At the end of an emotional and contentious game, Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins and Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi shook hands and parted ways in a fashion that gave the appearance of a brushoff by Collins.
In a video of the exchange, the two shook hands and Collins pulled away from Narduzzi’s grip and walked away without turning back following Tech’s 34-20 home loss Thursday night.
Asked about the interaction, Collins said that he was was trying to make sure his players made it over to the band, stationed in the north end-zone stands. The game included a number of post-play confrontations, and it’s likely Collins was wanting to get his players separated from Pitt’s.
“There were some things throughout the game that got chippy, and I was just making sure that I wanted to get to my guys (to the band),” Collins said. “So if I came across any type of way, I really had no intention of that. I’m just so focused on our team, so focused on making sure that we go and celebrate with our band that does so much for us and for our program.”
Narduzzi’s impression was a little different.
“I just said, ‘Hey, you’ve got a great team,’ and he said, ‘Baloney,’ I guess in nice words, and walked off,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t know. I thought it was a good game.”
A review of the exchange leaves open the possibility that Collins was planning a quick, cursory handshake and Narduzzi a firm grip, and neither read the other intentions well, leaving Collins pulling his hand away from a perplexed Narduzzi.
It was the final act of a game in which both teams played on edge, with some skirmishes interspersed. Pitt was called once for roughing the passer, twice for unsportsmanlike conduct and once for a personal foul. Tech was called for three personal fouls and twice for roughing the passer.
After one of the personal fouls, on Tech safety Juanyeh Thomas for hitting Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett out of bounds in what was a debatable call, Thomas and Pickett jawed facemask to facemask at each other. After that penalty, Pitt tight Kyi Wright also was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Someone stole someone’s towel on the other team and our guy grabbed it back and got 15 yards for trying to get his towel back,” Narduzzi said. “I think they watch too much NFL football. That was one of those follies when someone stole a towel and all of the sudden, they steal a towel from us and we get 15 yards for getting it back. Just some crazy stuff.”
Collins acknowledged that he did not maintain his composure as much as he would have liked after calls that went against his team. During the game he did not hide his displeasure with some of the calls. Tech was called for eight penalties for 86 yards.
“I let my opinions be known during the game,” he said. “I’m not going to let my opinions be known on one of these kind of (media) calls. But just know that I do have strong opinions, but I’m mostly intelligent enough to keep those to myself.”
Linebacker David Curry said that he has seen his coach get pretty upset before, “but (Thursday) might top the charts. He was very upset. That just shows who he is. He’ll go to war for each and every one of us.”
Collins’ emotional state may have influenced his team. Safety Tariq Carpenter was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after he and Pitt defensive lineman Will King (who was also called for unsportsmanlike conduct) got tangled up on the Pitt sideline in offsetting penalties. As more Tech players entered the fray, Tech strength coaches ran across the field to restore order.
“They have to maintain their composure, regardless of the things and the chaos and the mayhem that are going on around them,” Collins said.
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