Vinny Testaverde’s son to start for Albany vs. Pitt on Sep. 1
When Pitt opens the season against Albany on Sept. 1, they will go against a quarterback with famous last name.
Vinny Testaverde had a successful college career at the University of Miami, most notably winning the 1986 Heisman Trophy. He never lived up to expectations in the NFL, after being taken No. 1 overall in 1987 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he played 21 seasons in the league and made six starts for the Carolina Panthers during his age-44 season in 2007.
Vincent Testaverde started his college career at Texas Tech in 2014, appearing in one game as a true freshman. He then transferred to his father’s alma mater, walked on and took a redshirt in 2015 and then did not attempt a pass for the Hurricanes in 2016.
The younger Testaverde transferred again a year ago, to the University of Albany at the FCS level, and sat out last year under NCAA rules. He entered a three-way competition for the starting job this spring, which included last year’s 11-game starter Will Brunson.
On Thursday, Great Danes’ head coach Greg Gattuso announced Testaverde will start the season opener Sep. 1 against Pitt.
Testaverde, a fifth-year senior, will exhaust his college eligibility this year. He will wear No. 14, which was his father’s number in college as well as the NFL.
“Growing up I always liked the number,” Vincent said in a phone interview with the New York Post. “It’s special to both of us. Being able to switch over now and getting to wear it now, it’s very special to us.”
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The Panthers won’t be on upset alert in eight days, at home against what should be an easily overmatched FCS opponent. But a non-conference game featuring a mid-to-low end ACC team, that wouldn’t normally move the needle at all, will now have an interesting story line on the opposite sideline.