Coach rips officials after rivalry game win

While Pitt trailed West Virginia by 10 points late into the fourth quarter, the Panthers rallied with a pair of late touchdowns and prevailed 38-34 in a Backyard Brawl that lived up to its name.

But winning the rivalry game to move to 3-0 did nothing to ease Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s frustration with the officials. And in his postgame interview with sideline reporter Dawn Davenport, Narduzzi voiced some of that frustration.

Davenport asked Narduzzi how he thought the Pitt secondary played, noting that the coach had challenged them to step up.

“I think our DBs did a heck of a job — period,” Narduzzi said . He then shifted his focus to the third team on the field, the officials. “I mean, some of the calls we got. Late hit out of bounds. They catch a ball with a hands to the face. I’ve never seen anything like it. You know? Wow. We beat West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl. And we beat the officials, too. In one game.”

Narduzzi certainly has a case about one of West Virginia’s touchdowns. Mountaineers receiver Justin Robinson made a brilliant one-handed touchdown catch — while using his other hand to push off.

That said, West Virginia also had a touchdown called back due to a penalty on a possession that ended with Pitt blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown. So, the Panthers benefited from some officiating, too.

[Photo Credit: ESPN2]

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