We all laid down our predictions in Friday’s Prediction Thread and now it’s  game time.  Here is some info to have on hand while you watch the match starting at 3:30 on ESPNU.

This is Pitt’s site with the info on all the games.  Here are Pitt’s offensive stats.  Here are Pitt’s defensive stats.

Here is the two-deep and here are the Game Notes for Pitt in this game.  This is apparently only the Three WR Set two-deep, you know Aston will be in there for the running plays:

Pitt UCF 2 deep

Here are the future opponents we face. Everyone has a winning record but Wake Forest.

Future opponents

Have at it….

Michaelangelo holds a degree in Travel Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a former staff writer for InPittsburgh Newsweekly, and currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a Pitt fan since 1997 after he witnessed Pitt upset #22 Miami on Thursday night at Pitt Stadium.

617 thoughts on “Pitt vs UCF Game Thread; 9/29/18”

  2. Dear Pitt brothers and Annie, I will not be watching with you today as I’ve signed my PFRO, Pitt Football restraining order!

    Last weeks game literally took the joy out of my life. I can only emotionally handle one game this week so it will be the Ratbirds Stillers.

    Bring us home a miracle!
    See yuns at Syracuse next week.

    As always. H2P!

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  4. I deliberately didn’t make a prediction. As I said, it could be a blowout or a typical Pitt headscrather. I know that sounds wish washy but at this time I’m at The Who cares piont. No matter the outcome it won’t change my mind on the state of the program or what needs to occur. It’s sad it’s come to that. I’m still looking hard at how they will win 4 games. I’ll watch ( and attend every home game) but it will be with a different eye. Sigh.

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  5. Oh, my 2 cents on the night game. OSU looked very, very slow vs TCU. They eventually wore them down. I won’t say it as I could never pick the team they are playing…but…..

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  7. Win or lose I can’t tell you how impressed I am with Syracuse. Very good offense, good,but not deep, defense, good coaching. But I’m most impressed with the kickers. Wow, and then look who we came up with! Case closed.

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    1. Agree Joe. Dino Babers is a great coach; i’m not sure of his contract status at SYR, but he’s going to get some big offers this off season if they don’t lock him up.

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  8. I feel you, Dan Aand Dino. I got the PFRO from my wife (a big Pitt fan, too) the last time we lost to Syracuse. Let’s just say she had the kids hide my chain saw that day. UNC felt just about as bad.

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  9. Syracuse getting HOMERED. Happened all day with spots. Now when it really matters a very STRANGE Unnecessary Roughness call.

    But, hey… Cuse Quarterback and Offense had plenty of opportunity to put the Game away.

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  15. Our punter is possibly the weakest I have ever seen— no distance lousy hang time. I have to believe that we can do much better!

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  25. OK, watching on the app. Lucky me….

    We just plain suck!

    But, at least we’re not wasting the good throwback unis so maybe we keep the rest of the nation confused on who we really are.

    H2P!

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  27. Not sure he was burnt. It’s a bad strategy to have a 260 pound linebacker trying to cover a 85 pound track star. Bad scheme. I said prior to the game that pitt needs to play 5-6 db’s to keep up with the speed…and the quick snaps

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  28. 3rd and 12 and a scramble run….the qb has a flair for dramatics.

    He was not a passer. He was a lateral…errr

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  37. Defense has played great until they are in position to stop them and they do some bonehead penalty to keep ye ucf drives alive or Pitt’s coach tries to sub on a 3 and 12 and pitt guys don’t get off the field in time.

    Really bad bad dumb things to do to help ucf.

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  40. agreed bj…. they are momentum killers when you can’t get off the field on 3rd and long.

    looks like the only coaching our guys got was “which player was going to fall down after the play…

    Getting close to cutting the grass time here…

    Slow rollouts against a fast deeefense = not brilliant

    Threw late on 3rd and three. He needs to stay in pocket

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  62. Hands to the face? No one near the qb so Watts must have put his hand on an offensive lineman face? Really odd.

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  69. They are “off” with a lot of their passes.

    But leave it to Pitt D to give up yet another long 3rd down conversion. Nobody does it better than Narduzzi and company.

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  74. I am trying to be positive today. If we can get them to punt more, we have chance.

    Cool golden knight on a horse

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  75. Wirginis stepped up into that block when the RB came to engage, that’s damn poor football intelligence or piss poor coaching.

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  85. The flat was wide open and he looked it off……and went for a big play! uggggh! That is just experience, but it hurts.

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  91. no safety help as the safety bit on the run….

    watched the pick again and puked a bit in my mouth. Shockey Jockey wide wide open in the flat

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  96. Pass over whatever you are smoking pod.

    He is not making good decisions and has been late delivering the ball. If that is an improvement, ok!

    He is throwing the ball with more authority. I give him that.

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  101. Pitt wouldn’t be an average team in MAC. We would be bottom 3rd.

    Out of shape. Soft. Fat. Zero stamina.

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  105. Pitt players are laying on the field.

    There is the 14 point swing I mentioned.

    Lucky for us, were a big time 2nd half team…

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  107. Full House New Stadium. Created a Winning Culture.

    We are stuck with a Gorilla and an AD that extends a Gorilla after 5-7.

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    1. Their admin is committed.

      Watson on that 3rd and long….ouch. He coaches not to lose instead of coaching to win. He had zero demand when his good buddy Pat came to the rescue.

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    1. Anyone who has character can spot a person who doesn’t. We knew Narduzzi lacked even the basics of leadership.

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  112. Pitt SUCKS. All of you need to stop your silliness and admit that this is NOT the coach to win games,and these are NOT the players to win games.

    Anyone defending these LOSERS are hurting the program.

    Hey “optimists”, how you feeling now?

    jrnpitt.. still calling us “downbeats”? You know NOTHING about football.

    Hey Erie Express and Dan72.. can we just golf Saturdays this fall?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Just finished a fun day at the golf course – heading to dinner and fireworks with friends.

      Wish Pitt had a FB team – sad…

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  114. They are good. But, we are just bad.

    UCF’s recruiting is about like ours or possibly even lower. Yet, they are so much better… Coaching.

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  116. UCF isn’t really that great. That is the best part. What was I thinking taking these bums getting 15.5

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  120. coaching and recruiting speed!

    pitt has finally listened to the coaching staff on defense and hit the ground on signal…..

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  121. Obviously faking cramps after looking to the sideline is the kind of bush-league move that gets you noticed on Sports Center. (At this point, that’s about the only reason we’d get noticed on Sports Center.)

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  123. UCF 3 *** players— no super star recruits– extremely well coached. I believe that our AD will have to eat Nardog’s contract at the end of the year. This team is a disgrace!!!

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  125. I’m really surprised Milton’s accuracy is this bad today.

    Lucky for him, Pitt bails him out on EVERY SINGLE 3rd and long.

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  126. Over the past decade we have had issues with different coaching staffs making you wonder if they know how to make second half adjustments. This year’s second half woes have been “epic” however.

    With that being said, which has been more surprising to you with this year’s team: the second-half lack of scoring or the penalties?

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  130. They are fast. We are slow.

    They are coached, we are not, except for faking injury.

    They have an AD and President committed to winning, we do not.

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  135. I predicted UCF with 56. I need to revise that. Up. Way up. This is exactly the way I thought this would go. Thank God I bet. It’s the only thing that gives me any solace while watching this dumpster fire burn. And another penalty….

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  141. Wow, bad call. We had a block in the back on the return anyway.

    But still, why did Hamlin cut that back at the end,,,he was home free.

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  150. To give credit where it’s due, Narduzzi’s teams played with discipline the last couple years — I think we were among the best in the country in fewest penalties. This year we’re so sloppy and undisciplined — is this a sign that Narduzzi is losing some of the players?

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    3. That is why I asked earlier whether penalties or 2nd half lack of scoring has been more surprising.

      Essentially all the concerns explored here in the off-season have shown up. Getting so many penalties was not one of them.

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  152. Its not a coincidence when bad football teams have bad things happen to them. Every single week Narduzzi talks about how good practices are. He’s not being honest. This team has zero coaching.

    Narduzzi = No discipline

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  157. Two steps after the pass.. some people move faster than others. He pushed the qb 1/2 a second after the ball was released .

    That is not a penalty.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Remember when I said earlier the way Narduzzi goes after refs on the sidelines he’s lucky to get any calls. He always is going after the refs.

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    1. Agreed. Bad teams rarely get the calls. Also, when the team is pathetic, fans should not be crying about the refs. There are bigger fish to fry.

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  162. icing the kicker?????????? You can’t be serious. it’s 28-7 and its an extra point length. What could the kicker be worried about. STUPID!

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  164. Icing the kicker when down 21 at halftime. Now that’s coaching!!!! What an embarrassment. Worth every penny of that 3.5 million.

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  166. I have been saying for a couple weeks that this team is undisciplined. That is a clear sign of poor coaching or lack of respect for the coaching staff maybe even both.

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    1. I have said many times. After game pressers and during week pressers, Narduzzi has ZERO answers but he does talk about potting training for dogs and he’s not sure if UCF is better than UNC. He’s not very bright. He was a 30 year assistant, he’s not a HC if you aspire to winning conference championships. If only Pitt Admin and BoT cared about this.

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      2. There is no rule against that. Most coaches do it. But then again, Pitt lost this game by halftime – no need to slow play with tired players – just play the 2nd and 3rd stringers

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  179. Hey All,

    Vacationing in Hawaii this week…went on a 3 mile run, not used to heat and humidity anymore. Checked the score after feeling like I was going to die.

    Funny, it didn’t phase me whatsoever. I was watching the 1st and goal when it was 21-7 thinking wonder how long it will take UCF to punch it in to the endzone.

    Didn’t have to wait long.

    I think I am going to enjoy Hawaii and forget about Pitt for the rest of the day. I just wanted to say hi to my fellow POV’ers and tell you I will have a drink in your honor tonight.

    Dave Dellett

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      1. Oahu, on the west side in Kapolei (Ko Olina resort area). We used to live here back in 2011-2012 and have Ohana here (friends who became family).

        We always come back here because of how close we are to them. We are hoping I can get a job over here again and move back.

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  182. This game reminds me of the ND games in the late 1960s. We lost by at least 3 touchdowms and were never in the games.

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    1. I wouldnt lock up Lombardi for 7 years after 5-8. This is why you don’t hire Heather Lyke. She has fired olympic coaches that nonone cares about and Capel fell
      In her lap.

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  187. Really, when they say the game of football will be unrecognizable in the near future, I’m starting to believe it. No such thing anymore as ‘let the players play.’

    My son, age 10? Why would I encourage the game of football; there will still be head-to-head contact. But in it’s new iteration, teams at all levels will look to scheme to avoid or conversely drawl costly ‘roughness’ penalties by playing it ‘safe.’

    In a game like American Football, that’s sorta like driving under the speed limit. Which is equally dangerous.

    The game was designed to physically aggress one’s adversary. And the progressively game-changing rules certainly didn’t help this Pitt team of ours.

    However, this team under the guidance of this coaching staff cannot be helped at this point.

    For a moment, I really thought Pitt could trade punches with UCF. For a quarter or more, this seemed plausible. Then, it very quickly didn’t seem so plausible, afterall.

    Never thought I’d lean towards the radical thought of firing PN. But if Pitt characteristically surrenders more in this 2nd half of play. I just cannot back the HC. If Pitt ends this game as it’s playing out, PN will be more akin to KStallimgs than he may ever have been to a JDixon or Mich St HCMD.

    Put a fork in it.

    I really was a lot happier back in the Walt Harris days.

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  196. When your coaching sucks, team is weak and uncoachable, AND the calls go against you, it is tough to overcome…

    Alcoholism

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  197. Nice three and out to start the half.

    I’ve been biting my tongue, hoping we’d see improvement as the year goes on. But, it’s time to fire Narduzzi and staff and start over.

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  203. “why push him at all?? the ball had already left his hand”… says the guy that clearly never played sports in his life.

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    1. Jay – no need to be a deauschbag to a fellow pitt fan sharing his opinion. I don’t know what sports goalie played. I played defensive end and never took a cheap shot out of frustration. And, that’s what that was.

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  204. I hope there are 24 people at tbat Dog ox Heinz next week and Narduzzi is fired so Baldwin can hire him as a Special teams Coach and Gym teacher. He is qualified for that maybe.

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  209. When over half the PittPOV predicted a slaughter, after the UNC debacle, after the worst loss to PSUCKS in history, the dialogue should focus on who will be the next coach.
    For if Heather allows another year of this (or if Pocket Protector allows another year of this), then there is no hope.
    In a nutshell, why should we care if the powers that be do not?

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  219. We are running the ball down 67 points. Reason why Watson was fired more than a meth user working at a daycare.

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  220. Let me explain this to the know-nothings before they run their yaps…

    Yes, we are running effectively now… Because UCF is up 31 points in the 3rd quarter. They are playing the pass.

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  225. Clearly the worst play calling in the country. Always looking for trickery instead of just lining up and playing football

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  228. Mynfavorite ws those on here saying Bates could recruit Texas and how he had a bright future at DC. I see wr with no one within 20 yards

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  230. Narduzzi radios up to the coaches box: Anyone remember if I got the salmon or the roast beef for the in-flight meal?

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  235. Upitt.. I’m not always right.. it just seems that way. LOL

    Ike.. I really like you man. You just listen to your heart more than your head.

    Tossing Thabeets.. You love Pitt and quote stats, but your conclusions are flawed.

    jrnpitt.. You know absolutely nothing and run your mouth far too much. Maybe listen more and talk.. not at all.

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  236. If Lyke doesn’t fire this guy after the last game of the year then she needs to go back to being a softball analyst in South Dakota.

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  239. Pitt University has no commitment to football. Most people talking about the coach being the problem.

    When have we last been a top football program?

    So we get another coach and a few years after that another coach and so on.

    What does that solve?

    If we ever want to enjoy Pitt football consistantly, the issue of Pitt’s BOT needs to be addressed.

    I would love to hear suggestions how to correct the problem for the long term good of the football program.

    Someone out there must have ideas how to fix the board’s interest in making Pitt football a top and respectable program.

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    1. Run it like a business. Not a bunch of academic bums. Fire all the fat and focus on profit and the customer.

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    2. Pitt has no incentive to be any more than mediocre. and get to a crappy bowl game most years.
      That ACC check is welfare

      As long as Pitt doesnt stoop to Rutgers level, Pitt is safe
      As long as Pitt’s athletic department doesnt get more attention than academics and athletics runs a balanced budget, everything is ok with the BoT

      You cant change the BoT without changing the bylaws
      There are 36 voting members, many are bureaucrats, there are more Nitters on the board than people with Pitt degrees

      Pitt is committed to football so it can keep cashing the ACC check. Pitt will do the bare minimum necessary. Pitt’s BoT doesnt view sports as a money maker for the university. Nor does it believe that sports truly enhances the brand they have created or helps attract and retain quality students or enhances the college experience.

      Too many people benefit from the BoT’s structure and composition; hence, it would take a very severe scandal for any impetus to change.

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  243. Many more penalty yards than rushing yards. Narduzzi keeps setting new highs for Pitt football. I’m sure he will need to watch the tape and clean some things up.

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  245. First things first. These got fought their tails off. I can’t tell you how proud of I am of them. That’s a damn good team right there.

    Comical. It is coming.

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  249. I spent the day in the woods hunting. I didn’t watch a minute. Just turned it on and saw the score and decided I could use some punishment because it was such a nice day in the woods.
    I think I’ve had enough…

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  250. Upitt
    If she is going to fire him it is better to do it mid season and let Partridge have a free tryout for 4-6 games

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  252. Fire Narduzzi as he walks off the field this is Majors part 2 again. I have not seen a team this bad since maybe 1996. I’ll stand by my prediction we lose all the games left

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  253. Hey folks.. there are couple of real football games on at 7:30….been a long time since we have seen tough solid ball at PITT…I have the shingles and it is no wear nearly as painful as watching the fabulous flailing Narduzzi

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  257. One offense is driving a Ferrari, one is horse and buggy. No O, no D, no kickers, no coaching. I mean, what in heck’s name was Heather thinking? I’m serious. What did she see? To Randy ?Jule, it obviously is easier to cure polio than for Pitt to ever, ever, get 10 wins. Heck, they would have given Carl DePasqua a 10 year extension,, and fired Salk because they had Dr.Oz in the wings!

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  258. I am stunned just how poor this team is coached. Most have coached at name programs and they stink. Maybe Narduzzi is killing the program with this D but this is so poor. Watson has to go after this game as Heather has to tell Narduzzi fire him or I fire you and good luck with that buyout.

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  261. Answer the following;

    Do we beat?

    Edinboro
    Gannon
    Pine Richland
    PA Blind school
    Sewickly Academy 9th grade team

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    1. We Suck. FAU would kill us. But we are such snobs we wouldnt hire Kiffen. Kiffen has more class than fake an injury Narduzzi.

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    1. Heather steals money too. Scratch mine and I scratch yours. Lets print fake certificates and give hem out to alumni that are 97 and Pitt is stealing there money.

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  278. These kids fight HARD.. They just aren’t DI kids.

    Our coaching staff and administration are a joke.

    Hey…

    Donors,season ticket holders and alumni…

    Do you even care?????!!! If so, demand more.

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  279. The good news is, for the first time this year, we are playing just as good in the second half as we did in the first half!
    😀

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  280. At this point in time we could make a bunch of comments on how bad we are, how Heather screwed up, how the coaching stinks. All true, but I’ve decided no more. I’m just gonna sit back and see how the administration addresses this mess.

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  283. Reed, is it the governer of Pennsylvania that we write to in order to have Pitt BOT members removed? Or is it someone else.

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    1. only the BoT can change the BoT
      Pitt is state related
      It receives only about 7% of its funding from the Commonwealth
      Its really a private school

      Bad hiring decisions have doomed Pitt sports
      Bad AD’s
      Bad head coaches

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  284. Tuned back in….uggggh!

    He got her in. She repays him by extending contract further than a 30 year mortgage. AS i wrote before, this is not Narduzzi’s fault. Who wouldn’t take $3.5M to perform this way.

    Things are on your AD when she watches for a year and a half and promotes the mess that is the head coach. She has her hands all over this mess too. Let’s not give that a pass either. Oh wait, she got extended too. And the misses just keep on coming.

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    2. But she fired the badmintton coach and the womens Arjery coach huff. She was unqualified since day 1. PSU’s Sandy would eat her lunch. Eastern Michigan junk

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  285. Heather did screw up
    But Pitt’s leadership is just happy if football goes to a crappy bowl every once in a while
    They are far more concerned with GPA’s, graduation rates, players staying out of trouble, and running a clean program
    The ACC is a very poor fit for Pitt if this is the effort we’re going to see from leadership
    The ACC actually values sports and is committed to winning on the field and not just the classroom

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  286. This game shows that today’s football is offense first, second and third. So we got a phony defensive guru that cannot recruit.

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  288. Best I can determine, it looks like the board itself is responsible for hiring and firing their voting members.

    This means, once they get enough penn state fans on the board, they never have to worry about being fired, nor Pitt football being relevant.

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    1. you are correct
      Only the Board can change the bylaws
      So it would take a huge scandal for there to be any chance at changing the structure and composition of the Board

      Penn State Nation is just like the old Soviets. They dont focus exclusively on beating you on the battlefield. They send in their spies and attack you from within. We’ve destroyed ourselves. Its been part of the Nitter plan since JoePa.

      Gallagher’s leadership team is comprised of 25% Nitters and ZERO Pitt grads.

      Dont you think Pitt would have been better off if they hired Tressel? The Nitters wouldnt allow it. So we get a Compliance gal who left the Eastern Michigan department broke. She then extends a horrible coach and gets extended herself.

      These Nitters are better than the KGB

      Liked by 1 person

  290. I think I got that from the POV, which is better than wikipedia.

    Is $3M any better for the stomach?

    Is $500k too much for the work product?

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  291. UCF is being very classy. They took their foot off the pedal a series or two back so as to not humiliate us. They could really be piling it on if they wanted to. This program is that embarrassing. G5 programs have to slam the brakes so as to not humiliate us. Probably a tip of the cap for being dumb enough to play them and being nice enough to spend all the money going to Florida to do it. You gotta laugh or you’ll cry over this program.

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  294. ‘This game shows that today’s football is offense first, second and third. ”

    WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Football has three phases, offense, defense and special teams.

    We just have a $hitty coach, $hitty players and $hitty administration.

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    1. When is the last time a team was known for its shutdown defense? Just doesn’t happen anymore.
      You have to be able to score the ball.

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  297. Hmmm. maybe Michael Smith should have played earlier. I have no idea if he is good, but he has drawn two PI on the opponent.

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  299. If Heather had any, she would fire the entire staff while they are in the air returning home.

    Press meets Narduzzi at the airport – “Pat did you hear?”

    Pat – “yeah, puppies pee the bed. We have to work on that”

    Somehow he is right.

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  300. Memo to the posters who talked about the line point drop during the week, it didn’t matter. I also mentioned during the week the PSU line dropped as well. That got us the worst home loss in 50 years. Thanks Narduzzi.

    He will deflect in the presser, will not want to talk about his defense.

    I’m pretty sure jenkins has cement in his pants.

    NO discipline at the start and at the end. If anything, Narduzzi is consistent.

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  307. My prediction was 45-17.. posted earlier on POV. It is currently 45-14.. And I’ve covered the spread on 4 of 5 Pitt games this year.

    But, what the hell do I know? Hey jrnpitt? Where you at, son? Wrong again?

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  315. Really, I’ve seen teams with poorer players and crappy coaches do better. I expected more. Not optimistically, just realistically. It doesn’t seem like we ever have a game plan. And our players’ are so up and down. A flash now and then and then crap. I don’t get it.

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  318. Another Soviet five year plan down the drain. Does it matter anymore. Pitt has lost the casual fan and will be lucky to see 25K at Heinz and maybe less next year.

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  320. We had to endure this pure crap today. In a little bit we have to endure the White out on a national stage. Urban vs Jimmy franks….hopefully its a 0-0 tie.

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    1. While we were blown off the map by a Big East School. Its okay heather is giving out certificates at volleyball and hired another 12 people in the AD dept. joke.

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  327. No recruits, no coaches, no offense, no defense, no kickers, no stadium. Boy, you better hope we are a basketball school, cause you sure aren’t gonna see a real football team here in your lifetime! Believe in the process.

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  328. The bottom line is that we are an untalented team, roster and 2- deep on both sides of the ball.

    Pitt fans liked PN so much when he was hired they blew his recruiting way out of proportion as opposed to the reality.

    And they were still doing it up to the 2018 class.

    How obvious is it now that he rode on the back of inherited players his first two years. Narduzzi has made one good personnel move and that was (Chaney) getting Peterman.

    All else has been born of desperation due to crap talent evaluation of HS players.

    But this has all been discussed before, especially on here. It’s just damn sad he had so many people fooled for so long.

    In two weeks we’ll be 2-5 and look at maybe one or two more wins on the rest of the year.

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  330. Nardo threw up the White Flag….when he didn’t attempt an Onside Kick, also running the ball to kill the clock down 7-38. He was keeping the lopsided score down.

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    1. Sad to day but that’s correct. You called 4 wins.
      I called 5 and we both may be wrong.

      This is as bad as I’ve seen Pitt play. Even worse than 2007 and back then we were playing with a third-string true freshman quarterback.

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  332. This is as bad as it has been in 15 years. Unfortunately, there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
    The program is dead.
    I say go hire Kiffin. Go down and try and sign him now.
    Keep it quiet and announce after season.
    Fire Narduzzi when you have your coach signed.
    Preferably in a couple of weeks.
    Let one of the Mickey roonies on the staff coach out the year.

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  334. 518 to 203
    thats the total yardage
    Pitt was outgained by over 300 yards

    Gallagher and Lyke are the ones that Pitt fans should target for this mess
    Losses like this will lead to fewer season ticket renewals next year, lower attendance and merchandise sales, fewer donations, damage to the equity of the Pitt brand, loss of advertising and sponsorship’s and a much harder time at turning things around

    There is a good chance the football program loses millions next year

    Heather was so good at increasing football revenues at Eastern Michigan that when she left, the school had to cut 4 very successful Olympic sports programs. The school then had to borrow from their general operating fund and raise student fees.

    She has no marketing or business acumen, but she does know about running clean programs and helping coaches produce choir boys with high GPA’s and stellar community service awards.

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    1. That’s with the 58 yd Mercy TD on the 2 yd pass to Frenchy who then goes 56 yds in the Toll free Untouched Lane

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    2. I want an FBI investigation on every one of Pitt’s BoT members.

      I want to know if they have any Nitter associations
      I want to know if they have colluded with the Penn State

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  337. Easiest $500 I ever made. Narduzzi is the biggest fraud football coach Pitt ever hired.. and yes I was there for Dave Hart, Depasqua and Foge.

    He can’t recruit, has pissed off mist of the WPIAL, tries to get by with a HS defense and offense, and leads the way showing his team how not to be disciplined. Not since Dave Hart have I seen so many mistakes both mental and physical. This team does not want to play for this coach.

    If I did not have many friends coming in I wouldn’t come back next week. I am utterly embarrassed to be a Pitt Alum and 50 year Pitt football fan!

    Like

  338. Pickett would be much better off in a Triple Option type offense. They were running that pretty good, until Watson went away from it and had Pickett throw deep. Which he is not good at.

    Like

  342. Oh Son-in-Law. I think you were being overly optimistic with regards to Pitt football. 4 wins may be generous. I maybe the first one on this site to say, God help me, Upitt is an optimistic, glass is half-full, Pitt fan. The only chuckle I will get today with respect to this lousy football team.

    Like

  343. This team is playing with a bunch of seniors, how horrid will it be next year ?

    These guys stink granted, but their backups must be worse. All Pitt gear needs to go to the Dry Cleaners.
    And maybe they’ll lose it 🙂

    Like

    1. thats why Pitt needs to fire Narduzzi this year
      There is no talent sitting behind these seniors
      There are no elite recruits coming in

      Next year, Narduzzi will be lucky to win 3 games
      Why dig a bigger hole for a new coach if you dont have to

      But again, Heather doesnt have the authority to do it even if she had a plate of meatballs
      Gallagher wont allow it because Gallagher picked Narduzzi
      And the BoT is comprised of Nitters who have sabotaged Pitt sports and Gallagher is their puppet

      Liked by 1 person

  344. (1) Not only are we a bad team, it’s also obvious to me that HCPN has so badly pissed off the officiating fraternity that they are throwing flags at his team at the slightest provocation!

    (2) There is not a person on this blog that could ever convince me that firing HCDW was not the dumbest, most damaging decision in the long and storied history of Pitt FB. We are going to be dealing with the results of that mistake for a decade or more.

    Liked by 1 person

  345. On the bright side of things maybe we’ll make CBS Sports or ESPN’s Bottom 25 this week.
    Any pub is good right ?

    Like

    1. she will need to offer free growlers to attend
      The over/under is 25k for actual butts in the seats next week

      Like

  348. Pickett is playing on a BAD knee… without even a Half-Decent Offensive Line… Average Wideouts… No Tightends to speak of… and WORST of all… BAD Coaching!

    He’s NOT great. But overcomes his LIMITATIONS with his willingness to COMPETE.

    Change all of the ABOVE and he’ll be a lot better than what we’re seeing.

    As far as those things he controls, he needs to work on Arm Strength but even more importantly CHANGE his mindset to start seeing himself as a PASS first and RUN second Quarterback!

    Like

    1. As stated above, I pine for the Walt Harris days, too. You’re not alone in this, TX. Walt’s teams surpassed expectations both good and bad. But there was steady improvement and some innovation there. In sharp contrast to what we’ve gotten since then forward. DW wasn’t great; very predictable and easy to scheme against. But he recruited talented athletes. It eventually paid off.
      Then-first-time HCPC, proceeded by then-first-time HCPN isn’t close to DW. And opposite WH.
      If any comparison can be made, PN is setting the program back in ways reminiscent of Paul Hackett and JMII eras.
      Pitt football today can fairly be portrayed with systemic issues pitting athletic interests vs academic.
      I’d argue, like many others have, that it’s not just about selecting another HC. The program’s failure is greater than that.
      But to the point. It’s the right place to start and dialogue should remain on our next HC.
      As it stands we are RE-entering 80’s & ‘90’s Pitt football in 2019. There is good reason object supporting it in its current state.

      Like

  354. Tex, at the risk of repeating myself…it is so telling that not one player that PN got to commit to him has reached stardom.

    Not one single player… and every other HC going back to Majors I had at least one, usually more, in their first two years of coaching at Pitt.

    That speaks volumes about his talent evaluation.

    And soon we’ll see decommitments in the ’19 class.

    It is going to get worse before it gets better my friends.

    Like

    1. Stardom???? How about avg football player? I can’t think of one either except Peterman and he was out of suitors.

      Like

    2. thats why the longer Narduzzi coaches, the bigger the hole thats created
      it would be one thing if their was inexperienced talent behind these experienced starter
      it would be another thing if the last 2 recruiting classes had several elite 4 star talent ready to hit the field
      it would be a final thing if Narduzzi and staff could develop players and coach them up

      so the longer this dumpster fire is allowed to continue, the more difficult it will be to attract a good coach

      But it will be Gallaghers call and I’m not sure if he is willing to admit his mistake and be willing to bite the financial bullet

      should come down to simple economics though
      is the tangible cost of the buyout more than the tangible and intangible costs of lost revenues, damage to brand and less opportunity to hire the right coach

      Like

  355. Heather’s Twitter is on fire. she is clueless pc pupppet compliance hire. Embarrassed of 412 crew. Lock the gates and all the other garbage the AD puts out. I have one for you 28k a year marketing bums. “Light a match”

    Like

  356. Calm down my fellow Pitt supporters. One, as Reed has pointed out, Heather cannot fire Narduzzi, so why bad mouth her. (That does beg the question though: Can she also not extend some one’s contract on her own? So the real person behind this mess is the Chancellor!) Two, there is nothing anyone of us can due to improve the situation in the short term.

    I can understand your passion but you all are going to have heart attacks if you keep this up for the rest of the season. What I am going to do to waste my time until basketball gets into full swing if that happens? Be Zen about this! As I said previously Pitt needs to get to a 4-8 season or worse for things to change at the END OF THE YEAR! It will not be changing before then. As it now stands, that appears to be highly likely. Narduzzi has no clue what to do. His players are undisciplined, poorly coached, etc. He continues to play his utterly stupid scheme. We all need to go with the flow. Sit back and watch the tragedy unfold. I am going to Heinz Field next Saturday and fully expect us to get blown away. I will have a good time before the game meeting with classmates. During the game I will enjoy the view from the stadium, listen to the band, watch Narduzzi go nuts and patiently wait for the game to come to an end.

    By the way I am totally sober and very calm at this moment. I fully expected this blow-out to happen and it did. I have very low expectation from here until the end of the season. We will get one more win maybe. It depends if Wake Forest wants to win a home game or not at their off campus stadium.

    Like

    3. they are all complicit in the conspiracy to destroy Pitt football.
      Fire them all – BoT, Gallagher, Heather and Narduzzi

      Unless these people get confronted in elevators, I dont see things changing. They are all out to protect their positions of power and maintain the status quo.

      We fans are ignored

      The administrations assault on fans has been going on for over 30 years

      Like

  359. Pitt o’ dreams…

    I actually think Pickett is having a hard time handling the pressure of too high expectations both PN and the fans put on him over the off-season. That after only two games where he threw only one TD pass.

    I though he’d be around 15 TDs and 10 INTs but might be high with that.

    Like

  361. Something just crossed my mind based on Reed’s last comment about things getting worse before they get better. With the early signing period now, the new coaching staff will have to go the transfer route for their first class as most of the 2019 class will have been signed by the time they take over. Their only hope will be to poach kids from other programs that fire their head coaches at the end of this year along with the transfers.

    Like

  362. Hburg Frank,
    I could not agree with you more. Firing Wannstedt was the biggest blunder it gets bigger with every passing year.

    Like

  363. 5 wins. What was I thinking? I really meant to say 5 wins combined, this year and next. Honest.
    You are absolutely right that it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. I think it takes a whole lot to embarrass this administration. But honestly, even if they fire him, does anyone, I mean anyone, have faith that they will hire anyone any better? And that says a lot.

    Like

  365. John in SC

    Even when we crap the bed I enjoy watching. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it or write about the program.
    It is more fun when we win or lose a close, well-fought game.

    Remember those?

    Like

    1. In our present predicament, watching the games are no where near as depressing as they normally would be. It is much worse when you are expecting us to have a close game or, heaven forbid, even expect us to win! Today it was almost comical, like a really bad movie.

      Like

  367. CMU Stadium
    Would be the first time in 18 years that a Homecoming game is played on or near campus
    Tailgate on Flagstaff Hill and walk to the game

    Like

  368. It is so painful to watch this unfold. Pitt will never be on a level like PSU but they could be like WVU is that too much to ask.

    Like

  369. Finished watching and fast forwarding today’s game. I counted 7 free runners in our secondary. I find 1 inexcusable! 7 is a direct reflection on awful coaching.

    Hitting scotch now!

    Like

  371. OSU continues to look slow. Things are aligning for the Nitters.
    I have absolutely no idea how good Pickett is. He’s running for his life every game. It will get no better next year with the line. By the time they fire Narduzzi you will have wasted whatever career he may have had.
    If, in fact the season goes completely off the rails what little talent they have will transfer out, much like the Stallings debacle. Sigh.

    Like

  372. Putting up only one offensive TDs against a team not known for defense in inexcusable.

    As bad as getting shut out in the 2nd half vs powerhouse Albany.

    But we held them to 5 points under their scoring average!!

    Like

  374. UCF’s QB Milton was a lowly rated 5.5 …..three star per Rivals. Only had 3 offers, UCF, Hawaii & Navy

    https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2016/mckenzie-milton-10128

    It’s the system a QB plays in and how good that system is. Texas Tech plugs in one every couple years and they routinely now throw for 400 yards a game. Their QB Patrick Mahomes is tearing up the NFL now,
    however most of their QB’s never make the NFL. But they’re great in college.

    Pitt has no system for making successful college QB’s therefore we can’t recruit them.

    Like

    1. Narduzzi and player development is quite possibly the worst I have ever seen. Once these coaches get these players from high school, they have to develop them and make them better. Narduzzi has sucked.

      Like

  375. Duzz’s post game talk to the team.. “ Lock those gates- We can win the Coastal- this week didn’t matter.”

    Like

  376. Snowballing down hill fast and getting bigger and faster. Anybody staying with this team and I mean players, have to have no other options. Patti is gone if he thinks he has any chance.

    I feel bad for any and every true Pitt fan. Depressing and near suicidal if not for Capel.

    I think I will go to another game or two but will wait for the weather prediction. Thankfully I have wrestling season around the corner and big preseason tourney in 3 weeks.

    Liked by 1 person

  377. The press conference was garbage again. He is clueless. Blaming the players again on the Superman route. He talked a little about the offense troubles again. He wants to deflect and not talk about the defensive struggles.

    A couple of days ago he wasn’t sure who was better, UNC or UCF. Tonight Milton the UCF has Narduzzi’s vote for heisman. Fraud 2.

    Like

  379. Horrible press conference. Having to watch the Pedos school OSU while we are humiliated again is another nail in the coffin.

    No sane person can support this program (not the players, the program) any more. Narduzzi is patently incompetent and our administration is clueless. As we watch the Pedos captivate a national audience.

    Like

  380. Emelia. I’m with you on the QB system. After watching Milton, DeNucci could’ve been like him if he were surrounded by good coaching and better players at Pitt. Under the current regime this is as good as Pickett will be.

    Like

  382. I want apologize to all on this blog for my overly optimistic take on this team of ours. Last year, I wrote saying that I had a good feeling about Narduzzi and that we should just give him time. I felt that he could be a great success. I couldn’t point out why I felt that, but I did. Well, my feelings have changed. I wish him all the best, but no longer do I believe that he is going to lead us out of the dark wood and into the light of day. This has been a painful realization for me.

    Like

    1. Even when Pitt cheats, it still loses
      and this is cheating in plain sight
      This should be cause to fire Narduzzi
      Meatballs for a brain

      Like

  384. PSU is showing what 4 and 5* athletes can do. Man, has he recruited well. Yes, I’m more than a little jealous.

    Like

  385. Franklin owned Frauduzzi in every aspect. Any Pitt fan who doubted him should be embarrassed especially with the garbage coach we have.

    Like

        1. There are former Franklin players in jail. Frankie talked with the girl before the charges were filed – tampering?

          Like

  387. I was pleased when my daughter gave me a Pitt Golf shirt for Father’s Day, little did I know it will soon be used for drying cars. This could be the worst team that I have seen at Pitt and Rember going to watch the 1956 Sugar Bowl team with my father. They might be a little better than some of the late 60’s teams, when the clock kept running and Majors 2, but given how many games they have left they could easily move to #1.
    Glad I go to Florida soon and can try and forget how bad this crew is. Go Canes.

    Like

  391. BREAKING NEWS:

    Narduzzi is going to review the tape to see what went wrong.

    UCF is a really good football team.

    The Pitt players played hard but made some mistakes.

    I’m shocked!!

    Like

  392. HCPN: Any way we can grab a few chocolate Mickey head ice creams for the trip home?
    No?
    Damn. Ox would have found a way. What ever happened to him anyway?

    Like

  394. Was at the game today suffering in the heat. Pitt was never in the game. It was absolutely embarrassing. Duzz has lost this team. They’re not going to beat anyone. The performance was absolutely terrible. Duzz has to go and now. Good god, what has happened to Pitt football. All the alumni there were totally disgusted. Get rid of this bum.

    Like

  404. Questions I would like reporters to ask after next weeks loss.

    Does Syracuse also have 85 scholarship players?

    Did Dino Babers recruit some really good players?

    Is Dungey also a heisman candidate or is it just every QB that plays your defense?

    If Narduzzi is gonna treat these pressers like a joke so should the reporters.

    Like

  405. Who saw that total farce of a targeting call against OSU.

    NEVER have I known there to be such blatant cheating by a referee crew than both that call and then confirmed by the replay booth throwing out the kid. Not only should he not have been thrown out, it should have been overturned.

    TOTAL GARBAGE. I am having a hard time not typing every curse word I know both in English and Spanish and any other language or hand sign of profanity I know.

    Liked by 1 person

  408. As I said did outside work today, did not listen to game but listened to Bostic while in car as he did post game. Pitt had over 100yds. in penalties in addition to the lack of secondary and O line and shi__ lack of everything. He said the things that have been said here and he is a paid employee. He was really disgusted you could tell. Lord ,how much are we to endure????

    Like

  410. Its not that Pitt loses, but its how Pitt loses

    Why would Heather want to keep him beyond this year besides it would make her look bad by firing him (she recently extended him with Gallaghers approval) and there would be a financial hit with the buyout coming on the heels of another well publicized buyout on the basketball side.

    Theres really nothing that Narduzzi can do next year
    Theres really nothing that Pitt can do for him

    The D is all on Narduzzi…its his scheme and he’s been recruiting the players for it
    You fire Watson and the players are learning a new O playbook and Pitt would need to recruit players for the new scheme

    Clean house now before the hole is dug too deep
    And I wouldn’t trust the hiring decision to Heather or Gallagher
    Bring in Tressel and have him consult.

    Both Heather and Gallagher are very poor judges of football coaches

    You want the culture to change…you change the BoT
    Seriously, confront every BoT member in an elevator

    There really should be 2 Boards – one for academics and one for athletics
    Each comprised of 9 members elected for 4 year terms on rotating basis
    No government appointed bureaucrats
    No Nitters
    Gallagher reports to the academic
    Tressel reports to the athletic

    Like

  411. Talent. They have it, we don’t. Pretty simple.
    Does anyone other than Heather think Narduzzi can or will change? Then next year will be more of the same, dragging the program down. But that’s not fair. We have no program. I’m positive if it weren’t for the ACC money we’d fold the tent. Maybe they’ll kick us out and ND will become a full time member.

    Like

  412. The ACC doesn’t care if we are a doormat…they want their network and the money it brings. If we are the red-headed stepchild, so be it.
    All we got is us.
    If Heather/Gallagher doesn’t pull the trigger, then there will be no football. Just games where we are expected to lose by 30 and no one cares.

    Like

  413. I’m assuming Heather and Pat have brains and common sense.
    If they allow the football program to implode, they will find it nearly impossible to find the funds for that pretty master plan they just published
    If they think all those athletic projects as part of Victory Heights will happen when your football program is a hot mess, they dont understand boosters and fans
    Pitt’s dream of new facilities for Olympic sports depends on the success of the football program
    The future unfortunately is in Gallagher’s hands right now…the same guy that gave us this mess

    Like

  416. hate them both. but if we are honest is there ONE player on our team that would start for PSU or OSU?? If it takes you more than 3 seconds to think about it then you know the answer.

    Like

    1. I took 3 minutes by looking down the entire roster list of 85 players
      I didnt find one that could even be second string

      Like

  418. I stepped away for a few hours.

    This is the first game in a while that I watched live. I generally watch a recording of the games on Sunday evenings. What a disappointment. I didn’t expect Pitt to be great this season. But, I hoped that the season would be interesting from the standpoint that maybe Pitt’s D would improve over last year and maybe the O would improved throughout the season. I had hoped that we would see Kenny turn into something like a McSorley and lead the Pitt team to a couple of exciting wins. Boy, I don’t see that happening as of now.

    This Pitt team is awful. It’s on the coach. A coach who should be fired. Only thing is, when Pitt hires a football coach, it’s a crap shoot. We might actually get someone that worse.

    Like

  421. 1 points losses are really heartbreaking, especially when you had the ball in almost scoring position with 2 minutes to go. Can you say C-H-O-K-E

    Like

  422. Glad the Pedos lost. They choked. But, they are a good team. OSU played poorly for a lot of the game and still won, and in Creepy Valley. Not an easy thing to do. Urban is a hard guy to like, but hats off to him for the win.

    Like

    1. Anyone who makes fun of PSU and 106k fans at the game when we couldnt beat a High School with 18k in the crowd makes me laugh.

      Like

      1. There were 106k zombies in their best KKK outfits and whose pockets were filled with marshmallows

        Franklin is a great recruiter but very average as a coach
        What I saw was worse than Pitting since now the Nitters have little shot at the playoffs
        SOF (Same Old Franklin)

        Pitt could at least beat Carrick High
        And the 18k Pitt fans are the most loyal and dedicated in the sport given the decades of futility
        Most Pitt fans dont drink Kool-Aide or worship false idols like JoePa. Pitt fans come dressed in every variation of blue and gold color thanks to an administration that has never understood Branding 101.
        Many Pitt fans have made good friends throughout the years at Heinz with the empty yellow seats around them.

        Pitt at least has legit excuses to lose from bad coaches to bad players to a clueless AD and gutless BoT.

        If you’re a Pitt fan tonight, you generally expected this UCF loss and will deal with it. I will sleep like a baby. If you’re a Pedo fan, your’re borderline suicidal tonight and will be in an angry mood all week.

        Sometimes it pays to be a Pitt fan.

        Liked by 3 people

  425. PSU 4th down call …ouch!
    2 time outs to come up with that play!Was it almost the same play Pitt called on 4th and goal vs PSU at the end of the 1st half? Payback for Franklinstein fot challenging with 1 minute left vs Pitt under by 5 TD’s

    Like

  426. Just had to look at Black shoe diary. Comments are hilarious. “We suck, Franklin is a moron, this team stinks, worse play call ever.” Man, no way they could be Pitt fans, they’d lose their minds. Talk about fair weather fans, lol.

    Like

  427. This is why I hate PSU..

    Pitt beats Clemson 2016.. nothing on local TV in Harrisburg. Pitt gets hammered by UCF 2018.. full coverage- same channel.

    Dicks.

    Like

  429. Well Joe, it was a crap call. 4th and 5 and you limit your offensive options to the running back only. Stupid!

    Heather got used by Hurley and we fell into Capel by mistake. She extended the face of the athletic department because he was instrumental in getting her hired. Now she is in a predicament, or is the predicament.

    I spoke to a gentleman and his wife that non-renewed football season tickets this year after 20 years of being season ticket holders. They didn’t like the lyke hire and felt that the rest of the administration doesn’t care so why should they. It was sad.

    You all are getting juiced up about her firing all these coaches. All that does for an AD is buys time with the chancellor while their respective sports players have a chance to gain experience and takes years to recruit. Need a real AD and football head coach, stat.

    Like

    1. It was easy for her to fire coaches
      Pitt’s Olympic programs ranked at the bottom of the ACC with some going winless in conference play
      Time will tell if the new hires are any good and if the Directors Cup rankings improve
      But these new hires buys Heather time

      However, I have serious doubts if she will be able to raise the funds for Victory Heights and unite fans to support Pitt’s Master Athletic Plan
      The big whales are football boosters and right now the coach she extended is doing his best to implode the program

      Heather was primarily brought in for Compliance reasons. Compliance is her background.
      Thats why she touts the academic success of student athletes from GPA’s to graduation rates to community service awards. And can point to clean programs.
      Thats all fine and dandy but many schools do those things and win on the field

      Her job is to find the right coaches and raise the funds needed to successfully compete
      But her marketing and finance skills are weak. Her track record at Eastern Michigan scares me…she left and the new AD had to soon cut 4 successful Olympic programs due to revenue shortfalls in football

      Pitt also has a revenue problem (see basketball and the impending disaster for Pitt football)

      Pitt is spending a lot of money (extending coaches, facility upgrades, expanding staff at the department, much larger budgets for coaching staff and recruiting), but its getting a poor return particularly with basketball and football

      I give credit for the firing of Stallings but to me that was a simple economic decision
      The same should apply to Narduzzi…if the cost of the buyout is less than the cost of projected lost revenues, potential damage to the brand and forsaken opportunities (i.e. hiring the next Saban), you hire a new coach

      Gallagher likes Heather because he knows she will focus on academics first, run a clean department, and will create the proper structures to mitigate compliance risk and scandal.

      For Pitt to obtain excellence on the field, Pitt’s culture has to change. To achieve a winning culture, the BoT has to change. The BoT wont change without a major scandal causing a massive upheaval that could result in a leadership restructuring.

      Therefore, Pitt is stuck with being mediocre. As long as Pitt’s programs remain clean and out of trouble and as long as the overall department operates at break-even, what you see is what you get. A middling program with an occasional breakout year. Sustained success on the field is not possible in this environment and with these leaders.

      Liked by 1 person

  430. Chetthejet had the score 45-16 UCF’s way.

    Why he tacked that 2 points on our score well never know but I believe his was the closest prediction as far as actual score

    I had 48-21.

    Like

  431. Is faking a cramp gamesmanship or bad sportsmanship? It definitely was bad acting about as bad as their punter.

    That was a totally bad match-up for Pitt made much worse when our running game was a total fail.

    The ooc schedule must change. Any prospective coach will demand it. Another example of how inept Narduzzi is for accepting it. Franklin wouldn’t put up with it at PSU and even ND lightened up. We need PSU or WV for attendance but scheduling Central Florida and now Tennessee is madness for a team that can’t recruit and is circling the drain.

    Many of the penalties are a lack of discipline but many happen because you are beat physically, just not strong enough or fast enough to compete, which leads to holding, late hits etc.

    The difference in team speed yesterday was painfully obvious. When you are getting beat to the point of attack most of the time you lose. They had many playmakers on both sides of the ball, we have very few.

    The major difference was that their O-line and QB are stellar and our QB is a rookie and our O-line is far below average. Add to that, their receiving corps is deep and fast and ours is not.

    The curse of SP still lives in this schedule, but he didn’t hire a coach that can’t recruit and argues with refs all game.

    Liked by 1 person

  432. So per his history, Franklin owns the awful 4th down call.

    I cant help but think if this was the Panthers, HCPN is starting his presser by saying ” we just didnt execute” and throw it back on his kids.

    Like

  433. between Stallings and Narduzzi Pitt has spent a huge fortune in futility. At least we had two decent years with Narduzzi, unfortunately they fooled Heather into writing a huge check for this.

    Hopefully Capel can make Pitt competitive again.

    Unfortunately, I think we are doomed to be a doormat in football forever.

    The sad thing is if WV can be competitive with no recruiting footprint, why can’t we?

    Like

      1. Its a people issue
        WVCC doesnt have a Compliance gal as their AD who reports to a career bureaucrat that knows nothing about college sports and the business behind it

        If Pitt can find the right coach with the right offensive scheme, Pitt can also be successful
        This becomes an opportunity for Pitt to get the hire right
        The program is at risk of imploding and jeopardizing the stability achieved since Chryst
        There are plenty of very good coaches with offensive minds that would kill for the chance BUT the longer this dumpster fire continues, the less likely these potential candidates make themselves available

        Like

  434. The Foibles of Pitt Football.

    It gets kinda ridiculous even worrying about it after all this time. I only do anymore, since it’s the only
    football I watch. Yea i look at the scores of other games online, just to keep myself abreast of
    who is doing what, but i don’t watch any of it. It’s all been bastardized anyway.

    Unless Pitt makes a major inve$tment, we should have minor interest.

    Pitt Football has been nothing but a Dark Comedy since 1983.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Dollars however are being spent…unwisely. The monetary investment is there.

      Its really a matter of whats between the ears and whats in the heart

      Pitt has had AD’s who dont know how to run the department, how to hire, how to market, how to generate program profitability, how to fund raise, how to unite fans and build new ones

      Pitt has had Chancellors who know very little about the sports business and only pay lip service to the front porch

      If Pitt invested in Tressel as their AD, I would know they care
      If Pitt decided that the BoT should have no say in athletic decisions, I would say they finally understand

      Like

      1. I’m talking a Major Inve$tment. Where they have something to lose, like they did with The Pete becoming a Morgue.

        And that means an OCS. Until they announce plans, how can you take them seriously. You can’t.

        Like

          1. These clowns care more about bricks on a 100 year old building than creating a winning culture. Losers run the show at Pitt from top to bottom.

            Like

  436. Nobody knows the cost of the buyout. Money can be found. I dont think Pitt can afford not to fire Narduzzi. Revenues would take a huge hit. Recruiting will be even worse. Pitt digs themselves a bigger hole making it even more difficult for a new coach coming in.

    If Heather forces him to change assistants, what good will that do? Its already too late. You telling me that a new OC will allow Pitt to score 38 points a game? Thats what the defense is giving up. Pitt just doesnt have the talent.

    And next year the D will be even worse. Pitt will look like a Big 12 team without the offense. This D is all on Narduzzi. Its his scheme. Its his recruits and Chryst players that havent been developed. For a supposed defensive guru, shouldnt the D be improving?

    I would fire Narduzzi at mid season (after 3 ACC losses) and immediately begin looking for his replacement. Charlie can be the interim coach

    Like

    1. It will never happen Tex, Heather just gave him a big fat rai$e in pay and an extension. She and Gallagher would be admitting they were totally wrong. Bureaucrats don’t do that.

      Unless we got beat like 80-6, 3 weeks in a row, the team totally quit and Ming became Merciful, won’t happen.

      Like

      1. I’m all for students, fans, and alumni having elevator confrontations with Heather and Gallagher. Hound them. Chastise them. Make it known that you are upset and wont take it.

        Both of them need to feel the heat and uncomfortable pressure.

        Get a permit and protest in front of their homes. Attend the next BoT meeting and practice peaceful civil disobedience. Get a petition going. Write articles in the Pitt News demanding change and why. We all know those tactics work.

        Pitt students could do this. They have the time, energy and stake in the game. But they dont care as much as the old farts here.

        Like

        2. The media still asks this clown softball questions. I’d roast him and say you say temhe same jibberish and smae excuses week after week.

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          1. The media should run a story questioning Heather’s qualifications to run a P-5 program. One really has to question her football knowledge after extending Narduzzi. The more heat and pressure applied the better.

            She is on record saying that the extension was a result of Pitt going in the right direction. I guess we should all be happy with 4-5 win seasons and recruits with offers from Holy Cross.

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  437. The ACC is coming up,” Wirginis said. “That’s what’s really important, these conference games.”

    If I was a coach and my kid said this he would run until he throws up. Then he would run more. Zero discipline. What true competitor says it publicly at that??

    He had the personal foul to void the INT and was burnt all day.

    We are 2-3 and he has the nerve to talk about the ACC?

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    1. Fraud2 said he’s the best LB he ever coached. Meanwhile he’s not putting his money where his mouth is, starting him only one year.

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  439. Think of our 3 starting LB’s. Two of them never played it at all in HS and Quint, seems to run himself outta of most plays.

    Surely Brightwell would be one better option. He’s made some huge plays in his limited action. Like the interception against Clemson 2 years ago. How do you sit a kid btw after that. Mind boggling.

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  440. Narduzzi is the most highly compensated person at Pitt. Which is actually a shame given the return on investment.

    Pitt has a fiduciary duty to ensure that the football program is healthy and on strong financial footing.

    I’m afraid that the longer Narduzzi is allowed to coach, the greater the likelihood that Pitt will face major revenue shortfalls.

    Those shortfalls could lead to eliminating some Olympic sports, borrowing from the general operating fund and raising student fees.

    Pitt better be on the phones today with their season ticket holders, boosters, and sponsors/advertisers.

    Pitt has little margin for error since it operates a break-even athletic department. It doesnt not have a nice financial cushion driven by profits.

    I dont want Pitt to become another Eastern Michigan.

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    1. You are 2 years to late.

      This is what we get trying to be cute and hire Heather.

      Sandy at least knows winning.

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  441. Heather has done an admirable job (aside from this extension). And while it looks bad now, It didn’t when she did it.

    When you harp on everything it limits your credibility.

    Almost every program besides football is in better shape than we she was hired.

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    1. What is she done other than fire every underperforming coach? An idiot could do that. Oh she gave fantas out I forgot. Name something else she did of them blow money on all these uniforms we don’t wear. I’ll wait patiently

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      1. You don’t think hiring Jeff Capel was a good hire?
        She worked the boosters and secured the finance.

        The women’s basketball coach?

        We won our first ACC championship under her.

        The women’s volleyball team is ranked.

        The wrestling program has restocked and looks to be on the upswing.

        Hired a nationally respected soccer coach.

        The athletic program as a whole is a much better shape in a very brief time.

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    3. I also disagree she hired a bunch of coaches but who knows what the results will be. And most the coaches she hired were assistants.

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    4. every program is in better shape because Pitt’s programs could not get any worse. You realize Pitt ranks near the bottom in the ACC based on Directors Cup standings. Pitt fielded teams that did not win even 1 ACC game.

      These 13 coaches needed to have been fired years ago. It was an easy decision for her to make. But did she make the right hires. Only time will tell.

      Can these programs begin competing for ACC championships? Can Pitt improve their Director’s Cup rank (only BC and Ga Tech were worse last year)?

      So the jury is still out on her hires. BTW – she did not hire the coach of Pitt’s most successful program since ACC entry (its womens volleyball). Nor did she hire the mens soccer coach who had the 5th ranked recruiting class in the nation last year.

      How is she doing increasing revenues?
      How is she doing raising funds via donations and sponsorships?
      How is she doing at generating a profit?
      How is she doing at increasing the season ticket holder base and finding new fans?

      I can only judge her based on what I know.
      I know she wants Pitt’s Olympic sports to compete in the ACC (see recent hires)
      I know she understands that better facilities are critical for success (i.e. Victory Heights)
      I know she struggles with marketing (see Fantas and actual attendance at games)
      I know she’s good at Compliance and running clean programs devoid of major scandal
      I know shes on the same page as Gallagher in truly believing in student athletes (good GPA’s, graduation rates, real classes)
      I know she is being allowed to spend money to find new coaches and retain others (Narduzzi) but the ROI isnt there for football

      Heather recently got extended herself so the performance bar has been raised.

      I just worry that Pitt could suffer the same fate as Eastern Michigan if the football problem isnt quickly addressed.

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  442. As the year progresses I think Narduzzi himself would be happier elsewhere. We were fortunate that Freddie Kruger flamed out. We were equally lucky, in my opinion, when Hurley went elsewhere. Maybe a third time, although I realize no one would want the Duzz.
    And remember, the season is not yet half gone. Win or lose, one things for certain, lots of drama to come!

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  443. As far as Heather, I took a lot of heat for saying she was simply doing her job. Those moves were painfully obvious. Now, the decision on the Duzz will be hard. She alone cannot fire him, but has I put, just as I’m sure she did on the extension. There will, in my opinion again, need to be a scapegoat for PG to remove him.

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  445. Blow outs are starting to be Narduzzi’s thing. Last night in the presser Peak asked him about the big losses and asked him if he’s concerned, he stated he doesn’t care about how many he loses by. He was trying to make a point that a loss is a loss. He’s so clueless. When you have your worst home loss in 50 freaking years against your hated rival, IT MATTERS HOW MANY YOU LOST BY. Perception matters. That huge loss was much worse than losing that game 24-17.

    This idiot mentioned yesterday that UCF was still throwing the ball in the 4th quarter. He needs to shut up, stop whining and do something about it. He doesn’t understand this is 2018 and the playoff committee rewards teams for style points. How convincely you wins matters in their eyes. Meanwhile our HC has a defensive scheme that is there to stop Iowa’s offense from 25 years ago.

    Go back and look how many times he has gotten taken to the woodshed. Lack of recruiting, lack of player development, hiring cheap “yes men” has caught up to him. Being a jerk and not winning is not helping.

    PC caught a lot of crap for 3 straight 6 win seasons. This HC is trending this direction with 4 six win seasons.

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  447. Only Pitt tries to make a buzz by extending a coach or retiring a number at half time. Heather absolutely screwed this program with that extension, so the onus is on her to go raise the money to buy out this coach and staff. It’s not going to happen unfortunately because she also needs to pay the buyout for a coach at another school.

    No way can Pitt hire a coordinator again. That has to stop. They’ve proven to show zero balls when walking the Pitt sideline. Time to get a guy who can coach. Matt Campbell might be realizing it is way too hard to win at Iowa State and would be interested in the Pitt job. He doesn’t have pleasant memories of his one season in Pittsburgh, but it might be worth a gamble.

    Narduzzi can impress the hell out of me and beat Syracuse, Duke, Virginia, Wake and V Tech to get to seven wins to save his job. It’s not happening.

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    1. Matt Campbell would not take this job. Period. He is not a fan of Pitt.

      I’ve been saying forever, Pitt needs to hire a HC with actual head coaching experience. Just like other ACC does. No more assistants. No more Big 10 guys. NO more looking a built in discount with assistants.

      Liked by 1 person

  448. Hey John in SC…stop by the tailgate Saturday if you are attending the game. Red lot 5A. We always have a nice time.

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  449. The Pitt University plan for the future has many good ideas. However, to not even consider an OCS in the plan is short sighted. If the Steelers move to the Burbs, not at least having a contingent plan in that event is burying your head in the sand.

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    1. You can comment on their draft plan. They have a link and section for it. I brought up that point as well.

      Heinz was built to last 25 years before major structural renovations are needed. Thats from HOK – the firm whose architects and engineers designed and supervised construction.

      The Heinz lease with the Steelers runs out in 13 years.

      I dont believe the Steelers will invest hundreds of millions in renovating an old stadium when they can use the money to build a newer stadium.

      I see this newer stadium being located outside the City and outside Allegheny County. Probably Butler or Washington Counties.

      If Pitt doesnt have a plan, that tells me they are hitched to what the Steelers decide to do. Good luck busing students 50 miles to an off campus stadium.

      Pitt Stadium was on campus for 70 years. So I laugh when people say Oakland cannot support a OCS given traffic and parking. Every sports venue has those issues. At many campus sites, fans are bused in from remote lots several miles away.

      Look to the VA hospital site. Perfect footprint for a 45k multi purpose venue that can be used 365 days a year and produce multiple revenue streams from rental of office space, retail business, dorms, classrooms, and holding entertainment events including sports. You just cant think of it as a single purpose venue that just benefits athletics and just 1 program.

      Think of it as a community center used by business, academics, the entertainment industry and the community at large.

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    1. at least support a feasibility study or let it be known that Populous performed one last summer and let the public see those findings.

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