Pittsburgh was mired in a rut of four consecutive six-win regular seasons since it parted ways with Dave Wannstedt in 2010. But the Panthers turned plenty of heads last winter upon hiring touted Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi, a former Broyles Award winner who had other head-coaching opportunities in the past.
From day one, Narduzzi helped set the tone, bringing aboard Dave Andrews to run his strength and conditioning program and install early-morning winter workouts titled the "Fifth Quarter."
Games might not be won in the early days of the offseason, but, as Narduzzi would say, games sure can be lost.