It looks like North Carolina is getting +4.5 points in the betting line today. That sounds about right to me. The above website predicts a bigger 29 – 17 Pitt win though. The over/under is 48.5 points
That sounds about right also.
But this is the great thing about college football – things can change on a dime (or the cost of Retro Air Jordan 3s shoes at $2500 per pair).
Football aside, what type of idiot pays $2500 for a pair of sneakers? Honest to God, that right there is society’s problem today. That’s exactly why I refuse to wear any clothing with any advertising on it. I believe the business who is labelled on the apparel should pay us to be walking billboards for them.
But that’s just me.
Game time is listed at 12:20 but will probably be delayed for a bit for Pat Narduzzi to get his NSA contractors in place to steal the Tarheel’s signs.
Late prediction here, Pitt 34 NC 21, can’t wait to give these uniforms to the homeless people, ( if they’ll take them), and get some classic home and away unis.
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Seriously these uniforms? Is PITT trying to use subterfuge to fool the public into not knowing who is playing? What ever happened to the front porch and identity? Always thought the idea was to be recognized?
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Pitt 35-20. Great tailgate here at NC. Greg Sasser and Frank Nixon are great guys.
POV flags flying
Ike, wish you were here.
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ugh, me to Fran, me to. Tell everyone I said hey.
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Brand
A brand is a name, term, design, symbol, or other feature that distinguishes an organization or product from its rivals.
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Bad enough to stink. Worse to look BAD doing it.
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Sun + heat = white pants.
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Show pic of the uniforms they are wearing.
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White jerseys, white pants and torch cut numbers.
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Jesus. What goofs in AD
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Don’t have a pic, but just got a glimpse. It’s the ALL-Whites with the UGLY Blue Helmets.
Game streaming at ACC.com. Personally watching it on the tube using the ESPN College Sports Package.
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Reed, did you find the game on the tube?
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I have Verizon FiOS what channel guys?
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To me, the uniforms actually look pretty good… for an ARENA Football Team.
It’s just not PITT.
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POD – Haha
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Going backward. KPs getting pressured.
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Crappy call on 3rd and 16….
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Did I tune into Say yes to the dress?
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U find it Upitt, I don’t know FIOS?
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Watching on iPad Ikester.
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Still weak pass protection
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Uh oh… Pitt O-Line playing against a fairly ATHLETIC Defensive Front!
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Reed..if your home it’s channel 13
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Got it
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UPitt,
I’m watching it on ESPN Watch. The unis are so ugly I like you too much to have you get sick looking at them! :< (
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This is two weeks in a row of my screen being jerky not smooth motion. Anyone else with the same problem?
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Pretty evident NC is stacking the line and daring us to throw deep
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Good news the commercials are smooth!
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Where is the TE? They need to keep the RB in for pass protection. Pickett will not have time today if they don’t adjust.
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Poor tackling
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Poor tackling by us
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Their qb floats the ball…and their RB scores.
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hey their QB can overthrow the ball
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I took Pitt -4.5. They better cover ungainst these bums and starters suspended.
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Wirginis owned on that play.
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They really have our number
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Such an obvious call. Where are the linebackers?
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Wow that sucked.
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Utterly disgraceful. Pitt not ready to play again. Glad they’re missing 9 guys!
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Oh boy…..
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Said it before… but deserves being said again. Rashad Wheeler is SO OVER-rated. Always has been!
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This start is NOT good! Yikes!
0-7
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Our LB’s stink led by Tugboat Tommy!
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Only ONE good Rashad on this Team. Said that before too.
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Keep the faith…it’s early.
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We’re slow, weak and poorly coached. Don’t know why I waste my time.
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UNC is terrible if we were real program we win this game by 28 points. Not to mention they have players suspended.
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no face mask this week
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OL is looking bad once again!
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Should take 3
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Kenny’s throwing everything way high right now
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Yes! Go Kenny! Now get your passes on target!
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So far Pickett is Tino with speed
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Well… Pickett can run.
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They don’t make it easy….a lot of work for that TD
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Alright Pitt!!!!!
7-7 nice drive!
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That TD WAS very reminiscent of the Miami TD last year,
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This game is in the defense hands. They will have to stop UNC. Pickett and PITT do not have a downfield passing attack. It’s midget leauge type crap. UNC is not all that bad though.
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ECU beat them by 356 point Ikester
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Ollison has the CUTBACK down! Who needs blocking?
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Our pass D sucks!
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So we are covering receivers but not finishing…..
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86 yards passing in the 1st Q for NC
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Why can’t our receivers get open and make catches like that?
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Vaunted Narduzzi defense.
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How many years how many x does a Pitt pass defender do everything right except make the play on the ball?????
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They don’t push off enough.
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Vaulted Duzz D a porous mess!!
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End of first quarter. What do we see?
– OL poor (especially pass blocking)
– D backs poor
Shocker!!!
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Because our WRs aren’t that good Annie…hence the transfers in like Mack. Pitt fans are going crazy about him but he’s been average so far for us. He has 8 catches in 3 games which isn’t enough for a team’s leading receiver.
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Frauduzzi. All talk and tweets
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All I hear is how deep our D is…but are they all Awful?
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When you practice against this offense it’s easy to look good. Also it’s impossible to get better on either side when you practice against sub par talent
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Pitt will lose this by 20. They pushing us around on both lines. It’ll be over by halftime
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10.7 yds per carry for UNC. Unacceptable. !!
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NC making it look easy on offense…10.7 yards per play so far.
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Watts BLOWN off the Line.
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The pass D is probably technically better than last year.
However, the unfortunate most notable improvement so far this season has been the increase in “forcing” more opponent drops.
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Good call Keith… UNC owns the D line of scrimmage pushing Pitt back 3 yds a play. O LOS up for grabs.
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Why did anyone expect the slow Pitt defense to stop this offense?
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Personally… I would trade Pitt’s O-Line for Carolina’s in a Heartbeat. And they’re not even THAT good!
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GT must truly be terrible!
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Any wonder Pitt football has the unhappiest fans in the country.
This team embarrassed us over and over.
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How many games has Dane Jackson started? And he can’t knock that pass down? What are they teaching these guys?
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Gas – they must be atrocious
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Our OL cannot pass protect.
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KP is 6 of 11 for 30 yards.
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two steps forward, three steps back… 40 years running now.
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Pickett may not be as good as Tino. He runs a little but that’s about it. WRs pretty much blow. And for everyone who bought into Narduzzi’s bs regarding this improved secondary…keep watching. They’re just as bad as the last 2 years. UNC owns us in every sport.
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Gallagher must be loving this: being associated with a fine institution like Carolina.
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The worst part is gorilla arms is making 3.5 million to suck
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Can I reverse my prediction?
I’m back on the fire Narduzzi bandwagon.
I don’t think this team can beat any team with a passing game.
Maybe two more wins the rest of year.
Tex
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Twyman looks good.
Problem is, no one else does.
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Lucked out there.
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Someone new!
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Pitt comes out once again soft and conservative. NC is being given space, time and easy reads with Narduzzi’s defense. Pickett has to make plays faster and his recognition is so slow. Have to admit as unprepared as they were for PSU, this is really troubling. Have to accept the fact this staff is just not good enough.
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They love changing Salahuddin’s number a lot, don’t they?
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Anyone seen Mack today? We get no separation. None
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Meanwhile NC glued to our receivers
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Holding
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OMG! Pickett. I will say he looks good at sucking.
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Finally a Back with SOME speed. Forget Davis. Work Salahuddin into the mix!
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We are 1 of 5 on 3rd downs.
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They are letting NCs DBs grab a lot of jersey
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We appear to have a significant lack of talent.
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Good catch
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Got away with a hold
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True, but I suppose they figured it was fair if the secondary had been doing it as well.
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Thank God for FFrench!
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NFL throw by Pickett. Still needs to do a LOT of work on his Arm Strength in the Off-season.
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It’s a football game.
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Pitt back from the ABYSS thanks to Jackson’s “make good.”
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I can’t say it enough. I’ve really liked Ollison since he got to Pitt. Really solid, underrated back at Pitt. Oh, and only 1 of 6 Panthers to ever have a 1,000 TD season at Pitt.
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Hopefully we can settle down now!
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Looks like the second half will be important…can we score?
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Hold the phone, it ain’t over, but Pitt better be prepared to keep this up all game.
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Hey, we’ve tied it up! #H2P
Only problem is we give them the ball back! :>)
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Ollison… a Man on a Mission.
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This defense can’t get off the field.
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I wonder how many empty seats are due to Florence?
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This Pitt Team embarrasses me as a grad. UNC is not good.
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WVU would score 55 points on us in First Half. Fire this clown.
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Saw that coming 100 miles down the road.
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He recruits like he is Gannon.
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Zero Disclipline. Narduzzi is worse than tomlin
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There are no words, at least ones that wouldn’t be censored
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Hot knife thru butter no tackle D undisciplined just giving this game away. NC is kicking our asses!!
I don’t think we can stop NC any time today. Embarrassing and disgraceful!! I too have had it with Narduzzi.
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Wirginis bites on fakes way too often…which is why he sat behind Galambos for three years.
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Another Time Reed was Right.
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Reynolds is lost.
Briggs shouldn’t be starting for Allegheny Colleges JV Team
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I said their receivers would be open. Some guru Narduzzi is. Third and 13 and space galore. Coaching staff is a joke!
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It’s just amazing that the past D can’t get fixed.
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If Lyke had balls she would part way with Narduzzi at halftime. He is a joke. YEAR4
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Narduzzi will say the same shot at the press conference….out defensive mistakes are communication and are correctable but they never are corrected
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Says the Same Garbage every day. Excuse maker and blames everyone but himself.
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Even though it’s only a seven-point game, it feels like we’re getting blown out.
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No one was within 20 yards of the guy on the field. 20!
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UPitt… I don’t think this D could stop Gannon!
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Worst defensive genius EVER!
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I guess that is why Wirginis never started before
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NC QB is 10/13 for 159 yards in 1st half…
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How could Ford be any worse than our starting safeties?
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The defensive coordinator should not be allowed on the plane home. PN should take over that position and if he can not improve the situation he should be gone as well.
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LOL. He is the DC. He micromanages it all. The Hc is the problem man.
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I think Cumberland Valley high school would put up 40 on this D…
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WOW!
4 straight years of PATHETIC defensive scheme! This defense wouldn’t work in flag football!
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Do we even have TEs?
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We are getting blown out. Just not on the scoreboard yet. Just when u think it can’t get any worse we totally blow a coverage and have a holding penalty.
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Total breakdowns on defense. Third and 13 and they give up the first down. Then the big plays. Pitt cannot win in a shootout. If they don’t start getting some stops it will be a long day.
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I think we have irrefutable proof that Conklin was not the problem.
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I’d hate to see what would happen if NC had all their players!
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Don’t mind watts defending his teamate there.
The 300 lbs unc guy was sitting on our Pitt guy, who had a guy under his back, and was bending Pitt guys back into the player. Looked painful.
Watts trying to break it up and save him.
Pitt linebackers and safeties need to get their stuff together or its a long game.
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We have the French Army as Defense.
Tex
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Woo hoo ties it up!
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Did you say defense?
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Our D is not Bates fault. It’s Duzzs! It’s his schemes and concepts and it SUCKS!
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This is a game our who has the worst Defense.
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Just another anomaly long run by Hall.
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Correct which is why Ollison is the premier back.
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Yes, does not count. I will just close my eyes and hum when I watch it. 😉
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That’s funny
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Strange game all big plays
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I would hire Matt Canada as HC. Amazing Job at Maryland. Smoking Minnesota.
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HCPN screaming along the sidelines.
Bet he’s gonna make somebody clean his house.
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Haha.
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At least 6 holds not called today
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On both sides
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Agreed.
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Three any outttt
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Id throw every play against our defense
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Again. Where is Mack …Ford??
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OK Pickett, find somebody.
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Wow! A big catch!
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Ok found Mack
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Fitz like
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Tremendous catch!
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Let’s go in to the half with a td lead.
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WOW. Mack. What a catch on an inderthrown ball!!!
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George!
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Watson redeeming himself
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Now…we need a good 2nd half. A 7 point lead might not hold.
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Woo hoo! Hopefully UNC’s 9 suspensions will hurt their depth in the 2nd half.
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Now don’t choke and have an atrocious 2nd half.
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Credit where credit due. So far, good CRITICAL play calling by Watson.
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Did anyone note the trivia question about 1,000 yard backs….Didn’t Ironhead run for 1,700 or so in ’87?
I may have misread, I thought they missed a couple backs……
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Dorset
Ironhead
Richards
Barlow
Graham
Lewis
MCCOY
Ollie
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Who was their other 5, after QO?
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And, Thanks….
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And breathe….
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Once again, into halftime with a lead….hoping it hold.
H2P!!!!!!
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Time to hit the back deck with a Cold One.
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Have a few PD, the only way to get through a Pitt game!
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Hoping hoping they can keep it going on the second half.
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Must come out strong in the 2nd half. No way will this lead hold.
Important for the D to make a stop on the first drive.
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It’s now half time, go back and reread this game thread from the beginning and see how ridiculous many of you sound. me included….
PITT will have to step up their second half scoring for sure.
Halftime adjustment questions will be answered in the next 30 minutes of football…
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Ike,
Maybe your comment here is the dumbest! :>)
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All warranted comments. UNC stinks Ike. Won 4 games last year. 0-2 this year. Narduzzi needs to win this convincing.
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Time will tell.
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You so sure?!? 7 points in 2nd half.
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This is Narduzzi’s 42 game as head coach and his defense is still bad. Inexcusable but doing the same thing expecting different results is why he is the poster boy for Einstein. NC is terrible yet Pitt gives up 250 yards in one half.
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Remember Chet, the defensive miscues are all correctable……
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Chet, this just in, he’s beating the point spread on the road.
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Check the score again
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No comments on the 20,000 or so in the stands? I forgot, it’s not a home game.
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They had a Hurricane man.
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Forget it man
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Worry about Pitt vs a Bakstball
school. Program is a dumpster Fire.
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Hoping we put together a 2nd half for the FIRST time all season.. but make no mistake.. this defense is BAD.
21 points in the first half to UNC?! Uggh.
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We win by 12. I think we will be okay as long as we score every drive. Haha
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Our defense has been disappointing all year so far.
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500 TOTAL yards in the first Half. Two BAD teams playing each other.
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Our TEs have two catches all year.
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Inspired Pitt D gives up 8 on first down and add another sloppy holding penalty on the kick.
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Two #3s playing for Pitt
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Pressure on every pass play.
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We need a different punter. He’s averaging less than 37 yards per punt on the season
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Fully agree – he’s not good.
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Terrible first offensive series!
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We adjusted nothing on that offensive series. UNC did.
If we don’t adjust to their adjustments my head is going to explode.
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Guys the reason we suck in the second half is because every coach we go against our screens out plans and out coaches nor doozy in the second half.
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I disagree that it’s important to win by this many or that many points. Just win. And enjoy it without an asterisk if we do.
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Michalanglo,
Hope you can find all the pieces! :>)
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Too many penalties
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Wish I had a dollar for every Pitt mental mistake.
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Horrible horrible defense.
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Dazzling defense
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See, they use the TE!
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Wirginis again
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Awful, awful D…
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Utterly disgraceful defense. Better not have 2nd half blues today.
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“I disagree that it’s important to win by this many or that many points. Just win. And enjoy it without an asterisk if we do.”…
Says every fan of bad teams– or people who know nothing about sports.
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I guess your the resident expert. Good to know. Thanks.
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😂
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Pretty nice home field advatage down there in chapel hill with those refs.
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Holding not a penalty today
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Both Hendrix and Jackson were held on that TD, watch it. How many penalties on UNC so far?
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I thought our defense was supposed to be great this season? So far we are giving up 33 ppg to our D1 opponents and this game ain’t over yet.
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Reed – Narduzzi’s scheme takes 18 years to implement. Don’t you know we are on the MSU plan. 😂
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Now time to watch us go three and out with the following three plays.
Inside zone / counter – they will stop us for 1 yard with 9 in the box.
Jet sweep – they will bring down the safety.
Rollout – will now be expecting it
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Our D STINKS. Narduzzi’s system. Narduzzi’s players..
28 points to an awful UNC team.
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Referees need to be held accountable in football. Rarely is that the case. Those missed calls could cost Pitt the game.
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Two holds on Carolina’s TD and nothing called. Big play was the smart senior OLB called for offsides.
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More qB pressure…
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And don’t tell me I’m negative.. I predicted UNC would score 28 all game– there’s still 22 minutes left.
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I predict them shutting them out. 😂
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Very Tino like. Second half blues
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Good to see our second half execution has not improved week to week.
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And here we go just surrendering in the second half! God awful punt God awful play by Pitt!
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We must be the worst in college football to make adjustments. I can feel the momentum shift already….
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Worst Coach in NCAA.
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This punter sucks.
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There have to be high school kids that punt better than the wonder down under.
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32 yard punt.
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Please don’t give us ANOTHER 2nd half COLLAPSE Pitt!!!!
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Didn’t even look like he extended his leg on that punt. Do we only have one punter on the team?
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Yea time for an open tryout for punter.
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Kids are holding on both teams guys.
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Yup
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I’d say UNC has learned to defend the roll out pass, which means we will continue to call it every series.
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KP needs to learn to get rid of the ball. And there has to be someone that can punt farther than theAussie
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As long as it’s not being called consistently I suppose we should not complain.
With the way the d is playing they would have scored anyway
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Third and seventeen.
No problem
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3rd & 17 conversion.. Great D!
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Hire Matt Canada tonight.
Maryland is Legit.
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+1
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Same. Old. Pitt.
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Ford
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Ford not having a good game.
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Right now this 2nd half looks like Ground Hog Day all over again! :<(
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245 yards and 2 TDs passing so far for NC.
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Can we get a high school coach to help out with this god awful pass d?
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Problem with Canada is they you will get zero stability with him. The minute a better job opens up he is gone
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Does anyone know if we practice defense?
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Everyone STOP making negative comments. I don’t want to read the “optimists* point out the “disproportionate” number of posts in a Pitt loss… they hate the truth.
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We are making a web that came into the game with 1 td and 4 ints look like Dan Marino
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*qb
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Oh boy!
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Oh boy
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Guys and Annie. I just can’t take this anymore. Out of scotch and heading to golf course! WWE NEED A NEW HEAD COACH AND STAFF!
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THIRTY FIVE FREAKING POINTS TO UNC.
Pitt’s D is offensive. Let’s blame Chryst!
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Turn out the lights…
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Does anyone know if we practice special teams?
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Now we see why Ford doesn’t play. He seems lost out there. First a 3rd and 13, now a 3rd and 17. Really? Now a fumble. Not feeling good about this game…
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F ing Jokes. Narduzzi you arent worth 75k a year at a High School!
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I take back my comment about Ffrench!
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The party’s over…
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Games not over guys!
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Has BigB run on the field yet?
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Sorry I can’t stay and watch more of this disaster. Hafta go to a wedding. Hope they have an open bar
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This performance makes me shudder to think what Dungey might do to this D.
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Lock The Gates – To Narduzzi’s House and keep
Him there.
Lock the Gates on Acid Pitt Fans take who think Narduzzi is good.
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They are faking us out of our shoes
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Wirginis needs to go back to manning the good ship lollipop
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Haha
He is 34 and still bad
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Syrwcuse wins by 87
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Zeise embarrasssing
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I would be really mad.. if it weren’t so hysterical.
Hey, Dan72.. I’ve got some scotch here. C’mon over.
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Wish you were close. I’ve never seen such poor talent to go with HS coaching.
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Grab grab grab
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Briggs on the fall down
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UNC scores 50?
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Our d-backs absolutely stink. Wide open receivers everywhere
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This is year 4 and the defense looks as bad as year 1. The head coach refuses to adapt HIS defense to the personnel. It was obvious in the Baylor bowl game (when he was at MSU) that the defense had holes, and that OC’s around the country had figured it out, yet he refuses to change.
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So angry my hands are shaking.
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Why do we Pitt fans continue to follow this team????
We all need counseling.
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They are open on every pass play.This NC team averaged 19 ppg coming into this match…
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All about the Pass.
Pickett. You’re up!
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Wirginis out of position too often.
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The wheels are really coming off now. How do they play like this every second half?
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Because Narduzzi is a fraud and always was. The MSU coach carried him.
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Good one reed!!!!
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Thinks is over now lol
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2106 Pitt had one of the best offenses in the country, and the worst secondary I have ever seen in football… any football. Not sure what they are being taught but it the secondary is still terrible. No progress year after year.
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17 points in one quarter…
Where’s my optimists at? C’mon guys. Explain this so I feel better.
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Holes should just keep throwing…we can’t cover a casserole.
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Do we even have 50 yds this half
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The tarholes are safely in for this win. Pitt does not know how to score in the 2nd half – no flags on unc yet today and the refs can throw flags on every play, so Pitt will see plenty of them.
Sad…how bad this team really is.
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Stupid play by KP on that, needs to flush the ball.
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Well guys, I started painting my son’s bedroom. Doing the trimwork right now. I can’t sit and waste 3 hours watching this team if they can’t play better than this. I can watch the replay if something good happens. I’m so disgusted.
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Yard work is calling my name – lol.
Golf was fun this morning – good round, good friends and great entertainment.
Going to get my hands dirty…
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How many yards of offense do we have in the 2nd half so far?
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Pickett completes a pass to himself for a twelve yard loss, you can’t make this stuff up.
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And he got 🔨 ed
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Stop it guys…
Narduzzi just needs 11 more years to get his players on the field. It’s all Chryst’s fault.
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14!! He was so good at MSU and he wears that linebackers sleeve on his wrist to look cool. We may lose Gorill arms to West Allegheny or Baldwin.
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This program sucks, period! Just a litany of errors, 35 years and counting.
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Bostick: Carolina has our adjusted Pitt in the second half.
No really?
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Reed… Can’t keep blaming it JUST on the Receivers.
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Well, this is why I don’t bet. This NC team is one you absolutely have to beat. Well, torches and pitchforks. Not only are they losing to a team playing short handed, they look horrible in doing so. No excuses. No way they hit 5 wins now. I really wonder how Narduzzi survives this year?
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I should have scheduled a colonoscopy today
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Pitt hires a defensive guru. Four years later it’s defense is among the worst in football.
Narduzzi has to go this year. Like after this game.
This is on coaching. What second half adjustments?
Always being out coached. Recruiting stinks. Player development non existent. Poor staff.
Yet let’s continue paying him $3.5 Million.
Fire him. Fire him now.
Jackie
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Jackie is Smart
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Time for another 25 yard punt here
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33 ya punt. And they went to Australia for this?
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33 yard punt?
Really?
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Entire roster sucks.
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No pressure on the qb.
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This wouldn’t be funny if UNC didn’t suck.
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Ok, second half problem is real
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Pitt makes quarterbacks look like Heisman winners.
Tex
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Even if something works in first half need to assume an adjustment and have a ready answer. Also I wonder about the conditioning since they seem to fall apart in the second half.
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I believe in the process.
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Pitt has scored 3 points in the 3rd qtr in four games this year.
Pitt has score zero points in the first 3 games.
No need to watch…
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I wanna see a beat reporter grow a set and ask:
Why have u failed to develop any semblance of a functional defense?
Why did you go to Australia for a 33 yard punter?
Why do you shut down the offense at halftime?
Do you think this is an adequate performance?
Do you think you are committing theft for accepting a paycheck?
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Well, between these boys and the Steelers my weekends have really freed up now. Honey do list here I come!
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A colonoscopy feels better that watching this game.
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The hoped for improvement in defense has not happened. Will not happen.
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Its not over…
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No team speed. Poor Special teams. Erractic passing attack at best. Poor coaching. Recipes for disaster.
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The process is getting thru the season. Heather better have that list in her FRONT pocket! This team is really, really bad. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen receivers so open. With exception of two guys this defense sucks. Now watch, they’ll quit like dogs.
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If Vegas is right… Pitt has one more TD in ’em.
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The thing is that aside from PSU these have been crappy teams.
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This was a must win game for Pitt and narduzzi.
This is a must fire moment for Heather.
Tex
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Even if something works in first half need to assume an adjustment and have a ready answer. No strategic analysis or response. Also I wonder about the conditioning since they seem to fall apart in the second half.
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Still rooting. Still hope we win. But any of you that have been defending this bafoon are MORONS. Yes, MORONS.
I’m signing off. Can’t take this.
And, I’m offering the rest of my tickets for the rest of the year to the optimists that still think Narduzzi needs more time.
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*buffoon
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Use them as toilet paper. What they are worth Jay.
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Jay,
You may have to throw in free Pirmanti Brothers sandwiches to sweeten the deal!
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Jay… Ike and his buddy VOR will taken them.
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Pickett picking up third downs with his legs instead of his arm not good in the long run.
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We have 4.4 yards per pass attempt on the afternoon and that is about half of what you want to have. Only 115 yards passing so far.
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Time for the team leaders to show something. The Pickett run was a start. Had some good attitude.
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UVA – Loss
VT – Loss
Miami – Loss
UCF – Loss
Wake – Loss
Syracuse – Loss
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One thing is obvious. We have very few if any, legitimate Power 5 conference starters on offense, defense or special teams. Weaver? Hamlin? Lower tier schools maybe. No WR has separated from others. I had hope for Mack and Jacques-Louis but French and Arizona Lopes and others get as much PT. Picket is running for his life but he is limited too. I had optimism Hall would have a big year but now he gets 7 carries a game. Kessman looks better but punter is awful. You just can’t punt 32 yards with no pressure. It is disappointing we cannot recruit better players. Why can’t we get better players?
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Anyone know why 4-stars aren’t interested in joining this crew?
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I’m sticking until the whistle. This is a game of big plays.
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Cut Hargrove now.
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POD…
No they won’t. The optimists don’t go to games. If they did, they wouldn’t be optimistic.
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Pickett would be great in the VEER.
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Hargrove in a daze
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Pickett sucks. Wins one game against a crap Miami Team.
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Goody, our punter again!
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Fire OC
Fire DC
Fire HC
Fire AD if she is stupid enough to to extend this loser
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Seriously, look at Narduzzi. At least Chryst was SMART to know when to keep his mouth shut!
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You can almost see it in Narduzzi’s face. He knows this is a disaster and he doesn’t know how to fix it. He knows his days are numbered. Lyke isn’t going to put up with this too long, not with the money he’s making.
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Where was he throwing that anyway?
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Heinz Field will be EMPTY for Syracuse.
Where’s the “Pitt will win 8 games” crowd? Crickets…
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I was overly optimistic with 4. And I’m the bad fan.
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What the heck are they reviewing. There is no penalty for God’s sake.
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Call me OPTIMISTIC (ha, ha). I think we have a TD in us.
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Reed – give it up.
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Give what up. I’m thinking we can still win this game…but you have to have a sense of humor watching Pitt.
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I miss Paul Hackett..
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But that doesn’t mean UNC doesn’t either.
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Buy the coffin, put Narduzzi in it, and ship him out.
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As bad as the D is, they get no help from the O
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Defensive line manhandled all day, primary reason we stink
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Hamlin Island. LOL
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Lots of defensive substitutions…presumably because of the heat.
Good thing there’s not a big drop in talent.
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Awesome observation!
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Seriously, is being in the ACC really worth it?
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There is really no defense for this Jay. Some saw it coming earlier than others, sort of like Stallings. Attendance will tank. If they aren’t embarrassed by this, they have no shame. Just a total embarrassment.
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PSAC
MAC is to much talent for Frauduzzi
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Used up coach’s using used up coaching techniques. Sad, just sad
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I don’t blame any W. Pa. high school player for not considering Pitt.
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Are these kids really on scholarship?
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We look very bad. Tackling is awful and we look very slow.
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Comedy Hour. These kids suck. Coaching Suck. UNC sucks and look like Alabama.
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No Pitt players have muscle. Soft and chubby.
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Meatballs.
What the opposing teams head coach said after seeing a narduzzi defense.
Tex
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Pitt will not win. Worse defense in years. This is one bad team. Narduzzi has got to go.
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NC is working the clock well
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Maybe on Tuesday Pat Natduzzi can huddle with Mike Tomlin to get some tips on defense. Oh wait….
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I apologies for my language.
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Baring a miracle .. it looks like a 2 – 10 season.
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Lyke has to see what’s happening, I hope she has an out in his contract or her hands could be tied for a few years. Pitt will be selling tickets to tumbleweeds in the meantime.
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Hey but our Akron uniforms look so good
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Vegas might be RIGHT after all.
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would N dog survive that?
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We gotta score a point to maintain our second half average
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Tiger Woods time! At least that will be compelling.
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Now we see what this team is made of.
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Problem is… Winning is going to at least require a FIELD GOAL.
And no more Mr. Blewitt.
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apologize
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Only an AD at Pitt would extend a guy with meatballs for brains.
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Narduzzi is a embarrassment. Yelling at everyone. Zero class.
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313 passing for a back-up QB
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Second string qb tossed for 313 yards.
Glad first teaser didn’t play
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Nice play!
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3 under today thru 4
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HCPN is hot.
Somebody’s gonna need to cut his lawn.
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Reed… the REAL problem with Pitt’s passing Game is they don’t have a Tight End who can run a route and catch a football.
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I can see why Pickett had no INTs in camp. Ball never went near anyone.
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Great catch and Picket has some cojones.
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O-Line is obviously also a LIMITING factor.
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Mack is the best wide receiver we got. An Indiana transfer. Gesh!
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“Pitts done a good job going to Florida for players…because Pennsylvania kids don’t want to come.”
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Too bad our defensive minded head coach can’t get the talent and scheme on the other side of the ball
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That’s a tough call.
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Juggling going out?
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I hate that I was right in my game prediction. I am moving closer and closer to the dark side. I mean Jesus Christ, what the hell is this pass defense…against a back up qb. It’s embarassing, and defense is what we were supposed to hang our hat on in year 4 of PN. GTFOH!
No game management whatsoever…and again, I called it. I knew Narduzzi wouldn’t have a good game plan against the unc offense. He never does. What a joke.
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That is a TD.
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Should have been caught cleanly
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Wow!
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Nice drive
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Kessman… GET READY!
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The fix is in, I have seen multiple non-calls today in the second half today. At least 5 obvious holds on unc not called. Home brewin’
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I hate even with all the modifications on the definition of a catch anymore. It among other tinkering of rules is killing football for me
But they made the right call lol
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I love my Panthers. I really believe in these kids. I’m so bummed out. No excuse for giving a cobbled together team and so so quarterback a breakout game.
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Our rush defense has to come up big. Onside kick with 3+ minutes left?
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Great drive, but the dreaded “We need a stop on defense” has just reared its ugly head.
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I know a guy who claims he’d make a good head coach. Claims He’s a guru. Never was a head coach but worked under a good one. He can come cheap.
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The offense has caught fire — more than TWICE our average second-half points!
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Might as well try the onside kick now because we sure as hell aren’t going to stop them
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Unbelievable
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HCPN has a history of making mediocre qbs look like Heisman winners.
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Our special team are as bad as I figured they would be.
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LMAO
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Or even better (worse?) — seven times our average…
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Narduzzi you sir are an idiot
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This team is undisciplined and stupid. Are we sure this isn’t the Steelers.
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Give them the ball
On 35.
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Somebody posted this..
“As bad as the D is, they get no help from the O.”
We’ve scored 35 POINTS! How much help does the D need??????!!!!
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Should have said in the second half
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watch out for their TEs…
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Wow I am at a loss. Folks will chuck this up as bad luck, but I just don’t know anymore
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So many failings in this game, but how many hidden yards have the special teams surrendered? Given up about 150 yards in field position which could easily be the difference in the game.
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Thank God I’m drunk..
Maybe Narduzzi is, too?
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Btw, Wood -4 thru 5
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God I hope I eat my words!
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I would throw all over Pitt. Forget clock.
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This is like slow Chinese torture!!!
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What a joke
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Where you at now sweaty lips narduzzi
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Stadium largely empty today. No one goes to CFB anymore.
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UNC won 4 games in 2 years. 2 against us.
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stick by my 5-7 prognostication, but starting to think UPITT 4 wins is gaining momentum. 😦
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Sadly I agree.
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HCPN:
“Well, I don’t know why we fall apart in the second half. We make adjustments at half time based on Madden ‘18 suggestions. I also text Mike Tomlin for his input. And of course, we have a ouiji board. So we’re gonna keep plugging along.”
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No, he’ll blame the refs.
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And his players and the Storm and Stormy Daniels.
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Game over..
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Narduzzi does NOT HAVE A DEFENSIVE CLUE.
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I really think the 2-10 number will be the final tally
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Whatever…..
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Hmm.. who picked a Pitt loss today? I know one person.
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I did.
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#HelpPatPack H2P
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Pitt just lost to a BAD team WITHOUT its Starting Quarterback.
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And Starters Suspended
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FIRE NARDUZZI.
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Fedora looks like a Golf Pro in New Kensington.
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God we suck. Absolute embarrassment. Year after year. Pathetic.
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Season over.
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That PSU game was not an outlier folks. UCF might put up 60+ on us…as might ND.
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Maybe next year UNC will have 28 players suspended…..
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Hey but we have catch phrases like 412 Crew and Lock the Gates. And Twitter and 14 uniforms.
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It’s so obvious that Narduzzi is the most over paid coach in college football.
Yet my tuition keeps going up every year.
I guess Pitt places a greater value on losers.
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Ike… Could you go back and point out all of the comments you had a problem with?
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Stop it, Reed. You’re just being negative. Just wait til Narduzzi gets his players on the field..
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I really, truly meant to say 2-10, honest!
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This sucks but I’ll still go to the games for the social aspect.
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larry, it may just be you and one or two others.
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jay, you really need to trust the process. (sarcasm)
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We have given up 36 ppg against D1 competition so far…remember how bad our defense was in 2016? We gave up only 35 ppg that year.
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Hey Reed…PN has a system. It will work. you have to trust the process
🙂
Dave Dellett
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By the way… VOR this Narduzzi Loss is for you.
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Gonna go out on a limb and predict another year without a bowl win.
There, I said it.
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I just want to go on record that when PN was hired, I wanted it to work…I was excited he seemed to fit in the mold of a Yinzer type of coach (strong on D). You can make fun of me about the Yinzer thing and that is fine. I just thought he was a great fit for the role.
UPITT, vented as well as others about the not ready for primetime and this program needed to go bigger/better. I didn’t ignore it but I too did an eye roll (let’s give this guy a chance is what I said to myself).
I was also a supporter of Chryst…still am given where we were with the Graham/Haywood fiasco…I think he did a fairly decent job. I won’t be one to denigrate him.
But as I have read more/heard more/seen more it is now clear…this guy does not have it. I think calling him a MAC coach is an insult to all MAC head coaches.
There will be no change I get it, but I won’t sit here and pretend because of a win last week or next week that all has been righted with the ship.
This program has been in trouble for a decade now. Wanny had his limitations, but at least he gave us a team that was in contention. Since his purging this program has been a train wreck.
I will continue to watch and root for my alma mater, but it will make very little difference until the BOT decide to commit to the program.
Dave Dellett
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Good Post Dave
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This is 100 percent on Heather. You own it. Your buyout will be next.
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The only ‘process’ Narduzzi has is winning with Chryst’s players in his first two years.
Other than that he’s completely lost.
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well put dave
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That was a bad loss. Too many mistakes today.
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Just saw the final score. My wife Suz caddying today. I told her we’re like abused husbands or wives, we just keep coming back for more.
She says we should get a restraining order ! Anyone want to join me filing a Pitt fan restraining order to keep us from following Pitt Football.
Save us all Lord, it just never stops.
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I posted and admitted I was wrong last week against GT..
Where were jrnpitt (who talks ALOT), VOR, ike, Tossing Thabeets and the rest of the guys that constantly call us (me, Reed, upitt, etc.) “negativos”?
Well, gentlemen. Explain this one.
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Still here. I never post much or read much in season. Work picks up and kids sports are in full swing. I said this is his make or break year … and it’s definitely breaking. There are really only two or three I’ve called negative.
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Tiger -5 thru 6… he’s on fire.
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Yes. Narduzzi needs his two stars to develop and prove to us all that he can win.
We just have to wait and lose 20 more times.
Pitt is a cross between the bungles, clowns and stillers. All their worst attributes.
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Dan… now that is a GREAT solution to a problem.
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I’m going to listen in our duties press conference and count how many times he blames someone other than himself and make excuses. I bet it’s 12 to 15
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Narduzzi’s
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lol UPITT, I thought your phone was trying to autocorrect Narduzzi with Dootie and it got confused.
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Thank you Mr Dellott for summarizing my perspective as well.
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Dellett, sorry
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won’t even watch next week, UCF will need 2 scoreboards for all the numbers they’ll put up.
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Dan72.
I know a Dauphin County judge. Maybe I can get us a PFA.
Make no mistake folks. This is a BAD team with BAD players and and AWFUL coach.
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Why wait. Fire him now. Write off the season. Have a coach hired by years end.
And never let Heather involved with football again.
Her extension of the coach, marketing failures, inability to raise money for the program, hands off approach to staff hires, allowing closed practices and refusal to tarp shows me that she is in over her head.
Blame the boss.
Gallagher can you please pick up the phone and call tressell?
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I’d like to say that I’m disappointed in this game but I’m not really. I figured we would lose even though I predicted them to win because that’s what I do, I go with my heart sometimes. But it is very evident now that this is not a good football team and I think that the problem is we have no real depth at all past the first string. And our first string isn’t that good either.
This offensive line is not good, Pickett was under pressure every time he dropped back and we have to keep the TE on the line for extra blocking.
It says something when your TEs have a total of 2 catches after 4 full games.
I’m not impressed at all with DC Bates, he’s in way over his head and you can see why he was a career staff position coach.
Our DBs coach should be fired this evening after we just gave up 313 yards on 71% passing to a QB who floated every pass he threw.
NC is a bad team and they owned us in crunch time!
We really do suck folks but Ill stick with my prediction of 5 wins, even though that might be hard to do.
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On the bright side, my nephew (a freshman LB at East Stroudsburg) is getting his first playing time in college and made a couple of tackles.
Maybe I’ll go to his games instead of Pitt.. they don’t give up 40 points per game. But their coach isn’t a “defensive genious”, either.
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Narduzzi was crying this week about UNC stealing signs. Hey Pat, stop it with the excuses losing to a bad team. What is he going to cry about now? Pathetic that Narduzzi has never beaten Fedora. Last 2 years UNC has sucked beyond belief.
A little over 3 minutes to go in the game and your defense has sucked all day…..so you decide to bypass a onsides kick…..and then the kick goes out of bounds. Sigh. 3rd and 5, get a stop and you get the ball with a chance to win. The D falters again. This is now the 4th year.
Another game, another horrible 2nd half performance.
Narduzzi is a meathead.
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So who is on Heather’s short list???
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Ike
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Some assistant? Pitt likes instant discounts.
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Narduzzi Doctrine now in effect.
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The air went out of the balloon after the PSU debacle. Narduzzi and his program was not close to a good program in his fourth year. But with a suspect NC I still gave him some benefit that even he couldn’t screw this up. I was so wrong to believe he understood where the program was heading and the urgency to address the issues. Now with that buyout any cosmetic changes are fruitless. He is not a head coach who can deliver.
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Chet….
You could have stopped after “He is not a head coach.”
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Chet, not scoring in the 2nd half against Albany showed us what type of team we have this year.
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A good coach, speed and superior recruiting obviously beats a moronic coaching staff with slow players – even with 13 suspensions and a bad backup QB. The rest of the season is only for the tailgates. And for those still clinging to “we can’t have another coaching change, it will kill our continuity and recruiting”…..I say I don’t want any more of “this” continuity and our recruiting sucks, so make the change.
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Exactly!
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Be a heroine Heather. Hire Jim Tressle tomorrow!
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Tressel can be both AD and football coach
Would do a far batter job and cost less than what Pitt is paying these bozos
Remember Heather extended Narduzzi. Heather is the Fanta Queen.
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Heather extended him. She will look bad by firing him. Plus, who will pay for the buyout.
So she will ‘force’ Narduzzi to make staffing changes. She may even say something about recruiting.
But thats all she will do folks. Its postponing the inevitable. Its rewarding mediocrity and a losing culture.
Heinz will have 50k empty yellow seats at each game next year.
Pitt football will lose money.
Pitt will be looking at cutting some Olympic sports teams like tennis, gymnastics and cross country.
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UNC is 2-13 against their last 15 games against p5 schools. Ouch!
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ND’s new QB just went 25/34 for 325 yards and 2 TDs. He’s going to tear us up.
UCF’s QB was 21/32, 306 and 3 TDs today…he’ll kill us next week also.
Our pass defense is truly terrible (again).
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another losing season
another poor recruiting class
another year of little player development
another year of very bad defense
another round of excuses
another year of all hat and no cattle
Football is setting up to look a lot like basketball.
Fans lose hope and stop attending games
Pitt deserves better
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We deserve better. Pitt the administration is getting what it deserves.
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Chet..
Some of us knew this long ago.. but your were busy with your snarky comments and personal attacks.
Maybe try this.. “Listen more. Talk less.”
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Agreed Jay. For a long time Chet was completely pounding the table on how Narduzzi was the right fit and had the program trending in the right direction.
After the PSU loss, he’s all of a sudden singing a different tune.
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I invite all members of the “League of Optimists” to go into the bathroom… look into the mirror… and REALIZE you are the reason for SOP!
You may not think it… but you do deserve BETTER!
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I skipped the mirror and went straight for the toilet
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Let’s take a look at who and how many comments made after the GT game and this UNC debacle. It really makes me more sad then the PITT loss today. Some of you somehow lost your abilities to type in negative comments on the POV when PITT won last week and many of you checked in absent. Seems many of you are back on your high horses today shooting down PITT. Not that there isn’t room for despair and criticism. I’m here all the time win or lose thick or thin. PITT lost today. I can take it.
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Because the fans want this bum gone Ike. You and 3 guys from Carrick like him. That is it. Don’t you ever get mad and want us to be respectable?
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I’m with you, Ike
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Just an average defense…PLEASE..is there something in the water on the South Side? Both Pitt and Steelers cannot play defense. Defense was to be PN’s strongpoint. I will not watch games ubtil defense improves. 4 years of pathetic defensive play is enough!
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TX… Funny.
However, I think you know my comment was a play on a SERIOUSLY INTENDED comment posted by one of the “Optimists” earlier in the Season.
Be careful what you preach.
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Exactly, POD!
In the addict community, they’d call them enablers. Those of you who “support Pitt no matter what” remove any reason for Pitt to do anything to fix this.
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I’m really proud of the University of North Carolina. What a find institution that never cheats and fields a football team that doesn’t commit any penalties. PITT and PITT alone lost this game today but did you all watch the game?
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You and Narduzzi keep
Making Excuses. Pitt gave up 400+ yards to a backup qb and a team that had starters suspended. But yeah they cheat and steal
Signs.
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Where were you last week Mark?
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I posted Ike. Oh because we beat an atrocious GT Team.
Admit Pitt sucks and Narduzzi is atrocious.
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Been lurking rather than commenting for the most part this year but oh my…..
Went to my son’s high school football game last night in Delaware. He just started high school and is in the band…. The game was awful… The other team (a pretty good Catholic School from the Wilmington area) just manhandled us. They scored eight touchdowns in 24 minutes for a 55-0 halftime lead… On every level, watching was painful – defenders being pancaked, linebackers clueless and the secondary completely lost… And I wondered, how could the coaching allow this – such an embarrassment for these kids…
Now, 12 hours later, it is like deja vu…. But in defense of the high school coaches, they are not making 3.5 Million. I was late to the Stallings firing party but POVers had that right almost from the beginning… I appear to be late but it looks like Narduzzi may end up with the same fate…. Last night I thought, these kids deserve better – the school should find some new coaching blood. Now I think – the long ignored Pitt fanbase deserves better – the school should find someone up to the task… Not sure if they can score like they did with Capel but the status quo is no longer acceptable…
By the way, the band was fantastic – by far, the highlight of the night… In fact, it seems like the fanbase here is pretty knowledgeable – about half the home fans left after the half time show – lol…. Also, kudos to the other team’s head coach for not running up the score… He must of put in the third stringers as the final score ended up 55 -14….
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I’m here after a terrible PITT loss, where were some of you after the PITT win last week? It sickens me that I go on a PITT football blog and only hear PITT being dumped on constantly.
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It sickens me you blame fans instead of the TURD making 3.5M a year. How about you hold someone acxountable and lose your yinzer crush on gorilla arms.
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Stop it now Mark.
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Then be sick…
Some of us are sick of watching crap performances by a lunatic who blames everyone but himself.
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Who are you? Let me give you a handle since it seems you can’t figure out how to do that. I’ll call you “the coward so called pitt fan”. or barvo-2.. either one
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By the way… Pitt is still playing!
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so the question becomes:
Who believes Narduzzi deserves at least another year to turn things around?
I cant really come up with any legit reasons myself so I’m curious what could save his job because I really do think that after this game, Narduzzi is on the hot seat.
So outside the fact that Heather just extended him and that the buyout could be a financial burden, why would you keep Narduzzi?
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No… Sorry. It’s Georgia Tech.
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Keep the snarky comments to ourselves please. Each of us know if we were right or wrong about the team and the program coming out of fall camp.
And each of us have been correct and also incorrect about Pitt football…there are no glass houses on the POV.
Of course we also have eight more games to play folks. Nothing says Pitt can’t win a bunch of them.
I highly doubt they will but I’ve thought that since last season ended. I think Pitt fans get enamored with the ‘big’ wins like PSU in ’16, Clemson and Miami and forget we lose to crappy teams a lot more than we get those big wins.
All this should come as no surprise. When fans were jumping up and down about how well our defense played against VT & Miami last season…and figured we’d build on that I kept reminding about giving up 34 points to a two win NC team just before that, and that in 2018 we’d have basically the exact same defensive players out on the field.
And those defensive players were a large reason we only won 5 games last year.
Its going to get worse before it gets better because every SYR is scoring 49 ppt this year. We may well be 2-5 going into the Duke game.
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Where were you last week Reed? Radio silence after PITT wins…
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I posted some then I did a MMQB.
However I didn’t think you wanted to hear me say we beat a poor GT team which they are getting their asses handed to them by Clemson.
GT BTW has 109 Rushing after 3 quarters of play so what we did wasn’t all great.
Ike, this is what we have talked about all summer. Narduzzi cannot recruit and it has been killing us the last two years. That and our staff, that he built, cannot make any halftime adjustments at all and that is a real problem.
Well win a couple more games but we are circling the drain with this H C and staff.
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What excuses am I making Mark? NONE! Quit speaking for me and making things up I don’t say. I’m not happy the way PITT played today and thought there was some bad decisions made and at the end MY team came up short. I can call them MY team, can you?
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I don’t support teams that don’t care and zero heart. You can have them just like the Stallings crew. When they get serious about committing to win and caring let me know. My favorite was kicking it out of bounds when they have no return men back to return a kick. Wow Narduzzi you are so smart. Bet we have statistically the worst defense in ACC. I don’t speak for you. If I did it would involve rainbows and puppies
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You kid no one friend. You do not support anything PITT. I’m going to build a nice fire outside as it’s gotten a bit chilly. You guys can carry on so Reed doesn’t close the comments
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Anytime you want to compare what I have given to Pitt personally and physically we can talk.
Keep supporting the Dead man walking. Remember he makes 3.5M
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I’m changing my gravatar to reflect what I feel about this team.
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Hey, I’ll about to close comments here if we can’t play nice. People are disappointed but no one deserves being insulted.
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PoD, not sure why you think I’m a Narduzzi sycophant. If you read my previous posts, you will see that I have been all over Narduzzi about his recruiting, or lack thereof, and especially about the total absence of TEs. I have also railed over PN’s arrogance and pathetic sideline skills. Now that he has his own recruits on the field, it is clear that his defenses don’t even work with his own players.
I truly admire ike for his steadfast support of Pitt (not necessarily Narduzzi) during the highs and lows. But after 35 years of this crap with Pitt sports I’m at the end of my rope with Narduzzi.
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564 comments so far. Not a record but getting there.
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Needed to gather my composure. Some thoughts. Made the mistake of thinking Pitt could beat a putrid North Carolina team. For the record Pitt will not make a bowl this year! They will be lucky to win more than one more game this season, Virginia you still have hope for an ACC win. Narduzzi has trouble defending this newly developed play called the forward pass.
Heather Lyke has officially made her first blunder as our A.D. by renewing Narduzzi’s contract for seven years prior to this season. Because of this she is gong to have to face the music for the rest of this year and all of next season before she can show Narduzzi the door. We need to look for a head coach at a non P5 school that is offensive minded and has a good recruiting track record. No more coordinators with the need for building staffs and on the job training.
I am very thankful that Pitt women’s volleyball season is concurrent with our football season. It is good to hear the words Pitt and powerhouse in the same sentence. Basketball season cannot come soon enough.
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UVA beat the mess out of L’Ville today
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I was so bummed I did not check on Virginia. Louisvile finally getting what they deserve for hiring their current head coach. I guess Pitt goes win-less the rest of the season.
One positive for firing someone after next season is that the ACC linear network money will start coming in after next season to help pay for cleaning up this mess of a football program. Feel sorry for the players on the team. They deserve better. After today our recruiting commitments will be flooding to the exits.
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you mean Pitts 2 stars will be asking schools like Holy Cross and Elon to take them back
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Yep!
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I hope this the record breaking post….
FIRE NARDUZZI !!
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In defense Pitt had QB issues last year but overall played Ok in most games even with that handicap. But I have never been snarky and never made any attacks on anyone. I gave Narduzzi the benefit of three years of coaching these players. My expectations were they were ready to take the next step. If all want to pound me for backing the hope Narduzzi was a coach who has shown he was capable so be it. But I did change my view after PSU due to the state of the program in all aspects. That was telling. From here facing the inability to beat NC hard to make any case that Pitt football is making the progress to be a good program.
I just felt even Narduzzi couldn’t blow this gimme. Shame he couldn’t deliver and now Pitt football is stuck in a loop due to the buyout. But I make no apologies for my stance on Narduzzi. If all feel good over Narduzzi failing at this point good for you. As I stated before if he wins no one cares about his issues. But he isn’t winning and one has to face the results in any case. But with the erosion of PA football, and stiff competition for shelf space in the city, Pitt football has to be realistic. Narduzzi was their shot, so far it has not materialized into a winning program. But most programs are in this position every 4 to 5 years.
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We are in it 30 straight.
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It’s so silly to blame fans.
Of course there are more comments after a loss then after a win.
Pitts been outscored 72-10 in the second half this year.
I’m a fan of Pitt not Narduzzi and all of the things he does (poor recruiting, poor player development, poor sideline behavior) I don’t have any idea why people defend him.
We are literally getting worse the more Chryst players graduate. Our best players are Chryst recruits.
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Post of the Year
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72-10. Wowser. Let me guess, Narduzzi is going to watch the tape and clean some things up. Maybe narduzzi this week will say every team is stealing their signals.
The forward pass is not kind to his defense.
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Pitt Engineer.
Was that “Wilmington Catholic school” St. Marks? What school did they play?
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you’re being generous
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Yes, Jay91, it was St. Marks… What a blowout… If the band hadn’t been good, I would have really been bummed. I am grateful to the St. Mark’s coach for applying the handbrake in the second half. Our kids didn’t need to be completely humiliated.….
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I never thought after the Clemson game I’d be typing this, but I think it’s time to start looking for a new coach.
1) Lane Kiffin
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need someone that knows how to recruit
need someone who will hire young, aggressive assistants with high ceilings
need someone familiar with the conference
need someone with an offensive background
need someone with proven head coaching experience
need someone who can develop players
I would have a fan committee pick the new coach
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We are the Rutgers of the acc.
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Frankly it’s hard to watch Pitt try to win games when the big wigs at the ACC have the refs fixing the games when we play the blue bloods and when Pitt can’t score in the 2nd half.
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That’s crazy
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Unlike some, I don’t see a team that has quit or has no heart (yet). I see a team that has average-to-less talent and is poorly coached.
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Chet… It’s important to realize that Narduzzi was NEVER Pitt’s “shot.” Fact is… the Search Committee did not come up with Narduzzi. He called Pitt himself and asked for an interview.
Narduzzi was Gallagher and Juhl’s BLUNDER!
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I don’t blame Heather Lyke for this yet…she was put in a bad spot. 8-5 1st 2 years and the program appeared to be righted and headed in the right direction, even though they were Chryst’s recruits.
I say “appeared to be” because who knows what is actually happening with the “media black out”. I do btw blame Heather for not mandating that practices be more open to the press. It cracks me up when I read comments about how good a player is going to be when we have absolutely no evidence of his level of play until they actually play some games. The players are not improving at all.
Worst defensive coaching I’ve ever seen at this level. I’ve never seen so many receivers run free in a secondary. Oh wait… it’s 3rd and 35… first down again. I don’t think it’s going to get better. I think it’s clear that Heather needs make a change. It’s already bad so one more change won’t make it worse. The next hire has to be a proven winner… not some coordinator guy with no head coaching experience. Don’t need a cheerleader or guy that talks a good game. Need a proven leader.
The team always looks totally unprepared, and in the 2nd half they appear to get pushed around even more than they do in the 1st half. That amazing strength and conditioning coach is terrible. Clean house. Start over. As for me I checked out at game 4 last year, and I will check out again this year. See ya next training camp… maybe.
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Heather has presided over more bad football than good. Now granted its Gallaghers pick based on a clueless committee’s recommendation but she was the one that extended him after 1 season.
As far as I know, she asked Narduzzi for no changes thus far. So next year, I would expect there to be changes if Narduzzi is allowed to hang around.
I just dont see how Narduzzi rights this ship. And for those that say his boss at Michigan State took 6 years to finally turn things around, Narduzzi isnt his boss and Pitt should not have the patience because there is a good chance Pitt loses money with more seasons like this.
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Tomcat… totally agree.
There was no “quit” in the Team today. They just lacked the Coaching to put them in a position to WIN.
But it’s also important to keep in perspective the fact that Pitt lost to a BAD team playing without some KEY Players including its Starting Quarterback.
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Just posting so we can set the record for comments.
I predicted a Pitt loss. I guess after watching Pitt football for 50+ years my optimism disappeared a
Loooong time ago.
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Etna… I vote you as “Comment of the Day.”
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Well, I for one am encouraged for next year as we only lose 15 starters and have another sterling recruiting class coming in. It could be worse, we could suck and be a school that actually cared about football.
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You sure you’re on the right board?
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Looking at the schedule…who (besides Ike) sees another win anywhere? I don’t see one anywhere in all seriousness. Maybe one if another team gives up 3-5 turnovers, like maybe Virginia or Cuse.
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From a perspective that it was the Chancellor who hired him it was Pitts shot. The chancellor tied his building a good program to Narduzzi. So again an extension after a 5 win season reflects that the brass was all in on Narduzzi. Is Narduzzi that good a salesman? Or is Gallagher just that gullible. In any event, that contract is on the books and Pitt is not eating money to change. So they are thinking Narduzzi can deliver. But from my perspective, a good coach doesn’t lose this game. The program is close to sliding badly after UCF kills them.
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Next home game will have 17k actual people. If that.
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Next home game is homecoming, maybe will get 17,100
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RESIST!
Lol
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I think it’s time to play as many kids as possible. Let’s see if we have anyone who’s a gamer in the rough so to speak. That might at least keep kids interested if there’s ample playing time to go around.
Won’t happen as coaches will at least try to win, I get that. But whatever we’re doing now just isn’t working. See who’s ready for next year.
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Narduzzi will not give up on the season until they are mathematically out of a bowl game.
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If they best we can say about Pitt football is that ‘the kids didn’t quit’ we are in bad shape indeed.
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I’m not anti coordinator like some. In hindsight wouldn’t Franklin have been a great hire instead of Graham when he was the oc at Maryland? Tomlin was a coordinator. Difference is you could tell right away when Tomlin and Franklin talk they are head coaches. Narduzzi has no command presence whatsoever.
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To bad Heather and the bot’s will see this as a close game and will be encouraged. My guess they have no idea how bad NC really is.
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OK, in all seriousness, the freshman running back looked good running the jet sweep. He actually knew to cut it up and not jusr run wide. Other than losing another 50-50 (90-10) ball, I thought Jackson played well. Pickett is a sophomore qb, up and down. TAlso, in all honesty the Oline played better than I thought, but only because I thought they would be so very, very, very bad.
I will say it again Narduzzi< DePasqua. He inherited Christ’s players, Carl got Dave Hart’s.
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I thought the O-line played decent too.
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One last thought …what P5 team has a sophomore walk on center start every game of his career?
I watched NC blitz over/under and around Morrison like he wasn’t even there! Bad recruiting starts with the fact you can’t get even a 2 star center to attend Pitt. Pickett was brave in the face of a withering rush by NC and almost no pass protection help from his O line.
4 years of this defense. A good thing we don’t play Gannon.
I’ll be there at homecoming to see many old friends…but that is it. Actively selling my season tickets. I’m done with this fraud of a coach and team.
Don’t see another win anywhere on the schedule.
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Dan – good comment on our WO center – I’ll add that his back-up is actually a 2 star.
I decided not to sell my season tickets as it will cost me more than I will get in return. Instead I will write a letter to Ms. Lyke and inform her to contact me when she hires a HC for the FB team.
The only good thing about this season, besides Fran’s Tailgating, is that my golf handicap has dropped 2 strokes. To think I rushed home from the course yesterday to watch that mess. Oy vey!
Remember folks, it’s just a game. But it is a game the Pitt admin does not understand – go back to 1982 and review the history of blunderous decisions made.
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You’re right joe
35 points should get a win.
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Dokish has now jumped off the bandwagon. Check out his Tweets.
Bottomline – this is a game that good coaches win and is a game that Pitt really had to win
There will be no division title this year or bowl game and next year’s team doesnt look any better and the incoming recruits are mediocre.
So knowing this and Pitt knew this with Stallings, why not fire Narduzzi at years end?
Why is football any different?
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and he was absolutely giddy about the hire. He said recruiting would take off. Thought he was the guy to take pitt to the next level, and he hated Chryst.
I too was optimistic. Decent first class with Hamlin, etc. I liked the initial staff; thought Conklin & Harley were up and comers. Chaney was big league (and so was Canada after that). But now…..Harley seems to be invisible recruiting. Conklin a bust. Watson, Bates, Boberly….retreads. I think the carousel hurts more than helps, but we not have a choice but to jump back on.
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Yeah….and most of us actually thought SOP was dead his first year coaching, lol. I did argue that Pitt stinking in nationally televised game was still an ongoing curse, but figured we left the rest behind. Not in my lifetime…
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Ask yourself why give Narduzzi a 7 yr contract. In order to tell recruits he will be around for their college years he needs 4 yrs. So this means Pitt is giving PN 3 yrs. to produce. They just don’t want to begin a search for a while.
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so with that new contract, he uses it to recruit low 3 stars with offers from Bowling Green, Air Force and Holy Cross. That doesnt make sense. So what is he telling recruits?
Any smart recruit will know now that Narduzzi’s job is on the hot seat. Contracts can be bought out.
Pitt should send a strong message that they are serious about winning and are developing a culture to support it. The culture cant be built with mediocre coaches.
The search for a new coach should begin now. To Hell with stability and continuity if results like today are in the future.
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Threats won’t make Narduzzi any smarter or a better recruiter though. Pitt is destined to be the Buttgers of the ACC if they keep Narduzzi.
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Ike…
I posted some then I did a MMQB.
However I didn’t think you wanted to hear me say we beat a poor GT team which they are getting their asses handed to them by Clemson.
GT BTW has 109 Rushing after 3 quarters of play so what we did wasn’t all great.
Ike, this is what we have talked about all summer. Narduzzi cannot recruit and it has been killing us the last two years. That and our staff, that he built, cannot make any halftime adjustments at all and that is a real problem.
Well win a couple more games but we are circling the drain with this H C and staff.
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ODU tied with VT. They have a better QB than us… or maybe just better coaches. And their WR Folgom, is better than any on the Pitt roster.
How come ODU’s coaches out-recruit (or coach) ours?
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VT quarterback just got injured. Maybe if he’s out, we beat them…. Oh yeah, nevermind.. we just lost to UNC’s backup QB.
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I lost faith after PSU.
Reed and Upitt have been correct.
It is time for a new coach. They need to go get Kiffin.
The only thing that can help Pitt is a buzz hire.
Kiffin will be all over ESPN for 2 plus years.
Another no name coach or coordinator will just come in and continue to rot along with the dead corpse.
The pitt program is dead. The smell is just beginning and when it gets really bad then everyone will know.
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You can’t win throwing roll out passes all day.
Plus no one is ever open.
That means no athletic abilities by the players.
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Our best receiver by far is a transfer from Indiana. We are toast people….
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Reed, I’m not quite so sure about that couple more wins after today. This was one they just had to get. They will lose all the road games, and I think Cuse will beat the badly. Let’s just hope my pessimism is as bad as my optimism for this game.
Are the players good enough to win. If not, it’s on the coaches. Are the players not good enough to win, guess what, it’s still on the coaches.
I will also harp on my favorite theme, that being the S&C coach has to go. These kids look no bigger or more muscular than they did as freshmen. Someone said they look soft and doughy, in comparison to the other guys. Could perhaps the second half failures be partially due to lack of stamina?? All kids love their S&C coach, but I’ve questioned this guy for awhile. Guess this is just nit picking with all the other issues.
Remember Pitts new motto “ Stumble along”.
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ODU has TWO WR’s better than any on Pitt’s roster… and maybe better RB’s.
Is anyone else watching this!?
ODO would destroy us– and they’ve been playing football for 10 years.
Game is on CBS SPORTS NETWORK if anybody cares.
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Jay… just turned it on. Thanks for the tip.
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Have no idea who the ODU Coach is… but HIRE him!
Lol
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I’d hire him..
http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=208409198&DB_OEM_ID=31100
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ODU is 0-3
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More experience and success than “Calf Muscles” Narduzzi..
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And I’d still take him over frauddoozy
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I predict Heather steps up to the plate and dumps Nardo
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Only after the season…not mid-season. She will want plenty of time on this hire.
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Lane train!
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My favorite pitt joy of the week:
Paranoid HCPN blocking the press and the fans from witnessing practices only to be so inept as to allow another team to steal signals.
Beautiful irony!
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Old dominion kicking Virginia Techs ass… I am going to pencil them in as a W.
I was there witnessing it in 95° heat and all I can say is this. Pitt football is in trouble.
IMG_1981.jpeg
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Tried to post a picture from the game obviously don’t know how to do it…
Time to start practicing for next years Georgia Tech game
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Send it to me via email
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Upitt…
The program is only TEN YEARS OLD! He started this program from scratch… and has been VERY successful.. first in FCS, now in FBS. He won his division of C-USA in 2016.He’scompeting for recruits against UVA, VT, UNC, NC State, Duke, etc… and getting some studs.
Check out his QB, RB and 2 WR’s.
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I dont disagree but man he is still 0-3.
She needs to go Big. I’d hire a Tressel or a Lane. Go Big or stay irrelevant.
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The ACC was so impressively bad as a whole today that Pitt arguably only had the third-worst loss. If Pitt can’t compete for a title against the dreck that is the Coastal competition in 2018, well, you have to wonder when (if) they will ever compete.
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BigB.
ODU has studs at WR, a poised QB and a solid OL. We don’t.
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Bobby awilder ODU Head Coach .. either him or Jimmy Leacock at W and M is retiring this year.
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Wilder
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In looking at other programs, PSU was no fluke or one off. WVU would be favored by 17 at Heinz and win by 4 TDS. PItt is so poor on every level you have to wonder what exactly is going on. His pressor was Fraud Graham like in that he continues to blame players for missing tackles, not being in position ect.
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His teams are poorly coached like Tomlins. When a team has elite talent, your coaching deficiencies can be hidden. His excuses are getting old real fast.
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Is he telling the truth? Coaches putting them in position to succeed but players unable. Hmmn, maybe I should watch it as I did DVR it.
I’m really disappointed, better be good weather for the next few home games because THIS isn’t worth the drive and spend.
Gotta change my avatar ala TX. Is there a Pitt isn’t it somewhere.
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Tarholes 38 Pitt 35 my prediction
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The Coastal Division in the ACC is as weak as the Old Big East during its dying days. Pitt has failed to adapt to either situation.
What does that tell me? Pitt hires the wrong coaches.
Why do they do this? Because they leave the hires up to AD’s with no football experience or rely on a committee headed by Chancellors who know nothing about sports.
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Oh wait……it’s not Friday. Srry
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but it is Groundhog Day with NC
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Nice gravatar….always liked Mr. Yuk song. Pitt football needs added to the list of things that will make
you sick.
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The way they play in the 2nd half they should replace Sweet Caroline with this song and put the logo on Pitt helmets and on the 50 for home games.
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You can’t win (see Pitt & VT ) in today’s NCAAF if you can’t pass for big yardage. Old Dominion was 0-3 before today, losing to Charlotte, got slaughtered by Liberty 10-52 and lost to Fiu as well but they threw for 500 yards today while VT threw for chump change, like Pitt.
Passing and the Spread is the great equalizer. Pitt other than Canada & Graham(and he was in & out of town so quick Penny didn’t even have time to get a library card) has never recognized this.
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I’d take Penny over Narduzzi. Maybe even Penny’s Yorkie named Touchdown.
Huepel was the hire to make. But we were to busy making excuses for King Pat.
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He would have worked…his first name started with the letter ‘J’.
Has to be a pre-requisite of anyone than can con to come to Pitt.
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I sent this to Ms. Lyke in the 4th quarter. I recommend you all do the same– assuming you actually donate, buy season tickets and attend games, as i do.
“I am a former Pitt student, 17-year season ticket holder and parent of a current Pitt student. This team is an embarrassment. I have watched with much respect as you’ve worked hard to elevate our other programs and purged coaches that do not meet your standard. It is my hope that you will do he same with Coach Narduzzi. If changes are not made, I will not be buying tickets next year.
I spend hundreds of dollars EVERY week and travel hundreds of miles to travel to EVERY home game and 1-2 road games per year. That will change if the status quo is maintained.
H2P”
Only Pitt alumni, season ticket holders and donors have the power to push for change.
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Wow, that was intense. But who can argue with your analysis.
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Many letters such as yours were sent Heather’s way regarding Stallings last year. Those letters and a half empty Pete convinced Pitt that a change was needed. Pitt may be gun shy given Narduzzi’s contract but the money can be found. The cost of continuing along this path outweighs whatever the cost will be to buyout Narduzzi.
If fans lose hope in the future, fans will stop donating and attending games. Fans will stop buying merchandise and saying nice things about the program (look at the blog and twitter implosion from today).
School pride and spirit will suffer.
Pitt’s brand will take a hit.
Think about the message that Pitt can send its boosters and fans. What greater message than to fire a mediocre coach and find the right coach for the future.
If Pitt wants a winning culture, it starts with elite coaches who know how to win.
Outside of a few marquee wins (Penn State and Clemson), what has Narduzzi done?
No Coastal titles
No Bowl wins
And this year Pitt experienced the worst loss to Penn State in 50 years.
The recruiting and player development have been poor. Those are facts and written about and commented on frequently on this site.
The defense has not substantially improved and in fact has gotten worse this year. How can this be with an acclaimed defensive guru as coach.
A solid case can easily be made to rid Pitt of mediocrity and to hire a new coach that can put Pitt on the path to excellence.
I dont think giving Narduzzi more time will solve matters. Nor do I think a change will hurt the stability of the program.
But, I just dont trust Pitt to make the right hiring decision given their poor track record. There are no sure hires so thats why I know its important to also bring in a good staff with the ability to coach and recruit. I actually trust knowledgeable fans more than anyone in the athletic department with a selection.
Can Pitt do better? I believe so. I think its worth finding out.
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Next 3 games are @ UCF, homecoming against 4-0 Syracuse (yea Dungy is still there) and @ Notre Dame
We will not be favored in any of them. Keeping the games close will be an accomplishment.
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Fedora considered this a must win game and sold his players on it. Pitt came in with no sense of urgency and it showed on the defensive side. Narduzzi did not have this team ready to play.
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Once again, if we play anyone with a decent QB(even backups), we can’t stop their passing. Elliot was only completing like 50% of his passes before today. Today he hit on 71% of his passes, and set a career passing high.
How many no name QB’s have set career passing games against this Defense ?
It’s just ridiculous !
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And he’s their backup…
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Have we set the records on number of comments yet? If not I can draft a couple of pro- and anti- Narduzzi comments to get us over the top.
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Yards per pass (Pitt)5.3 (unc)10.1
That’s with their backup QB folks, the Surrat kid would have thrown for 400 yards
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It takes effort to be this bad.
Defense.
Offense.
Special teams.
And, we can’t even get the coin flip right.
Time to move on from Narduzzi.
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Attendance: 44,168
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Is that counting the mosquitoes?
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lol, over here I haven’t seen a mosquito all summer. The summer of 2017 either. Very strange, no House Flies either, not that I don’t mind, missing these pests.
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4,400 is more like it
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I see a coaching change coming… Today, PITT embarked on a 4 game losing streak and Narduzzi isn’t the guy to right this program… just ain’t happening…
Watching another game on the tube.. cool how other teams have receivers who get wide open and behind people, TEs that catches passes and defenses that don’t blow lunch on 3rd and long… defensive guru my fat butt… he is not bringing us together …time to start looking…$3.5 mil… you gotta be kiddin
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Pitt will most likely get a teaser win toward the end of the year, maybe VT or Miami to give us all false hope, as with clemson and miami the past 2 years. If PN had produced an average Defense,Pitt would have won at least one coastal title and perhaps more. It was not wise for heather to extend PN’s contract.
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That would give then 4 wins then.
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Somebody was calling that months ago. Hmmm who was it?
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Coaching D-
Recruiting D+
Likeability D
Face of a Program D-
So we pay him 3.5M
UVA and Bronco will smoke us.
Our own chance at a win will
be Duke since they lost their Starting QB and Starting CB.
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Duke would probably beat us even with their backup QB. But even the backup got hurt today, don’t know the severity. So their backup to the backup will probably beat us.
Extending Nardo was lyke the payoff of getting hired, me thinks.
Pitt is run like a buffoon Gov’t agency.
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DMV
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Losing a starting QB and CB didn’t hinder UNC, now did it?
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I feel like Charlie Brown and the team is Lucy. Every time I start to believe in them Lucy swipes the football away and I land on my butt. I feel bad for the players- the coaching they are receiving is not developing them as players. I’m glad to say I will miss the Syracuse game so I can watch my son run in his last cross country home meet. I’ll miss Fran’s tailgate, though. That’s been the best part of the home games this season. I WILL see a great home volleyball game next Friday night. The women’s team is on fire, and we should support them as much as possible. H2P.
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Add to that fact that Narduzzi is an arrogant ass who turns off fellow coaches and recruits and I don’t know why we don’t make a change Monday morning at 8am.
“This team will win the Coastal Division says he” idiot!
And yeah, this is now personal.
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Moronic Right. He should try to win more than 4 games vs. winning a Mac level coastal.
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Again.. I hope all of you frustrated Panther fans, alumni, donors, etc. are sending emails to Ms. Lyke. Only a STRONG response from stakeholders will move the needle.. see Stallings.
I want Narduzzi fired as he walks off the field following the Miami game… if not before. This is NOT getting any better.
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Walt Harris still lives in town.
Wanny would probably come back now that Smiley is gone.
Fraud is working for free in Belicek land and would probably want to redeem himself, especially since Penny now has family in Wilkinsburg.
And all would take less than 3.5M
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Narduzzi is Foge… if Foge was a bad person. Which, I’m told (by many who knew him well) he wasn’t.
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Check this out @ halftime Oklahoma 21 Army 14.
We’d be blown out ala Okie State by the half vs Oklahoma. Cause we have no offensive system than can
compete with teams with better talent than us. (which is most of them)
Pro-Style Drop back passing with emphasis on the run is so so 1970’s.
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Remember when Army beat Navy and then we played Navy in the bowl game? Something like that….
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Remember when folks worried PN was going to return to MSU?
Ah, the good old days.
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it worried Heather enough that she extended him
So with this reward, Narduzzi goes out and recruits a bunch of 2 and 3 stars
He goes out and gets retreads for assistants
He continues to close practices and gets even snarkier with the media
everyone at Pitt will look bad if they have to fire Narduzzi
As a fan, I’m telling Pitt that they have to because I’m looking bad right now
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Hahahaha. Only competition for him now is with Bell Vernon and Mapletown or Beaver Falls High School.
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I am at a loss for words after the poor performance in the game followed up by press conference with Mr Arrogance’s blame to players. I have 8 season tickets for 15 years and if my sons were being recruited by him I wouldn’t allow them to be coached by the Man Little things make bigger problems.
Homecoming you will have few people at the game I can’t give my tickets away. Pitt wants support and donors and buy tickets and in return after four years we get nothing but excuses.
He says the QB is a freshman yet today alone how many freshman played and did well. Excuse and never has he taken the blame. Close when he says we coaches have to work harder. Never it’s my poor game plan second half adjustment s never made and terribly prepared for the games. Too many mistakes.
We are doomed but after years of frustration who cares. Time to watch teams who are ready prepared and are exciting. 60 points next week50 followed by 50for our next four opponents. The defensive guru can hang his hat on that. I’m frustrated angry and tired of excuses
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It is no mystery that other teams make second half adjustments and we DO NOT.
Are the kids getting the conditioning to play a full 4 quarters? A lot of breakdowns in the secondary in the second half as the opponent adjusts to our secondary play from the first half and our kids look tired and confused..
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On top of that Frank, it’s not been the coordinators. Only Canada made changes, every other offense and defense doesn’t make the correct adjustments and I think it’s because Canada is the only one with the gonads to go against the grain.
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Touchdown Army……21-21 vs OU….almost end of 3rd Q
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Just watched his postgame presser… WHAT A JACKASS!!
“We practiced it all week. We just didn’t do it today.”
“We didn’t tackle today.”
“North Carolina is a good football team.”
“They have players on scholarship, too.”
“We didn’t have focus for 60 minutes.”
Not ONE thing directed toward him or his staff.
Let’s assume it wasn’t the coaches.. HE RECRUITED THESE PLAYERS.
Be a man.. Say “This is on me.” And then shut up. He’s a jerk.
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Narduzzi = Excuses.
The 412 crew/Take it/Lock the gates.
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Saw this train wreck last winter.
Emel
February 26, 2018 at 6:01 pm
That’s 3 or 4 wins in football. Bball will be less than 3 in the conf, if Luther comes back. If not, it could be zero again. (this was before they fired Otis)
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Mid 4th Q Army driving…..21-21.
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That press conference, unbelievable. Using an analogy of potty training a dog? What a doofus
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It’s amazing how quickly the wheels can come off. And it’s even more amazing what a bad ad can do to a program. Nebraska, once the pride of the Big 8, the leader of the pack, pretty much the gold standard. It has fallen further and landed harder than we ever will, and there is little relief in sight. New coach will need years to bring them back.
Like it or not, the decision was made to step away from big time football and become a basketball school when the Pete was built. Weather we can even be a successful basketball school is in question. Heathers move with the Duzz goes down as one of the more puzzling things an ad has done at Pitt. There was simply no need to do that.
I don’t see any light at the end of this tunnel. If the players who start are the best on the team, and the backups can’t beat them out, what in the heck is going to happen next year when 15, yes, 15 starters depart? There is no indication the recruiting class will provide any real help. There most likely will be kids that transfer out, and does it really matter if the schedule gets easier. This staff hasn’t shown the ability to beat cupcakes. Before anyone starts jumping up and down about The Duzz’s first two years, you have to look at the direction the program is trending.
I honestly think everyone, yes, everyone on this blog will eventually come to the realization that the Duzz isn’t the answer. It just takes some longer than others. St. Thomas syndrome. I think all, if being honest, will admit things look bleak. Lack of talent eventually gets exposed. Speed, skill, and athletic ability or the lack thereof, also becomes evident.
At this point, if, and I say if, they only win 3 or 4 games, I’ve seen enough. What will they lose? The recruiting class? It’s not very good anyhow. Our reputation? Guys, we don’t have a good one anyhow. Attendance, it always sucks and will only get worse if they tank and bring him back.
Stay the course, believe in the process. OK, let’s do that, and let’s see how that works out. And when people wake up and realize a change needs to be made, and the coaches you want say thanks but no thanks, well, go to the Pete and watch what the administration has allowed us to become, an intercity basketball school.
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Frost is good. They will be okay. Riley is a even bigger idiot than narduzzi and ran the program into the ground
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Have to wonder what PN is thinking nowadays.
He made it to a HC of a P5 school after being a highly touted and compensated coordinator. Good for him.
Now the pressure must be so enormous and the doubts must be excruciating to his ego. He probably has enough money and has to be wondering if this is all worth it.
Clearly he is struggling to develop any sense of an improvement plan. Things are spiraling and he has lost the support of most fans. He knows he isn’t getting the thoroughbreds necessary to be at the same level of his competition.
My guess is the writing is on the wall and he knows it. Sure, he’ll keep doing his best and may even find a few good moments. But his time here is about all but passed and he won’t admit it to anyone but he is most likely looking for an out. Only ADHL can give that to him now as no other HC opportunity awaits him. Only she can make a decision that’s good for him that he can’t make himself.
Once the inevitable happens, he’ll land back on his feet as a coordinator at a lower level, maybe even drop to high school, and you know what? He’ll be the happiest he’s been in several years.
But, what do I know….
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I predicted us to be 2 – 5 to start this year. Hopefully we are not on the way to that.
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2-5 is a virtual lock.
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haha….Army takes OU into OT.
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Amazing that Wake did not sell out their game today with Notre Dame, with only a 31,500 capacity.
You could see plenty of empty seats all over their stadium/
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It probably will be 100 degrees on the field in Orlando next week. Hopefully the staff gets the kids ready for that
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Look for all-whites again next week…
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LOL. This staff has never had the kids ready for anything.
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LOL. This staff has never had the kids ready for anything.
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I do not need another lost weekend on Monday night.
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Who cares about the NFL? Illiterate, woman-beating, touchdown dancing millionaires…
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and mostly anti-American to boot
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@TX Panther I copied your post below so I can add one additional crucial point I feel you left out……A Pitt Administration that will 100% backup every point you listed below. To fix 30+ years of “SOP” will take a big financial commitment. I’m not sure how much the Pitt Administration really wants to win. I’m not saying Pitt Elites don’t want to win, but I am saying they don’t want to pay for a consistent top 20 football program. Power 5 conference, 6 to 8 wins, and stay out of the news is the Mission Statement. It is why I’m not sold a new coach brings us anything more than Paul Chryst, Narduzzi, Fraud Graham, or Walt Harris 6 to 8 wins and more dust on the 1976 National Championship Trophy and memories. I hope I am wrong.
“September 22, 2018 at 5:26 pm
need someone that knows how to recruit
need someone who will hire young, aggressive assistants with high ceilings
need someone familiar with the conference
need someone with an offensive background
need someone with proven head coaching experience
need someone who can develop players”
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Wow, Pitt had a chance when we first came in the ACC to wipe out all the mediocre or worse years of BigEast Football membership (save for the DW last 3 years).
We had a chance to define a new Pitt, since many of these ACC peeps didn’t know much about Pitt football.
But they figured they’re from Pittsburgh and Penna, so they might be good. A new Beginning if you like.
Cause it was a New Beginning. And we were going to have unseen amount$ of Revenue Pitt had never seen before.
Instead of hiring someone dynamic for this New Beginning. We got about the most blase, most boring person they could find. And they knew he was going to be a temp. All of this going on at the same time Psux was vulnerable. A Dynamic hire…. then……..could have changed everything.
Anyone knows, opportunities like that only come along so often. And it was an Epic Fail by Pitt’s BoT’s.
Now we’re just SOP again.
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College football coaches last on average 5 years. So it wouldnt be unusual for Pitt to replace Narduzzi after year 4. It would also give Pitt a chance to get the hire right. I view it as an opportunity…a new beginning for football.
Whats the point of continuity and stability if it results in stagnation.
But Pitt has to first realize that the program is off track and not heading in the right direction. Pitt has to realize that Narduzzi’s ceiling is probably 8-9 wins.
We’ll see how serious Pitt is about football based on whether they make a change or not and who they hire if anyone.
The goal every year should be a Coastal title. Right now we arent competitive and wont be next year given lack of player development and any elite players. Right now, there is little hope for the future.
Remember when ticket holders dont renew, Pitt takes notice since Pitt barely has enough now for the football program to make money.
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Pitt isn’t a blue blood now, and we weren’t in bball either. Actually Pitt had very little bball tradition compared to football, where at one time we were a Football blueblood.
How Pitt became a ‘player’ in bball was, they bought their way in.
Much like a line in the movie Wall Street, Gekko says even though he had gone to NYU or City College, he was able to
buy his way in, among all the Ivy League schmucks
If Pitt wants to become a football blueblood again, they’re going to have to ‘buy their way in’.
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Narduzzi’s ceiling is 6-7 wins with his own players who he has been coaching and developing….especially in his sub-moronic system.
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@Emel
AMEN!!
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And they followed up that… ‘easiest thing to do’ hire, ….that was done for them by Godfather Barry, with another guy who had NO Head Coaching experience.
So if guy #1 with NO Head Coaching experience wasn’t bad enough, at such a crucial time in Pitt Football, they follow it up with guy #2 with NO Head Coaching experience. Who didn’t bring one asst coach with him.
I mean you’d be hard pressed to write this stuff up in a fiction book.
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I think the truly disturbing part was in the second half when Narduzzi subbed-out those superstars Briggs, Motley, Jackson and Zeise w/ Garner, Mathis, Pinnock and Bright… they were making the same mistakes in coverage and reads. The 3rd and 17 – that was Pinnock losing his man while the floater was in the air.
This is all on a serious lack of talent. Not just recruiting but talent evaluation. These guys in their 2nd and 3rd years in the program are NOT ready to play.
Lyke extended after a 5-win season which tells me it is loaded w/ incentives and a friendly buyout. Just something an ego-maniac like Narduzzi would jump on. This will be over quick.
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Black-Man, you might be on to something regarding the way PN’s contract is worded. Something to think about.
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You would think the financial commitment is there given both Heather and Narduzzi just got big extensions after proving very little.
In the past, Pitt did care very little about winning, about how Pitt’s brand is impacted through athletics. It would do the bare minimum to breakeven financially.
However, the ACC is forcing Pitt to spend and improve their level of overall competitiveness. ACC membership is a privilege and the conference brand is only as good as its weakest school.
Pitt has hired something like 13 new coaches in the past 2 years. The athletic department has grown with more assistants and staffers. Recruiting budgets have increased. There is the Victory Heights initiative. Pitt is spending the money more than ever before on sports.
Now whether its being spent efficiently and effectively on Pitt’s 19 programs is another argument. I would argue that the money spent on a program like football is not generating a sufficient enough return.
The $27M annual check from the ACC helps. The new network will provide $5-$7M more each year (Pitt had to pay $12M to get ready).
But Pitt is having trouble with revenues that offset these expenses and pay for needed investments. Attendance (ticket sales) being the primary revenue driver. Remember, the football program is supposed to help pay for Pitt’s Olympic sports programs. It really needs to generate a profit.
At this juncture, Pitt is very close to having season ticket holders not renew for next season. Pitt will also find it harder to make new fans or attract more casual fans to attend games because of the poor record, lack of exciting football, lack of marque players, lack of hope. Hope being the most critical.
I think it really comes down to making the right hiring decisions and ensuring the head coach has everything needed to be successful. And Narduzzi has everything he can ask for. Previous coaches weren’t so lucky.
The athletic department has a very poor track record at picking football coaches and these search committees are used as cover. 5 random commenters on this blog could do a better job at finding Pitt’s next new coach than anyone in Pitt’s athletic department.
If Pitt gets the coaching hire right, there is no reason to think that Pitt cant compete and win ACC championships.
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All of that is pretty accurate Tex, but only the pick of Jeff Capel to lead the bball program gives us any hope at all, that they might possibly get it right with the football hire. Nothing in Pitt’s past 35 years of football hires, other than Wanny says they will get it right. And the one time they got it right, they even managed to screw that up.
Also remember Capel wasn’t their choice. It was Hurley. So maybe we’ll stumble into another good hire that way.
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The new baseball hire has been great. Why Penn State was playing West Virginia at PNC Park every year because the old coach never wanted to go off campus was asinine.
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What the heck are you basing that off of? A lifetime assistant is a great hire?? Just bc he was at FSU? Come on Ted.
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On the bright side……….
With the unis we wore today nobody knew who we were anyway!!!
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Yea maybe next week ,we can eliminate ‘Pitt’ from the helmets ! 🙂
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Maybe local recruits will think we’re the pedos… (Maybe Narduzzi is a genius after all!)
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This from the Tarheelblog
Nathan Elliott, who has not looked the part of a Division I quarterback to this point in the season was boosted by an effective ground game that allowed him to do a little less in order to lead his team to victory. Elliott finished the game with 313 yards through the air on 22-of-31 passing.
Leave it to a Pitt Defense to make almost every QB look like Peyton Manning.
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And this seems to be a common theme with all colleges, who want their teams to win.
Nice win!
Almost a must win. If the Heels had lost there would be over twice as many comments. I guess that’s just the way it goes.
Posted by LCS70 on Sep 22, 2018 | 6:08 PM
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It just gets old. It really does. This game really upset me. I want to support my team, but it’s almost to the point if I wanna see a game live I’ll buy a ticket, not ready to drop season tickets yet, but man I’m getting close. I know this was a road game, but I am so sick of walking 5 levels down, saying this program is a joke, and that is exactly what it is. This was not a good team we played and really a must win, complete and utter failure…way to go “Duzz”….
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The funny thing is that the offense is actually better than expected while the defense is the dregs, a combination of lackluster recruiting and inferior coaching. They literally had no answer, I believe had one three and out all day. Can not stop the run or pass. Very sad.
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Honest question for those that would like to see a coaching change, I myself would like one but sat down after this game and decided it would be better to sit through another season. Who would you like to see us bring in? Ryan Day will most likely be named Head Coach in Waiting and Pitt doesn’t pay enough for him to leave for us. What are some options that would make you happy like we all were when Narduzzi was brought in?
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Do you try to go back to the well and grab Canada before they give him the full time job title at Maryland and whatever restrictions they are given by the NCAA?
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I wasn’t happy when a DC was hired who just got smacked by Baylor was hired.
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i remember you saying that upitt!
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Wow over 750 comments! Crazy. Pitt fans sure have passion.
Two comments. I really, really, really hate when people on this blog attack the optimists and claim they are the reason for all of this. Seen it before. Really? I mean, REALLY? Lets take a step back of the ledge. PittPOVers have absolutely nothing to do with this. I mean wow if we have so much power then someone start thinking about curing cancer…it might just happen if POVers put their minds to it. We are little, puny fans lets not have delusions of grandeur of the power we have. Sure, the more people who express dissatisfaction to the admin directly might be a cherry on top but admins decide on action based on their own desires of what program they want, what the big boosters want, and of course, $$$.
Second: My boss is a UNC fan. So COMPLETELY sick and tired of losing to them specifically you have no idea. UGH!!!!!! (translation for ugh: every swear word in the book Reed wont let me post here!). So yes I am on the bandwagon now, officially. It is time to look for a new head coach.
Oh and third, Reed, I would love an article that talks about what it takes to be good again. Specifically, there are programs whose recruiting rankings are the same as ours, or perhaps only marginally better, and yet the results are different. Why are the results different? Because I assume Pitt’s recruiting can only ever get marginally better. Maybe I am wrong about that.
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Look what we do in second half’s. Always flat. Bad coaching. Good coaches make adjustments. Not Frauduzzi. Outcosched every game and personality of Saban even though he never did a thing if not for a Chryst s players. Next year will be even worse.
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Good nights sleep and morning coffee. Then I read the PG. Third and final installment of Pitt into the ACC was good. And then I read The Duzz s post game comments. Potty training dogs? I think someone slipped something into his pasta. This guy is nuts! Delusional. Every old cliche is trotted out. Clueless on how to fix anything.
I see we lost another recruit, this time to East Carolina. Not sure how good he is, but we apparently wanted him. We keep losing kids to some really poor programs. Recruiting isn’t going well. But I think the biggest problem is the staffs ability to recognize talent. Some of the kids they go after leave me scratching my head. My buddies and I see these kids play and wonder what they see in them? I’ve heard the diamond in the rough, and believe in the process thrown about. Well, waiting for diamonds from this process will take about as long as coal becoming a diamond.
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Also, the ACC is really bad this year. And we may finish near the bottom of this dumpster fire. That, my friends, should speak volumes.
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Narduzzi is going to get a fifth season no doubt. The extension saves him from being canned and since I’ve read on here numerous times that athletics cannot dip into the endowment fund, Pat and his awful staff will be back in 2019. Who in their right mind with money will give a huge check to Lyke to pay off Naduzzi? I’d tell her to take a hike.
The school has no leadership when it comes to football, so who do you trust to finally make the right hire? Lyke? She gave this clown an extension to show continuity with recruits and the staff has gone out and signed a bunch of three-star players.
Face it, the only hope is after getting pummeled by UCF, Pitt beats Cuse, Duke, Virginia and Wake to get to six wins. Maybe upset Virginia Tech to get to six wins.
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Lyke IMO thus far has made 100% the right moves…yes, 100%. In every sport.
Except in football HOWEVER.
But that does not mean she can’t or won’t. It is easy for us to say just fire the bum. But of course there are probably 50 other important considerations at play here. I agree it is really hard to see Nards not being our coach next year. Of course I said that on here about Stallings 1/3 into the Bball season and look what happened. Well, actually, what happened is a 0-for in the ACC which made the decision much clearer!!
So I will give Lyke the benefit of the doubt and place a LITTLE faith she will start doing some of the right things in Pitt football and unfortunately it might take time.
That said, I hope she is starting the process. Just like it seemed she did in hiring Capel…starting to put out feelers, working the network behind the scenes. Would love nothing more than for her to talk to Tressel and pre-arrange his commitment to come here before firing Nards. We can dream, at least!
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Pitt should have hired Tressel after Graham left, but typical Pitt not touching a guy with some baggage with a 10-foot pole.
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Pitt needs a football guy to make the call. I know that sounds sexist but you really need a guy that knows the sport and has connections. Someone like Tressel or Spurrier does. Pay them to consult.
Heather never played football or coached.
Barnes was a basketball guy
Gallagher is just some nerd that probably cant even throw a football
The process should be started now
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Barnes was a fat head nobody. He sat on a board. Big freaking deal.
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Oh, Nate, I can’t see them beating more than one of those teams. Anyone, I mean anyone who can throw will beat this team. It’s year 4 and not only can’t they stop the pass, the qbs they face set records against them!! We have gone 3+ years and 2nd and 3rd stringers are setting records. These kids have career days against us. I, in all seriousness, ask do you see improvement? It’s everyones fault except the scheme. Really? If after this length of time Duzz can’t see this is there any hope it will change.
We are becoming everyone’s homecoming game. “Stumble along”
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I’m on board with a change though I don’t see it happening for fiscal reasons. Not defending HCPN but there were many missed tackles and assignments. KP needs to learn to get rid of the ball, it seemed that on the rare occasions he had time the receivers weren’t open, still throw it away. Now all this could be due to bad coaching and a lack of talent but it did happen. Good thing I suffered through the 70-72 seasons, it set the bar low ( enjoy the winning years when you get them).
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Yes it reminds me an awful lot of Carl DePasqua and I hope we don’t descend to Dave Hart of JMII.
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3rd and 17.
Stand on the first down line and keep everything in front of you.
That is coaching…and we didn’t do it.
Blame the players, the bus driver, the guy who sells cotton candy.
But it is on the head coach and he isn’t getting it done.
The hallmark of good leadership is analyzing trends.
This trend is apparent:
Less wins; poor recruiting; unhappy fan base.
Make a change. Take out a loan if you must. But this has all the makings of Stallings 2.0
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Suggestion for the UCF game…Go with the all white unis.. gonna be really hot like it was yesterday and white reflects the heat but take it a step further and add a white helmet with a blue stripe…at least you will look like a winner!!!(you impassioned fans will immediately recognize you as the Pitt Panthers because the numbers represent the arches in the Catherdral)
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OK Duzz, the players in the secondary have changed over the past 3+ years. The results haven’t. Maybe, I mean maybe, those couple of years at MSU when you had two high caliber NF
L players back there are the outliers? You keep recruiting a bunch of dbs, but you keep getting torched. It’s crazy. You have a staff that can’t coach or recruit and even if they could coach you have a head guy that insists that what is not working is the right way to go about it!! Nuts!
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If Pitt cant have Tressel as the next coach, at least bring him in as a consultant in the search. And bring Spurrier in to consult as well. I dont trust Heather, Gallagher or any committee.
But I think the criteria should be:
proven head coach (record, ability to recruit and develop)
familiarity with the ACC
offensive mind
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Fifteen years as a season ticket holder. I have watched Pitt since 1967 and started with three 1-9 seasons.
Pitt will keep narduzzi due to lack of money and donors to change this mess. I pay over five grand a year for eight season tickets and parking. Try to sell them and I get nothing. Why go Thur another year or even finish this season.
I love college football and drive four hours to see the games go to away games but tough to support this staff lead by narduzzi. I feel he lacks all the ingredients to be a GOOD head coach. Blames others arrogant but a loser Tough to accept his reasoning. I do feel for the players who I feel care but are out coached every week. It all starts with fundamentals blocking tackling. Which we are poor in. Our administration has to be embarrassed by his coaching antics on the field offf the field and how he puts an ill prepared team on the field every week. My son the most die hard defender of the bye one win Does that help no but who will care but us fans.
We have what we have and are stuck. coach has finally reached his end with this debacle I hope we win but I see one victory at most in the future. Reed research most points given up in three games for our next three opponents. Hang in there. H2P and we have to be one of the most embarrassing teams in college football with a clown as the pilot
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Every team has some breakdowns, blown assignments, missed tackles. Ask yourselves, are these isolated incidents or do you see this almost every week. If you can say they are isolated OK. If not, what you are doing to,correct it is not working. You recruited these kids, oh wait, your recruits can’t even beat out the kids that are screwing up!! Think about that for awhile!
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Gasman right on…3rd and 17. My WatchESPN froze right as he threw it. It looked like he was throwing up a prayer when my screen froze and I thought, yes! Bring in the punting team. Then the screen unfroze, announcers yelling joyously…and I thought…
SOP.
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One spot I was really down on yesterday: the middle of the defense. Roy, Watts/Camp and Wirginis getting gashed up the middle. How do four players not come to play? A shame the seniors took no pride in never defeating Carolina in their careers before yesterday and now leave school 0-4 against the Heels.
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Meanwhile… PITT’s Former Coach who could NOT speak and dress let alone coach or recruit… guides his Team to a Win against a VERY GOOD Iowa Team by showcasing SOLIDLY-Coached football in every facet of the Game.
Point is… confusing anything Chryst with everything Narduzzi is LAUGHABLE!
Chryst NEVER blamed Players, always took responsibility and always showed CLASS… even when wearing a XXXL Sweatshirt that hadn’t seen the washer in weeks.
When Narduzzi is finally forced out at PITT… and it’s coming rather than later… very easy to GUARANTEE that you are NOT going to see Narduzzi Head-Coaching anything.
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Chryst is a jerk because he left without coaching his kids he recruited in their bowl game here at Pitt. His unemployed assistant coach had compassion on them though and coached the game, so I forever root against that jerk.
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UNC needed a win badly and we gave it to them in the second half.
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avg tenure of Pitt coaches in the modern era
Majors 1 – 3
Sherrill – 5
Foge – 3
Gottfried – 4
Hackett – 3
Majors 2 – 4
Harris – 8
Wanny – 6
Graham – 1
Chryst – 3
Narduzzi – 4
The avg tenure is 4 years
So I would think one would be inclined to keep Narduzzi if:
one believes in continuity which may lead to stability
one believes the buyout is cost prohibitive
one believes that Narduzzis recruiting classes are good
one believes that Narduzzi will be able to turn things around
one believes in having patience
one is embarrassed by having to fire the coach
I for one believe:
What is the value in continuity if it leads to mediocrity and program stagnation
Nobody but Heather knows the cost of the buyout but I would think it would be similar to Stallings in the final amount ($10M). There are boosters out there who will pay it.
Narduzzis classes have been higher ranked than Chryst (avg 40 compared to 60 in ranking); But the trendline is down. This years class ranks in the high 50’s based on star ratings. Pitt needs to be getting around five 4 stars each year and to have the avg star of its class around 3.3 to compete in the Division. Our recruits should be getting offers from Va Tech, Maryland and Kentucky…not Elon, Holy Cross and Bowling Green
Does anyone really think Narduzzi can turn things around after seeing the results over the past 1.5 years? Year 4 is the year when its all supposed to start coming together. How much more time is needed for this defensive genius to install the Michigan State system?
If Pitt is fine with a half empty Heinz and is willing to lose money, then patience is a virtue. If its concerned about revenues and its brand, patience is a vice
One should have no shame in firing someone who is not a good fit and who has under-performed. Pitt is paying HCPN $3.5M to win Coastal titles and recruit 4 stars. Pitt is throwing money away at this point.
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Sadly I will insert my “Good, Bad & Ugly” comments now as I have a busy work week ahead. Gladly, I have a fun day planned with my grandkids. Maddeningly, I am still a Pitt fan.
GOOD: 1. Houdini in the game for 3 plays and averaged 11.1 yard per carry.
2. Completed my yard work while Pitt scored (7) second half points (the yard work is the good).
3. My golf handicap has improved by 2 strokes during this “not so good” Pitt FB season.
4. My grandkids are visiting my house today.
BAD: 1. Houdini with only 3 touches and then disappears.
2. D with only 2 QB hurries and 1 sack.
3. Special Teams play/execution/coaching.
4. The Pitt secondary (again and again and again and again…)
UGLY: 1. 1st Pitt offensive series – set the tone for the day (2nd and 2 at UNC’s 45, QB takes a 14 yard sack) – pound the ball on the ground for a first down. A good QB doesn’t take that sack (THROW THE BALL AWAY) and the OC needs to call a better play in that situation.
2. Uniforms
3. ACC refs (by no means an excuse for the loss)
4. Pitt FB in general
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UNC’s backup QB had his first ever 300 yard passing day.
UNC’s RB yesterday had his first ever 100 yard rushing day.
For 4 years straight players from opposing teams have had career days against Narduzzi. He doesn’t have a clue how to defend a forward pass. His defense does not work in this conference.
In the last 15 power five games, UNC has two wins. Guess where those two wins came from?
Did you hear the presser after the game. Bad, really bad. Did you hear him mentioning it takes time….he’s feeling some heat.
In the past he bad mouthed Conklin, Canada and him and Chaney didn’t end well. Its not a good look when a head coach is bad mouthing assistants when they are exiting the program. What comes around goes around.
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760 comments? Pitt football does not deserve 760 comments.
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“It’s just like potty training a dog.” – Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi
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I guess like this
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Dane Jackson just got “Mossed” on ESPN.
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And to think Posters here MOCKED Paul Chryst.
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Chryst lost to BYU last week … He was a 6-6 coach at Pitt.
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Were so lucky to have that MSU blueprint you have mentioned many times in the past…
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LMAO. So True
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He’s also a spineless rat who abandoned his recruits here before their bowl game to flee to Wisconsin to fatten up on beer & cheese.
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What a total bummer that game was. I admit to being surprised how the defense played throughout the entire game. The big first down runs up the middle being the biggest disappointment for me. Pickett’s play continues to worry me as well. He locks into his receiver with his feet moving and guns the ball without much finesse. KP has a lot of work ahead of him for sure.
Mistakes again yesterday, some on the players and some on the coaching staff. Make that a lot on the coaching staff. Strange the game came down to a player that reminds us so much of Q Henderson (Ffrench) with his fumble. I told my wife after UNC scored the go ahead TD that I felt a turnover. Not sure she knew what one was but sure enough, there it happened. I explained to her that is what a turnover is… (boo). I never boo out loud, only in parenthesis. That was a tough loss to take. ike
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Why didn’t Tipton secure the ball on the Ffrench fumble? It hit him was right in his hands. Make your first play of the year, kid. It sure would have helped your team.
There will be some easy attrition at the end of the season with this collection of players.
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BTW, front page of the trib today was a picture of the Pickett face mask non-call, plain as the nose on your face or like the holding non-calls on Jackson and Hendrix on the UNC TD.. . . etc etc. ….
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Trent Holler from Latrobe picks East Carolina to his next home team..
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ECU…perfect. The team that just manhandled the team who just manhandled us!
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Smart kid…
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Lol
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Pitt’s next five opponents have a combined record of 18 and 1……..yikes!
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Hey, I’m impressed. Narduzzi potty trains his dogs.
Of course, I’d have to see it to believe it. Call me a Pessimist.
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Wisconsin has had 7 double-digit win seasons in the last 9 years. Pitt has had 1 in the last 35.
Even Gary Anderson averaged 10 wins in his 2 years at Wisconsin before going 7 and 23 at OSU before they an him out.
wwb
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Holler is unrated by Rivals Reed, you would have crucified and murder-lized Narduzzi for picking up Trent Holler. Just another game PITT can’t win.
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^^ and btw… just to make the record clear for those who have a foggy brain. That’s not sticking up for Narduzzi. It’s the plain truth.
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it still shows what recruits think of our “football” program
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Ikester… you have to quit confusing Narduzzi with Pitt.
Narduzzi is NOT Pitt. That would be us!
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and you have to quit confusing Narduzzi with failure. It’s much more the program than the coach … and we have a 30 year sample to prove it.
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the program is giving Narduzzi everything he needs:
a contract extension
a budget to go out and get assistants
a budget for recruiting
a nice pro stadium and practice fields
a hands off AD
a good conference and easy to win division
this failure is all on him. His recruiting stinks. Player development stinks. His staff hires have been horrible. His players cant cover or tackle.
Previous coaches had legitimate excuses from a run down Pitt stadium to Pitt going cheap to a conference falling apart.
Pitt has made a major investment in football and is getting a very poor return.
What more can Pitt do for Narduzzi besides coach and recruit for him??
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While I agree that Narduzzi should be able to do better, Pitt is no longer a football school, and hasn’t been one since the late 80s. And just because the BB program may currently stink, that doesn’t make it a FB school.
The administration has consistently dropped the ball over the past 30 years, and now it is just too large of a hill to climb due to many reasons but primarily
— Western PA FB has been dying out
— Pitt alumna as a rule can care less about college FB. Note that a blog likes this is not representative of the alumna, it represents the hard core fans. Even when Pitt was among the best, it still only sold out a 50k stadium when ND, PSU and WVU chipped in.
I know or have worked with a large handful of Pitt alums, and they all care more about the Steelers or don’t care at all about FB .. except for one person. Honest to God’s truth
wwb
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the money we receive from the ACC is as a result of football and not basketball. Even the ACC finally has realized that they are a football conference.
Football is far more popular than basketball across the nation. Football pays the bills and will continue to help subsidize Olympic sports. If a school writes off football, they might as well start packing their bags since the conference will be telling them to take a hike. If a school focuses more on basketball, it will find out that they dont have the money to properly support their other sports programs.
Its not too large of a hill to climb. Pitt has all the resources needed to field a competitive team in the ACC. All its lacking is an elite head coach.
Look what happened to Pitt basketball after they found 2 elite coaches (Howland and Dixon).
If WPA doesnt have the talent, there are other areas that do. Plenty of good recruits in Ohio, Virginia, Maryland and Jersey as well as Florida.
And Pitt alumni have never cared too much about sports. Look at Pitts donation rates…the second lowest in the ACC. Thats because Pitt never had the culture to nourish sports, develop ways for fans, students and alumni to connect via sports. That can change.
In WPA, we go through hills…not over them.
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A M E N!
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Quit hiding.
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Obviously directed at “Anonymous.”
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Great point tx.
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For those of you still complaining about the refs, it reminds me of an old story the great Beano Cook used to tell. After a game where a great Nebraska team just destroyed a rent a win lower division team, the losing coach was complaining about not getting any calls. Beano’s retort was, “You just got a check for $500,000 to come in here and get whipped. You want to get the calls too?” = Pitt getting in the ACC
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I think “Yinzer” might still be available.
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I suspect a little unrest is beginning by the troops after Hamlin tweeted last evening, I should have listened to my mom…….. which has since been deleted. Hummmmmmm.
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Hamlin was one of the Players that Narduzzi called out by NAME after the Game.
Interesting
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It sounds like Mario, Hamlin’s dad was tweeting during the game. He is not happy with Narduzzi and his defensive scheme. Considering the entire body of work, Pitt themselves should not be happy with Narduzzi’s defensive performance.
I’m not saying this is a given but if Narduzzi is here next year, it wouldn’t totally shock me if Hamlin and Ford transfer out. Like I said, I’m not saying its going to happen but if it did, I wouldn’t be shocked.
On a side note, player development under Narduzzi is a serious concern. Narduzzi blaming players during a press conference is a concern.
Narduzzi talking during UNC week(just below).
“The sad thing about it, (professional development) is getting less and less,” he said. “Ten years ago, we got more of it. You might go two places (to study other programs).
“But this recruiting is getting out of control. It’s ruining football in our development.
“Where do you spend your time? All these summer camps. You get less professional development. Somehow, we have to find time to do that.”
He accused UNC of stealing signs. Its interesting, other p5 schools have an easy time beating UNC.
He needs to stop complaining and spend more time in the film room.
He is feeling the heat.
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So when was the last time we had a decent defense?
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Now that the Pitt beef box is still open. After a day you think a more level headed response would be the case. But that press post game act by Narduzzi was insulting. That BS is placing the program in real jeopardy. Players are not being held to film review standards. Briggs stinks and the game tape shows that. Yet he starts. It is no longer about the coaching being so poor, it is about Heather meeting Narduzzi and laying down the law. Never blame the players for your inability to coach them. Never think you won’t be gone in a NY minute if you continue to take no accountability in this fiasco. He has to go today.
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What’s interesting is the difference a day makes. The I told you folks went silent after the GT game and now are out in full chest pounding bravado. Good for you guys…. ike
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Ike, your wrong. The same people have been posting game after game.
I do agree with you that people are critical even after a win, which I don’t understand.
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many were correct in being critical after the Tech win:
No offense in second half
Bad play calling
No second half adjustments
Bad special teams
All those things happened again with NC
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Ikester… Is that the BEST you got?
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and PoDster, in fairness, read Mr Anonymous entire comment. He signs his initials at the end not like a few who do not. . wwb
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So what percentage responsibility for the defense falls on players vs coaches?
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Ben Dinucci is putting together a really good year. KP not so much. Obviously different level of competition, but still, DiNucci doing well.
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Pickett is far down the list of the problems.
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Gc, I think just about all on the coaches. They are putting our players in vulnerable positions week after week, because our coach is stubborn.
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I saw Wirginis make two bad decisions on two touchdown passes. That wasn’t coaching. Getting gouged up the middle is a lack of physical strength, not coaching. I’d say it is 50/50. Very disappointing no matter the reason.
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Strength coach maybe?
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Narduzzi called him the best LB he ever coached. That is comical.
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Ikester… Show me where I went silent.
Get with REALITY. You’re still desperately playing “catch up.”
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But you’re likeable.
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ike, the Holler recruiting situation is significant because this unrated player actually TURNED DOWN Pitt. BTW, on the contract front, I previously mentioned my theory that Narduzzi’s 7 year deal means he probably has a 3 yr. cushion before getting fired. I also think that in exchange for this long runway time, he probably has agreed to a declining buyout which goes to zero over that period. Pitt usually follows the money unless the publicity makes them look bad, and unless they get a really big check from some donor to clean up the mess I believe they will give him another 2 years.
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it comes down to simple economics. How much tangible revenue does Pitt expect to lose over the next 2-3 years compared to the cost of the buyout this year. And to get real sophisticated – the intangible costs such as brand damage, and other opportunity costs (i.e. hiring an available coaching candidate).
But, it first comes down to whether Heather believes Narduzzi can turn things around.
If she does, she will closely watch ticket sales, season ticket renewals, merchandise sales, donations. And then of course the wins and losses and recruiting classes.
If she does not, she begins the process of finding a new head coach today.
I believe she has everything she needs to make that call today.
Call Tressel and have him act as a consultant.
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And after watching Ford play his limited minutes, I am shocked at his lack of understanding of the defense. He seemed lost out there. What good are the physical skills if there is nothing above the neck? No wonder he is not playing much.
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PoD, I wasn’t referring to you at all. You’re kind of likeable yourself but like myself, just not all that important in the grand scheme of things.
VOR, Thinks about this one. Holler may not feel like taking on the chance of sitting on the bench for 2 or 3 years and then transferring to Slippery Rock? He understands.
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Winning football always comes down to making plays in critical situations. UNC made more yesterday.
If Tipton grabs the fumble he goes for a touchdown, instead it’s a turnover.
I thought KP played pretty well except for the sacks which were killers. He did get away with another underthrown ball on Mack’s great catch.
The lack of big plays on defense season appalling.
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Is appalling
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and even more so … if Stockee makes that pick right before half time, he scores and Pitt goes up by 14. The ball was right in his hands
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Stocker and Tipton each had a chance to make key plays and failed to do so.
Queue the “Yeah, but they’re great kids” from posters.
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That floater UNC completed pushed me over the edge…
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Ike… all good.
As far as I’m concerned. It’s NOT about anything but PITT once again becoming a PROMINENT Player on the National College Football Scene.
Absolutely tired of Pitt Admin going through the PRETENSE. Also little patience with GULLIBLE Fans willing to settle for the SCRAPS they’re being fed by Pitt Admin.
All I’m waiting for… and it may be a LONG wait… are TWO things.
One… a PROVEN Head Coach who is WAY SMARTER than any of us and it IMMEDIATELY shows in both Wins and Recruiting.
And Two… the decision by Pitt Admin to move forward with the building of a new ON-CAMPUS PITT STADIUM that both Students and Alumni can be PROUD of… and DESERVE.
I realize this is asking a LOT and many here and elsewhere would call IMPOSSIBLE.
But, the TRUTH really is… Anything short of these TWO things just means more PRETENSE.
The END.
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The 30000 PITT faithful have so much in common with the Buffalo Bills fans… every home game they fill the stadium ( as well as living rooms all through-out N Carolina where they all seem to re-locate to) ever hopeful. It’s gotta be in our genes….darn, we can endure… can’t we!!!
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Fil 1/3rd of the stadium.
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The good. I didn’t watch or listen to the game. So I’m not a complete tortured soul today.
The bad. I saw a score reported Sat. afternoon and Pitt was ahead. Thought perhaps they could do it.
The ugly. They didn’t do it. Don’t seem to realize they have to play two halves. La plus ca change, la plus c’est la meme chose. – Hobie
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The good – scored enough points to win a lot of games
The bad – the defense just isn’t good enough
The ugly – the fans have now turned and the heat is on big time with little to no prospects for things improving anytime soon
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French for SOP
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Here’s a fun fact: in 2016, Pitt had the second-worst pass defense in all of Division I football, giving up an average of 351 yards per game(!!!!).
Two years later, three of the four starters in that secondary are on NFL rosters.
Ryan Lewis spent last year on the Pats practice squad, now on the Bills active roster.Avonte Maddox is a nickel/dime package corner with the Eagles.Jordan Whitehead is starting at safety for the Bucs.
You almost have to work to produce results that bad with that much talent to work with. Way to coach ’em up, Pat.
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That is incredible. More proof that the problem is archaic schemes in a speed conference. Pitt sure knows how to pick its coaches.
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OK Jeff, I do agree with you on that point. Looks like something is wrong there. but, I said for four years that Avonte Maddox was a good player and the poor young man took a beating from the internet experts as being a complete waste. If it had been up to posters and commenters Maddox would have been benched and remember, this follows a long line of PITT defensive backs that were much maligned.
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So it’s not the players.
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That’s my theory. For more evidence, I’d add Matt Galambos as a similar example I never thought he was very good at Pitt; maybe a borderline ACC caliber player. Yet the Steelers thought enough of him to sign him to their practice squad last year, and invited him back for training camp again this year. He got cut this year, but still…when you’ve got defensive players that aren’t performing all that well for you at the college level, but NFL teams still want them, it suggests you’re not getting everything you could be out of those guys.
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I’ve been a strong supporter of HCPN since the day he was hired. This was the year the defense was to be good. It was supposed to keep us in games as the offense improved. The defense is the forte of the head coach. He has not given us a decent season of defense.
We’ve seen some games when they seemed to play well, but way too often they look piss poor at best. He’s played older players over young guys who we’ve perceived to have more natural abilities. I thought he did this as a win now to get a better record and attract higher recruits. Now I’m not so sure.
I think his defense is not suited for the ACC and the coaches know how to beat it quite easily and have done so with regularity. Aside from naming Charlie Partridge as an interim, Narduzzi is going to finish the season by default. If I’m Heather, I either look to Clemson for someone like Venables, or an SEC cast off. It will not be easy, but I’ve had enough of the Big Ten coaches.
This team is a total embarrassment to the program. We’ve actually seen the impossible with this defense, as they have managed to make Matt House’s defense look pretty good. Kentucky’s defense is playing better than Pitt.
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Venables has been at this for a long time. Why hasn’t a school offered him the chance to run his own program?
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There you go again…Narduzzi was a very successful DC before being hired as PITT. What makes you think Venables would do any better than PN if he is hired?
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Because Venables has a pulse…
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I’m not saying it. I’m saying his name is always talked about for jobs but he has never been offered one. Some might think Venebles is the guy but he likely would stink working under Pitt’s administration.
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Should have been “since”, not “dinner” in the first sentence. In my defense, i was typing this while manning the grill.
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^^ So it wasn’t the gin and tonic? 🙂
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In-law… totally agree look south for the next HC…
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To be clear BigB…do you mean look for a HC or a DC or OC?
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I did a podcast this morning but half didn’t record so I’ll do one this evening and combine it with the usual MMQB.
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I say this jokingly Reed to be clear but….. is it possible you were cursing up a storm the one half and wordpress banned you? 🙂
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“But this was Sanders’ night when everything else seemed like such a weary effort. He rolled through a defense like back at Woodland Hills, going 22 times for 200 yards and three scores.”
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Tiger – GOAT
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We are a combination of the movies “ The Waterboy” and “Groundhogs Day”.
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Post game on field interview with ODU HC Bobby Wilder “ not only is this the greatest ( win) for ODU FB it’s one of the greatest for our university!”
That’s the kind of thinking PITT needs.. athletics and academics = symbiosis( learnt that big word at PITT)
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I like it BigB. We need plenty of that, whatever it is, at Pitt from the next head coach. Looking forward to Reed’s podcast tomorrow.
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I say sit Wirginis.
I say sit Hendrix.
I say throw a pass to the tight end, if for no other reason than to see if it can be done.
I say play Sullahuddin….or however u spell his name as he is a player.
But mostly, I say it’s time to find a new coach.
3/4 of the defensive backfield from two years ago is now in the League?
Wow!
Say no more.
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We just call him Houdini. And they should get him on the field somewhere. If you had an innovative OC you would want that speed on the field. Same with Shocky.
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Pitt has a coaching problem. It’s Stallings 2.0
Bad losses
Bad recruiting classes
Low attendance
Apathetic fan base
Angry boosters
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Chris Dokish
@ChrisDokish
Pitt defense total yards
2008 317.2 Wannstedt
2009 319.3 Wannstedt
2010 305.1 Wannstedt
2011 350.6 Graham
2012 330.5 Chryst
2013 364.4 Chryst
2014 359.8 Chryst
2015 363.5 Narduzzi
2016 452.8 Narduzzi
2017 396.6 Narduzzi
2018 396.3 Narduzzi
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I suggested this several years ago, when this defense was the worst I had ever seen at Pitt, not including the JM2 years, because there just wasn’t much talent on the field then.
This MSU defense only works when you’re playing a team with a really bad QB, who’s having a really bad day of just missing wide open receivers. Like that Rozier kid of Miami last year. Or just recently the GT QB who missed several wide open WR’s that would have went for long gainers or TD’s, just last week.
GT QB was 6 for 15 for 66 yards and a pick. A slightly better QB wins that game last week. And Pitt is 1-3, with a non-impressive win over a low D2 team.
And when Nardo was as MSU, there was a plethora of avg. or below avg. QB’s in the Big 10, who didn’t exactly throw for 300 yards on a routine basis. Nor were there many or maybe any Spread Offenses to
defend against. This defense as designed can not defend the Spread with just a competent QB.
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And then the next thing is……any defense would beat a team with a terrible QB having a terrible day.
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Hows that Michigan State defense working out for you Pitt?
Who hired this guy again? Gallagher and Juhl??
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They must have thought Pitt was in the BigJoke based on the Cheesehead Paulie and Nardo hires Tex.
They almost screwed up royally in wanting Hurley for bball. We got lucky he said “no”.
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Going into yesterday’s debacle (the latest one) only 9 NCAAF schools had a worse passing attack than Pitt.
4 of them (navy, army, airforce & Gt) are teams that run the Triple Option !!!
Incredible and incredibly funny 🙂
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So we stink on ALL Fronts……Defense (naturally) Offense & Special Teams.
There really isn’t aspect of the game we don’t stink at. Even coaching as 2nd half results show
we are OutCoached in every 2nd half of every game after halftime adjustments.
We even stink in uniform/helmet selection.
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Our offensive coordinator was shelved at Indiana.
Our offensive line coach was shelved at Maryland.
Our defensive coordinator was a career position coach.
HCPN didn’t go after low hanging fruit. He got the stuff that was rotting on the ground.
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Gasman, thank you for the compliment an article or two ago and/but I remind you that PITT scored 28 pts in the first half Saturday. That’s a lot of pts for a QB starting his 5th game. but it was a loss and the second half a failure again.. so…
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So, I didn’t watch the Pitt game yesterday and have limited my comments this season because I don’t think many get it. This is NOT Narduzzi’s fault. Who of us on here wouldn’t take $3.5M per year to do what he is doing?
If you answered that you would take that money too (as I did), regardless of qualifications, then to fix it, you have to look closer at the real pitt problem.
1.Bad – It begins with the chancellor. Gallagher has a blind spot in sports management. We should all agree on this, including Gallagher. He is highly accomplished academically, but that doesn’t make you a great administrator of academics either. Hence, the lowering of our academic reputation and rankings in the academic community. I digressed. Gallagher’s strengths are not in sport administration or even in hiring sport administrators. His search committee finds itself in the same place. This is not what they do. According to university politics across america, they did the right thing. Understand that the university environment is pushing a diversity and inclusive environment which often conflicts with the best candidate available. If we are all being truthful, we would want the best qualified overall candidate, not the best candidate that checks other boxes. The other boxes make people feel warm and fuzzy. It doesn’t make your organization great. Was our current AD the best Power 5 AD with an excellent track record out there? Or, was she the best qualified candidate from a limited pool because Pitt asked for a lower pool of candidates?
Ugly – The AD is secondly responsible for the football state of affairs. Our head coach was strongly supportive of her hiring. Her hiring tripled her income and made it life changing money for her family’s future. Who here wouldn’t take that money to be responsible for the program? It is a win win for any candidate. Triple your salary. Hypothetically, if you perform well, you get even more money. If you perform poorly, you exit stage left with a lot of money in your pocket so you will never have to work again. In return for Narduzzi’s support of her hiring, the AD gave back to Narduzzi, life changing money for his family into the next generation. It is a very simple quid pro quo. They are both laughing at the fans because regardless of their results, they have the wealth. They end up with the most toys. Our AD hit paydirt (see above) because she had done nothing to show she was qualified for this job. Once here, she fires a bunch of coaches with bad records. No brainer, right? She got extended for this despite not doing anything, really. She fired a bunch of coaches, so what? She will say that the administration now needs to be patient for the next 3-4 years as the new coaches have to get their people and players in place. That buys her time and allows her to accumulate wealth, while the process plays out. She still whiffed on hurley thankfully, and got Capel. Hopefully that works out and she was able to open the checkbook. Time will tell.
Uglier – The BoT. Another group of folks that are clueless about the importance of a successful athletic program that actually can enhance an academic institutions standing and brand. Look, the demographics show that potential students and student athletes will come from the southeastern states in the next 10-15 years. We are uniquely situated geographically to offer potential future students, the ultimate student experience. We are failing and failing all of our students. Keep busing them to and from games. Keep offering Fanta. Keep making them feel that they are not a prt of something and you will convince them they are not. They won’t give back in the future.
Ugliest – Uniforms. Terrible, just terrible. Where are our marketing folks hired by our AD?
I will get off my soap box now…..
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Huff, in 2 words “bad management.”
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Huff, love your write up. But looking back over 40 years tells us that there have been many Chancellors, Athletic Directors, search teams, consultants and BoTs involved. Yet the results seem to be the same- mediocrity. What would it take to break out of this mold? I think that it will take a Chancellor that “by accident” happens to be interested and skilled in sports management (they don’t get hired for these skills), and can select and oversee an AD who will also be sufficiently skilled in building above average programs with only average resources.
This involves finding and hiring coaches and staff with above average knowledge and skills who will work for average money. The few times this has happened, these people don’t stay long. The second part of the equation is having a sustained commitment to success so that these above average people, once identified, are sufficiently compensated to make Pitt a destination rather than a stepping stone. Again, the Chancellor comes into play here.
Thirdly, Pitt needs to understand how to maintain success when it is achieved. Planning has not been a strong suit. How do you maintain the athletic programs using a combination of power, budgets and salary without compromising the mission of the university. This involves facility planning as well as administration and budgeting. Hopefully, the recent contract extension for Heather indicates they have figured this part out. If so, competent coaching across all programs is the next step and she has already started working on it.
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