Pitt formally published the 2019 football schedule today, and it won’t be an easy one.  11 of the 12 teams we play qualified for a bowl in 2018.

The good news is that the Panthers will host seven games at Heinz Field, including four ACC games.  Here is the full 2019 Schedule as released by the Sports Information Department, as well as some extra commentary by Yours Truly, meant to be taken with a grain of salt of course.

 

Aug. 31                                 Virginia*            

Pitt is 5-0 all-time against the Cavaliers in Pittsburgh.

Which means the Cavs are due…

 

Sept. 7                                  Ohio     

Coach Frank Solich has led the Bobcats to 10 bowl games in 14 seasons.

Oh great, another triple-option team.

 

Sept. 14                                at Penn State    

The 2019 meeting between Pitt and Penn State will mark the 100th all-time.

The good thing is that we will be beat up as hell after playing that triple-option team.

 

Sept. 21                                UCF       

The Knights’ 25-game winning streak was snapped by LSU, 40-32, in the Fiesta Bowl.

At least we will only be win #4 on their new win streak.

 

Sept. 28                                Delaware           

In the lone prior meeting, James Conner scored four TDs in a 62-0 win to open the 2014 season.

This is really the only game we should feel good about

 

Oct. 5                                    at Duke*            

Kenny Pickett’s 25-yard pass to Maurice Ffrench with :05 left lifted Pitt past Duke last season.

And it’s a good thing it did or 2018 would have been a dis-aster.

 

Oct. 18 (Fri.)                      at Syracuse*     

The Panthers have won 14 of the past 17 games against the Orange.

Thanks for the Kiss of Death…

 

Oct. 26                                  Miami*

Pitt toppled No. 2 Miami, 24-14, the last time the Hurricanes visited Heinz Field in 2017.

We win about 1 out of every 3 games against the ‘Canes so don’t get your hopes up

 

Nov. 2                                   at Georgia Tech*            

The Panthers travel to Atlanta to face new-look Georgia Tech under coach Geoff Collins.

Finally a winnable game!

 

Nov. 14 (Thurs.)               North Carolina*              

The last time Mack Brown faced Pitt? The 1984 season as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator.

The last time Pat Narduzzi beat North Carolina:  Never

 

Nov. 23                                 at Virginia Tech*             

The Panthers piled up a school-record 654 yards in last season’s 52-22 win over the Hokies.

We used it all up in 2018, so expect about 150 yards of offense for a two year average of 400 yards per game.

 

Nov. 30                                 Boston College*             

Pitt has won five of the last six against the Eagles, who visit Heinz for the first time since 2004.

Two teams that love to play smash-mouth football meet in Pittsburgh in November…Whiplash vs Smashmouth.  Better hope we can stop the run.

 

In all seriousness folks, this is a pretty tough schedule.  An early uneducated read says 6-6, because Duzz always loses a couple that you think he should win and wins a couple you’d think he would lose.  Here’s to hoping the Defense is as good as we think it is and Whipple gets the offense humming.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo

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.

184 thoughts on “2019 Football Schedule Announced”

  1. Anyone else who figures the PITT season opener against Virginia will draw 50,000 people + ??

    Yo Michael, why is Virginia due to beat PITT but PITT is not due to beat UNC? I know…. the grain of salt thingie.

    Hey POVer’s, expect one hell of a Fran tailgate against UNC…. BE THERE!!

    My road game possibilities?
    )1 Duke, because Richard may be going
    )2 Georgia Tech because my sister in law lives in Atlanta
    )3 Virginia Tech because it’s the closest.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Hey Ike, I had the same thought as you about VA and UNC. But I had to laugh because I didn’t disagree with Mike’s comments. That’s the way we forlorn Pitt fans are conditioned to think. If we’ve never beaten a team then it’s a given that we never will. If a team has never beaten Pitt then they surely will next time. Funny in a sad sort of way.

    Hoping I’m wrong.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. this schedule appears to be easier than this past season but that’s not saying much since Pitt had the 4th hardest schedule. (according to Joe Starky on The Fan – didn’t hear his source but it certainly isn’t hard to believe)

    However, both UCF and PSU are losing their star QBs. Now UCF is getting ND transfer Brandon Winbush as a replacement while PSU will have 4* Tommy Stevens, but I still think they won’t be as effective.

    Still, I doubt if the Coastal is as easy as it was last year. VT will certainly be better, Miami is getting a 5* transfer QB from Ohio St. UNC will probably be better under Mack Brown. Hard to say about GT which I assume will have a new offense, And I believe the last time Pitt played Ohio, it didn’t work out so well.

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  4. LOL Mike and Dino. I have enough to be forlorn-ed about. I don’t let my primary source of passion, outside of my family and friends, get in the way of my primary source of hope. Health? I’ve given up on that…….. but PITT I won’t back down!!!

    Yeah I could throw the Petty tune in here but I’ll spare you guys and gals tonight. NOT!! << different version

    Like

  5. I’m traveling on business out in western USA with my stix and just got off the plane.

    Two thoughts on this schedule – 1. all seem winnable to me / Pitt won’t be favored in all, but should be no surprise if and when Pitt wins.

    I’ll chime in on my early predictions later, but 6-6 keeps me away.

    This Duzz lead Pitt team has to win 9 + games or his days are numbered IMO.

    H2P!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh I don’t disagree. It’s the money year for Duzz. I’m just not sure he can do it

      Like

  6. MM, me thinks you are a bit too negative on Pitt’s prospects for next year. As Erie mentioned, each of these games is winnable. I’m thinking they can finish at 8-4 with a bowl win (law of averages). The Coastal title will go to Miami, however.

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  7. well, if you think top rated high school QBs like Max Browne and Ricky Town who transfer because they are not cutting it are an aberration … think again

    Liked by 1 person

  9. tough schedule lol

    This is an easy schedule

    UVA win
    Ohio win
    PSU loss
    UCF loss
    Delaware win
    Duke win
    Syracuse win
    Miami loss
    Georgia Tech win
    UNC loss
    VT win
    BC win

    and all 4 of those losses are winnable games if pitt actually shows up for them. especially UNC, pitt hasnt showed up for UNC once yet since joining the ACC and still has only lost by 1 score each time

    Liked by 1 person

  11. —We have to find a way to go at least 3-1 in the OOC games. Then we can win 8 games.

    —Might be good that we’re playing GT later in the season — get to see what the new guy is up to…

    Go Pitt.

    Like

    1. 3-1 is doable if the whipping boy gets KP to be productive.

      Our D needs to be “top shelf” or Duzz is done.

      There is a winning combination in place – it needs to materialize. Quickly!

      Like

      1. EE – hope you hit them solid out there on your winter golf tour.

        And hope Rachel is fully recovered…

        — Be interesting to see if Coach Bates can further improve the defense in his second year as DC. One thing he needs to do is eliminate those plays where the corner passes off the WR but the safety doesn’t pick him up… We had WRs running uncovered for TDs a few times last season.

        Go Pitt.

        Go Pitt!

        Like

        1. Rachel is almost fully recovered – thanks for asking.

          She made the trip with me –

          Looking forward to business golf – I’m not good at letting the customer win.

          Liked by 2 people

  12. MIKE,
    Good read on the season schedule. Thx!
    My big concern is still our OL!
    Watson HAD to keep the TE as a blocker so Kenny wouldn’t get killed. Don’t see much changing there. “It’s whats up front that counts.” See no NFL O linemen on the roster – not a one.

    Like

  13. when I first saw this, I thought it was strange … but the more I think of it, my opinion is why not?

    Brett McMurphy@Brett_McMurphy

    ACC announces 2019 schedules. Among the non-conference games is UNC at Wake Forest on Sept. 12. UNC will also host Wake Forest in a non-ACC game in 2021

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    1. Has to be a mistake. UNC ain’t leaving and probably not Wake Forest either

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      1. I believe they scheduled this game a few years ago. Both had an opening for a P5 opponent. Since Wake’s crossover opponent is Duke & No. Car. crossover is N.C. St. No. Car plays Wake every 6 years. The last time they played was in 2015 and with next scheduled game is in 2021. You know how those 4 North Carolina like to play each other for bragging rights.

        PITT-UofSC Fan

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      2. MM, This has nothing to do with either UNC or Wake leaving the ACC. This is scheduling a conference team that is not on the schedule as a OOC. This would be like Pitt playing Louisville or NC State instead of UCF this coming September.

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        1. Ah I see. “Out of Conference Game” within the conference. Like an extra crossover game

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  14. Agree that 3-1 is doable.

    2-2 is also doable.

    1-3 unfortunately, is also doable.

    This is a scary proposition. I am not confident in any of the scenario’s, so I will hope for the best. Hope is not a plan.

    We can win 11 or lose them all, but one. The frailty of a Pitt fan. The crazy thing is that off the top of my head, I would probably guess that only 2 of our opponents on the schedule consistently out recruit us and most of the others are interchangeable with us over a four year period. Therein lies the opportunity. Excellent coaching should win, when talent is similar. Should be an interesting season.

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    1. Boy, the negativity here …. especially when Pitt’s ACC record over the past 4 years has been pretty good. I believe they are 3rd in amount of ACC wins (after Clemson and Miami), and their league record was 6-2 this past season ,,,, even with Watson.

      Now, who knows what will happen this year but the recent mediocre overall record has more to do with playing probably the hardest OOC, not within the conference.

      Liked by 2 people

  15. A pretty depressing read if I say so. If Whipple can not revive the offense then the results may be even worse than Mike expected. I’m counting on much better passing game to keep Pitt in most of its games this season. I’m also expecting the defense to pick it up another notch to help with the above prediction.

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  16. Richard (from previous thread re: Duke game)
    Once the Road Warriors Board of Directors meet will let you know. Haha.
    I am more than willing to book a block of rooms once we decide on the best place to stay.
    Also, looking forward to meeting Whipple at the LOI event…recall how impressed I was with Randy Bates who gave us much of his time talking schemes and WHY he expected the D to improve. He had a plan…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Fran – I signed up for the LOI event (can’t help myself). Hope to see you and Richman there.

      And I remember us talking to Coach Bates last time – and being impressed with both what he had to say and how he said it…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

        1. Maybe Scooter could be our new WR Coach. He’d get after those players — they’d play great because they wouldn’t want to hear it from Scooter!! 😊

          Hail to Pitt!

          Liked by 1 person

    2. Fran- I like hanging out with yinz so keep me informed.

      After making a snap decision on going to Duke, I realized I have a 50’th year H.S. class reunion in October. I checked my email and it’s the weekend after – a bye week. I was hoping for a twofer – reunion & a noon PITT game. I guess I am going to sit around with a bunch of old high school friends & discuss our life accomplishments & regrets.

      PITT-UofSC Fan

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Know just the person, He hated going there & no one knows where he has been for the last 50 years. You could say anything & not be doubted. Just as long as you pretend to live in some godforsaken place like I do.

          Your biggest problem is calling me by childhood through H.S. nickname – Chardo.

          PITT-UofSC Fan

          Liked by 1 person

  17. College football now appears to have free agency. Transfers have certainly lost some of that stigma. All of these kids transferring I don’t think overall is a good thing. However I think it could be a good thing for lesser major programs like Pitt. Hope Pitt continues to be involved in the transfer market now that it appears it’s become the trendy thing.

    Like

    2. I don’t mind all these kids transferring. It’s their one college career so making the decision to leave is an adult decision they will have to live with. I just hope Pitt benefits from it, like getting involved with Texas’ backup QB, Shane Buechele. A grad transfer with two years of eligibility left ala Nate Peterman.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. he would be a good get but he is also a Texas native (Arlington …. as of 40 min from TCU for example). Since he is a grad transfer, I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed within the B12 … or maybe within Texas like with Houston or Texas A&M

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          1. His dad was a very successful MLB pitcher.

            The young QB has the “it” factor – he was just recruited over which happens a lot at a place lyke Texas.

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              1. Saturday – thanks for the correction – memory must be starting to go. Baseball is my favorite sport – missed that one – my bad.

                At least I got the sport correct…

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  18. The Pirates play home evening games on September 7th and September 28th. So Ohio and Delaware games will likely be noon or 1 pm kickoffs. Will someone please buy the Pirates and move them to Johnstown. I think they could fill Point Stadium on a regular basis.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. my guess is that these two games would be noon or 12:30 games even if the Bucs were playing in Johnstown. I was shocked last year when the Pirates changed times for the PSU game, but it’s not going to happen for Bobcats or the or the Fighting Blue Hens

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      1. In general I agree,wwb. But last year’s Albany game was at 3:30. Which made for a great Fran tailgate.

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      1. Very clever Fran, you’ve been on fire this past week. So you’re saying the schedule maker was a man that was born into a family without married parents? or is he some type of sword? Either way the use of the word is totally acceptable imo.

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  19. I thought for a minute that Reed authored the 2019 schedule thread, lol. I will expect a bump in offensive performance from Whipple like we got from Bates and predict an 8-4 regular season, withholding a bowl prediction until we see what we got. I plan to register for the LOI event this weekend. Are we convening at Red Lot 5 before the event 😄?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Funny you should ask Mark..we sometimes tailgate in the Gold lot outside the venue. Have gone to Bettis Grille also. I’m open to suggestions.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Fran, I will investigate when I get home tonight, but it may be Happy hour at the Drum Bar at the Rivers and Parking would be free, as one idea for a pre LOI meeting?

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  20. Not so fast my friends, yeah, I’m on a Lee Corso kick here. I think the the Steelers may also have an effect on those kickoff times. If the Steelers are on the road the Pirates may do a switcheroo? Also, who are the Pirates playing those dates?

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    1. St. Louis on the 7th and Cincinnati on the 28th. Both currently scheduled for 7:05 starts.

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  21. I have no proof of the validity to this rumor happening, but snagging Yogi Roth to be Pitt’s WR coach would be a splash hire.

    Just my opinion…

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    1. I very much doubt Yogi is interested. He was a promising assistant under Pete Carroll at USC, and then he quit to get involved with the media. He is now a PAC 12 Network analyst …. and an author and filmmaker.

      Here is an excerpt from his Wiki page ,,, Most recently, Roth made his directorial debut with the documentary feature film, Life in a Walk, which received the Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Life in a Walk follows Roth and his father, Will, on their trek along the Camino de Santiago, a famous pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain.

      If anything, Heather needs to hire him to make a film about Pitt

      Liked by 1 person

  23. I watched Shane Buchele light it up in his 1st game as a freshman..thought he was destined to be a superstar but that didn’t happen..probably came down with whatever virus/disease ailing the Longhorns through his years (look like they have been cured…damn, did Buchele have any contact with OC Watson at Texas ?

    If he was smart he would stay with the Big12 as he knows his competition and his former team…

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  24. Thanks Farmers. I ended looking that up. The Ohio/St Louis game has little chance to be changed but maybe the Delaware/Cincinnati game. but probably both nooner’s 😦

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  25. Switch over to BB – the dairy farmers lose again to fall to 0-7 in the B1G Joke conference.

    Why aren’t we playing them?

    And Iowa is ranked #23

    Liked by 1 person

  26. And West Why God Virginia is also ofer in their conference. Which makes our surprisingly sweet season even sweeter. I know, I know, we lost to the Hoopies. Darn Konate.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. isn’t it funny that Konate played sparingly before Pitt … and hasn’t played since? Did Huggy overdo it just to beat us?

      Like

  27. The debate about PITT and Narduzzi bringing in transfers to play ahead of recruits should be laid to bed….It’s all the rage in college football and that includes the teams that wear the big boy pants

    Liked by 5 people

  28. How many fans of Pitt are also Pirate fans. Seems to me both entities would not want to shoot each other in the foot..

    A couple of years ago I went to a Pitt game followed by a Pirates game. Great time in the city.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ^^ Did the same thing Frank, was tired for two weeks….. but we had fun… and I think we brought home two winners?

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  29. Hey WarrenPanther and others that stay at the northshore for games. The Hyatt is accepting reservations for the Aug 31 game against Virginia. I expect a big crowd for that game and lots of Virginnie fans from out of town.
    .
    .
    .
    .

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  30. I’ve never understood the anti-transfer sentiment. How does staying somewhere if you don’t like it make you stronger? Lol. I can leave my job anytime I want to. A coach can leave his job anytime he wants to. Players, essentially, have to sign a contact (Letter of Intent) without the ability to have an agent negotiate it, yet there is a sentiment that they should be held to it … even though they didn’t have professional representation. Everyone else who signs a contract with the school (The AD’s and coaches) have an agent negotiate for them. On top of that conference by-laws may supersede school bylaws. SMH. A kid should be able to transfer, without penalty, whenever they want as long as they have the grade point average to play. Hell, even that probably shouldn’t’ matter.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I can’t agree with that. When you consider all the money and effort that goes into recruiting a player, there has to be more than a one year commitment. Kids jumping from team to team willy nilly doesn’t make any sense and would be bad for the game. When you invest in a kid that won’t pay dividends till junior or senior year should they be able to go to the highest bidder? I think the one year out is a good policy. I do like the graduate policy. giving a kid one more shot.

      I think some of the sentiment regarding Pitt is that because of Narduzzi’s weak recruiting he has had to supplement with grad transfers while the good teams use them to improve where they can, they don’t rely on them to fill major weaknesses.

      Even pro players can not leave whenever they want to, it would be terrible for the game if they could.

      There is no perfect system. If you really want to make college ball a minor professional league, then set it up like the NFL with a draft, pay the players and have a level playing field.

      Can you imagine what recruiting would be like if players would be allowed to switch teams every year. It would be bedlam with teams vying for the transfers and trying to hold on to what they got. Imagine a coach having to baby their stars so that they would stay next year. We would have hundreds of Antonio Browns.

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      1. But I do think that if the head coach or the player’s position coach leaves, the kid should have options to go elsewhere too…

        Go Pitt.

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      2. No different than money spent on me if I went thru a recruiter. It’s a risk you take. The investment part is just an excuse.

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      3. These recruits promise kids the moon and some of them even though they are very good, can’t get on the field. Some of these kids want to play on Sunday’s. Look at the QB’s who just left Clemson and Alabama. Should they ride the pine all their time in college?

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  31. I don’t think that anything but a 2-2 OOC record is realistic. Pitt making up the difference with CFU is unrealistic and DairyU has out-recruited Pitt for the past 4 years so an away victory seems out of reach. Shame the NitWits aren’t playing Pitt at home this year.

    As for ACC, reserve the right to change prediction after info on spring practices, but right now 5-3 seems realistic. Losses to Miami, VTech, and Duke (all away games).

    7-5 won’t quiet the Dump the Duzz crowd, but finally winning a bowl game might help.

    Best thing about this schedule, 5 of 7 home games before November cold arrives, with 4 out of 5 essentially in September.

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  32. 5-7 to 8-4 range W-L range
    probably 7 wins
    But really come Year 5 we should be talking about a 10 win season plus a nice bowl

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  33. In year 5, the team really has to find a way to get to 10 wins. If that’s 9 wins in the regular season and a bowl win so be it, but it should be 10 wins or bust barring any unforeseen circumstances.

    Liked by 2 people

  34. As far as transfers, I think sitting out a year is extreme, especially since the coaches jump around so much.

    I do think kids should be required to transfer out of conference. Since they seem to be relaxing the rules, it would prevent coaches trying to recruit kids on current teams within their own conference. I think that will make for bad blood.

    That being said, every coach has to be checking that transfer portal daily. Take talent from anywhere.

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  36. Ike, I think I am planning on the DUKE game as my away game. My mom and sis live 2 hours away from Durham. Made the same trip several years ago and met Scooter and Fran there. Was a good time. If I remember correctly Big B was there also.
    LOI sounds like it will be fun. got a foursome already and AL (Joe L’s buddy) will be there as well. Can’t turn down free beer.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Going to give the Duke game serious consideration Richman. You know and I’m embarrassed to say… I’ve never attended a PITT road game. It is on my fast evaporating bucket-list, at least as far as time goes…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. ike – my wife and I went to the last game at Duke (which we won on those two long runs by Hall) and then drove to Virginia Beach for a few days. Had a great time.

        Go Pitt.

        Like

  37. The question marks on offense particularly with the Backs, OL and QB’s are the problem facing Pitt going into the next season. Whipple has his work cut out for him prior to the VA game. Pickett should certainly be put on notice early that his job is less than secure based on his 2018 performance.

    Liked by 1 person

  38. I’m not a believer that coaching moves and student-athletes transferring should be treated the same way. When a scholarship is accepted, a player has received a 4-5 year commitment that is worth as much as 2 or 3 hundred thousand dollars. A free completed degree from the college can then be worth many more thousands of dollars over the working life of the player. As Gordon mentions, this commitment is made without any guarantee that the player will ever contribute on the field. And there is the use of facilities, weight rooms, free tutoring, etc. that go with it.

    But they are not professionals, and their benefits are not performance based. However, if they graduate in 4 yrs. with a year of eligibility left, they should be free to go to the NFL or transfer anywhere and receive yet another year of free tuition and benefits including free food, housing, etc. If the college can receive some value back in the form of TV revenue, ticket sales, etc. then all the better, but many schools continue to lose money on their athletic programs so most colleges are not taking advantage of these student athletes.

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    1. VoR – Thats BS. The student never had an agent negotiate it nor were they allowed to. Just sign your life away on this dotted line. Yeah, right. As an adult would you buy a house without an agent?

      Liked by 1 person

    2. A kid who can’t make the team should be allowed to go to any school he wants to. Maybe outside the conference, but this is America. The school will get an extra scholarship when he leaves.

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  39. Richman… check out Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club right on campus… you will hit it out of the park with your better half… we tailgate just down the hill from the hotel entrance… my truck will bring ETOH and maybe
    My clubs!!!

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  40. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&channel=iphone_bm&source=hp&ei=TOJAXJKhIqaa_QaY4KL4Dg&q=washington+duke+inn+%26+golf+club&oq=washington+duke+inn+&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.0.0l5.2395.15502..17352…1.0..0.278.2553.7j11j2….2..0….1…….8..41j0i143j0i131j46i131j46.zYwU4N_7uBU#trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:nav,rc_ludocids:3887761451569448220,rc_q:Washington%2520Duke%2520Inn%2520%2526%2520Golf%2520Club,ru_q:Washington%2520Duke%2520Inn%2520%2526%2520Golf%2520Club

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  41. I think we should play at PNC park for 2 or 3 games a year. I hate the front loaded schedule. I might bag my tickets. I prefer to play tennis and golf in the early fall and go to the later games. I thought this year it would be back loaded based on last years schedule.

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  42. Check out PSN or Twitter to see George Aston putting a Pitt logo on a psuX teammates helmet for Saturday’s all star game…

    Liked by 2 people

  43. Richman, PGT trucking picked up the tab for the alcohol at the event…are they doing it again? Used to be cash bar back in the day. That’s why we started tailgating at it. That’s how I met the Partyin Panther. Haha.

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  44. While I ended being right last year on the number of losses I was totally off on the wins, and who they would lose to (I assumed a 5-7 record, now ACC championship, no bowl loss).

    So with that in mind here is my 2019 sure fail prognostication

    Virginia – W
    Ohio – W
    @ Penn State – L
    UCF – L
    Delaware – W
    @ Duke – W
    @ Syracuse – L
    Miami – L
    @ Georgia Tech – L
    North Carolina – W
    @ Virginia Tech – L
    Boston College – W

    6 – 6

    So bank it right now, we will be heading to a bowl this year at 7-5, but no ACC championship game. A bowl loss and we are 7-6 to end 2019 (it will be a bowl before New Year’s Day).

    😉

    Dave

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    1. ^^ Hey David, one interesting note. You ended up by being right about your prediction of PITT’s loss number but it was for only one reason. You were wrong in your prediction or lack of prediction of PITT going to the ACC championship game and the extra loss that ensued. The extra loss is being over PITT’s head like they did something wrong??

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    2. No way Pitt loses at Syracuse and Georgia Tech.

      Tech has a monumental transition from triple option to its new offense.

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    1. Pretty impressive(Demetrius Thomas), maybe Narduzzi can recruit him for our D line this coming season. The agility required for wrestling translates well on many situations to the D line. Particularly IMO in pure pass rushing downs.

      Like

  46. great stuff guys, I saw that regarding Thomas as well, but can only view on twitter. Does anyone know if that video is available on a site?

    and yeah, that transition worked out well for Carlton Haselrig…

    Looking forward to the Cuse game Saturday! No idea how our penetrating style and team makeup will possibly keep us in that game. Just seems like a bad matchup to me.

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    1. he might be even better on the OL — an probably hold his ground quite well

      as far as the Syracuse game on Sat, I believe upper NY will be getting slammed by the snowstorm, although most of t will come after the game (I think)

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    2. Zones don’t just get beaten by outside shooting….although Pitt will need to be better at that…but zone defenses are particularly vulnerable to penetration. And no one does it better than X and Mc.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dixon liked to feed the ball in to a big man then have a good shooter at the FT line inside the zone who would take a pass and shoot (and hopefully make it).

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  47. BigB, I may drive in and back same day , coming from New Bern.
    Fran, it says sponsored by PGe trucking, or whomever, so I a assume the beer is free again.
    I will be walking over from downtown …2 PNC.

    Like

  50. Says here the Panthers will enter October at 5 – 0, but finish out with a 4 – 3 run. A bowl victory gives Pitt a 10 win season and a springboard to a great 2020 campaign. The Nard Dog delivers!

    Liked by 1 person

  51. Mark… not planning on LOI day….thanks for asking..

    Booked into Hilton Garden Inn Durham/ University Medical center… for the Duke game

    Booked into Atlanta.. Crowne Plaza Mid-town for GT….

    Like

  52. Washington Duke Hotel and JB Duke Hotel are holding reservations and you have to get on a lottery system … it’s their family weekend…5 restaraunts,6 bars and a golf course in the property…

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  55. Tossing, I managed to navigate through 70 years of life without ever having someone negotiate for me. It can be done. And these kids can get legal or other help if they want it. Quit treating them like babies who don’t know what they are doing.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. The only sports league in the world where you’re not allowed to have an agent when signing your contract is the NCAA. The reason all these kids are moving now is that the NCAA is realizing that it wouldn’t hold up in a court of law just like NDA’s that companies try to make you sign aren’t worth the cost of the paper that they’re written on. There’s too much money involved to call them amateurs. If you’re playing P5 football you’re a professional in a minor league.

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  56. Renaldo Hill, who was the DB coach for Pitt from 2015 thru 2017, has just been hired as DB Coach by the Denver Broncos

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  57. Bernie – Fran: I just made my reservation for the Hilton Garden Inn. I want to make sure I am in the middle of the action with PITT’s two best tailgaters.

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    1. Announced by the NFL yesterday, and nothing yet in the Pittsburgh news that I can find.

      AD the hometown guy who stayed home to play for Pitt.

      Where is the Pitt marketing department? Vacation, that’s right, I forgot.

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        1. I’m heading to the golf course to meet with my client. The key word is “meet”.

          Business will be discussed, I promise you that.

          I’m starting to see a glimps of optimism toward this 2919 Duzz team and it starts with the D.

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  61. I’m kool with this analysis MM.
    I’m liking the schedule, though. Hate playing U of Miami to close the season and I think we can beat BC home or away.
    Def like getting back to our roots, so to speak, by playing VT @thanksgiving. This game date & time belongs to WVU. But VT firs the bill bettted than most.

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  63. I’m sorta on board (for the record) on your prediction. But I’m seeing a 7 win season. Even if I am admittedly glass-half-full ay this time.
    And time will tell

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  64. Here’s my deal… I wanted to hold Narduzzi’s throat to the wall this past season but then he went ahead and won the “weak” coastal division. Sheez, isn’t that something? PITT did that with a QB that had only started one game before in his life in college football. Sheez, isn’t that something? Didn’t PITT win 7 regular season games despite having one of the toughest OOC schedules in the country? Sheez.. < is that even a word?

    My point is…. this new year is like a redo all over again.. We rewind the clock and start over Aug 31th. Yet this time PITT has a built in can and must win game they didn’t have last year. Narduzzi’s butt is rolling towards a put up with my arrogant ass or watch it walk out the door scenario. Problem for him is…. Lots of people want him to take that walk… PITT SOP fans have no patience for losing….. or for winning for that matter!… . .ike

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  66. In your neck of the woods Ike, it is called Sheetz….

    Been a little swamped this year and not finding the time to comment appropriately. Hopefully things lighten up.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Yes Huff III, a Sheetz every 5-10 miles around these parts. They started up in Altoona I believe and is a very well run organization. Lots of people get their lunch there. Me? Not so much. Anyone remember the Sandwich Saloons? Same family and a decent Gyro. << Gyro’s are one of many weaknesses.

      Everyday I become more encouraged by this Whipple hire. Not so much because who he is but what he’s good at. Seems like a good fit for Narduzzi and PITT. Hope Narduzzi keeps his nose out of the offense.. . . ike

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  69. Yes GC, looking forward to that game. Like I said earlier, that looks like a really bad match up for us given our strengths. I’d like to know how others think we can keep this one close. I just think our strength of driving to the basket will get just about eliminated by Syracuse’s zone. That said, our guys are so tough & our coaching staff is so solid, that I can’t imagine any team will be looking forward to playing us. We are now utterly unstallingsesque.

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  70. To stay in the ‘Cuse game, Wilson-Frame will need to step up. ‘Cuse is long as usual which makes scoring on drives to the basket tough. Driving to the basket is necessary, but kicking the ball out and making mid-range jumpers and 3’s are the key.

    Brown has to stay out of foul trouble, since he is pretty much the only shot blocking and rebounding presence we have. Love to see the look on Behind’s face when the ‘Cuse lose, its classic.

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      1. Dan – wouldn’t JWF be a guy to put at the elbow- or whatever you call it – at the foul line to shoot jumpers against the Orange zone? Maybe he can’t pass well enough? But he looks like he can make foul shots with his eyes closed…

        Just asking…

        Go Pitt.

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  71. Slow day on the blog..guess the POVert Nation is getting revved up for a big holiday week-end…Big wrastl’n match against the Cowboys and up to blizzard country to take on the Orangemen in round-ball. …Gotta love this wrestling team..unlike football, ya gotta take on the Big Boys if you wanna make a name for yourself..We had some good teams at PITT in the 70’s when a lot of us were there together and didn’t know it..shame Wade Shalles didn’t come to PITT but went to Clarion College-1972 and 1973 Champion in his weight division, winning the outstanding wrestler award in ’72 and inducted in the National Wrestling HOF.

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  72. Bernie, you slipped something in there that gave me a little belly laugh you sly dog. You’re right though. Another great hire by Heather (wrestling) who many thought she dropped the ball on. PITT has surface on the sports map across many sports. That fact has tied many tongues.

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        1. Pat was a proven coach. But also would have cost 3 times as much. But you typically get what you pay for. Who knows. All I’m saying is many Pitt wrestling fans were disappointed that Pat wasnt hired at the time.

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          1. I was among the disappointed at the time. But Gavin has done well and is probably 20 years younger, so perhaps more time at Pitt in the long run?

            WVU’s new coach is from Edinboro if memory serves. He’s a solid coach and will recruit western PA heavily and probably has good connections. Pitt may feel the impacts. Time will tell.

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          2. as I was Tx. Turns out Heather made a good hire as it would seem? Again I remind that I have never assigned Heather saint hood in the athletic director’s hall of fame but I do like to give a nod when it is due though.

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  73. BigB and Ike – OK State is the best wrestling team that we will face this season. The fact that we are 8-0 and have already defeated two ranked teams (both ranked higher than us at the time of the match) and a handful of solid programs is amazing to me. Especially after last year. Quite a rebuilding and coaching effort.

    Out of the ten weight classes, we could win as few as one and as many as four against OK State. It will be interesting to see what happens, as OK State is an elite program in wrestling.

    Also, if memory serves, we defeated the Cowboys in 2013? And were the underdogs…

    We don’t have much depth but we certainly have some real good wrestlers especially at 133 and Heavy weight.

    For those that want to watch it is on ESPN ACC extra. Go to ‘Watch ESPN’ then search Pitt wrestling and it should show up. Starts at 1 PM Pittsburgh time.

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  74. I agree Rocky… This dual match will be more about how the young PITT grapple-rs represent more than if they win or not.

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  77. Larry Fitz had a hole-in-one today at Seminole Golf Club in FL. 162 yards – 8 iron. Obama was in his foursome along with the president of the club as well as the part owner of the Celtics.

    He was goods friends with Sen McCain. I wonder what the future holds for him. That Phoenix online degree may take him a long way

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        1. Warning to all you guys planning to golf before the Duke game, and may be taking their wives on the trip. I just read where PGA pro Lucas Glover’s wife just pled guilty to domestic abuse after he shot a 78 in the 3rd round of the Players Championship last year. Pitt needs all of the fans it can get … so when you get back to the hotel, lie about your score.

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        2. I played with my client and two former P5 kickers yesterday – one from tOSU and the other Washington.

          The kicker from tOSU crushed his 3 iron (not wood) 250 yards.

          Neither one of them knew of the Pitt “legend” Blewitt. Similar ages though.

          They were in town for a kickers program for HS players.

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  78. How will the team get home from Syracuse? I am in Rochester now and a game we had scheduled for tomorrow is cancelled due to the weather. They are closing the thruway to tractor trailers tomorrow also. I expect a small crowd will be there. Maybe there will be no home court advantage!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I assume the way the storm is moving in from the south that upper NY won’t be getting hit real hard until later Sat evening. This should provide the locals to get back from the game OK,. The team should be able to leave alright… but getting in may be the issue. Maybe they’ll be re-routed to Morgantown where there is supposed to be more rain than snow (of course, an icy drive up I-79 doesn’t sound tooo promising)

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    2. I wondered that too Annie. I assume they had to fly. Rt 90 & Rt 80 will be bad news….even if they’re open.

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  80. True Tx… and it doesn’t even have to be snowing to be stranded in Syracuse. I think Syracuse is an old Iroquois word for stranded?

    Liked by 3 people

  82. ^^ Formallywwb, the shear fact I considered myself a golfer was a lie. I use to hit it a mile…. where it landed was another matter altogether.

    True story, we were such lousy golfers that a friend actually had a hole in one but in the wrong hole… There was no one playing in front of us one lazy Sunday afternoon when Drew hooked his #6 tee shot so terribly we didn’t even bother looking for it. Two holes later we found his ball in the #8 hole. Swear to gosh.

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  83. Off topic but the web site “Football Scoop” (thanks to whoever shared that site) reported yesterday that Luke Getsy (present Miss. State OC) has been contacted by Green Bay to return as a coach for the Packers. Not as their OC but in some unspecified offensive position. Getsy was WR coach before he took OC position in 2018 at Miss. St. At M.S. Getsy is being paid $600,000 for the 2018 season.

    Getsy was in the discussion during PITT’s OC search. While I am happy with the Whipple hire, I wonder what the angst level would be if PITT had hired Getsy & this report came out?

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  85. When are the next signing days for Football and Basketball? It seems unusually quiet. Given his track record, not as concerned about BBall, but footballs incoming class really needs some help.

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    1. Pitt FB recruiting has slipped to #45 on Rivals – MJ Devonshire is a must get along with, well I’m not sure any others besides grad transfers are on this staffs radar.

      Sad…

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  86. LOL Fran, truth be told we didn’t see it either. We didn’t find his ball until we were on the #8 green and we took the flag out. But like I said, there wasn’t anyone playing in front of us.

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  87. Funny story Ike, guessing someone put that ball in the hole, but who knows?

    I’ve played a lot of golf, witnessed holes in one unfortunately not my own.

    Two years ago, best shot I ever saw, a guy in his twenties, landed his shot on the green and held the green on Totterridge #17 from the black tees, dog lake right substantially down hill 405 yards! Skinny kid must have weighed a buck 20.

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  88. ike, I used to be a bogie golfer …. low to mid 80s. Then in May of 1986 in Hudson, OH on the 8th hole, I started to hit all my irons shots to the right. Not slices … but directly to the right. I hit my woods much straighter than my irons … to the point that I bought a 7 and a 9 wood. But my game was never the same, and would mostly score in mid to upper 90s. Obviously a mental thing …. you may have heard of Steve Blass disease; I guess this is wwb disease.

    ( I can also be erratic ,,,, once at Tam O’Shanter in Sharon, I shot a 58 – 41 to break 100.

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  89. My golf story. When I moved to South Carolina in 1987, it was a southern small town tradition that local businesses including banks would shut down for the day at noon on Wednesdays. In that spirit, about 8 or so of the male management & staff at my plant would play golf. Since I was not a golfer, I stayed at the plant. Took me less than a year but I became a golfer. Loved the pre, during & post game imbibing & relaxed talk but the actual golfing-not so much.

    The tradition was ended in 1990 when the company was sold & new owners strongly suggested that staying at the plant was a better use of our time. I haven’t golfed since.

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    1. despite my issues, Pitt-cocks, I can verify that the old adage is true “The worst day on the golf course is still better than the best day at work” (sadly, I know this very well)

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  90. Sometimes golf and work mix really well. Wink, wink

    The golf course is a great place to build business relationships.

    My dream foursome would be Arnie, Fitz and Marino. Since Arnie is no longer with us, I’d substitute with Tiger.

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  91. Who’s going to the Fieldhouse for wrestling match… is it sold out???

    EE… my fantasy foursome would include Sondra Holley, Kate Upton and Charlotte McKinney….

    Liked by 1 person

  92. Erie – your earlier comment on PITT’s recruiting now at #45. My have something to do with our 4* RB from Fl. Daniel Carter is now a Rival’s 3*

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    1. I wonder if he dropped in the star rating because he signed with Pitt. If he signs with K State does he stay a 4*?

      We’ll never know, but it could be a positive motivator for a young guy wanting to make it to the next level.

      OT switch to BB – The Panthers enter the cuse game today having dropped 16 consecutive road contests, including 13 in a row in ACC play. Pitt’s last road win was an 83-72 victory at BC February 2, 2017.

      Time for Pitt to end that ugly streak.

      Liked by 1 person

  93. Give credit when it is due——Great article by Chas on Pitt Blather re today’s game and an open thread.

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  94. Carter had bigger offers to other schools but of course many will say they were un-commit-able offers as if they know this as a fact. (which they don’t) Goes to show me that the “stars” are not aligned in PITT’s favor and also the recruiting sites mean jack crap! << Don’t forget, its their job they want payed for. People who cough up the cash rise to the top….. they are like restaurant reviews… they mean nothing to me. If I want to know, I’ll figure it out for myself. ….. ike

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