Pitt Edges Minnesota, Is 4-0 for the First Time Since 1982

Even the Pitt Panthers are having a hard time believing how fast they have turned things around.

The Panthers lost their final five games last year and finished 3-7-1. Then they lost several starters for off-the-field reasons. But that’s all in the past.

The 18th-ranked Panthers survived a scare from Minnesota and beat the Gophers, 14-13, Saturday to remain unbeaten. It’s the first time the Panthers have won their first four games in a season since 1982.

“To think we’d be 4-0 at this point, well, it was pretty much unthinkable,” Pitt Coach Paul Hackett said. “We’re just grateful we won. It’s a pretty subdued locker room in there because we understand what we have to do to get better. We know we can’t play like this and win many.”

The Panthers missed seven scoring opportunities. They missed four field-goals attempts, were twice stopped on fourth and one near the goal line, and fumbled the ball away on the four.