Month: June 2016

A Look Back at Some Pitt Recruits

During the offseason we fans tend to look backward over the history of Pitt football and start talking about teams and players we were familiar with.  Some of them we liked, some disappointed.  A few months ago I compiled a list of 2* and 3* recruits (Rivals.com) whom I though played above those star ratings.

It encompasses the last 13 years and there are some names on there that shocked me to see that they were rated so low coming out of high school.  Here is the list:

YR Player Position Stars
‘03 G. Lee  @Pitt
 WR 2*
‘03 Clermond LB 2*
Session OLB 3*
McGlynn OL 3*
‘04 Strong TE 2*
Kinder WR 2*
  Revis  @Pitt
 DB 3*
‘05 Mustakas DL 2*
CJ Davis OL 2*
‘06 Romeus  @Pitt
 DE 2*
  Pinkston  @Pitt
 OL 3*
Wright DB 2*
‘07 Gruder ILB 2*
  Hynoski*  @Pitt
 FB 3*
 ’08  Dion  Lewis  @Pitt  RB  3*
Taglianetti DB 2*
Turnley OL 2*
‘09 Street  @Pitt
 WR 2*
Hendricks DB 2*
‘10 Mosley-Smith DL 3*
S. Johnson OL 3*
‘11 Bennett RB 2*
‘12 Caprara LB 2*
  Holtz  @Pitt
 TE 3*
‘13 Blewitt K 2*
Webb DB 2*
‘14 Wirginis LB 2*
Blair DE 2*
Ollison  @Pitt
 RB 3*

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How Many Pundits Does It Take…

After the press release for the new fan initiatives went out on Monday four local media reporters had a chance to sit down the AD Scott Barnes and discuss those changes and other topics.

Sam Werner of the Post-Gazette, Craig Meyer of the Post-Gazette, 15 year old  Lance Lysowski of DKPittsburghSports.com and the silver-backed gorilla of Pittsburgh sports writing  Jerry DiPaola of the Tribune-Review  all took part in it and what followed was a very long and detailed interview, more like an overview type discussion, regarding the ‘momentum’ Pitt is carrying now that we have had personnel switches at the University’s administrative leadership positions.

Those personnel would be Pat Gallagher replacing Chancellor Mark Nordenberg; Scott Barnes replacing AD Steve Pederson and at the more grass roots level Pat Narduzzi replacing head football. So far it looks that has come rolling it and made positive changes to both the Athletic Department and in how that Department interacts with the fans, alumni and students… and media.

first_triumvirate_of_caesar_crassius_and_pompey
Gallagher, Narduzzi and Barnes (if he keeps eating the way he has been)

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A Win for the Masses

Proverbs 31:4-8 ” Give beer to people who are dying and wine to those who are sad. Let them drink and forget their need and remember their misery no more. “  Obviously we need to get wine sales to the public in Heinz ASAP because with 2016’s schedule there may be some real sad-making days this fall on the Northside.

One of my real problems with Pitt football over the years is how they had treated the common fan when it came to purchasing alcohol at Heinz Field.  Not only were we dragging ass in adopting this policy…:

screen-shot-2015-10-16-at-1-19-23-pm
Where is Pitt?

…we were also enforcing an extremely prejudicial (or crass ) allowance policy that was already in effect.

Pitt ‘s previous stance was that if you paid the extortion fee of a “donation” (and I use that word in protest) you could then buy the much more expensive Club Seats and watch the game with a fully stocked and enclosed bar in your club’s section.

Club seat prices

Don’t get me wrong here – there is absolutely nothing wrong with donating to the Pitt Athletic funds if you choose to do so.  There is something seriously wrong when favors are withheld because you don’t do it and that is exactly what was happening.

To Pitt’s and Chancellor Gallagher’s credit that has now changed.  I say the Chancellor Gallagher because while the “Beer Sales Now Dammit!!” was  recognized and carried forward by Athletic Director Scott Barnes and the new Fan Experience Committee, the final decision

pittsburgh20steelers20club20level202
What? There a game being played?

rested with Gallagher and the University’s General Council’s Chief Legal Counsel Geovette Washington.

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Recruit: “I’m here!” Pitt: “Thank God!”

As a follow-up to some items we discussed on here last week regarding recruiting and  Narduzzi not hesitating to switch kids to positions where the team needs help and the kid can thrive here is something that dovetails with it.

The Post-Gazette has a piece on the impatient go-getters from our 2016 who have already reported for summer drills.

“He did tip his hand a bit, though, when asked about positions that could use reinforcements from the freshman class. The names Narduzzi mentioned — Zack Gilbert, Keyshon Camp, Rashad Weaver — all play defensive line, an area where the Panthers do look thin heading into 2016.

“Those are three cats that can play a lot of different things,” Narduzzi said.

Another player who figures to play a number of roles, at least immediately, is Ohio athlete George Hill. Hill, a former four-star recruit, could end up playing defensive back, running back or even receiver, and Narduzzi wasn’t eager to pigeon-hole him before training camp started.”

Obviously having them on the Southside before fall camp starts isn’t a coincidence.  Narduzzi can say that he’ll let the player themselves choose which position they would be most comfortable with and that seems to be the case…you also get the impression from the HC that even if that player isn’t 100% sold on the idea of switching the decision will be made by the guy who is paid to make those decisions.

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