Here's what Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said about facing Tennessee on Saturday ..
– He said his team has had an extra two days to prepare for Tennessee. Said it was "exciting" to have the Vols coming to Pittsburgh because it'll mark the first time a school from the SEC has played at Acrisure Stadium.
– On Tennessee: "We know we're going to get their best shot. They're talented, they're athletic, they're a SEC football team that's going to look the part when they walk into the stadium on Saturday. Coach Heupel does a great job. He's a football coach. Offensively, there's not a more explosive offense, there's not a faster tempo offense in the country. They're going to snap the ball between seven and 12 seconds, 75 percent of the time."
– He joked that Pitt has played against Hendon Hooker "for the past 12 years" from the quarterback's time at both Virginia Tech and Tennessee. He said Hooker has "lots of weapons, with speed everywhere on the field."
– On the matchup: "Really good football team coming in here. They knocked the heck out of Ball State early last week. I think Hooker was out after 61 plays, so they didn't play a whole bunch."
– He said the two extra days of preparation will certainly help Pitt. The Panthers gave the team Saturday off and then went back to work Sunday. However, from an emotional standpoint, he doesn't think it'll make any difference for his team.
– On Hooker and Joe Milton: "Well, we played them both last year. I mean, they're both really good. Joe started the game off, and he's got a cannon of an arm. He's athletic, and he played well when he got in against Ball State. Then, Hooker came in. I think we turned Milton over a few times. They're both good quarterbacks."
– He said Tennessee's team starts with the offense. Noted that the Vols "do certain things and will take advantage of you." Knows that they're going to spread Pitt out and have it in man coverage – "even if you don't want to be in man coverage."
– He said that Pitt has looked at last year's film from the Tennessee game and has been planning for this game all offseason (along with every other opponent the Panthers play). "We've dissected that – know what we did well, know what we did bad."
– He said his team has had an extra two days to prepare for Tennessee. Said it was "exciting" to have the Vols coming to Pittsburgh because it'll mark the first time a school from the SEC has played at Acrisure Stadium.
– On Tennessee: "We know we're going to get their best shot. They're talented, they're athletic, they're a SEC football team that's going to look the part when they walk into the stadium on Saturday. Coach Heupel does a great job. He's a football coach. Offensively, there's not a more explosive offense, there's not a faster tempo offense in the country. They're going to snap the ball between seven and 12 seconds, 75 percent of the time."
– He joked that Pitt has played against Hendon Hooker "for the past 12 years" from the quarterback's time at both Virginia Tech and Tennessee. He said Hooker has "lots of weapons, with speed everywhere on the field."
– On the matchup: "Really good football team coming in here. They knocked the heck out of Ball State early last week. I think Hooker was out after 61 plays, so they didn't play a whole bunch."
– He said the two extra days of preparation will certainly help Pitt. The Panthers gave the team Saturday off and then went back to work Sunday. However, from an emotional standpoint, he doesn't think it'll make any difference for his team.
– On Hooker and Joe Milton: "Well, we played them both last year. I mean, they're both really good. Joe started the game off, and he's got a cannon of an arm. He's athletic, and he played well when he got in against Ball State. Then, Hooker came in. I think we turned Milton over a few times. They're both good quarterbacks."
– He said Tennessee's team starts with the offense. Noted that the Vols "do certain things and will take advantage of you." Knows that they're going to spread Pitt out and have it in man coverage – "even if you don't want to be in man coverage."
– He said that Pitt has looked at last year's film from the Tennessee game and has been planning for this game all offseason (along with every other opponent the Panthers play). "We've dissected that – know what we did well, know what we did bad."
