Pat Narduzzi speaks on subjects ranging from players' financial investments to Matt Canada's time at Pitt

Talk was scattered in many different directions Thursday in the conference room adjacent to Pat Narduzzi’s office, where he presided over his final news briefing of the week. The weekly sessions are not exactly akin to FDR’s fireside chats from the 1930s and 1940s, but it’s an opportunity for reporters to ask questions not usually presented to Pitt’s coach.

Among the areas of discussion were possibly paying college players in the future, the best way, in Narduzzi’s opinion, for players to invest those funds, the student section at Acrisure Stadium, running back Rodney Hammond and the coach’s little white lie, California’s travel itinerary prior to Saturday’s game and, believe it or not, Matt Canada.

There was even time in the 19-minute session for Narduzzi to talk about his opponent, but he already had buzzed about the Golden Bears’ speed on offense and their nation-leading 11 interceptions on defense at his regular Monday news conference.

• He started with a plea to the Panther Pitt to “pack the Ac.”

“The Panther Pitt has to loud and proud and give us a homefield advantage,” he said.

• On the topic of scoring points — one of Narduzzi’s favorites considering Pitt is sixth in the nation at 45.6 per game — he was asked how he has evolved from the outside perception that he is a pro-style offensive coach to one who now uses a hurry-up, no-huddle system.

“Stereotypes are bad,” he said. “The last two years prior to this season, we weren’t trying to not score points. Every time I bring an offensive coordinator in here, we bring him in with the intent to score points. That’s what we want to do. The more, the merrier, right?

“Matt Canada, when he was here (2016), we were explosive. As a matter of fact, I had to tell him to stop scoring so fast.”

He was referring to the 76-61 victory against Syracuse in which Pitt had two one-play, 11- and 24-second possessions where Quadree Henderson and Maurice Ffrench ran 66 and 77 yards for touchdowns.

“It was one play, and (the injury-hindered defense) was back on the field,” he said. “Matt Canada was really explosive. (Mark) Whipple was explosive. Now, we go to coach (Kade) Bell. I wish I could pick them better and make you happy all the time, not just sometimes. Sometimes, we make mistakes.

“We did pretty good for one of the two years (2022, after Kenny Pickett left). Everybody would like to be explosive every year, and you can be if you call them right and things work out.”

• Narduzzi said he wouldn’t want a schedule similar to what California is forced to do. The trip to Pittsburgh is the Golden Bears’ third to the East Coast in their first six games.

“I would not be happy if we had to play a bunch of games out west. That would not be fun,” he said. “Next year, we’re going to travel far (to the West Coast). To me, it’s where college football has gone. I wish they would start to regionalize. That’s what I don’t like is that time change.”

• Narduzzi said he lied last week when he said Hammond had sufficient practice after he was declared eligible after his four-game suspension.

“He practiced just on Thursday last week. I think I lied to you guys last week so (North Carolina coach) Mack Brown didn’t know (how much he practiced). I admitted to it.

“He didn’t get a lot of reps last week. He was a little rusty. I think he’ll be a lot better this week. He got three good days of practice.”

• Now that the NCAA is replacing a national letter of intent for recruits with a financial aid agreement that may be tied to revenue sharing with players, Narduzzi said he’s OK with the play-for-pay concept.

“I think it’s great. It’s kind of like an enhanced name, image and likeness deal. It’s where we are. I just want to make sure the kids are doing the right things with their money.

“Give a 17-, 18-, 19-year old money, you wonder what they do with it. To me, if I was a parent (of a recruit), I’d make sure I took the money and invested it and put it away and say ‘You can get it when you graduate. Get your degree.’

“Revenue sharing is great. Give it to them after they graduated.”

Narduzzi said he tries to educate Pitt recruits’ parents on “what I would do if it was my kid.”

“I don’t want my kids walking around with all that money. What are they going to do? Some will do a good job. Most of them won’t. Just like in the NFL. Guys in the NFL make all that money, and they’re broke. What did you do with all your money? That’s an adult. That’s a 25-year-old. What’s a 17-, 18-year-old going to do?”

Narduzzi said Pitt athletics benefits from the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program that aims to educate students for what awaits them after graduation.

“You know how it is telling your kids stuff: They listen sometimes, and sometimes they just want to go do what they want to do,” he said. “They want a new car, which is the worst investment, as we all know, that we can possibly make. Go buy a new house. You got a tax write-off.

“You don’t have to buy a big house. Buy a small house and then rent it out. Make some money, too.”