in Pitt Football, Spring Practices 378 Words

Spring Practice 2019: Ten things we learned on day 4

Practice #4 is in the books.  The interview focus was Defensive Line.  Here’s 10 things I took away.

  1.  Pat Narduzzi is underselling Patrick Jones.  So is DL Coach Charlie Partridge.  “Is he ready to be an everyday starter?” was the question.  The unanimous answer was “Not yet”
  2. Devin Danielson, David Greene and Tyler Bentley were three young guys mentioned by Partridge, when asked who might be able to contribute.
  3. Rashad Weaver’s pass russ got “more appropriate” as the season went on, per Partridge.  To extrapolate, he explained that young DL often only have one move, and when other teams figure it out, they tend to shut him down.  Players that can change it up as the season goes on see more consistent success.  Weaver was able to do just that.
  4. According to Partridge, “We are a vertical attack defense”.  That means they want to see all four linemen in the backfield.  If Pitt can get that to happen consistently this defense could be fun to watch.
  5. Deslin Alexandre is being played exclusively at end, and Chris Maloney was mentioned as a walk on that bears some watching.  Partridge also mentioned that some DT’s were being cross trained at end.  No names were mentioned.  My guess is Jaylen Tywman is one of them.
  6. rsFr QB Nick Patti made his debut on the interview circuit, and he’s a pretty good interview.
  7. According to Patti, all the QB’s are getting more reps at practice.  Whipple mentioned something to this effect when he was interviewed during the offseason.  It’s one of the main reasons why most of his quarterbacks tend to develop, especially after a few years in the system.  If we can keep Whip around for more than a year or two, this will really pay dividends down the road.
  8. According to Patti, Whipple “puts the quarterback in better situations”.  Not sure what this means exactly, but reading between the lines I would think it means that Whipple’s play design is better than his predecessor.
  9. rsSo Jaylen Twyman will be wearing #97 this season.  The Duzz said it’s okay as long as his work ethic matches that other guy…  BTW, Twyman is listed at 300 but said he’s down to 285.
  10. 3 out of 3 Pitt players picked Duke to win it all.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

152 thoughts on “Spring Practice 2019: Ten things we learned on day 4”

  1. MM I agree, you were right on concerning the Patti interview. After listening to his interview I had to watch his last HS season highlights again and was impressed. If Pickett falters I wouldn’t be surprised if Whipple doesn’t go to Patti before he goes to George as the backup. I do know Whipple he him QBing with the 2’s this week for whatever that’s worth.

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  2. My thoughts on the ten things.

    #1 and #2: I feel this is just coaches speak. Kind of keeps the obvious starter (Jones) in the try harder mode and at the same time keeps the younger players feeling they have a good chance at playing time.

    #3 Again with the withholding of throwing roses at an individual player (Weaver) but this time, throwing him a small bone to keep him feeling appreciated.

    #4 The players like this more aggressive type of front line play. I think Narduzzi has finally lined up a good asst coaching staff. Possibly Harley aside.

    #5 Deslin Alexandre was an early enrollie and I expected him to emerge a little sooner or at least have a bigger impact by now. Of course older player ahead of him and the bounce between positions set him back but it did give him time to mature. Now this Chris Maloney young man? This is total tongue in cheek comment so bare that in mind. >> Does he really want to become the next Shane Roy whipping boy?

    #6 Great news for Nick

    #7 Great news for PITT and their QB’s

    #8 The news about Mr Whipple keeps looking better and better.

    #9 Tywman with a great interview. Seems like a real quality young man

    #10 PITT player basketball prognosticators should stick to playing football.

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  4. Narduzzi’s recruiting has been above average for the DL. Lots of good young players.

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    1. Agreed. I’m hoping Twyman and Jones, in particular, take a big step forward this year. Seems like both have the size and athleticism to be real playmakers.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. The baseball team lost to Kent State of the MAC conference on Wednesday night. Tonight they are losing again to ACC’s Virginia.

    Pitt’s HC, who was a lifelong assistant, is struggling mightily. Defense and Pitching are not as good as last season –

    The same can be said about the softball team except the HC was a HC in the MAC conference.

    Rubbing nickels does not win games…

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  6. —Can’t picture Twyman at DE, even if he’s down to 285 pounds…

    —ike, I really didn’t have much in the way of expectations for Alexandre. Hope he becomes a contributor, but don’t remember any buzz about him when he signed up.

    —Erie, I wish you wouldn’t fret about the baseball team. My No. 3 team to follow at Pitt is women’s basketball (for some reason). I think the women’s BB team will improve and eventually consistently be at least in the middle of the ACC under Coach White. Whereas I’d be pretty shocked if baseball did that well whoever the coach is…

    BTW, if Pitt played baseball today the conditions were pretty brutal — cold and windy with snow flurries… Course both teams were shivering…

    Go Pitt.

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    1. Baseball happens to be my favorite sport – my son attended Pitt camps all through middle & high school under coach Jordano.

      Disappointed in the quick drop-off this year after a nice showing last season. The only real change was a new HC with only assistant coaching experience.

      Heck, I used to love March Madness & college basketball – each year that Pitt has not been in it, I have watched less and less, to the point where I did not fill out a bracket this year for the first time in over 20 years.

      Up early for an early tee time. Now that is entertainment dollars well spent, IMO.

      Liked by 2 people

  7. Forgot to thank MM for the article.

    MM – you’re giving yourself quite a challenge with your “Ten things we learned…” theme!

    Dooz will be worried and pacing the floor!

    Go Pitt.

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  10. For those of you basketball fans if we ever lose Capel I would hire the coach from Liberty. His team just pulled a huge upset over Miss St.

    It was the best coaching job I’ve ever seen in the NCAAs!!

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  11. Let’s hope coach Capel’s extra free time is being spent on the recruiting trail. He must fill those last two spots with players who can help next year.

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    1. Right now his free time is being spent on the CBS/TBS studio set talking basketball. I’m sure the recruits are watching, right? Heather seemed to Lyke it on Twitter…

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      1. obviously he thinks the exposure will help. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he agreed to be part of the telecast that he be allowed to wear that Pitt pin on his lapel.

        I watched part of Moon Area’s state title last night. Donovan Johnson, Cam’s brother, looks like a carbon copy of Cam, only left-handed. He has this smooth shooting stroke. He is not real physical but certainly has skills. He is a junior; Pitt has yet to offer.

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        1. I think an offer will come. Perfect kid to redshirt, like Cam did, and have him develop.

          Is Gordon a take? If Capel whiffs on more talented players, which is possible since Pitt isn’t playing the $$$ game, then I sure hope these kids are on close call with Capel.

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  13. Was reading the morning gazette re: wrasling match between grapplers for PSU and Arizona State both WPIAL kids…. amazing how big wrestling is in our part, WPA that is…. if we could just keep them home, PITT, I would wager could rival Jock’s National Championship totals….Heck with an OCS- ….BUILD THAT WALL around the WPIAL !!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Give coach Gavin a few years – he has four wrestlers from WPA that have a legit shot at being All-Americans next season – three fell just short last night. Two of them lost to guys they had beaten in the past year…

      Go Pinsburgh!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Wresting has been HUGE in WPA for a very long time. I’m sure that I am not the only POVer who went to a high school that prided itself on sending wrestlers to State every year.

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  15. wwb… I would have Donavan in the weight room with the footballers during the summers….

    Speaking of basketball til this year… I actually used to think I quit watching because no white kids participated ( I know that sounds racist and Ireally would get pissed a John Thompson and Georgetown where I never saw a white kid take the floor thinking he was a racist) but my increased interest this year, largely due to Zion, Cam and dan72 I realized it wasn’t that after all…. I just do not like the way the game is played….our basketball trunks were crotch length.. almost speedo-lyke… ( that’s a joke) Played the game in high school … today’s game vaguely resembles the original….

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    1. Its true. Bernie yearns for a time when football players wore only sweaters and leather helmets, and basketballs were shot into a peach basket and you had to get the ball out with a ladder 😉

      Liked by 4 people

  16. Rick, its 24 degrees in the Burg. Where are you golfing tough guy? Haha.
    I hear ya regarding baseball. I stopped the car while traveling last week just to sit and watch some kids taking batting practice in a field. They had a wooden bat and the sound of the “crack” was music to my ears and took me back to my youth. Might have to pull out the old persimmon driver for a few hits at the range. Loved that sound too.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Hey Biggie, I hope your golf shorts aren’t crotch length…
    Rick, I just saw your frost posting. You must be golfing local.

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  18. I didn’t wrestle. Played hoops.

    Frankly, wrestling demanded too much dedication (Haha). Remember wrestlers having to CUT weight every week. Combination of Skoal and rubber suits.

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  19. Erie… My go/to is the Bloody Mary on Frost delays and show POVert manners – help them roll the tarps off the greens!!!!

    POD, where did you go to HS…and when are you coming to a tailgate? Enjoy you posts and would like to put a face to your name.

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  20. Wrestling and rugby… now those are man’s sports!!! Our POVert brother Richman was a rugby 🏉 player!!!

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  22. Lastrow, I coached LL baseball many years ago and aluminum bats had been around for quite awhile and my team had never swung a wooden stick. Yearning to here the “ crack” of the bat and at the same time teach them some of the great tradition of the game, I purchased 3-4 wooded bats 28”to 30” ( remember when we were kids the 28”’s butt was green and the 30”’s blue?)

    I wanted to split them into 2 teams… “ Let’s pick-up teams,” I shouted while I gently tossed aa wooden bat to my best player who jumped away from
    it and the bat gently landed on the ground….I was in my late -20s at the time and during those 8-10 years that had passed since I played the tradition of picking up teams by tossing- catching and 2 players alternating their hands up the bat ‘til one was able to win lace the thumb on the end getting the 1st pick…that was a powerful moment for me – deeply saddening as I felt some responsibility in not passing the game onto the next generation… I guess I became “too busy” or the lawyers and lawsuits eliminated “vacant lots” where we would run free…… The wooden bat game went something like this… 1st batter broke bat #1 on the 2nd swing – trade- Mark was down… after instruction ( again) in how to hold a wooden bat/ another one splintered at the handle( same issue) the young man forgot to get the trade mark facing up… with the one teaming bat a couple of the boys experienced the “ stinging sensation” from striking the ball on the distal end of the barrel…. my experiment with the wooden bat was a total failure… it would not make s come-back…. to top it off not one player asked me if he could have a broken to take home …( a few small nails… some tarry electrical tape and I had me a baseball bat!!!! That’s how most of us got one- money was tight for our Dad’s…….. if I coach again, I think the old tradtion I will re- introduce will be “ Stirrup socks”… don’t think they could mess that up as badly as the “ wooden bat” experiment” and besides who enjoys running on the bottom of their pants???? ( Lastrow is 🤔 my” the same dude that likes to walk with his pants hanging off his a$$!)

    Time to get out of bed and enjoy this warm spring day… my new Ping 416 is calling my name……. you local golfers- please visit Corsi’s Golf with indoors simulators… great place for clubs, instruction with 5 indoor simulators!!!! They have and indoor league and you can bring in your own food and drink… Fran suggests 2 six- packs per 18 holes… we struggled with one sixer …

    The proprietor and golf pro is Joe Corsi, 1st cousin of our dear Annie…

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Great trip down memory lane on the baseball stuff, BigB.

      That “stinging sensation” used to be called “bees in the handle,” at least we picked that up somewhere.

      Remember when the “bottle” bats became popular? You don’t see them today because everyone thinks they’re a home run hitter. Harry the Hat Walker made Matty Alou a star by using a bottle bat and slapping the ball the other way… i often think that today’s poor hitters should try that approach, but none do… It was tough to break a bottle bat, but they were heavy.

      Nailing and taping up broken wooden bats was an art. As was keeping baseballs from unraveling when the cover was coming off…

      Played many hours of wiffle ball in the playground when I was a kid, too. That was the life.

      I learned to hit the ball the opposite way when I was a kid because I was a lefty and frequently we didn’t have enough players so “right field was out.” Served me well when I got older…

      Pick-up games were fun.

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Yes, go see my cousin Joe! When it is time for me to learn golf (after hubby retires), I will go there to have clubs custom-made and take some lessons!!

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  23. FWIW, my problem with most sports these days is that scoring seems to come so easy. I hate B12 Football, NBA and Boston-Yankees games because the scores are very high and the games are very long. I admit to being old school …. I would rather see a football game end 17-13, a college BB game end 67-64, and a baseball game end 2-1.

    When scoring comes so darn easy, it seems to cheapen the game. But I realize that’s just me getting old.

    I also hope the NBA allows high schoolers to be drafted again. For the past 3 years, Duke has been lead by lottery drat picks who don’t even finish their second semester at the school. I’ll guarantee Zion will attend hs last class in the 1st week of April. Doesn’t seem right a school can claim ownership of a player who is at the school a total of 7 months

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Agree on scoring. A 27-23 score that shows offense and good defense is much better than these 63-56 Big 12 games. But people want points because it is cool and it helps with whatever fantasy team it has.

      I liked the low-scoring Super Bowl this year. I had no problem with it and loved hearing the jagoff complaints about how boring it was.

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Forget … Corsi’s is in Greensburg just before the mall on the opposite side of the road… check it out… have a great weekend everyone.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. PoD…NFL time- a bare minimum…. watched every Sunday for years… try to catch some James Conner from time to time I am 67 pushing 68… spending my limited number of remaining heartbeats on better activities !

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  26. I wrestled at Belle Vernon Area HS and only started wrestling in 10th grade after the HS basketball coach told me I was too vertically challenged for the team and said “Son, you’d better think about wrestling “.

    Liked by 2 people

  27. Biggie, I still have a wooden bat…next time you’re up we can take batting practice.

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  28. Plenty of talent in WPA. No reason why Pitt cant be a top 10 team every year. Makes me wonder why only a few hundred fans show up for matches.

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    1. and that’s just the WPIAL. There are good wrestlers throughout the state. I know it pains POVers but PSU has been recent national champs these years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, and probably 2019. So they can recruit nationally yet the current roster consists of 15 Pennsylvanians, a few from Pittsburgh area but many others from all over the state

      https://gopsusports.com/roster.aspx?path=wrestling

      Liked by 1 person

  29. I have my great- granddads club, literally… my uncle gave it to me before he died saying “ this is why they didn’t hi a lot of HRs in the old days!” Only a real man could hold’er yet alone swing it… would be equivalent to swinging Fred Flinstones driver vs my new 416 Ping

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  30. Now there are a few sports that make no sense for Pitt. Baseball comes to mind. Sparse talent and terrible weather. Pitt really should evaluate sports. Which existing or future programs have the best chance at success. I personally like hockey, lacrosse and rowing as future sports.

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  31. wwb…. most people- fans down here did not like the 13-3 Super Bowl margin—- I loved it ! We grew up appreciating the Steel Curtain, Koufax, Drsdale, Spahn and Gibson- great D and excellent putching…

    “ Catfish” Hunter was a friend and a patient… he told me Charley Finely didn’t mind him giving up HRs as the fan loves to see the long ball- helps fill up seats. During his last spring training ( after retiring and being diagnosed with ALS ) he told me he took a ball from his era and one used during that season and simultaneously dropped them from his waist… “ the damn ball they Use now nearly bounced back into my hand!!!” Juiced balls, bats and players.. that was the year 2 or 3 players were chasing 70HRs…. just the leagues way of getting fans back after the strike,…. it’s about the
    Money

    Liked by 2 people

  32. I’m sad this morning. My good friend and tennis buddy died this morning – Dan Levine. He wrestled for Pitt. He was only 64 years young. Please tell someone you love them this morning. Dan planned to go to the NCAA wrestling championships today at PPG.

    Liked by 3 people

  35. Some interesting topics this morning.

    First off I agree that the D-line along with D-backs is where Narduzzi has had the most recruiting success. His late pick ups of Watt and Camp should pay off this year and there seems to be good young depth. But again the defense still has a lot to prove this year. Especially against the better teams on the schedule.

    Not a wrestling fan, but respect what they do and great for Pitt. A childhood friend talked me into going out for wrestling in ninth grade cause we enjoyed fighting and were lightweights and wrestling was one sport where that had value. While I was competitive, I hated the work outs and oxygen debt that went along with them, so the next year another buddy talked me into gymnastics. My first buddy went on to compete at Pitt and so did I. My second buddy competed at WVU. Wrestling has always been big in the WPIAL, and my high school had many go to States. Wrestling is still very strong, Men’s Gymnastics is all but gone in the WPIAL and gone at Pitt. The Lawyers killed it, even though football and hockey are much more dangerous, but definitely more fun to watch and therefore more financially viable.

    I loved playing baseball and watching until the first strike, couldn’t understand why guys wanted more money to play a game I would have played for free. I look at it differently now and think players are worth whatever they can get. Still, I never have been interested in the game since. Loved playing softball.

    Big B reminds me that a neighbors kid was a high school baseball manager and would bring all the broken bats home and his father an excellent woodworker would nail and glue them back together for us. I also remember using electrical tape to repair balls after we knocked the cover off them.

    As a young kid, I would go to the ball field early to get in a game and when the big kids came rode the bench till lunch time when some went home and I would get put into right field. I still remember the pecking order for positions and as you grew up getting picked earlier until you were the guy putting your hand on the bat and picking the sides.

    Corsi’s is a hoot, although, I blame it for last year’s golfers elbow. Since I hit down on the ball, more than most, never liked hitting off the mats.

    Capel as an analyst is a good thing although when Narduzzi did it his first year, and he was pretty good, it didn’t help recruiting all that much. We need Capel to get at least two more difference makers and we will be back in top half of the ACC next year.

    Liked by 2 people

  36. Rick, I will send you a check for golf today. I am a single and a good scrambler. Anyone going to be in Myrtle from April 13 – 25 and want to play golf let me know.

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  38. I am going to copy my friend Dan going forward. He always ended his telephone conversations with his daughters with “I love you”

    Liked by 4 people

  40. PSN reports that Pitt is having a bunch of recruits in for visits this weekend. There’s good news and bad news.

    The good news is these players are interested enough in Pitt to visit; the bad news comes when you look at their other offers.

    Here’s an example:

    Katron Evans: 2021 4-star defensive tackle from Norfolk, Virginia that holds offers from Pitt, Alabama, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Virginia.

    Now unless Aaron Donald adopts Katron Evans, what are the chances this kid comes to Pitt? Some would say that the problem is the Dooz can’t close the deal…

    Others would call it unrealistic expectations…

    Go Pitt.

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    1. if he wants playing time, a school relatively close to home, a path to the pros, a good education, an exciting city campus, chance to rub elbows with some Steelers and AD, then Pitt has got to get at least consideration…a visit. But chances of landing him arent high given these other offers but you have no chance unless you ask. At the very least, the recruit can go back and tell his coaches and fellow players that Pitt is a good school and program on the ‘rise.’ Might give Pitt a chance at developing a future pipeline into that high school.

      Liked by 1 person

  42. Ray, so sorry for your
    loss… count the blessing of having a close genuine friend… your memories of
    all those moments shared…

    We have quite a few serious health concerns in our family and received word that our niece passed this morning from ALS… maybe she bumped
    Into your buddy on the way to thee eternal “Home.”

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  43. Ray, please come out to a tailgate… I have made quite quite a few good friendships … people a I am comfortable saying “I love you” to.

    I really would like to be close to Richman… there’s just something about him wearing a 12 oz long-neck in crotch beer holster with a gleam in his eye 👁 that keeps me a bit stand-offish!!!!!

    Liked by 3 people

  45. Hey TX, I see where they are going to demolish the Pittsburgh Playhouse on Craft Ave. near the Boulevard of the Allies.

    Can you fit your multi-use stadium in that spot?? 😊

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  47. Major… we all came here with “ fun tickets” and an expiration date !!! There are things worse than death… ALS happens to be one of those…. thanks for your condolence… Love you brother !!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. After watching “ little Wofford” take on Kanetuck ( aided by some crappy reffing…I will say this.. white boys can play… it’s time to desegregate Div 1 college BB… I said it … bring it back n!!!!

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  49. Bernie, just got back home and read the terrible news. Our condolences (Angie and myself) to your entire family. I’m thinking it wasn’t all that long ago your niece was diagnosed? May she rest in peace.

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  50. Couple more things:

    I’m not sure but I think Ray has been to Fran’s tailgates? Confirmation? I met a Ray a few times.

    I don’t think Richman’s belt buckle was designed to lure aging white men? Although he always has that gleam and sparkle in his eyes along with an ear to ear grin.

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  51. Florida State looks like an NBA team. Great rebounding and shooting. They’ve done a great job of recruiting…

    Go Pitt.

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      1. Coach K is 72, Boeheim is 74, Roy Williams is 68 … but they look like it, (I’m convinced Coach K colors his hair BTW) But Hamilton doesn’t look likes he’s over 50

        Liked by 1 person

  53. I always loved PennState and ended up in Pittsburgh… can’t get my 5 yr old into sports… he would rather go to the library to read books and is becoming quite an artist…

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  54. Oops thought I was texting a high school bud who grandson has been offered a wrestling scholly to Kiski prep and he happens to love the Nits… been along day… screw the Nits… go to PITT …

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  55. Pulled this from the Trib – “The (NCAA Wrestling Championship) finals attendance of 18,950 ranks fifth in NCAA history. The total six-session attendance of 109,405 ranks sixth. All six sessions (in Pittsburgh) were sellouts.”

    Not in the Trib article – Imagine if Pitt had a multi-purpose sports facility that held 40,000+ for football, but also served other sports such as basketball, wrestling, volleyball, etc. #TEAR DOWN THE PETE

    Avoiding the frost delay this morning with a 9am tee time. It’s 25 degrees at 7am.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Pitt missed out on about $3M in revenues from this 3 day tournament. Yet they are giddy about receiving $3M per year from JMI.

      Heather will be right up there with Cornhole if she decides to build an indoor track and 3,000 seat venue for wrestling, volleyball and gymnastics on the OC Lot/Cost Center. It will be a mistake worse than tearing down Pitt Stadium.

      Thats Hilarious Heather for you.

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      1. if you think a multi-sports facility decision rests with Heather, then Tx Panther, what Pittsburgh bridge would you like to buy?

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        1. shes the AD that released the plan for Victory Heights for the public. Its in the silent phase so the public has no idea how ambitious it will be. However, I highly doubt there is much interest in building new homes for 4 programs that lose money and are sparsely attended by fans. Knowing Pitt, they will build it on the cheap just like they did with their soccer and base/soft- ball fields. Knowing Pitt, they will blow this opportunity for a multi-purpose venue that can support 9 programs and make money.

          as AD, she sets the priorities and sells the vision.

          Knowing Pitt, the 36 ro-BOT’s are still calling all the shots. Pitt always aims low when they could shoot high. Another missed shot for Pitt and we are to take this school seriously?

          I’ll take the Clemente for $120M

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  56. Kennedy Christian, a school near Sharon PA, which recruits all over the world …. literally. WVU current center Sagaha Konate is an alum from Mali. Huggy Bear will replace him with another KC alum, Oscar Tshiebwe, from the Congo.

    KC is a small school that had been recently dominating PA basketball in the smallest classification 1A . And after getting much criticism when they won they won the 1A title last year by the score 73-36, they decided to jump from the lowest tier 1A to the highest tier 6A this year. KC just won the 6A title game … but at least this time, it took OT to do so.

    Our 6’9 recruit this year, Karim Coulibay played at a prep school in Scotland PA (located in south central PA) which does not compete against high schoolers. Karim is a Senegal native

    Could you imagine players reclassifying back in the 60s or 70s? Champagnie did it this year and McGowens did it last year.

    This has been the current climate of college BB which we old farts here have to get used to

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  58. Sagaha Konate and Oscar Tshiebwe both stayed with the same handler while attending to Kennedy Christian. They both were steered to go to WVU. I guess there wasn’t any monies transferred in those transactions??

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    1. Both of those guys are amazing players. WVU is going to be very tough next season with Tshiebwe coming in and Culver already there…

      Go Pitt.

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  59. This was the tweet from that future 5 star (#17 nationally in 2021 class) that visited Pitt this weekend. Had a great time…thats good. But what are the chances of Pitt landing him? Probably not very high. 99% of Narduzzi’s recruits fall outside the top 500. Does this mean a change in strategy?

    what were the selling points?

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    1. Playing time
      Shared faculty with Steelers
      Meet Aaron Donald
      Play at Heinz field (spin it pat!)
      Go to college in a cool city instead of a crappy little town (like Clemson it State College)

      I have no idea if any of this would work

      FWIW he’s recruited by Beatty who reeled some high caliber talent into Maryland. You’d have to think He can do it at pitt

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  60. In case you missed it, Pittsburgh Sports Now has reactions from some of the recruits who visited Pitt this weekend. Positive reactions are to be expected, I’m sure every school does a good job at this. But what one of the players, OT Omega Williams, has to say really caught my eye. Love his reference to Harry Potter!

    “Omega Williams: 2021 3-star offensive tackle, Chesapeake, Virginia, offers from Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and East Carolina.

    “I really enjoyed my visit to Pitt. It was one of my best visits yet. I went up with my mentor Coach Redd along with Antonio Webb, Gerrien Christopher, Keontae Jenkins, Nate Evans, Katron Evans, just to name a few. The Pitt facilities are nice but I didn’t know the Steelers work out of the same building as well as practice on the same fields as well. Then Aaron Donald was there working out and I got a chance to have a conversation with him. Then coach PJ showed us the Cathedral of Learning which is a very unique place that reminds me of a Harry Potter movie but it’s like a 40 story tall building. It has just about everything a school needs in it as far as education but the best part is each and every class room there is dedicated to different ethnicities. For me that’s big because it shows that the school is aware of how important diversity is at Pitt and also shows that they understand that we’re still kids who get bored easily so making the learning environment more attractive, interesting and appealing in itself will have the same effect in the learning experience. It was a good visit and I’m sure that I’ll be back in the Steel City soon.”

    Omega seems pretty darn mature and perceptive for a high school kid… (Fortuitous that AD is normally working out…)

    Hail to Pitt!
    (and Hail to Harry Potter).

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I kind of like the Pitt Hogwarts!

      But is there a team name out there anywhere that works better than:

      “THE PITT PANTHERS!”

      I think not!

      Hail to Pitt!

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  62. an urban campus has a lot to sell. Pitt seems to shy away from embracing who they are sometimes. Energy, character, charm and diversity. You cant get that at Creepy Valley.

    Liked by 1 person

  63. Been out of touch traveling so I missed last 2 weeks. Saw that BB won 2 of last 3 games. Any words from the players or coaches afterwards?

    FB practices seem to be going well. QBs should be interesting.

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  64. Was busy doing something and flipped on the FAN for a few minutes. Was glad to hear Dorin Dickerson on there.

    Just as I tuned in, Scorin’ Dorin was talking to the Pitt BB senior walkon who got to start in his last game at the Pete (Joey Mascero?). Anyway, Joey said he wished he had 4 years with Coach Capel. Said Coach C. is intense, as is the whole staff…

    Then Dorian talked some about wrestling. Said he started his career as a wrestler at age 6. Said he owes what he accomplished to the lessons learned from wrestling – both physical, like leverage, and especially mental, like toughness and the fact that you can’t blame anyone else if you lose…

    Good stuff from DD.

    Go Pitt.

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  65. an urban campus also turns a lot people off … and especially their parents. For every Ironhead Heyward who prefers concrete to grass, there are 3 or 4 recruits who may like a defined campus where you don’t have to wait for the light every time you cross the street and don’t hear a siren every 10 minutes

    Liked by 1 person

    1. thats true. thats why Jackie always told recruits if you want grass under your feet, then Pitt isnt for you.

      thats why Siragusa said that if he wanted to learn a school song, he would have picked Penn State or Notre Dame. He only wanted to kill people on the football field.

      Pitt needs to harness that attitude and embrace it.

      As a student, I would rather smell Forbes right outside the ‘O’ on a Sunday morning before it got hosed down than smell the cows at some dairy school. For those who didnt attend Pitt but are familiar with Bourbon Street on an early morning before the water trucks come through, thats the smell.

      Liked by 1 person

  67. Pitt softball swept by VT this weekend in a three game series – combined score of 3-37.

    Ugh!

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    1. I haven’t knocked Heather once but she deserves heavy criticism for what happened to this team. From almost in the NCAAs to one of the worst teams due to a coaching change.

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      1. Agreed – she let arguably the be softball coach in Pitt’s history walk away to an a ACC rival and turned around and hired a MAC coach with a .500 record.

        I don’t get it other than Heather is an ex-softball player (see Barnes and men’s basketball) and she didn’t Lyke HC April…and thought she (HL) knew what was best for Pitt.

        Either that or she read Tx Panther’s rant after the ACC championship loss to FL ST with the walk off HR to end Pitt’s season.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. i was very upset. Coach April kept the pitcher in for at least an inning too long.

          But keep in mind, this Pitt coach did not have a very good record throughout her overall 10 year tenure. She was below mediocre so I give Heather credit for seeing that and wanting to do better. Pitt only made 1 post season appearance back in 2015.

          Not to make excuses, but Pitt did lose their best pitcher and their best power hitter. Its tough to recover from that.

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  70. It’s a good thing Pitt did not play UCF in basketball this year – may have been more embarrassing than the football loss.

    They have the tallest player in the tournament, Tacko Fall and another guy who is 6’11”. Plus they can hit the three. Pitt has neither height nor three point defenders.

    Maybe next year, but not yet…

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    1. and Pitt hasn’t recruited a legit center since Adams. Their best centers since has been Zanna and Young both at 6’9, and neither were bulky (like Blair)

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      1. No decent center would come to Pitt with JD there after seeing how JD used, or more correctly didn’t use, Steven Adams…

        Go Pitt.

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  72. BTW, if I remember correctly. Micheal Young lost a lot of weight and was actually a little chunky upon arrival at PITT.

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    1. Duke was very fortunate that that final tip didn’t fall. Even Coach K didn’t seem to have an answer for hot shooters…

      Really tough loss for UCF…

      Go Pitt.

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  74. Early playing time, next to the Stillers and allow me to introduce you to the NFL defensive player of the year.
    And if that fails, ask DW for sales advice.

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  75. What I find hard to believe is that there are above average high school football players on the east coast that still don’t know PITT and the Steelers share practice facilities. What a surprise that must be to find out.

    What defensive line-man seeing AD working out there wouldn’t commit immediately if given a chance to speak with him?

    Annie, I remember cousin Joe from Carbon. Met him at your other cousin, Tommy’s house.

    Anyone have the remaining spring practice schedule handy? I know the spring game is April 13th.

    I think there is even less updates and spring football material coming out of the south-side than usual. Wonder how season tickets sales are doing?

    The pressure is on HCPN and his staff this year more that ever. Easier schedule and all his own players. He’s got to win or he will be on the hot seat in two to three years. 🙂 .. .. .. .. ike

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    1. I think if he wins six this year he will be on the hot seat in 1…

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  76. ^^ Mike, only in the PITT fan’s eyes. Not in the administrations eyes though. There has been too much instability with the PITT football program. Good or bad he’s locked in for few years.

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    1. Maybe…maybe not. 6 wins this year is clearly a sign the program is moving backwards. In my opinion Hot seat doesn’t always mean fired. Hot seat means win or get fired. So if he wins six this year fans will be howling. If he wins six this year and six next year you’ll have to think heather will cut bait

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      1. if Pitt wins 6-8 games, the BoT will be ok. It means bowl game. It also means around 35-40k fans in the seats unless fans demand more…and we should.

        Given Narduzzi’s pay and what Pitt is budgeting for football, the program should be achieving a minimum of 8 regular seasons wins. If not, its a poor return on investment.

        But, Pitt really isnt interested in reaching 9 plus win seasons and sustaining it. Thats stability to me. Otherwise its mediocrity at best and the BoT and Pitt fans are fine with it since they dont demand more.

        Fans can demand more by not attending games. Thats one way to be heard.

        The BoT could demand excellence but its difficult when the BoT is so large, full of bureaucrats who know nothing about sports, is compromised by Nitters and wont even conduct a feasibility study for an OCS.

        Liked by 2 people

  77. There was another kid from Penn Hills this year that didn’t have the physical numbers and Pitt let him get away to PSU, without an offer, while they waited for the kid from Alliquippa. Wonder if he will beat the odds like AD?

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  78. Michael, if that happens it becomes a possibility for sure but I still don’t think she would. Now that would depend on how the season unfolds as well. Injuries to critical players and the bounce of the ball. I get that wins and losses are the bottom line and all but the division crown bought Narduzzi three more years imo.

    It may also depend on who’s available, how well Whipple is doing, did recruiting pick up and on and on. Firing Narduzzi may not be that black and white of an issue or it could be if there are off the field stuff as well. Hopefully it doesn’t come to that and by that I mean, Starting all over again is never good when you are PITT. << You know, a school that won’t break the bank to win a football game. ike

    Liked by 1 person

  79. to all of you fellow old farts, have you heard of the latest NFL proposal that is expected to pass? Not making this up ……

    In lieu of an onside kick, a team can instead to elect to run a 4th and 15 play from its own 35 yard line.

    And the funny thing is that the more I think about it …. the more I like it

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    2. Imagine how many losses we’d have to duke and Syracuse (in football) is that was a rule in college

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  80. So 5 ACC teams made the sweet sixteen. One for sure to the Elite 8 since Duke plays Va Tech. Pretty tough conference. Although getting 1 seeds makes it easier to get this far. Hoping that Capel gets the additional guys that get us back in the Dance next year. Also hoping the NBA starts taking kids out of high school again.
    The one and done really makes a mockery of the “college” game.

    Liked by 3 people

  82. Comical that Izzo is taking crap for yelling at his players. Didn’t Stallings do that and people were all up in arms over it. I’ve seen Capel in players faces. His one assistant goes insane during games. Huggins does it the entire game when he comes off his court side bar stool.
    It is part of sports, people are so sensitive about everything these days.

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      1. No issues with Izzo yelling, but how did he and MSU get off with those females accusing his players of rape? He didn’t want to talk about it after a game and the story went away. He acted like it was a distraction. I loathe him because of that story and I used to respect the heck out of him.

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  84. Izzo did not just “yell” at the player. He was completely out of control, having to be restrained by his own players…Totally unprofessional and worthy of some sort of sanction from his AD. It does not have to be a public rebuke, but if I’m the MSU AD, he gets an earful of his own from me.

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  86. mens lacrosse and hockey could be other sports
    really any sport that has a tournament…but you need to get invited first

    dont rule out basketball

    but wrestling talent alone in PA should ensure that Pitt is at least a perennial top 10 team.

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  87. Did anyone else get a very strong sick feeling while watching Cam Johnson help an already college hoop powerhouse win a couple games over the weekend? All the while with a nice PITT degree tucked under his arm. Yes, I know he graduated and all but to play against a PITT conference team for two years. Just doesn’t seem very fair to me. The rich keep getting richer and cheaters win all the time. << and no, not saying UNC cheated this time, at least I don’t think they did but they cheat…. a lot.

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  88. No problem watching Cam, except the memory of how Stallings ruined Pitt BBall.

    At least it led to the hiring of Capel, which will hopefully lead to something big.

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  90. Plus Pitt shares the financial rewards of his success. Much more bothered by the one and dones that make a mockery of the college game.

    Liked by 1 person

  91. Ike… I am really happy for Kim and his move… Hey, he is a smart young man obviously, he earned a pit degree! He could see the writing on the wall. He is a really good ballplayer and surrounded himself with the best. UNC is solid academically furthering his education. He was standing in a pigsty at pit and didn’t want to stand in the stink anymore…

    I do not think anyone could have experienced much fun playing for Jamie Dixon either, particularly, at the end of his tenure… Good move for

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  93. “Excuse me fellas I keep firing that thing off before I’m finished… I will finish it right here.”

    He took charge of his life-no need to wait on a historical piss poor management team at the University of Pittsburgh to get it right…

    He will always be a bit panther in my opinion… Hail to cam!!

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  94. To be clear on Cam. I don’t have a problem with grad transfers in general. It was more of the fact he transferred after only three years and one of those he took a redshirt. imo, he didn’t live up to his end of the bargain for a PITT degree. The fact that Stallings was at PITT at the time does help everything to make more sense to me but PITT didn’t get what they gave in this instance.

    and btw, I really don’t care as much as I made it sound. It’s like last night’s supper. Already headed to Saltsburg by now.

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  95. I don’t have an issue with Cam at all. What I took issue with is that even though Pitt blocked him from other ACC schools, UNC was so damned sure that he would be allowed to join them. Don’t think the fact that ACC Commisioner Swofford is a UNC alum doesn’t help … whether it be individual rulings or a 3-decade scam.

    Ans of course, Cam was offered by much more than UNC …. Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, to name just a few. He was also offered by Michigan which made the title game last year … he would have been perfect in Berlein’s offense

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  96. Ike.. that’s an insult… the Kiski River has sewage treatent plant in case you haven’t heard…not so back in my youth….Fran lives a few miles downstream where the Kiski enters the Allegheny… he recently told me the water tastes great!!!

    I hated to skin the muskrats that came out of that nasty H2O !!!

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  97. Hey B, the Latrobe sewage dumps into the Loyalhanna which travels to Saltsburg where it splits off into the Conemaugh River and the Kiskimintes River. Of course not before it goes through the Latrobe Water Authority plant where it is is thoroughly cleansed and sanitized creating that wonderful taste Fran loves so much. You guys are welcome. LOL! 🙂

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  98. My son does the “PGH Sports History” site. He just posted a newspaper article from 10 years ago today when Pitt advanced to the Elite Eight with a 60-55 victory over Xavier.

    Coach Capel retweeted his post and said: “Wasn’t that long ago! Can’t wait to get this program back to this level. “

    My son was pretty pumped to see that… Hopefully it helps a smidge with the recruits, who may be shocked to see evidence of where Pitt was, not that long ago…

    Hail to Pitt!

    Liked by 2 people

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