Obviously I meant Oklahoma State and not Ohio State in parts of the podcast
Here is the link to the new Pitt Athletic Department website and here is the football specific part of it.
We’ll skip the roundtable again this week but will be back on August 2nd for the start of fall camp.
pittpov.com 
Listening to the podcast while watching PITT – Clempsum on ESPNU
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^^ Lol @Reed I think you read too much losing-mindset ‘Russian Literature’ or something lol YIKES!! 🙂 🙂
Oy-Vey. Sometimes your views, are like saying Pat Narduzzi hyping up his team to go give it all before a game is, “False Optimism” urgh.
You keep projecting your depressing views, and saying, “You guys keep twisting and spinning what I say.” lol. NO! You just reject other viewpoints and get totally stuck on everything you say 😦 lol.
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^^ And you lose-sight too — it’s not just about Wins VS. Losses —
Pitt fans have seen their teams just Lay Down to the opponent like they don’t care…..Pitt fans have seen Talented Pitt teams JUST WILT under hot-spotlights…. because they were scared? Because they were low-character? It doesn’t matter, it HURTS TO SEE YOU team lay-down against an opponent and not give it their all!
What Pitt fans NEED to see now — and Pittsburgh sports fans and National Sports Fans need to see — is a Pitt squad that is FEARLESS and is gonna fight with every single fiber they got in each and every game. Regardless, they WILL WIN if they do that.
But a phrase that has recently not come-up, that used to be huge, was, “SOP” — “Same ‘Ol Pitt”. Pitt Quitting — The players just letting everyone down in the most important moments because they were scared / or just were too weak or scared to rise to the occassion….
That is why Pitt fans are so hopeful —- It seems like Pat Narduzzi is creating a Culture where the Pitt Panthers are gonna go out-there and give every single thing they have — leave it ALL out there — and make no excuses, ever.
That’s all Pitt fans ever wanted 🙂 .
Fall Camp in FULL-SWING tomorrow morning 🙂 .
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We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Hinze Field, we shall fight on the corn fields of Creepy Valley, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength though the air, we shall defend our team, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the field of Atlanta, we shall fight on the smelly grounds of Sewercuse, we shall fight in the fields of Durham and in the streets of Blacksburg, we shall fight in the South Hills; we shall never surrender.
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Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor???
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DK speaks the truth.
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Pat Narduzzi has said this has been a huge, powerful movie scene in his career:
2 stars??? 3 stars??? 4 stars??? 5 stars??? — Just FIGHT for that INCH.
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Building a program is a long process. TCU, Michigan St, Boise St., the current PSU team, etc. didn’t become good overnight. They built a foundation over many recruiting classes leading to continual improvement until they reached their peak success. Narduzzi is still in the foundation phase of the process and, to be honest, will be for the next two seasons. The two seasons coming up (after this season), however, you’ll start to see the fruits of his labor. It just takes time. Pitt fans get too caught up in the moment. I know it’s hard because of the last 30+ years and the need for some instant gratifications but that’s not reality. The reality is that it takes hard work, a full recruiting class cycle (4/5 years) and, thus, several years to establish program changing culture.
Reed – you come across as negative sometimes because most of your articles appear to come from a counterpoint argument and that counterpoint is usually in response to the half full crowd. When you argue against something positive, the natural position taken appears to be negative. You defend your argument by saying it’s based in “reality”, which further ignites the half full crowd. As an example, “Duzz does this good, but …” is a common theme here but rarely do we see the flip of that, “Duzz struggled with this, but …”. You do it sometimes but it’s not balanced and it’s hidden in your articles. Lead your articles with the 2nd phrasing once in a while but don’t go full tilt, because you’ll lose respect the other way. I recommend trying to do articles from both points of view. Currently, most of your articles slant one direction, and I know it’s an attempt to stay neutral, but it has the opposite affect you may think it has. And stay consistent within the article with the POV you choose to write with that day. The half empty crowd will pounce with the other phrasing. Balance those two phrasings of your arguments and I’m guessing you’ll get more balanced criticisms of your opinions.
Just my two cents so you don’t burn out. This is a tough gig and I appreciate your efforts. This is strictly my opinion as to why you are labeled negative by some posters. Maybe I’m way off base. Just thought I’d put that out there though. Hopefully, no offense is taken. I don’t want to sound like I’m lecturing you because you do a great job already.
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Well, I have never used the word “reality” when referencing what I write… just saying. I make it pretty clear these are my opinions based on what I know and facts like stats.
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We here, me included, are too big for our britches. We continue to act like we have a top echelon program, when it fact, it is above average. Fact is that we should be content with a coach who won 8 games in his first 2 years … especially with what the program has been thru since 2011.
And if we don’t win 8 this year … tough! Considering the schedule, suspensions and the limitations of the program, we would have a lot of gall to complain ….even though we will (me included)
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I’ve told Reed many times he comes across more negative than he thinks he does but the article under scrutiny here does not all that much imo. Just pointing out that the suspensions and dismissal’s will hurt this team very badly. This includes Taleni although he was pretty much unproven as well.
I’ve said all along that we should not expect too much from Narduzzi’s RS soph class as it’s still one year away of being an elite team that I’m certain PITT will become. Lot’s of unknowns moving forward and that was the message I read from Reeds last article.
My one son just finished helping me put together my new Rec Tec pellet smoker. The thing is wonderful. Daddy’s eating steaks tonight. Have a great Sunday every one … ike
We
We
We
H2P!
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Football is all about time, place and circumstance, as is life. With regard to timing of the suspensions, I think Pitt and Narduzzi missed an opportunity. Here is why. When Chryst suspended 6 players the night before YSU, it highlighted an issue that noone ever talks about.Preparation. The substitutes for Pitt against YSU were not prepared mentally or physically to play against YSU. Championships are won in the off season. Our kids did not prepare for the season or to play. Who thought in March that Shell would not be the running back come August? The Coach and the players failed to prepare.
Flash forward. Same thing. Pitt is in a better position in that all the players on defense have a shot to play and should have prepared since March to get ready. We will see how that goes. I think Narduzzi should have suspended or dismissed players as quickly as possible so that the replacements would have had time to prepare as if they were going to play with as much lead time as possible. That is why I liked Narduzzi getting rid of Taleni early. That dangles the carrot for the replacements and forces them to work harder in the off-season.
We will see how mature the players are to take advantage of opportunities/circumstances. Kapeeesh!
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At times I feel that being a Pitt fan and a POV fan is a lot like playing golf. It’s a game that can’t be won, just enjoyed, but in varying degrees by the various parties.
Some will never be satisfied, even wth 15-0. Some are delirious just to see the lads play. Most are like my golf game, mostly decent shots but some real stinkers. It’s what upsets you and what you can take pleasure from. If you think it’s perfect you will sooner or later be disappointed. Once you get one thing fixed something else goes wrong. Even at the very,very top of both sports the mighty can quickly go south.
My passion still burns, my optimism remains, my pessimism and synisym are in the forefront, but I hope I will never, ever, give up hope. Ya, I know, hope’s for suckers, but that’s what all fans are to some degree. You might buy in and burst with pride as an SEC fan. Or worship the bucks as a BiG booster. You might put the self worth of an entire state on the state university’s teams, but sooner or later, in some fashion they will disappoint you. The stadium is too big, too small, doesn’t exist. The sight lines are wrong, the seats suck, it doesn’t get loud. Who designed this piece of crap.
There will always be some looking for the cure. Like buying new clubs, or a putter or driver every year, when you really need to take lesions, then have an honest pro tell you you just aren’t very good or won’t ever get on tour. Then you have a choice, quit, or enjoy the game. Always strive to improve, but enjoy the experience.
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Thanks for the reality check, now just need to decide whether to quit or just learn how to enjoy my pathetic golf game?
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Dr. Tom — when the golf game struggles, a friend of mine is fond of giving this advice:
“Take two weeks off — then give up the game!”
I’m sure you still hit enough good shots to enjoy the game…
Go Pitt.
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Here’s hoping that none of you need to take a lesion. 🙂
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This is going to be a long season. I still think Pitt plays hard and is competitive in all the games. But they dont have experience and depth. Those things take time. And Pitt needs to develop a QB. These transfers are signs of recruiting and development weakness. Might be another 6-6 year. The dismissals and suspensions really hurt a team as thin as Pitt.
The Pitt administration has told us as well as the AD that Pitt is committed to winning championships. Thats why we should be disappointed with year after year mediocrity. The administrations just needs to be honest.
Say we have a desire to improve the overall competitiveness of all our sports programs, our focus is for certain programs like football and basketball to be the drivers of revenue and for certain programs the goal should be competing for ACC titles yearly, and we understand how athletics can enhance the overall brand of the university and lead to a positive student experiences, school spirit and future alumni donations. We will not accept mediocrity in sports and will aim to be recognized regionally as a very good sports school, but we also understand that Pitt is above all an institute of higher learning where academics and athletics must be properly balanced.
That statement would tell me and recruits the truth.
It takes money to become nationally relevant. Takes money to consistently compete for titles. Takes money to build the best facilities and hire the best coaches. Pitt doesnt have a passionate base of athletic donors. It hasnt been able to weave athletics into the culture and mindset. That takes decades. Instead the past 3 decades have been spent finding ways to destroy athletic programs. The time has now come to begin building that culture. No reason why Pitt cant aim to become the Stanford of the East.
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@Tex – Why would we want to be Stanford? They were a terrible program for much longer than Pitt until Harbaugh got there. They didn’t win a bowl game in 14 years prior to Harbaugh and Luck were there. When was the last time they won a PAC championship? They have had great success over the last 7 years, but before that they were terrible forever.
I want Pitt to be Pitt. Pitt can win big. The Admin needs to step up. They need to engage the undergrads and professional students so that they will give back when they hit it big. Give the student body something to latch on to. Are we a big donor away from greatness? The big donors are those that went to or identify with the program. Pitt wouldn’t know a big donor because they never engaged them whilst they were students! Plan to build and build to plan.
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Stanfords overall sports programs are always top 10. Football and basketball teams have rebuilding years unless you are a football factory or blue blood and just reload. Pitt can compete each year in those 2 sports for ACC titles I think. There are some sports that we’ll probably never excel such as baseball and soccer given PA’s climate. But Pitt needs to step up for sports if it wants to stay competitive in the ACC. Its much tougher than the old Big East. I just dont see much more than lip service. Its an arms race and Pitt is being left behind. It only recently upgraded facilities to the point where other schools were 10 years ago. Catching up will be difficult.
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TX -You mean 20 years ago.
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How about this perspective?
What do 1974,1978, 2013 and 2017 have in common? Well they are all characterized by teams in total transition to new inexperienced players. These personnel losses just put us deeper into that style of ball where some talented folks make some mistakes that cost games all the while making some scintillating plays at other times.
Reed and others are correct this will hurt and may cost a game or two but will provide benefits down the road.
Do I wish it hadn’t happened? Yes BUT the good news is camp starts now and we can find some new more useful topics to jawbone about. Bring it on!
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I walked around today thinking that fall camp usually doesn’t send PITT fans any news but BAD! Seriously, the biggest impending news is probably a serious injury that screws he team. .. ike
Otherwise with Narduzzi, we are not going to here much information we can hang our hats on.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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brian asamoah will be committing next week
most crystal balls have him coming here hope theyre right
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I honestly think all of us need to step back and take a deep breath here on the POV. Let me first say, no, I am not Reed’s cousin or family member :>) but my goodness, he has provided ALL of us a platform to express our views on Pitt, no matter how crazy. He, on his own, built this platform with his bare hands for us to enjoy and he has asked very little in return. And yet, quite frankly, way too many of us have treated him with little to no respect!!!! Shame on us!
What’s up with that guys? There’s simply NO EXCUSE for this kind of written/verbal abuse! If you need to be ugly, be ugly at me or Ike. But I for one am NOT going to bite the one hand that feeds me all things Pitt!!!!!
Reed deserves better and if you drive him out we ALL lose. There is nothing as great as the POV for Pitt football. It’s time to respect it and respect the one who has given it all to us as a wonderful free gift. Enjoy the gift or lose it.
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I’ve thought about this over the last few days while in the depths of my own personal despair. Just because I’m hopeless dark place at the moment is no wxcusw to fling hateful demeaning epitaphs at others to disparage one’s character.
Reed, no one appreciates being stereotyped, especially when such profiling throws one in with an unsavory group of number crunchers like insurance actuaries, CPAs & analytical specialists.
So please accept my apology for every calling you a statistician, it was a harse insensitive remark that you didn’t deserve.
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Nice reminder Pittman4ever. Thank you.
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I am still trying to figure out what was typed that was so bad. Look, there is conflict of opinions and that has always been the case on here and what makes it so great. If I type something that someone feels is wrong, I get the backlash. Upitt may have also received one or two or 3 thousand rants back, similar to darkie. I think many are hypersensitive to criticism. I can be.
Mostly though, we take what is dished out and come back for more. We all appreciate Reed and everyone else on here but if we all agree with everything that is typed, than we become like the Dairy High School.
Thanks again Reed for all you do. I try to respect each of you for your opinions even though I don’t always agree with them. Also, thanks to each of the contributor’s for having a thick skin sometimes when you are on the wrong side of a backlash. Keep up the great work!
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Couple really good comments here by Pittman and Huff. They both make sense to me in every way.
How is this possible? We all need to be more sensitive to the work Reed puts out here, he takes his work very seriously and at the same time we all need to be more tolerant as to what and how people respond to our own comments and articles. There is really no hate here at the POV only counter thoughts imo.
As direct as we all like to try and be, sometimes points and thoughts can be lost in translation in writing posts. These are just words, little beads of poison sometimes and misinterpreted half the time.. That why the POV round-table is so great. We say what we mean and mean what we say. You all need to try it sometimes when you can.
I’ve been a part of a few good PITT sites go by the wayside. Which I don’t think is going to happen to the POV but we all need to understand each others passion for PITT football. I guess we are all chaumping at the bit although, I don’t have a clue as to what that means or how to spell it. It’s almost like we are all going to camp tomorrow.
Get your Ben-Gay ready boys. and Pittman is right, put the weight on Pittman and myself but mostly Pittman… ike.
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WORDS. Little beads of poison, they are just words.
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Ike + 1. (LOL)
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I think we are all in agreement that we are passionate about Pitt and our opinions are opinions unless supported by facts but then there are lies, damned lies and statistics.
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We find the truth at the end of the season…I think.
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I wasn’t trying to be a jerk. I just tried stating why some people feel the way they do about some posts. It’s Reed’s blog. It’s his POV. He can articulate it any way he wants to. Reed’s asked in the past why, so I was only offering a response. Reed’s blog is fantastic.
To reiterate what I said in my post up above:
“Just my two cents so you don’t burn out. This is a tough gig and I appreciate your efforts. This is strictly my opinion as to why you are labeled negative by some posters. Maybe I’m way off base. Just thought I’d put that out there though. Hopefully, no offense is taken. I don’t want to sound like I’m lecturing you because you do a great job already.”
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Reed, don’t be thin skinned. Remember ( and don’t hold back…); opinions are like butt holes. Etc…
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^^Wait a second grizzily, I think I may have a song for that thought? .. 🙂
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The team needs to take the field and practice. That will solve everyone’s ills.
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Here you go………….
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BTW guys, I mentioned this the other day and it’s now being reported on PSN that Hamlim has moved to safety and is as healthy as he has ever been.
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As I am writing this in the Comment Box, 1 1/2 inches above my word is the following: “Leave a Comment Please (and don’t hold back)”.
How many times have you read Reed replying to a commenter: “If you want a cheerleader, you’ve come to the wrong place!” It goes both ways, and personally, I think is a big enough boy that he can take it – or else he wouldn’t have said, “Don’t hold back”.
BTW, I’ll repost my comment from the end of the last thread: I have always thought that when life hands you a yeast infection, make beer!
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In recruiting Hamlin, HCPN said he had the best hips he’s ever seen. Cornerback hips? So why the position change when out cornerbacks could cover a corpse?
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Because its Hip to be Square. Or a Safety in this case.
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Narduzzi really wants to stock up at safety
After watching terrish webb (and my autocorrect tried to make that terrify lol) wouldn’t you
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To keep with Tex…i think narduzzi wants to see and hear the SAFETY Dance….
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It can happen on Saban’s team …imagine that in this day and age.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/breaking-budding-alabama-star-arrested-for-dui/ar-AAp19Lx
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Probably happened in an Auburn leaning county, They would probably be more than happy not to sweep it under the rug.
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Let’s face it, the common thread over the past 40 years at Pitt, beginning with Majors himself, is the turnover in coaching staffs. It has never been the case during this time where one coach has had an extended tenure at Pitt. We can only speculate on the potential growth of recruiting, crowd size, conference wins, etc. because no coach and his staff has ever stayed for a sufficiently long amount of time to develop and maintain the recruiting inroads in the WPIAL and elsewhere. Who says Pitt can’t recruit successfully to win a championship? Until a coach like Duzz stays for 10 years or more, we will never know if these inroads can be permanently developed- or where the real problem lies.
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After losing Canada to LSU, Paris Ford not moving in with the rest of the Freshmen class and now these multiple suspensions, what is there to cheer about, even if Reed was a “cheerleader”?
There is no leadership with this team now, Heather Lyle is a simple stooge if you believe what Upitt says and we will probably never have our own OCS because of our misguided BOT that has zero appreciation for athletics.
Meanwhile, YSU has the best coach at their helm since their own Narduzzi day’s way back when, coming off a great season almost winning a National Championship.
Pitt by comparison lost to lowly Northwestern destroying any momentum that Pitt could have established going into 2017 while being a laughingstock on the national scene.
Now all of the true leaders of this team have departed. No more James Conner, Nate Peterman, Ejuan Price, Johnson, Bis, on & on.
The best senior leader on the team is five & a half foot midget that can’t reach any ball thrown well enough over his head heading a defense at CB that stunk the place out all of last season. Now we’re replacing like 10 starters with no experience backups that, as Reed has stated, haven’t demonstrated that they can even play at the college level yet.
Narduzzi probably already sees the hand writing on the wall and will be looking to jump ship when we don’t even qualify for a bowl game this season. So here we go again on the coaching carousel, probably picking up some low cost jerk from the MAC that had one good recent win season on his resume.
Anybody know how many points YSU is favored over Pitt by the Vegas oddsmakers this preseason? Yeah losing to them will be a great confidence builder before we go into Beaver Stadium to be embarrassed with the ass whooping those guys are going to lay in us. Upitt I get you now. It’s hopeless.
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Yes, you’re right. I propose all you Pitt fans from the Southwest PA, WV and Southeast Ohio to adopt WVU, while the balance of PA and adjoining areas adopt the Nitters. People in other locations can adopt the local schools … I will now follow the Buckeyes.
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No way am I rooting for the nitters – I’d rather play golf and quit watching college football…
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Erie – Jump on the University of Buffalo bandwagon. I am going with Garner Webb. Only 19 miles away.
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Good posts guys. Just catching up on yesterday. And, based on Ike’s series of music posts, I am guessing that his son helped him with more than simply building a new grill. 🙂
And, going with JoeKnew’s golf analogy, I shot a 49 on the front and a 39 on the back nine last Wednesday. Maybe that will like our upcoming season. An ugly October (I hope not) followed by a great finish.
H2P
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I fI haven’t already given up, I would say that you may be on to something here
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@ pmd – Having a good foot wedge and lip wedge usually helps the score as the round progresses. I find the lip wedge to be most useful during the backswing of my opponents eight foot par putt. They usually stop the putt. Then, you do it again albeit a bit earlier in the process. Then you don’t do it on the third try when they expect you to. Now they pull a shankapotomous and miss. Kind of like timeouts and field goal kicking.
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Huff, is our version of a “lipwedge” what Franklin complained about last year? What was it—that we were making noises that threw off the poor Nit players? Clapping or something.
H2P
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Or Dr T – you could just quit following Pitt football then you’d spend less time on the computer.
Some interesting links:
You guys need to tell Jerry DiPaola that he’s being too negative about the defense for 2017 after the dismissals…
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/12555396-74/analysis-dismissals-suspensions-cause-for-concern-for-pitt-defense
Hamlin Redshirt ???s
http://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2017/07/30/update-damar-hamlin-redshirt/
The rule as it stands now is that a player cannot get a redshirt if they have played in more than 30% of the teams competitions. For football that would be 3.6 games. Pitt records show he played in 3 games so he should qualify (I suppose).
New faces on the Defense
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/12510786-74/pitt-football-camp-preview-faces-in-new-places-on-defense
New faces on the offense:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/12510781-74/pitt-football-camp-preview-faces-in-new-places-on-offense
One reason why we’ll not see an OCS in our lifetimes – players and recruits like the NFL stadium.
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/12556562-74/pitts-brian-oneill-on-heinz-field-how-much-more-could-you-ask
Poll by Cardiac hill on 1st three games w/ suspensions…
https://www.cardiachill.com/2017/7/31/16063706/pittsburgh-panthers-pitt-football-suspensions-jordan-whitehead-pat-narduzzi-rori-blair
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Huff, I assure you I’m not making this up … in the early 80s at Tam O’Shanter (golf course near Sharon PA), I shot a 58 on the front and a 41 on the back …. and can also assure you that I didn’t use the foot wedge any more on the back than I did on the front.
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After losing Canada to LSU, Paris Ford not moving in with the rest of the Freshmen class and now these multiple suspensions, what is there to cheer about, even if Reed was a “cheerleader”?
Lots – Ollison and Moss; Chris Clark, Weah and Mathews and Aston plus three decent to great (O’Neil) OL on offense.
On defense…. OK – I’ll let you know when some games are played – I would have said Whitehead but – well, crap happens.
With coaching Narduzzi’s handling of discipline is the best i have seen in decades.
There is no leadership with this team now, Heather Lyle is a simple stooge if you believe what Upitt says and we will probably never have our own OCS because of our misguided BOT that has zero appreciation for athletics.
True in part – we’ll not see an OCS in Oakland ever.
Meanwhile, YSU has the best coach at their helm since their own Narduzzi day’s way back when, coming off a great season almost winning a National Championship.
Bo Pellini is an excellent HC. At Nebraska he was 57-24 (71%) in a much harder conference than Pitt was in; at YSU he’s 17-10 and still getting paid almost a full $1M than Narduzzi is.
Pitt by comparison lost to lowly Northwestern destroying any momentum that Pitt could have established going into 2017 while being a laughingstock on the national scene.
Somewhat true but not a laughing stock – just national recognition and awareness went into the crapper after the bowl game – and the suspensions don’t help.
Now all of the true leaders of this team have departed. No more James Conner, Nate Peterman, Ejuan Price, Johnson, Bis, on & on.
True and let’s hope O’Neil or someone fills that role but no one has stepped up yet (Narduzzi’s own words)
The best senior leader on the team is five & a half foot midget that can’t reach any ball thrown well enough over his head heading a defense at CB that stunk the place out all of last season. Now we’re replacing like 10 starters with no experience backups that, as Reed has stated, haven’t demonstrated that they can even play at the college level yet.
True
Narduzzi probably already sees the hand writing on the wall and will be looking to jump ship when we don’t even qualify for a bowl game this season. So here we go again on the coaching carousel, probably picking up some low cost jerk from the MAC that had one good recent win season on his resume.
If we win 9 games he’s gone… so I think we’ll have him in 2018
Anybody know how many points YSU is favored over Pitt by the Vegas oddsmakers this preseason? Yeah losing to them will be a great confidence builder before we go into Beaver Stadium to be embarrassed with the ass whooping those guys are going to lay in us. Upitt I get you now. It’s hopeless.
No, it isn’t but try to step back from the ledge and see things in a more rational manner with no blinders on. There are good things, bad things and unknown things with this team. Right now those unknowns are a bit disturbing. If you don’t see that then good for you, but most Pitt fans to have some legit concerns going into this season, myself included.
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@Reed you don’t really think anyone’s serious about you being negative, right?!
This is the Internet here — the place of heightened emotion, and almost no accountability for our words (unless you block someone 😉 haha)
I think you’re awesome, and I love what you do!
But everyone ‘Trolls’ on the internet — @”Upittbaseball”, if he ever met Athletic Director Lyke, would be on his best behavior, and say, “Yes Ma’am! It was an absolute pleasure to meet you Ma’am. You are doing a wonderful job for our Athletic Programs, thank you so much for your time!”
🙂 haha then he would get on this site and say, “What a MAC level Athletic Director, she should be working at some local High School….she couldn’t even be a Manager of a McDonalds…” haha
You do amazing work here @Reed and you deserve to experience a great, winning Pitt Football season upcoming and enjoy it!
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Brightwell, Zieise and Pine are capable physically of playing really good with experience. Same for Camp, Watts, Hendrix, Weaver. Coleman, Hamlin, Miller ect . They need game experience. But form that point on when the light goes on, Pitt will have a top notch defense. Offensively, Mac V, Pickett, Sibly, Davis, WR’s from Florida, Three TE’s especially Reeves will make a mark in time. Drake, Warren, Brown and Kradel, Zubovic bring needed size, talent and drive. Pitt will under Narduzzi, Partridge, Walsh get it, Get players who fit, develop them and get the system in place to maintain the program’s growth. .
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/07/28/after-trading-cardale-jones-bills-think-theyre-set-at-quarterback/
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/07/29/james-conner-gets-more-chances-with-leveon-bell-gone/
http://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2017/07/acc-major-bowl-history.html
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Chet you pretty well named everyone on the roster. I sure hope we don’t see any of our 3 and 4 star recruits turn into 1 stars when they get on the field. In fact some of those named may never see the field. We may need a few more Aston like walk ons to fill the void of some of those named recruits fail on the field.
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Narduzzi and staff are still working the numbers with seeing who emerges here. It will take some time and game experience to see who is what. But my post was really about Pitt having talent and numbers after three recruiting classes to see who competes, who develops and who can be a difference maker. Pitt has physical talent unlike the last number of years. Pitt lost some very good offensive talent, but it will take the kind of depth Pitt is building to beat the ACC programs and play for something.
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Darkie – No I would tell her she gets a fair shot but I see her as a puppet for the BOT and would give her my action items.
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Reed, Let me add one more to your list of Pitt related articles:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000823424/article/rookie-james-conner-turning-heads-at-steelers-camp
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Conner hurt his shoulder yesterday and is in Pgh today consulting with eam doctors
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@pmd – lip wedge is talking smack during a contest – we do that well here at the POV and sharpen our tools almost every day.
@wwb – I admit to using a foot wedge…once! Before being allowed on the course (Hidden Valley, when it was a country club in USC), my dad made me understand the rules of golf. My dad caught me using the foot wedge, took me off the course immediately and right home we went. RKB will vouch for the close proximity of the course to our houses. I then got a belt to the buttocks. Never booted a golfball from behind a tree again, although tempted. I was 12. I carry my dad’s putter with me as a tribute and it has gone with me to St. Andrews, Spyglass, East Lake, Oakmont, Pinehurst, Merion, Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach and many others. I use it for one putt every round no matter what. Even at Quicksilver!!
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Huff, that is special. Does it count as one of the 14 in your bag? I would argue that it shouldn’t. Is a ceremonial club, if it used only for one putt. Of course, if money is on the line and you sink the putt, your fellow players may not agree.
H2P
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very impressive list courses, Huff. I played Hidden Valley a couple of times … that’s about it.
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also played Quicksilver once
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It should be noted that the 5 1/2 foot midget who can’t reach over his head has now lead the team in interceptions the last 2 seasons … which, of course, may say more to the defensive talent than it says about him.
Huff, I used a foot wedge a small handful of times when I was in the woods and just wanted to hit the ball into play for the next shot … I wasn’t going to win the hole anyway. Yes I know, that still doesn’t make it right.
We also at times conceded shots putts that others normally wouldn’t. I remember my buddy once conceded a putt to me, and I said I have missed shorter ones … and he replied “I know, that’s why I giving it to you”
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Reed,
Good articles, thanks for posting!
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Can Pitt recover its season if it gets crushed by PSU and Oky State? Granted, they are not conference games, but confidence and momentum mean a lot in FB. I’m thinking they need to win one of these games to go on and have a good ACC showing this year.
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I would like to think they can beat OSU … but have to play very well and smart … and certainly have to win the turnover battle.
Suspension or no suspension … I expect them to be very competitive come ACC time. Doubt that they will win the Coastal but may finish again tied for 2nd. Even before the suspensions, I thought that the team’s best years will be in 2018 and 2019 … and hopefully beyond.
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pmd: no way friend and I figure you were just kidding. I live for PITT football and music of all kinds and all 3 of my kids don’t listen much to my style of tunes.
I don’t know how to take some of these comments lately. It’s bringing me down when we should all be fired up and ready to play tackle football in the middle of a street!! Let’s get with it men! …. ike
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“shankapotomous”
ROFL
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Hope you’re right, wwb. It’s just that digging out of a 1-2 hole would not be easy. Getting Whitehead back will help. I just don’t know what to make of this team. There won’t be much Senior leadership. I can’t help but wonder what is going on with the program that leads to so many suspensions…
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Of course we can recover if we lose those two games. Look no further than the Dairy college last year. Got pounded twice and still almost made playoffs. And make no mistake, we did pound them. They made a nice rally, but for most of that game got pounded.
Now, will we do that? Nope, but we could.
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Connor hurt his shoulder?
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Back to the real priorities, moving-past losing Whitehead and such
The Quarterback Battle plays-out for all the marbles right now — and for the next couple weeks before Classes start during “Training Camp” Narduzzi and company are going to have a really, really good idea of who’s taking the snaps and what they’re capable of.
Nathan Peterman was the best Pitt’s had in a long time at QB — and he’s a late 5th round pick, who is getting a little bit of heat up in Pittsford NY at Bills Camp for having a not strong arm.
Message is that if Pitt can upgrade up again at QB with Browne it could be dangerous. There is no reason why Jester Weah shouldn’t have 1,000 yards receiving with a solid QB with a decent arm. Whether Quadree Henderson actually catches the ball or not — there is no reason a decent Quarterback shouldn’t be able to find the quickster in the passing game and let him make magic after the catch.
Chris Clark is legitmately freagin’ 6’6” according to Narduzzi and Matt Flanagan is 6’5” (and forget the stats — Rutgers has had complete ‘Dead-Beat’ QB’s and horrific offenses his time there) — so a solid QB needs to be able to locate the football for completions with their size, and move the chains.
WHO THE HECK IS MAX BROWNE???? That is the question us fans and supporters have ZERO idea of.
@Reed yeah, I know a ton of people who’ve watched Browne play during the USC time, and the ones who aren’t talking out of their tush or trying to extrapolate wayyyy too much data from a tiny sample size, just sum it up as: Well…..all I know is we had Sam Darnold waiting in the wings, so unless he came out and was Andrew Luck he was going to the bench sooner rather than later anyways.
At Pitt — Ben DiNucci is not Sam Darnold. So the #1 story right now for Pitt Football, is watching just what Max Browne does right now taking in all these first team ‘Live Reps’ with the first team O-line, Weah, Henderson……one of the runningbacks lol….Clark, and of course the BULL George Aston.
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UPitt, http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/james-conner-shoulder-steelers-rookies-injuries-mike-tomlin/sds4tdc6kpta1db78me98xgss
VOR, my post was certainly the optimist in me talking. I really don’t know what to expect except that it will vet likely be a rough September. I stand by my thought that 2018 and 2019 will be pretty good years though
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If Pitt goes 1 and 3 Browne may well be replaced by game 5(or sooner for that matter if ineffective).
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If Browne gets benched again after facing a very difficult part of the schedule while undermanned it would be a shame. It would be the same the same thing as what happened at USC. Of course it all depends on how he plays not if PITT wins or loses. imo ike
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No, I don’t think we should be happy perenially with 8 wins (even if we have fewer this season).
Yes, I think Narduzzi leaving as soon as he has success is baseless speculation (drama queen stuff)
And Yes, I agree this team is a few years away from having a reasonable shot at challenging in the conference
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Great news! So there’s a chance nobody plucks Narduzzi away from us for years to come.
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The sky isn’t falling, Narduzzi is a good coach and they have added some very good athletes on both sides of the ball.
Let’s see how the season plays out because their opponents are going to suffer injuries, inexperience and suspension issues.
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SPfromtheDS,
You’re right but I fear that’s the one battle (inexperience/suspensions/injuries) we will win this year!
Hope I’m wrong though!
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DK
Love the optimism.
Great players on offense to be sure. I hope Watson learned a lot at Indiana and Pitt is running a college offense. Expand on what Canada did. I still want a running QB. Look what Peterman did last year and he wasn’t considered mobile compared to most college QBs. Package for Pickett!!!
On D, excited to see who emerges from the young guys. Potential galore.
Hamlin, Coleman, Miller, Campbell, Stocker at DB
Pugh, Watts, Wheeler, Jones, Camp, Carter on the DL
McKee, Pine, Reynolds, Nunn at LB…this area needs to pick up in recruiting.
My bets.
Miller (rated one of the top 10 cornerbacks in Florida) 6′-3″
Stocker (Pennsylvania’s No. 11 overall prospect, played last year)
Pugh (will be better than Price)
Chase Pine (the #6 overall prospect out of VA, Pitt will finally have a really good LB and he is 240)
Watts (rated the nation’s No. 25 defensive tackle)
Camp (Florida’s No. 28 overall prospect)
Carter (country’s No. 8 defensive end)
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The “QB battle ” is a smoke screen by HCPN. It’s going to be Browne and there is no doubt about it.
2007 was DW’s third year and I think there are a lot of similarities. .. especially if our starter QB goes down as happened then.
I think a comparison of back up QBs is interesting. Is DiNucci now better than rookie Bostick then?
What will happen if Browne goes down. Do we shorten the passing game?
Now do we have a LeSean McCoy in the backfield who can make up for a poorer passing game?
Interesting to ponder… what do you guys think. Remember we were 5-7 that year with a very good defense that gave only up only 24 ppg.
What will we be if Browne goes down early?
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I certainly agree that the QB battle currently is a Narduzzi smoke screen. But I don’t think Browne has to go down to be replaced. He just has to be very ineffective early on in the passing game for the “next man up” to be called on.
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Yikes, I didn’t like what I saw out of Stocker at all. I hope I’m wrong, maybe he has ability and was just lost out there due to inexperience? If he and/or Briggs wins a starting safety spot, than that tells me our young db talent was probably over-hyped
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^^^ Also remember that we had a basis for a 9 win team in the next season of 2008.
Do we have that same talent on hand like the ’07 team. DW was getting good 4 & 5 star kids back then before that year…
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From a complete unreliable source in Twitter. .. Blair has some serious criminal charges hanging
Again this is unfounded at this point but will keep all informed
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I have a very reliable source who wouldn’t tell me specifics, but did say that Blair’s transgressions were far more serious than the others, which echoes what Reed has heard.
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My thought regarding all the recent hullabalboo…let’s assume we have good players or very good players. I don’t know what YSU has coming back but we know PSU and OSU will be experienced with good players, something we don’t have, game experience, at least not yet. Usually an experienced team with good players will beat an inexperienced team with good players. Kinda like the good big man beating the good little man’s ass 9 outta 10. .
I have no idea what will happen this season even though I am a self-proclaimed expert like my fellow POVerts. This is what makes college ball fun and a new year is upon us. Look at the night-mare called PITT football we lived through and survived. What are we now 7 seasons removed from that mess and have played 500 ball or better for most of that period.
This is going to be a fun year full of un-knowns and thank God and Reed and our new beat writer Chris for this place we can come to to get enlightened, educated or get a beat-down. Let’s keep the discussion lively, optimistic or pessimistic or whatever floats your boat. IMO you are all experts until proven wrong and all wrong til proven correct.
Games will be here before we know it. Need to organize for tailgating and meeting more of the POVerts. Only one thing I like more than reading you guys is meeting and drinking with you. With that said I propose a toast to the 2017 PITT football season and the brothers of the POV…CHEERS..(.Darkie, I might want to keep you a “mystery man” and under the wraps.) It’s fun trying to formulate in one’s mind what the real person is like…and as Mr.Rogers would kindly say, ” I like you the way you are!”
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It’s an interesting comparison to a previous year regarding qb’s.
I think Watson and Narduzzi unfortunately go more conservative in order to get the ball in and out of Browne’s hands as quickly as possible, especially against the Dairy College. There are multiple ways to protect the health of your QB. Dink and dunk is one of them, with an occasional “fly” to Weah.
Dairy and OSU are difficult tasks, but no excuses on offense, sorry. Did we figure out if we are replacing 9 or 10 starters on defense for those games. I am leaning towards 9 and hoping for 10. Fresh bodies bring fresh spirit and bonding. Win as a unit. Great chance for new leaders to emerge.
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BigB
No way we keep “Dark Knight” a mystery. We need him to show up. Get pics. Even Fred Rogers would want to meet the DK in person.
H2P
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C’mon, you think meeting “The Dark Knight” will solve any mystery about the good fellow? I figure that would only make any impressions more convoluted. Plus I think he will probably be shouting at us?
Seriously half his game would be lost without italic’s, capitals and bold print. 🙂
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Picked up my meds from the pharmacy early this morning after getting my car’s tire fixed. Only required a plug to take care of the nail hole for just $10. Played golf yesterday with my wife on a beautiful sunny day and shot 88 with 2 birdies. So far there are no odds for the YSU game, so maybe that’s a good thing, right? And the most recent rumor I heard is that Paris Ford will be at practice tomorrow, let’s pray for that.
Reed gave me some hope that Narduzzi may still be here come next year if we don’t win the ACC, so that would be good.
My meds have kicked in this afternoon and I’m no longer so depressed. Perhaps Pitt can beat YSU after all.
Camp starts tomorrow, so things are looking up. H2P!
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Two Birdies and an 88? C’mon Doc, that sounds like too many doubles to me. You need to get back to retirement to sharpen those golf skills.
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& triples. You nailed it! Can’t avoid at least a couple big numbers a round. Score killers, especially disheartening when it occurs on #18.
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What did you get on the back 9? ba doom chick
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Huff 1 mile. Now townhouses and retirement village.
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Pitt needs stability in AD and coaching. Without it it is tough to advance. And we need competent leaders as well. Pitt had stability in AD’s for many years which caused a regression at Pitt. Too many poor coaches in a short time killed any little progress. Competence and stability are the keys. Pitt will never have those being an institution controlled by a bunch of RoBoT’s.
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Pitt’s athletic swamp is bigger than DC’s
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Oops that rubbing elbows with political commentary.
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Will PITT miss the knuckleheads that left their team down? ABSOLUTELY! Can PITT overcome the suspensions and dismissals? Again, Absolutely < (not in all caps)
PITT can still win 8 or 9 games as long as they are all after the 3rd game, which I really think is possible, then PITT will be in the ACC conference championship. … ike
“What hurts you today will make you stronger tomorrow”
“Tough situations builds strong people”
We All We Got, We All Need. H2P!
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Narduzzi has done what he felt was necessary to discipline those involved with their own personal transgressions.
Those who associate our coach taking such actions somehow correlates with less than a 100% commitment from him to winning, I find disquieting. Turning a blind eye to violations of team conduct rules or worse yet civil law is a slippery slope that always has negative repercussions for the coaches & programs that decide to do so.
Myself, I’d take a clean program over a dirty championship team any day of the week. Never forget that “winning at any costs” in essence means there are “costs” that will be incurred and most times those costs outweigh the benefits of winning in the first place, IMO.
Call me old school but “victory with honor” still is a mantra I’d prefer our University to continue to adhere to.
Veritas et Virtus.
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pmd and Ike… If there was a pic of the “Dark One” it would be a black light poster… with a little Joe Cocker music in the background singing…”I’ll get by with a little help from my friends.”
Ike will email you, lastrow, Reed and whoever else is interested to set up a time to discuss tailgating tomorrow ( or anyone else who is interested)
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Hmm, are the player suspensions setting Pitt up for 8-5 again…??? If that would include a win the magnitude of Clemson or PSU AND a bowl win, with a clear improvement on Defense I could live with that but would have to have more next year!
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Lsu having closed practices according to espnu. Wonder if OC Canada is the reason for that.
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Maybe DK will come to a tailgate in a Guy Fawkes mask to maintain his anonymity/mystique…
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Obviously the Dark Knight will fly into the Heinz Field parking lot in the Bat Mobile with Bat Girl hanging on his shoulder. Those 2 alone will ZAP the Penguin(s) at the home opener!!!!!
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http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/12510786-74/pitt-football-camp-preview-faces-in-new-places-on-defense
A read for breakfast
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I’ll be interested in learning if there are any Paris Ford sightings at the 1st day of camp today.
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I doubt Ford does anything but redshirt this year. I hope I am wrong and he is a super star. He is going to have a tough time adjusting to college classes if he barely made it out of high school.
That being said, some of the redshirt freshman that are available this year at DB were highly recruited. Expect one or more of them to step up.
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Glad you stepped off the ledge Doc.
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I don’t think we can say Ford isn’t a smart young man though. I’ve been reading that he passed all his classes but the changing to 4 different high schools bit him on the butt when some classes didn’t count and he failed to reach enough credits due to that. I guess that’s one theory anyway. He’s supposedly doing what it takes and it’s quite possible he may join the team very soon… ike
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