WATCH: Bru McCoy scores first touchdown as a Vol
Tennessee wideout Bru McCoy brought the Volunteers within a field goal of Pitt in the second quarter when he reeled in a 32-yard touchdown, his first as a Vol. Isolated in single coverage down the left sideline, McCoy beat out his man and quarterback Hendon Hooker located him in the endzone for the score.
It wasn’t without a minor controversy, as McCoy had stepped out of bounds running his route, but he was forced out by the Pitt defender. A challenge by Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi was to no avail and McCoy’s first score as a Tennessee Volunteer held up, cutting Pitt’s lead to 17-14.
McCoy transferred to Tennessee from USC and there were questions around his eligibility throughout the offseason. He showed against Pitt just why Tennessee wanted him in their offense.
Narduzzi remained hot about the call into the half
Narduzzi headed into the half against Tennessee still heated about a call in the second quarter that he thought shouldn’t have held up. On a 32-yard touchdown catch by McCoy, the transfer wideout had stepped out of bounds before coming back in and making the grab.
Narduzzi thought he wasn’t forced out. He challenged the call to no avail and Tennessee cut Pitt’s lead to 17-14 before ultimately taking the lead and going into the half leading, 24-17. Narduzzi made his displeasure known speaking with ESPN’s Molly McGrath.
“You know they talked about him being pushed out but I don’t think he got pushed out. He ran out,” Narduzzi said. “They line up in these wide splits and they cut themselves off. We had a hand on him, we didn’t push him out he ran out. So I disagree with the call still.”
Narduzzi’s main point is that McCoy ran himself out of bounds, in part due to the way Tennessee lines up their receivers. He acknowledged there was contact from the defender, but doesn’t think a hand on the shoulder caused McCoy to deviate from his path.
Nonetheless, the officials didn’t overturn the call on the challenge and McCoy’s touchdown kicked off 17-unanswered points for the Vols.