What was the final score of the Notre Dame vs. Pitt game?

Notre Dame defeated Pitt 37-15 in a dominant victory.

Home / Sports / Notre Dame Crushes Pitt, But Coaches' Frosty Handshake Raises Eyebrows

Notre Dame Crushes Pitt, But Coaches' Frosty Handshake Raises Eyebrows

Q: What did Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi say about the Notre Dame game earlier in the week?

Narduzzi suggested that the game against the independent Fighting Irish was not a "must-win" for his then-22nd ranked Panthers, as it was not an ACC conference matchup.

16 Nov

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Summary

Notre Dame defeats Pitt 37-15 in dominant win
Coaches' brief postgame handshake sparks speculation
Pitt coach Narduzzi's pregame comments may have motivated Notre Dame

Notre Dame Crushes Pitt, But Coaches' Frosty Handshake Raises Eyebrows

On November 12, 2022, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish earned a convincing 37-15 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium. However, the most notable moment of the game may have come after the final whistle, when Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi met for the customary postgame handshake.

The interaction between the two coaches was noticeably brief, with Narduzzi appearing to attempt a pleasantry only for Freeman to quickly disengage and walk away. When asked about the frosty exchange, Freeman simply stated that he "wanted to go celebrate" with his team.

The terse handshake may have been fueled by Narduzzi's curious pregame comments earlier in the week. While Narduzzi was complimentary of Notre Dame, he suggested that the game against the independent Fighting Irish was not a "must-win" for his then-22nd ranked Panthers, as it was not an ACC conference matchup. This remark could have provided extra motivation for the Fighting Irish, who have now won eight games in a row since an 0-2 start to the season.