Carpenter Crunch Time Week 12: Narduzzi said what?

This week, Duane talks about Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, who drew criticism for dismissing the Notre Dame game’s importance. Also, he recaps his weekend high school and college game predictions.

Duane Carpenter
November 14, 2025

BUCKHANNON – I know I have given WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez a lot of grief here in the last few months, but I can say, without a doubt, thank goodness we don’t have to deal with Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi.

I already knew that Narduzzi was a 100 percent grade-A moron, but he really took the cake this week. His Panthers are ranked this week, they are hosting No. 9 Notre Dame, and the ESPN Gameday crew and show will air from Pittsburgh.

This is the most attention Pitt football has gotten since… I don’t know. Dan Marino. They might have done something good since then…not really sure. So, all is going good with Pitt this week then Narduzzi had to open his mouth.

A reporter asked him a pretty basic question, if this was a must-win game for the Panthers.

His response: “Absolutely not,” he said. Narduzzi added, “It is not an ACC game. I will gladly get beat 103 or 110 to 10 in that game. They can put 100 up on us as long as we win the next two after that.”

Welp. So much for all the fanfare. While he is correct that a loss doesn’t affect Pitt’s chances to win the ACC and get into the playoffs, but one would think, with Pitt football being somewhat relevant for the first time in a long time, maybe you don’t actually say that part out loud. But again, Narduzzi has never been mistaken for a genius.

If Pitt somehow actually wins the ACC, it might be time just to shut it down and disband the conference. Honestly, I think it will fold in the future before the Big 12 does. The conference is already in trouble when the Stanford vs. San Jose game is the contest featured on the ACC Network, as it was earlier in the season.

Now onto the important stuff, the My Buckhannon staff contest. The standings look like this.

STANDINGS (WEEK 11)

Name Week Overall

Duane 7-0 61-16

Brian 6-1 56-21

Monica 5-2 48-29

Katie 3-4 46-31

Overall, it was a pretty good week for everyone but Katie. I went a perfect 7-0 and added a game to my lead as Brian went 6-1. I am back to a five-game lead over Brian. Monica went 5-2 and recaptured third place, while Katie is two games out of third place.

When it comes to our readers, it was an interesting week.

Our readers were on fire this week as seven of them went a perfect 7-0 – Jay Hollen, Rob Kimble, Corrie Plaugher, Roy Wager, David Long, Greg Abel and Mike Hinkle. But after going to the tiebreaker of the WVU-Colorado game (51 points), it was Corrie Plaugher and Mike Hinkle who shared the win this week, picking 52 points. So, congratulations to Corrie and Mike, who will be receiving a $20 gift certificate from My Buckhannon. Thank you for your support, and keep those submissions coming in.

You still have time to get your picks in for this week, as we accept them until Friday at 6:59 p.m. prior to the high school kickoffs. (One submission only.) Please click here to make your picks this week.

Now onto our games:

Buckhannon-Upshur (2-8) at Morgantown (9-1)

It certainly is a feel-good story that the Bucs are in the playoffs, but let’s be honest, it probably ends here. Still doesn’t take away how much the program has improved this year. Kudos to the Buccaneers.

Duane: Morgantown; Brian: Morgantown; Monica: Morgantown; Katie: Morgantown

Glenville State (5-5) at West Virginia Wesleyan (0-10)

This is the finale for Wesleyan this year. The Bobcats enter Saturday’s game on a 33-game losing streak overall, which dates back to Oct. 22, 2022. It would be nice if Wesleyan could end the streak with an upset. You really don’t want to carry something like that into the offseason if you can help it.

Duane: Glenville State; Brian: Glenville State; Monica: Glenville State; Katie: Glenville State

West Virginia (4-6) at Arizona State (6-3)

Rich Rodriguez was able to beat a bigger buffoon in the coaching ranks than himself when the Mountaineers beat Deion Sanders and Colorado last Saturday. The Mountaineers have improved over the last two games, no doubt, which is a good sign, but I think their luck runs out this week.

Duane: Arizona State; Brian: Arizona State; Monica: Arizona State; Katie: West Virginia