 Sun Bowl when six defensive starters didn’t play before the Panthers defeated UCLA.
“I feel pretty good that we are going to have 90% of our seniors playing in this game,” he said. “I feel pretty confident that the majority, if not every one of them, will play in this bowl game.”
Among those likely out will be wide receiver Konata Mumpfield, Pitt’s leading pass catcher who has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, and backup quarterback Nate Yarnell, who is in the transfer portal. Wide receiver Daejon Reynolds is also in the portal.
Narduzzi said walk-on David Lynch will be the backup quarterback if Holstein is able to start.
“He’s a leader. He’s smart. He works at it,” Pitt’s coach said of Lynch. “We have a lot of faith in him, as well, to go out there and execute and give our guys a chance on offense and give our football team a chance to win a football game.”
Toledo coach Jason Candle, who said he’s also dealing with injuries, agrees with Narduzzi that bowl games matter.
“It’s a final opportunity for your seniors to be together,” he said. “You want to have a shining moment for your senior class. If this is handled the right way, it kind of sets the culture and tempo of your offseason.”