2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

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2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pitt Panthers wordmark.svg
BBVA Compass Bowl, L 6–28 vs. SMU
ConferenceBig East Conference
2011 record6–7 (4–3 Big East)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorCalvin Magee (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinatorMike Norvell (1st season)
Offensive schemeMultiple no huddle[1]
Defensive coordinatorKeith Patterson (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorPaul Randolph (1st season)
Base defense3-3-5 defense[1]
Home stadiumHeinz Field
(Capacity: 65,050)
Seasons
← 2010
2012 →
2011 Big East Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 17 West Virginia $+   5 – 2     10 – 3  
No. 25 Cincinnati +   5 – 2     10 – 3  
Louisville +   5 – 2     7 – 6  
Rutgers   4 – 3     9 – 4  
Pittsburgh   4 – 3     6 – 7  
Connecticut   3 – 4     5 – 7  
South Florida   1 – 6     5 – 7  
Syracuse   1 – 6     5 – 7  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
  • + – Conference co-champions
As of January 11, 2012; Rankings from AP Poll

The 2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led through the regular season by first-year head coach Todd Graham and played eight home games at Heinz Field. Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson was named interim coach for the season-ending bowl game after Graham resigned in favor of a head coaching position at Arizona State.

Previous season[]

In 2010, the Panthers finished 8–5 overall and 5–2 in the Big East to win a share of the Big East Championship with Connecticut and West Virginia and won the BBVA Compass Bowl against the Kentucky Wildcats. After the December 5 game against Cincinnati, head coach Dave Wannstedt resigned under pressure.[2] On December 16, the University of Pittsburgh hired then Miami (Ohio) head coach Michael Haywood.[3] Just 16 days later, on January 1, Haywood was fired by Pittsburgh after being charged with felony domestic violence.[4] On January 10, Pitt hired Tulsa head coach Todd Graham.[5]

Spring game[]

Pitt concluded its spring practices under new coach Todd Graham and showcased its new offensive and defensive schemes to the public for the first time in its annual Blue-Gold game on April 16, 2011 at Heinz Field. Despite cold and rainy weather, the offense completed 81 passes and threw for 498 yards. The Blue team, which was composed of first-team players, ran 100 plays in two hours en route to a 48–13 victory over the Gold team which was composed of reserve players.[6] The opening kickoff was returned 87 yard for a touchdown by defensive back Buddy Jackson. Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 35 of 55 passes for 416 yards and two scores while having one interception and a fumble. Linebacker Carl Fleming had a game-high 12 tackles and two sacks and the defense forced five total turnovers.[7] Kevin Harper completed a 52-yard field goal. The Ed Conway Award, which is give to the most improved players of the spring, went to Buddy Jackson, Anthony Gonzalez, and Tyrone Ezell.[8]

Schedule[]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 36:00 p.m.Buffalo*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPN3W 35–1648,359
September 101:00 p.m.Maine*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPN3W 35–2941,230
September 1712:00 p.m.at Iowa*
ESPN2L 27–3170,585
September 2412:00 p.m.Notre Dame*
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA ()
ABCL 12–1565,050
September 298:00 p.m.No. 14 South Florida
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPNW 44–1740,025[9]
October 83:30 p.m.at Rutgers
  • High Point Solutions Stadium
  • Piscataway, NJ
ESPNUL 10–3446,079
October 1512:00 p.m.Utah*dagger
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPNUL 14–2643,719[10]
October 268:00 p.m.Connecticut
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA
ESPNW 35–2040,219[11]
November 57:00 p.m.No. 22 Cincinnati
ESPNUL 23–2649,362[12]
November 1212:00 p.m.at Louisville
ESPN+W 21–1451,321
November 257:00 p.m.at West Virginia
ESPNL 20–2160,932[13]
December 312:00 p.m.Syracuse
  • Heinz Field
  • Pittsburgh, PA (rivalry)
ESPN2W 33–2040,058
January 71:00 p.m.vs. SMU*
ESPNL 6–2829,726
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Eastern time

Roster[]

2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DT 97 Aaron Donald So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Coaching staff[]

2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff
Coaching Staff
  • Todd Graham – Head Coach
  • Paul Randolph – Executive Associate Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
  • Calvin Magee – Assistant Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs
  • Mike Norvell – Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers/Director of Recruiting
  • Keith Patterson – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
  • Tony Gibson – Pass Defense Coordinator/Secondary
  • Tony Dews – Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Todd Dodge – Quarterbacks
  • Spencer Leftwich – Offensive Line
  • Randall McCray – Outside Linebackers/Special Teams
   Support Staff
  • Blair Philbrick – Assistant Athletic Director/Football Operations
  • Alex Hodge - Video Director
  • Bob Junko – Director of Football Relations and Program Enhancement
  • Bo Graham – Head Graduate Assistant/Assistant Receivers Coach
  • Matt Caponi – Defensive Graduate Assistant
   Strength and Conditioning Staff
  • Shawn Griswold – Director of Strength and Conditioning
  • Trevor Dieleman – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
  • Travis Pelletier – Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

[14]

Following the conclusion of the regular season, coaches Tony Dews, Tony Gibson, and Calvin Magee left to take positions with Rich Rodriguez's staff at Arizona and did not coach in the BBVA Compass Bowl.[15]

Team players drafted into the NFL[]

Player Position Round Pick NFL Club
No Players Selected

[16]

Post-season[]

Less than one year from his hiring, on the evening of December 13, Graham informed Athletic Director Steve Pederson that he had discussed coaching opportunity at Arizona State.[17] After being informed he did not have permission to talk to the school about the job and refusing conversations with Pederson and another administrator, Graham resigned the next morning to accept the head coaching job at Arizona State University.[18] Graham informed his Pitt players of his departure by having text message forwarded to the team by director of football operations Blair Philbrick.[19] Keith Patterson was named as the interim head coach for the BBVA Compass Bowl.[20]

On December 22, 2011, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was introduced as the next permanent head coach to take over the Panthers following the BBVA Compass Bowl.[21]

Awards[]

  • Sophomore defensive lineman Aaron Donald was named a second team All-American by FoxSportsNext.com.[22]
  • Ray Graham, despite missing the final four games of the season with an injury, and Jarred Holley received first-team All-Big East recognition. Chas Alecxih, Aaron Donald, Max Gruder, and Antwuan Reed received second team honors.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "2011 Pitt Panthers Spring Football Prospectus" (PDF) (Press release). PittsburghPanthers.com. Spring 2011. p. 2. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  2. ^ "Dave Wannstedt resigns at Pitt". ESPN College Football. ESPN. December 7, 2010. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  3. ^ "Pittsburgh hires Michael Haywood". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pitt fires new coach Mike Haywood". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  5. ^ "Todd Graham to take over at Pittsburgh". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  6. ^ DiPaola, Jerry (April 17, 2011). "Pitt's offense still work in progress". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  7. ^ Bennett, Brian (April 18, 2011). "Pittsburgh spring game review". ESPN. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  8. ^ Zeise, Paul (April 17, 2011). "Pitt concludes spring drills with Blue-Gold game". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  9. ^ "South Florida Bulls vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score". ESPN. Retrieved September 29, 2011.
  10. ^ "Utah Utes vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score". ESPN. October 15, 2011.
  11. ^ "Connecticut Huskies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score". ESPN. October 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "Cincinnati vs PITT (11/5/11)". PittsburghPanthers.com. November 5, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  13. ^ "Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers – Box Score". ESPN. November 25, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  14. ^ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pitt/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2011-12/misc_non_event/2011FBMediaGuide.pdf
  15. ^ Zeise, Paul (December 4, 2011). "Pitt Football: Three assistants leave program". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  16. ^ https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/2012.htm[bare URL]
  17. ^ "Keith Patterson Named Interim Coach for Pitt Football". PittsburghPanthers.com. December 14, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  18. ^ Zeiss, Paul (December 15, 2011). "Graham leaves Pitt for Arizona St". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  19. ^ "Todd Graham to coach Sun Devils". ESPN. December 14, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  20. ^ Rossi, Rob (December 15, 2011). "Graham deserts Pitt for job at Arizona State". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  21. ^ Zeise, Paul (December 23, 2011). "Pitt's new football coach Chryst prefers doing to talking". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  22. ^ "Aaron Donald Named FoxSportsNext.com Second Team All-American". PittsburghPanthers.com. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  23. ^ "League Honors Six Pitt Players on All-Big East Team". PittsburghPanthers.com. December 8, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
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