ACC Media Days are officially underway with Tyler Boyd and Ray Vinopal addressing the media on Sunday as representatives of Pitt's football lprogram.
Earlier, I wrote about the somewhat unusual selection of Boyd serving as one of the team reps - an honor generally reserved for upperclassmen. He was, as you would expect, grateful for the opportunity.
Speaking to SB Nation's Bud Elliott, Boyd said "It’s a true honor to be here – it’s more of a junior and senior thing. I’m thankful for the University of Pittsburgh to allow me to represent them and come to an event like this."
Having the opportunity to go ultimately speaks to Boyd's leadership attributes. There's no doubt that he's going to have a bigger role in 2014 on the field and off of it. In essence, Chryst's selection of him projects him from being simply a star player to one of the understood leaders on the team. With teammate Devin Street heading to the pros in this year's NFL Draft, Boyd will be thrust into an even bigger spotlight than a year before. Overall, he seems to understand the responsibility and is prepared to lead despite being only a true sophomore.
"A guy like Devin Street led me through the right road and to be a better player and a better person. (The situation turns to) me showing other guys. I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve got what it takes to lead the other guys."
On the field, the team has had its ups and downs over the past few years. Pitt has finished 6-6 each of the last three seasons, so the sense of mediocrity surrounds the program right now. Boyd expects things to turn around this year, however. The key?
"Just playing as a unit, just playing as one instead of playing for an individual. I feel that we are more of a family … we have the same expectations and we all want the same thing. The more that we come together and play together will make us a great team instead of the team we’ve been the last couple of years."
On Monday, head coaches, including the Panthers' Paul Chryst, will take center stage.
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