Pat Narduzzi points to paranoia as reason for change in Backyard Brawl practice

Pat Narduzzi and Pitt veered off their typical weekly practice structure this week before their Backyard Brawl rivalry game with West Virginia this weekend.

Typically, a Thursday practice means being outside for Narduzzi's squad. But yesterday, on a day that had a high of 79 degrees with plenty of sun and clear skies, Pitt practiced indoors.

When asked about that decision yesterday, Narduzzi had one simple reason.

Paranoia.

"Extra careful, you know? Paranoid," Narduzzi answered when asked the reason behind the change.

"You know, you've got people in the hills, and they live in the hills, with binoculars. Mountaineers man. They're up there, in the mountains right there."

"We take nothing for granted, so we were inside today."

After commending the reporter on his astute observation, Narduzzi ended the line of questioning by joking if he was up in the hills as well.

Only 75 miles on Interstate 79 separates the two schools, so it's not completely crazy to follow Narduzzi's line of thinking here.

Pitt (2-0) takes on the Mountaineers (1-1) tomorrow at 3:30pm EST on ESPN2 in the 107th all-time meeting in the matchup that stretches back to 1895.