Panthers Coach Chryst: 'It's Time For Us To Play A Game'
PITTSBURGH (93.7 THE FAN) - The Pitt Panthers' football season is just six days away, when the team opens up its schedule, and the first season in the ACC at home against Florida State. To preview the season, Head coach Paul Chryst joined the Fan Morning Show on Tuesday.
"Certainly we are very excited," Chryst said about the programs inaugural season in the ACC. He is equally excited to get to work with the group of guys that make up his football program. "It's time for us to play a game," Chryst said of all of the preparation leading up from spring until today.
Florida State is a very fast team, and Chryst tells us that it is impossible to mimic that in practice.
"It's hard to simulate things like size and strength and speed," Chryst said.
However, he likes the way his team runs, and thinks they will be able to keep up with the scheme of the Seminoles.
The running back situation is still unclear with an injury to would-be starter, Isaac Bennet. Chryst said that he hopes that things sort themselves out with Bennet, but, "Things are still unsettled at this point."
Fan Morning Show Host, Gregg Giannotti talked to Panthers' tight end, J.P. Holtz yesterday. Holtz told him that the biggest difference from last year to this year is that everyone has bought into what the coaching staff is selling, where last season there were players who did not.
"I like the vibe," Chryst said in reply to those comments, saying that he feels like the team is united with a common goal.
Tom Savage will be the team's starting quarterback, and he has not started since 2010 when he played for Rutgers.
"I would anticipate, for Tommy, there to be some jitters, Chryst tells us of potential rust for the starter, 'but he will have to work through it.'"
To hear the interview, click below:
