in Pitt Football 1,361 Words

POV Bits & Pieces; 3/29

Just got back from the Campus of University of Virginia where we stayed when visiting Monticello yesterday. I forgot just how beautiful that campus is as it is mainly Thomas Jefferson’s designed buildings.  We stayed at a nice hotel called the Cavalier Inn.  Not super fancy, a bit tattered here and there but really pleasant and only $99 per night… with a good free breakfast.

We’ll be playing Virginia in their house in 2018 so keep this info in mind – will make for a great road trip destination.

On to football:

I posted in a comment with this info yesterday but want to include it for the readers who don’t follow the comments.

QB Nate Peterman is getting more and more publicity as the days draw nearer to the 2017 NFL draft on April 27th – 29th.  Now we see an article in the Buffalo News that lists why the Bills should draft him.

Reasons:

  1. He played in a pro-style passing attack. Peterman led the Panthers’ highest-scoring offense in program history as a senior in 2016, an attack that put up 40.9 points per game. He also led the ACC in passer efficiency (163.4 rating), starting all 13 games while completing 60.5 percent of his passes for 2,855 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
  2. He’s resilient. Peterman signed with Tennessee coming out of high school in Florida so that he could play SEC football. He didn’t get many chances, though, redshirting as a freshman in 2012. He broke his hand in his first start of 2013 and threw just 23 passes that season, then got benched after two series in 2014 in favor of Joshua Dobbs, who started the rest of the year. Peterman ended up throwing only 43 passes for Tennessee.
  3. He’s smart. In addition to the bachelor’s degree in communications he earned in three years at Tennessee, Peterman also has an MBA from Pitt’s Katz Graduate School of Business. He made the 2016 All-ACC Academic Football Team.

Here is his NFL draft profile… but wait there’s more.  Now the Giants are wondering about him.  Ron Jaworski, a NFL QB who did very well as a pro has this to say about our past QB:

I think Peterman at Pitt is a guy that I think is a project,” Jaworski told NJ Advance Media Tuesday following the NFL Draft in Philadelphia Chalk Talk at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “And, he’s a good project. When you look at the quarterback position, you have to look at development. Certainly with Eli, you’re probably going to get a year or two more.

“I always believe that you should take a quarterback. Develop him. Get him onto the practice squad. You find out about him. That’s a position that takes time. You can run out a wide receiver, at tackle and they can contribute quickly. Very few Dak Prescott come along and play the way he played last year. Peterman is a guy that I would take a good, hard look at.” 

Speaking of NFL-worthy QBs I’d like to remind readers what I asked Pat Narduzzi in a face to face interview during the 2016 fall camp.  I asked “Now that you have been in the ACC for a full year what do you have to do differently on defense as opposed to the Big Ten?”

His answer?  ‘All offenses are pretty much alike, we’ll play them week to week. No difference between the Big Ten and the ACC really.’  I’m paraphrasing that but here is the video – my question is at the 24:10 mark.

Which strikes to the heart of our defensive problems last season I believe.  Here is the list of the Top Eight QBs entering the draft.  Please note how many are ACC and how many are Big Ten.

NFL QB Peterman

See that? Five of the eight are in the pass happy ACC and zip, none, nada in the Big Ten. This stubbornness in his defensive philosophy is what hurt us last year and pointed us to giving up 35.2 ppg.  He needs to have a mindset change.  One thing that might be a bright spot in his recognizing this is some personnel moves he’s making.

Most notably by moving Safety Jordan Whitehead from the Strong Safety spot to the Free Safety position.  Whitehead cut his teeth and made a name in his run defense support in 2015 from that Strong Safety position but we need his speed out in pass defense.

Rivals Chris Peak has a nice article about this move on Whitehead’s part.

It is pretty obvious that we need more pure speed in the defensive backfield. That’s one of the reason WR/DB Maurice Ffrench has been shuttling between offense and defense this spring also.

Of course this will be a main topic of conversation until we play PSU in September. That’s when we’ll face the first of a few really good QBs in Tracy McSorley.  He torched us last year (24 of 35, 332 yards 1 TD and 1 INT)  but I don’t think it will be as dramatic as that this year.

Thanks God for our Ryan Lewis in that game, eh?

Speaking of videos, remember this from before last year’s PSU game?  (Note: rude language).  I laugh my ass off every time I watch it… “I’ll bomb everything west of Altoona“.  Classic!!

Other Notes:

Richman, Jay91, Huff and Jeff in PA – could you all send me an email about the Golf Outing.  I have your screen names listed as coming to the outing but that is all I have heard from you guys.  My email is rkohberger@gmail.com and I need the info for my records.

As for the Golf Outing – it is shaping up nicely.  If you still owe for the entrance fees please send it in to me at home (address on homepage).  Remember if you don’t want to golf but hang out, have a few drinks, eat and debate Pitt football then it is only $25.  It is only $75 if you do want to golf.

Plus it looks like UPitt is going to be there… tell me you don’t want to meet him in person.  He’ll take a punch to the gut for $20 to go to the POV Postage Fund.

I have a bunch of car decals left – send me an email if you want a couple.  Also – if you want to get things I will have to pass out in the future then again, send me your contact info and I’ll put you on my list.

I have been asked by the Library of Congress’ Veteran’s Oral History Project to do an hour long interview about my time in the service and then afterward.  I was submitted for this from one of the people who “checked me out” as a Human Book from the Human Library last weekend at our library.   If you remember I wrote a bit about that.

I’m also going to be the interviewer for two other Veterans that same evening.  Should be interesting and I’ll give you all details when it is all finished.   BTW – don’t let anyone tell you they will be bored in retirement – that is absolutely only if you want to be.

I have one big ass favor to ask.  Can anyone who has parking in one of the Heinz ground parking  lots be our “Tailgate Man”?  Basically that means lugging the Pitt POV flagpole and storing it at your house for the season… then bringing it to and from the tailgate.

I’ll provide food, sodas and booze, etc. of course but I can’t carry that flagpole around because of my lower back – and also because I own a Prius so it will stick out a window on my 450 mile round trips.  It is about 6.5′ long when closed.

I’ll slide some storage and gas money your way if anyone can chip in and help us POV’ers with this..  I will thank you forever if you can be so kind as to do this. 

First tailgate is on April 15th for the Spring Game.  I’ll be at the gold Lot at around 10:30 – 11:00 am for the 1:00 pm start.  See you all there – look for the above mentioned flag…

POV Flag 1

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145 thoughts on “POV Bits & Pieces; 3/29”

  1. Son graduated from UVA and we always stayed at the Cav Inn. Couldn’t agree more about that campus, it’s really special. And I have never seen a stadium that can empty out as quickly. Not just cause the team has been bad lately either. Charlottesville is a great place, and has the best gelato place that I have ever tried, Italy included. Place is called Splendora. I’ve often considered driving down with dry ice just to bring some back!

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  2. Congrats on being selected for the Library of Congress’ Veterans Oral History interview. Sounds quite prestigious. I’m sure you will do very well.

    As usual you provided another blog full of interesting data … but I found what I mentioned above to be the most fascinating.

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  4. Alright, I’ll bite. Could it be possible that the ACC was a pass happy league because they had 5 QB projected to go in the draft? Can we use the argument that Narduzzi was stubborn in his schemes and not accept the fact that PITT played against top QB’s and wide receivers last year? I do think this is all relative. Watch out for the PITT defense this coming year.

    I don’t think you guys want to count on me to carry the flag pole. I’m just not that reliable. I am looking into a gold lot parking pass though. Maybe if I can get a game or two and others do the same? My actual parking space will be in the Hyatt parking lot. Which actually is fairly big and a cool place to tailgate. Right cross from the Hyde Steak House and all the other juke joints.

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    1. I’m also out as pole carrier. Not only will I miss a couple games … my usual itinerary is to drive 2 hrs to the Bottle Shop to meet my buddy, a Pitt alum, whose son, a Katz alum, has a free parking pass in a downtown garage, where we walk 2 blocks and catch the T going under the river into the parking lot.

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  7. Congrats to you Reed….. Played in a Law School Softball Tournament at UVA almost 25 years ago. It is still my favorite Campus anywhere (U of Rochester pretty nice also). Great fans too. Very passionate.

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  8. Reed, the human book idea is really intriguing to me. To think you have found a way to therapeutically help others while helping yourself at the same time is a novel idea to say the least.

    To not only find an audience that can benefit from your experiences AND wants to hear about them as you can benefit through talking about them. Lots of complex problems come with the brain. You deserve many props Reed.

    We have lots to talk about my friend.

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  9. Reed, I have a pass in Red 5. Right next to the Red Garage (where the T station is located). Across the street from Gold lot 4. I have my own flagpole and can be the host for the tailgates. Let’s talk at the outing or the spring game if you don’t get a better offer or a lot closer to Gold 1. My M.O. is getting at the lot when the gates open 5 hours prior to kickoff. My wife has never been happy with this but my tailgate buddies love it. No matter what I can bring my flagpole to the spring game so you don’t need to worry about that.

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  10. Hey Lastrow, that’s actually not a bad spot at all, it’s actually very good. Tailgated there for a few years (right under the underpass) and we were early to arrive as well. Probably have met you in the past.

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  13. Add this guy to the top of my list of incoming recruits that I want to see hav immediate success on the field in 2017, Cam Carter.

    This is the mammoth DL recruit that is coming in from East Mississippi Community College. Funny thing is he used to be a penn state player. Read the entire article in the PG today by Brian Batko, it’s a good bio on the kids prior issues.

    But the last paragraph of that article sold me on this guy. Carter said with a laugh. “I can’t wait to get back in Beaver Stadium, beat Penn State, do what I’ve got to do on that field, contribute to that win.”

    That’s what I’m talkin bout!

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    1. Doc, did he happen to mention if he was going to also play defensive back as well as on the defensive line?

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  15. Upitt’s gong to Jackson! Then to Starkville. Looking for Johnny and June and or Ben Howland.

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  16. That’s right Doc, I called out his name during the round-table last week if you recall. He’s was a really athletic youngster that has grown into a large man. I expect him to be a main cog in PITT’s defense and another reason PITT’s D will be much improved. imo …. ike

    H2P

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  17. Reed, if you plan on staying the night of the game why don’t you stay on the north shore? I know you like to stay in downtown but parking is included and the stadium is a few blocks away from the Hyatt and Residence Inn. The Bettis Bar is 100 yards from the Hyatt and not expensive.

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  18. Reed – Congrats on being selected for the Veteran’s Oral History Project. You will be immortalized – and I’m sure you’ll mention the POV, which will also be immortalized!

    And thanks for the copy of the Pitt Spring Guide and the decals.

    Hey Ike, who would you like better as our jumbo package fullback – Cam Carter or Jerry Drake? Here’s the beef!

    Go Pitt.

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  19. I won’t get my hopes up on Carter just yet. I’ve seen some JuCos talk trash before and become absolute duds on the D-1 level. When I attended Ohio State, in 1997 it signed the top JuCo defensive tackle, Paul Breed, and he came in talking about being a top-5 NFL pick in the 1998 draft. Dude. Was. Awful!

    I do hope Carter backs up what he is saying. That would be fantastic and the D-tackle rotation would be amazingly deep.

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  20. I kinda forgot about Carter. He could be just what the Dr. ordered for the middle of the line. Taleni looks solid and if Hendrix finally shows up, who knows. Certainly more depth this year with Watts, Camp, Blair, Edwards, Folston, Herndon all vying for playing time.

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    1. Don’t leave Shane Roy out of that bunch that you just name dropped. Although an unheralded old HCPC recruit, last year Shane got an entire season of experience on the DL in a reserve role. The depth there now on the interior DL is better now than we’ve seen in a very long time. Imagine that, enough horses available to maybe actually do a complete two deep rotation during games without having to put up with any severe talent drop off in the process.

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  21. There are two Edwards, Allen and Devon, Weaver and Wheeler,Pugh and Roy, so good depth, also good freshmen coming in to redshirt.

    It will be interesting to see which guys step up and can we get a consistent pass rush.

    I am encouraged, but the real question is will enough of these guys mature enough to have a big impact this year?

    Also, for Reed, will Conklin remain a dud, or turn into a stud?

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    1. With this crew there will most definitely by a few youngsters that will have the combination of enough talent & big enough cojones to find success in the two deep of the roster, if not challenge for a starting spot.

      The more I study what our current roster is composed of, the more excited I get to see so many new faces on the field making contributions to this team.

      Young, talented and lots of them. Experience is all that is lacking for the majority of these kids. Who’s ready to step up to the plate? It will be fun to see how it all shakes out during the 2017 season.

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    2. Pitt hasn’t had this kind of depth on the D-line since 2007:

      DEs — Clermond, McKillop, Romeus, Sheard
      DTs — Mick, Duncan, Duhart, Malecki

      It should be noted that Mustakas was injured in 2007 and Doug Fulmer suffered a career-ending injury the year prior.

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  22. Reed, FWIW, you will now join my two favorite albums “Kind of Blue” (Miles Davis) and “The Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore East” in the archives of LOC.

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  23. Majors, that’s a great question. Who doesn’t love the Drake? He’s a big dude as well. Carter was a WR a long time ago who then went on to TE. It would seem that Carter would be more athletic.

    gc, pretty sure that Devon Edwards is running at tight end right now.

    Lots of unknown’s on defense but what we for sure is, the D will definitely be quicker, faster and more athletic… and hopefully more fun to watch. Zeise, Pine, Brightwell, and McKee should be flying around making plays we haven’t seen in a while at PITT.

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  24. Off topic — in addition to most of the returning players, KS is also losing assistant coach Ballard, who is headed to VCU (per Rothstein, CBS)

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  25. Glad I could help you there wwb with a morning chuckle. Sometimes when I get on a PITT football roll I can get a little over excited. I do believe that PITT is 2 years away from being a great defense but this coming season we should probably see a big improvement. A football is a funny shape though and can bounce a lot of different ways.. ike

    H2P

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    1. Glad to see the enthusiasm from you and others … but I may have to temper your enthusiasm a little bit (because that is what I often do.)

      At this time a year ago … we (me included) were most enthusiastic about newcomers Hamlin, Hill, Camp, Pugh and Flowers … and Ffrench and Matthews were barely mentioned. You never know.

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  27. UVA is a beautiful campus. I really want my daughter to go there for college. James Monroe’s Highland is near Monticello. You can see two Presidents homes in the same day. Apparently they often visited each other as they were essentially neighbors. James Madison’s Montpelier is less than an hour away. Also, lots of wineries and breweries to quench your thirst. My friend’s family still own a farm outside of C’ville. Gorgeous scenery and Star Hill not far away.

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  28. Narduzzi stating that the Big 10 and ACC offenses are the same, implies to me that if his defensive vision comes to fruitation, it will become irrelevant what kind of offense the opponent is running.

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    1. they may be the same the same in design .. but not in caliber.

      I remind you that Wisconsin which finished 7th nationally in total defense and 4th in scoring defense, was torched to the tune of 38 points and 435 yards vs PSU. 384 of those yards were thru the air. Otherwise, they gave up an average of 187 yards per game passing, 291 total yards per game and 14 points per game …. quite a difference.

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  29. If the Big Ten had Watkins, Kiser, Trubinski, Kayaa, Peterman along with the QB from VTech and Jackson from Louisville, the national media would be all over the claim that that is the best QB conference of all time., When is the last time Narduzzi saw that caliber of QB’s in addition to the OK ST QB. His defense was good in a conference where the QB play basically was average at best. This year Pitt will not see that listing but will see a couple good to very good QB’s.

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    1. In bowl games …
      Clemson scored 35 vs 2nd ranked ALABAMA;
      UNC had 23 (but 398 yards passing) vs 12th ranked Stanford;
      Miami had 31 vs 18th ranked WVU;
      Va Tech had 35 vs Arkansas (all in 2nd half),
      Ok St scored 38 vs 15th ranked Colorado, and
      PSU scored 49 vs 3rd ranked USC

      final rankings listed

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  30. One thing I’ve learned over the 50 + years of being a PITT fan is,… not only are PITT fans skeptical, cynical, borderline haters, complainers and pretty much negative beyond belief. (Kinda of like most other fans around the country) but the one thing that separates PITT fans from all the rest? In large part, PITT nation is a bunch of scared-y pants. You just don’t want to get hurt again by the love of your life. boo hoo

    You can tell me that you’re being realistic and giving me the facts. Facts schmacks, the best things we have all done our lives was to think with our hearts with a little bit of common sense thrown in there to keep us all alive. Your brain will keep you down guys..

    I can bring up the asshat AD PITT shoved out the door way too late but I won’t 🙂 Yes you want an AD to instill an attitude and a culture but it didn’t have to be all negative. That didn’t help with anything let alone the PITT fan-base.

    Now it’s up to the PITT nation to plow through all the negativity and look on the positive side more often. Dr Tom will be giving lessons on the round-table coming at you sometime soon!

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Chet and wwb bring up valid points here. It may not totally be the answer of all questions but it certainly helps in the ongoing case between, the “PITT defense vs just the facts mam”, group.

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  34. PSN has had a couple of interviews this past week with past Panthers. One was with Nate Byham who is doing well and is TE /Special Teams coach at Albany under Gattuso

    The other was with Jimbo Covert

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  35. Gattuso should have been named defensive coordinator at Pitt. I’m sure he would be making more as the Pitt DC over the HC at Albany. I also believe he would have been a good recruiter for Pitt in western Pa. Not sure about he’s recruiting ability for Fla. however.

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  36. Jrnpitt… agree about Greg Gattuso- he has been strong wherever and whoever he coached.. he is a proven winner!

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  37. I live 45 min east of Charlottesville.

    Everyone should see Monticello. Jefferson was a brilliant man and his home reflects it. On the way up rt. 53 to the property is Carter’s Mountain Orchard. If you have an extra 15-20 minutes, take the ride up to the top, have some cider and take in the breathtaking views of Afton Mountain and the Blue Ridge to the west and the Piedmont region to the east.

    I park in Blue 10 which is a parking garage near the Warhol Museum. I could take a rickshaw with the pole and flag up…riding down General Robinson St. as a beacon to loyal followers. Having said that, someone getting there 5 hours ahead is a better idea. 5 hours – thats pretty strong.

    Speaking of hotels for post-game, don’t the prices go up quite a bit on the Saturday nights before a Steeler home game?

    Reed – regarding the QB lineup in the ACC this past year, one never knows what the future holds but I doubt it was that strong during the HCPC years – at least those teams that Pitt played.

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  38. Ike, you da Man! So often I want to state exactly what you expressed above about so many negative Nancys that populate our fan base but I try my best not to come across like that since IRONICALLY I don’t want to appear negative!😃

    You pretty much nailed the issue though with so many fans, a lot just want to protect their own emotions and it’s a lot easier to take the inevitable loses that come around when you’ve already discounted the home team’s potential, rather than to be so emotionally invested that it feels like you’ve had your heart ripped out of your chest yet again by your beloved Panther squad that should of, could of, would of but didn’t!

    Flip side of that however? The wins always feel the Bestest! The 1st beer after the game is the coolest, the victory dinner tastes the most delicious & the Sunday morning paper sports section is so much more pleasant to read. I’m still on a high from that Clemson game, that I decided to attend in person. The benefits of being an emotionally invested diehard fan, sometimes.

    That’s what “fan” is short for anyhow FANatic! It does help if you’ve gotta a little masochist tendency being a Pitt fan though.

    But buck up buttercup, Pitt’s football good fortunes seem to come in trends of about ever 40 years or so historically, so get ready for some real success soon.

    It’s going to be something to watch Pitt come out a bitch slap the Nitters in their own house in six months. I wonder what their excuses will be this year? Hail to Pitt!

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    1. Does the term “bitch slap” violate the terms and conditions of this blog? I hope not, because I love it, Dr. Tom!!!

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    1. I think the headline pretty much says it all. The mindet at the Dairy School is all of the victims did were to stand in the way of PSU football success. Disgraceful

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  40. Terrible cold.
    Feeling sub-human.
    And what arrives?
    Pitt Football Spring Prospectus.
    Brighter days ahead.
    Mucho grassyass, Reed

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  41. I’ll never understand how they didn’t get the death penalty, let alone reduced sanctions. Biggest failure in NCAA history.

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  42. Jim, the answer to your above question about the death penalty rhymes with Tim Morebutt. The former governor that was on the psu BOT!

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  43. Penn state death penalty = less money for the big ten, espn, and ncaa.

    Penn state death penalty = insane cult going on a jihad that no one in the ncaa wanted to go through. They didn’t even want to go through the cult jihad they got by imposing their joke sanctions, that’s why they dropped them and bent over backwards to say how much penn state had “changed” (LOL).

    None of them had the testicular fortitude as vince mcmahon would say to stand up to the cult and endure the hellstorm of their insane rage.

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  44. So disappointed my tax dollars go there. I wish the NCAA had the brains/balls to look at all the quotes and actions from there and reinstate some sanctions.

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  45. Were the all tagged by Jerry or were some looking for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow .. what kind of evidence was given to prove ” I was molested” or was it Jerrys word against the accusers word .. I dunno.. but a lot of people are willing to lie if they think they can put a million bucks in there bank account… hell every day I am with patients playing the system for a ” disability check ” I ain’t workin .. that’s the way you do it and the checks for free.” Verse from a song I remember…kids on the PSU FB team did nothing wrong..crimes by administrators should be punished .. not kids going to play FB.. The PITT Panthers can deliver some Old Testsment retribution on the field of play 4 years in a row.. that would be a fitting punishment…quit whining about Penn State- you sound like a bunch of cry-babies… move on!!! Now – let’r rip

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    1. Actually it’s the “chicks” for free, BigB.
      You’re slowly evolving into our new FRANKCAN version 1.1. Just stop using punctuation and you’re almost there.😏
      (Inside joke)

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  49. Narduzzi also added that both players (Clark and Hamlin) are not a problem injury wise going forward. He expects them both back for fall. Take that for what it’s worth??

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  50. Ike… Chicks not Checks..#%!$@.. shiver me timbers.. well, with crowd I’m talkin bout.. money for nuthin n the checks for free… works just fine… but thanks for sharing your knowledge… I learn something each day on the POV

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  51. No problems BigB, I have lots of useless information I’m will to share if you have a half a day.

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  52. Never had a free chick… spending mucho mucho to keep Jeanie B happy .. married 43 years this August and been together since we were 16 … nope- it ain’t for free!

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  53. Reed, thanks for the book. Congrats on the LOC honor. My dad was interviewed by the St. Vincent College Center for Northern Appalachian Studies and his story published in a book retelling stories from WWII vets. Pretty cool when you read their stories. Such a great honor for you.

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  54. Jamie Dixon and the Horned Frogs beat Georgia Tech by 30+ tonight to win the NIT. Not bad for year one. People are starting to excited about basketball here in Fort Worth. While I believed it was time for both sides to part ways, the TCU program looks a helluva lot better than the dumpster fire that is Pitt basketball.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Mike – from my travels, I’ve been taught that Ft. Worth natives don’t identify with Dallas and proudly proclaim that they are not from Dallas.

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  55. All while Pitt hires a never been bum that has done zero. Then hires a AD under that only took the job under the pretense she has to keep
    Rockports.

    I wanted you gone Jamie but happy and amazed what you did in 12 months at TCU. You didnt blame the roster or anything or your kids like our fearless bum.

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  56. And Rockports is 56. Guess what Barnes. If he sucked the first 32 years of his career it doesnt take a genuis to know the next 2 will suck.

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  58. Jamie Dixon is a good coach and the split from Pitt was the best thing that could of happened for him. I’m glad he had a great year.
    But the fact still remains that during his last 3 years at Pitt NO quality recruit wanted to play for him. Our bench was full of D2 level recruits. Him leaving should of been good for both parties – but Barnes took the easy way out and left us “holding the bag”, or should I say “holding the Rockports”. :>)

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    1. Jamie Dixon IMO was by far the best BB coach ever at Pitt. Can’t give Ben Howland that title since he was only here for 3 years.

      But IMO, Jamie became disenchanted with the move to the ACC for a few reasons. One of the big ones was that he was the one assigned to lure TCU to agree to join the BE conference back in early 2011 … only to have Pitt announce a few months later that they were leaving. It made him look disingenuous.

      And it was from that time on that his BB team seem to regress, beginning with the 2011-12 season. And that includes his hirings and recruiting.

      He paid his dues here; he deserved to move on if he wanted to. He certainly turned down a handful of attractive jobs before then.

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      1. Yeah, Dixon had a great run at Pitt but it was over. The run usually doesn’t last as long as us fans hope, but we see it all the time sans at some select schools: Duke, Carolina, Syracuse, Louisville (odd how they are all ACC schools).

        We’re starting to see the fans wanting a change with Matta at Ohio State and not long ago Rick Barnes wore out his welcome at Texas. Look at Ben at UCLA. Three straight Final Fours and then there is nothing after. I mean not one decent run in the tourney the rest of his tenure, and that’s is UCLA. I thought Dixon would be at Pitt for 25 years, but I was wrong in thinking that.

        I still hate Barnes for how everything was handled. I suppose Dixon could have been given three more years to turn it around with the support of Barnes by making staff changes. It never happened and Mr. Articulate Barnes with his basketball background and great smile proved to be a dirt bag like Smiley.

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  59. @wwb…we share the same taste in music. Was watching the Allmans live at the Fillmore last night on utube. Reed, I agree with Ike about the advantages of staying on the north shore. Where are you staying the night of the golf outing? Any coorination with others spending the night?

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    1. People may be surprised how popular the Allmans were. Years of weekly sellouts every March at the Beacon Theatre. And of course, they were well respected within the industry, having been inducted into the R&R Hall of Fame the very first year they were eligible .. inducted by Willie Nelson. Clapton’s favorite rock band .. he would have joined them if asked after Duane died. Bill Graham’s favorite band (the famed rock promoter and Fillmores’ owner — not the evangelist.)

      Last saw them about 2004 at Star Lake (or whatever) … which incidentally is not far from Quicksilver Golf Club. Good thing the PittPOV golf tourney wasn’t scheduled the same time as one of those country music festivals … Route 22 gets backed up for miles.

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  60. Just watched the press conference for the new Duquesne coach. He is much more impressive than KS. UGH

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  62. The biggest area of unknown in D1 college basketball is the role of the assistant coaches. Who really knows if they are good recruiters or not, but clearly their role in recruiting is huge. Stallings now has an opening on his staff, and there are a lot of assistant coaches floating around without jobs due to the large number of major coaching changes. Let’s hope he brings in a good one, not Brandon Knight who has shown no signs of being a good recruiter and is a stiff on the bench..

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    1. I saw a basketball insider last night tweet that he is hearing this isn’t the last departure from the basketball squad that he has heard. Maybe Rockports can Zip to Akron?

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  64. Watched the player interviews the last two practices. It is like they suck the personalities out of the players. Really vanilla stuff. Interviewers ask really mundane questions as well. They interviewed Jones-Smith and didn’t ask him which guy is the hardest for him to block? How are the D-Ends coming? Have you pancaked any of the young guys? Etc.

    Really concerned that Hamlin and Clark are missing another spring. Opportunities to get better. I know, that’s football. Hopefully the younger guys are taking advantage of the opportunities. But with FFrench playing corner and Devon Edwards moving back to TE it makes you wonder about depth and how the backups are performing.

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  65. To say Clark’s NCAA career to this point has been a disaster is an extreme understatement. A 5 star tight end coming out of HS that can’t block leaves a lot of questions on just what criteria is used by these folks assigning the stars.

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  68. One of my employees is a close friend with Mike Rice from his years attending Fordham. He’s done all the right things since being let go from Rutgers, including time with John Lucas. I understand he is a changed man and for the good. The guy can recruit, has a Pitt background and will bring in the fans. He wants a second chance and in my book he deserves it. Pitt should bring him on now and when HCKS fails, promote him.

    Someone is going to hire Rice before too long and they will be glad they did.

    Liked by 1 person

  69. Everyone in a 50 mile radius knew what was going on in happy valley with Sandusky.

    The nitters just did not want to interrupt their cash stream created for all Center county by it. Answer these questions. Why did the center county DA who was coerced to bury the Sandusky case for years and not prosecute dissapear mysteriously while his professional laptop was destroyed but found? Why did his successor have a vendetta launched against her to destroy her professional reputation by the locals?

    Why was Gov. Corbett the AG from Pittsburgh who brought the case destroyed by an army of blue and whites in his first election following the trial? Why did the police who were party to the phone conversation with Sandusky and one victim’s mother where he admitted to his actions never take action? Without PS football, millions of $ are removed from the Centre co. economy and the denyers still deny. They think they are a world unto themselves and make their own rules.

    The 3 blind mice at the top should all get Max sentences, Joe already got his. I am glad Mcqueary got his settlement of 12+Million but where were all the other coaches when this was going on. That’s why Bradley is not at Pitt. The NCAA like PSU had no balls as usual and just wanted it to go away.

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    1. all the Big 4 had to do was what any other normal, decent person would have done (any one of them) …. and

      (1) there would have been no further victims
      (2) there would have been no sanctions or fines
      (3) it would have been long forgotten by now, and
      (4) JoePa would not forever live in infamy and disgrace

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  70. I agree JoeL, Rice was a top recruiter at PITT and I was sad to see him leave. He does need a second chance but I have to wonder what kind of recruiter he would be today in the big arena? I mean he did abuse his players.

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  71. Yes the missing DA. Some figure he’s dead others believe he was paid off and he went underground. Either way the delusional psu cult could care less. They kept their eyes on the prize but looked away when one of there own became a monster. psu cult members to this day don’t give a hoot about the kids or the missing (probably dead) DA! There’s no shame in that forsaken valley.

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  72. IMO, Clarke will be a “non-entity” at Pitt. Moving Edwards, Grad transfer from Rutgers who is able to play immediately and recruits coming in….Don’t see him as a factor any more. Too bad and wish him well.

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  73. Here’s a name on the PITT roster that peaked my interest. A preferred walk on two years ago and listed at TE. Deandre Schifino. 6’2″ from Penn Hills. Sound familiar? It should, that family has pumped out some great athletes over the years. This young man is also a national honor society member with high honors.

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  75. I’m starting to change my opinion of Stallings. He walked into something that no coach could really handle. A senior team that was set in its ways with no talent on the bench to push or threaten them. I really like that he sees the problem and is cleaning house. If he picks up a senior transfer or two, they might actually be fun to watch next year.

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    2. I’m with you VOR, with the exception that I can’t condone Stallings vulgar use of the English language.

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      1. Also for me how he uses that same English language to constantly throw his charges under the bus and deflect blame from himself.

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      2. I hated how KS was hired … next Congressional investigation as far as I am concerned. But since he is going to be here for a while, I was going to be patient and see what the next few years will bring.

        That ended in late January when after their 9th or 10th loss, he bad-mouthed his players for the 9th or 10th time. Screw him.

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  76. My link didn’t work, no surprise there. Anyways, it was the quote from psu BOT member, Albert L. Lord on how he’s running out of sympathy for 35 year old so called victims.

    The delusion and denial is of unfathomable description. These are the type of people that also don’t think the holocaust ever took place. Shame shame on that University.

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  77. Three more recruits of one each. Grad transfer, a actual transfer and a freshman recruit. Blowing it up is the only way to go. Keep in mind dixon had no real momentum in recruiting going into this year at Pitt and left. . Stallings will leave the program in better shape than Dixon for sure. Clarke will be good this year. Hamlin, injured his senior year, his freshman year and this spring. Hopefully he is ready to go in August. He may be a 2018 contributor but health and development may keep him from being what many expected.

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  78. I can’t stand his suits, coaching, terrible hair, attitude, below average record, attitude like he has actually accomplished anything in his career. He is an embarrassment to a fine instituation. A real coach would of brought them together and made them winners. Don’t make excuses for this cancer.

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  80. Pitt may have to go to third wide receiver instead of using the TE. However that won’t do much for the running game going forward.

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  81. Chet is right about blowing it up, and UPitt, you make some points, but we shouldn’t pass on the disgust with that carpetbagging AD completely over to Stallings. Who knows, maybe he will come in with a new set of clothes and a wig next year, and we won’t even recognize him 🙂 My real disgust remains with Dixon for not recruiting, and with the seniors who let the program down..I still remember those second half collapses in the non-con schedule when the seniors switched over to thinking about their after-game party. NO PRIDE! Now if the same thing happens in ’17-’18, we will clearly understand the problem!

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  82. PSN has an interesting writeup on our 2nd team offensive line currently. Freshman early enrollee Drake as well as RS Freshman walk on Morrissey on that squad. And it looks like Morrissey has filled in on the first team with some injuries there. Is there any doubt that he will be given that scholarship fairly shortly? It’s either good news that these talented young men are showing their worth early, or bad news on how short handed we are on the O Line.

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  83. Just finishing up watching Point Guard Marcus Carr from Montverde Fla on ESPN2. It’s possible that some of you nice guys could be eating your words in a few years. Your shoe salesman has put together a nice recruiting class at the very least. Possibly a very good one.

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    1. Only thing we will be eating is free hotdogs bc turd rockports will draw 3k to the Pete and they will have to give it away.

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    1. Unfortunately I think that’s the case also Reed. To have a high school senior(I’m sure his class hasn’t graduated yet) come into the Pitt spring practice and work his way up to the second team offensive line so quickly suggests that you are correct.

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      1. Yea, a tale of two lines. 4 of 1st team are very experienced, the 5th has some experience. The 2nd line only has potential. The good news is that barring a rash of injuries, a team usually can get by with 2 or 3 reserves, since most can play 2 positions.

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  85. Thanks Reed. While scanning thru the Spring Guide, I found it interesting for as good as the offense was last year, the best per game totals was 141 yards by Conner, and 308 yards by Peterman. Further, Conner averaged 84 ypg and Peterman 219.

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  86. Can we all keep in mind that every college in the Spring ( other than Bama) is going through the same loss of seniors, new fresh coming in etc. We talk on these blogs like Pitt is the only D1 school with problems reforming the nucleus of a new team.

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    1. Very true Dan, but I’d be very surprised to see many major programs operating with two freshman and a high school senior on their 2nd team offensive line in spring ball.

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  89. Pitt BB has become the new One and Done.

    One year with Kevin Stallings and the player either transfers or is kicked off the team.

    I don’t Lyke this one bit.

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  91. Craig Meyer of the P-G had written an interesting BB article last Tuesday –

    In the article, he mentions how Stallings looked into the subject of yanking scholarships for players on last year’s team prior to his first season in the ACC. KS said that he wanted to do the right thing. Here was the quote from the article –

    “I tried to do the ethically right thing, despite the fact maybe I could have made some changes,” he (Stallings) said. “I didn’t think it was the right thing to do. I try not to make short-term decisions. I try to make long-term decisions for what’s in the best interest in the long-term and for the good of the program. Maybe it would have allowed me (Kevin Stallings) to have a better season or better start, but the institution awarded those scholarships and I believe they should be honored.”

    Now he’s blaming the institution, because he has no players left to blame. (My words, not from the article).

    Sir Patrick G & Heather Lyke – I hope you both read the article and are reprimanding KS’ poor performance on and off the court. From a fan’s perspective, his performance is really bad and embarrassingly representing our fine university.

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  92. So now we lose our one ACC capable player. Sorry but something stinks really bad on Cardiac Hill.

    Maybe he doesn’t want to play on a rebuilding team, but this is now beyond clearing out the deadwood.

    Sure, there is always some upheaval with a new coach but I don’t remember anything like this.

    This guy needs to shut up and do his job if no one has the cojones to fire him.

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  93. Jamie goes to a perennial loser and does well in conference, and wins the NIT, a nice year.

    Our guy comes to an established winner (albeit with some weaknesses) and absolutely craps the bed,makes an ass out of himself and blames everyone else. That is not leadership.

    It makes me want to cry.

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  94. Wow, I can’t remember it ever being this bad for Pitt basketball. Herman screwed basketball for Pitt as badly as Smug Steve messed up the FB program. How many timessage were we told to expect good things because Herman was “a basketball guy”….

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  95. Who hired Herman?
    I think Gallagher really needs to stay out of athletics. Have him report to a separate committee focused on academics only. Have our new AD report to a committee focused on the athletic side of the university. You’ve got two CEO’s then reporting to independent boards.
    If KS makes $2M a year and the program loses close to $3M per year for the inevitable future (not including incalculable damage to the brand), why dont we just buy KS out now?

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  96. Following Cam Johnsons leaving I’m not sure what it will take to rid ourselves of this guy? Two left! How does this not send ripples to the core of the program? It is staggering how in one year you go from NCAAs to the bottom. Oh, and btw, these kids coming in are average at best,and I mean at best. Not sure what some of you saw from these guys that inspires hope. Guess it’s in the eye of the beholder.

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  97. I’m ambivalent about Gallagher because I offset his hiring of Barnes and Stallings with the positives of firing Peterson and hiring of Narduzzi. Time will tell if any lessons were learned with the hiring of Lyke, who will have a challenging start with managing the basketball crisis, retaining Narduzzi , and hiring a wrestling coach. Come on, Heather! Show us your mettle !

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  98. Scrimmage today?
    Maybe Heather can improve publicity surrounding the football practices.
    Don’t see where uber security benefits attendance. And, as a fan, given the black hole that has swallowed both men’s and women’s basketball, football is all I got.

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  99. I can honestly say Cam Johnson, if he leaves, is the only comcening loss. All the other guys don’t belong in the ACC, Cam does.

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  101. The small forward position is Wilson-Frame’s now. He had some good offers, so hopefully he plays up to his JuCo ranking, same with Simons. Pretty scary to hope two JuCos pan out since they rarely do at Pitt. Need the Canadian, Iggy, in the worst way.

    It’s just incredible what is going on with the hoops program. It can sink in an instant. Anyone still impressed with Gallagher and Barnes and their great smiles? Barnes is total scum and sits all cozy up in Corvallis.

    Gallagher better F-ing make Narduzzi happy first and foremost and the new A.D. has to force Stallings to make a great hire to replace the assistant, Ballard. Go get a shady recruiter who can bring talent kids in.

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    1. Please make it be an April Fool’s gag!

      Actually, there is a part of me that hopes Cam does leave and Pitt goes 0 and 30 next year. The biggest consistency in Pitt athletics seems to be its AD and coaching hirings. I don’t blame Gallagher, he was trying to do his best, and Herman was a committee decision

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    2. Cam is off to greener academic pastures. That might sting to some hearing it, but it’s true.

      I’ve already moved on and have become the biggest Wilson-Frame fan around.

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        1. If Cam does head to TCU then all this talk about his academics would be total garbage.

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  103. It’s getting to the point that off season practices will be 1 on 1. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Cam go across the street to Duquesne. He would be an immediate starter but would struggle defensively. Luther too. He would fit and the Dukes could make a run in the A10.

    Reed, just saw your note. I will reach out brother!

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  104. Shady recruiters, heck yeah! You need to understand the compliance and enforcement framework and make-up of the NCAA right now. Enforcement is non-existent because the NCAA as an institution has very limited power. A solid AD knows this and uses it appropriately. When was the last enforcement levied against a power 5 school for recruiting violations? Exactly! There are way too many loopholes in recruiting to get enforced against in the current environment. I am not promoting being Tony Gibson dirty, but the rules are so grey and enforcement so lacking that we need to find recruiters that push the envelope.

    There is a way to do it within the rules. Just need some smarts and some moxxy! You can’t be a chicken. Nothing is going to happen negatively to our academic reputation. Pitt executive leadership is foolish to lean on the preservation of academic excellence as the reason for not competing athletically. It is a sorry EXCUSE for mediocrity. Our administration and BOT is viewed as a complete failure outside of Pitt when it comes to athletics. Sorry, that is just the facts. When is the last time we played for ANY championship in ANY sport let alone a revenue producer? LAUGHINGSTOCK!

    Narduzzi is our best shot right now, but our old AD scheduled him a bad OOC that will hold the program back. I would rather be 11-1 playing a weaker OOC schedule and relying on the ACC to help strength of schedule than being 8-4 against a top 25 schedule. 8-4 gets you ZERO notoriety and never in a discussion. Would rather be set up for 11-1 and be mentioned in every poll in the top 5 and have people debate whether we deserve to be there every week. That will help recruiting more than anything.

    Dairy College did this to perfection. People debate that they are back right? Nobody looks at their weak, I mean weak out of conference schedule. Amazing that we got outsmarted by them. Bad Administration on us!

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  105. couple things and good comments Huff:

    I’m not so sure that PITT doesn’t already have shady recruiters or not. Shady isn’t going to make that much of a difference when schools within a few hundred miles from Oakland are giving away Escalades and cold cash away to recruits. Just look to central Pa and see what they did to keep the football team winning, then look at them now. Right back in the top 5.

    About the OOC? PITT is caught up in a catch 22. You schedule softies and no one goes to the games. You schedule the bigger guns then at least you can see a jump in attendance but a better possibility of a loss.

    Speaking of psu, it’s just not their OOC schedule but the entire schedule is soft. OSU and Michigan are good opponents but so many weak teams in the Big 10 in general. This is proven every bowl season.

    PittMan4Ever. I agree with your comment about the only player PITT BB team will have lost this off season is Cam Johnson. The other players did everyone a favor by leaving, including themselves.

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