in Pitt Football 295 Words

Big Recruiting Weekend

In case you haven’t been paying attention over the last several years, June is when Pitt makes its money in recruiting.

Last year there was a record haul (10 commits in one week).  I was going to write a long and detailed article about it, but the good people at Pittsburgh Sports Now beat me to the punch.

From the PSN Article:

Pitt Commitments From June 16-23:

DT Calijah Kancey

DE Bryce Nelms

DE Deandre Jules 

QB Davis Beville 

DB Brandon Hill 

LB Brandon George 

RB Vincent Davis 

DE Bam Brima

LB Kyi Wright 

TE Jason Collier 

I’ll point out that one of these recruits was Pitt’s only Rivals four-star (QB Davis Beville) and another was one of their two 5.7 three-stars (Vincent Davis).  Here is a link to the class.

This year, Pitt has at least 22 guys doing official visits this weekend.  Ironically none of them appear to be from Pennsylvania.

Also from PSN (they’ve got 19 listed):

2019 June Official Visit State-by-State Breakdown:

Florida: 5

Ohio: 5

Georgia: 4

Michigan: 2

New York: 1

New Jersey: 1

Maryland: 1

Chris Peak put up a pretty interesting and free podcast about the weekend on Pantherlair.

The odds are against us getting another ten commits this week, but the odds are that we will pick up a few.

Also noteworthy…a four star WR de-committed from Miami and he happens to be visiting Pitt this weekend.  (Bryan Robinson)

Many of you say Narduzzi can’t recruit.  If he flips a four-star from Miami you may want to reconsider your position.

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Last but not least…I’ll point out that our best two DE’s were lowly two-stars.  At least one of them appears poised for a very big year…

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Hail to Pitt…

 

Michaelangelo Monteleone

 

220 thoughts on “Big Recruiting Weekend”

  1. How many of this year’s freshman will see the field this year? How many will redshirt?
    It does seem that Narduzzi plays fewer freshman than most. Is this because of the level of his recruits or because he favors experience? Maybe both?

    Even though there are few high value targets in the WPIAl this year, it is odd that zero from PA attending this week.

    Whatever happened to stay at home so your friends and family can come see you play?

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  2. Seven defensive and three offensive last June and no O linemen. Hope some of those D-linemen work out in 2 or 3 years.

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  4. zero from PA or VA?

    Jones and Weaver werent your typical 2 stars. They got interest from many good P-5 schools. How much of the interest was truly legit…who knows. But they werent recruits that flew under the radar.

    I figure Narduzzi promised them playing time before some other schools. Come to Pitt and you wont be sitting behind some 4 star for 2 years.

    They may be starters now but it took these guys several years to develop; hence, the 2 star tag. other schools saw the potential and rawness. I’m glad they picked Pitt

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    1. I think rivals said 1 guy from va. Not sure it he was listed on PSN

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  5. Off topic but nice to see St Louis and Toronto win championships, although I am sure Toronto would rather have a Stanley Cup. Didn’t watch a minute of each this year.

    I am pretty glued to the tube for the US Open, which has been amazing.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Gordon. I think it is fair to say pitt football needs to do some soul searching as to why they have struggled with WPIAL recruiting. The talent is down but they have been missing on the little talent there is. Peak hypothesized that Pitts long term mediocrity is all these kids know and want to go to winning programs. Narduzzi could be doing better though here.

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    1. It has definitely been an issue for several years now. Obviously the overall Pittsburgh attitude toward Pitt does not help. If the local kids read UPitt’s or Tex’s rants none of them will come, or the PG for that matter.

      Plus who can blame them for wanting to go to an elite program?

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      1. I would definitely scare many away
        But most kids want to be part of winning
        And Pitt just hasnt won enough over the past 8 years

        It also takes a certain kid to go to a City school. Jackie understood this. Does Narduzzi?

        And I also think the luster of Heinz has worn off. Walt and to some extent Wanny were helped. Plus the Steelers were winning Super Bowls back then. It was a feel good place to play.

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      2. You guys don’t like to admit how much walking into the arena in front of 60K-80k people screaming on campus has to do with it. I dare say atmosphere is 50% of it or more and that includes campus buzz, alumni in town etc. Little to any of that happens at Pitt because of the logistics and lack of true campus area….. There is land that can be used way better and actually be welcoming to alumni and a stadium. Pitt needs a visionary with a can do attitude who gets stuff done. Not a sheep herder.

        Liked by 3 people

        1. Hope you’re not talking about me Mark because I know the value of a true college atmosphere. I do think you’re a little too tough on Heather though although I realize it’s just your nature. Kind of surprised you haven’t thought up of some nickname for her though?

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          1. I wasn’t Ike….

            Lord Lyke – Get on your knees Ike and kiss my rings as my Yellow Sleeveless Blouse blinds you as I give certificates to 89 year old men in rascals on the 50 yard line. I’m really making major changes here at Pitt. Oh and please call Verizon and Comcast please and tell them Lord Lyke sent you.

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            1. Why does that bother you so much Mark? It takes up little of her time and it’s a nice gesture. Look elsewhere.

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            2. Lyke it or not, Lyke is the best AD Pitt has had since leather helmets. On the realistic side though that isn’t saying much what with the clown collection that has come through Pitt since WWII…

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        2. “There is land that can be used way better and actually be welcoming to alumni and a stadium.”

          I agree, but if you fail to see Lyke as a “visionary,” you are wrong. From what I understand is that she’d give her left nut for an on campus stadium. Of course she doesn’t have left nut to give and that’s not in her favor. (Let’s have you not go totally misogynistic here, Upitt.)

          “But a lack of true campus size,” you say, says to me there is either a lack of campus development or not enough room within Oakland to stage a campaign for an on campus stadium. To which I wholeheartedly disagree. And you’re contradicting yourself here, as well.

          Ugh! If anything positive creeps outta that mouth of yours I’ll have an on-the-spot heart attack.

          —Neil

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Neal – Your misogynistic comment and your climate change is real comments tell me all I need to know about you.

            Liked by 1 person

  7. PITT has so many players that want to use an official visit this month Narduzzi had to split them into two weekends. I’m thinking he’s keeping the players from the same area together? BTW, I hear that there will be around 30 visits this weekend. and it will be first come first served.

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  8. Gordon I would think that if recruits read some of upitt and tex comments, they would not only go elsewhere…they would also write their local senator or representative and petition the university be shut down.

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      1. No need to Shut down……. status quo until South Oakland is bought up and bulldozed and a green space is created with a stadium in the middle of it. Give the old Italians double the value of their homes. The scumlords get 20% over value.

        Liked by 4 people

        1. You are talking Panther Hollow, adjacent schenley park. Which yes, is what I’ve envisioned, as so many others have in the past.
          Admittedly I’m a Philadelphian, so I’m not 100% on what arguments exist — in terms of local level politics in Allegheny county — that have been either for (or against) conservation vs development of the area in recent years. (Climate Change is “real,” so I’m not a huge fan of mauling my past haunts.) But if there’s room enough to build, it exists in Oakland.

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          1. Neal – I’m talking buying then tear down Oakland Ave all the way to the old Howard Johnsons and Hotel past Semple Street and you can easily have enough room for greenspace and campus as well as stadium with some newer dorms or school owned apartments and retail.

            Liked by 1 person

  10. I talked to Weaver down on the field after the spring game two years ago — seems to me he should have been a 3-star based on body size and type alone. Not many players look like him…and his 6-5 is legit…

    Go Pitt.

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  11. he was a michigan commit
    then michigan dropped him at last minute
    i think what held him back was experience at positions
    he was a tweener…schools not sure if he was a te or de

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  12. WBB and Pittman from other article.

    Not if you actually hire someone with a spine and passion and not lifetime assistants and compliance #3 people.
    You bring me up a lot. Focus on yourself and what excuses you will create for Narduzzi and Lord Lyke as you kiss her rings this fall and make more excuses.

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    1. I bring you up because it was a direct response to your post, the one where you asked for the immediate firing of Lyke and Narduzzi.

      Just what Pitt needs … yet another AD and HC. I’m sure rival recruiters will ignore the fact that it would be Pitt’s 4th AD in 6 year and 6th HC in 9 years.

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  13. There was some debate as to whether Weaver would play D-End or Tight End.

    I saw him strictly as a D-End. Pegged him as the “Good Rashad” versus the other now trying to make the O-Line.

    Watching him in his first Game it was obvious he was a future STAR.

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    1. michigan let him twist in the wind
      guess they thought the 4 and 5 stars they bring in were enough
      the kid was a 5.4 rated star
      probably should have been 5.7 based on potential alone
      but the kid did get attention from major schools including Penn State
      good chance he gets drafted in round 3 if he has another solid year
      Pitt should be marketing this kid

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    2. Yea POD but who was playing him? You wouldn’t have watched him play if not for Narduzzi recognizing the fact that he’s good and putting him on the field. A bleeping two star!

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    3. Good thing they didn’t put him at TE. If they did he might have left the team !

      Liked by 1 person

  14. I agree and I think Weaver is a great player. Question is, does Narduzzi get any credit for finding him? Answer, probably not.

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  15. he was already found by many schools so they knew of him. but i give Pitt credit for getting him to sign. i dont know specifically why Pitt. but he spurned franklin so that endears him right away.

    With Jones, he was set to go to Va Tech before the coaching change. He publicly said it was Pitt’s LB coach who was the reason.

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  16. In addition to the attendance issue … most of the area recruits these days are from the suburbs (and that goes for most of the guys from Central Catholic). The real good prospects visit all of the sprawling campuses, and then they come to Oakland.

    Just yesterday, an OL from Seneca Valley committed to Purdue. He was a Rivals 2-star (247 3-star) but allegedly had a Pitt offer. Of course, it may have been the bowl game …. oh wait a minute, Purdue lost its bowl game 63-14

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bill, I don’t think he had a PITT offer.

      Weaver, all of a sudden a two star has been misjudged when he plays well for PITT? I think that’s great recruiting but what do I know?

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      1. weaver had an offer from michigan (pulled after 7 months) and penn state
        and yes, if he signed with those schools he would not have stayed a 2 star
        this kid didnt have offers from elon or holy cross like last years 2 stars and some 3’s

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  17. Upitt. Two things…I fully agree with you on the need for a good on campus atmosphere. And as far as me focusing on you-You have the hottest takes on here so it can only be expected.

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  19. The idea about having all these players come in at the same time or close together is great. It puts pressure on them to commit or forfeit. First come first served.

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  20. My fingers are crossed for 4 star talent coming. Ike – Only fear with that is do they committ and have buyers remorse and then go another direction. If Narduzzi gets a few 4’s I will give credit and start coming around on him.

    We should be getting 3-4 a year at this point in the game.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You shouldn’t have to. I turned that off a while ago

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      1. I still have to login. It’s actually worse since you made the change. Before it would keep me logged in. Now it makes me log in for every post.

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    2. Fixed it. I had previously unchecked the “you have to be logged in to comment” box, but for some reason I had to uncheck another box to release you from actually having to login. Sorry ’bout that. Thanks for bringing it up.

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  25. “Many of you say Narduzzi can’t recruit. If he flips a four-star from Miami you may want to reconsider your position.”

    One player does not a recruiter make.

    I hope Narduzzi gets a number of commits this weekend. I just hope 90% aren’t 2 & 3-star recruits. Pitt should be able to get 4 4-star recruits per year. A breakdown 0f 4-5 4+star players, 10-15 3-star players and the rest 2-star or below isnt asking too much.

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  26. I admit it……….. I’m lazy as hell when it comes to looking up old facts. Can anyone supply the few 4* recruits by Narduzzi and where they are now? Other than Hamlin, I can’t think of one that has made a contribution for PITT.

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    1. Whitehead, Hall, Hamlin, Watts, Hill, Pugh, Flowers, AJ Davis, Reeves, Ford, Salahuddin, Beville

      Whitehead and Hall originally committed under PC but according to Reed’s rules of engagement, credit goes to PN for keeping them. Hill unfortunately did not pass the physical due to heart issues

      As I have been saying for a while …. 3-stars have been the lifeblood of this program. And it has been for a while. Certainly I like 4-stars but this mentality that 3-stars aren’t of value is just wrong

      Liked by 3 people

      1. here are the 4-stars for PC 2012-14

        Rippy, Shell, Bisnowaty, Voytik, Boyd, Johnson, Chapman, Jenner, Bookser, James, Grimm

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  27. and thats pretty bad
    Pitt is being adversely selected with 4 stars
    Thats a low hit rate (under 20%) but the sample is small

    But Jay is right, Pitt needs about 4-5 each year or else it will be left behind in the division
    And then it needs those 5.7 rated 3’s
    And of course recruits with other P-5 offers
    There should be little reason why Pitt should be going after 2 stars unless the kid has other P-5 offers

    Recruit kids who like an urban environment and who will become killers on the field
    Show every defense kid that quote by the Goose.

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  28. At Pitt Stadium in the 80s and 90s there was a pretty good campus environment that could draw back alums. But now there is practically nothing- no bar and restaurant crowds after the game, no on campus gathering places and fans at Heinz are dispersed into downtown Pgh instead of the Oakland campus. How will Heather go about fixing this?

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    1. Tents

      But seriously, the environment around Heinz is just fine. Not only is the parking lot better for tailgating than what was in Oakland, there are a half dozen bars within a 7 iron shot of Heinze … and at least a half dozen more within a long par 5 hole distance

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      1. Yes and 3 miles from campus. Old people say it is fine. Zero Campus Atmosphere. Should just make it a online degree.

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      2. Yea but part of the magic of going to a college game is the post game mix of young and old. Sadly, Pitt misses on this. An OCS would certainly fix it

        Liked by 2 people

  32. wwb beat me to it… wwb is the POV’s resident 5 star… sorry Ike, you will need to redshirt and develop… been out on the ocean catching mahi mahi and drinkin’ !!! Weed got us a new recroot!!! H2P n ice cold Beerz…..

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Myself and Heather would both love to get ALL 4* players. The two realities are: That’s not going to happen and two, that’s not going to happen. PITT and Narduzzi need to win the Coastal and show how it can be done with 3* recruits. OH….

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  35. There are certainly bars and restaurants nearHeinz, but that’s not the point. Alums returning to Oakland for a game are returning to their roots, seeing the Cathedral and dorms or frat houses again and reliving the memories. The Heinz experience is not the same.

    Liked by 1 person

  36. Gotta agree with Tex, mike, and upitt on heinz field. Selfishly i like staying downtown and the convenience getting to the games. But it is an embarrassing environment. I think the WPIAL kids have been to several games in their youth and it hurts recruiting them. The out of towners at least haven’t seen the sterile environment yet of heinz field and that may be why we’ve been more successful recruiting them.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. it would look better inside but I personally witnessed all those things below each year at Pitt.

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  37. nothing like a college bar where fake ID’s can still get u in. nothing like drunks trying to stay on the sidewalk without falling out onto traffic. nothing like the street vendor selling glazed rat on a stick. nothing like hearing the boom boxes. nothing like seeing a bar fight spill onto the street. nothing like seeing a pretty girl flash her ta ta’s. Oakland could be so much like New Orleans if it wanted.

    Liked by 2 people

  38. I agree Pittman2003, I sit up in the club seats like some idiotic 50 cent millionaire because my lovely wife doesn’t like the heat, rain or cold and football.. (only way to get her to go to games) I would gladly trade it all in for a rejuvenated PITT stadium on campus.

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    1. I hear you Ike. We stay in club section too and seeing everyone inside in the club bars and tables instead of cheering in the stands drives me nuts!

      Liked by 2 people

  39. and the smell always stays with u from the grease fires at the O to the spilled beer and liquor, pee, vomit, garbage, used condoms in the alleys. But Oakland always did a good job hosing the streets down early Sunday morning.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. Ike…I love your optimism but how is Pitt going to win the Coastal when they get crushed by UVA, PennState and humiliated by Ohio on National TV?

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  41. Perhaps the same way Capel is going to win the ACC getting crushed by virtually all their ACC rivals in recruiting.

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    1. Simple answer Dan, PITT kicks Virginia’s ass right off the bat and Pickett goes crazy throwing the ball. See, simple, easy peezy, right?

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  42. On a train heading to Cornwall UK…damn GDPR laws prevent me from pulling up Panther Lair to find out what’s going on with the recruiting weekend. Hope you all will provide insights when not yearning for the good ole days of vomit and pee everywhere and parking nowhere in Oakland.

    Liked by 1 person

  43. Kaltenberger to Purdue with no offer from Nard… Begs the question- did Nard think he was not worthy or did the big OLineman tell PITT not to waste their time recruiting him- he was going elsewhere..

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    1. Kaltenberger had MAC and Ivy League school offers. Purdue was his 1st P5 offer and he jumped on it – he was a 2* on Rivals and a 3* on 247Sports.

      Not much to look at here – if Duzz offered Kaltenberger there would have been an uproar on the message boards, and rightfully so. I wish him well at Purdue – their coach (Purdue) snagged the 4* RB from NY yesterday that Pitt was heavily pursuing.

      This class is projected to be small with only 13 seniors on the current roster. That will fuel higher than normal recruiting rankings and…

      Yawn – the US Open is hours away – Happy Father’s Day!

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  44. I was in the club seats in the end zone for a game a couple of years ago….it reminded me of watching a football game in a food court.

    Liked by 1 person

  45. Jerry Di- with a Pitt FB article that discusses the top 100 ranked ACC FB players with Pitt filling only 6 spots (23rd) is the best ranking –

    https://triblive.com/sports/pitt-gets-6-on-list-of-top-100-football-players-in-the-acc/

    2* Dane Jackson and Rashad Weaver make the list and sit in the top 30.

    Walk-on Jimmy Morrissey makes the list.

    These three point to the fact that there is some coaching going on at Pitt.

    Transfer WR Taysir Mack slides in making the transfer portal somewhat profitable since the last success with QB Nate Peterson.

    3* burner Maurice Ffrench makes the list and shows that 3* can get to be pretty good FB players.

    Lastly and just making the list at # 95 is Pitt’s lone 4* stud in S Damar Hamlin.

    Much sarcasm, but the 4* comment is not far from true. Pitt and Duzz need 4 or 5 in this class and the team needs to win 9 or 10 games in 2019.

    On offense there are a few 4* RB’s and on D there is P. Ford.

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    1. Not to be too negative, but Pitt represents 7% of the ACC (1 is 14 teams), yet their best players represent only 6% of the top ACC players (6 of top 100).

      The stats point to below average in my book.

      I was one of the fans who travelled to away games to see Pitt win the Coastal Division. I was counting on a strong finish in Miami and a bowl win.

      I’m not a satisfied Pitt FB fan right now, but I am jacked about the first game vs Coastal favorite UVA under the lights at “home”.

      Come on coach Duzz, give me some pasta with those meatballs.

      Any news on the recruit who turned on the lights?

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  47. FYI, the only time I have to long in now is when commenting on a device I never used on the POV before.

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  48. Rick – Did you recently clear your browser history, cache, cookies, etc. Last time I did, I had to log in to comment.

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    1. Which reminded me that I needed to clear my browser & I did need to log in to word press to post this comment.

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    1. GC – 80% of those homes are falling apart. I would sell if offer was strong. Easily done. Most of the Itlians are dead now so just buying off scumlords and they would sell soul for 30% over appraisal.

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      1. Set up multiple LLCs to keep identity under wraps – buy them all up. Keep renting them out until most are acquired.

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  50. Time marches on, 19 years this year without an OCS. Almost all of the bars we knew and loved are long gone and will never be back. One of the last standing Peter’s Pub bit the dust recently. While I love nostalgia as much as the next guy what you guys are wishing for will never return. The day of the dive’s and joints surrounding stadiums is over, never to return. The days of sneaking a pint into the stadium are long gone.

    Today we have Fran’s tailgate and many like his that far surpass the Wohlfarth’s or Cozy experience. You also have a row of bar/restaurant like Bettis, the Tilted Kilt and other flavors of the month. Also high end stuff like Hyde’s. You have a Casino and the City. No not the good old days, but in most ways much better.

    And for 19 years the only experience the students have ever known.

    While I agree that an OCS would be far superior in the ways you mention, it just isn’t going to happen. Eminent Domain will never be used to tear down South Oakland like UPitt suggests, no matter how awesome it would be.

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    1. I dont see eminent domain happening either. The best places would have been the OCLot/Cost Center, existing Pete space, baseball fields behind Trees, VA Hospital. All that land Pitt owns or could become available within 15 years.

      I know Pitt is trying to buy up properties in South Oakland for housing. And has been secretly for years and will continue.

      I always thought Sennot between Bouquet and Oakland would have been great as a New Orleans themed street with balconies and closed on Saturdays so people could walk and drink in the street.

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  51. Just a FYI gc. Peters has opened up again under a new owner and name.

    I think you got it right Richard. After I clean my cpu I have to start word press over again but just the first time.

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  52. Good points Gordon…I get my Oakland bar fix during hoop season. Now that Peter’s is gone Hemmingways is the place to meet up with Scooter and Farmers High.
    For football I prefer tailgating. Always did.
    Already psyched for the UVA game.
    Happy Father’s Day to all the Daddy-O’s out there.

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      1. I believe it’s against NCAA rules to release names until NLI signed. Kids also like to make a splash on twitter, Instagram or whatever they use to make the announcement.

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    1. Now that is a problem that Mike needs to look into. But just remember 6’th time is the charm.

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    2. I’m on Pitt piv from my wife’s iPhone right now, so you can be sure that it’s the first time this device has accessed the site (haha). By George it is indeed asking for a login. On vacation but the kiddies are wife are all napping for the next 15 mins. Let’s see if I can’t get this cleared up.

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  57. Seriously, the VA and the Pete are a pipe dream, not going to happen. So that leaves the Hill, OC lot etc.
    Logistical nightmare with no infrastructure. Just never going to happen.

    Liked by 1 person

  58. The best project for Pitt and the City would be a T line from the city to Oakland, Shadyside, E. Liberty (Google) then you would have something that would benefit everyone. Students could stay as long as they want around the stadium. Traffic would be improved immensely. An OCS would become more feasible if on the line.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. if there was a T, it would help. But Pitt stadium existed for 70 years in Oakland so it was done and worked. Today you have Uber, self driving cars. Many schools have remote lots and shuttle their fans. There are low cost ways to alleviate traffic and congestion.

      Pitt could also set up ‘tents’ on the Cathedral lawn and Schenley Plaza for tailgating. Then take a shuttle up or walk it. Adult tailgating would be dispersed but thats how it always was.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. They had street cars when Pitt Stadium was built. Interstate highways were a dream. Many fewer autos. People lived in the city not suburbs. Hospitals have a lot bigger footprint and traffic has exploded.
        Can’t wait for self driving cars by the way.
        You would be surprised how many people are afraid to go to the “City”. I know people in Westmoreland County that are afraid of scary Monroeville. They will go to Heinz for the Steelers though.

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        1. Traffic in Oakland has always been bad but I’ve seen far worse at college games when it’s 100k all near the stadium instead of being spread out. A stadium would show it isn’t scary after all and allow Pitt to market campus. I’m sure other schools use stereotypes against Pitt.

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  59. Michigan baseball just beat Texas Tech in the college World Series – game 1.

    Northern school – why not Pitt? Wait, let’s hire an assistant to be our HC.

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  60. ike, it’s now up to 4 commits. Also, to clarify … Mario’s Oakland is the same people who own Mario’s Southside. Haven’t been there in 15 years, but it was always a well run saloon with good eats and beer selection

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  63. —How ‘bout each POVer buys a house in Oakland and donate’s it to Pitt. 👍

    —Four commits? Does that mean a total of 8 stars? 😊

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  64. Pittsburgh traffic is a disaster, one of very few city’s without a beltway and no mass transit to speak of, except for south of the city. Rush hour now goes from 3:00 to 7:00. No one goes to Oakland unless they have to.
    Any time there is a full house at the Pete you better get there early, although there haven’t been many lately.

    I would like to know what these low cost ways are to alleviate traffic and congestion, we sure could use them.

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    1. Schools use remote lots and shuttles. Logistically speaking if parking is spread out it eases the congestion. That’s low cost.

      Liked by 1 person

  66. BTW, I’m sure most of you received the email about Pitt’s 2nd HOF class the other day. There were two fellow Lawrence Countians. Also, glad to see Joe Schmidt was selected … local guy who is in both college and pro HOF

    Great choice making Billy Knight the chairman IMO

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  69. COMMENTING UPDATE:

    If WordPress is making you login every time you comment here is what you do:

    1. Delete your name and info from the comment boxes.
    2. Enter a new name / new email address. It can probably be fake.
    3. Make a comment

    For some reason this seems to reset things and then you can comment under your original name and email without having to login. Not sure why this is the case, but I’m just a humble writer using the tools they gave me.

    Like

  70. Here’s the comment I tried and tried to post yesterday:

    Two things. First, on Narduzzi and recruiting in WPa — It well might be Narduzzi is now gun shy about going all in on recruits from WPa because of two bad experiences: Wade and Jeter. Both got an extraordinary amount of attention from Narduzzi and staff: almost full-time guests at the Southside practice area, guests at basketball games, etc. Treated like stepsons. Jeter commits to ND, then goes to Michigan. Wade to PSU.

    UPitt’s comment: “You guys don’t like to admit how much walking into the arena in front of 60K-80k people screaming on campus has to do with it. I dare say atmosphere is 50% of it or more and that includes campus buzz, alumni in town etc.”

    How true, how true. In the eighties I went to the U of Oregon law school, and went to just about every football game at Autzen (saw the Grateful Dead there too). This was pre-Nike and Phil Knight money. It was an amazing game day experience. After law school, we moved to Seattle (grad school for my better half) and lived (for the next 20 years) within walking distance to Husky Stadium. If Autzen was amazing, Husky Stadium on game day was double that.

    Heinz Field compared to those two on game day is a joke.

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    1. I agree 100% Pete Pitt.

      I recruit a lot of schools and can attest to your point at ACC, Big 12, Mountain West and SEC schoools.

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    2. Solomon Deshields is rated 5.7 by Rivals – a 3* who is 0.1 away from a 4* rating with offers from Auburn, Michigan State, wvcc and VTech.

      He is an ATH from NJ that plays WR, LB and is a return man for punts and KO’s.

      Liked by 1 person

  74. So while we are pipe dreaming, the best location is Panther Hollow. Smack dab in the middle of the campus, no walking up hills. A Bowl fits right into the Hollow. Easy access from Hazelwood with space for parking thousands of cars. Build a better interchange on the Parkway for easy access.
    The train line could be converted to a T with a station in the stadium.

    You could even share it with Carnegie Mellon. A collapse-able roof makes it an all-year facility, great concert venue. Add other features like office, conference and classrooms, workout areas, even retail space on the lower side.

    Could be a showplace and plans were drawn up a few years ago.

    Unfortunately, never going to happen.

    Liked by 1 person

  75. A few years ago on ITH (Scout) someone posted plans to have a new PITT stadium built atop The Cathedral of Learning. Seems just as likely as anywhere else at this point.

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  76. The two known PITT commits from yesterday (Kamara and Desheilds) have really good offer sheets.

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    1. Dammmm straight Ike. Kamara held psuX and Michigan offers…cancelled Michigan visit.

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  77. Gordon has it right. Panther Hollow is the perfect place for an OCS. There is additional revenue to be gained from the location, with shops, restaurants, concerts, etc. all potential opportunities. The state would pay for off ramps from the Parkway to keep traffic congestion down in Oakland on game days. Why is there no one with any vision in the AD actually proposing this no brainer?

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    1. Would take Oakland from a very good college neighborhood to world-class. Heather if you are reading PITT FANS WANT THIS. “UPMC Panther Hollow Stadium”. Just imagine…

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      1. if its part of schenley park, it wont happen unless there is a payoff of her remaining living relatives and probably some politicians.

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        1. I know. But a guy can dream. Dig it into the hillside…

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          1. It would be a good place. Light rail is already there. Commercial tracks. Ramps could be built to the parkway. Plenty of parking at hot metal bridge.

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      2. Or Allegheny Health Network Panther Hollow Stadium…haha.
        Let the bidding war begin.

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  78. We are up from Rivals 2020 FB #73 to #52.

    Pittsburgh has the worst traffic and poorest mass transit of any city its size. It needs to step up if it wants to grow. It will be quickly bypassed by other forward thinking cities. Sacramento just did that.

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    1. it will continue t improve just do to numbers. and then will fall back when other schools make a big push. The 4 recruits I know of all were 3’s (1 highly rated one) but they had good offers
      So that should make them solid contributers
      But Narduzzi still needs some elites
      You cannot win consistently without them

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  80. Pittsburgh has terrain and other obstacles that make transport difficult
    And it was never planned properly in the first place (see no belt)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Once again my friend Tx, you state the truth and nail the answer at the same time. Where else is there logistics like there is in Pittsburgh? A beltway is not the answer but a faster railway system is. Extend the T as well as a MRT train system out to the north, west and/or eastern suburbs.

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  81. who recruits Jersey the home of the Goose. there are 12 elites in that state. most are still available. PA only has 2.

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  83. Branson Taylor… OT… 5.6…3* ..6’7″ 285lbs… Elyria, OH, looks like the 3rd recruit to commit. Also with some impressive offers.

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    1. Some good offers
      32 ranked in state
      Ohio probably has at least 50 P-5 recruits

      What happened to PA if that Nitter mike white is saying pa only has 15

      Is he bracing for a bad recruiting season by franklin since they’ve lost 4 elites in the past two months. It will become a made up excuse. Oh those squirrelly Nitters.

      Liked by 3 people

    1. Solomon Deshields is rated 5.7 by Rivals – a 3* who is 0.1 away from a 4* rating with offers from Auburn, Michigan State, wvcc and VTech.

      He is an ATH from NJ that plays WR, LB and is a return man for punts and KO’s.

      Like

      1. thats the kind of recruit Narduzzi has to consistently go after. He cant have off years in recruiting.

        so far at least, its an avg 5.5 among all recruits but most if not all have good offers

        and depending on their senior years, some might rise

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  86. If it gets windy, don’t you just move to better shelter or take the tent down? Oh, what to do what to do? BIG DEAL!

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  89. If soccer becomes more popular in Pittsburgh, put the new 40-50K field at the bottom of Bates and rent it to the Riverhounds. UPMC and Highmark can fight for naming rights!

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  90. The only current 2020 4-star in WPa right now. Mike Carmody is following his brother to Notre Dame (not a big surprise). According to Rivals. he had taken a dozen visits to PSU. He is from Mars. His brother was the highest rated WPa basketball player last year

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  92. Good offers I will give credit there but still 3 stars. Can this guy not get a 4 star?

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  93. I don’t disagree Mark I was hoping for a commitment from a four star as well. I think the running back from Florida, Henry Parrish, is close and the defensive back Enzo Jennings/Jenkins?? would be great news.

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  95. Happy with this weekend’s commitments.

    Saw Big B’s post earlier. Got me thinking about my post kidney transplant bucket list. That bucket list includes a fishing trip on the Atlantic Ocean with Big B, UPitt and Richman’s belt buckle.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Eric, you SOB, you had me worried. Hope all is great!! Good to hear from you.

      I agree, thinking so far the recuits are solid to pretty good. A four star would be nice. Don’t forget about the banana split festival later on this summer. 🙂 ……… I hear it’s going to be awesome.

      Liked by 1 person

  96. If I counted correctly, there are 2 commits yet to identified. A Pat signal went up about 8 pm

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  97. Eric, that can be arranged…caught 10 nice mahi-mahi this week-end.and had a white marlin in the baits who was only “window shopping”..bucket list trip? probably not but a lot of fun when the fishies are biting…

    Glad to hear from you-you had us all worried…you didn’t happen to run into Emel on your hiatus ????? Last we heard from his was the day of the ACC Championship game when he was coming to the tailgate, never made it (??? medical issue???) and has dropped totally off the radar…….We miss you Emel wherever you are……

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  98. Looks like a good start. You can certainly build a team to be competitive in the ACC Coastal with these types of players. Let’s just hope these kids sign and that a few 4* or 5* kids join the fold.

    I know it’s funny to keep pointing to “lowly 2-star players” who have become good contributors on a .500 team, in an effort to mock those who find Narduzzi’s recruiting to be underwhelming. But, while we all agree there is a high degree of subjectivity in the rankings, it is a statistical fact that higher recruiting rankings strongly correlate to on-field success.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. and with 4 stars, they get on the field faster
      few need 4 years to develop
      in 4 years, Heinz will be 80% empty
      Pitt needs impact players now since it has so few to begin with

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      1. This is true Tx, four star players should see the field sooner. Problem with PITT, most of their 4 star players are no longer with the team through no fault of the coaching staff. It’s why I remain patient with Narduzzi. Most 3 stars need that red-shirt year.

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    2. Good not great. Purdue, Wisconsin and Kentucky each have 4* recruits who have verbally for the 2020 class. Why not Pitt?

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      1. Don’t worry, Rick. Wait here on the POV and you’ll hear PLENTY of reasons (excuses) for “Why not Pitt?”..

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  101. Some of the best golf we have ever seen. Clutch shot after clutch shot. He held off Koepka, first guy to shoot in the 60’s in all four rounds and lose a major. Koepka’s putting let him down, but not by much.

    Narduzzi seems much better at picking up the defensive side.

    We really could use a couple 4 star receivers. Probably the position to make the biggest difference.

    Liked by 1 person

  102. I agree Jay and BigB, a couple 4* players would be nice for this group so far. If my math is correct, there should be one remaining player who has committed this weekend that remains unnamed. Another player was thinking of committing on the spot then felt like he should go home first to talk it over with his family. BTW, his family loved the visit

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  103. The thing about statements from kids, their parents, their high school coaches, etc., is that they really have no value- unless you know them PERSONALLY and they trust you’ll be discreet with their opinions.

    I’ve been around a pretty good number of kids as they’ve gone through the recruitment process and virtually every one says great things publicly.

    There’s a good deal of money on the line and nobody wants to hurt their standing. I’ve talked to kids and their parents about schools they’ve already “crossed off” their lists but those same people are publicly stating how much they loved the facilities, the coaching staff, the players, the academics, etc.

    Unless you really KNOW these people, you can’t put any real stock in their words.

    In the end, the only thing that matters is their signature on the LOI.. and their performance on the field. (I guess people like Reed also care about their performance in the classroom and community, too. Me? Not so much.)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Spot on Jay. I have been saying this for years as folks on here quote players comments after leaving. If based on the quotes, all 4 stars would matriculate. My second point has been that when you show me the same player quotes, please show me one, just one, where they say “i hated my visit” or it was terrible, or I just diodn’t like the players or the coaches or the town. When I see those quotes, I will change my opinion on the process.

      The key is that all these athlete students are coached on what to say and how to say it because they may be in the dreaded “portal” someday. See, the portal does change behaviors!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Agreed fellows but if a kid says something like, “it was a nice visit” or “I can’t wait to visit so and so next week”. That’s pretty much saying they didn’t like the school. Verbiage and body language speak very loudly.

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        1. I know a kid that actually said, “I LOVED my visit. Coach _____ really has a family atmosphere. They run a system that would benefit my talents and the academics are just what I’m looking for..”

          He had NO intention of signing at that school if he got the offers he really wanted. Any player with any brains in his head glows about visits.. which is why almost every kid says the exact same thing.

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          1. Jay, I’m in agreement with you. It’s really just common sense imo. What good would it do for a recruit to trash a visit? My point was that there can be little buzz words that can tip us all off that maybe the words aren’t as sincere as other recruits are.

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            1. Yes, there CAN be.. But the reality of the fact is that it’s pure supposition. If it makes you FEEL better to believe these players are sincere, then go ahead and think it. But the reality is that you have NO IDEA and it shouldn’t be your basis for judging player perception. Only signed LOI’s give any real indication- unless you know them personally.

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              1. Jay, there is all kind of stuff going on behind the scenes. maybe they are commit-able offers and the players are sincere but there is a line they have to wait in. Don’t pretend to know what goes on down on the South-side. I don’t.

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              2. First off, I did use the word “CAN” That means it’s not a rule and anything is possible. Secondly, most everything we “think” and post on the POV and elsewhere is pure supposition. I figured that was a given. Maybe “might” would have been a better choice of words? It’s not worth the debate.

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          2. Well to your point nobody is going to come out and say… well it was okay, I didn’t feel all that welcome, and the system is a pretty bad fit but it’s my best offer so I’m going to go for it. With that being said, a lot of those things, while a bit cliche are often true

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            1. That’s exactly my point, MM. Reading a kid or his parents said they had a “good” visit is the kind of hard-hitting, informative posts I used to read on PSN.

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              1. Oh yea. They are full of them. I agree that you can kind of read between the lines on a lot of that stuff though

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  104. Tee Denson just announced his commitment … another 3 star. CB from FA

    Ike, there was a Pat signal last night a 8 pm … I believe there is one more to announce but I could be wrong

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  105. DUKE GAME INFO: if anyone is interested in attending the Duke-PITT game…call the DUKE ticket office at 919-681-2583 and ask to speak to Brian…we have a group going and received a discount on tickets to $30.00 each…let him know you are part of Bernie Blystone’s group.

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  106. below Is the link of the Trib’s story on commit Tee Denson. Note that he is the 134th ranked player in Georgia. Think about that ….. 134th ranked in a state and he’s still a 3-star!!

    Meanwhile, I just did a search in Rivals of 2020 prospects with a 3-star or higher ranking, and found a total of 18 in the entire state consisting of …

    1 5-star (Fleming to OSU
    1 4-star (Carmody to ND)
    16 3-stars …..of which 6 are from WPa (Fisher – Aliquippa; Hayes – Westinghouse; Lugg – NA; Salopek – Norwin; Beatty – Cent Cath; Rawlings – Woodland Hills)

    This is actually an improvement over last year

    so if you wonder why Pitt spends it time recruiting the southeast, you may have your answer

    https://triblive.com/sports/georgia-cornerback-tee-denson-joins-pitts-class-of-2020/

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    1. to clarify … the search I did was 3 stars or higher in the entire state of Pennsylvania, and found 18 total

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    2. Those numbers do hinder Narduzzi. PITT is a very unique university and need the locals to grow in numbers and then stay home.

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  107. There are also 8 schools from the ACC ranked in the top 30, 9 if you include ND, for the 2020 season. You can slice and dice the classes by average star, but i tend to lean towards 5.7’s or higher AND offers to determine my value. Unfortunately, offers are always interestingly difficult to understand because they come and go based on the offering schools needs and are primarily reported by the athlete student.

    Teams usually don’t supply a list of committable offers, so it is hard to determine which school is actually recruiting them, if at all, so it is difficult to use that as a measuring stick on its own. Official visits to me are a very good way to determine which school is actually recruiting a player. Again, many ways to mix and match, slice and dice, move and groove, shake and bake, etc.

    Five months or so to the early signing period, right?

    And no, I am not suggesting that we should be jumping for joy at the commitments. I am glad we have more this week than last week. They seem solid, but who knows. The proof comes in the W’s. It either proves you have an exceptional eye for 3 and 2 star talent OR you can develop them in to 3 or 4 star talent. The NFL draft answers the latter. The last two drafts haven’t been kind to the development theory or the recruiting of 3 stars theory. Sure, we will get a hit here and there, but so will everyone else.

    More 4 starz, more chances. More 4 starz, better perception. More 4 starz, more wins. Just look at who wins the recruiting race every year. Fast forward three years from that point and poof, W’s!

    Liked by 2 people

  108. Sorry for this Huff the third but your rappin reminding me of our Notorious BiggeB. His high school dance champion.

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  109. —We need a Shady-McCoy-type game-changer to fall into Duzzer’s lap the way Shady fell into Wanny’s…

    —Social media has completely changed the recruiting game, IMHO. Some on here make the case for how crappy Heinz is and how more fans should stay home to create even more blaring empty yellow seats, then wonder why the Coach can’t get 4-stars to sign here…

    —Does sound like some of the coaching changes are getting Pitt involved with higher profile players this time around… Collins, Partridge, and Beatty in particular, seem to have picked up Pitt’s recruiting efforts…

    —And on the offensive side, with Coach Whips background, I expect Pitt to be in better position with WRs and TEs, too.

    —Agree with BigB and others that we need a couple athletic and nasty Olinemen.

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  111. QUESTION: What happened to Zack Williams and Justin Morgan>>>I assume they are no longer on the team???

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