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The Pitt Panthers fell to the Toledo Rockets in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Thursday night, 48-46. The contest went into six overtime sessions, with the MAC affiliate outlasting its foe from the ACC.
After the game, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi refused to shake Jason Candle’s hand. He walked off the field and into the locker room immediately after the crushing defeat.
Pat Narduzzi doesn’t get enough discourse for being classless. Walking straight to the locker room after losing and not at least shaking the hand of the opposing coach is why he’ll always be little brother #ESP
— TonyNorthDaKota (@TonyNorthDaKota) December 26, 2024
That reaction might’ve had something to do with a coaching decision which ultimately proved costly in the loss. Pitt opened as a nine-point favorite. It quickly found itself in a dogfight.
The Panthers were down 20-12 at the halftime break but battled back in the second half to eventually gain a 30-20 advantage. Toledo stormed back with 10 unanswered points in the final eight minutes of regulation to force overtime.
Each offense traded scores in the first OT session before Toledo led off with a field goal in overtime No. 2. Pitt moved the ball to the one-yard line where the Rockets forced a fourth-and-goal play. Rather than go for the win, Pat Narduzzi chose to kick.
Yes, the field goal tied the game to force a third overtime period. The problem? After the first overtime, the format switches to teams simply trading two-point conversion tries. Narduzzi could’ve gone for the win with one play from the one-yard line. Instead, he gave up that option to have one play from the three-yard line in the next session. Fans were dumbfounded.
Pat Narduzzi had two options…
A) Scoring a TD from the 1-yard line to win the game.
B) Making a FG, converting a 2-point try from the 3-yard line and stopping Toledo on their 2-point try from the 3 to win the game.
He chose option B!
Fire him immediately!
— Brad Powers (@BradPowers7) December 27, 2024
Pitt would convert the ensuing two-point play, but they wouldn’t be able to stop Toledo from doing the same. Eventually, the Rockets bested the Panthers in the sixth overtime. A Toledo celebration erupted on the field. Pat Narduzzi was nowhere to be found!
Pitt finished the season at 7-6 after starting the year a perfect 7-0. Their head coach may be to blame in this latest setback. Toledo, meanwhile, improved to 8-5.