PITTSBURGH —
Former coach Todd Graham’s sudden departure from the Pitt football program less than a month ago did more than stun, frustrate and disappoint the Panthers.
Graham inadvertently brought together the Pitt players, especially veterans such as Johnstown’s Antwuan Reed.
“We’re playing for each other,” said Reed, a senior defensive back who will be part of a fourth straight postseason berth when Pitt plays Southern Methodist University in the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., at 1 p.m. today. “What has happened has brought the guys together. We’re playing for each other. It’s one big family.”
Pitt (6-6, 4-3 Big East) will be led by Keith Patterson, the defensive coordinator who served as interim head coach after Graham bolted for Arizona State on Dec. 14. Patterson also will be leaving for a defensive coordinator job at Arkansas State. Pitt has hired former Wisconsin coordinator Paul Chryst as its next head coach.
The turmoil capped a calendar year in which Pitt actually had six head coaches due to a number of extraordinary circumstances.
“It didn’t settle in for a while,” said Reed, a second-team All-Big East selection. “People were shocked for the most part. Nobody could answer questions. No one could talk to anybody. You don’t know. You still don’t know.”
The Panthers know they’ll face a tough SMU squad with a 7-5 record, 5-3 in Conference USA West.
Reed and the defensive backs will contend with the Mustangs’ passing game fronted by quarterback J.J. McDermott’s 3,182 passing yards. McDermott has had an up-and-down season, throwing as many interceptions, 16, as touchdown passes. But when he’s on and finding receivers Darius Johnson (72 catches, 998 yards, seven touchdowns) and Cole Beasley (79-954, two), SMU is dangerous.
“They’re a pretty good team. They spread it out with five wides and four wides,” Reed said. “Their quarterback has a strong arm.
“We’ll prepare for that.”
After dropping their season opener to Texas A&M, the Mustangs won five consecutive games.
But SMU lost four of its final six games. McDermott has 11 interceptions and six touchdowns in that span, including a four-pick outing in a 38-7 loss to Tulsa on Oct. 29.
The Panthers’ Reed started all 12 games this season and 12 regular-season contests last year. An injury prevented Reed from playing in the BBVA Compass Bowl last season when Pitt beat Kentucky 27-10. The Johnstown High graduate previously appeared in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, a 19-17 win over North Carolina in 2009, and the Sun Bowl, a 3-0 loss to Oregon State in 2008.
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