JONATHAN BALDWIN NAMED BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE WEEK
11/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 16, 2009
PITTSBURGH--Pitt sophomore wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin has been named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers' 27-22 victory over Notre Dame this past Saturday.
Baldwin (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) thrilled a sold-out Heinz Field and national ABC television audience with high-leaping grabs and spectacular circus catches to lift Pitt past the visiting Irish. He averaged 28.4 yards per catch, finishing with 142 receiving yards on just five receptions.
Baldwin's diving 36-yard touchdown catch gave Pitt a 10-3 halftime lead it would never relinquish. He also made an acrobatic 51-yard grab in which he jumped over a defender to come up with the catch, ultimately setting up a Pitt field goal.
On the year, Baldwin has 40 receptions for 840 yards (21.0 avg.) and five touchdowns. The Notre Dame contest marked his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the year.
Baldwin is part of a Pitt offense that averages 33.80 points per game, which ranks 15th nationally and second in the Big East.
Wrote Matt Hayes in this morning's Sporting News Today, "(Pitt's) trifecta on offense --QB Bill Stull, TB Dion Lewis, WR Jonathan Baldwin--is the best in the nation."
Ranked No. 8 by The Associated Press and No. 9 in the USA Today coaches poll, Pitt has its highest November rankings since 1982. The Panthers moved up to ninth in this week's Bowl Championship Series ratings, their highest BCS listing ever.
Pitt achieved its lofty rankings after winning six consecutive games to improve to 9-1 on the year, its best start since the 1982 Panthers, led by quarterback Dan Marino, also started 9-1.
The Panthers have a bye this week before putting their undefeated Big East record (5-0) on the line at West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) on Nov. 27. Pitt will conclude its regular-season against Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0) at Heinz Field on Dec. 5.
The game against the Bearcats, rated fifth in this week's BCS standings, will decide the winner of the 2009 Big East championship and resultant Bowl Championship Series berth.
To purchase tickets for the Pitt-Cincinnati game, log on to www.PittsburghPanthers.com or call the Pitt Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT.
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