in Pat Narduzzi, Pitt Football, Pitt POV, Players, Recruiting, Writing 1,706 Words

Are QB Decisions Now Changes Later?

I was surfing old Pitt articles in the Sports illustrated magazine this morning trying to get some push towards writing an article for this Monday lunchtime hour.  I came across a few articles about Pitt quarterbacks Dan Marino and Rick Trocano and started thinking about how back in the day players would be demoted or moved to other positions and you rarely heard a peep out of them.  They would just suit up and carry on in a different job.

Very few players who had been recruited over in a specific position threw up their hands and transferred out back then.  Yet we see that happen all the time now. Mark Myers, a big strong armed highly rated QB recruit by one recruiting service – not so much by the others – came to Pitt under Dave Wannstedt and never really bought into the energy and desire required to succeed at this level.

After muddling around and being not played by two different HCs he transferred to John Carroll college and had a blast in the less pressurized atmosphere where all he had to worry about was throwing the football around and dating different co-eds.  He seemed to thrive at both and set school passing records there.

Just recently we watched ex-starting QB Chad Voytik leave the team because he lost his starting job.  Fans looked at that and figured he wanted more starting playing time elsewhere, naturally assuming that if he dropped to a lower level of competition he’d be a starter again.

It didn’t work out that way for him.  He went to Arkansas State as a graduate transfer (eligible to play right away) and ended up playing sparsely and on the bench mostly in the letter half of the year.  Boy – we could have used him in the 2nd half of the Pinstripe bowl though. I don’t doubt he could have pulled a win out there.

Just lately we saw QB Adam Bertke leave Pitt when his prospects closed down in front of him.

So now with the 2016 season just ending it looks like we’ll have some more movement in the QB roster ranks before either Spring practices start or most certainly before the 2017 fall camp starts.

In the past Pitt has usually carried three scholarship QBs on roster with a walk-on or two added to the group.  Here is what we had going into 2011:

Trey Anderson QB FR
Anthony Gonzalez QB RS FR
Mark Myers QB RS FR
Tino Sunseri QB RS JR

Before the fall camp dust settled Gonzalez was moved to LB where he did a nice job and we kept three scholarship QBs.  That is about the norm. 

However coming out of the 2016 season we have this at present and all are scholarship kids:

Bo Schneider 6-3/225 QB SO
Manny Stocker 6-2/215 QB RS SR
Thomas MacVittie 6-5/225 QB FR
Nathan Peterman 6-2/225 QB RS SR
Ben DiNucci 6-2/215 QB RS FR

Delete Peterman and Stocker from the list due to graduation and add recruit Kenny Pickett and transfer Max Browne and we see this going into the April drills:

Bo Schneider 6-3/225 QB SO
Kenny Pickett 6-3/190 QB FR
Thomas MacVittie 6-5/225 QB FR
Max Browne 6-5/220 QB RS SR
Ben DiNucci 6-2/215 QB RS FR

Again, all five are on scholarship as we speak – that won’t hold.  Even though we have heard reports of Bo Schneider leaving the program I can’t find any formal release stating that… but lets delete him because that sure will happen sooner or later.  Unless Schneider wants to keep on the roster as a walk-on and get a Pitt degree; which is an excellent idea, he’ll probably move on to somewhere else.

Which will leave us with four scholarship QBs. One too many in the long run.  But this is also where fan’s speculation can start to show some creativity.

I believe that fan’s expectations for 2015 recruit Thomas MacVitte is very high and I can’t either agree with it nor really understand it.  At 6-5 and 225 he’s a big kid and he did go to a good football high school in Moeller of Cincinnati, but after that I wonder where the unbridled optimism comes from.  Here is his recruiting offers page:

School Interest Offer Visit
Pittsburgh Committed(3/26/15)  * 1/15/16
LSU Medium * None
Cincinnati None * None
Miami (OH) None * None

That’s it folks and that LSU offer consisted of a single late in the game ‘test the waters’ phone call just to see how committed he actually was.  I’ve watch MacVitte in warm-ups and some drills and think he’s just about right as a three-star, not so highly recruited kid. He played only one year of starting ball in HS meaning he didn’t beat out the other starters before his SR year and he did OK in his singular year of play.

I list all of that because those are the reasons Pat Narduzzi and then-OC Matt Canada scrambled around to get not just one other transfer, but two QB transfers and a reporting-early 2017 recruited QB.

In addition to those personnel moves something happened in the Pinstripe bowl and the weeks that led up to it that made me scratch my head and sit up a bit. 

When Nate Peterman went down with a concussion that day we didn’t see the player who had been taking the QB2 snaps all season long in Manny Stocker.  Instead Narduzzi rotated Ben DiNucci into the QB2 position a week or so before the bowl game and had him taking the 2nd string snaps in bowl preparation.

Why is that interesting? Because Ben DiNucci doesn’t have all that great starting  D1 QB prospects and that move surprised a lot of people at the game and up in the press box. You would have thought the more talented Stocker would have gone in relief to try for the win, instead we sent in a QB who was an afterthought all year-long and played like it that afternoon. It was basically a “What the hell?” moment in Pitt history.

So here is some big speculations and let’s understand that’s what this is. Speculation on my part.

Let’s start with why did Narduzzi and Canada do that with DiNucci?  Why sit down the incumbent relief QB Stocker for someone who hadn’t taken a snap yet at all and then play him in the latter part of an important bowl game we were behind in?

One reason maybe that Stocker can’t be in the future plans and so they threw a bone to DiNucci to keep him on roster.  DiNucci has a few years left if he decides to stay in the program.  I say “if he decides to stay” in the program because DiNucci was both transferred-in over and recruited over in the two years he’s been on the roster.  So they give him some snaps in a game that had loss written on it from the starting whistle almost.

MacVitte sure wasn’t going to have his redshirt burned for that one game at the expense of a  full year of later  eligibility if he does pan out for the future at Pitt.  That BTW isn’t a given at all to happen.  He could well drop down the depth chart as well as rise in it.

When Narduzzi went out and grabbed Max Browne for 2017 and then convinced Kenny Pickett to report early he sent a message to the other QBs. Nothing is etched in stone and we’ll play to win each season on its own.  There won’t be any season long on-the-job learning with this HC.  Every QB he has played so far has at least a years experience as a D1 QB.

Incoming recruit Pickett is an interesting guy as he had a lot more scholarship offers than MacVitte did coming out of HS.  I think we need to take his early presence at Pitt as serious competition for the future.  If not, the program wouldn’t have enticed him to get into the Southside facilities so soon (it costs $$$ to bring kids in early folks).  Here are Pickett’s offers:

School Interest Offer Visit
Pittsburgh Committed * 12/9/16
Boston College None * None
Buffalo None * None
Coastal Carolina None * None
Connecticut None * None
Iowa None * None
Monmouth None * None
North Carolina None * None
Temple None * None
Texas State None * None
Toledo None * None

So skipping over what we all believe will be Max Browne’s starting season in ’17 and going into 2018 we’ll have DiNucci as a rsJR, MacVitte as a rsSO and Pickett as a rsFR – assuming that Bo Schneider has by then gone onto greener pastures. 

What will be the very interesting situation to watch is which QB not named Browne rises to that QB2 position and takes the practice snaps during the latter part of this year’s fall camp and into the 2017 regular season.  My thoughts about DiNucci not being up to the task may be off base if he gets constant and regular practice time and catches the eye of a new OC.  Give any kid a year of solid practices and show your staff’s faith in his abilities and anything could happen.

I don’t believe that will be the case but who knows?  I didn’t think DiNucci would get playing time in the bowl game either.

But I’m not 100% convinced it will be Thomas MacVitte at the helm in 2018 either. DiNucci has already gotten playing time; Pickett may be just as capable (in my eyes) of starting as a rsFR as anyone else on the roster and, as stated above, a new OC may well come in and change the offense around so that any of those three QBs could grab that starting slot in a year from now.

What may happen also is that either DiNucci or MacVitte may cut their losses and look elsewhere for solid playing time. We saw that with Myers and Voytik and we may well see it again sometime down the road.

Narduzzi has already brought in a total of three transfer QBs in his short two years at Pitt and who’s to say he won’t do the same thing after the 2017 season?  He’s not one to care about anyone’s feeling when planning for the future, that’s for sure.

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326 thoughts on “Are QB Decisions Now Changes Later?”

  1. Darkie..thanks for posting the hilarious arrest of the Cinncy Bear-Cat on the last thread…Cincy game took on a life of its own and was on it’s way to becoming a rivalry…

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  3. What’s interesting is had the Nard Dog played Voytik in last year’s bowl game rout in the 2nd half or maybe just even the 4th quarter. The kid might have stayed at Pitt and been available to lead us to victory as he did in Pitt’s last Bowl victory.

    Or maybe not.

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  4. Perhaps the decision on Stocker vs DiNucci came down to matchup against Northwestern’s D and they chose the more mobile of the two?

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  5. Reed, think your comment in the next to last paragraph will occur. Whenever you have a true QB competition in today’s college game, it seems like the HC is making two decisions: Which QB will start and which QB will I watch transfer out of my program…we can only hope the HC makes the right call.

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  7. Judging by the comments PN made about MacVittie at the end of the season, I doubt he has plans on running him out of town. And the fact that he fought to keep Pickett….you need at least 2 solid guys. #2 is only one play away from being #1.

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  8. Never did understand why they ran Voytik out If they could have kept him he may have been able to beat Northwestern. But just the fact if Peterman got dinged earlier in the year, we had no one with any experience. As Emel mentioned and I have mentioned before, he should have been given the ball to start the second half vs Navy, just for loyalty to the program. Who knows maybe he stays maybe not, but backup QBs are important. A third string guy won a National Championship for t OSU and got benched the next year.

    Personally I hope McVittie wins the job next year, if not for the first two or three games maybe during the year. Having a QB play for multiple years is ideal.

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  9. Timing is everything, I always wondered what would have happened if Flacco got to throw to Fitz. My guess is many records would have been broken.

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  11. Reed – is it me or do two of the three QB’s in your picture look out of shape?

    I think all five QB’s stay and fit for a spot. May the best man win and the 2nd best be his back-up.

    HTP!

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  12. I’m also hoping PN’s comments about McVittie were accurate and not just said because he was concerned about what McVittie may be thinking about how aggressively Pitt went after Browne.

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  13. Interesting tidbit on PSN today on Pitt making an offer to a 2015 4 star Penn State DT Kam Carter dismissed from the team for violating team rules. He evidently played this year at East Mississippi Community College and has several offers on the table to return to the Division 1 level. To say that Pitt is need of some solid DT depth is at best a deep understatement IMO.

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  14. I agree the real battle is for the #2 spot. Does anyone know how mobile Browne is? I mean, is he more cement footed like Savage or a more mobile and athletic QB like Peterman ?

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  16. Special K – think a water buffalo in the shotgun – Browne isn’t going anywhere with his feet.

    There are some pretty upset people with the transfer of Browne coming in. I think a lot of people expected MacVitte to be handed the starting job right off the bat. Which as I have said a few times i don’t understand at all.

    Just as I thought years ago that Voytik was not a ‘star’ recruit I think the same about MacVitte – except I think Voytik is more talented than MacVitte also. Peterman really impressed me the 1st time I saw him in action and it was Pat Bostick jr who said to me ‘We have a deep passing game now!” when I asked him about NP in the fall of 2015.

    So I think it isn’t so much the relative skills all our QBs have but what the new OC wants in his QB/passing game/offense

    That was before Chaney put the handcuffs on NP and called safe, short passes to Boyd all day long. Big difference between then and 2016 when Canada opened it up with Weah.

    Here is what I meant about different OCs having different takes on QB play.

    In 2015 with Chaney NP had 7.28 yards per attempt and and 11.8 yards per completion – rather average.

    In 2016 with Canada he had 9.33 yards per attempt (7th nationally) and and 15.5 yards per completion (#4 nationally) and truly outstanding.

    Look at that again guys because we may not see that from a Pitt QB for some time:

    #4 in yards per completion
    #7 in yards per attempt and
    #8 in passing efficiency

    That would never have happened with Chaney as OC and Boyd on the roster again. Canada saw what he had and used it – a bit late maybe but really used Peterman well.

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    1. Disagree he’s going to the NFL with his arm ranked 10th among QB’s. Beginning of season the OL struggled against 2 10 top teams, as did the RB’s.
      No other QB on Pitt’s squad rates over a MAC QB.

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  18. Reed, I’m now on record as totally disagreeing with you on MacVitte. You’re way off with your thoughts on Thomas. He’s going to be a good one.

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  19. LSU is not exactly QB U. I do not care who is QB as long as we beat PSU along the way to 9 – 10 season.

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  20. MacVitte is a 6-5 215 pound athlete who has limited experience at QB. But he has a the physical tools to be a QB that can be very good. He will see time this coming year and he has the most upside at this point. Browne is not quite immobile. He can move and is more Savage in look than Peterman.

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  21. Reed, I’m thinking Carter may have some added incentive in going into the Pitt Penn State game viewing the coach that dismissed him standing across the field from him. And I think Pitt may need a good deal of added incentive from many players to beat PSU come next fall on their home field.

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  22. Ike – why do you say that? What jumps out at you to make you think he’s a sure bet? 3 stars? Offers? Size? HS experience? His videos? Inquiring minds want to know?

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  23. Just back from a long weekend at my favorite local casino in western North Carolina.

    Wore my PITT gear. Had a few conversations with complimentary Klempsun fans. Talked to a man (originally from Virginia) who was a neighbor of Tom Yewcic,

    The high lite was a discussion with an elderly (hard to say that when I’m 66) gentlemen who asked if my PITT script stood for Pittsburgh, When I said yes, he said his grandson was going to enroll at PITT. After a little more back and forth, it seems that he was the grandfather of ’17 recruit Cam Bright from Alabama. He said his grandson was looking forward to playing at PITT.

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  25. First off, PITT, LSU, Cincinnati and Miami @ Ohio have put out some good QB it their days. A short but impressive list. TM’s size and athleticism have me believing and it’s not like he just started playing high school football and QB his senior year, he’s played QB for a long while just didn’t start there his jr year. He was Moeller’s star receiver his jr year. In other words, I just have this feeling about the big kid…..ike

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  26. How many games exactly did McVittie play at QB in HS ? Reed mentioned something about him being
    injured in the only year he became the starter.

    Not comparing this kid to Big Ben, other than that they’re both from Ohio. I know Big Ben only played one year at QB in HS. You see the Coach’s kid got the nod the 3 years prior. Good thing the coach’s kid wasn’t the same age as Ben, or he might have NEVER gotten a chance. lol

    Also did McVittie play any other sports ? as per Ben he was also a basketball star.

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  31. Reed – I used to think that PITT/South Carolina shouldn’t take anyone who was kicked off another team. I now believe it depends on what “team rules” he was disciplined for. If its a case of hitting a women, stealing or heavy drug usage = no way. If it’s marijuana, missing team activities (including tutoring) then I say ok with spelled out testing, requirements & consequences.

    Btw, Scooba, Ms. where East Mississippi Community College is located, is the perfect example of a town that wouldn’t exist without the college. I drive through Scooba going to a casino in Philadelphia (Neshoba County), Ms. The casino is about half way drive to my brothers house in Texas,

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  32. MacVittie played WR his junior year at Moeller but took some snaps as QB. (Ironically, Mark Myers and Big Ben did the very same thing in their junior years — the coaches’ son was starting QB over Ben.) In the summer camps before his senior year, he (MacVitttie) won a couple of citations as best QB prospect.

    He did get injured in his 2nd game of his Sr year, and missed 2 games, but came back and looked brilliant … in fact, one of the rating services (Scout?) elevated him to 4 stars.

    Yes, he doesn’t have the experience that most QBs have, but he got raves in fall camp this year from the few things I read about him … and he ran the scout team QB (except before the GT game when Theran Coleman did.) This is why I think HCPN welcomed the experienced Browne this year because starting MacVittie at Happy Valley before 107k isn’t too wise (same for DiNucci).

    Having said that, I read the other day where Browne said he was told the starting QB job would not be given to him … he would have to earn it.

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  34. Again, this is what I love about college football. The cast of characters changes every year.

    I don’t think MacVitte is not talented he probably has some decent skills, it is just that he doesn’t jump off the page at me.

    Whichever way the wind blows I would like to see Pitt finally get a backup QB some decent playing time so to be ready.

    That is what I didn’t agree with in playing DiNucci in the bowl game. He had zero snaps and limited practice time beforehand. It was a weird and unexpected choice that, I believe, failed entirely.

    The thing is fans will jump on the results of the spring game but a lot of time that means nothing going into fall camp.

    I think it will be Browne with MacVitte but throwing DiNucci in there was a twist.

    What is the sad thing is we really have to cast back a long time to see an actual recruited QB who starred at Pitt… most all have been right around average.

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  35. Think DiNucci and his family are regretting him not going to that other fine academic institution on the other end of the state?

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  36. I didn’t think DiNucci ‘failed entirely’ in the bowl game. In fact, he led Pitt to a TD early in the 4th when Pitt took its final lead …. and then on a later drive, he put a pass right on the hands of Orndoff that would have allowed Pitt to tie the game..

    That is by no means ‘failing entirely’

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  37. Iowa: Offensive line coach / run game coordinator Brian Ferentz has been promoted to offensive coordinator. Brian Ferentz has been on staff since 2012 and is the son of the HC.

    Pittsburgh: Steelers linebackers coach Joey Porter has been placed on leave following his arrest on Sunday.

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  39. Reed your comments are very interesting especially since you were very correct about Peterman when he came in 2 years ago. Are you sure though that PN encouraged Pickett to enroll early? I seem to remember that he was going to do that quite a while ago. Additionally PN came out last year and stated he was not in favor of having kids enroll early which I thought was kind of funny since a lot of the top programs have a lot of early enrollees as many as 10 from what I have seen. Even if MacVittie is not the greatest passer I am intrigued by his reported speed which is supposed to be in the 4.5 vicinity if we can believe that. Combined with his size you might have something. That would be a dimension we haven’t had for a long time at Pitt QB. Just a thought.

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  41. Take Clemson. Clemson will roll the Tide tonight much like the Steelers speared those Dolphins. Clemson 38, Tide 20. ACC is the most dominant and best conference for football. And shaping up for basketball as well. Thank GOD Pitt is in this conference and not the Big 12 or Big 10. Or left carrying the bag in the Big East. Thank U CornHole for picking up the phone when the commish called and saying YES.

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  42. Otherwise, screw you CornHole for coming back to Pitt after leaving Nebraska in shambles and leaving Pitt in one screwed up state. Any news on the new AD search?

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  43. Just done reading the comments -THIS IS AN EXCELLENT THREAD IMO.
    @wwb you and I agree that Dinucci did some things well. He threw a TD pass, ran for an excellent gain for a 3rd or 4th down and long first down, he hit Orndoff with a pass that should have been a TD (SO had an unusually bad game – felt sorry for him), ;Yeah I noticed the sidearm motion and an int in trying to comeback (not a first for any QB) but was told by a recruiter for Central Catholic (yes they have them – shock) they wanted him big time and he is tremendously athletic and a winner so who knows.
    As for recruiting Carter I agree with jrnpitt, it depends on the team rule. For example Ejuan Price went to tOSU and politely put partied to much with his cuz who was a team mate. and was kicked off the team. He came to Pitt, grew up and became a fine person and player. It really depends so I hope they do their due diligence.Games are won and lost in the trenches and our DL trench looks like Petersburg 1865.
    I would like to get to a position where we have stability and QBs want to come here.
    Finally, an old dead issue but this is why I wish PN would allow the media to watch practices, it gives us fans through the media a chance to get insight ie Reed nailed NP. The media has never violated protocol in Pittsburgh by giving out changes in offensive of defensive theory etc. Grow up Nard, this is the 20th century..
    Gotta turn on the T.V
    HAIL TO PITT

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  44. Never in my wildest dreams did I think there would be such an outcry about losing the bowl game. Another problem I have is that some want to say PITT was not prepared? What? PITT rolled to the redzone many times early to come up empty. The game was not meant to be imo

    About Dinucci and off my above sentence. Why in the world would PITT waste a snap or better yet practices on the outgoing Stocker? Playing Ben D was the correct thing to do and he did have some good moments and maybe even a better learning experience?

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  45. @Reed, I’m not sure about your reference to Chaney shackling Peterman to short passes to Boyd in 2015. Ford averaged 19.4 ypc on 24 catches (2 TDs). Orndoff averaged 18.8 ypc on 13 catches (5 TDs). Holtz averaged 14.6 ypc on 24 catches (4TDs). My recollection is that Peterman did throw a fair number of passes beyond 15 yards in 2015, he just didn’t throw that often to Boyd.

    MacVittie certainly looked the part of a D1 QB on the sidelines this season. He played WR his junior year at Moeller. He has 4.5 speed. That suggests he’s more athletic and has more speed than most QBs that have appeared on the Pitt roster. Granted there is far more to playing D1 QB than athleticism and speed.

    DiNucci just doesn’t seem to have the arm for downfield throwing. It’s possible Narduzzi next OC will favor a short passing game. Little Ben did have an excellent HS career for a major local program.

    Browne is one and done. There would have to be a real surprise in camp for him not to ascend to starter in 2017. This is especially true considering he started in front of Darnold for a few games at USC this season.

    Pickett certainly has the more impressive list of offers. He’s smaller than MacVittie and his 40 speed is 4.8. Pickett’s junior year stats (first as starter) are comparably to MacVittie’s.

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  46. Not so quick to throw on the towel on Dinucci.. He did ok in his 1st real game action ..arm strength can improve and he throws with some accuracy…a bit sidearm but some was Bernie Kosar …

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  48. Sadly it is Men against boys.

    Clemson won’t move the ball against Bama’s Defense.

    Bama -6

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  50. The new Thug U?

    Two missed targeting calls on bama. One very good Clemson skill player out for the game.

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  55. Colorado: HC Mike MacIntyre has signed a new contract though 2021 that will pay him $3.1 in the first year and total $16.25 million over five years. MacIntyre is 20-31 in four years, but went 10-4 and won the Pac-12 South this season. His 2016 salary was about $2 million.

    Cleveland Browns: NFL Network reports former Bills offensive coordinator Greg Roman is a candidate to fill former offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s role with the Browns.

    Michigan: Browns assistant head coach / offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton has accepted a job at Michigan as passing game coordinator / assistant head coach, per Adam Schefter. Hamilton worked under Jim Harbaugh at Stanford in 2010.

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  57. http://www.hudl.com/video/3/1825013/5721d4b1c124573b547c95be

    ^^^ Agains the absolute Best High School Football Competition week-in and week-out in America. This team was not only the absolute highest Ohio Classification but they are the type of program that travels around to face other elite programs.

    @ Reed me-thinks, possibly, you just never performed your due-dilligence and sought-out Tape of Thomas MacVittie actually playing Quarterback in his Senior Year, against the Most-Elite Competition to-boot. 😉

    MacVittie is Huge (Height and powerfully Built — especially in the Lower-Body already), has Elite Arm Talent and yet also throws so many perfect touch throws in his tape against some serious athletes on the other teams.

    @Reed the tape don’t lie.

    AND Reed — I’ve personally only percieved absolute excitement and glee bringing in Former 5 star, #1 QB, 6’5” , 215 pound strong armed Max Browne into the program. Elite physical talent and Elite Character — USC just turned out to be a horrible fit for him all-around. Thomas MacVittie will get many, many touches this season too and will run zone reads every game for change-ups at the minimum.

    @Reed watch those highlights —- this again is against the Elite Ohio, Highest Classification not NY State single-A or something 🙂 lol.

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  59. Those head targets are getting absurd. The one guy had one earlier in year vs Auburn, He should have been ejected and suspended for next year. The shot on Watson was also clearly intended and should have led to an ejection. It’s one thing for the refs not to take the game out of the hands of players and another to look the other way when dealing with shots to heads. Another example of why the NCAA is a toothless organization.

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  63. one helmet to helmet and what you missed the intentional forearm to Watson. You with the vertigo problems Upitt? Shame shame shame Jethro would say.

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  66. I never saw the hit on Watson. Missed a few plays. Was it helmet to helmet?

    Sincerely,

    Vertigo Vince.

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  67. Have no idea who was better (Stocker or Dinucci), but the folks who paid their hard-earned to venture to New York deserved seeing the best product Pitt had to offer.
    Never good to mollify Dinucci, or anyone else, in hopes they will stick around.
    As for MacVittie being less talented than Chad…ugh.
    But I will say no one should be promised anything.
    Let the fat gym teacher roll the ball out into the middle of the court and have them go at it. As with life, let the cream rise to the top. No guarantees.
    And my, aren’t the Bama gymnettes looking fine this evening?

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  69. These two announcers are broadcasting this game, like it’s a September game. God does this game need Keith Jackson and Bud Wilkinson.

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  73. Bama has to be violating so many academic rules it’s not funny. I bet half this team couldn’t pass a end of the year …6th grade exam. Unless the Atlanta public school system was administrating it.

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  77. Look, if Narduzzi allowed the media in for a few practices you can guarantee that the morning headlines would be about the dairy college. All secrets would remain safe.

    My sense is that Browne will get us through the first three to four games and then we will start to see a transition to MacPitt! Pickett is too young as a freshman. Dinoochi, rhymes with moochie, just doesn’t have the arm in my opinion to be successful in power5. Maybe he does some long tossing at trees hall in the off season to strengthen his limb. Upitt- remember doing long toss at trees hall with some pirates (Tomlin , Wakefield, Zane Smith) in the early 90’s? Were you there at that time?

    I like MacPitt. Went to Cincy and caught him for 3 quarters I think against Roger Bacon. He is solid, smart and a leader.

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  79. Clemson looks like they want no parts of this team! This isn’t about a conference, it’s about a super team!

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  81. Gas I longtossed at Cost Center and Pitt Stadium, we used to practice there actually. 1995-1998. I also long and short tossed in Peters Pub, Mitchells, and Emels favorite Cricket where the Pizza was better than strippers. 😊

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  83. Recruiting is college FB and that is that. That is why college coaches fail in the NFL where talent between best and worse is 10%

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  86. Yes Pops! I think my Buddies Grandma owned it. Square Cut slices. I remember that.

    Who was the Hawaian or Asian guy with a bar/ eatery over there??? Johnny we called him?

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  94. Played tennis at the Kost center while I was a resident.
    Kid of Pitt’s tennis coach played center at PSUcks.
    Smiley should have fired his ass.

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  103. ~ upitt

    Ritters Diner was the 24/7 place for late nite dining(after drinking), the Greek guys owned. It’s still there.

    Can’t remember the Strip Club on Baum Blvd, that had the Pizza square slices. Maybe someone can help out.

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  105. No jerkin the gherkin upitt.

    Clempson could win this if their online shows up. Hall man is running into a wall. Best that he starts inside and kicks out.

    I think the Nama db’s are physical and contact the receiver the entire time.

    Dabo, shall either live by a trick play or die by one. Ten Bears says, let it be life. I hope it happens early so I can either go to bed if it fails or prepare for a great finish if it is successful.

    Like

  107. Anthonys….that was it. Good memory bro. I should remember that since I have a cousin named Anthony from Little Italy…aka. Bloomfield.

    Like

  111. I remember that place. I was always too drunk to see the scars…maybe I was too drunk to notice they were she-dudes or he-gals.

    Like

  117. Was Chiefs a bar? I think I played Cherrymaster there.

    I bartended at Mitchells for 3 years. 98-2000

    Like

  119. No offense but this game is boring and shitty to watch. The PSU USC was fun to watch.

    Watson has bad football iq

    Like

  125. Bowl game strategy (brought to you by NW and Clemson): target the opposing team’s best players with head shots. The refs are too scared to call targeting or even throw a flag.

    Like

  133. He didn’t hit the helmet. Under the facemask. You guys aware the game is played fast.

    PittPT – went to Doc again. He still thinks it’s a head virus in the ears. They look bad and he talked about how that affects your equilibrium and balance and dizziness he gave me a major new antibiotic and more steroids. He also made me do these exercises that Big B was talking about and he said basically your head is like some rocks and sometimes they get off balance and this gets them back into balance.

    Like

  138. Bama has the talent and are amazingly athletic but boy, they are chippy and boarderline dirty. Some would say hard nosed, others dirty. Looks like they could all play for the Ravens! Always something after the play.

    Like

  152. And these asshole woman sitting in the car in the rain listening to music makes me even dizzier.

    Like

  154. Id do bad things to Jennifer Garner if she just didnt talk. Specifically about WV or her Dad calling about the stupid ass credit card.

    Like

  155. Think Sabin might be looking for another OC. THey are terrible. Winning this game because of superior talent. If we schemed like this people would go nuts. Sorry any Bama apologists, their O stinks!

    Like

  158. Dabo looks like a 2nd cousin from the farm who is a little off and plays cowboys and indians well
    Into his 20’s.

    Like

  181. Upitt thanks for the betting advice I made a mint took Syracuse, Steelers and Clemson. Let me know who you like next week. If we ever meet dinner is on me.

    We are the only team to bet the National Champs!!

    Like

  185. Some sporting goods store down here ( a chain of them) is opening after the Game to sell Clemscum NC gear. haha

    Like

  189. TV timeouts extended this game in extra 45 minutes… Little bullshit need to eliminate it… Good night men I have to get up in five hours

    Like

  194. How in the heck did Raymond James Stadium did the NC game. There was never a Major Bowl game played there.

    Like

  203. Erie – Im not overly impressed. To inconsistent. Pro Game will
    Eat him alive. Look at TD to INT ratio. Played good tonight though. And he has a ring. I have a torn rotator
    Cuff and dizzy and he will still be a millionaire while I’m sligging it out to pay that mortgage. Haha

    Like

  204. 3 TDs tonight with 0 Ints, plus 1 rushing TD.

    Just sayin…in the biggest game against a big favorite.

    Really good game and Pitt is THE only team this season to beat the NC – wow!

    Like

  205. Hopefully Duzz announces the new OC tomorrow on the eve of the dead period ending – maybe Clemson QB and Recruiting coordinator, Brandon Streeter from Central PA.

    The ACC IS the best conference this year, not the B1G Joke conference…

    Like

  206. Upitt, hope you’re feeling better today. I think I may have solved one of your problems and he is you. Reed once said I was the most passive / aggressive person he’s ever known (by internet) but you take my cake! You’re always right while always being wrong! ……… luv u bud…………ike

    Like

  208. Trubisky, the highest rated pro prospect, threw a terrible pick 6 in UNC’s bowl game which ultimately proved to be deciding points. Trubisky will probably make the better pro QB, but I can’t believe anyone can criticize Watson after scoring 35 vs Bama, with 3 TDs in last quarter and game winning drive in 2 minutes.

    Oh wait a minute … that was UPittBB criticizing him … now I understand.

    Like

  209. Last season, I was almost convinced the Dark Knight was really OC Jim Chaney. I now think that UPittBB is really Skip Bayless (or visa versa)

    Skip Bayless ✔ @RealSkipBayless
    This game has turned into an unfortunate joke. Clemson has lost heart because its leader has inexplicably lost his way.

    Paul Zeise Retweeted
    Skip Bayless ✔ @RealSkipBayless
    Deshaun Watson just doesn’t have it tonight. Badly missed 2 deep throws that were there. That 3rd-down pass wasn’t even close. Trouble.

    Like

  210. Wbb – For every 2 TD’s he threw he had a INT. If that is good for you then great.

    He played a really good game last night. No doubt. But to act like he is going to be a NFL winner is premature. Taj Boyd comes to mind.

    And this is Skip Bayless. Dizzy and all.

    Like

  211. From the All-Northeast Ohio team in the Plain Dealer:

    Todd Sibley – Archbishop Hovan

    Height: 5-11 Weight: 210 Year: Senior

    About Sibley: Sibley’s workhorse load didn’t begin until the playoffs, and the Pitt commit — once an Ohio State pledge — put up three straight big games to close his high school career. He finished with 2,296 yards and 22 touchdowns on 315 carries to help Hoban (14-1) win its second straight Division III state championship. Sibley’s workload in a four-year career included 50 games played, including 49 starts at running back. A 7,433-yard-rushing career vaults Sibley into the top 10 for the state with this year’s Ohio Mr. Football winner, Michael Warren of Toledo Central Catholic.

    Like

  212. UPitt. Watson is a much better passer than Boyd .. not even close. I don’t know what kind of pro Watson will be, and yes, he does throw too many INTs, but he made an awful lot of good throws under pressure last night …. and 3 long TD drives vs Bama in the 4th quarter is astonishing.

    Like

  213. Oregon: CSN Northwest also reports Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal could join the Oregon staff, possibly as offensive coordinator. Cristobal is currently one of the top 5 recruiters and coach for Alabama.

    Like

  214. To clarify my comment about “DiNucci failing entirely” was not that he personally failed entirely but that I think putting him in instead of Stocker failed the team. The decision was a failure.

    Secondly to rebut a comment about what Ike said about playing Stocker; I think that if you are in a bowl game you play it to win it and I think Stocker would have given them the best chance to win their bowl game. Remember that Stocker had a full year as a QB at NC State so had some actual playing experience.

    Now I’m not the head coach but I think it was interesting that you had a guy in Stocker who took all the QB2 snaps, and this is a really important point, he took all the snaps with the first and second-team offense all season and then all the sudden you give another kid a week or so and you throw him into a bowl game when he’s never played before. I just think that one might have been a mistake.

    Like

  215. Wwb – No doubt.

    There’s no reason our OC hire should take this long.

    Van Pelt was in the running for the Rams offense of Cordinator position or your two ago so I doubt going to the college level would excite him much. Just my two cents.

    Like

  216. While I wish we had the talent the Crimson Tide has on defense, even the all-everything players on their defense got called for a few pass interference penalties against Clemson. And they gave up 35 total points.

    I wish someone would write a book or movie about Alabama’s football program … Nick Saban could be a Michael Corleone-like character. Lane Kiffin is poor Fredo.

    Like

  217. I like coach’s decision to use the Dinuce in the bowl game. The win would of been against a middle of the pack Big Ten 6-6 team. Pitt did not have a lot to gain by beating NW. Manny is to be commended for contributing this season but not many expected him to beat out Peterman or the starting job. We got to see Little Ben play under pressure, run the ball and throw the ball in a game situation. If you could ignore the 2 int’s, the kid impressed with his situational awareness in the heat of battle. His arm strength was underwhelming, but I liked his command under fire.

    Like

  218. Can’t believe I am going to say this, but I agree with Upitt, LOL. Watson will be way down the list when it comes to the NFL draft.

    Like

  219. Carrying 5 QBs is not unusual for a DI program. It isn’t an issue, but one will leave.

    I will get the negativity ball rolling and sit back and laugh…..

    I guess we should ask new OC Tim Salem who he likes at the QB position.

    Like

  221. UPittBB. I agree with you about the hiring of the OC …. this is beginning to look too much like the Matt House hiring where after 2 full months, an assistant coach was merely promoted. Hope I’m wrong.

    Like

  222. BTW, don’t know if anyone noticed but Robert Foster wasn’t MIA last night. He was the gunner on the right side for the Bama punt team.

    Like

  223. Notrocket – you are a funny guy, but probably not far from reality with that last comment.

    I believe Duzz will hire someone as the Co-offensive coordinator / QB coach and Tim Salem will be promoted to Co-offensive coordinator / TE coach.

    Hoping for Brandon Streeter from Clemson.

    Like

  225. I should also add that the great, fast, and strong Alabama defense surrendered 511 total yards to Clemson. And 421 of those were passing yards. As great as their defense is, you don’t think playing against tough competition had something to do with giving up those kinds of stats?

    Like

  226. wwb – I did not notice Foster was one of the punt team gunners last night. Do NFL scouts notice a good gunner when they see one? Just asking…

    Like

  227. I’d be fine with Salem as long as he is co-coordinator and the other guy comes from a big time program.

    Like

  229. Erie, It was hard to notice. Bama punted 10 times but only one was returned for 3 yards. And I didn’t even notice him until the mid 3rd quarter when I happened to see his name on the back of the jersey while another punt was being downed. I don’t even know if he began the game as the gunner, but can tell you that he was on every punt from mid-3rd period on … because I looked for him (#1) Ro Foster

    Like

  230. Grizzly, are you kidding about a 9th win being unimportant?

    That would show progress and would have probably put us in the top 20 for the season.

    There is a huge separation between 8 and 9 wins perception wise.

    One of the reasons we are having a hard time recruiting is that we have been stuck at 7 or 8 wins since 2010.

    That doesn’t put a ‘winning’ label on us like a 9th win and a bowl win would have done.

    I think this was the worst loss Narduzzi’s had at Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  231. Watson’s passing was suspect, Williams and Leggit had to make spectacular catches to keep the offense moving.

    Like

  232. Tennessee: the search for departed offensive coordinator Mike DeBord’s replacement could be narrowing after head coach Butch Jones and the Volunteers hosted two candidates for on-campus interviews this past weekend.

    Former Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke and Utah State assistant Mike Canales met with Jones and Tennessee’s offensive staff, including tight ends coach Larry Scott, who appears in line for a promotion that could include play-calling duties.

    Tennessee could opt for co-coordinator titles, but Jones made it clear last week the ability to develop quarterbacks was the primary attribute he was looking for in potential candidates, and the search has trended toward hiring a quarterbacks coach.

    Like

  233. I am fairly sure I am not the first to suggest this, but I am the first on this thread. I still like the idea of Frank Cignetti Jr as OC. He did an excellent job for Pitt in 2009. He did reasonably well with first year QB Tino Sunseri in 2010. He is definitely comfortable with an offense that likes to run the ball.

    He’s got a lot of solid experience as a QB coach and OC in both college and pros. His only real blemish is that he was fired from the Rams as OC after 12 games in 2015. Currently serving as QB coach for the NY Giants.

    Like

  235. Iowa: Brian Ferentz’ promotion to offensive coordinator has officially been announced.

    Minnesota: Was a lot of buzz going around the AFCA yesterday that Ohio State OC Ed Warinner had been targeted by PJ Fleck to join the staff at Minnesota as OC. (Sources tell FootballScoop)

    Like

  236. Upitt, don’t get sensitive. Although your style is abrasive, your views often pessimistic, the majority of the time your attitude is negative towards all things Pitt and your name calling is mostly sophomoric, other than that, I can’t understand the reasoning why there would be any guilt by association when others agree with your POV?

    Like

  237. Doc – Don’t get sensitive. Although your style is condenscending, your views opportunistic, the majority of your attitude is positive towards all things Pitt and you don’t possess the art of a true good name calling when appropriate. Other than that I see your point.

    You are on the other extreme as I my friend.

    I ask you realistically is one better than the other. Pitt sure has given us substanitally more let downs over 25 years than ups.

    Like

  238. While I agree with Reed that the ninth win was extremely important, I don’t agree that playing DiNucci was wrong, he did score 1 TD. Having never seen Stocker play, I defer to the coaches decision. In any case the game was lost long before that with our miscues, and the concussions. That ninth win with the eight wins and one vs the Nat. Champs would have put us solidly in the top twenty.

    But the fact that we were the only team all year to beat Clemson, first in many games to win at Death Valley is an all time great win for Pitt and Narduzzi. To think that we beat a team that beat mighty Alabama is nothing short of amazing, especially with our much maligned defense.

    Hopefully we look back and say that was the turning point for our program.

    The Alabama team looked like they were all packed with steroids and their defense played like it had serious roid rage. What a football factory.

    Loved to see that Jerk Saban go down, especially watching him complaining to the refs.

    No doubt, Narduzzi needs some bigger, stronger, faster meaner D-Linemen. That was what really stood out last night. The difference between good and great teams.

    UPitt loves him some Alabama, that is why he has to denigrate Watson, who played a game for the history books.

    Like

  239. @Newbk, even the best team in the land (at least until 2 seconds before last night’s NC contest concluded) can be victimized by a last second game winning TD pass play. Shades of the UNC win over Pitt this season the way Clemson just made the plays/catches right down the field that they HAD TO to bring the NC home to Clemson.

    Now this morning, I took a peek at a few Alabama message boards and blogs. Know what I saw? A lot of “they got lucky” comments, lots of, “did you see those pic plays by Clemson WRs excuses” and tons of “wait until next year” comments. You know what I didn’t read. Not any comments about how badly the Alabama team collapsed in the fourth Q. Nothing about how Clemson outscored them, no throwing coaches & players under the bus for their failures, Didn’t hear any fans exclaiming how Clemson “embarrased” the Tide. No “I’m never going to another game” nonsense.

    What’s my point? Apparently, that is the overwhelming fan attitude of a winning program. They don’t jump ship when they get a humbling loss handed to them. They stand with their team, even in defeat. I’m not saying that such support is warrented or not, I’m only making an observation of how the fanbase of the winningest program in FBS football these days reacts to getting punched in the jaw, losing the biggest game of their season that prevented them from winning back to back National Championships.

    I would suggest however, that that observation should be noticed by us Pitt fans.There might be something to be gleaned from such.

    Like

  240. Was it me, but I didn’t hear one iota about Pitt beating Clemson this year last night. Even the college football highlight reel only showed us for a split second singing in the locker room with no Pitt brand identifiable. But PSU and James Franklin were highly noticeable. Sad!

    Like

  242. The ACC wins another Championship, pretty good for the “Basketball Conference”. The conference that was rated fifth out of five.

    The conference is getting stronger top to bottom, good coaching, great QB’s this year, and solid academically, except for Louisville, who should not have been admitted.

    The ACC should jettison ND if they don’t want to join, who needs them.

    Like

  243. Bring in UConn and Temple, solid basketball, good academically, eastern seaboard and loads of TV sets. Up and coming football, well maybe. Dump Louisville for academics and ethics, and ND just because.

    Like

  244. Good news about Ford, CANNOT afford to lose him.

    Don’t know what rule the DT broke at PSU, but he sure would fill a major need if he is fully rehabilitated.

    Probably hates PSU too, a plus.

    Like

  245. Pittman4ever, the 2 seconds that Pitt got was during their P I T T Chant, but true, it was a very fleeting moment. Understand though that this night was all about the glory bestowed on the best two teams in college football. There is no point in rubbing the newly crowned National Champs nose in the only blemish on an otherwise fantastic run to their only 2nd National Championship (& that wait was 35 years). So Pitt got as little exposure as possible last night concerning that huge Clemson upset.

    Gotta give PSU their due though. They won their conference and beat OSU in head to head competition, even though OSU was the B1G team that got voted into the playoff. So sure they get a little more exposure.

    But we are getting noticed. Even with the gaffe in the Pinstripe Bowl. This morning, Pitt shows up in the 1st ESPN preseason Top 25 poll for 2017 at #22. To be relevant, Pitt needs to win, win big & win often. We’ve been an also ran for so long that it is to be expected. But if you follow Pitt football closely, you know the “times they are a changing”.

    With the addition of Max Browne for next season, I’m already stoked for 2017. Just make a good hire for our OC, sooner rather than later, finish up with afew more good recruiting commitments and have Paris Ford honor his verbal to Pitt come LOI Signing Day & it’s all good going forward.

    Hail to Pitt!

    Like

  246. NFL: Coaches on teams from wild-card winners can be interviewed beginning this week. The window for interviewing candidates opens again after conference title games and during that time, only coaches who previously interviewed can interview a second time.

    Like

  248. Good comeback Upitt. you have to understand that I have taken on the role as your self appointed nemesis. Guys at opposite ends of the spectrum are kind of meant for such duties. And you’re right my name calling repertoire is pretty rudimentary. However you did ask the initial question and since you didn’t imply that it was a rhetorical one, I only felt it appropriate to offer my usual condescending answer. Like I said, why so sensitive?

    Like

  251. The really sad part about Pitt tumbling 9 spots in the AP Poll after the Pinstripe loss to 6-6 NW (NU) –

    Pitt fell the furthest after a bowl loss (this season) AND these teams are ranked ahead of our Panthers:

    San Diego State
    Kansas State
    Georgia Tech (who Pitt beat)
    Nebraska (who beat no one)
    Western Kentucky
    Air Force

    Like

  252. The rankings are a joke and a popularity contest.

    Pitt is not very popular.

    tOSU still ranked #6 over PSU #7 even though they were humiliated by Clemson.

    So we beat #1, #7 and were beat by #11, VT #16, Miami #20, all on the road.

    The loss to NW really hurt,

    But our schedule was brutal. All those great QB’s we faced, all those tough road games.

    We are way better than 31, that is a joke.

    Like

  254. I have been a proponent to give ND a yes or no on joining the ACC. They may not want to join based on how often they were beaten by ACC teams this year. If no, go for UCONN (our nemesis) and Temple or Navy. ACC should solidify at this high point in FB.

    I think Foster has to graduate before transferring. Kids need to think what specialty they want to study and make that the biggest factor in recruiting. Some schools give out gift degrees that make them almost unemployable unless they have a long NFL career. Today’s careers are very specific subject oriented even in government.

    Like

  256. 31st seems right…we lost five times and had two impressive wins. Without those wins against top ten teams, 31st would seem generous for a five loss team.

    Like

  257. Now that Clemson beat Bama my season feels complete and I’m satisfied with the PITT compete on the field each game.

    I’ll repeat my sentiments on all the prognosticators at the seasons kickoff with their proposed outcomes for PITT this past season. By all accounts, it looks like PITT held up its end of the deal and I still cannot understand all the rage directed at Narduzzi and the PITT football team while doing so?

    but that’s OK as I now brace myself for the avalanche and fallout concerning the two big hires lurking in the wings. I’m just going to sit back while laughing to myself and counting all the times “SOP” is mentioned in the comments. It just seems to me that PITT can’t win for losing and neither can I…

    Like

  258. PITT Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense, 1 special teams

    Lot’s of changes coming, hopefully for the better.

    Like

  259. Almost wet myself laughing when upitt copied in doc’s post at 10:44. Too funny! Is skurvy bad?

    Regarding Foster I saw him on one punt cover where he lost his footing close to the sidelines. Other than that, I did see him smack a few teammates in the derriere along the sidelines. There must have been another injury to their starting gunner, who I think was the WR deeter.

    These local 4 and 5 stars that go elsewhere have minimal support and get trapped in a program once they leave. That is why so many try to come back. This is as bad as seeing Don Jeter going to MIchigan when his class already has 7 other DL’s offered this year. There are only 4 positions along the line D Jete. Study the depth charts parents! Advise your kid and stop pushing your kids to go to places that took care of you during your sons official visit. Get through the noise!

    Warriner is not leaving OSU for MInnesota imo. Kurt Ferentz hired his son as OC at Iowa. Have we not seen this before with the Shanahan’s?

    Juhl as acting AD is fine. Hire Tressel as AD. As part of his hiring, make him teach at Katz, perhaps an Ethics or Brand Protection Class. He can teach about his learnings. What better way to learn for the kids than from one that failed in one area of his life, but rebounded. That would clear any NCAA hurdles (although Pitt will not be on their radar). We missed on Barnes and the search committee should be flogged for that. Granted, as always happens in academia and politics, there are no burning of bridges anywhere. Pitt does not want to look like they fired Barnes and Barnes doesn’t want to look like he quit. The answer is not in what you read folks. A win win is that Pitt is a great employer to let him go and Barnes looks like he put his family before his work. Only a select few know what really happened and they ain’t talkin. Ever!

    Let’s now make a splash hire or two and cap off this seasons recruiting with a strong flip or two!

    Like

  261. Reed – Is there a post counter that shows who posts the most on POV? I need to get a life I’m sure. Haha.

    WVU and Baylor in Motown. WVU -6. Thoughts? I like WVU.

    Like

  263. FWIW. I have now seen three way-too-early 2017 pre-season polls (CBS, ESPN and AL.com – whatever that is) and Pitt is listed as No. 22 in all three. Probably 2010 was the last time we received such notice so little doubt we are heading in the right direction. While we again play a challenging OOC, we do have to play Clemson, FSU or Louisville next year .. so onward and upward.

    Like

  265. follow-up to gc @ 11:54

    Chris Dokish ‏@ChrisDokish 2h2 hours ago
    Pitt finished 2-3 against the top 25, including 2-0 against the top 10.

    Chris Dokish ‏@ChrisDokish 2h2 hours ago
    WVU was 0-3 against top 25, and was outscored 124-62, yet they finished No. 18.

    Like

  266. Random thoughts….

    Juhl named acting AD so Narduzzi can make his hire for OC. I doubt Gallagher would want to talk numbers with an OC.

    Franklin will leave PSU within two years if he has continued success.

    Get rid of ND and Louisville for Temple and Uconn????? That is a complete downgrade for the ACC.

    Like

  267. @Pitt – Not sure who the changes are, but I see a wash to a slight loss at RB, a + at TE, two slight minuses along the OL, a too early to determine at QB and a + at WR. Overall a slight downgrade, but not much. QB play is critical as always. Trenches win championships.

    On defense, the DL will be a wash to a slight + imo. LB a + and DB a +. That was easy!

    Like

  268. 😂😂😂 @ Dr. Tom you could have very succinctly summed up your post to upittbaseball by simply telling him, “It’s because you can be such a HATER!!!” 😂😂😂

    Deshuan Watson bounces back after insanely dirty hits and head-hunting by what many consider the fastest, biggest, meanest and most talented defense in the HISTORY OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL ….then he starts torching them and carries in squad on his back to National Title Glory!

    And @Upittbaseball somehow hates on that player!! 😂😂 Pitt would have won 10-11 regular season games this year and last year with Deshuan Watson at QB!

    Like

  271. gc..agree about jettisoning the Irish from the ACC..they no longer have the “power and inigma” that they once garnered- that glow has passed ..then put them back on our FB and BB schedule every year for a home sell-out and a great road-trip.

    I like the idea of hiring Tressle as AD- would be a home run..Huff mentioned he could teach an “ethics” class..LMAO HUFF- we had a neurosurgeon a while back who couldn’t keep his nose out of the cookie jar, lost his license to do surgery and give certain meds-he is now a practicing ADDICTIONOLOGIST!!!! Believe it or not! UPITT, if you local Doc can’t help you I will send you to the Addictionologist

    Like

  272. I would add another 12k in seats though. This holds 30k. Make the ticket sought after and that supply and demand would create Season Ticket Sales to go bananas and create more pride for our own house. Right across the river from the Practice Facilities.

    Like

  274. Speaking of Foster..gotta be tough being a WR at Bama..not a football factory known for producing QBs,,I thought Bama would lose because of their weakness at QB..Their strength has been their D, OL and RBs since I can’t remember..A lot of you have better memories but who were great Bama QBs other than Namath and Stabler..I don’t count AJ McCarron although he does have a top 10 babe. I don’t know why an elite WR would even consider going there and playing for Saban

    Like

  275. UPitt if you look hard enough you can see Lane Kiffin standing on the 50 yard line. I wonder if Lane and Nick are on speaking terms.

    Like

  277. Just because Donovan Jeter is going to Michigan where there are 6 other D linemen in the class doesn’t mean he is making the wrong decision. Who knows, he might emerge as the best of the bunch. He might not, but he might grow more surrounded by quality competition, which could set him up well if he decides to transfer. I’m not going to criticize the young man’s college choice before he has even stepped foot on campus. It’s hard for me to even be critical of Foster. Who is to say he hasn’t had a positive experience so far? Who is to say he won’t have the opportunity at Alabama to see the field more next year?

    Like

  278. Upitt

    Agree again, holy shit. Take a look at Army’s stadium on the water.

    Come on Reed, take you millions and influence Gallagher to build the stadium.

    Like

  279. Easy to understand why elite athletes with big egos want to go to the top ten schools, but some miss the opportunity to star in their own home town. Plenty of stars have excelled at these schools. Ty Law, Terrelle Pryor, Steve Breaston and plenty of others have had great careers.

    Maybe Foster is not all that he was cracked up to be. Rushel Shell another Beaver County superstar turned out to be a little better than average at WV. All High School stars don’t become College stars just as all college stars don’t make it as pros.

    It is important that Pitt gets its share of the great ones from the WPIAL. Hopefully this year’s poor local results won’t carry over. We have never or will never get them all, but need to get our share.

    ND being in the ACC helps them take players from the WPIAL. I say dump them if they won’t go all in. They also get one of our bowl games when they are good. Special treatment for anyone is wrong.

    As for Louisville, they are the worst academically by far, they gave hookers to players and families, and their coaches are scumbags. They don’t fit geographically.

    Like

  281. ^^^ Lol —- that’s what Pitt Football needs to become an Elite Program…..a dinky stadium that seats less than 50,000.

    Clemson has the exact same enrollment as Pitt, and yet somehow those crazy fans stuff an 80,000+ Bleacher stadium to the brim every single home game even during their decades of mediocrity (a la Pitt level “success”).

    Northwestern, Georgia Tech, Boston College, North Carolina State, Minnesota (brand new home stadium), Indiana…..heck Iowa State, Texas Tech, Arizona (on and on and on….) all have their own Smack-Dab On-Campus, crappy little 40-50,000 seat stadiums along with dozens of other garbage programs yuck.

    How bout focus 199% on keeping Pat Narduzzi happy, PERIOD so he can keep bringing in his 22-25 hand-picked High School Seniors each year to Feed this Pitt Football Program — and once Pitt is all “Narduzzi Hand Picked Players” this Squad is going to look like a Juiced-Up Version of those Michigan State Squads — except the “Pittsburgh “City-Version” lol*.

    Urgh — a $hity little dinky 50,000 or less person stadium would be Garbage and NO ONE WANTS THAT except for a few here (??????) no comprendo Senors haha.

    — Heinz and PNC are ranked unanimously as top 5 Pro Stadiums in their respective sports and Heinz seats less than 70,000, making it only an Average Size ACC stadium Period.

    Like

  283. There isn’t another single thing to do in Clemson on a Saturday. That stadium isn’t filled with students, it is filled with a bunch of seriously bored residents just like Beaver Stadium and all the other college town schools.

    Look at BC, Georgia Tech, Miami for comparison attendance.

    Pitt isn’t going to get 70,000 regularly.

    Like

  284. I think a small stadium is small time. We would still end up going to Heinz a couple times a year for the big games.

    Like

  287. @Upittbaseball urgh:

    “Don’t face reality. 45k is perfect.”

    45k is garbage. That’s FCS garbage.

    Then what happens for Big Games like Pitt vs. Notre Dame, Pitt vs. pswho, Contending Pitt vs. WVU in a few years — or future games of significance like 2009 Pitt vs. Cincinatti????

    That’s just an insane point to even say out-loud. …… 45,000??? That’s MAC — *that’s WHACK.

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  288. Only thing Pitt fans need to take Pay Attention to at all Right Now —- and also take initiative on, and be Preemptive about, is making sure Pat Narduzzi is incredibly happy at Pitt with his “Administrative Support” (i.e. $$$$$ lol).

    All those Big Time, Mucho-Dinero Pitt Boosters need to be called-upon for is to help make sure after next season (9-3, plus a Huge, Resounding Premier Bowl Game win for Nard-Dawg’s first Bowl win and a top-10 finish), that Pat Narduzzi gets paid more than James Franklin just to make a clear-point that PITT IS IT and is now the clear, Superior Power over Country, Yokel, Insulated-Vacuum pswho and their little deluded clan of worshipping sheep. 🙂 🙂

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  290. Mark Cuban went to Pitt. What the hell? He is our T Boone….let him pick the AD, name all of South Oakland after him, name the stadium after him, hell, change the emblem to be Cuban in script….just get him to open up his wallet for a stadium.

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  291. Elon: IUP wide receivers coach Mike Shanahan (former Pitt WR) will join Curt Cignetti as receivers coach, source tells FootballScoop.

    Fan favorite for sure…

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  292. We would fill 45k 1-2 games a year Darkie. That is it. It is intimate and it is sought after. 2 things Heinz is not. Peddle that to the 35k yellow empty seats

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  293. Coaching additions that would make me happy.

    Scott Shaffer
    Jeff Halfley
    Brandon Streeter
    Kevin John
    Tom Clements

    Reed: I agree about playing to win and when I look at the choice between Dinucci and Stocker, I think it was a no brain-er. Stocker guaranteed nothing but a loss of quality snaps in practice for Ben.

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  294. if Pitt wants to play in a 70k stadium it had better average more than 45k over the past 30 years. That 45k number isnt changing. So build a stadium with max capacity at 50k…combo of bleachers and seats. For the Penn State and Notre Dame game, they can play at 70k Heinz or the new domed 80k in Washington County in 15 years.

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  295. Have read all 239 comments and haven’t heard this said…..Bama lost last night because their very good defense was very thin. Clemson ran 90 plays last year and over 100 this year. That Bama defense gave up 21 4th quarter points and was exhausted in the end. Wouldn’t take either QB in the game over Nate Peterman!

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  296. Huff – if you think “it is too early to tell” about the loss of the QB position in 2017 then I think you are way off base.

    It will be a long time until Pitt sees the level of production out of the QB position, especially from any QBs on the roster now, that Peterman just gave us. That position is going to take a major hit in 2017. Peterman’s 2016 year was truly outstanding.

    Ike – Giving DiNucci snaps just to give him snaps was rather stupid. If the staff thought DiNucci was better in any way they would have had him taking QB2 snaps during the season. That is where a player gets ready to play in the future – not taking one or two series of actual play.

    During the season only two QBs get actual snaps with the 1st string. This year that was Peterman and Stocker. Instead they throw in a kid who never once took a snap in action at all.

    Again, I watched both QBs numerous times and there is no doubt in my mind that Stocker was the better passing QB and better runner. Maybe he was being disciplined by the staff or was dinged up but I find it very hard to believe that the staff changed horses in the middle of the stream out of nowhere without some reason they aren’t saying.

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  297. Regular season games are more important than bowl games. I think that’s why the experienced Stocker was backing up Peterman during the regular season. Both Peterman and Stocker will be gone from the team next year. We now have some idea of how Dinucci reacts in a D1 game situation.

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  298. My guess is that absent injury DiNucci won’t take another snap under center for Pitt the remainder of his career at Pitt. Since I’ve never seen McVittie throw a football and so I certainly can’t comment on what his upside is at Pitt at this time. All I have to say Reed, is that from Narduzzi’s comments on McVittie of late, you and he are about 180 degrees opposite in your assessments of McVittie. Needless to say I hope Narduzzi is right and you are wrong McVittie’s potential.

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  299. Ohio State: Former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson has joined the OSU staff as offensive coordinator / tight ends coach, Ryan Day’s title is co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach, and Billy Davis’ title is linebackers coach.

    Minnesota: Ohio State offensive coordinator / tight ends coach Ed Warinner will join the Minnesota staff as offensive line coach, according to Sports Illustrated. Warinner has been at OSU since 2012.

    Pittsburgh: The search for a replacement for former offensive coordinator Matt Canada is still underway.

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  301. Take your average crappy bowl game and think why coaches love to go to them. Don’t think too long, it’s the extra practices. Why would you waste a single rep on a QB who didn’t play much in the season and is gone already? It wasn’t stupid giving the reps to Benny. Obviously Narduzzi agrees with me. Stocker wasn’t any better anyways.

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  303. Grizzly1,
    “Regular season games are more important than bowl games” HUH? REALLY?
    I guess Pitt’s beating Clemson during the regular season was more important than the Fiesta Bowl win where Clemson beat tOSU to play last night????

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  304. I know our DB s have taken a beating this year, but even Bama’s DBs had got torched by the much taller Clemson receivers. Also found it interesting that the announcers said Bama had no depth on defense! How is this possible with all the 4 &5 stars they have?

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  305. Well, after last night’s game the National Champion Clemson is 14 and 1. What does that mean for Pitt?

    We’re number 1, We’re number 1!

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  306. I wondered that too Larry…..and the fact that their starting RB was out. They have to have four 5* players at that position. Even we have good depth at RB.

    I laughed about how the great Bama defense gave up 3 rushing TD’s all year but 2 last night and over 500 yards on offense. Maybe it’s just the pathetic offenses in the SEC.

    http://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=400876570

    Bama has 17 WR’s on their roster.Wake up Mr. Foster….

    http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/roster/_/id/333

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  310. Minnesota: Western Michigan offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca will follow P.J. Fleck to Minnesota in the same role, according to The Star-Tribune.

    Cross Ciarrocca off the list for Pitt OC – PA guy with nice play calling abilities…

    PJ now has two OC’s on staff after one week’s work in assembling his staff.

    Pittsburgh: Still waiting for an OC candidate to emerge…

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  311. Wouldn’t be surprised if Napier is the new OC. Not a guy with great OC experience, but well connected on the recruiting trail and has been apart of two of the best programs in the land – ‘bama and clemson.

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  313. Erie – That is reaching for us if we are serious about contending.

    WVU rolling Upitt may win one!

    -6

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  316. @newbk-I wasn’t saying it was a mistake for D. Jeter to try and beat out 7 dl….in his class. Need to understand numbers and where the other kids come from. Urn gives Ohio kids the benefit of the doubt because he knows the majority of his recruiting is based in Ohio. Same with Harbaugh. These kids have a very short window to make it at the big programs. They don’t make it, they lose. They make it there, they would have made it anywhere.

    But don’t ask R Foster if he or any other would have done it differently because the egos of kids and parents won’t allow for the truth. Personally, I don’t care because it doesn’t matter to me. I get nothing out of where an 18 year old decides to play a sport. I do speak the truth as I know it from being close to 2 big programs.

    @Reed- a bit premature on the QB situation and I’ll stick with that thru the spring game although it may be hand-off city if we don’t get an OC soon. Browne could be a superstar and we catch lightning in a bottle. My thought is that he is clearly needed to take the heat of the 99k at the dairy college. He has played or at least seen 100k in a stadium. Our other QB ‘s haven’t. Production to me is measured in wins…

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  317. Jackagain,
    Clowning is officially > 20 pts difference….what Syracuse was doing to us. 57-45 is what Syracuse ended up doing to us–sous clowning.

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  320. If Enos has some recruiting chops, I think that he would be a solid choice . I like his HC experience at Central Michigan . .

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  321. Foster started as a Sophmore but got Season Ending Injury in his 3rd game. That opened a door for others.

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  322. Pittman4evr, (5:48, 10 Jan)

    It’s all about context isn’t it? I’d agree with you if Pitt was playing for the NC.
    Hasn’t happened in 41 years.

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  323. I was thinking the same thing HUFF when Reed opined that our QB production will take a step backwards this year. Who knows?

    I sure feel a lot more secure now knowing Max Browne is a Panther. The thing about the college game that I’ve always enjoyed is watching the emergence of new talent when they get their chance on the field. Our last home run guy as a true freshman was Tyler Boyd. Who didn’t enjoy watching Sam Darnold beat PSU in the Rose Bowl? RS freshman, really?

    So here’s my opinion. Our 2016 recruiting class is filled with kids that have the potential to be game changers. None of the true freshmen that did play this past season had the impact that Boyd had as a freshman but 2017 now pulls the wraps off another group of RS freshman in this recruiting class. It will be interesting to watch.

    The defense will be most effected with this injection of youth, but make no mistake about it, the offense has a couple newcomers who could be immediate game changers. Obviously, MacVittie was the next QB in wIting before we snagged Max Browne from USC ( Thanks Sam Darnold!) but I’m not sure MacVittie has to accept riding the pine because of it. Darnold beat out Browne at USC & that just may be the case here at Pitt too if Thomas is energized by the new competition provided at the QB position with the addition of Browne to the roster.

    A QB doesn’t perform in a vacuum however, and Pitt’s supporting cast looks to be even better to me going forward. Look it, is Henderson going to be better in 2017? You bet! Same with Weah. Can you imagine how Mr. Stonehands Weah confidence has improved after last year’s production? Both Ffrench & Mathews saw the field as true freshmen, although in limited action. They will both blossom in 2017 as sophomore receivers.

    Then you have Flowers waiting to blossom himself (nice segue huh?). This kid could actually show up as a miniBoyd this coming season in a support role to Weah as our second WR.

    Then we’ve got a real wildcard in the mix, Chris Clark. This guy was rated as the #1 TE in the country when his class was being recruited. Consider that for a moment? When was the last time Pitt snagged a #1 recruit in the nation at any position? I can’t recall one. If Clark is even remotely as good as his press clippings predict then we have a guy who is more than able to follow in Orndoff’s footsteps without missing a beat! And remember this isn’t a kid right out of HS. He’s already seen the field and he’s been training here at Pitt for an entire year waiting for eligibility.

    The only question really is, “do we miss Biz & Jihnson on the OL”? Thanks to Paul Christ, I say no. That is one position that Chryst recruited well & we will just “reload” this season on the left side of the line. No worries.

    So why is Reed anticipating the WB to take a step backwards, I don’t get it. There is no basis for such trepidation. The only real issue is hiring the right OC. I trust that Coach Duzz finds the guy necessary to keep Pitt’s juggernaut offense firing on all cylinders.

    Yeah, I know brimming with optimism again. Why not?

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  324. My God, quit the sky is falling BS because an OC wasn’t hired yet. Look where PSU go there OC from. There are tons of guys out there that none of us know of.

    Speaking of which, if Pitt would have hired a guy from a little shit school, you all would have shit the bed. Turned out pretty good for them.

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