Panthers’ Sunseri, Street Approaching Records
By Matt Shetler
For the Pitt Panthers, a chance at a Big East Conference championship in their finals season before exiting the conference for the ACC is out of the window. As a matter of fact a bowl game is pretty close to being out the window as well as the Panthers must win four of their final six games of the season to become bowl eligible.
November 5, 2011; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Pittsburgh Panthers receiver Devin Street (15) runs after a pass reception against Cincinnati Bearcats linebacker J.K. Schaffer (37) during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE
Even if that doesn’t happen for Pitt head coach Paul Chryst, close attention should be paid to a couple of his players as they continue to rise up the Pitt record book.
Despite all the criticism, quarterback Tino Sunseri is having a fine season, throwing for 1,878 yards, 10 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
However when talking about Pitt quarterbacks who have had outstanding careers, Sunseri’s name could end up passing the legendary Dan Marino on the Panthers’ passing list. While that sounds like a joke, it’s not as Sunseri just needs to average 257.6 passing yards per game to pass Dan Marino and finish second on Pitt’s all-time passing list.
He currently sits fourth behind No. 1 Alex Van Pelt, Marino and Tyler Palko, has thrown for an average of 291.6 in six games and is on a pace to throw for 3,500, which would be the second-best season in school history behind Rod Rutherford’s 3,679 yards in 2003.
While Sunseri is having a great senior campaign, so is wide receiver Devin Street.
Street, a redshirt junior, has caught 39 passes for 514 yards and three touchdowns. Projecting those numbers over a full season, Street would finish with 78 receptions for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald’s records for receptions and receiving yards in a season (92 and 1,672 in 2003) are safe, but Street could end up with the second-best reception mark, held by Latef Grim with 75 catches in 1999.
The schedule gets tougher, so both guys will challenged, but the second half of the season will be something to watch, especially for Sunseri.
Who would have ever thought Sunseri would be in the same breath as Marino, but he’s in a position to do so and could provide some excitement for Pitt fans down the stretch.