10-5-22

Cover by Ethan Shulman, Pamela Smith and Lucas Zheng, The Pitt News Staff

‘A SPECIAL TIME’:

PITT ALUMNI REFLECT ON HOMECOMING TRADITIONS THROUGHOUT HISTORY

Elle Kenney Staff Writer

For Valerie Njie, Pitt’s homecoming celebra tions aren’t just a chance for students to party and watch the football game. Instead, it’s a chance for alumni to connect with students and reconnect with old friends.

“It’s a time to bond and meet up with old friends, fellow students, and you meet so many new people,” Njie, a former president of the Pitt Alumni Association and current Board of Trust ees member, said.

Pitt’s homecoming started in 1928, although it became more popular when Pitt played Ohio State University in 1929. The earliest homecom ings often involved students hanging out in fra ternities and smoking cigarettes during “Open House Smokers.” The celebration took a break in the 1940s at the start of World War II, but when it

returned in the 1950s, the University introduced a homecoming court and a parade with floats crafted by Pitt sororities and fraternities.

At her first homecoming in 1968, Njie fondly remembers interacting with new people at par ties and football games.

“It was thrilling. I didn’t know what to ex pect. But it was a lot of parties and the games were a big thing,” Njie said. “Everybody went to the game and just a lot of parties and it was just so exciting. Other schools would come in. So we got to interact with some new people, and then we would repay them by going to their home coming.”

Helen Bowers, a Pitt alumni who graduated in 1992, said she didn’t attend many events for homecoming in school. She said if there were a lot of events, they weren’t as heavily advertised as the main tailgating, football game and home

coming court. She also encouraged students and alumni to attend events that the African Ameri can Alumni Association will host this week.

“As a student, [they had] homecoming court. That was big. So that was the big draw as a stu dent, voting for a homecoming queen and king and they go into the game to see who won, but that was that was it,” Bowers said.

Over the past few years, the Alumni Asso ciation has worked to create a plethora of events for both students and alumni according to Rick Antolic, Pitt’s alumni coordinator. Some events include a talk on Thursday with former Pitt foot ball player Tre Tipton and the Blue & Gold Bash on Friday.

“It offers us many great opportunities to bring the student body and alumni body to gether, and to get them networking and hope fully make connections for the students that will

last a lifetime,” Antolic said. “And so when they network professionally, with alumni, and they get into those companies and organizations that other alumni are in, that benefits them as well.”

When Njie attended Pitt in 1968 she said there were just 50 Black students. By 1992, Bow ers said conditions for Black students improved, but still weren’t sufficient.

“One time I was working with the Black Ac tion Society — and we didn’t have a lot of stu dent groups and everything like it is now,” Bow ers said. “What we did was we would interview Black students for homecoming queen and king. We would choose one each, and then we would support them as a whole unit to make sure that they got on the court.”

Njie also said the concept of a homecoming “queen” and “king” is “discriminatory” toward

SPIRIT OF PITT

CANDIDATES

SCHOOL PRIDE

The 2022 Spirit of Pitt Candidates outside of the William Pitt Union. Pictured from left to right: Annie Goodwin, Gwyneth Lloyd, Ben Asciutto, George Barakat, Meg Anderson, Vinnie Giangrasso, Bea Amsalu and Brian Hand. Image via Pittwire

Khushi Rai and Madison Dean Staff Writers

Eight candidates are running for this year’s Spirit of Pitt award, which is Pitt’s version of a Homecoming Court. Hosted by the Pitt Alumni Association, the award is given to two students who show a strong sense of pride and involve ment in the Pitt community.

Online voting, available to Pitt students, opens Tuesday at noon and closes Wednesday at noon. The winners will be announced at the Homecoming football game against Virginia Tech on Saturday and will receive $1,500 each from the Alumni Association.

Bea Amsalu

Amsalu is a senior neuroscience major and a member of the Blue and Gold Society, Pitt Student Alumni Network, Pitt Global Medical Brigades and Rho Psi Eta. She also teaches spin classes through Campus Recreation. Amsalu said she wants other students to know that Pitt offers them much more than just a degree.

Amsalu said her favorite Pitt memory was when she and her friends spent their night at Hillman Library streaming the ACC champion ship and completing homework.

“Once the game was over, we ran out into the street like everyone else,” Amsalu said. “My friends were like ‘what if we took off running right now?’ And they take off running and I’m sprinting behind them. We all have these mas

sive backpacks on and we sprint down Fifth. My friends led the massive stampede of people that stormed towards the Cathedral. That was a pretty magical moment.”

Meg Anderson

Anderson, a senior finance and business in formation systems major, started the club Em power with her peers to create an environment for all majors to focus on professional develop ment. Anderson is also a spin instructor at Pitt and a teaching assistant for quantitative meth ods. Additionally, she works as a professional development consultant at Pitt, for which she reviews student resumes and holds mock inter views.

Anderson said Pitt is not only a school for her, but a space in which she frequently spends time with her family — which are her favorite moments on campus.

“Seeing my sister here and running into my family at a place that is so important to me is a great experience,” Anderson said. “It’s really made this experience so momentous because it’s not just college. It’s also where my family and my sister live.”

Ben Asciutto

Asciutto, a senior film and business double major, is running to show that Pitt fosters cre ativity, and that pursuing a career in entertain ment, instead of just science, is possible.

Asciutto is the executive producer of Pitt

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Sports

Dalton Coppola Sports Editor

Man dies after falling at Acrisure

NARDUZZI NEEDS TO RIGHT THE SHIP AGAINST

It’s time for the Pitt football team and its fans to accept the truth — this team is not built for a national championship. Coming into this year, the expectations from fans and the media alike were high. Some even predicted Pitt to finish in the top four teams in the nation.

Just five weeks later, Pitt is no longer ranked in the top 25, and the Panthers have suffered two losses at home. Two losses just five games into the season — especially a loss to a bottomfeeder in the ACC — essentially put the nail in the coffin for Pitt’s College Football Playoff aspirations.

While the Panthers’ chances at winning a national championship are likely down the tubes, they still have a full ACC schedule to play. Pitt (3-2, 0-1 ACC) will host the Virginia Tech Hokies (2-3, 1-1 ACC) this Saturday for its annual homecoming game. After falling to one of the worst teams in the conference, there

VIRGINIA TECH BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

are a lot of concerns hanging over the Panthers heading into the game with the Hokies — namely the offense.

The Panthers boasted one of the country’s best offenses in 2021. Quarterback Kenny Pickett rose to stardom in front of the Panther faithful’s eyes, leading the most prolific passing attack in Pitt football history. Pickett reached heights that no Pitt player had ever reached be fore, breaking nearly every Pitt passing record and leading the Panthers to their first ever ACC Championship. The Jersey native did this all in his final year of eligibility and became the first quarterback off of the board in the 2022 NFL Draft.

It’s safe to say that the Panthers have missed Pickett so far. The Panthers are averaging 251 passing yards per game in 2022, down from 2021’s season total of 337.4 yards per game.

While Pitt fans certainly didn’t expect the same level of production this year, it seems they may have underestimated just how critical Pickett was to the team’s success.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi lured in senior quarterback transfer Kedon Slovis from USC to take over for Pickett. The fans believed Slovis could build upon the 2021 season and lead the Panthers to the promised land.

Truthfully, Slovis hasn’t played poorly. But he hasn’t played great either. He has appeared in three and a half games, exiting the Tennessee game early with an injury and missing the win over Western Michigan the following week. His performance in those games has earned Pitt a 2-2 record in games he started, though he admittedly didn’t finish the game against Ten nessee.

Slovis’ statline against Georgia Tech was

deceiving. He registered more than 300 yards of passing, but most of this came with the Pan thers trailing by two possessions and the Yel low Jackets playing prevent defense. The senior held onto the ball for just a hair too long on a fair amount of plays, causing errant passes and sacks. Slovis acknowledged this and said he needs to make decisions faster to win football games.

“I think at times I should’ve been more de cisive,” Slovis said. “I’ve got to play better for us to win.”

The other glaring issue for Pitt starts all the way at the top with Narduzzi. He’s in his eighth year as head coach for the Panthers and while he has reached incredibly high highs, he’s also hit some really low lows.

Narduzzi has lost at home four times in the

See Football Preview on page 9

classes going so far?

Faculty

Students

BEHIND TALENTED ADDITIONS, PITT MEN’S BASKETBALL HAS POTENTIAL TO END NCAA TOURNAMENT DROUGHT

Richie Smiechowski Assistant Sports Editor

For the first time in seemingly forever for Pitt men’s basketball fans, there appears to be more optimism than pessimism heading into the 2022-23 campaign.

This past summer was head coach Jeff Ca pel’s most fruitful since joining the Pitt coaching staff. Seemingly every other week yielded a new addition from the transfer portal or new toprated high school commit, spearheaded by firstyear guard Dior Johnson’s commitment in June.

It’s been six seasons since Pitt last made the NCAA tournament and nearly a decade since its last win in March. Once one of the great teams of the 2000s, the program has lost its sense of iden tity and perhaps a portion of its fanbase. This season will be a make-or-break year for Capel, and he knows that his team has the talent to turn the program around.

“If you look at it on paper, I think so,” Capel said last Monday when asked if this is the best team he’s had at Pitt. “But we got to produce, that’s the thing.”

Capel’s not wrong — his roster is exception ally strong compared to the last few seasons. On top of Johnson, he recruited multiple players out of the transfer portal, including graduate student guard Nelly Cummings, junior forward Blake Hinson and graduate student guard Greg Elliott.

Cummings is an exciting prospect for Pitt’s backcourt. Originally from Midland, Pennsyl vania, Cummings started his career at Colgate, where he averaged 14.7 ppg on 36% shooting from three. He led the Raiders to back-to-back Patriot League titles and nearly managed to up set No. 3-seeded Wisconsin in last year’s tourna ment behind his 20-point performance.

Johnson is set to partner with Cummings at guard for this season, giving the Panthers a mas sive boost in their scoring and playmaking. Back in 2020, 247Sports ranked Johnson as the third best high school player in the country, and de spite dropping to No. 51 in 2022, he’s still Capel’s highest rated recruit at Pitt.

Capel said Dior just “fell into our lap” this off-season, and that he was never really on the Panthers’ radar because of his commitment to Oregon. Apart from Johnson’s eye-popping tal ent, Capel had to make sure that he knew the backstory behind any possible controversy sur

rounding his new recruit.

“He’s talented, that’s the first thing with any kid,” Capel said. “I knew the talent, but it was questions about all the other things, why have you been at so many different schools, why has there been so much movement... try ing to find out as much about his character as you possibly can.”

Johnson isn’t just talented — he might be the most talented player Pitt’s had in the last decade. 247Sports ranked him as a projected top 10 pick in 2020, drawing comparisons to NBA star De’Aaron Fox. His impact on the team, even just from a morale standpoint, can’t be understated.

This year’s team also contains established veteran leaders, not just talented newcomers. Senior forward John Hugley, graduate student Jamarius Burton and redshirt senior guard Nike Sibande will provide invaluable leader ship to the newly assembled squad.

Burton will have his hands full bringing together the team’s new backcourt. He recog nizes the talent that Capel’s brought on, but also said they’re not going to be any less ag gressive or gritty than they were last season with less talent.

“We have new talent, but to be one of the best teams you have to be defensive minded each and every night because defense travels, especially on the road,” Burton said. “Being hungry, still having that grit to you to where you want to drag other teams into the mud and play our style of basketball. If we all can do that, I feel like we’ll have a different stand ing this year.”

Offensively, Burton had a breakout first year with the Panthers last season, averaging almost 10 points per game and finishing sec ond on the team in assists. With Sibande mak ing his much-anticipated return from injury this season, the Panthers have depth to spare at guard.

Unfortunately, the Panthers’ otherwise per fect offseason took a massive hit this weekend, as the team announced that Hugley suffered a sprained knee in the team’s first week of prac tice. He’s set to miss at least a few weeks, dealing a tremendous blow to the Panther’s frontcourt.

Serena Garcia Staff Writer

With the homecoming game only a few days away, many students are planning how they’ll watch it from afar. The Panthers are ready to bounce back from the loss against Georgia Tech on Saturday with another ACC matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies this weekend.

If you’re opting to avoid the crowds at Acrisure Stadium, here are five sports bars where you can watch the game.

1. Stack’d

If you’re looking to stay near campus but still want to watch the game with family or friends, Stack’d is the way to go. With its en ergetic atmosphere and good food, Stack’d is easily one of my favorite restaurants nearby. Having one major big screen in their dining area and a plethora of other screens around the restaurant, it’s no surprise that many stop by the restaurant. Their food is also de licious, which heightens the appeal.

Stack’d allows customers to create their

own burger — and they have toppings ga lore. You can complete your meal with a hand-spun milkshakes. Pitt students can also use their off-campus dining dollars at Stack’d.

2. Primanti Bros.

This famous Pittsburgh chain’s spot on Forbes Avenue is a perfect spot to watch the homecoming game from afar while munching on their classic sandwiches al ways topped with coleslaw and fries. Pri manti Bros. also offers wings tossed in a choice of 11 sauces — or salads, if you’re looking to eat on the lighter side.

Sometimes on busy days the wait is long, so I advise getting to the restaurant a little bit before the game starts to allow yourself some buffer time — or try calling ahead to reserve a table. Primanti Bros. also accepts off-campus dining dollars for students to use.

3. Fuel & Fuddle

Fuel & Fuddle is another option for

those wanting to stay on campus. Located next to Stack’d on Forbes Avenue, this is a fun environment where students can watch the homecoming game.

Labeled as a gastropub, Fuel & Fuddle’s food will not disappoint. Their menu of fers an assortment of options for custom ers to choose from. They have one-of-akind meal names such as “rollafatty,” a spicy pepperoni and cheese pizza roll, or their “kick-gas nachos.” They also offer nine varieties of wood-fired pizzas called “live fire pies.” If pizza isn’t your thing, they serve “phat wraps” and “befuddling burgers.”

4. Bar Louie

If you’re looking to get a little closer to the action, you can stop by Bar Louie in the North Shore, which is just a few blocks away from Acrisure stadium.

While it’s on the pricier side, Bar Louie is an upscale sports bar with more than worth it cuisine.

Their menu includes an assortment

of flatbreads, appetizers and other dishes from their scratch kitchen like chicken na chos, quesadillas, loaded tots and wings. If you’re looking for a more elevated meal, the restaurant also offers “main plates” such as seared salmon, voodoo pasta and mac and cheese. They also offer plenty of sandwich options — ranging from craft burgers to a chicken parm grilled cheese.

5. Burgatory

Sitting next to Bar Louie is Burgatory, a place a little closer to the action, but outside stadium lines. Like the name sug gests, Burgatory’s menu boasts a variety of burgers and milkshakes.

With options like a veggie burger, plant-based burger, or even a peanut but ter and jelly burger called the “Piggy But ter & Jelly,” there’s a burger for everyone. If none of these choices seem appealing, customers can build their own burger as well. Burgatory is also known for its thick and creamy hand-spun milkshakes.

Opinions

College homecoming is better than high school

Even if football isn't your thing,

YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT TIME AT GAMES AND TAILGATES

Juliana Morello For The Pitt News

I’m just gonna say it — I don’t like football. And it’s not because I don’t understand it. I mean, I don’t — at least not completely — but I’ve been at Pitt for three years now, and I’d like to think I’ve got at least a very surface level idea of what’s go ing on.

Since my first year I’ve been in the stands, cheering when other people cheer, booing when other people boo. Coming from a high school with a less-than-successful football team and a noticeable lack of cheerleaders, it was great going to a school with such tangible school spirit. Don’t ask me what any of the calls mean, but I can fol

low what’s happening — if, of course, I’ve got my friends in my ear explaining everything.

But even if I didn’t, it’d be OK, because I don’t go to the games for the sports. I might not enjoy football, but I’m a sucker for a game. Whether you’re a sports fan or not, football games are a crucial aspect of Pitt’s culture. It’s fun dressing up in blue and gold, and it’s a great way to hang out with your friends. Tailgates are the best part of the whole game day because you get to eat and drink with a group of people all excited for the same thing, playing cornhole and beer pong and bond ing over disliking the other team’s quarterback.

It’s not about the sport, or the score at the end, but about the energy. More than anything, it’s about the community. Now, I get it — maybe you don’t like football, or you don’t see the appeal of pregaming, but I really believe that anyone can have fun on game days.

When COVID-19 interrupted the 2020 sea son, my roommates and I tailgated in the park ing lot outside our apartment. We watched each game comfortably from our own living room, free to use our own bathroom without waiting in a line or grab a snack that wasn’t a $10 soft pretzel. It was fun, and I look back on it fondly, but once games went in-person again, we couldn’t wait to go back to Heinz — or, sorry, Acrisure — we missed the camaraderie of the stadium and the energy of the crowds.

Now that we’re older and back in the stadi um, games are even more fun. Tailgates are bet ter than ever because we can mingle with other fans and add to the community. At a tailgate for the Backyard Brawl, I found out that one of my friend’s parents went to West Virginia University. Exchanging trash talk with adults, talking to older siblings who were seniors at Pitt when we were first-years, tossing around a football with strang ers who’ve set up in the lot across from us — it’s all a genuine college experience.

The homecoming game is especially magnet ic, at least for Pitt football fans who aren’t exactly

fans of football. Homecoming is when alumni visit Pitt, so you get a chance to see how deep the Pitt community really goes. It has a similar ener gy to parents’ weekend, but it’s more celebratory — a game whose whole point is to give alumni and students a reason to be proud of their Uni versity. And it might be cheesy, but the feeling you get as everyone starts singing “Sweet Caro line” — well, it’s just not something that you can easily replicate.

Again, I get it. Football games are long, and they can be exhausting. The stadium environ ment can get overwhelming, and if you’re new to Pitt or aren’t from Pittsburgh, it can be hard to find a tailgate to go to or a community of fans to join. But you won’t regret going to the games, especially the homecoming game. Being herded into the student section, joining cheers started by drunken strangers, trying to get on the Jum botron — these are all things that every Pitt student should experience, even if it’s only once. And the homecoming game is a great opportu nity to jumpstart your school spirit.

Maybe it’s because I’m sentimental about this being my last year at Pitt, but I really believe that the football games are one of the best ways to make lasting memories, and it makes me sad hearing people say they don’t like going to the games because they don’t like football, or be cause it’s “not for them.” Football games at Pitt have something for everyone.

So even if you have an exam on Monday and really need to study, or the last thing you want to do on a Saturday afternoon is sway along to a Neil Diamond song surrounded by thousands of strangers, you can’t deny that it’s tradition. And, if anything, you and your friends can have a good time laughing about how confusing foot ball is — that’s what I do.

Juliana Morello writes about whatever’s on her mind. Follow her on Instagram @julianamo rello or write to her at jcm160@pitt.edu

Illustration by Fikayomi Olagbami | Staff Illustrator

non-binary students, and Pitt has worked to re place these titles with something more genderneutral. In place of homecoming court, Pitt gives two students who show a strong sense of pride and involvement in the Pitt community “Spirit of Pitt” awards.

While homecoming has evolved over the years, Njie said many traditions have stayed the same. Pitt still has a firework display on Friday night, a Saturday football game and tailgating. According to Njie, alumni being able to come back to Pitt is very essential.

“It really is a special time that almost makes you feel like you’re a college student again, when you see old faces, when you look and see some of the exciting things that are happening on campus now,” Njie said. “Let’s say you went to school, like myself, I graduated in ‘71 or even if you graduated in the year 2000, when you come back, this is a different place.”

Not only is it important for students and alumni, but for the University itself, Bowers said.

“I think the idea of homecoming is very im portant for the University, because that’s an op portunity for the University to showcase what they’ve done, what they’re doing, the progress they’re making,” Bowers said.

Football Preview

last two seasons — three of which the Panthers were favored to win. The most recent loss was the third largest upset in the ACC over the past 25 years. Losing to inferior teams has become a pattern for Pitt under Narduzzi’s watch.

That’s an issue.

Narduzzi said on Monday that he thinks his players didn’t execute on Saturday, and he needs to do a better job getting his team ready to win football games.

“I don’t think we did a great job coaching, the whole deal,” Narduzzi said. “Our kids are playing their tails off, I can tell you that. Look at the back of the wall, I talk about our attitude. I think our attitude is really good.”

Narduzzi received a lucrative contract ex tension keeping him in Pittsburgh for quite some time. It’s time he starts getting his guys ready to go for every game — not just the ones against marquee opponents. That starts this weekend against Virginia Tech.

Pitt can’t afford to lose many more games if it wants to return to the ACC Championship game. Narduzzi realistically needs to win the remainder of his conference in order to win the Coastal Division. It’s now or never for Narduzzi and the Panthers — take each game one at a

time and take care of business.

Prediction: Pitt wins 27-17

Virginia Tech is a team the Panthers can and should beat — but so were the Yellow Jack ets. After an embarrassing loss in a primetime time slot, Narduzzi will have his team ready to go.

The Hokies are averaging just more than 310 yards of offense per game, but don’t sur render many sacks either. The Panthers’ de fense played uncharacteristically poorly last week against Georgia Tech. It’s hard to imagine that the defense doesn’t return to form against the Hokies.

Pitt has the week to iron out its issues on offense. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti and Slovis will get on the same page and the of fense will find the endzone a few times against the Hokies.

The matchup with the Hokies will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium and air on ACC Network.

Thalia Sifnakis | Staff Illustrator

THEMANOR

Spirit of Pitt

FRI, oct. 7-THURS, oct. 13

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No passes through 10/23/22

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Bros (R)

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STUDENT DISCOUNT

Tonight, the University’s late night comedy show, and a member of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. He is also on the Student Gov ernment Board’s communication team and is a teaching assistant for film studies class.

Last summer, Asciutto was given the oppor tunity through Pitt to film and produce a docu mentary about his hometown. He emphasized how grateful he is for the resources Pitt offers, allowing him to seek out his career aspirations and personify the Spirit of Pitt.

“There’s just so much out there that Pitt is able to provide,” Asciutto said. “I had the oppor tunity and I guess you could say the motivation to take that leap and make sure I utilize such amazing resources. I think that ties back to the whole spirit of Pitt.”

George Barakat

Barakat, a junior bioengineering major, said winning Spirit of Pitt would be an award he could remember forever and a part of his legacy at the school. He’s a member of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Middle Eastern North African Student Association and the Lebanese Student Association. He is also active in sustain ability efforts with Pitt Eats and speaks three lan guages — English, Arabic and French.

Barakat transferred to Pitt last fall and has

enjoyed the school’s activities and sense of com munity. He said he is always on campus and shows his school spirit by attending as many athletics events as he can, especially the football and soccer games.

“Your memories are more about what you do outside the class, whether it’s being involved in athletics or, for example, homecoming right now,” Barakat said. “It’s all an experience. I feel like my message is just to really insist people to get involved.”

Vinnie Giangrasso

Giangrasso is a senior nursing major who is involved in Pitt Pathfinders, the Nursing Student Association and Pitt Dance Marathon. Outside of school, he works as a patient care technician at the UPMC Children’s Hospital, where he will work as a registered nurse once he graduates. Additionally, he is on the advising committee to represent the seniors in the Bachelors of Science Program for the School of Nursing.

Giangrasso said his favorite part of Home coming is meeting the other people on the court. Not only is he able to interact with new people, but he is also able to see how valued and loved he is as a student at Pitt.

“If I had to send out one message, I’d prob ably say go with your heart,” Giangrasso said. “Follow your dreams. Don’t tell yourself that you can’t do something. I feel like I’m proof of that.

I never thought I’d be here today doing all of this, but here I am.”

Annie Goodwin

Goodwin, a senior industrial engineering major, is a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor So ciety and Pink Panthers. Goodwin also serves as a campus ambassador for Bumble and Sam sung, and splits her work schedule between the Steelers guest service operations and Lulule mon.

As a transfer student in January 2020, Goodwin came to Pitt to find a greater sense of belonging. She said winning the award would emphasize her love for the school and the wel coming community she found.

“When I was choosing to transfer or go to a different school, I was very intentional on what I was looking for — a community and just a sense of feeling like I belonged,” Goodwin said.

“When I saw an opportunity for Spirit of Pitt, I thought it was just like a great opportunity to not just highlight the things I’ve done but to highlight my passions for the student body and the community of Pittsburgh. People are my passion.”

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