The concern for Pitt on Monday was whether the program would get back any positive COVID-19 tests from Sunday after the team's game against Georgia Tech was postponed from Saturday.
Those tests would determine whether Pitt could practice on a normal schedule this week. The Panthers did return to the practice field at the Rooney Sports Complex Tuesday morning, indicating the team is on schedule to play Virginia Tech this Saturday at Heinz Field at 4 p.m.
Pat Narduzzi was vague, but suggested Monday that Pitt did have players who tested positive when he said, "I can tell you this: The numbers weren't so bad that we probably couldn't have played it." Running back coach Andre Powell went even further on Tuesday, saying that Pitt had a major player, and multiple players, test positive for COVID-19.
"When you lose a guy, who's a main-line guy, everyone knows what comes with that," Powell said when asked how his players have responded to the postponed game. "And with everyone who's tested positive, we know with a little more caution that we probably could have prevented it. But our kids are tough. Any time a guy goes down that creates an opportunity for another guy so we play 'next man up ball' and don't make excuses. If you're in the huddle, you're a starter and that's how we go about it."
Hearing that either Pitt's players, staff, or both, might've gotten lax in how cautious they've been in regards to COVID-19 is a stiff reminder of how delicate sports is during this coronavirus pandemic. Pitt's protocols have been detailed and rigorous the entire season and have kept the team without a single player having to miss a game due to COVID-19 for over two months.
Receiver D.J. Turner also commented Tuesday, saying that having all those games played with no players who tested positive for COVID-19 led to mistakes that resulted in positive tests.
"From the beginning, I knew this was a year we had to be flexible because you never knew what would happen the next day," Turner said. "Then as the year rolled on and we played eight games, we got too comfortable and forgot about what was going on in the rest of the world. It brought it back that we needed to still be flexible and do what we do to change throughout the season. We have to keep that up now so we can finish the season."
But senior linebacker Chase Pine disagreed with that assessment.
"I wouldn't say we had a (false sense of security)," Pine said Tuesday. "It was just more of guys wanting to know what was wrong or how it happened. It's going to happen on its own, it's a silent little killer. It got us, but we'll come back stronger."
One thing Pine, Turner and Powell could all agree on was that Pitt's players have been anxious to get back on the practice field in preparation for their next game.
"Knowing us," Pine said. "I felt like we were going to practice. Being here at Pittsburgh, coach Narduzzi has been staying on us to stay [isolated] from other people. I knew we were going to practice this week because the guys really want to play this week after getting a week off."
"They were really eager," Powell said. "They were in here early today. There were Zoom meetings last night. Guys calling all over the night, wanting to know what film they needed to watch to get ready for the first practice and that felt good to see."
"I'm definitely excited to get back out on the field," Turner said. "After the course of eight games, you start to get tired and then boom, that happens. You realize you might not be able to finish the season and you don't know how things will play out. It helps you not take games for granted and you appreciate things a little more. That's how I felt today getting back out on the field after not being sure how this would play out."
But while players are excited to get back to normal, Turner said their confidence in being able to finish the season rests in players being concerned for their safety, and the program's staff guiding them in the right direction.
"There's a lot of concern," Turner said. "But at the same time, you can go get some food and get COVID because it's everywhere. A lot of people are worried about their well-being. But right now we all trust the training staff and coaching staff to put us in the best position to not get it."
• On a lighter note, both Powell and Pine did talk about how they spent their Saturday without having a football game to play. Pine used the opportunity to relax and get a first look at the team's next opponent.
"It was good, honestly," Pine said when asked about his weekend. "I got to watch film on Virginia Tech against Miami and saw some things I liked. Finally got to be a regular guy for a weekend, so that was fun. Definitely enjoyed watching college football and seeing what's going around."
Powell, however, wasn't missing out on a chance to take in one of his favorite hobbies with the free weekend before autumn turned to winter.
"I control what I can control and the rest I let go," Powell said. "They said we play, we get prepared. They say we're not playing, I go fishing. I went to Shenango Lake."
Powell did confirm that he caught a few fish.