For the workday:
You can listen to this while you read the rest of this article. Here is the latest Chris Peak podcast on the Trib site and he starts off with an interesting point:
I laugh at least once or twice any time I listen to him … “…then we had to watch Pitt give up 6,000 passing yards to friggin’ Mike Teel!” Great stuff!
Earlier I said it looked like rsSR LB Bam Bradly was on the outside looking in when it came to being a starter this season. Jerry DiPaola picks that thought up with an article in the Trib this morning:
The latter is what continues to happen to senior Bam Bradley, who was a backup to Caprara last year at money outside linebacker, a position where players have more responsibility in heavy traffic. At the outset of training camp last week, coaches moved Bradley to the other side of the field — to the star position where defenders work most often in open space.
This week, it’s back to money for Bradley as coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff are intrigued by the youth and athleticism of star linebackers Seun Idowu and Elijah Zeise, both sophomores from North Allegheny.
“We have to find a couple guys who can play multiple positions,” defensive coordinator Josh Conklin said, adding Bradley remains in competition with Idowu and Zeise.
And later in that piece he writes this scary bit:
The depth at linebacker seems secure for the moment, but Conklin wants to see more of it at defensive tackle after losing junior Justin Moody to a cervical spine condition. Starters Tyrique Jarrett, currently dealing with a minor injury, and Shakir Soto could be backed up by freshmen Keyshon Camp, Amir Watts and Rashad Wheeler of Central Catholic.
Folks, if we are going to hope for some breakout seasons from true freshmen let’s look past Moss and the FR receivers and target that DL interior. Those names above do not strike fear in any opposing OC’s heart.
While we are throwing DiPaola around here is another depressing bit. While the eternal optimists of the Pitt fan faithful will look real hard and click their heels three times when reviewing those two TE’s we had commit yesterday Jerry D. tells it like it is:
Both players are welcome additions to Pitt’s class for two simple reasons:
— They are the only tight ends in the class.
— Pitt’s current roster includes two senior tight ends, Scott Orndoff and Jaymar Parrish. A third, Chris Clark, will be coming off knee surgery next year.
Notice he didn’t say “they are highly rated or highly sought after or look to be great additions…” He said basically we have crap for the future and need any bodies we can get at that position.
Barnes shared ticket figures in a media briefing at the team’s South Side facility Thursday afternoon, citing anticipation for Year 2 with coach Pat Narduzzi at the helm, and the team’s Sept. 10 meeting with Penn State, which is already is a sellout.
“It will be an incredible home game atmosphere,” said Barnes. “The majority will be Pitt [fans.]”
Barnes was adamant he had no concern that Penn State fans gobbled up season-ticket packages just to gain access to one game. He said the school’s data suggests it will be a pro-Pitt audience because of the way Pitt staggered sales and provided existing season ticket-holders with the opportunity to renew and purchase extra single-game tickets.
Here is the latest post-practice press release from the Media Dept:
Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
Opening statement:
“Good afternoon instead of good morning. It’s good to see you this time of day. It’s a really sudden change. I wanted to see how you guys [the media] would react–just like our kids–to a little schedule change. We decided to go a little later today. We have gone with two doubles this week. They got off the field at like nine o’clock last night under the lights here. The trains were humming by. There’s a lot heavier traffic with trains at night–I don’t know if you guys know that–than there is during the day.
We got two great practices in. I wanted to get them a little fresher today and give them a little bit more rest. We actually slept in an hour longer today. They were excited about that. We gave them a little bit of a later start. We had some good meetings in preparation for Saturday’s scrimmage. I think that’s huge. It’ll be a get-after-it practice today after two yesterday, and then we’ll lighten up a little bit tomorrow. We’re going to crank it up on Saturday, so that’s kind of the method there.”
On if Linebacker Bam Bradley has been taking reps at multiple positions:
“Bam [Bradley] will work both sides, and based on personnel, we feel good with what he can do out there on the field. It was good to see him be able to go out there and execute. We’ve gotten him so familiar with it now.
A year ago he couldn’t do that, so his knowledge is better. Seun [Oluwaseun Idowu] is doing a great job. Elijah [Zeise] is doing a good job out there at that Star position as well. We’ll have more guys in space as opposed to a team that’s going to come out in 22 personnel and try to run it down your throat.”
On if having versatile, faster linebackers helps:
“It does, but depending on who you play, people will be able to personnel you a little bit knowing that. Then all of the sudden they’ll line up with two tight-ends, and then all of the sudden spread one of them out and put that guy in space. But the good thing is that Bam [Bradley] has done that against three or four wide-outs already. He’s done it against good wide-outs, so we’re not afraid to do it because he’s gotten those reps through camp.”
On how senior Linebackers Mike Caprara and Matt Galambos have improved since last year:
“They were already pretty good. It’s like Coach [Dave] Andrews always says in the weight room, `the freshman are going to make major gains in the weight room, as opposed to a senior who has been through four years of the strength program.’ It’s just hard. [Usain] Bolt isn’t going to set a world record every time he runs the 100 meters. It’s the same thing with those guys.
They know what they’re doing on defense. Sometimes you even see a drop-off because they feel like, `Hey, I know what I’m doing. I don’t have to do that as perfect, Coach. You know I can do that.’ No, I’d like to see you continue to do it the right way. You just don’t see those major improvements out of guys that are vets.”
On if he has seen anything that stands out to him on special teams:
“Not really. We work a lot of the fundamentals during the day on these hot two-a-days. We’re running our guys around working on fundamentals, getting off blocks, protecting, punting and covering. Then last night was more of a laid back, `Hey, what happens if we’re kicking off after a penalty?’ All of those situational-type things that you don’t really spend a lot of time on because they might not happen all next year, but just in case they do, we’re prepared for everything.”
On how helpful coming here in the spring has been for Running Back Chawntez Moss:
“I’m not a big proponent of mid-year transfers, but the two guys that we had come in at mid-year–Chawntez [Moss] and Patrick Jones [II]–both of them have made major improvements from what they did in the spring. You can’t see what the other freshmen [have done] because you don’t know where they were, but you see major improvements out of both of those individuals.
Chawntez was definitely helped by coming here and being in the strength program for not only the spring, but the entire summer. A lot of the freshmen didn’t get here until later on. Both of those guys have taken full advantage of it. They have not only changed their bodies, but it’s given them a chance mentally to help themselves get on the field.”
On if there is a reason that he is not a big fan of the mid-year transfer:
“After watching those two progress, I’d be a fool not to like that. I think it’s in our best interest, but I don’t think it’s always in the kids’ best interest to pull them out of high school. They don’t finish with their [friends]. I don’t think I’d want my own kids to leave school early. I’d like them to go to prom. I’d like them to be able to enjoy it. Let me just tell you–football is 12 months a year.
It’s not like it used to be when I was in school. We used to go home during the summers and see mom and dad and see your brothers and sisters. It’s 12 months a year. They’re here all the time. I tell recruits’ parents, `it’s a 12-month commitment.’ It’s like going to the army for four or five years. It’s not like it used to be 10 or 20 years ago. So to rush that is different.
For the kids’ sake, I always give them the pluses [of transferring in mid-year]. Academically, you’re getting your degree faster. You’re going to have at least six [credits] in the summer plus 12 [credits in the spring]. You’re going to be 18 to 24 credits ahead of schedule academically. You’re going to be smarter and you’re going to be in better shape, but then there’s the other stuff.”
On where he stands on the ACC going to nine conference games:
“I really don’t have a preference. We’re going to look at who’s out there to schedule. If they put them on our schedule, we’re going to play them. We want great football teams to come into Heinz Field. We want to go on the road and play in great atmospheres as well.
Like I said, I’d much rather play a good opponent than one that we’re supposed to beat. There’s a lot less pressure, in my opinion, when that happens. The higher-ups are going to make those decisions. Like I said last week, even if we had an opinion, they don’t listen to us. They do what they want to do.”
Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada
On how many reps the quarterbacks will get in Saturday’s scrimmage:
“Obviously Nathan [Peterman] will get the most and then the two guys behind him, but it also depends on how they play in the scrimmage. Last week we went after it a little bit, but we’ve had 13 opportunities, so Saturday is going to be a great chance to see how they can play when the lights are on. The three guys battling for No. 2 are all working at it, they all have good days and they all have bad days.
They have days when the look like they’re going to be in the Hall of Fame, and then they have days when they don’t look like they’re going to be in the right Hall of Fame so it just depends on how they play. We are all working very hard and we’ll see how it goes. They’ll all get reps on Saturday.”
On choosing five offensive linemen to be starters:
“You know what, I’m not really concerned. I think having the ability to have some flexibility is really good. If you look, the [New England] Patriots have done a great job in the past couple years moving guys around. If we have five guys that are significantly better than everybody else then they’ll play the whole time; but if we can keep guys fresh and they’re equals then they deserve to play.
Right now it’s getting close, we can smell it, but it’s still 16 days away so we have a lot of time to find it. I’m really pleased with the way those guys are working. We’ll move them around and try to find the best combination then if something happens what’s the best combination after that. We’re getting guys reps, so I’m not concerned about getting it to five too soon.”
On amount of depth on the Pitt offensive line:
“It is unbelievably magnificent to have this many quality linemen. It’s really special for us. We have quality depth. Injuries have forced some guys to play sooner, but once a guy gets hurt, somebody else has to play more, so we’re in a great situation and we’re very excited just to watch it and be part of it. ”
On Wide Receiver Jester Weah:
“Jester is unbelievably talented. He’s very fast and makes plays. I thought he had a tremendous spring and for a wide out there’s a lot of running in camp, so there are days he has made plays and he’s working on his football. I’m really pleased with where he is and how he’s producing. I think he’ll have a very good fall for us.”
On which wide receivers will play:
“There are probably five, with [Dontez] Ford as the leader. I think they’re doing a great job. Quadree [Henderson] and [Jester] Weah are doing a great job. Rafael [Araujo-Lopes] is playing very well and Tre Tipton has really done a good job. Those five guys have separated themselves. It’s hard to do these things.
Not that anybody else isn’t doing well and getting better, but those five guys right now are getting the majority of the reps. We’re going to start creating a lot of packages that we can use based on anywhere we want. I say it all the time, you have to play five and everybody else is a wildcard. Now we start deciding how those things work, the percentages, and going into a game which guys should play. It’s also predicated on what the defense it going to give us. Certain games it will be this; certain games it will be that. But those five guys are playing well.”
Defensive Coordinator Josh Conklin
On how Linebacker Bam Bradley has looked since he’s been changing positions:
“He’s been doing well. We started him out at the Star linebacker position, and then we felt like maybe he’d fit a little bit more at the Money. The bottom line is that we’ve got to find a couple guys that can play multiple positions, so I feel comfortable that he would know what to do if he got out there, but we wanted to make sure that we moved him around. We got a chance to get some other guys going.”
On if he feels comfortable on his depth at the Star linebacker position:
“Bam played Money last year, so I think he’s got a really good feel, as far as what’s going on there. We wanted to make sure that he got a look at Star. I think between Elijah [Zeise] and also Seun [Oluwaseun Idowu], we have a chance to get a good group there.”
On if he feels like he has a clear-cut starter at the Star position:
“No, not at all. This scrimmage coming up will be really important. We’re always working to see who’s going to be the next guy.”
On if he feels that in some situations that he’ll be able to go to a non-starter consistently:
“On third down we feel like we can do that. What we try to do on third down is get our best 11 guys on the field. We want to get a little more speed out there, but you want to get your best pass rushers out on the field, which is really important. You want to get guys that have a knack for making big plays. We’re always moving that around right now too–that depth chart. I feel like by the end of this Saturday and into the middle of next week that we’ll have a pretty good feel for those guys moving forward into game week.”
On what improvements he has seen from Linebackers Oluwaseun Idowu and Elijah Zeise:
“It’s just a matter of getting to know the package. Elijah [Zeise] doesn’t have as many snaps under his belt as Seun [Oluwaseun Idowu] does, but I’ve felt like they’re both picking it up. We feel like Elijah gives you a little bit of a different dynamic as far as an athlete out there, which is good to see. Seun had a great summer. He got bigger, stronger and faster.
He’s had a good camp so far at Base, and then we’ve moved him in and tried to get him some reps at Delta, our third-down package. It probably slowed him down a little bit just because that’s a lot. It’s always working those different dynamics and working those different spots to see where a guy fits, but we feel decent at Star right now, we really do. We just feel like we’ve got to continue to develop those guys.”
On if any of the freshman defensive tackles look like they might be able to get some playing time:
“Yeah, I think they may. It’s just going to kind of depend on moving forward into this week and how they continue to pick it up. We’ve really changed them. Kind of like we challenged [Jordan] Whitehead last year, we’ve challenged those guys to step up and learn the package.
They’ve been coming for early walk throughs with Coach [Tom] Sims. They’ve been staying later. I’ve been working with them a little bit more on the field just doing some mental stuff more than physical, but I feel like those guys might have the potential to help us as the season goes on especially.”
On if any of those freshman defensive tackles have stood out in particular:
“All three of them really. We’ve been repping Rashad Wheeler. We’ve been repping Amir Watts, and obviously Keyshon Camp too. All three of those guys. Some days one guy has a great day, and the next day he has a poor day. That’s just part of being of being a freshman. We’ll keep working them.”
pittpov.com 
Right now it looks like Challingsworth is on the outside looking in at the top 5 receivers Canada has named. I must say I’m somewhat surprised that that’s the case as of today.
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The LB battle between Oluwaseun Idowu and Elijah Zeise is interesting. Idowu was a walk-on and Zeise was a WR … and both played at North Allegheny together. But the main thing is that both are apparently players.
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We shall see what we shall see… But Narduzzi and Conklin might be in the ‘play our own players for the future’ mode this season. I may be wrong about Challingsworth because I think he’s a valuable player but coaches do things for different reasons than fans know.
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Pitt just got another TE commitment, the 2nd within 24 hours and both local
Tyler Sear @TS_17_ERA
I have decided to Decommit from Temple and commit to Pitt, this decision was the hardest I’ve ever had to make.
He is a good athlete from Neshannock, a small school power as of late. I’m sure they will still hold a schollie offer for the Steubenville 4-star, Reeves, but probably will rescind many of the others TE offers.
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Reed, I too thought that Challingworth would be competing for the starting position, and maybe he still will. I was at the Duke game last year and made two impressive receptions including a TD. However, if these other guys are more advanced, then maybe our WR position is in better shape than first thought … as you have been implying all along.
BTW, Boyd had another good game last night for the Bengals, including a great catch. And FWIW, Terrell Pryor had a 50 yard TD for the Browns …. two local kids from small high schools.
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I just added a bunch of new content to the beginning of the article… might want to re-read it again down to the press release.
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Challingseorth will see the field, just not as a starter. Don’t forget, none of these kids have played a game yet in 2016. That depth chart can change quickly in the first quarter of the season.
Also, there may be guys that play in certain packages that coach Canada doesn’t want to tip off. Maybe big receivers like Mathews in the red zone. Who knows?
I hope the group mentioned is successful because on paper they are an athletic bunch.
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Just sold my ticket to the penn state game to for hundreds of dollars to some shady character on the Internet. I’ll watch it on TV instead while counting my Benjamins.
There is a subversive movement by the pedophil enablers to buy up all of the tickets at Heinz Field for that Sept. 10th game. Believe me! There’s a slush fund that has been created by affluent psu contributors in order to high jack the game day stadium experience. By game time there will probably only be a few hundred actual Pitt fans attending the game in person.
It’s the next big conspiracy theory to expose to the world, Nittergate! It’s HUGE! The entire Stubhub system is rigged. There’s nothing we can do about it folks, or maybe with the Golden Panther fanatics, maybe there is, I don’t know?
We Are,,,,,,Hilarious!
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By offering lesser rated tight ends, is that an indication OC Canada will de-emphasize the position in his passing offense?
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What has Chris Clark done to be relegated to the doghouse by Reed and others?????
Yeah, Clark is having Orthoscopic knee surgery while he sits out this year due to NCAA transfer stipulations but what else is a negative with this kid?
Come early 2018 we are all going to be lamenting the prospect that Clark declares early for the NFL Draft after liting it up on the field for the Panthers at TE in the 2017 season.
A true blue chip recruit getting absolutely dissed for what reason???? SMH.
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I don’t think Clark is being dissed.
Part of the way a school like Pitt is able to compete is recognizing potential talent that will step up after the 4 and 5 stars are gobbled up by the big boys. The best example is James Conner who was offered by PC based on what he showed at Pitt summer camp before his junior year (although, in fairness, he was originally recruited as a DE.)
Four examples from this past season was the very first commit last year (who later decommitted), Tony Butler. Butler committed when he had very few offers, and a few months later, received all kind of attractive offers. Maurice Ffrench was Non-Rated when offered by Pitt, and after his senior year, received many attractive offers, including the dairy school. Same thing for LB Chase Pine and QB MacVittie ….. Pine only played LB as a junior in a couple of games and MacVittie was a WR as a junior.
Now, who knows if any one of these guys will be a good college player, but the point is that all of them blossomed in their senior seasons in high school, and garnered much more interest as a senior than as a junior. These are 16 and 17 year olds, and mature differently.
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They picked up a three star TE and a blocking TE (or future OL). Relax on the stars … It’s August and they just added depth. The big boys come in Dec, Jan and Feb. That’s what will make this class … and they have their eyes on some big fish. 10 wins and Coastal Champs will help … think big … it’s happening.
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I think Clark will be fine as well, but who knows till we see him?
After reviewing the post and getting through half the podcast (Peak puts me back to sleep), still think the major concern is the D-Tackles. A team is usually only as good as its weakest link. The need to play freshman at this position is really, really bad. This was Chryst’s worst area of recruiting. Playing freshman will be like having boys play men. They are just not big and strong enough yet. It is made worse because we have average linebackers. At least they are seniors.
Is it just me or does Galambos seem to have a pretty big gut for a linebacker? Maybe he has bulked up to plug the major hole we have up the middle. The fullback plunge killed us vs Navy so I think we will see more of it all year. In any case the linebackers will have to shore up the middle, for us to stop the run. Otherwise Whitehead will be setting another record for tackles.
Not real worried about the receiving corps. With our running backs, we really only need a possession guy to pick up third downs, and a few deep balls to keep defenses from stacking the line. Should be a lot of space for receivers since most teams will need to stack the line to stop Conner and Co. Also think there will be a lot more passes to backs.
This is the last year for the team to have a majority of Chryst recruits on the field. Could be a very good year, if the D can get off the field.
Next year will be the real test for Narduzzi’s recruits. There will be a whole lot of open positions, not sure why more elite high school players aren’t grasping the opportunity.
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gc, haha! I like Chris Peak a lot and find him pretty knowledgeable. But I quit listening to his podcasts a while ago … he says a lot of stuff without really getting to any point.
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@ Dr. Tom – no one is ‘dissing’ Clark. What I , and some others, are saying is that with this kid’s background nothing is as it seems.
If you didn’t know already here is the player’s track record… from a Cardiac Hill article:
“Being honest, Clark’s entire situation does not look good to the unbiased observer. All of the shine of signing a former #1 TE recruit seems to be gone after all that’s happened with him committing to UNC, then Michigan, enrolling at UCLA, transferring, parting ways with ‘Cuse after committing, and now committing to Pitt.”
He has told a total of five Power 5 schools that he wanted to play football for them and then pissed off four of them. Syracuse pulled his scholarship based on his attitude he showed when he and Shaffer (the HC) met and talked for a while.
“The Syracuse Orange withdrew the scholarship offer previously made to Clark. Clark says that Coach Shafer told Clark that Syracuse wasn’t the best fit for Clark.”
When a coach says his school isn’t a good fit for a recruit you should read that as “I kicked his ass out of here as soon as I could.”
This isn’t a misunderstood kid – It is a guy who took his ball and ran home after three different schools offered him chances to play football and get an education there and he, for whatever reasons, didn’t feel he was being treated correctly. The fourth one he was released from.
Look, just because a young man wears a Pitt uniform doesn’t preclude Pitt fans having opinions about him and some will not be positive. So, based on his background of not adhering to his word, I wonder if he sees a snap in a Pitt uniform at all – the injury is just another thing involved.
Personally I probably would have passed on a kid with that track record regardless of what the recruiting sites thought… we have seen way too many time a four or five start recruit either not live up to that rating or go down in flames once they are in a program.
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I don’t get the debate with having PSU fans at the game. Who cares. That’s the way it’s always been and to a lesser extent, with WVU and ND also. Always has been. Including the glory years and all the years at Pitt stadium.
I mean seriously, who is surprised by this??
We’re not Tennessee or Michigan selling out 110K seat stadiums. We don’t have that base. Never did.
I could care less if I’m sitting there with 64,999 Penn State fans.
Just win baby, that’s all that matters.
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@Reed You summed it up pretty well on Clark. It is what it is. I’m still waiting for us to lock up some high end talent in recent months. Coming off last year, some expected more recruiting Momo. Maybe we finish with a flurry, maybe we don’t. Nothing in guaranteed. The close could be similar to last year and then there is a chance it will not. Each recruiting has to stand on its own merit.
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Agree Dan, PSU always helps fill the stadium.
Really need a victory for so many reasons, first being recruiting.
Second being ratings.
Third being that the following two games could crush us if we start 1-3.
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I’d care if I was sitting with 60,000+ PSU fans. Yuck. While I expect to see a lot of them at Heinz, it would be a big disappointment to me if we can’t at least have a clear majority of Pitt fans in that stadium. It is supposed to be a home field advantage, ya know. Wish that was possible.
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Got started with Pitt football as a student in the 50s. It was disgusting to have to sit in a stadium with more nitters and domers than Panthers. That started to change in the 70s and has been decent until the last couple ND games.I hope we do control the seats on 9/10 and the noise and the score. Best 2 games I watched; Last PS game at three rivers where PS fans started leaving at the half as Pitt dominated and last game in Pitt Stadium when we trounced ND after a knock down drag out battle. Pitt fans ruled in both cases.Important to win over the nitters.for the present and the future.
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Canada could be looking for a Eli Rogers(Steelers slot/scat back) lookalike with the Henderson, Tipton, Lopes combination in his top five. Challingsworth doesn’t fit into that mold.
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psu jagoffs absolutely sucked up a bunch of season tix. Go look at stubhub, psu game tix are $200 & every other game is $6. They guarantee themselves a seat & dump the rest for peanuts to embarrass Pitt.
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Talking about PSU fans at Heinz is playing right into the hands of the PSU fans trying to make it a controversy. It isn’t. Most of the tickets sold were returning ticket holders. End of story.
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By the way, Brian O’Neil was a 3 star 6’5″ 230 pound tight end coming out of high school. So don’t assume the two recent recruits will stay at tight end.
IMO, the kid we took from Temple is a very good get. Good hand and mean.
Carrigan is 6’7″ 250, has another year to grow and obviously hits the weight room.
http://247sports.com/Player/77398/ProfilePhotos/TitleAlt-Text-4564159?View=Full#TitleAlt-Text-4564159
Hopefully the link works.
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NRS, Is there any recruit you don’t like in the 2017 class? If yes could you expound on the reasons you dislike the choice.
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Regarding all the psux fans at the game. Think how great it will be to see THOUSANDS of utterly dejected fans crying as they leave Heinz. Hope you guys take a lot of pics of them to post on PITTPOV for us to see!!!
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Another reason I like college more than the NFL is that in college ball the kids are still growing and maturing and get switched around to find their best fit… most often. Sometimes a Dorian Dickerson situation happens where a player gets moved too much and stifled.
But here is the thing about recruiting I don’t like all that much, you have to wait years before you really know if the kid is a good recruit or not.
The Jordan Whiteheads, Boyds, or O’Neills come along rarely. Most time a switch is made and it takes some time to pay off.
So looking at a 2* recruit and projecting him to be a decent player is hard enough. But that doubles when trying to predict he’ll be a good player at another position.
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@Savannah, absolutley. That’s why I said what I did about their fans. Only thing that matters is score at the final gun. We win, I’ll be walking on clouds on my way to the tailgate party.
Seriously, if we lose it won’t make any better if there are 5 PSU fans or 5000. I’ll be pissed and in a surly mood.
If we win, who gives a rat’s ass, we got bragging rights and I could care less. The more of them, the more snarky remarks I can make!! LOL
W is the only thing that matters. Changes the whole day one way or another.
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Someone had a nice article awhile back, on enjoying the day, win or lose. Enjoy the experience of the day. Enjoy the banter, enjoy the atmosphere, win or lose at college football games. Actually, I do, do that most of the time. Last year, I thought the Iowa game was just a fantastic game, the Iowa crowd was incredible. You lose on a 70 yard field goal? What are gonna do? One of the best times I’ve had at a Pitt game.
I’m not mature enough for that, for the Penn State game. Winning is the only thing in this case.
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Here is the deal with the Penn State fans in our house. There may be 3000. There may be 20,000, but what I can virtually guarantee you is that there will be more Pitt fans at Heinze. I swear that 70% of people on this board are paranoid yinnzers who are completely uninformed and will jump to conclusions at the slightest hit of a controversy. Sometimes entertaining to read but most of the time decidedly not cool!
So anyway back to the Penn State Fans. The thing about the Penn State fans is that they are organized. You could have a 3 year old girl in a blue hat say “we are…” and the next thing you know the entire section she is sitting in says “penn state”.
Pitt fans (at least in my recent experience…) are not organized. We should be able to get to the point that when somebody in the student section says “P-I”. The rest of the student section yells “T-T”. And then the rest of the stadium follows their lead, with passion, and even if there are only 40,000 people in the stands, it’s still pretty freaking loud. For all you guys that have been around in the glory days, and still go to the games, take a serious look at yourself and ask if you’d do this, or you do it now. Reed? Dr Tom? Wbb? Emel? Would you do it? Because I don’t think you would. (And i honestly hope I’m wrong)
Guys this is what big time college football programs do. Big time college football program fans do. They organize. Yeah, I know…we are not a big time college football program….yet. But we need to start acting like we are. It sounds stupid, but it’s almost like somebody has to train us how to be fans. A pamphlet on every seat of the Penn State game. Graphics on the jumbotron that tell fans when to cheer and what to say. (Picture it on the jumbotron – half the stadium lit up and in sequence the letters “P-I”, the other half of the jumbotron lit up and the letters “T-T”, the word “yell loud” underneath it). Or how about an email to every season ticket holder. Or Instructions printed on back of every stub (next year). (I’m assuming) we organize in the Zoo… there is no reason we can’t organize at the Heinz.
How great would it be to be watching a game on TV (sorry i live in Georgia and I can’t make it up to as many games as I like) or listening to the radio and hearing that deafening roar come over the airwaves. It can happen. If we believe.
That’s the true power of being a fan, not sitting here and worrying that the other team is going to buy up all the seats.
So Scotty, if you or one of your people are reading this Anson Whaely, if you are perusing this board, (I know you have a direct connect), it’s not too late. Heck we’ve even got the Villanova game to tune up.
Hail to Pitt
MM CAS 2000
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@PENNSUX – I’ll do that but I don’t stand up unless a big play is happening. I want to people behind me to enjoy the game…
However, in the press box you can’t make a sound so it’s like a tomb in there.
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Yes – the last game at old Pitt stadium against the Domers and the last game we played against the Nitters at Three Rivers were great memories. Pitt fans showed up for those games. I sure the hell did. Don’t diss us hardcore fans and alum…a small but vocal group. Wish more Pitt supporters though appreciate the significance of games like these.
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@ P-E-N-N-S-T-A-T-E SUX, I have made a conscience decision not to show for the penn state game simply because I don’t want to place myself into a potentially combustible situation.
You see I hate nitters, and I have a 16 year pent up disgustingly bad taste in my mouth just waiting to be spewed out onto those cult followers come 9/10. So at my age, it’s best to honor my senior citizen status and simply decide to watch this particular game from the comfort of my Lazyboy rather than the alternative to explain to a bench judge come Sunday morning on 9/11, trying to explain why a 60 something adult like me was arrested for assault & battery charges on the evening of September 10th after pummeling some poor soul from creepy valley.
Therefore, let it be known that I am the usual guy yelling the top of my lungs, P-I, while encouraging the rest of those old Fu*ks sitting behind me to stand up & reply with a boisterous T-T.
Ranks right up there with th penn state SUCKS!!! Cheer.
Rather, I’ve decided to show up in person for the Villanova game instead. I want to welcome James Conner back and there is a much better chance that I won’t be arrested that weekend.
Hail to Pitt!
BTW, we have a solid Pitt contingent down here in Georgia. Welcome!
And please remember, that penn state does, most certainly, SUCK the Big One!
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Emel led the cheers from my section in the last Pitt/Miami game I attended. I will admit getting Pitt fans to cheer is like pulling teeth. More of them wanted to complain about the cold weather that game. I got Southern Blood now (meaning thin) and tore off the overcoat, stamp your feet and move around and you won’t get cold. Huddled all up and shivering is no way to watch a football game. Oh and drink more high octane booze. lol
Let’s Go Pitt !!!
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P.S. If you’re not going to cheer and root on the old alma mater you might as well stay home. Part of the fun of going is cheering. You are engaged on a personal level with the game then. You are invested in the game and for your school.
I have told several supposed Pitt fans to f8ck off, when they complain, you are standing up. Again stay the f8ck home if you’re not going to cheer. Give the seat to somebody that will.
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Dr. Tom – I admire your self control and sense of humor. Good choice with attending the nova game and staying home for the pedo state game. I’ll be at both and you maybe saved me from a bad & embarrassing night after the pedo game.
James Conner has already had a remarkable career at Pitt, and on 9/3, we Pitt fans need to show up and support this fine young, courageous man. What a great comeback story. How can you not want to be there as a Pitt fan? I understand many live far away and the digital age of tv will suffice for some – seeing Conner emerge from the tunnel will be both emotional and entertaining – priceless.
For those who’d rather tailgate than see the start of the game, remember there are now beer sales inside Heinz Field – buy your buddy a beer and cheer – by halftime James “the beast” Conner will have completed a full day’s work and will be rested for the pedos in the 2nd half and you can go to the parking lot and resume the tailgating experience. QO will have things under control for the 2nd half.
You see, HCPN gets it with Pitt history. He knows that Pitt fans hate nova because of basketball and he will give a little payback with a smash mouth football game to ready his troops for the other historic events about to take place.
HCPN is at Pitt to be apart of a great tradition, but also to make his own history. This has the makings of being a very good team – like 10-2 if Conner and NP can stay healthy and lead this offense to a clock eating, end zone punching season. The D will be ok and good enough if the O can be as dominating as possible – and the possibilies with a healthy run are high.
I’ve been a diehard Pitt FB fan for over 36 years and this season feels different. My wife is already asking where I think the bowl game will be – for now, it’s a two game set of “cat” fights in early September.
HTP!
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