320 thoughts on “Pitt vs Georgia Tech BB Thread”

    1. on the plus side ..

      1) like Partridge, he is not a Nard disciple
      2) he coached 11 years under Pat Fitzgerald who was a longtime LB coach at NW before being promoted to HC
      3) Matt Canada wasn’t a splash hire at Pitt either

      Other than that, I have nothing

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  2. He looks like a Nasa Engineer.

    He probably is being paid 250k and a set of protractors.

    I’m on Southbeach on beach so steering clear of hoops and this bogus hire to bring me down.

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  3. We already don’t like the guy and we don’t have a clue about the coach. Can we at least wait until his hiring is announced before we start the collective moans and groans?

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      1. I hear that car will take you to at least 300k miles – so this guy has a lot of life left in him…

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  4. He recruits Texas and was a linebackers coach for 10 years.

    He is older so he obviously is a safe hire and Stable. If he was a stud he would of been a DC long before his 50’s Ike.

    Smells Cheap and Safe.

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    1. He was a DC at LA Tech and his LB’s at NW helped to beat Pitt two years ago in the Pin Stripe Bowl.

      I’m sure money factored into this hire somehow. But hey, let’s learn more about him before we judge him negatively. He did serve our great country in the Navy. For that, I salute and thank him for his service.

      H2P!

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      1. Did you just say La Tech? As in Ruston, LA. SMH

        So did Millions of other great Vets. Doesn’t mean he should be our DC.

        Reed is always right. Money is always issue and they don’t pay. SOP Hire.

        This after my be more positive approach. Pitt keeps falling short. All talk Heather.

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    1. Disagree – we’ve had TX kids before.

      But more importantly, the ACC competition is recruiting TX. Six teams that I know of have signed TX recruits so far in the 2018 class –

      UVA / nd / cuse / miami / BC / Duke

      And our in state, hated non- rival – psu

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  6. He ain’t who I wanted, not one bit. I just don’t know enough about the guy other than his group took out Nate in the bowl game and took the starting QB out again this year in that bowl game.

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    2. I would prefer a DC or assistant from a big name school who can recruit. Who has this guy ever recruited to perennial doormat Northwestern?

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  9. I’m saying…. He isn’t in any way who I wanted as the new DC. I expect at the end of this day I will be officially disappointed. It’s just I can wait until we at least know Bates is in fact the guy. btw, he was the DC at Louisiana Tech for a short while.

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  13. From PSN (positive Pitt spin) –

    “One of the more notable players that Bates coached was former Steeler linebacker James Harrison when he was linebackers coach at Kent State.”

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    1. Actually he could be worse. If he’s as bad a coach but can’t recruit Florida (or anywhere else) like Conklin.

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  15. More from PSN (Positive Spin on Narduzzi) – “as far as his recruiting background, he (Bates) was recently named by Rivals.com as one of the Top 5 hottest recruiters in the Big 10 conference. His recruiting territory with Northwestern was Texas and Ohio. Could be a smart recruiting strategy for Pitt because Texas is a state they don’t recruit. However, like Florida, the state of Texas is so rich in talent, Bates could be a valuable resource for Pitt.”

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    1. Guys I live in Texas I know what Louisiana kids in Texas kids think in Pittsburgh in the Northeast is one of the last places they would ever imagine going

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  16. NW Football has won 10 games twice in the last three years.

    2015 = 10-3
    2016 = 7-6 (bowl win over Pitt)
    2017 = 10-3

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      2. But that would be considered a step down for the NW DC according to the experts on this site…

        And if he did, the story would be something Lyke “he was going to get canned anyways”.

        Former OC Matt Canada came to Pitt after being fired at NC State. How’d that work out?

        I’m sure glad I don’t have to answer to yinz with my daily business decisions – I say that nicely with a smile on my face 😏

        On second thought, maybe it’s a smirk.

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  17. West Virginia would have a better track record recruiting in Texas than us they at least play there three times a year

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  18. Oh boy, is Pitt doing their…….On the Job Training…..thing, yet again,

    Man this gets tired. There is some reason why after 36 years of coaching, this guy has
    never been a Coordinator.

    But he will be one now……at On the Job Training U

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    1. Someone could give Pitt 5B and they would still pull this. Heather Lyke is starting to really bother me. Narduzzi – Hogging all the extra money for himself?

      What’s the linebackers coach at Northwestern make $210,000? A regional manager at Petsmart makes more than that

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      1. Funny you brought up Petsmart….I was in the local one the other day. And the mgr could have been Otis’s brother. I had to talk with him, just to make sure…….. Otis wasn’t moonlighting.

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  20. The BoT will eat this up though, so Nard Dog stays in tight with them.

    Since in their vapid minds, they think Pitt is on par with Northwestern academically.

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  22. Maybe i missed it, because I was just skimming of this guy’s bio.

    But the whole bio appears to be about different LB’s this guy has coached. There’s nothing that I see, mentioning any overall national rank of defenses Randy boy, was a part of coaching. Or for that part any BigJoke rank of their defenses.

    Now there is some mention of this kind of stuff from his previous stint at Louisiana Tech:

    “The defense gave up the fewest points since 1994 and ranked fifth in the country in turnover margin.”

    So that would lead one to conclude, their were no such highlights or national rankings in his eleven (11)
    years at Northwestern.

    Wouldn’t it.

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  24. We do need better linebackers.
    If this guy can recruit some 4 and 5 stars to Pitt, then all we need is a top 5 offensive line recruiter and we can start moving towards having a top 10 team.
    Those are big ifs though.

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    1. So at 50 he’s gonna learn how to be a recruiter And defense coordinator and recruit four and five stars On a cheap pit budget

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    2. Perhaps there is something to the thought that perhaps Jamie’s hand were tied wrt $$$$ he could give to assistant coaches hence the inability to recruit in the ACC over the past few years.

      As said by Reed and others it really is about the money or lack thereof spent by this University.

      So I ask the cockeyed optimists again…if they aren’t willing to spend money on their sports why should we give them money? They will just waste/mismanage it.

      If we outright refuse to go to games, donate…what are they going to do? Go cheaper?

      Pretty sure that a 3 – 4 win football program isn’t that hard to achieve, and our fan base is already used to it by now.

      Pretty sure we are there for basketball anyway.

      You want change? Then you say the line is drawn and we will not move forward unless you commit to providing us fans/alums with a better product.

      DaveD

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  26. In just minuscule research, one finds that Northwestern’s pass defense was almost as bad as Pitt’s, this past season.

    Pitt 105th worse (254 ypg)
    Northwestern 100th worse (249.5 ypg)

    Ok he fits right in. I don’t feel as bad now 🙂

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  27. The comments about NW Football are completely out of line. NW has much higher academic standards than PITT. In addition, the recruiting area for NW and yes, Illinois is somewhat limited because Chicagoland and downstate Illinois are not football hotbeds.

    I have no idea as to how good or bad this hire will be, however, could we give him a chance? Conklin and House were both disasters, but something tells me that we will see a much improved defense over the next 2 years >>>>the time has come to cut the BS and put the spotlight directly on Narduzzi to show all of us that he can recruit!!!

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  30. I’ve noticed a lot of these watch sports for free internet sites like atd.net or firstrowsports, etc
    Don’t even carry the Pitt games any more. Looking over the dozens of games airing on atd….
    they have Duquesne/Lasalle. No Pitt/Ga Tech. Such is the state of the program

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  33. LMAO

    13-0. Way to go you guys. Keep Rockports. He is making 67k today. Oops true Freshman Alvarado. But we have freshman. Burn this abortion down. .

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  46. Hey I love this team…these kids don’t quit and have heart.

    (btw I am not really picking on the kids…it’s more that at the end of the day as Dan72 said there is little D1 talent here and that is all these kids are going to be able to do. So bless them for that…it’s not their fault its the incompetent administration)>

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  49. they should CLOSE IT DOWN
    far beyond embarrassing

    anyone that spends a cent on season tickets should be checked for Alzheimer’s

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  53. To put this in perspective….GA Tech is one of the worst teams in the ACC at 9-7. yea i now they beat ND, they still one of the worst.

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  56. Good News,

    (sarcasm/) Our beloved team has adjusted and is playing lockdown D and the O has kicked it up a notch. We are now on pace to lose 100-44 (as opposed to 136-8).

    Not bad (/sarcasm).

    DaveD

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  58. On a serious note…

    GT is throwing it in (both at 3pt and FG) at 66.7%. I seriously doubt that can sustain itself. As you can see by Pitt climbing out of it’s Grand Canyon size hole (at one point it was in the mid 80’s for FG’s)>

    DaveD

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  60. Four million dollars lost each year. At a minimum. Pitt cannot afford it. Any new coach can get four players right away that are acc caliber. That’s a nit appearance. KS will never win more than 16 games at Pitt. The Pitt BoT should be ashamed they hired Barnes, who then hired a crony search firm who then hired this Dolt.

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  62. Pitt should go full court press and then play zone D. The talent on this team cannot beat Gannon’s girls team. Freshmen should be better than this if playing in the acc.

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    2. I don’t mean to be dismissive of the guys but as I posted earlier with the shooting %, there was no way GT was going to maintain that pace.

      Even so with 1:30 left we are still on pace to lose by 20+ points to a lower tiered ACC team.

      So I will give them the credit for not quitting, but really what more can I give them? Another moral victory that we didn’t give up 100?

      DaveD

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  66. remember at the 10 minute mark or so I said they had a 66.7% 3 point number. They are just chucking it up on a wing and a prayer now.

    28.6%

    I think you are spot on Emel. Two really bad teams ballin today at the Pete

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  69. yeah !!!!….we’re within 15 at home against the 2nd worst team in the ACC.

    Good job everyone, all around !

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  70. At the break:

    Pitt losing badly on the glass again. GT shooting 54%. Pitt with 4 assists and 9 turnovers.

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  72. Because we are out there….competing. Not in that sense….but we do have a team on the court.

    And participating is all that matters.

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  73. But wait…coach K said KS is not building a team, he is building a program. I mean it’s coach K he only speaks the truth right?

    wish I could do an eye roll emoticon here.. 8(

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    1. What Coach Alphabets didn’t specify is : yea Otis is building a program…to be the cellar dweller PROGRAM of the ACC

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  74. I expect a close game in the second half but a loss. They are typically better in the second half. I go back to the KenPom spread of only 2. Meanwhile, TCU in OT

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  83. Chewbaca needs to make freethrows.

    Is he an example Rockport’s expert recruiting?

    He must recruit the Galaxy well to get Chewbaca from Space.

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  85. That pretty funny….Wookie was playing 10 minutes a game for the Albuquerque YMCA last year
    This year he’s playing 15 minutes a game for Pitt.

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  88. Wilson-Frame as a shooting guard really makes me appreciate Cam Wright as a shooting guard. At least Cam knew his limitations.

    So there has been a lot of pissing on Damon Wilson starting last year when he was a sophomore. Does Wilson-Frame look like an improvement over Wilson?

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  92. Still maintaining close to 2-1 in rebounds. No way they can come close with that pace and GT shooting at 50%.

    Not that I ever really thought they had a shot of coming back.

    DaveD

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  96. Pitt only has 13 baskets with 7 minutes to go. Probably will get a bunch in garbage time to make it appear more respectable.

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  97. Headed to the airport. Will post from the air so someone make that flight easier and post a lot.

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  98. Where is Ike? Sophomore Chukwuka is eating Brown’s and Ilegomah’s minutes again.

    Chukwuka’s line is 3 points, 1 rebound, 2 blocks, 3 turnovers. Very promising.

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    1. 11-0 run by GT in that same timeframe. Hey our Pitt bball team is trying to be symmetrical at least. Perhaps they can close out the final 10 minutes like they started 21-1.

      Go Pitt!

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      1. Hey it is like the beginning. They started with a 13-0 run. Just like now.

        Sorry guys I am just so fed up I am being an a$$ right now. I know it isn’t helping.

        DaveD

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  101. UPitt, make sure you take this game over to The Blather. Tell Tossing Thabeets that you hope to bond with him.

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    1. Hahaha. He hates me. Could of saved Pitt 4 seasons if they listened to me and you. Reed could of given Barduzzi 2 kore wins if he listened to him about pickett. And let a village idiot call place on 1 against VT not watson

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    1. I think Carr, Stewart and Stephenson are 3 bench quality ACC players. They each have significant limitations. I think Davis has some game but he really disappears, so perhaps not.

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  105. A 23 point home loss to GT in front of less than 4000 fans. I don’t know how much more ammo Lyke needs to pull the trigger in March.

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  108. KS really should look to the zoo and ask if anyone wants to go out on the court right now. I mean could it be any worse?

    Of course there may be no one left in The Zoo to ask.

    😦

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  112. Did the Zoo show up today? Couldn’t hear them at all…

    I didn’t see any camera shots either.

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  114. You know you have a bad coach when you go over 6 minutes with no points and a timeout is not called.

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    1. There is no chance. Just looked at those teams to see if there was a potential win. Both average anywhere between 8 – 10 points more per game and 3 to 5 more rebounds per game.

      8-18 here we come!!

      DaveD

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  118. 5 GT players in double figures (none for Pitt although 4 with 9, 1 with 8). Out rebounded by 2-1 margin. Even with a poor 3 pt shot (20%), they still beat us by 15 (seriously called off the dogs being up by 23 with 3:26 left to play.

    It’s getting worse not better. You aren’t even playing the top of the conference and you still are getting blown out of the water

    Sad days for a storied franchise.

    DaveD

    Liked by 1 person

            1. Huh? I’m one of the few optimists on here. I’m just being honest. The 10-year run was great but shouldn’t cloud our judgment on where Pitt’s place is in college hoops. I thought it was better also, but the last search opened my eyes some.

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      2. I’ll buy storied in a Pitt context and to some extent in national prestige. I mean Pitt was ranked #1 for the first time ever. Pitt beat a #1 ranked team twice. Pitt was seeded #1 twice. Pitt won 2 conference tournaments. Pitt won 3 conference titles. Pitt went to 10 straight NCAA tournaments and 13 in 15 years. Dixon won a couple of coach of the year awards. That’s a pretty good run by anything but a Duke, UNC, or Kentucky standard.

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        1. All that you just said was enough for me to think the job would be coveted and Pitt couldn’t even garner interest from Hurley at Rhode Island.

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  119. I wonder– Has any team in a major conference lost all of their in conference games in a single season?

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    3. I believe this has happened twice before in the ACC including BC in 2015-2016.

      Lammers let me down. He let the Pitt team beat him on the boards.

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      1. NE will cover. Already 14-7 after the refs screwed the Titans on that 1st down. The NFL needs the Steeler – Pats game.

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  122. Outrebounded by 20 to what will be/is a bottom tier ACC team.

    Like I posted yesterday, this current group led by Otis wouldn’t finish in the upper half of Robert Morris’s Conference.

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  123. Not asking about football losses, once again has any college basketball team lost all of their conference games in one season?

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    1. It’s close enough ! We Want Tinkle…..we want Tinkle….we want Tinkle.
      (plus he will come at a bargain price since herman knows him 😉

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  130. Guys don’t worry. Otis made 67k today. He can take little suzy and tommy to Capitol Grille. He thanks you for your hard work and donations.

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  132. Buyout is 4 million after next year. How Gallagher approved this contract after going through the Dixon lifetime contract is astounding. But it is what it is. It won’t take years to rebuild the program with a investment in the program after Stallings. But I never thought the program would slip this low. I think the brass know the program is on life support but the test for the AD is BB.

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    1. Like they would invest in anything. We just hired a DC who was making 200k. Cheap Nerds and compliance puppets run our school and athletics and we just take it. We should march like Cleveland.

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  136. Right ike…that whole playlist of mostly Byrd songs is awesome.

    This was pretty crazy:

    FALSE MISSILE ALERT SHAKES HAWAII

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  137. #PittBasketballMatters

    Apparently to like 7 people anymore.

    Pumpkin Head ruined Uniforms and Basketball in 11 months.

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  138. 3 times is a charm– has any team ever lost all of its conference games ( conferences eligible for inclusion in the March Madness tournament)?

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  139. Mentioned this yesterday, this is Pitt’s worst team since the 1976-77 Pitt team.

    They went 1 win and 9 losses in the old Eastern 8. 6-21 overall.

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  140. Thanks I appreciate your taking the time to help me. I believe that we will join the mighty Oregon State Beavers in achieving a winless conference season. Total disaster in terms of $$ for this year and almost certainly next year. Heather you can’t run away from this fiasco!!

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      1. Right which is why we always use BC as a barometer of how low we can sink.
        They went winless (-018) in 2015-16 season

        BC was also 1-15 in the 1989-90 BigEast
        and 1-15 in the 1990-91 season
        2-16 in the 1994-95 season
        2-16 in the 2016-17 season
        3-13 in the 1999-00 season
        3-15 in the 1998-99 season
        3-13 in the 1986-87 BE season
        3-13 in the ’88-89 season

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  142. Article about new DC being drafted now – will post up tomorrow. Funny but I didn’t retch when I read his bio – of course the fact that I outrank him might have contributed to that.

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    1. Yea i saw that Reed. he was Lt. in the Navy. How far up the Officer ladder is that ?
      And is there any inter service rivalry between the Navy & the Coast Guard ?

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  143. I was at the game , court side. That was the only good thing I can say. Even when they get a year or two under their belts I don’t think they have the potential, which is sad. My gut feel is that there will be much more roster turn over in the near term. Stevenson can’t dribble…wtf.

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  144. I’m not going to rehash everything, I see Stallings understandably took a beating. However, I would like to know how anyone could justify being behind 0-13, then 5-25, AT HOME, against a weak Georgia Tech team? How does a coach, or administration, justify that? I’m just talking scores here, because I can no longer watch them for more then about a minute (I was watching the Pens). And honestly, you can knock the players all you want, but they are all studs in comparison to their coach, in my opinion. I can only imagine the post-game press conference excuses. Stallings strikes me as almost completely clueless. Then again, he’s probably laughing all the way to the bank. If you want to help the BB program, stop going to games (for the few left that still do), and pull your Pitt funding until they replace their coach.

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    1. “stop going to games”

      Obviously you are not the first to say that, and I have to believe you are seeing 80% cooperation from the fan base, soon to be 90% and maybe more. I want to see an expose on this complete and total disaster and Gallagher and the BOT address it.

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  145. even Dokish is losing faith

    Chris Dokish@ChrisDokish 2h2 hours ago

    The last thing Pitt wanted to do was make another coaching change so soon, but more performances like this and they may feel like they don’t have a choice.

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    2. Dokish is also a hypocrite. He tweeted this today “The people that wanted Stallings to go from the beginning are idiots.” Meanwhile after the KS hire was announced he tweeted that he was going to take a break from Pitt basketball.

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  146. Little Ricky Pitino, HC at Minnesota lost to Purdue today by a score of 81-47

    Pitt, moves to 0-5 in the ACC losing for the 5th time by 14 or more points. The next 5 ACC games are against ranked teams.

    Looking forward to Reed’s article on football. Anything but BB.

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    1. Pitino Jr lost his best player last week when sexual charges, which he had known about since pre-season, were made public. What a shock, huh?

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    2. Seriously EE. … and on a football note, PITT is in the mix for a really good grad O-Lineman from Rice. Hoping Narduzzi finishes this class with a bang.

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      1. You mean the C-USA team that finished 1-11 in 2017? Pitt played them and scored 3 sacks and 7 tackles for loss including 2 by Hendrix. I wonder whether Hendrix scored those against the really good O-Lineman.

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  149. the ultimate insult? Post-game from GT player …

    A nugget passed along by @ksugiuraajc: while complimenting Georgia Tech’s scout team, Ben Lammers said “Our scout team did almost a better job setting screens and other stuff than they do,” referring to Pitt.

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  150. 50 years ago today … Johnny Cash recorded live at Folsom Prison

    Pitt BB 1967-68 7-15 / Pitt FB 1968 1-9

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  151. With the announcement of our new defensive coordinator, olewhathisname, I am beginning to think Pitt football is secretly being run by the Pittsburgh Pirates or at least following their “do-it-on-the-cheap” philosophy. That said, I wish the best for olewhathisname and hope he makes us all eat crow.

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  153. Mark: what do you say we send Heather a shipment of yellow blouses from Target along with a note offering our services as Co-Defensive coordinators for the following compensation:

    Free beers at Peter’s Pub for a year.
    A dozen Uncle Sam’s hoagies for every home game tailgate in 2018.
    Lifetime access to the Trees Hall pool and Racquetball courts
    A 5 year PAT bus pass
    A pair of Rockports in black AND brown
    A truckload of Fanta in the flavor of your choice.
    A Sam Clancy autographed 8 by 10
    Paul Rhoades’ Defensive playbook from 2007.

    Maybe we’d be asking for too much???

    Your Friend,

    Wlat

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  155. And on the subject of hoops… I have watched parts of almost every basketball game. And don’t interpret this as a criticism of the kids. They DO NOT play hard consistently. In spurts, maybe. They are inept in the fundamentals. They make VERY little effort to rebound. They have NO playmakers. They don’t have ONE player who can play with their back to the basket. They are turning the ball over for the same reasons that they did in the first few games. No progress at all since the first game. The 800 people who went to the game today should be given their money back.

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  156. Time to clean house.
    Like USC, bring in a big name alum to raise $$$ while the minion take care of the details.
    Let the non-revenue sports suffer while the money sports improve.
    Lower admission standards for elite athletes – I don’t watch games to see them study.
    And send a lawyer to Corvallis to sue Herman for malfeasance and ineptitude.

    Of course, the BOT wouldn’t permit any of this.

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    1. Well, I’d say that Henderson, Whitehead, O’Neill and DiNucci IS a talent drain.

      And remember before fall camp last year when fans said that Blair, Taleni, Wirginis, Bookser and Whitehead’s not playing would be “OK”.

      I say that a program like Pitt, who’s recruiting is always an issue, can’t afford to lose players, especially ones who already have playing experience.

      Even then, any team which loses 10 eligible players off the roster in less than a month after it’s last game is having a problem.

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      1. No denying that Q.Henderson, Whitehead and O’Neill are talent’s leaving, but not a talent drain in a negative way. They are leaving for the NFL.

        That should help Pitt if these three perform well at the combine and get drafted.

        Performing well at the combine – check
        Getting drafted by an NFL team – O’Neill & Whitehead (probably) – QH (Long shot)

        Four recent successful early leave guys – Shady McCoy, Dion Lewis, Fitz and Revis.

        H2P!

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  158. If the Steelers are watching this New England game it’s obvious that they should forfeit the game next week if they win tomorrow. You can’t beat that cheating team. Can’t believe they get away with the horrible calls like they do…

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    1. Ike – I’ll have to disagree, even if you are being sarcastic.

      The stillers need to know their enemy,
      Study their enemy’s tendencies
      Find ways to defend and defeat those tendencies
      Even if some of those tendencies happen to be cheating.

      Tomlin needs to be in the league office’s “ear” by alerting them of the obvious and showing with film proof and confront the refs the moment they step on the field before the game even starts.

      But, most important, Tomlin has to figure out how to beat the Jags today, first and foremost.

      Back to Pitt sports…

      H2P!

      Like

  159. “With the loss to Georgia Tech, Pitt is now ranked 204th on KenPom. That makes it the third-best Division I men’s basketball team in Allegheny County, trailing No. 164 Duquesne and No. 197 Robert Morris.” Meyer from the PG.

    Duquesne and Robert Morris both won today.

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    1. Yeah, but on the court, Pitt did beat Duquesne. You can’t take that away from these young players.

      Still, we are falling hard and the free fall part is about to begin with 5 ranked ACC teams in a row.

      “Murder she wrote” – you bet…

      Like

        1. Also, Teams improve throughout the season. At least most teams other than this Pitt team.

          AT the end of the season if Duquesne or RMU pan out as tourney teams it’s another reason that Lyke could use to terminate Stallings.

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  160. Like the “Jelly of the Month Club” as cited by Cousin Eddie in “Christmas Vacation”, our boy Herman is the gift that keeps on giving all year long!!!

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  162. Just read all the comments and concluded: Upitt was hilarious today! Gasman must have gassed him up. Check out Upitt’s interaction at:
    1.) Stubpanther @ 1:49
    Upitt @ 1:54
    2.) Then Upitt observation @ 2:45
    Priceless stuff!

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  163. Dilly dilly!! We started that a while back here, for that reason.

    Two brief comments. Okay, three. @Ike – If the Rice OL isn’t good enough to be draftable this year, why would we want him? Same with the Rutgers OL. If they were that good, the nfl would be drafting these dudes this year.

    DC hire.

    Basketball coach still coaching.

    AD still AD’ing

    Dilly dilly.

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  164. Good one Erie…Maybe Heather’s next t-shirt giveaway is “Pitt of Misery”…Bud Light on the back. Good to hear from Matt in L’Ville. Hope you are well. BB is making me sick this year.

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      1. Notice the colors are Heather Grey and Charcoal Heather.

        Someone has a creative mind.

        It’s Lyke she has a creative marketing side to her…nah!

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      1. If our D is going to be as good as some think in 2018, Heather needs to jump on this marketing idea.

        Kind of Lyke the miami “turnover chain”. They gained fame, recognition and a bunch of positive national attention. Until they came to the “Pitt of Misery” at Heinz Field that Thanksgiving weekend in 2017 with an undefeated team and the #2 ranking.

        Boom!!! As my grandson would say…

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  165. An inside peak into the conversation last night between HCPN and former OCMC –

    Duzz: “So I upgraded our D today. Will you rejoin our staff as my OC?”

    Can: “How did you upgrade, may I ask?”

    Duzz: “By hiring LB coach Bates away from NW and anointing him as Conklin’s replacement. Opie Taylor wasn’t available at this time and I believe his asking price would have been too high, you know what I mean.”

    More to come later when the “secret sauce” wears off…

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  166. LINK: Bates Defensive Coordinator

    For IMMEDIATE Release

    January 13, 2018

    Narduzzi Names Bates New Pitt Defensive Coordinator

    PITTSBURGH—Randy Bates, a veteran of the coaching profession with nearly four decades of collegiate experience, has been named Pitt’s new defensive coordinator by Coach Pat Narduzzi.

    Bates arrives at Pitt after spending the past 12 seasons (2006-17) coaching linebackers at Northwestern under Pat Fitzgerald. Bates’ unit was instrumental in the Wildcats’ 10-3 mark this past season, which included a Music City Bowl win over Kentucky (24-23). Northwestern finished No. 17 in the final polls.

    Among his accomplished pupils at Northwestern were All-America Anthony Walker Jr., now with the Indianapolis Colts, and Paddy Fisher, a 2017 Freshman All-American and the Big Ten Network’s Defensive Freshman of the Year.

    Prior to his tenure with the Wildcats, he spent six seasons at Louisiana Tech (2000-05), where he ascended to defensive coordinator.

    “I’ve known Randy for a long time and have the utmost respect for him as a teacher and recruiter,” Narduzzi said. “He is a tireless worker, always learning and always striving to improve as a coach. I’ve shared many phone calls with him discussing techniques, schemes and opponents. But what is most impressive about Randy is the type of person he is. He values relationships and is really invested in the student-athletes under his watch. Randy will bring great passion and knowledge to Pitt and I know he’ll put a great mark on our very promising defense. I’m really thrilled to welcome to the University of Pittsburgh not only Randy but also his wife, Tracey, and three daughters, Samantha, Alexandra and Olivia.”

    “I knew it would always take a special place and outstanding opportunity to draw me away from Northwestern,” Bates said. “After talking with Pat Narduzzi, I knew Pitt was that type of place. It is a tremendous honor to join a program with such a rich tradition and history. But more importantly, it has an even brighter future under Coach Narduzzi. I can’t wait to meet our players and get started.”

    Before Louisiana Tech, Bates was the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Kent State for two seasons (1998-99). While with the Golden Flashes, he coached future NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison.

    Bates’ additional coaching stops include New Hampshire (1992-97), Navy (1989-1992), St. Joseph’s College (1984-1988), Miami (Ohio) (1983-84) and Muskingum College (1982-83).

    A retired Naval Lieutenant, Bates received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Ohio State in 1983. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Miami University in 1985.

    E.J. BORGHETTI
    EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/MEDIA RELATIONS
    University of Pittsburgh | Department of Athletics
    Petersen Events Center | 3719 Terrace St. | Pittsburgh, PA 15261
    eborghetti@athletics.pitt.edu
    office (412) 648-8240

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  167. McV signing with Mesa Community College. What’s up with that? Did he have academic problems at PITT. I know I did. Mine was organic chemistry and that’s why I am a Physical Therapist. Thank you God! Hope Mc V succeeds. I always take pride in telling my friends Joe Flacco once was a PITT Panther.

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    1. Probably has more to do with getting time at QB position then schoolwork. In my opinion, McV wants to play FBS but has no game experience. At CC probably has good chance to start/play & show off his skills. If he transfer FBS, still would have to sit out a year. If he went FCS, could play right away but would be to a low level FCS team (Duquesne/RMU level).

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  169. He brings elements to the program that Narduzzi values. Experience and quite frankly getting the very most out of Ok talent at NW. He will certainly like the physical talent that Narduzzi has recruited on the D side of the Ball. Mac V to a CC, Carter to Duquesne, Pugh to Howard suggests the concern of losing those can’t miss talents were over stated as I posted from the get go. But wish them well in their next chapter of college life.

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    1. not necessarily …. all had to drop in order to play next year. And since they are all unproven (little or no PT), other schools had little recent play to go. Yes, you are likely correct … but you never know

      Flacco went to Delaware, Knox and Campbell went to Cal St. Campbell played about 5 years in NFL, Knox just finished his 2nd year in CFL, and made it to last cut with Buccaneers this year.

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  170. Yes but the view of the program being in trouble and that “talent” drain was symptomatic of a serious unspoken decline was just stupid. Players leave programs everywhere for various reasons and PItt is no different in that regard, Pitt is in very good shape here. Team and program are on the upswing.

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  172. I’m sorry but this hire seems a lot like the Pirates hiring another journeyman 250 hitting infielder.

    Will this guy from the B1G suddenly raise his lifelong game from obscurity and suddenly beat the odds, in a passing league?

    Stallings, Lyke, Bates all lackluster hires with poor or no track record of success.

    Sure seems like Pitt is de-emphasizing sports again.

    Coaches don’t seem to want to come here, elite players prefer to go elsewhere.

    The light at the end of the tunnel disappearing in the distance.

    Something is rotten in Oakland.

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  173. Yes I do think the physical talent is far better than before Narduzzi got here. The speed and athleticism is so much better now. Add in the red shirts like P Ford, Twyman, and Pitt is positioned for a good defense next year. I also think the hire is a good hire. Not sexy, but solid with a great reputation. The OL is an issue and need a surprise on the WR front which is a real possibility as well.I call them as I see them.

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  174. Chryst came at a bad time in PITT history. No question, but was it that much better when Narduzzi came.

    1) Instead of being two or three years removed from a winning season he was now 6 or seven years removed. The kids he was recruiting were around 12 years old when PITT had an above .500 season.

    2) Schedule – Yes schedule – Chyrst was given a MAC schedule. That is fact. The same people that say play the schedule you are given will say in a thread dedicated to schedule that PITT should play an easier schedule because that is all that matters.

    3) Chryst had Wanny recruits as upper classman, I think we can all agree that Wanny recruited better than Chryst and Narduzzi. Yes, Chryst had Fraud recruits as well.

    4) Chryst had PSU during the scandal years and barely made a dent in recruiting. I think Narduzzi would have made more in-roads.

    If nothing else Narduzzi was smart enough or put in the effort to bring back script and throwback jersies while Chryst simply waited for the call from Uncle Barry.
    Money has always been a problem at PITT, who do you think would fight for more money for the football program, Narduzzi or Chyrst?
    At least PITT now has a presence of social media, remember the days of Chryst…crickets.

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    1. OMG Chyrst again! And on a hoops thread no less.

      1) Pitt had a winning season in 2013.

      2) Chryst had a Big East schedule (including VT and ND on his OOC) for his first season and an ACC schedule for his last two seasons.

      3) Speaking of bare cupboards, other than Donald, Street and perhaps Shanahan, who were the other remarkable holdovers from Wanny? Tino? Ray Graham off of knee surgery? Junior K’waun Williams? TJ Clemmings was still playing DE then.

      4) Chryst recruited most of guys that Narduzzi won with in 2015 and 2016. Take a look at the 2 deep.

      Pederson brought the script back in the fall of 2014. Narduzzi wasn’t even a twinkle in your eye at the time. It was a no-brainer after that. So much so that Barnes could do it.

      Chryst supposedly left in part because of support for the program from Pederson.

      Do you know what facts are and do you check the facts before you post?

      Thank God for social media. If PN simply recruited through that he could save a ton in expenses and sow that back into staff upgrades and perhaps finance an OCS if he really pinched pennies. He could tweet “Pitt Is It” every time he drops a deuce and you could rush right over…

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  176. Lumpy lost to Youngstown State and all we hear is PITT had to go to overtime to beat them.. I see a difference, do you?

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