The University of Louisville comes to the Pete for Pitt’s 2nd ACC game.  Lets go Pitt!

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.

219 thoughts on “Pitt Basketball: Pitt vs Louisville Open Thread”

  1. Andrew Stockey@astockeyWTAE
    Tonight’s 8pm game between #Pitt and #Louisville can be seen in Pittsburgh on @COZITV on free, over-the-air channel 4.2 and cable TV Comcast channel 204/188, Verizon FIOS channel 461, Armstrong channel 90, Consolidated channel 15 and Atlantic Broadband channel 110 #WTAE

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    1. 1190
      73% acceptance

      Pitt is 1330/60%
      WVCC is 1115/72%

      So Louisville is a tad better than our toothless inbred cousins who live in the Hills

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      1. Fall 2013 (Per Crazy Paco)

        1 Duke 1455
        2 Notre Dame 1430
        3 Georgia Tech 1385
        4 Boston College 1360
        5 Virginia 1355
        6 Wake Forest 1330
        7 Miami 1325
        8 North Carolina 1305
        9 Pitt 1270
        10 Clemson 1235
        11 Virginia Tech 1220
        12 Florida State 1195
        13 NC State 1185
        14 Syracuse 1155
        15 Louisville 1135

        ACC average 1289
        ACC median 1305

        Pitt was #20 in SAT scores 5 years ago out of the 65 P-5 schools. WVCC was #64.
        Clemson was #25 and Va Tech #28

        So it does prove that you can be very good in academics and very good in football. It just takes commitment. Pitt’s BoT has historically thought that academics would go to Hell if football became successful. Envious academic turds.

        The elitist douchebag Nitters were #35

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  6. I am the Ike of Pitt Basketball believing we will win each night.
    Like our chances vs Ville but am exaspirated w everything Wilson (waste of a uniform does) Frame does. Hope I’m wrong tonight as he is playing major minutes.

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  17. Ike …I love this team !! Up 10 at the half and putting on 3/4 court press like L Ville used to do to us.

    Louisville as rattled as I’ve ever seen

    Dont think we’ve beaten em since 1999.

    Long way to go but Hail to F n Pitt!

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    1. Filliponni picked Pitt to win. Thats the kiss of death

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  23. The pace in this game is unbelievable. This is when lack of depth begins to show. Let’s hope they get to the line a lot in the remaining minutes to avoid fatigue.

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  31. The missed free throws are killing them. And they are softening on defense. Hope they can hang on.

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  35. Year after year game after game L Ville would be up 15-20 on Dixon’s teams and be pressing. Now it’s Pitt up 9 late and Pressing.

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  50. And may I add very poor foul shooting to go with the random handling of the BB. The Carrick 5th graders shoot better than 48% from the stripe.

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  56. yess, we need to learn but we had this game and let it go to OT playing street ball, missing layups and missing free throws. and not playing any defense in the 2nd half.

    we may still win but …..we got outplayed and out smarted in 2nd half

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      1. If I was coaching they’d be shooting foul shots at 6am tomorrow morning. Knowing Capels, they may well be.

        Again. Anyone can make FTs with fresh legs. Under pressure … a different story.

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    1. I disagree. Pitt outplayed and out hustled them with the star freshman playing like stars. It was just missed FT’s or this would have been a laugher.

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  70. No big men to finish this game – wait isn’t that a recruiting problem too?

    Good win to break the terrible Stalling’s Stink Streak.

    H2P!

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        1. He did a little bit tonight. Broke a few bad habits…when he made that hook midway through the 2cd you could see the confidence puff him up…think the start was a good move by Capel.

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  73. Our guards are Superstars in the making. A Clyde Vaughn record falls. Really impressive games from Brown and Chukwuku made the difference. To beat Louisville with that many missed free throws is amazing.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Brown needs to learn to take it to the hoop with Chuk’s speed. Or at least learn the shoulder fake.

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    1. I believe that is called coaching! It was a key ingredient missing from Pitt Basketball during the last two very long years. H2P!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. ike – any sane AD would have fired Rockports
        She whiffed on her first choice but made a solid pick on her second I think
        Time will tell

        I actually thank Coach K since he gave a good recommendation to Pitt’s brass

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  76. True Jackagain…far better in assist to turnovers throughout.

    Never thought they would win once it went to overtime. Can’t afford to miss ft’s and especially at home.

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  80. You have to win a few of “these” games before you learn how to beat the big boys. Trust me, other than Duke or NC this Pitt team can beat anyone. Brown is getting better and better.

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    1. You know you owe me a bottle of the good whiskey Dan. See you next year at Fran’s tailgates friend. 🙂

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      1. I have many bottles of good whisky. Tell me what you like and it’s yours. Health is not on either of our sides. Do it now Pitt!!

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  83. Dan, what do you make of the second half play? Was it a breakdown on defense or fatigue setting in. They missed free throws throughout the game so not sure what to make of it.

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    1. They’re kids… never been there before. That’s a lot of it. Also, I saw them relax when they were up 9 late and fought off the first charge. Winning is not a habit. You have to learn it. This is only step 1.

      Liked by 1 person

  85. You will all be surprised what Capel and this team will accomplish. Not one more empty seat at the Pete!
    This team deserves all of our support ! Right Ike!

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  86. I was one of the few I know who actually continued to watch the dumpster fire to the end last year. I watched every minute of every game if available.

    To see this team emerge from the dark shadows of the Stallings era was just so satisfying tonight. It is so clear that this group of players are engaged with their coaches and putting their best effort on the floor.

    There will be bumps in this road. For certain. But we have a coach. We have the Zoo out in force. And we have ENERGY in our basketball program again.

    Hail to Pitt!!!

    Thank you Coach Capel!

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  87. Congrats to Coach Capel and the team. Awesome to see them looking so legit. The guards starting to dish the ball nicely. Nice progress by Brown.

    Feels great to beat Louisville – a rarity for Pitt.

    All credit to Fran and Scooter!

    Go Pitt.

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  88. Just listened to the post game presser. Do yourself a favor and listen to it. We have a tremendous basketball coach. I absolutely love Jeff Capel. He says all the right things. He is very genuine. He self evaluates. He doesn’t just say how great the fans were (although he did say that too). No, he makes a specific point of saying how happy he was for the sophomore members of the Oakland Zoo, who saw their first ACC win tonight. This guy just gets it.

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    1. The fist pump and little jump as he was walking off the court was an awesome moment, you could feel his emotion from the other side of the Pete…hope someone got it on vid somewhere out there.

      Just got home from a mini celebration – 2 years of darkness are history.

      It felt like the old days in The Pete tonight…

      … at’s all I have to say.

      H2P

      Liked by 4 people

  89. Always good to beat the ville, cause we rarely do. The hoopies lost last night as well and psuX is 7-8 while not looking to great as of late with blowout losses.

    H2P BB!

    Off topic – some nice national recocognition for one of our returning defensive starters that I pulled from Twitter courtesy of PSN –

    https://mobile.twitter.com/PittGuru/status/1083133978243153928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1083133978243153928&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpittsburghsportsnow.com%2F2019%2F01%2F09%2Fpsn-recruiting-notebook-january-9-2%2F

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    2. Here’s what POD posted in the aftermath of Penn State.

      PittofDreams
      September 10, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      But one thing I do like. Like what I’ve seen of Patrick Jones II.

      Ya, a couple of STUPID penalties. But at least a Guy who showed a little NASTY to him and some ability to beat a block from the inside.

      One positive going forward.

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  90. Anish Shroff@AnishESPN

    ACC Regular Season Wins as Pitt Head Coach:
    Kevin Stallings: 4
    Jeff Capel: 1

    Stallings coached in 36 ACC regular season games.
    Capel has coached in 2.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. BTW, I’m not so sure the 4-win season wasn’t more pathetic than the 0-win since it included Artis, Jeter, Young, Luther and Cam Johnson. Pure incompetence

      Liked by 3 people

      2. That team made the tourney the year before … absolutely it can be argued a bigger failure. Last year’s team from the jump was at risk of going winless in the ACC … the caveat was that we had to see progress from start to finish and, IMO, the team actually regressed.

        Liked by 1 person

  91. McGowans had 33, Johnson 21, and Toney 6 but held Ville’s leading scorer to 8 ….. and to think these were all recruited by Capel after April this past year. Also, Brown had 11 …. how much has he improved since last year?

    Noe of he can only recruit a couple biggies

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  92. Sweet win at the Pete…love what Capel is doing.
    Pregame cocktails with Farmer made it more fun…
    Walking back to the car was like the old days…cheering from some and much delight in the win.
    H2P

    Liked by 2 people

  93. Capel on the FAN 93.7 at 9am today…also great video of post game celebration on PSN site. Check out Capel celebrating with the kids.

    Liked by 3 people

  94. Hope you folks all realize that both Johnson and McGowans may leave for the NBA after next season(maybe after this season).

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    1. jrnpitt,
      That means that Capel recruits “game changers” and next level players. (Unlike some other Pitt coaches). Don’t worry – he’ll bring in more for sure. #H2P

      Liked by 1 person

  95. 15 games in, and I have the utmost confidence that Capel can lead Pitt back to respectability in one of the most brutal conferences in the country. Pitt bball still has a long way to go, but he is doing one AMAZING job given the circumstances and the hand he was dealt. Capel’s pedigree and style of basketball will attract young talent; the lifeblood of any college sports program….4 years in and I have very little confidence in the leadership of the football program, and their ability to create an environment where talented 18-year olds want to come play.

    Liked by 2 people

  96. Still in shock. Didn’t think they could hold off a very talented Louisville team that had beat Michigan State.
    The defensive play by the team was relentless and forced many Louisville errors. The game wouldn’t have been close with decent foul shooting. What Capel has accomplished is nothing short of a miracle.

    Liked by 3 people

  97. I watched the game last night also. WOW! Tremendous win…NO…. Incredable win!!!!
    With no bench, 1 deep, no true center – Coach C and our boys pulled it off. Even after missing 15 free throws!!!! There is SO much to like about this coach and his under sized, under manned team!!!! He CAN also recruit and he WILL WIN!

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  99. What really surprised me was Pitt going 9 for 20 from 3. Then shooting over 52% overall. Didn’t think we could make 3s like that.

    The 3 that Xman hit to answer Louisville’s 3 at the start of OT was huge. Showed Pitt wasn’t going away just because they lost a lead.

    I’m not expecting this shooting to be the norm, but nice to know we can have nights like this (excluding what we did at the line ☹️) against an athletic team.

    Go Pitt.

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    1. so they go 9 for 20 from 3, but 15 for 33 from the stripe?

      I agree that the 3 X hit early in OT was the most important shot as LVille had all the momentum at that time

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  100. I didn’t get to see the game-not on in NC but so happy to “feel” your excitement over this team…Heather made a splash hire in JC (our JC not the other JC-you know the big guy who sits on the Father’s right side0 JC is going to be strong at PITT and have the city supporting this team-it’s just a matter of time……Hope she makes the choice for the OC by her strong influence…

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  103. Watched the post game interviews this morning.

    Capel is 100% the finest speaking coach that Pitt has ever had. He is honest, sincere and forthright with no coach speak. He is the total package, Heather hit a Grand Slam, plus what a staff he has put together.

    Just hope he gets another great class this year to add to the core he has put together.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. That’s a unique perspective but very true. Dixon stuttered, especially early as HC, and Walt, Wanny, Paulie and Duzz wouldn;t remind anyone of William Jennings Bryant. And then there was Fraud

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  104. I said last week that the stars would need to align for Pitt to win an ACC game and they really did last night.

    Just look at three point shooting where Pitt went 9-20 with McGowens going 4-7.

    By comparison, Louisville went 7-28.

    Really did not expect that.

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  105. gc, there was one star not aligned and that was the free throw star… making that win all that much more impressive.

    Big Dan, Not a whiskey drinker, in fact I’m not suppose to be drinking any alcohol at all. I’m what the doctors call a non-compliant patient in that regard. PITT without beer and beer without PITT suck! I forgave that wager a long time ago. Hope to see you again next year at the tailgates!!

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  106. I listened to the 2nd half of the game on the Pitt app after leaving the UR Spider-Rhode Island game.
    Wow that was a nail-biter and exciting. Those of you who went must have enjoyed it after that last shot in OT missed.

    Curtis Aiken was in earshot of Capel as he rallied the troops when the game narrowed to five in regulation and was really impressed with how he handled the kids.

    Capel has talked about the team needing to learn how to win the close ones and they took a small step last night. Lets hope they build on it. Exciting times on Cardiac Hill!

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    1. Canada wants to be a head coach somewhere and Pitt will want a commitment for him to stick around for a number of years. The “key point” IMO will be whether Canada would be willing to sign off and the compensation Pitt will receive in return if he does bolt for that HC job.

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  109. NC State, you have been warned!…Really fun to see our Panthers answer every run that Lville had in them. Hopefully this builds some confidence in the team.

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  110. What impressed me about the OT win is that the young kids played hard even in overtime. They did not run out of gas. By reasons end who knows.

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  111. What has the “rolling stone” Canada done in his last 4 years besides 2016 with his buddy Pat where he walked into a stable full of really good players-his bread was buttered for him… what is his track record on recruiting..who has he developed …is he an up n comer or a one and done..(we could use a couple of one and done(s) on the BB team not coaching our FB team…we need a strong connecting personality as our OC..someone who can rally the troops and the Pgh community..we don’t need Matt Canada II…

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    1. Add to that, that Pitt hasn’t had much luck with guys coming back, ie. Majors, Pedersen.

      But without a multiple year commitment, what does he bring to the table?

      Does he have any recruits in his pocket? Linemen, receivers etc.?

      We need an OC that can recruit and that takes more of a long term approach.

      Capel showed us what happens when you recruit Grade A players. We need a bunch of them.

      Liked by 1 person

  112. On the BB front from your posts it sounds like the bigger boys are improving there game…Capel is the real deal…maybe a little tennis shoe money needs to be injected into the program….

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  113. –Nice to see that Louisville mascot looking ticked-off after the Pitt victory!

    –We haven’t seen guards attack the basket like this since Cleve Edwards! :-). Cleve didn’t get the results that Xman is getting, but Cleve gave it his all…

    –Another Pitt guard who comes to mind is Gissendanner. He would fast-break up the court faster than anyone I’ve ever seen, but it most often resulted in the opponents fast-breaking the other way…

    –Most of you are too young to remember Cleveland Edwards and Darryl Gissendanner…

    Go Pitt.

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    1. I disagree. Considering the circumstance, that is better than I expected.

      Maryland had a controversial death in resulted with the firing of the HC and the President stepping down, the OC in his first year with the program was the temp HC, and the new HC just joined the program fulltime as he just called the plays for Alabama on Monday night. And I don’t believe the new staff is entirely in place yet.

      What the heck do you expect?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. wwb, I agree. Canada had Maryland playing with intensity, too bad they couldn’t pull off the upset over Ohio State. The fact that he didn’t get hired has to make you wonder, but after how Maryland handled the eventual firing of their HC, their decision making is obviously questionable. Maryland may be the Cleveland Browns of College Football.

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  117. John, I remember Gissendanner but so much Edwards. I do remember Tom Richards who is not my old neighbor or the doc?

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  118. See what a nice win can do for your future exposure. Pitt Duke game on ESPN 9pm on 1/22. Let’s hope it’s not a repeat performance of the NC Pitt game for Pitt.

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  119. Canada did a great job in his one year at Pitt. I would prefer someone else. He moves around more than Chaney.

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  120. I remember Gissendanner from the late 70s/early 80s. Believe he died a few years back. He was pretty good, and a local product but can’t remember from where.

    If memory serves, he played with Calton Neverson who was maybe the best defensive guard Pitt ever had.

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  121. Maybe even Dick Chaney! Seriously, Cleve Edwards could handle the basketball better than anyone I have seen. He could do pinwheels around a defender and leave him in the dust… On the Canada front, I’ve said this before that he is poison and should not be considered. For Narduzzi to even consider him shows how few contacts he actually has in this business. The guy walked out on Pitt after he was salvaged from the NC State scrap bin, and he showed no loyalty. A contract is not going to keep him from jumping to another job.

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    1. The problem may be Pitt’s schedule. From what I saw so far, Pitt is just as good and maybe better this year than Wake, Ga Tech, BC and Miami. Yet, Pitt plays all 4 of them on the road, and none of them at home.

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  126. John, I remember Cleve Edwards… JC All American at Bobby Mo before coming to Pitt. Wore a huge knee brace when he played. Coached at Pitt and later at UNLV natl champ team I think.
    In Bobby Mo HOF.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fran — my memory is fuzzy, but I thought Cleveland always had one thigh wrapped? Maybe it was a knee brace…

      Go Pitt.

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  127. Gissendanner was from Clairton…recall a fight in Pitt Duquesne game starting with Giss and Andy Sisinni.
    And wbb is right about Edwards… outstanding ball handler.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Same guy – he is a lawyer in Erie now. Intense player and even more over the top intense as a coach.

        I want him as my lawyer if I ever need one…

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  129. a thought ….. Dixon micromanaged everything. Stallings micromanaged nothing .. in fact, hardly managed a thing.

    But Capel seems to be somewhere in between where his freshmen guards (and others) have the freedom to fail, yet he was able to reign in the team as needed. I would hope this would be very pleasing to prospects.

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  131. Good point Pittman. X-man and Krauser, very similar. I’m thinking X is a lot further ahead at this point in their freshman seasons. Johnson has something extra special about him. One problem I see is…… self-control. Xavier is a little too emotional at times.. but I love his passion…. ike

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  132. I recall Neverson being an OK shooter too and sure would have been a easier win last night if Billy Culbertson was on the line as I recall him hitting some clutch ones in some big games back in A10 or early Big East days at Fitzgerald.

    As for Canada, he left Pitt for 1.5M….if he didn’t do that he would be nice and loyal, but STUPID.
    I have listened to him here a few times on radio interviews and I get a good vibe from how he comes across. Most here would prefer his demeanor over King Pat’s(which I personally don’t mind but see what others dislike in him).

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    1. Yeah, Same guy – Intense player and even more “over the top” intense as a coach.

      I want him as my lawyer if I ever need one…

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  134. Let’s nip this in the bud in case it happens. Who here jumps for joy if Canada is hired and who bitches up a storm, inquiring minds want to know?

    Me? I’ll accept it but would like to see PITT go a fresher different direction.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I need to write an OC search post. Will open a bottle of Tuscan red tonight and see what I can come up with

      Liked by 1 person

    2. ike – I agree with you. On one hand, Canada really coached-up the offense that year – very crisp and few mistakes.

      On the other, I’d like to see an up-and-comer who has had success and brings some mystic.

      Whoever it is, we need someone who will excite the current players— and us fans… I hope Heather, and pressure to to keep pace with a rising athletic department, result in Coach Duzz making a bold move…

      Go Pitt.

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  135. The passing game is a disaster and must be improved. Any OC hire must be able to breathe some life into it, and take an OBJECTIVE look at the QB position. While no coach can guarantee success, Tvax1, I believe any HC should certainly expect loyalty. Chryst went back to his alma mater, but Canada sold out for more money after only one year. Not acceptable. The amount of money doesn’t matter.

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  136. If Canada wants to come back you take him. Not even sure how that can be debated unless you’re holding a grudge or prefer to bitch about Pitt. Additionally, who cares if he leaves after a year again? Good coordinators don’t stay anywhere very long. When the NFL cribs your playbook (looking at you Andy Reid … and coaching tree), you’re doing it right.

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  137. My guess is that Jeff George is our QB next season, Pickett will transfer and we go into the following year with a solid position battle between Patti and Beville.

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  138. Hey TT, that’s the problem with a football program like PITT. Having a coaching revolving door is bad when you don’t have 5* players that need a more consistent coaching system. Their development is hindered. In order to create a future you need a strong foundation. A strong foundation doesn’t shift every year or two.

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  140. Ike is absolutely right, Tossing. I could even understand if Canada left Pitt for a head coaching position. But to leave for more money after only one year is absolutely self centered and disloyal to someone who gave him a chance

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  141. Ike – Hot Coordinators find better jobs. He was offered $800K more at another school (actually way more if you don’t take into consideration the counter-offer). How is that disloyal to take that job? If a coordinator sticks around, that means he’s not a hot prospect and Pitt’s offense is probably not knocking anyone’s socks off. The fact Canada coached the bowl game tells you all you need to know on how Duzz felt about him taking $800K more … he understood.

    College football is a revolving door of coordinators and players. The Narduzzi’s and Bud Fosters (I couldn’t even think of an OC) are rare birds.

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  142. Pitt fans have this weird obsession with wanting “loyalty” . We toss around words like stability and consistency when that’s not the reality of the sport. Never really has been outside of the blue bloods and even they have constant change. Some Pitt fans want what Penn State had with Paterno … That’s not normal … and look how it ended.

    OC’s and DC’s and position coaches all leave on a regular basis. Even from the best in the sport. Dabo has a nice thing going on at Clemson but Clemson is at the top of the mountain.

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  144. If you are successful as a coordinator you’re gonna get scooped up for more money, and if you’re not successful you will be fired. It seems there is very little middle ground.

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  145. Wisconsin is on their 3rd head coach in 10 years. They seem okay. What point are you trying to make? The constant is the AD, Alvarez … not the coaches.

    Bielema
    Gary Anderson
    Paul Chryst

    Several different OC’s and DC’s during that time too. In fact, Gary Anderson left because he was losing too many assistants due to poor pay. Houston is another example of a successful school despite rotating head coaches. Leadership at the top (AD) to direct the ship is more important than worrying about rotating coaches. If you have someone who makes good hires, that’s the person you want to stick around.

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  146. scus7 – Right on. You’re good, you get promoted. You suck, you get fired. You’re average, you’re bowl eligible … maybe. Yay.

    Who cares? If they leave, make a good hire … not a safe one.

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  147. We’ve had years of instability and inconsistency in Pitt football and the results speak for themselves. What goes around comes around in life and the coaching world. Except for a relative few top dogs, HCs will value loyalty and character in their staffs, and will remember who was disloyal. Take Fraud for example..

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  148. VoR – No we haven’t. We’ve had one head coach for 4 years now. When he made good hires (Canada) things went well. When he made poor hires (Haley/Watson) he struggled.

    Stability and consistency have nothing to do with it now. Pitt has stability at head coach level in both football and basketball right now … Everyone says Chryst stabilized the program anyways (not me, but enough posters that I’ll run with it).

    Hiring good people is more important than how long they stay. If someone good leaves, you replace them with someone good. Duzz went for familiarity because he fell into the stability and consistency trap too. It’s BS. Just make good hires. Don’t worry if they leave or not. Or if they’re loyal or not. As long as they’re loyal to being the best coach they can be and to the kids well being that is all that matters.

    Liked by 1 person

  149. This stability and consistency thing is a myth. Yes, at one point Pitt needed it. The Wanny to Haywood to Fraud to Chryst situation was unique. The root of the problem wasn’t consistency though. It was bad hires. Haywood and Fraud were bad hires. If you hit a home run after Wanny, all is forgotten. If you hit a home run after Haywood all is forgotten.

    The consistency you guys want is at the Chancellor/BoT/AD level. That’s what sets up programs for success. You can replace coaches … successful ones too.

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  150. Narduzzi has more than one good hire. Yeah a few bad ones as well but that happens with a first time head coach. In year four he one his division. Next is the ACC crown. Don’t act like there is no improvement. It does not compute…

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  151. But Tossing, it’s not easy to find and hire good hires. All coaches and ADs try but going back 35 years the results for Pitt haven’t been good. Are you really confident in Narduzzi’s hiring ability?

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  153. VoR – Hiring is an art. Duzz may not have it but Lykke does. I’m not worried with her at the helm.

    ike – I’m pro-Duzz. I saw improvement on defense (because he made a good hire) and regression at offense (because he made a bad hire). I’d like to see what that defense can do with a Canada offense … if that’s what happens. It’s definitely not guaranteed. That wouldn’t have anything to do with stability though … it would have to do with good assistant hires and good leadership (which I think Duzz has).

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  154. Look, if you have a good leader at the top … which I think Duzz is … the hiring is more important than the stability or consistency. Now, as with everything, moderation is key but when you have the chance to strike gold twice you do it and worry about next season … when this season is over. Sure, I’d like an OC for a few years but I have no expectations for anyone beyond two years. A successful OC will not stick around. Either go for a bigger school or HC job … or the AD has to make a decision whether the assistant is more important than the HC. Leaders make tough decisions.

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  155. Stability and consistency can lead to staleness. Change is good in College Football. Keeps you current with trends.

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  156. Tossing always makes compelling arguments, whether you agree or disagree with his POV.

    I think Matt Canada is a good coordinator. I understand why he left.

    Let’s say you work for CCAC as the head basketball coach, making 50k per year. A division 2 school comes along and offers to pay you $150k. Up in class, Triple your pay. Same thing happened to Canada.

    He did a great job here. That is not disputed.

    There may be better options out there. If there are, I hope we are kicking the tires. But remember that our HC is a defensive coach. He wants to hand the keys to someone who doesn’t need to be babysat. His past hires reflect that philosophy.

    Liked by 3 people

  157. I think that we all agree that Heather was a good hire. The jury is still out with Narduzzi, but there is some hope. If Canada sits out a year or becomes a position coach he will have lost all that LSU juice, and he will have that Maryland baggage on him. The grass isn’t always greener…

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  158. VoR – What MD baggage? He’s in the running for the NIU HC job and turned down Indiana’s OC offer after also interviewing for TN and being linked to Pitt. MD stink ain’t following him.

    If Pitt hired him and her left after year, my point is who cares. If he left that means Pitt probably had a great season. You were about that when you cross that bridge. Not before.

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  161. MajorMajors – I know. Haha. I just don’t understand the logic. It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

    Personally, I’m not too invested in if they get Canada or not. I’m only saying that if he wants to come back, Pitt is crazy not to take him. He may not want to and that’s fine. If not Canada, I hope they aim for someone as influential as Canada. Having people knock on our doors for coordinators is a good thing. It indicates success. This is a guy who has had pieces of his offense implemented across the NFL, most prominently in KC, Chicago and Philly.

    Other than he might leave sooner than later, I really don’t understand why anyone would not want him back. He literally put up Pitt’s best offense of all time in the one season he was here. It just baffles my mind that some people equate losing a coordinator to a lack of stability. Narduzzi is still here and going into season 5. Not sure what lack of stability we have. We’re long past the coaching fiasco post Wanny. We can let go of the stability concern.

    Leadership at the top is what provides stability not how long an assistant coaches at a program.

    A team has 100% turnover every 5 years with players. Every season, 10-20 kids graduate and new kids are starting. Switching assistant coaches does not dramatically affect a team with good leadership. It’s part of the routine.

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