2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team The 2011 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represents the University of Pittsburgh in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season . The Panthers were led through the regular season by first year head coach Todd Graham and played eight home games at Heinz Field . Defensive coordinator Keith Patterson was named interim coach for the season - ending bowl game after Graham resigned in favor of a head coaching position at Arizona State . They are a member of the Big East Conference . Previous season . In 2010 , the Panthers finished 8 – 5 overall and 5 – 2 in the Big East to win a share of the Big East Championship with Connecticut and West Virginia and won the BBVA Compass Bowl against the Kentucky Wildcats . After the December 5 game against Cincinnati , head coach Dave Wannstedt resigned under pressure . On December 16 , the University of Pittsburgh hired then Miami ( Ohio ) head coach Michael Haywood . Just 16 days later , on January 1 , Haywood was fired by Pittsburgh after being charged with felony domestic violence . On January 10 , Pitt hired Tulsa head coach Todd Graham . Spring game . Pitt concluded its spring practices under new coach Todd Graham and showcased its new offensive and defensive schemes to the public for the first time in its annual Blue - Gold game on April 16 , 2011 at Heinz Field . Despite cold and rainy weather , the offense completed 81 passes and threw for 498 yards . The Blue team , which was composed of first - team players , ran 100 plays in two hours en route to a 48 – 13 victory over the Gold team which was composed of reserve players . The opening kickoff was returned returned 87 yard for a touchdown by defensive back Buddy Jackson . Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 35 of 55 passes for 416 yards and two scores while having one interception and a fumble . Linebacker Carl Fleming had a game - high 12 tackles and two sacks and the defense forced five total turnovers . Kevin Harper completed a 52 - yard field goal . The Ed Conway Award , which is give to the most improved players of the spring , went to Buddy Jackson , Anthony Gonzalez , and Tyrone Ezell . Coaching staff . Following the conclusion of the regular season , coaches Tony Dews , Tony Gibson , and Calvin Magee left to take positions with Rich Rodriguez ' s staff at Arizona and did not coach in the BBVA Compass Bowl . Post - season . Less than one year from his hiring , on the evening of December 13 , Graham informed Athletic Director Steve Pederson that he had discussed coaching opportunity at Arizona State . After being informed he did not have permission to talk to the school about the job and refusing conversations with Pederson and another administrator , Graham resigned the next morning to accept the head coaching job at Arizona State University . Graham informed his Pitt players of his departure by having text message forwarded to the team by director of football operations Blair Philbrick . Keith Patterson was named as the interim head coach for the BBVA Compass Bowl . On December 22 , 2011 , Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was introduced as the next permanent head coach to take over the Panthers following the BBVA Compass Bowl .