Pitt Football: Panthers, Seminoles talking Monday night matchup
By Matt Shetler
Are you ready for some Monday night football in Pittsburgh?
And no, I’m not talking about the Steelers.
Paul Chryst and the Pitt Panthers football team appear ready to start their first season of ACC play in a big way.
Jan 1, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback EJ Manuel (3) rests from the sidelines late in the fourth quarter against the Northern Illinois Huskies at the 2013 Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. The Seminoles defeated the Huskies 31-10. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
According to Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, options are currently on the table and could come to fruition if talks between the Seminoles and Pitt that could see the two programs open the season on Labor Day at Heinz Field continue to progress.
A Labor Day game against the Seminoles would be huge for Pitt.
Sure they would be big underdogs, but they would be on the national stage as usually there is only one game on Labor Day Monday.
That type of exposure always helps with recruiting, something Chryst is proving to be very good at.
FSU is slated to play Wofford on Aug. 31, while Pitt is scheduled to play Villanova the same day. Both teams have three other non-conference games set, but no conference dates as of yet.
It is possible that FSU would move its game with Wofford to the following weekend, playing the Terriers on Sept. 7. FSU would probably rather face Wofford on short rest than to go into an ACC game with six days to prepare. Wofford currently has one game listed on its 2013 schedule: the one against FSU.
Villanova hasn’t released its schedule, but Sept. 14 reportedly may be its only opening. If the Wildcats were to move their game against Pitt, they most likely would have to open the season with a bye.
But it isn’t that easy for the Panthers.
Pitt also has a game scheduled that day against New Mexico. They would not only have to help Villanova shift around its still unofficial schedule, but also figure a way around their own already scheduled non-conference game that particular weekend.
Talks between the schools and the conference have lasted for about three weeks. Fisher was just informed about them earlier this week. Initially, he seemed skeptical about putting a new, first-year starting quarterback up against conference competition on such a big early stage. But as the week went on, the coach came around and got excited about the idea.
Pitt would also be forced to start a new signal caller on a big stage as well.
Everything seems difficult for Pitt and Florida State to matchup on Labor Day, but it is something the Panthers should try and get done.
Sure they would probably start the season 0-1, but it has been a long time since Pitt was on the national stage.
There’s no better way to transition into the ACC.