M.J. Devonshire Channeled His Idol in a Big Way Against Louisville

“You know, Devonshire was outstanding,” Pat Narduzzi said Saturday night. “We had a couple holding or PIs, whatever, back there, but M.J. was outstanding. That pick-six, to do that in front of Tony Dorsett and Darrelle Revis up there, that’s big time.

“I think I told him right before that series, hey, you’re going to take one to the house, and sure enough, he did. It was time — turnovers were timely and really good.”

It hasn’t been the easiest season for Devonshire so far, especially not after entering the season with sky-high expectations, internally and externally, but he was exemplary against a very good Louisville offense. And he knew he was capable of it, of course.

“Everybody has to face adversity at some point in your life, and coach Junko says it best, never get too high, never get too low, and maybe through the offseason I got too high,” Devonshire said. “God has a plan for everybody, I truly believe that and I trusted it, there were some dark days, but when it stops raining, the sun gotta come out. You just gotta pray and keep going, and one day the sun’s going to come out.”

It may have been a chilly, rainy night as Devonshire and the defense shut down the Cardinals’ offense, the sun was certainly not shining, but Devonshire felt lighter — and brighter — than he had in weeks.

It may have helped to hear from Revis before the game. The two didn’t talk all that much football, not individually, at least, but if Revis stressed one thing, it was opportunity.

The big word of the day was opportunity.

“You only get a certain amount of opportunities and sometimes you’ll be blind to it and you’ll miss it, but if your eyes are open and you’re expecting it, you can take advantage of those opportunities,” Devonshire said. “And I told (Marquis Williams and A.J. Woods), we’ll get another chance. Obviously, I’m the one that gave up the touchdown, but they gonna make a play and maybe I’ll make a play.”

Devonshire didn’t talk to Revis immediately after the win, instead expecting a phone call when he got home, but Revis spoke to Pitt as a whole. He was the honorary captain after all. But if Revis and Devonshire have one thing in common, it’s where they come from, what they’ve done there.

“He talked about seizing the moment because, at the end of the day, where we come from, we win championships,” Devonshire said. “At the end of the day, you get opportunities to win games. Winning is the most important to us where we come from.”

Devonshire knows what it feels like to win. He knows what it feels like to make plays, too. And as Pitt has battled adversity this season, he’s remained firm in his belief that all it takes is maintaining confidence in one’s self and one’s teammates.

“You just gotta take it and have confidence, I told guys you gotta make a play for yourself because you’ll feel so much better when you lay down tonight and rest your head on the pillow and be like, ‘Man, I made a play tonight.’”

And as Revis was back in town to be honored for his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he was able to watch Devonshire make a play — make a few plays.

Pitt may not be able to reach the heights it expected to this season, not after an 0-4 skid through the month of September, but if Saturday’s performance against Louisville — especially from Devonshire — was any indication, the Panthers aren’t done fighting yet.