For those not already attuned to the program's history, it's easy to gloss over the amount of absolute studs Pitt football has produced. From former greats like Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino and Curtis Martin to current studs Larry Fitzgerald, Darrelle Revis, LeSean McCoy and Aaron Donald, the program has never had a problem finding players.
Building championship teams around those players is where the program has struggled.
The Panthers claim just a share of two conference titles in their near quarter century as Big East and ACC members and have posted just one 10-win season since 1981.
That's where Pat Narduzzi comes in. The longtime Michigan State defensive coordinator pledged to bring back the trademark western Pennsylvania toughness to Panther football on his first day as head coach. "When someone plays the University of Pittsburgh, they're going to know they were in a brawl," Narduzzi said at his introductory press conference.
"This team will play with a great attitude, they're going to play with amazing effort," he later added, "and they will be tough."