2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

Schedule

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Spring game

Pitt concluded its spring practices under new coach Todd Graham and showcased its new offensive and defensive schemes to the public for the first time in its annual Blue-Gold game on April 16, 2011 at Heinz Field. Despite cold and rainy weather, the offense completed 81 passes and threw for 498 yards. The Blue team, which was composed of first-team players, ran 100 plays in two hours en route to a 48–13 victory over the Gold team which was composed of reserve players. The opening kickoff was returned 87 yard for a touchdown by defensive back Buddy Jackson. Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 35 of 55 passes for 416 yards and two scores while having one interception and a fumble. Linebacker Carl Fleming had a game-high 12 tackles and two sacks and the defense forced five total turnovers. Kevin Harper completed a 52-yard field goal. The Ed Conway Award, which is give to the most improved players of the spring, went to Buddy Jackson, Anthony Gonzalez, and Tyrone Ezell.

Personnel

Coaching staff

Following the conclusion of the regular season, coaches Tony Dews, Tony Gibson, and Calvin Magee left to take positions with Rich Rodriguez's staff at Arizona and did not coach in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Roster

After the season

Less than one year from his hiring, on the evening of December 13, Graham informed athletic director Steve Pederson that he had discussed coaching opportunity at Arizona State. After being informed he did not have permission to talk to the school about the job and refusing conversations with Pederson and another administrator, Graham resigned the next morning to accept the head coaching job at Arizona State University. Graham informed his Pitt players of his departure by having text message forwarded to the team by director of football operations Blair Philbrick. Keith Patterson was named as the interim head coach for the BBVA Compass Bowl.

On December 22, 2011, Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was introduced as the next permanent head coach to take over the Panthers following the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Awards

• Sophomore defensive lineman Aaron Donald was named a second team All-American by FoxSportsNext.com.

• Ray Graham, despite missing the final four games of the season with an injury, and Jarred Holley received first-team All-Big East recognition. Chas Alecxih, Aaron Donald, Max Gruder, and Antwuan Reed received second team honors.

References

References

1. (Spring 2011). "2011 Pitt Panthers Spring Football Prospectus". PittsburghPanthers.com.
2. "South Florida Bulls vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score". ESPN.
3. (October 15, 2011). "Utah Utes vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score". ESPN.
4. (October 27, 2011). "Connecticut Huskies vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Box Score". ESPN.
5. (November 5, 2011). "Cincinnati vs PITT (11/5/11)". PittsburghPanthers.com.
6. (November 25, 2011). "Pittsburgh Panthers vs. West Virginia Mountaineers – Box Score". ESPN.
7. DiPaola, Jerry. (April 17, 2011). "Pitt's offense still work in progress". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
8. Bennett, Brian. (April 18, 2011). "Pittsburgh spring game review". ESPN.
9. Zeise, Paul. (April 17, 2011). "Pitt concludes spring drills with Blue-Gold game". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
10. "Archived copy".
11. Zeise, Paul. (December 4, 2011). "Pitt Football: Three assistants leave program". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
12. "2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football roster". pittsburghpanthers.com.
13. (December 14, 2011). "Keith Patterson Named Interim Coach for Pitt Football". PittsburghPanthers.com.
14. Zeiss, Paul. (December 15, 2011). "Graham leaves Pitt for Arizona St.". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
15. (December 14, 2011). "Todd Graham to coach Sun Devils". ESPN.
16. Rossi, Rob. (December 15, 2011). "Graham deserts Pitt for job at Arizona State". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
17. Zeise, Paul. (December 23, 2011). "Pitt's new football coach Chryst prefers doing to talking". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
18. (December 8, 2011). "Aaron Donald Named FoxSportsNext.com Second Team All-American". PittsburghPanthers.com.
19. (December 8, 2011). "League Honors Six Pitt Players on All-Big East Team". PittsburghPanthers.com.