Pitt Sounds Off On Officiating Following Loss

The Pitt Panthers opposed several key calls that went against them in their loss to Florida State.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers were incensed with the officiating following their loss to Florida State, believing there were several calls that were unfounded and contributed to the outcome of the game. 

The Panthers committed 11 penalties worth 91 yards, a majority of which were untimely and shifted momentum at the time in which they were called. 

Pat Narduzzi provided a general outlook on the officiating and the actions that led up to a few of the calls, acknowledging the lack of discipline shown by his players while also voicing his displeasure with the crew. 

"You look at two minutes before the half, we have an opportunity to kick a field goal, and we get a holding call (on) Branson…it sounds like he threw him to the ground," Narduzzi said. "I don't know what happened, but unnecessary. Then, in the second half we got a penalty on the sideline when our quarterback got hit late cutting out of bounds. Whatever, guys were talking. I've never seen a penalty called on the sideline when there's 40 guys on the sideline, but you have to overcome all those things. You have to shut your mouth and play the game of football." 

Perhaps the most notable penalty called against Pitt came in the third quarter when Gavin Bartholomew was called for unsportsmanlike conduct while standing on the sideline, pushing the Panthers out of field-goal range in a three-point game. 

Veilleux stood up for his teammate postgame, saying he thought the call was incorrect and that there was no evidence that supported it. 

"“I mean I thought it was bulls***, honestly," Veilleux said. "I mean he was just on the sideline. They played the replay and circled him. He’s literally just there, just like everybody else is around him. I don’t get that call. I think there were a lot of calls today that didn’t make sense.”

Narduzzi also let out his frustration, stating that he believes Bartholomew didn't say anything to the official and that he had never before seen a call of that nature in his career. 

"Gavin didn't say anything to the officials," Narduzzi said. "So they were talking about happy birthday or something. I don't know what, but it wasn't one person. It wasn't Gavin. I think maybe that's who they called it on, but just chippy like on any sideline. I've never seen it called before. I don't get it. I've seen a lot of things."

Narduzzi added that the missed facemask penalty committed against Konata Mumpfield on his fumble in the end zone hamstrung Pitt at a crucial point in the game.

"I'm sure they saw the face mask that they missed," Narduzzi said. "Critical point in the game. Offense did a good job moving down."

With all that being said, Narduzzi brought the issue back around and stated that Pitt needs to improve their focus if they want to avoid something like this happening again in the future.

"We have to be more disciplined. We coach it every day. We go through the penalties every day that we haven't practiced," Narduzzi said. "But, you know, it's focus. We snap the ball every day in practice, and we have to be better."

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