in Pitt Football 437 Words

Reader Submitted: VT Post Mortem

Submitted by MissingWlat… 11/18/17

November 18, 2017

Dear POVerts:

Please allow me to apologize to all of the great Panther Nation for this week’s debacle.  I know you all realize how hard the kids played and that they truly deserved to win. If Matt Canada were still here, I would not have to be making this apology, but what can I say, he LOVES gumbo. That and our AD wouldn’t pony up for him until after LSU offered him 1.6 per. But who is counting?

I know that you all are disappointed with our play calling and time management when we got down to the one yard line on the last possession of the game.  But hey, James Conner graduated last year, which really reduced our options down there.  Plus, I had unnecessarily burned a timeout a few minutes earlier, so we really were a little short on time.

A minute and two seconds and one timeout? Just not enough time. Especially when our guys were a little slow because our equipment manager packed the wrong cleats.  Most teams can run about six plays in that amount of time, but we wanted to take our time and make sure we got the right plays called.  Kudos to Coach Watson there!

Maybe a run-pass option would have been good on second down, but Coach Watson and I were a little reluctant to put Kenny Pickett in that situation, given that he is a freshman and all.  But hey, it looks like we found ourselves a QB!!!  Sorry that we kept him under wraps until there were two games left. I know that Alabama plays freshman, but what do they know???

You know, I really thought we would be able to punch it in there at the end.  I just felt like our O Line would get a push, even though they didn’t open a hole for Darrin Hall the entire game. I just had a hunch there, otherwise we would have run one of the special plays we had drawn up for a two point conversion.  Every coach has one or two of those in his back pocket. Just wait until we unveil one of them in our bowl game!!

Anyway, let me say “I’m sorry” again. I do hope to see about 12,000 of you next week when we again keep things close..this time against Miami.

And if you are out there somewhere UPitt, please make the trip to the Burgh for the game. Heather wants to wear her yellow blouse and give you a distinguished alumni award…a  year’s supply of Grape Fanta.

H2P!

Sincerely,

Head Coach Pat Narduzzi

248 thoughts on “Reader Submitted: VT Post Mortem”

  1. Eric… you sum up the game and how many st of us feel with humor which is needed for the poor suffering bastad and F#%ktards who follow our beloved Panthers.

    I still can’t believe my own eyes what I witnessed on the game winning TD pass to Cam Phillips… “ when the ball is in the air it’s anyone’s ball!” Maddox down, Whitehead and another Pitt DB stand there with their thumbs up their a$$e$….were they paid to throw the game? Kidding- maybe

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Very funny Pat. One question. Looks like you wrote that note on Friday. So I guess the game played out exactly as you expected.

    Thanks Eric. 🙂

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  3. Fantastic. Missing – I knew Pat read the POV because he loves Reed so much!! Glad he wrote to us first. You should forward the letter the Heather since I assume the two of them don’t talk very often.

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  5. I really do think thats how Pitt thinks. Thats why they stink.

    Its a coaching and administration problem or disease that has set this program back. It hasnt been the players (well besides QB).

    Pitt consistently fails to find the right leaders for its sports programs. And offers little to no support. Pitt fails because Pitt is set up to fail on the athletic side.

    I dont know why the BoT would find this acceptable.

    PS I’m waiting for the letter from Heather next. Maybe UPitt should have a go at that one.

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  6. Dinucci plays 1 quarter and the offense scores 7 points, Pickett plays 3 quarters and the O scores 0 points, just sayin’. Of course Pickett throws a much prettier looking pass.

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  7. Grizz – really good point, but Dinucci has a ton more game experience and all the starting snaps in practice. Pickett is more poised and calm, sees the whole field and moves his head, is faster and a better athlete, makes quicker decisions and throws a much better pass. He just needs more full speed experience. Despite all the “coaching up” Dinucci is getting from Watson, he still throws every pass off his back foot with his body bent backwards. Hopefully Watson leaves Kenny alone.

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  8. Grizz .. if Weah runs without looking into the rear view mirror Kenny gets his 1st TD pass… champion sprinter from Wisconsin in HS

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  9. Coach Pat, thank you for taking the time to write a sincere presser direct to us, I find it refreshing and I think it will keep a few POVers from getting their panties in a bunch at least for a day. Suggestion for you: now that we finally seem to have found a QB that can actually THROW the football, get him a few receivers, as none of the current WRs (with the exception of Lopes) run great routes and get open enough, this is a talent issue. And how about breaking down your staff and honestly evaluating their coaching and recruiting strengths, so we can fire the right people in the offseason.

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  10. Has Narduzzi announced that Pickett will be the starter yet for Friday ? Until I hear that, I have no confidence that he will make the right decision on this since he and Watson have bungled this situation so badly .

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    1. If not, then anyone who doesn’t go “Upitt” on him(gorilla arms), is brain-dead.
      Aaaaand if the major effort recruiting isn’t o-line AND therefore maximizing KP’s talent, I don’t think there is hope for PN. Well, I guess he needs route runners and receivers sans hands of stone too.
      Am I a bit overboard? Maybe, but I am already looking forward to Miami—crazy, right?

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  12. Didn’t get a chance to post yesterday…as usual the POVerts have many completely on target criticisms.

    It is just disheartening to see the lack of progress. DD…what are you talking about, a lot of players, particularly the young, made great strides this year!

    I agree. But I am talking about coaching. 3 years in and absolutely….ABSOLUTELY…no improvement whatsoever. Too stubborn to call different defenses when it would be obvious to do so. Game management 101, failures as much today as 3 years ago. Not trusting talented freshmen like it is 1950 or something. Completely uncreative play calling (we miss you Canada!).

    I don’t really like to assume what is in people’s heads. But Nards, I think in his head is a complete lack of looking to himself. One only improves if one is capable of being at least a little honest with oneself and beating oneself up about one’s shortcomings. I am not sure Nard has that ability…or we would have seen a change of behavior by now.

    I also think he thinks over thinking is smart. It is not. The goal line stand is a perfect example, as is not playing Pickett in any substantial way until now. Sure, run Hall 3 times, he probably thought, because given their vaunted run defense and the success VT had all day, we would be CRAZY to run 3 times! That is what Nards thought. So stupid. Overthinking is dumb coaching.

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  13. Weah looks bulkier than last year, maybe he’s not as quick as last year. Also on the last set of plays they burned off around 10-15 seconds of time coming from the TO, how does that happen?

    Liked by 1 person

  14. 12 previous carries for a net of 0 yds. What can we do? Oh, give it to him 3 more times. 15 carries for -3 yds. Brilliant!

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  15. Gosh I hope HCPN was just invoking coachspeak and didn’t really mean this:

    “They’re one of the top run defenses in the country; we knew that, that’s why Kenny was in the game,” Narduzzi said. “We think he’s probably a better passer at this point, and he did give us a shot with some of the balls he threw. There wasn’t as much scrambling going on.

    “I think he’s gonna continue to get better going forward, and we’ll just continue to evaluate that position.”

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  16. tvax1 – something caught my eye in your post. Specifically O Line recruiting to help Kenny. I fear it’s too late from a recruiting standpoint. Maybe grad transfers. I don’t think even top guys in the class of 2018 and 2019 can help Kenny specifically – doesn’t mean O Line is not a priority. Those guys won’t be useful until 2020 or 2021 based on how even great lineman develop – way too late to save Kenny’s life. It’s the FR, RsFR and sophomores that will have to do it. I need to look at what that looks like because I haven’t studied it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Unfortunately THAT is a good point, damn. And I wonder how often o-line transfers happen really. But if anyone might lead that innovation, it might be HCPN. Hope the Max B fail is the exception

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  17. Richmond articles says: “We knew that they have a good run defense, but it’s a yard,” said Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi. “We have to be able to get a yard.”

    Really. Not sure what to even say about that.

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  18. Yeah, that’s coaches speak Joe, Think about how BD and Tommy Mac must feel when a younger QB takes over full-time? Hell PITT has to at least keep BD on the roster as a backup.

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  21. Moving forward, PITT has lots of good young O-Lineman that will be on the roster but they will lack experience. Not sure what O’Neil will do, leave or stay. I’m also not sure if he’s played well enough to be taken real high in the draft?

    So Bookser, O’Neil and little Jimmy could return as starters. Little Jimmy needs to become a little bigger Jimmy.. Some really good players will be fighting for a few spots. Incoming O-Line class is pretty darn good… ike

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    1. Back in the spring, O’Neill seemed like a good bet to apply for the draft after the season. He hasn’t shown as much this year, having played the LT position and without the like of Biz and Dorian on the other side. So, it would probably be in his best interest to stick around.

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  22. Pitt was prepared to play and credit Narduzzi in keeping the team in the game this year. But wins are the measurement and Pitt simply is not good enough on many fronts to win. It shows up in various ways like a blow out by the cowboys to a get a yard mentality that was absurd and Wanny like. Wanny lost the team and Narduzzi has his guys next year. His guys are not enough to win big, but moral victories and no longer the selling point. PITT needs to win. The QB gives you a shot. How long the program will buy what Narduzzi is selling but without wins it doesn’t matter, The interest is declining and Pitt football is becoming less relevant in the scheme of things.

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  23. Gateway has a freshman that is awesome Derek Davis, great running back, receiver, and d-back that sealed the 5a championship yesterday. Probably going to PSU or WVU.

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  24. Let’s remember also that all through the spring and fall camps up until Browne’s injury Pickett was the 3rd string QB thus was getting no, none, zilch QB reps with the 1st or 2nd string offense and defense.

    So in essence he has never taken QB1 snaps in practices at all. He’s just going to get better with more two-deep reps.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Pickett is a difference maker big time. Plus, we’ve got him for 3 more years. I’m smiling like a clam on that one.

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  25. We couldn’t run all day, it’s called situational awareness, you pick on their weakness not their strength, DUMB, DUMB, DUMB. It’s like throwing to beat Revis, WHY? Then to be so stupid not to admit it was dumb, HUBRIS

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    2. There are many types of coaches…ones like Bill Belichek who looks to take advantage of weaknesses and to nullify strengths.

      Then there are the types like Nard-dog who thumps his chest and thinks bravado and “We do what we do” and then continues to run head on into a brick wall.

      Most coaches lie somewhere in between those two spectrums.

      Nard-dogs inability to adjust on either side of the ball shows every game that is played.

      DaveD

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  26. If Pickett doesn’t get 90% of the practice snaps this week, these coaches should be fired.

    We will continue to evaluate, WTF?

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    1. He’s afraid the Nooch will transfer…..to maybe Bobby U. Duzz wants him as backup next year I’m figuring.

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  27. Ike, I don’t think BD is going anywhere and I think he is safe as backup for next year but after that who knows and he could probably graduate after next year.

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  28. I still don’t get that it took a spectacular trick play to get us back in the game and then three runs from Hall for the defeat. Especially since the pass blocking had been very good.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Despite the fact that the trick play worked, I think it was one of the dumbest calls in the history of football. You showed Kessman you have no faith in him. The play is super low percentage and could have been overturned even though Bossary had control in my opinion. We were only down by three at the time. Can you imagine how we all would be screaming at Pat if that failed? He came off looking like a genius, instead of a penis…until he allowed Watson to butcher the dreaded yard at the end of the game. Pitt once again snatches defeat from the hands of victory.

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  29. I worry about a good backup. What year was it Cavanaugh fracture his wrist first game and PITT didn’t have a backup ready despite having one of the best teams in the country? I think it may have cost them another national championship…

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    1. I’m not ready to give up on Tommy Mac yet. He only played 1 year of QB in HS. one more year for him in my book.

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  31. Yesterday really sums up Pitts season. Poor decision making poor play calling very little leadership and a very stubborn head coach with unimaginative offensive coordinator. We found the QB who was there all year mired with scout team. My biggest concern is is this our product forever. Watson back. Great another year of seasoned play calling.

    I ask you how tough is it to defense Our offense. As a past defensive coordinator for twenty five years you must prepare to be successful. What prep is needed for our offense. End sweep run up middle throw five yard pass on third down. Oh also we may run end sweep five out of seven plays or dive three times in a row. I will renew my tickets next year but unless improvement I can’t handle ineptitude coaching who don’t improve and feel we know nothing of the game.

    Treat us fans boosters knowledgeable football people. Not as someone you can bull sh– and I’ll jump off the bridge because you of poor coaching game management play calling. H2P

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  32. So essentially we lose to NC by fumbling in the end zone going for a score.
    This week we have a 100 meter champ get run down from 5 yards back and go o for 4 from the 1.
    Reverse last year at NC and they hit the TD for win with no time on clock.
    Being a Pitt fan is like being a domestic abuse victim.
    On to Miami.
    Lastrow I will stop by to your great tailgate. I hope you stay after the game on a noon start.

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  33. With all respect Friends of Pitt, I watched a different game yesterday. I agree with you considering the last 1:03 seconds of the game but until then I thought the play-calling was decent to good factoring in the opponent.

    The 4th down time-out blunder was the only other questionable snafu by the coaches.

    Inserting Pickett, great call!

    Fake field goal for a touchdown, great call!

    PITT’s D stepped up and played a great game. Maddox slipping down aside. Why can’t they ever get the shoes right.

    There is no doubt in my mind that some sort of coaching change is needed. Nothing to dramatic but Conklin needs switched out but his D played well yesterday.

    PITT needs a separate QB coach other than Watson’s double duty. BD needs his form rebuilt.

    That said, PITT’s world class sprinter looking back and getting caught ultimately cost PITT the win yesterday. I’m more pissed off today than yesterday. I guess I’m stewing.. ike

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  35. Couple more things.

    Not throwing to the TE’s ever, is a bad decision. Especially when playing a team like VT’s. You got to get them off the line of scrimmage.

    T Mac would have been a great target last few plays.. imo ike

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    1. What…we already have two decent TEs and Sear was in for a bunch of plays yesterday. It isn’t a good idea, imo, to put a kid who hasn’t had a pass thrown to him since his JR year in HS.

      Now, teach him to be a good place holder on kicks and use his passing there on trick plays… that may do the job.

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      2. You are in for the eagles
        I was late for 1pm start could not get rams in.
        I took the bills plus 7 for Nate.
        I will give you 2o bucks worth if you want.

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  37. PITT gave up less passing yards yesterday than WVU, psu and even PCC.

    BTW the newly offered preferred walk-on Jason DeFrancicis had two touchdown catches for Pine-Richland.

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  43. Here is to hoping we don’t burn anymore redshirts. With Davis’s redshirt being burned, why haven’t we seen more of him? I’m glad Ford hasn’t seen the field but I honestly don’t think Whitehead and O’Neil stay. One year of lost income benefits coming back as if you go in the first round, that 5th year option really kills your opportunity for a big contract. I.E. Aaron Donald I hope I am wrong.

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  44. Reed, I wasn’t referring to putting him in there yesterday without practicing. Just saying I would like to see him stay at PITT if he can’t crack the top 3 QB’s next year. If he can practice on special teams he can practice a goal line formation.

    You can’t coach size and speed.

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  46. Sorry, but the coaching has been bad all year and the goal line plays were just a microcosm. They can’t seem to make up their minds what they want to do. All year they have been confused.

    Too many men on the field, wrong packages, running around like chickens. They are like deer in headlights. They really look confused as to what they want to do. And really, play calling was good?? Even I could see a screen or shovel pass would work and take some heat off. Why did they not do it earlier? Long pass plays breaking up Raytheon and putting us behind on downs. Can’t use tight ends because they can’t pass protect?

    The O line play has really been substandard, can’t run block and pass protection has been poor. Sure, lose 2nflers and that hurts, but has anyone seen progression?

    Crazy bad time management, I’m not sure if anyone mentioned it, but being on the one and taking over 30 seconds to call an off tackle play is unjustifiably bad.

    We actually were lucky VT qb was bad, very inconsistent. They had open guys all day.

    Finally, I have been harping on this also, the S&C coach must go, they just can’t last a whole game.
    Also, anyone, and I mean anyone, who can’t see how bad BD mechanics and footwork are is just in total denial.
    That said, there was some very good things, and actually some reason for hope but I’ll get into that tomorrow.
    One final thought, think we would have scored if Alston was playing???

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    1. Yeah, him OR Aston.

      Reed, I am more than willing to try to get that edit “plugin” in place. I just need your Admin log in credentials, and your credit card numbers with security code and your bank account numbers and SSN.
      🙂

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      1. As I said before as an Amin. on another WP blog, if you add the edit function I believe we will be able to edit anyone’s posts too. Maybe just use your own spell check.

        Of course UPitt could have some fun with Ike…. 😉

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I don’t think Pat has the management skills to manage a DMV or for that matter a hot chocolate stand in Alberta

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    1. Doesn’t matter who the AD or the HC are, an AD should at least talk to a HC about something like tarping over seats. It’s bad form and a rookie mistake on her part. Having said that, I agree with the decision so long as it doesn’t prevent Pitt from increasing asst coach salaries.

      Have to wonder if HCPN talked with Lyke before stating that Watson would be back. Hope so.

      As for other programs’ coaches using the tarping against us in recruiting ….pick your poison. Yellow seats have already been used, so I’m not sure that tarping creates a new problem.

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    2. Very interesting article.

      Does this mean Lyke is showing a spine or PN is showing arrogance/controlling nature?

      In Lyte of what Reed says about PN recruiting, does he have a clue as to the prevailing opinion of HIS recruiting so far? or is this added evidence or failing and typical blaming someone/something else?

      Vukov saying last Thursday that PN stated he doesn’t want to get rid of Watson means nothing to me….at least NOW….if holding on to assistants into this off-season persists, THAT would indicate a problem.

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  51. Rah Rah Lopes is the only WR to make any real plays but never started. Practicing well is good but I want player who show up on gameday.

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  53. Pitt games that have taken years off of my life:
    1) Bowl game disaster against Houston, nuclear meltdown
    2) Getting destroyed by Youngstown State to begin the Paul Chyrst era
    3) Actually driving to Toledo as a student to watch our nationally ranked Panthers pooh the bed against Seton La Salle’s Bruce Gradkowski
    4) Sneaking out of my grandfather’s viewing (giant Pitt fan that would encourage it) to watch us lose in overtime to Ohio…not Ohio State…the Wanny era begins with a bang
    5) Greg Lee caught by a slow white guy on a pass similar to yesterday and Josh Cummings missing the game winning field goal twice in a 7 yo 6 loss against Nebraska
    6) Losing to North Carolina last year on the last darn play
    7) Needing double overtime to beat Furman and Ingle Martin
    8) Driving to Storrs, Ct as a student and watching Palko slide to the middle of the field to set up a missed fg, we get owned on ESPN against mighty UConn
    9) Losing the Big East Championship game to Cincy after my brother booked Sugar Bowl arrangements with a travel agent at the half
    10) Losing to a one and 8 UNC team this year when I expected nothing but total domination
    11) Shady McCoy fumbling at the one with less than a min to go to lose to Louisville, oh those great Wanny years
    12) Wanny loses to UConn in Storrs just like Walt keeping us from going to a bowl in the weakest BCS eligible conference ever
    13) Losing to Syracuse the year we went to the Fiesta Bowl in OT (we beat ND the next week). On a fourth and one, Walt called a pitch to Tim Murphy that lost five yards.

    It ain’t easy being a Pitt fan….but I can’t wait for this Saturday lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. My take is different. Was planning to fly up for the Miami game with high hopes that we could pull off an upset and be 6-6. Of course, North Carolina ruined those plans for me. Great Pitt weekend coulda been with the hoops team hosting Lehigh on the 25th. If Pitt can beat Miami, terrific. A 5-7 record is better than 4-8. Hoops team will have its hands full against the Engineers. Gonna stay put in moldy H-town and catch the UH-Navy game.

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    3. On your #3, I believe Pitt was ranked No. 7 or No. 9 in the country. The fact that the imbeciles even scheduled the game on their home turf was the epitome of stupidity. Does Ohio State or Pedo State EVER schedule a game on a MAC school’s home field ? Answer of course not, because that game becomes that schools Super Bowl.

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  54. To say that SW has made some bad decisions missed the point which is that he is not a quality FBS OC.

    That is not going to change. I use the word “dumb” to describe him but that is really not fair because he may have an IQ of 150 for all I know. When I use the word “dumb” I mean tha he does not know what he is doing. Sometimes the smartest person lacks wisdom or is incompetent.

    And here’s my problem with the glass is half full crowd: SW is not going to suddenly start making good decisions. They acknowledge that his play calling at the end of yesterday’s game was not good but they seem to think that his bad decision making is like the weather: sometimes it’s nice out and sometimes it’s not.

    Sorry guys that’s not how competence or for that matter intelligence works. Even with better players there will always be that weight on the offensive team’s shoulders. And if PN does not see that then the situation may be as bad as Upitt thinks it is.

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  55. First off let me say I’m not stating that I saw this – I’m asking.

    After Weah almost scored in the final minute everyone was celebrating what they thought was a td. The camera was on Pickett going to the sidelines for a brief moment and it appeared he made a gesture toward the crowd. Anyone else see it? Couldn’t tell if he was flipping off the vt fans or if he was just pointing at pitt fans or family. Again I’m not saying he did anything inappropriate. I couldn’t tell. Just wondering if anyone saw

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  56. I just find it amazing that there is no accountability in the Program.

    Listen to Narduzzi’s Press Conf. It makes you throw up. Same BS week after week. You could give him Bama’s roster and he would screw it up.

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  58. AJS…the game is Friday. Kman, I will be there with my sous chef Scooter / Larry at 7am. I WILL stay after the game. You are the first in the headcount.

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    1. Thank you for the invite. I am not 100% sure if I can make it to the game. It is up to my 70 year old pops. Haven’t seen in months since I left the Burg. I hope he comes up but I have a feeling we end up watching in the living room haha.

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  61. “We can sit here and talk about play calls; you gotta block ’em when you need a yard,” Narduzzi said of what went wrong on Virginia Tech’s decisive stand. “You got four downs to get a yard. We can sit here and second-guess four different plays. It doesn’t matter. You gotta get 1 yard.” – Narduzzi

    What this says is..neither myself or Watson are going to be held accountable for playcalling. We make millions of dollars to make decisions…but we won’t be held accountable for those decisions. It’s all on the players.

    He has a point – you should be able to get a yard – however when your players are struggling – help them out for god sakes with a small call or two. The its all their fault weekly BS is getting tiring.

    Liked by 1 person

  62. Miami fans here thought we won yesterday.
    Ha ha
    Saw the pass to the 1.
    Same thing happened to me at dinner with Nitter after Houston bowl dame.

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  63. Looks like Mortty Ivy is a pretty good defensive coach.

    Get Kasperovicz and Ivy on the Pitt staff and lock down the WPIAL.

    Also really good up and coming coaching.

    Liked by 1 person

  64. That’s a good point gc, if you want to recruit WPIAL kids then start by recruiting the coaches first.

    Watched the Devin Danialson interview and discovered he has a brother on the TJ team that has more sacks than Devin if I heard that right.

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  66. Not to beat a dead horse, but I said much earlier in the season, when there was still some hope, that PN needed to find someone to replace Aston. This team is not strong enough running the football to not have a jumbo package, or at least a reasonably decent fullback to lead the blocking in a first and goal situation.

    As Aston proved, even a walk on can help here. With no real QB earlier, they clearly needed some special plays for the red zone and goal line, but this must be too complicated a game for PN and Watson.

    And Weah is a real disappointment, it was clear that he thought he could glide in to the end zone. That one play sort of sums up his entire season, much potential but no cigar.

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  67. gc, heard Kasperovich on the FAN today. Admits to “bleeding blue and gold”. Added that Jerkovich wanted to go to ND “since 6th grade”

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  68. Narduzzi doesn’t want to hurt any egos here, especially DiNucci. Reed you were the first,but it didn’t take my limited football knowledge to see Pickett was the “real deal”. He played so little until yesterday too.
    Who gets the the blame for not using the tight ends, Ollison, Henderson, and over using Whitehead on offense earlier in season? Of course Pickett is the better passer. He is also the better runner!

    Watson made a mess of a very talented group of kids and Narduzzi let him do it. What an obvious difference between the abilities of OCs ;Canada & Cheney vs. Watson.

    I bet Watson would love to get out of town. Who would hire him?

    Narduzzi be careful.

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  70. Funny how people watch the same thing and see things differently. Not defending Weah but it looked to me like a tight end lumbering downfield and not a receiver speeding to the end zone.

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  71. Brown, why did he even get to play? Didn’t Pickett enroll in January? I understand you have to give the kid (Brown) a chance, but your job as a head coach is to win games. It became obvious early on, reinforced by Reed’s research with USC, Brown was not sharpest QB in their history.

    Watson, of course ,was clueless during the whole season.

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  74. And Chris Peak, who is paid to wear rose-colored glasses, predicts no better than 6-6 next year. It’s the Graham-Chryst era repeating itself.

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  75. Still all the whining and crying when all Weah had to do is run Weah run. Even Forest could do that!

    PITT coaches put the team in a position to win the game against a 16 pt favorite on the road. Thought PITT was suppose to lose 42-13?

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    1. Only guy know that celebrates moral victories Jesus Ike you should be a life coach for underperformers. Give them a trophy and a atta boy.

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      1. Isn’t it kind of a problem that they were 16 point underdogs in the first place? The goal isn’t to beat the spread. It’s to win.

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  79. I think the PSN article on Heather/Pat is hysterical. UPitt, maybe Heather is growing a pair? Hey coach, tarping is the least of your worries. It will create a better game day atmosphere and we can start pulling them back little when you actually win. Empty yellow seats are much easier for your “rivals” to recruit against – so grow up. Maybe you’d be OK if the Tarps had a big picture of you on it. Then it would be OK, Right?

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  80. Because in their make believe land, losing but playing hard is all that matters.
    Now what happens if players just quit. And recruits are turned off. And good coaches stay away. And fans say enough is enough.
    Well I think we’ve come close to reaching that point.
    The BoT needs to stop playing Peter Pan and become an adult. You are either serious about winning or not.
    If not, tarp off half the stadium and begin cutting programs and scholies. And don’t expect fans like me to care.

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  81. I like seeing that Narduzzi and Lyke are at odds a bit. Call me crazy but heres what I would do in this situation. Narduzzi wants more money for his assistants and to retain the entire staff, Lyke supposedly wants some changes. If I were Lyke I would give Narduzzi two options 1) give him a two year extension with a modest raise and a little more money for assistants but he has two change the 2 weakest links on the coaching staff or 2) agree to make no changes to the staff but no raises and make it clear that if he doesn’t get 7 wins next year he and his entire staff will be gone. Thoughts?

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  82. I understand the sentiment here about the Heather vs. Duzz tarping issue. But it is PN’s neck on the line, and whichever way he thinks is best from a recruiting standpoint, that should be the call. We are beyond the embarrassment stage. It’s too late for that after the dismal showings on TV, especially after the ESPN Fanta debacle.

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    1. Sell advertisements to the following Pitt Companies on the tarps.

      Fanta
      Rockports
      Nair
      How to lose a game 100’s ways book
      Arm bands w/o the plays
      Yellow Blouses from Pennies
      Otis Vaccums

      Like

      1. At work the other day, I had to google who Otis was since this seems to be 2017’s Stallings reference. Oh god…I needed a Fanta to keep from laughing.

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  84. PittPT – I would have a question for him. Since he wants all of his buddies back because they make him feel “comfortable” and since no other P5 program would want them (let alone to pay them more), why does he need more money? More money has to mean big changes.

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    1. Got an email on Friday about the 4 tickets, I think I will get them and see if I can roust up 4 folks with nothing better to do. At leads turn it into a social event.

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    2. Once you ho down the give them away road and stay for a F ing Fanta you are already done. If I’m Gallgher I fire the whole lot. Otis/ Gotilla Arms and Lyke and start over.

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    1. Wasn’t sure, that’s why I asked. There was a lot of chatter about free tickets before the UNC game. I hadn’t seen anything here.

      BTW, Nathan Peterman is failing badly in his first career start. 5 interceptions at the half. Too bad for a guy that played well at Pitt and represents the university well.

      Like

  87. Tony77019, even Watson can’t be that stupid to at least not look at some film of this yrs. team. Narduzzi has to lean on him to do some homework.

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  88. Even when we somehow manage to hold a team to ONLY 20 points and ONLY 218 yards passing, we still seem to manage to lose.

    Pretty predictable though, as the defense got better(sans UNC), the offense became much worse.

    All in all though, most of us had this game as a VT rout. It’s just the way….we manage to lose that is so
    SOP !

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      1. Is that my fault? Or maybe his for sucking and gettring arrested again for drugs in his car. Great 2nd round waste.

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  91. Shady must be clairvoyant !

    “You never know,” running back LeSean McCoy said Wednesday. “He’s a guy(Peterman) that’s never played in the NFL in a real game, so you never know. It can be good or bad, you just never know. That’s why I really can’t give you an honest answer. Like, he’s going to go out there and he’s going to dominant, he’s going to throw for four or five touchdowns or is he going to go for five picks?

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  92. Guys I want your honest opinion. If we are scored with a minute left do we still win the game or does Virginia Tech Drive the field and kick a game-winning field goal? I can guarantee you and no one certain terms Virginia Tech drives the field and Wednesday.

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    2. I was gonna post something similar, had Pitt scored, VT would have drove to FG territory and kicked the winning FG. Bad teams find ways to lose games.

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    5. I was thinking blocked PAT but yeah, just spin the Pitt Wheel of Gut Punch Losses and enjoy what comes up next!

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    1. Mora has/had a supposed high 1st Round draft pick QB, who is 3rd in the nation in passing. Yet another losing season(5-6), after last year’s 4-8 season. They can score points but are 121 of 130 on points allowed at 37.6 ppg. If they beat Cal next week would be Bowl Bound. So Mora would have 5 Bowl Seasons in 6 years. ikr

      Previous to that Mora had two 10 win seasons, one 9 win and one 8 win season. 2-2 in Bowl Games.

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  95. It sounds to me, that the team did not back Peterman becoming the Starter over the Tyrod. Since they were 5-4. Heck even Shady, a Pitt alum did not give another Pitt alum(Peterman) any kind of endorsement at all.

    So could we have another…..team dogging it…..cause they didn’t like the QB. See Derek Carr of the Raiders.

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  98. So NP obviously managed perfectly by HCPN and staff.
    Any QB talent can come to Pitt and make it to the next level, even if they suck enough that they may throw 5 int in their first NFL half of play. ;0

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  100. Agree with Narduzzi not to tarp off seats. Airlines don’t tarp seats that are empty to avoid passengers seeing lesser load factors, but they like all businesses put their sales and marketing people to work resolving the problem because like a Broadway show once its curtains up or wheels up there is no longer any value to those seats, and they don’t use sodas.

    The product is a college football game. Make it a college football atmosphere and there have been any number of people on this site that have made suggestions starting with amplifying the band and student sections and not piping in music over them. Pretty basic stuff for openers.

    Empty seats? Think that flight and show and you know where the bulk empty seats are going to be so do something even if they are given away to youth or charitable organizations. Sell these otherwise empty seats as twofers (hell, even 3 for 1) to bring butts to those otherwise empty seats. They likely will still visit the concession stands so the BOT can smile. Work with local corporations, high schools, hospitals for favorable pricing and maybe build a fan base, but above all give them college football. Give them the sizzle and not just the steak.

    Yes, the field product needs to improve and hopefully it will, but give people a reason to become fans in the first place. No reason to tarp and hide because that says nothing good about Pitt football or fans. College football game day atmosphere is special. Take some of those ideas from other schools and use them to spawn ideas of our own. Surely there are enough smart people on campus to make this happen.

    Enough already. Wheels up.

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  101. If I get a small tailgate crowd I plan on tarping off 1/3 of my truck bed…Tarpapalooza! I will see if my beer distibutor wants first shot at the ad space.

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  102. Somebody(at Pitt) didn’t study the charts too much this past week.

    VT is # 3 in the country in RedZone Defense and have only given up 5 (five) Rushing TD’s the entire season.
    Which is #2 in the nation. With several teams only giving up 4 (four) Rushing TD’s. One of them being Miami.

    Cough Cough

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    1. Emel, I wrote extensively about the VT defense in my articles last week. I watched the game with another POVer and after Weah’s run to the 1 yard line I turned to him and said “We have to pass three times here”.

      First off because passes would either score or stop the clock and second because everyone in America knew VT had an awesome run defense.

      I was not surprised at the failure there one bit.

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  106. Emel.. uphill battle for Roger Goodell to sustain a lifetime private jet in addition to the $50 million a year … screw the NFL and Jeffrey Romoff and UPMC… I don’t like corporate bullies and monopolies………..

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    1. Agree, we need to start breaking up these monopolies again, as we did back in the Robber Baron Era.
      Throw in Bezos and Amazon and Google and Facebook as well. And the Cable TV and Phone providers.

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  107. Lastrow leave your truck unlocked and the keys under the floor mat .. I might come down for the post game Victory celebration and POV tailgate !!!

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  108. I’m all for tarping. Anything to hide the yellow seats, to generate advertising dollars and to make the venue more attractive. And for people to be less spread out.

    Our coach is wrong to not support this effort. Like he is on many other things. So I dont really respect his opinion given his track record.

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  110. UPitt you were reading my mind…we can’t score with with over a minute to go .. we lose for sure… I will never forget a Pitt- WVU game at Pitt Stadium in the 90’s – craziest game I ever attended… even saw an extra point blocked and returned – WVU got the ball with Pitt ahead with only a few seconds left and I said to my Carolina bud” We are going to lose this game!” a little by pass and it was over…. Hillbillies won….

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  113. If they tarp off the seats next year, (sans the PSU game) where do they move us season ticket holders that are in the 500 level? I prefer being up there. I am almost at mid field, I have a ton of leg room because there are plenty of good seats available, I don’t have to make a crazy donation to the university, and I can run up thirty rows when it rains for cover.

    If they move us all to the lower bowl, I assume the 500 level people will be put in the end zone…and even though that is much lower, they are awful seats. You watch the scoreboard half of the time. Should be interesting.

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    1. I believe they are just tarping off the one end zone in the 500s and the corners of the 500s if it happens. This would force people into the prime viewing areas (where you are) and also into all the TV angles so it looks a little more lively.

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  114. I’m not about moral victories just being real. I love PITT and stand behind my team and try and be realistic, not just a complainer of all things PITT. Who’s the PITT fan?

    PITT DID play a good game down in Blacksburg and a big fail at the end of the game doesn’t change the effort put in by the coaches and players in that game.

    Don’t mind criticism when it’s laid out in a reasonable manner. Otherwise I have no time for the constant barrage of hate and yes I said hate, when someone holds a grudge so deeply entrenched in their minds against all things PITT that they don’t see things clearly.

    I have suffered the past 35 years like everyone else who is a true PITT fan. I’ll be giving lessons on anyone who’s interested in how to be a true PITT fan. (it’s not a hard course) Although I see I have my work cut out for many of you.

    I’m not immune to PITT losing, the UNC game really broke me down. It’s perspective. Unlike many I just root for my team and will give criticism like everyone else. Complaining cleanses the heart at times when the chips are down. Complaining constantly for the sake of complaining can saturate one’s brain into a defeatist attitude you can never recover from.

    Do I think for one split half second this post will change anything? Hell NO. … but I had to say it…. again, I’m glad some of you are aren’t on my team. I consider myself a winner and I only want winners on my team. . IKE H2P!

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  118. First Vegas line has Pitt a 14 point underdog to Miami. We usually lose to Miami because of their complete dominance of our lines. No different on Friday.

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  122. Just saw Peterman’s 5 picks. Wow, several of them were tipped passes, one was right to a RB, bounced off of him….. to a Charger LB who ran it back 50 yards or so for a TD. On all of them he had little to no offensive line blocking at all and got clobbered and planted into the turf. One would have been for a safety so he flung it.

    Not as bad as 5 picks would appear to be.

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  123. looks like many schools in college football have attendance problems. But Pitt’s looks so much worse given the large stadium and yellow seats

    If you want people to attend, I propose domed stadiums with couches. And fully stocked refrigerators nearby and private urinals.

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  124. Digital TV, replay and smartphones are killing FB attendance.

    Wait until technology puts a camera in the football players helmet and the football itself just like the video games. Of course you will have to pay for it. I am surprised it is not already here.

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    1. Good VR will end game attendance. Except for the tailgates and the college partyers. If the stadium is on campus that is….

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  125. Looking over all these near half empty or worse college stadiums across the country, from Sea to Shining Sea(and I could post another two dozen more)….clearly most college football teams in America have trouble drawing capacity crowds…..OTHER THAN WHEN they are playing their RIVAL GAME or somebody like Notre Dame comes into town.

    So….. in fact…… the vast majority of college football teams are very similar to Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Exactly Jack…and that is only a handful of teams. And I have pics of this past weekend and half empty SEC games, including Florida, Ole Miss and Arkansas, not to mention annually bad Vanderbilt.

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  126. BTW, UCLA fired Mora on his birthday….lol. Somewhere Cyanide is saying “Why couldn’t I be that devious…?”

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  127. I get where both Lyke and Duzz are coming from regarding tarps. Lyke is trying to avoid the hideous yellow on TV (was at Thurs Steeler game and there were 5-7k yellow seats FYI) and Duzz is trying to avoid more ammo for Franklinstein and others to use against him.
    Compromise would be for PSU ND and homecoming no tarps. All other games tarp 15k.
    I think if that is proposed all parties will be happy.

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  128. Also, if our stadium seats were blue or black no one would really care, why in the hell the seats are bright yellow is beyond all logic and reason.

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    1. Rooney’s probably did it on purpose. Because for so long in Pittsburgh, the Stillers were 2nd fiddle to Pitt in football. Yellow also shows dirt and wear more than a darker color, so again it was on purpose.

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  129. Pay per view is coming and we will pay big time. << Still won’t help. Then PITT can just play at CMU and may not sell out. Kind of like music video’s killed the radio star..

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  130. If you have bleachers with 100 seats in a row and 10 are empty everyone spreads out a bit and does look so bad. In ?Heinz if you have 10 empty seats they scream out, no holding it.
    Solution:1) fill all seats 2) change color of seats 3) everyone bring a blanket to cover empty yellow seat next to them.lol

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    1. Pitt should supply everyone attending the game, an inflatable ‘Heather Doll’. Dressed in Yellow & Blue and you seat the Heather Doll next to you. Hey we got to get ….creative !

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  132. We are all familiar with the imaginary yellow ten yard line that the digital camera puts on the field. Since every seat has a sold ticket or not, all we have to do is fill the non ticket seats electronically. Heinz would be filled with or without people. Good engineering software project for Pitt engineers.

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  133. Tarp it.
    45,000.
    That is it. PSU 45
    Nd 45
    Sell single game tix to Nitters.
    I would demand they change seat color too.
    Upitt: i owe you 40 bucks let me know how to get it to you.

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  134. Further:
    I agree with Emil about Nate.
    The cowboys are teaching Jerry a lesson.
    In normal working environments it is called a slowdown in the NFL it is a blowout.

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  135. Some of you guys are being extremely critical of Jester Weah. I get that he made a mistake, but if he doesn’t break the tackle right after the reception we aren’t even near the 1.5 yard line. I think he made a great play.

    And yes he looked several times…a mistake but not as egregious as his coaches. Watch the catch again for yourself. The safety hits him low and bounces off of a solid WR.

    I am not going to criticize that play. Could he have gotten maybe. But the coaching should have punched it in at the 1.5 yard line.

    I tend to subscribe to old school Beano Cook philosophy…you don’t criticize the student athletes.

    DaveD

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  136. Did any else notice the coaches lack of urgency during the time out at the end of the game? Looked to me like the players were anxiously awaiting guidance from the coaching staff which was slow to develop and completely ineffective in hindsight .

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  138. That, and why don’t they understand that DH runs too upright and has no drive after contact? Even though you did not get great execution by a couple of players from Weah head turning to the missed block by #63, the delays and plays called resulting in this loss are all on the coaches not putting the team in the best position to win. How you don’t run QO rather than DH, and how you don’t have at least 1 run/pass option for Pickett of the 4 plays is INEXCUSABLE. Maybe the final play was a read option but….

    I guess they(coaches) were celebrating the win rather than finishing the game.

    Liked by 1 person

  140. This season was a bust long ago. This game got us a QB for years to come. Thank God.

    The D is going to be good. Notice Chase Pine and Reynolds playing at LB.

    Good to see Maddox going out playing well.

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  141. If Pitt extends Narduzzi’s contract as suggested above then Pitt football is beyond help. He already has until 2021 left on this first extension.

    I honestly believe Pat narduzzi does not understand the strengths and weaknesses of his own football team.

    There was no way in the world we were going to run the ball in from the 1-yard line without some sort of a jumbo package there. As someone else pointed out, I think it was Fran, we were getting 1.8 yards per carry up to that point. He’s the most stubborn coach I’ve ever seen.

    Chris Peak’s prediction of 6-6 may even be on the high side. I say that because while the defense might be a bit better I think the offense might tank even if Pickett starts at QB.

    An offense revolves around the offensive line and I don’t trust Pat Narduzzi’s OL recruiting; I don’t trust his OL line coach and I don’t trust his offensive coordinator to play call during games that will make up for any deficiencies in the OL. I think the offense will be the trouble spot for us…

    Unless Narduzzi doesn’t have the guts to fire Conklin. Then we’ll suck on both sides of the ball.

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    1. I didn’t realize Narduzzi had 3 years left on his contract, thought it was only one or 2 at most. My bad, Reed.

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  142. Just throwing this out there:
    For years when I flip on a college game (on tv) and see the whole upper deck tarped off, my first impression has always been “this football program is a bottom dweller” and usually it’s a Rice, Buffalo, Tulane, etc. So for me personally the tarps show as much of a problem as all the yellow empty seats. :<(
    Now, Emel’s personal inflatable doll certainly has potential in more ways than one!!! LOL!

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  143. I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about the pass to jester weah that started off that 75-yard play. That was a perfectly thrown pass- right on target frozen rope with a lot of speed on it and it led weah perfectly so he could keep running.

    I kind of chuckled a bit by all the surprised Pitt fans on the other blogs and message boards when Pickett played so well.

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  144. Hendrix actually got a sack. That is 2 for the season, glad we waited 2-3 years for his appearance! I still don’t understand how the OL could have performed so badly this year with so much experience coming back. At lease PN didn’r burn Ford’s red shirt. What will this year do to the recruiting class? What does Duzz sell recruits at this point?

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  145. Reed,

    I agree I saw a lot of people on facebook sort of surprised at Picketts play.

    I also think a lot of folks think any QB could have made that throw. They are flat wrong.

    I left this game pissed because it validates the question “What the heck was this coaching staff evaluating all year?”

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  146. Well good old Tom “Scrap” Bradley is out of work and it won’t be long before Ron Cook is pimping him to Pitt. He was the defensive coordinator on the 123 ranked defense in FBS. yes 123. His time has come and gone and only a brain dead yinzer would keep pimping the guy to Pitt. BTW Bradley is closing in on 60 and his WPIAL buddies are retiring think Geo Smith Neil Gordon geo Novak etc. that era is over. as is Bradleys career.

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  147. BTW FROM HERE ON OUT I think POV should refer to him as ” KENNY THE WICKED PICKETT.” LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES MUSTANG SALLY YES THE WICKED PICKETTT

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  148. Pro teams tarp their stadium. Jacksonville comes to mind. They removed seats from FedEx for the Redskins back in 2015 (follow the link to pics). Big screen TV’s, TIVO, every game on every device, etc. Heck I watched a Pitt game from a tent in the middle of the woods. Good cell coverage there.

    At UCF you can rent a tent in the endzone that comes with food and a cooler of beer. I need to find a way to get one for next season.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/06/22/aerial-views-show-removed-seats-at-fedex-field/?utm_term=.70b7949a122c

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  149. Titleman,

    Then I am a brain dead Yinzer.

    Bradley adds instant credo to this staff. Two coaches that should at least be consultants are as follows: Bradley and Harris (Harris should be assigned to one guy Kenny Pickett).

    But Pitt never does the right thing. See Tressel as AD as an example.

    Like

  150. …….Reminds me of a true story! Years ago when cities started HOV Lanes with minimum of 2 occupants per vehicle, this cop, who’s job was to make sure that at least 2 people where in the cars, started to notice this good looking blond would wave at him every morning! He began to daily look forward to this sexy blond paying attention to him day after day – until he noticed she was always wearing the same outfit! Sure enough one day he pulled the car over and the male driver had a blow up doll seat belted into the passenger seat! The cop wrote the guy a ticket and told him if he wasn’t such a wise @$$ when passing him (the driver would raise up the doll’s elbow every morning making it look like the doll was waving at him) he would of never noticed her!!!!!
    ……..I wonder, if by chance, that guy is a POVer we all love and adore? Hmmm

    Like

  151. Bradley’s day has come and gone why don’t we see if Wlat is available if you want ancient mariners? Plus bradley knew. he knew for years what was going on up there and did nothing. he is a moral leper.

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  152. Pitt should play alll their home football games at Carnagie-Mellon’s stadium which is walking distnce from Pitt’s campus. Then you yinzer’s would be happy that the stadium would look good for TV — the operative word, look. Who cares what the stadium audiance looks like? I watch the football game and don’t care how many yellow seats are unfilled. If Pitt wins, fewer yellow seats will be noticable. Besides, empty seats seem to be the trend in the NFL, so Pitt is a trend setter.

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  153. The ACC most likely has a policy in place of minimum stadium attendance. I know FBS has a requirement for avg. attendance as some schools in the past have ran some gimmick’s to get their attendance over said #.

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