Former Auburn Athletic Director Allen Greene, reportedly hired at Pitt on Friday, pictured in a file photo greeting students before Auburn Tigers men's basketball takes on Texas A&M Aggies at Auburn Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022.

Allen Greene hired as AD at Pitt

Pitt is hiring Allen Greene as its next athletic director.

“Pitt Athletics is the front porch of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as a crucial access point for so many across our campus, our region, our nation and the world,” chancellor Joan Gabel said in a statement Friday.

“In Allen Greene, we have a proven national leader who exemplifies the Pitt way, and who has all of the experience and intangibles to elevate our athletics program in competition and in the classroom. In my conversations with Allen and with many others who know him well, it is clear that he will lead us successfully into the new world of intercollegiate athletics.”

Greene worked as a senior deputy athletic director and the chief operating officer at Tennessee since December 2023. He previously served as athletic director at Auburn (2018-22) and Buffalo (2015-18) and also filled a deputy AD role at Ole Miss in 2023.

The Seattle-area native graduated from Notre Dame, where he was an outfielder for the Fighting Irish. The New York Yankees selected him in the ninth round of the 1998 MLB Draft and he played four years in the minor leagues before beginning his career in sports administration.

Greene, 47, replaces Heather Lyke, who was dismissed on Sept. 6.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) carries the ball against Carolina Panthers cornerback Michael Jackson (2) in the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

With Davante Adams in fold, Jets eye Steelers, possibly Russell Wilson

Last week, the New York Jets got a new head coach. This week, they obtained a new receiver.

Now the Jets (2-4) need to figure out how to add victories as they enter Sunday night’s road showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2).

New York sacked coach Robert Saleh after the team’s loss against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 6. Then after falling 23-20 to the visiting Buffalo Bills on Monday night, the Jets acquired Davante Adams from the Las Vegas Raiders one day later to reunite him with quarterback Aaron Rodgers from their successful run with the Green Bay Packers.

Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Wednesday that Adams will play on Sunday when New York attempts to end a three-game slide.

“I’ll be able to roll,” Adams said Wednesday. “I’m feeling good right now. I was running around today. We had a walk-through practice, and it felt good running around.”

During Adams’ last six seasons in Green Bay, he caught 581 passes for 7,192 yards and 69 touchdown receptions as Rodgers’ go-to wideout. Adams was named to the Pro Bowl in his last five years with the Packers.

After being traded to the Raiders, he had two more big campaigns. This season, he had 18 catches for 209 yards and one touchdown in three games for the Raiders before missing the last three with a hamstring injury.

“He infuses a lot of energy into the team right away,” Rodgers said of Adams. “He is a proven star player, he’s an asset, he’s an incredible locker room presence.”

Despite having Rodgers, the Jets average just 18.8 points per game (tied for 22nd in the NFL) and 304.3 yards per game (also 22th). Rodgers has passed for 1,387 yards and nine touchdowns, with five interceptions.

Running back Breece Hall broke out against the Bills with 169 yards from scrimmage (113 rush, 56 receiving) for his top outing of the season.

“In my opinion, probably the best game Breece has had here as a Jet,” Ulbrich said of the third-year pro.

The Steelers could turn to Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback after the veteran took first-team practice repetitions ahead of Justin Fields on Wednesday.

Wilson hasn’t played this season due to a calf injury. But he did practice all last week to move closer to a return.

“Now it’s about knocking the rust off,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “He did some of that last week. He is in consideration this week. We’ll see where that leads us.”

Tomlin didn’t want to discuss why Wilson received the first-team reps over Fields, who started the first six games.

However, he indicated earlier this week that Wilson wouldn’t need a lot of time to be ready to go once he’s physically cleared.

“There’s also a totality of his resume as well that makes you more comfortable than guys with shorter resumes in that regard, in terms of the ability to play ball on a limited amount of exposure,” Tomlin said of Wilson, who will be starting his 13th NFL season. “I have that mentality about guys across positions, and we’ve had that discussion before — with veteran players, that comfort that comes with experience in some of those really sometimes uncomfortable discussions.”

Fields has completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns, with one interception. He also has rushed for 231 yards and five scores.

Both players were acquired in the offseason — Wilson from the Denver Broncos and Fields from the Chicago Bears.

Wilson is no longer on Pittsburgh’s injury report. Players who sat out because of injuries Wednesday include running backs Najee Harris (ribs) and Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle), center Zach Frazier (ankle) and linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring). Frazier and Herbig have been ruled out of Sunday’s game.

The Jets are ailing in the secondary. Cornerbacks Michael Carter II (back) and D.J. Reed (groin) didn’t participate Wednesday and could miss the game. In addition, safety Chuck Clark (ankle) was injured against Buffalo and placed on injured reserve.

Rodgers (ankle) missed the walk-through but is expected on the practice field on Thursday. Adams was a full-go Wednesday.

New York has won three of the past four meetings between the teams.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren in vs. Raiders; DE DeMarvin Leal on IR

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren, who has missed two games because of a knee issue, was upgraded from questionable to having no injury designation and is expected to play Sunday against the host Las Vegas Raiders.

Defensive end DeMarvin Leal, who already was ruled out after missing practice all week, was placed on injured reserve on Saturday because of a neck injury sustained in last Sunday’s home loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

In other moves on Saturday, Pittsburgh signed linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji from the practice to the 53-man active roster and made game-day elevations for running back Jonathan Ward and linebacker Eku Leota.

Warren has not played since Sept. 22, a 20-10 home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. He has 14 carries for 54 yards and five receptions for 28 yards in three games.

He was limited at practice on Wednesday and Thursday but was a full participant on Friday.

The 25-year-old has played for the Steelers since 2022, totaling 240 rushing attempts for 1,217 yards and five TDs, and 94 receptions for 612 yards in 36 games as a reserve.

Leal, 24, has four tackles in five games this season. Pittsburgh selected him in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He has 33 career tackles (three for loss) and one sack in 28 games (six starts).

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton (28) riuns with the ball as Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Nate Matlack (2) defends in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Pitt upends North Carolina, 5-0 for first time since ’91

Eli Holstein completed 25 of 42 passes for 381 yards, three touchdowns and an interception to lead Pittsburgh to a 34-24 win over North Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The freshman quarterback also led the Panthers with 76 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in Pitt’s first win on North Carolina’s campus.

Desmond Reid had 11 catches for 155 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 55 yards as the Panthers improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1991. Raphael Williams Jr. and Censere Lee had touchdown catches for Pitt (5-0, 1-0 ACC).

Jacolby Criswell completed 24 of 45 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown for North Carolina (3-3, 0-2). Omarion Hampton rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown and Nate McCollum had 10 catches and 128 receiving yards. John Copenhaver had a touchdown catch for North Carolina, which has lost three in a row.

Pitt took the lead for good in the fourth quarter on an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by Holstein’s 3-yard touchdown run for a 31-24 lead. On the next Tar Heels possession, Pitt stopped Hampton on a fourth-and-1 attempt inside the Pitt 10-yard line and took over on downs with 9:08 left.

Pitt opened the scoring when its first drive stalled out at the UNC 6-yard line as Ben Sauls connected on a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

After Pitt forced North Carolina into a three-and out, the Tar Heels took a 7-3 lead when Kaleb Cost jumped a third-down out route and returned an interception 84 yards for a touchdown.

Early in the second quarter, Holstein hit Reid over the middle for a 72-yard gain to set up Lee’s 7-yard touchdown catch and put Pitt back up 10-7.

North Carolina answered on its next possession with a 34-yard field goal by Noah Burnette. On Pitt’s next drive, Holstein found Williams Jr. on a crossing route for a 30-yard touchdown and a 17-10 Pitt lead with 5:41 left in the first half.

The Tar Heels came right back with a 3-yard touchdown run by Hampton to tie the game at 17 just before halftime.

A 46-yard diving completion to Konata Mumpfield set up Reid’s 2-yard touchdown catch and gave Pitt a 24-17 lead with nine minutes left in the third.

At 2:07 in the third, Criswell hit Copenhaver on a post route for an 11-yard touchdown catch to tie the game at 24.

Sauls’ 37-yard field goal with two minutes left provided the final margin for the Panthers.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) carries the ball against the Youngstown State Penguins during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pitt improves to 4-0 with rout of FCS foe Youngstown State

Eli Holstein went 16-of-24 passing for 247 yards and three touchdowns to lead Pittsburgh to a 73-17 home win over Youngstown State on Saturday.

Holstein also rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, and Daniel Carter rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries for Pittsburgh (4-0).

Beau Brungard threw two touchdown passes to Cyrus Traugh in defeat for Youngstown State (1-3).

Pittsburgh exploded offensively in the first half, scoring 42 points to take a 42-10 lead into halftime.

Holstein hit Raphael Williams for a 6-yard touchdown pass, then Carter scored on a 24-yard touchdown run with 8:30 to go in the first quarter to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead.

Holstein capped a 7-play, 61-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run that gave Pittsburgh a 21-0 lead with 3:33 left in the first quarter.

Following a Youngstown State field goal, Pittsburgh went 74 yards in five plays and took a 28-3 lead with 10:34 remaining in the second quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Holstein to Kenny Johnson.

After an interception, Carter scored on a 43-yard touchdown run to make it 35-3 Panthers with 8:08 left until halftime.

Youngstown State mounted an 11-play, 75-yard drive and cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 35-10 after a 25-yard touchdown pass from Brungard to Traugh, but Pittsburgh answered with an 82-yard touchdown pass from Holstein to Censere Lee with 1:35 left in the first half to give Pittsburgh a 42-10 lead.

Youngstown State cut the Pittsburgh lead to 42-17 with 9:23 remaining in the third quarter after a 44-yard touchdown pass from Brungard to Traugh, but it was all Panthers after that.

Holstein scored on a 2-yard touchdown run and Carter caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Nate Yarnell to give Pittsburgh a 59-17 lead in the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) throws a touchdown pass against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Pitt seeks 4-0 start against FCS Youngstown State

Pitt will be seeking to open the season with four straight wins for the first time since 2000 when it hosts Football Championship Subdivision foe Youngstown State on Saturday in Pittsburgh.

The Panthers (3-0) put themselves in position to accomplish that feat after second-half dramatics to beat West Virginia 38-34 last Saturday in the 107th Backyard Brawl. Derrick Davis Jr. scored on a 1-yard dive with 32 seconds remaining as the Panthers rallied past the Mountaineers.

The past two weeks, Pitt has overcome double-digit fourth-quarter deficits to beat Cincinnati and West Virginia.

“The way we won those last two games, that’s great,” said Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, who played linebacker for Youngstown State for a season in 1985 before transferring to Rhode Island. “We found a way to win. “But we can’t get used to that.

“We can’t wait and think that we can be comfortable and we’ll just win it in the fourth quarter. It doesn’t matter what happens in the first, second or third.”

Alabama transfer Eli Holstein has been instrumental in helping the Panthers pull out the victories. He is the first Pitt freshman or redshirt freshman to pass for 300 yards in three consecutive games, ranks tied for fourth nationally with nine touchdown passes, fifth in total offense (345.0 yards per game) and ninth in passing yards (313.0 yards per game).

Pitt’s defense has allowed teams to move the ball but has made enough plays and crucial stops, including two interceptions against West Virginia and a sack that gave the ball back to the offense for the game-winning drive.

At Youngstown State, the Penguins (1-2) are ranked 25th among FCS teams and hoping to rebound from last week’s 28-25 upset loss to Duquesne, which they beat in last year’s FCS playoffs. Youngstown State had a hard time stopping JaMario Clements, who rushed for 204 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown with 1:40 remaining.

“We’re playing a very good football team, and we got to play our best,” Youngstown State coach Doug Phillips said Tuesday. “We cannot make the mistakes we made this past Saturday. We got to take care of the football. We’ve got to, when there’s opportunities to score touchdowns, we’ve got to be able to do that.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) on the field prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Steelers QB Russell Wilson (calf) questionable to play vs. Broncos

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expecting to start Justin Fields at quarterback against the Denver Broncos with Russell Wilson questionable for Sunday’s road game against his former team.

Wilson had the same status last week because of a calf injury and was inactive for the season-opening road victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

“Regarding Russell’s availability, I’m going to list him as questionable, and so obviously if his availability is questionable, then starting is less so,” Steelers coach Tomlin said Friday. “But we’ve been in that mindset all week, man. Like I’ve said, we’ve been focused on getting Justin ready to play and we’ll continue in that mindset as we push forward toward game time.”

Fields, 25, completed 73.9 percent of his passes (17 of 23) and did not commit a turnover to lead the Steelers to an 18-10 win in Week 1. Fields, a 2021 first-round draft pick whom the Steelers acquired in a March trade with the Chicago Bears, also had 57 yards on 14 carries.

Pittsburgh signed Wilson, 35, as a free agent in March after the Broncos released him despite a salary cap hit of more than $80 million over the next two seasons.

A nine-time Pro Bowl selection in 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson played 30 games (all starts) for Denver. He was announced as the Steelers’ starter but sustained a calf injury in training camp and aggravated it in practice before the season opener.

“I feel like I’m getting closer and closer,” Wilson, a limited practice participant this week, said on Thursday. “I’m just trying to be smart and got to do a lot of work today on the field and everything else, throwing and all that, so just trying to be smart.”

–Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) throws a pass in the first quarter of the College Football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

Pitt off to fast start, faces rival West Virginia

Boasting a 2-0 record for the first time since its 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference championship season, Pittsburgh hosts West Virginia in the 107th installment of the “Backyard Brawl” rivalry series on Saturday.

The Panthers needed second-half dramatics to beat another Big 12 foe in Cincinnati last Saturday, rallying from a 21-point deficit to win 28-27 on Ben Sauls’ 35-yard field goal with 17 seconds remaining.

Alabama transfer quarterback Eli Holstein had another stellar performance, becoming the first Pitt true or redshirt freshman to post consecutive 300-yard passing games since 1989.

Desmond Reid, formerly of Western Carolina, became the first Panther on record to tally 100 yards rushing and 100 yards receiving in the same game.

“I think (the comeback) gives us belief,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We talk about faith and belief all the time, and our guys believed. There was never a time … where our guys didn’t think they could get it done.”

Pitt’s focus now shifts to its rival from 75 miles away in Morgantown, where the Mountaineers won 17-6 in last season’s matchup. The two teams are meeting for the third straight year after realignment paused what was an annual series between 1943 and 2011.

“(There may not be) many more important rivalry games in the country,” Narduzzi said. “This is the one that people in Pittsburgh live for. This is the one that people down south live for.”

However, Narduzzi’s Monday press conference began with a brief statement addressing Pitt parting ways with athletic director Heather Lyke.

“She’s done a great job, she’s got great energy and (I) appreciate everything she’s done there,” Narduzzi said. “I wish her and family all the luck personally and professionally as far as her next move.”

West Virginia (1-1) rebounded from a season-opening loss to Penn State, trouncing FCS foe UAlbany 49-14 behind 553 yards of total offense and quarterback Garrett Greene passing for three touchdowns and rushing for a fourth.

“I think those games are hard sometimes because you’re not only supposed to win, but you’re supposed to win by a lot,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown said. “Sometimes there’s some undue pressure and it’s hard to perform, but I thought our guys did that.”

Defensive lineman Eddie Vesterinen will “probably be out a few weeks,” Brown said. Vesterinen was helped off the field in the second quarter against UAlbany.

Regardless of who takes the field, the coach will not need any added motivation come Saturday.

Although West Virginia was the winner last year, Brown remembers his team’s last trip to Pittsburgh in 2022. The Panthers scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes for a 38-31 win.

The coach sure won’t need any added motivation.

“First time back at Acrisure Stadium since the disappointment in ’22,” Brown said. “That’s still very fresh on our minds — on mine. I can’t speak for our players, but on mine it is.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  University of Pittsburgh athletic director Heather Lyke in attendance as the Panthers host the Florida State Seminoles at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pitt parts ways with athletic director Heather Lyke

Pitt moved to replace athletic director Heather Lyke on Monday, with chancellor Joan Gabel saying the program needs a “new vision and a new leader.”

Lyke, 53, took over the Panthers’ athletic department in March 2017 after working as the AD at Eastern Michigan from 2013-17.

“Today, I informed University of Pittsburgh director of athletics, Heather Lyke, that I was making a change in the leadership of our athletics program,” Gabel wrote in her statement. “Upon her arrival at Pitt in 2017, Heather guided our program through a unique period in college athletics and we thank her for her leadership during that time.

“Her tenure included successes from football’s first ACC championship to volleyball reaching its first-ever NCAA Final Four, while representing the University at the conference and national levels. However, as we enter a new era in college athletics, one that seems to change by the day, we need a new vision and a new leader of our athletics department. On behalf of all Panthers, we wish Heather and her family the best with appreciation for their service to Pitt.

Jennifer Tuscano was named the interim athletic director while Pitt launches a national candidate search.

Notable hirings during Lyke’s tenure include men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel and women’s soccer coach Randy Waldrum, both in 2018. She also signed football coach Pat Narduzzi, volleyball coach Dan Fisher and men’s soccer coach Jay Vidovich to extensions.

The Panthers won ACC Coastal Division titles during the 2018 and 2021 seasons, capturing their first-ever ACC championship in the latter campaign. The men’s basketball program made the NCAA Tournament in 2023, its first appearance since 2016.

Lyke was an assistant athletic director at Cincinnati from 1996-98 and rose to the same position at Ohio State from 1998-2013.

–Field Level Media

Sep 8, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (12) looks at Pittsburgh Steelers punter Cameron Johnston (5) in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Steelers P Cameron Johnston sustains ‘serious injury’ vs. Falcons

Pittsburgh punter Cameron Johnston sustained a serious right knee injury in Sunday’s 18-10 season-opening victory over the host Atlanta Falcons, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game.

Johnston, who will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury, was hurt with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter when he was run into by a Falcons defender. A holding penalty on Pittsburgh led to a new fourth down, with kicker Chris Boswell stepping in and booting a 43-yard punt.

“Cam Johnston appears to have a serious injury. I’ll have an update for you next time we come together,” Tomlin said at a postgame press conference. “It’s a shame for him. This guy has been spectacular through team development. He’s an absolute stud. Not only in his talents, but his approach to business. My heart goes out to him.”

In the season opener, Johnston punted twice for 103 yards, a 51.5-yard average, including one inside the 20.

A native of Australia, Johnston, 32, played 95 games for the Philadelphia Eagles (2018-20) and Houston Texans (2021-23) before signing a three-year, $9 million contract with the Steelers. He totaled 445 punts and averaged 47.3 yards, placing 182 inside the 20.

He led the NFL with 88 punts for 4,108 yards (a 46.7 average) in 2021 while with the Texans.

–Field Level Media