Pitt remembers 2023 loss to Syracuse, gets chance Thursday night to erase sour memories

Perhaps no game from 2023 capsulizes the misery Pitt players and coaches felt better than the 28-13 loss to Syracuse on Nov. 11 at Yankee Stadium.

Not only did the defeat complete the second four-game losing streak of the season, but it dropped the Panthers to 2-8 for the first time since 1998.

Worse, tight end Dan Villari ran for 154 yards, taking direct snaps while functioning as a running quarterback, to help the Orange record victory against Pitt for the first time in six years.

Pitt defensive tackle Sean FitzSimmons was a reserve in that game, but, nearly a year later, he remembers the sting.

“For sure, it burned,” he said Friday. “Every loss burns, but we’re looking to get that game back. I have confidence in us. Thursday, we’re going to have a day.”

Thursday represents a chance to make things right for Pitt when the No. 20 Panthers take their undefeated (6-0, 2-0 ACC) team to prime time in a 7:30 p.m. rematch with Syracuse at Acrisure Stadium.

There’s only one problem, and coach Pat Narduzzi noticed it immediately.

“I feel like we’re playing Syracuse for the first time because it’s a brand new staff,” said Narduzzi of the 80th all-time meeting between the schools (Pitt leads, 43-33-3).

After eight seasons and a 2-6 record against Narduzzi, Syracuse fired Dino Babers eight days after the victory against Pitt. He’s now offensive coordinator at Arizona.

The first-year Orange coach is Fran Brown, a head coach for the first time after a two-year playing career with the Cincinnati Bengals as a defensive back. He also held assistant jobs at Rutgers (in his home state of New Jersey), Temple, Baylor and Georgia (where he won a national championship in 2022).

Syracuse (5-1, 2-1) is on the cusp of a national ranking, and a road victory against Pitt — in its third game in a row away from home — might do the trick. The Orange’s only loss was to Stanford at home 26-24, which also was the Cardinal’s lone victory against a power conference opponent.

“He’s done an unbelievable job in such a short time,” said Narduzzi, impressed by Brown’s coaching tree that includes Kirby Smart, Matt Rhule and Will Muschamp. “He’s been around some tremendous coaches at some of the highest levels of football.”

Like most teams, Syracuse’s success can be tied to transfers: 10 on defense, six on offense.

“(Defensive end) Fadil Diggs is phenomenal, the guy you better know where he is every snap, and they move him around,” Narduzzi said. Diggs, a transfer from Texas A&M, has four solo sacks.

Quarterback Kyle McCord, a transfer from Ohio State, is second in the ACC and in the nation with an average of 360 passing yards per game.

“If you’re not a Pitt fan, if you’re not a Syracuse fan, but you’re a quarterback fan, you should get your tickets now because that guy is going to play in the National Football League,” Narduzzi said.

The offensive coordinator is Jeff Nixon, a 27-year coaching veteran — college and NFL — who is a native of New Brighton and State College and played at West Virginia and Penn State.

“I think they’re elite,” Narduzzi said, marveling at how Brown has “transformed” the Syracuse program.

“Happy for Fran. It’s going to be a big battle between a 6-0 and a 5-1 football team Thursday night. So get your tickets.”

Both teams were off this weekend, which creates a level playing field and offers necessary rest and recovery before and after the game.

“I love a Thursday night game,” Narduzzi said, “where you have the week off the week before so you got a few extra days to prepare for a Syracuse team, and then you got a couple extra days to prepare on the back end for that next game. Not only prepare as a coach, but get your team a little healthy. Two days means a lot for our kids’ bodies. There’s a lot of contact.”