152 thoughts on “Pitt Basketball Open Game Thread – Binghamton”

  2. It would maybe have been a good day to host Duquesne

    On one hand, not playing the City Game will certainly not send shock waves around the basketball world. On the other, it makes no sense to me whatsoever not play a game where neither team has to travel more than 2 miles to get to the game. Whether you alums agree or not, it is not to a good look for Capel

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Capel was on The Fan yesterday and strongly defended his decision not to play the game, said it was HIS decision and he did what he thought was in the best interest of the team. The game with Robert Morris had an impact on the Duquesne game this year.

      I agree with you though, it would be better if that tradition continued without a break. Especially with so many other traditions having ended on the football side.

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    2. I agree as an alumnus that it is not a good look. Pitt is behaving like those arrogant Pedo snobs in Creepy Valley.

      Although as a student, it was not a big game or a rivalry…again, from a students perspective. As an alumnus, I can now see the importance for the city and how its part of history and tradition which is to be preserved and embraced. Its a bridge to our past and helps connect all fans and former students.

      Pitt is dead wrong in this and they are literally on the wrong side of history.

      The game should be played every year.

      And Pitt football also needs to start up an annual with Temple. Pitt needs to do better recruiting in EPA. I like the East with West PA rivalry thing. Far better than the Cincy River City Rivalry. There is more reward than risk so I say go for it…but under a different head coach. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. and Pitt basketball needs to play Villanova every year.

        Why does Heather complicate things????

        This is real simple stuff like mashed potatoes.

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          1. who says it would get worse. Pitt has zero exposure in Philly. Pitt needs to play Nova, St Joes and Temple. Plenty of good talent in the Philly area. Plus its a former Big East school. Would love to play Nova and G-town every year. But Capel might be chicken crap. You cant be the best until you beat the best. Bring em on I say. That which does not kill you, makes you stronger. The team will be better for it. Lets say a mid season game against at least one of those schools.

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        1. I relish any chance to trash Meatballs. I seriously know he’s the wrong coach for Pitt unless you like the players saving kittens and helping old ladies cross Forbes Ave. Maybe you do?

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  3. We take on Capt Wallace B Binghamton and McHale’s Navy and not give the Dukes a games ??? Sounds a lot like the Nits thumbing their nose at us….

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Tre Tipton has won a national award for community service …. from PSN

    Tipton has been named the 2019 winner of the Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award, which is presented annually to a college football player “who has impacted the lives of others through giving and community service.”

    Very impressive

    Liked by 3 people

    1. meanwhile Steeler safety Kameron Kelly was just arrested for terroristic threats and resisting arrest at Mario’s Soutside at 1 am. Not a good look for the local heroes

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    1. yes – a very good second choice hire by Heather. I think Capel is another one. I give credit when and where its due. No coal for you Heather on those hires. Candy in the stocking is what you get for now…I’ll hold off on the dollars until seasons end but I’ll probably give to wrestling.

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        1. great area to recruit elite talent. Too bad the program doesnt get enough support and plays in a dump. During my days at Pitt, I used to party at the ‘wrestling house’. Some Pitt wrestlers lived there. I forget the street…maybe Atwood? Good times.

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  6. It only looks bad to Duke fans. Lol. No one else cares. Winter headline clickbait. I thing to see hear, folks. No one will remember this headline once ACC play begins. Pitt has, what, lost two games since the late 90’s? Lol.

    Artificial headlines kill me. Just something to complain about. This. James Conner not saying Pitt. It’s the holidays, people. Watch Elf or Hallmark or something. 🤣🤣🤣

    Happy holidays and H2P!

    Liked by 7 people

  8. OT, You want a good Christmas movie? Trapped in Paradise. Well at least I thought it was a good one. << This aside from the iconic ones we all know and Love.

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  9. How do you say Pitt looks bad unless you were involved in the conversations that took place between the two universities?

    Maybe Duquesne had ridiculous demands. The point is, we have no idea what took place.

    So don’t always assume the negative.

    Liked by 4 people

      1. Notrocketscience, exactly. I’m actually good with playing the Dukes & Robert Morris (& St. Francis of PA or whoever for that matter) every year, but it strikes me as petty and shortsighted to criticize Coach Capel’s decision without being privy to his discussions and thought process. So the 3 or 4 fans that actually care about the game think it’s “a bad look”? Oh, then by all means, let’s play the game.

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        1. makes Pitt look scared
          makes Pitt look arrogant
          makes Pitt look stupid

          problem is…they have not said anything about resuming it in the future

          I can understand a 1 time thing but nothing but cricketts from Capel ad Heather

          Are We Penn State?

          Appears to me WE ARE

          Time to wipe my arse with my Pitt degree if thats the case

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          1. That’s a litany of dumb reasoning and I know you’re a lot smarter than that, so I’m going to assume you hit the Balcones a bit early…

            Liked by 1 person

            1. I do hold a Pitt degree so I’m not that bright but I think my reasoning is sound. There are reasons far and few in between as far as why Pitt should discontinue the series. Again, not a word from either Capel or Heather as to the future of this City Game. That to me speaks volumes and I’m greatly disappointed in their arrogance because thats what it boils down to. Pitt is a Nitter in disguise.

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    3. I’m pretty sure I read that Duquesne agreed to play the game at the Pete with no cash changing hands. I can sort of understand why Capel didn’t want to play the game this year. But going forward, we will never agree to play at RMU. There should be no reason why we should not play Duquesne. Pitt would look pretty bad if we stopped playing the game.

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  11. come on….play Duquesne…play RMU every year in hoops !

    let’s NOT be the arrogant ____, like another school in this state is in football (DEFINITION : Dairy Farm U.)

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  12. That was an encouraging article that someone linked on Jordan Addison. I like seeing him described as “explosive” by opposing coaches.

    By Rivals, he had 20 offers including Michigan and ND.

    We certainly weren’t explosive on offense this season. Sounds like if we must throw those dreaded sideway passes, we need to be throwing them to someone like Jordan Addison.

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    2. You are…

      Just kidding …kind of. Not trying to be a downer but look at his tape. How many of those long rainbow TD’s would have been broken up or picked off if the DB’s hadn’t been 5’10” 140 lb prep school varsity, going up against a noticeably bigger and more talented receiver?

      If this year’s Pitt team had Larry Fitzgerald and Antonio Bryant Pickett would have been third team all-acc

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    1. and this is a symptom of a much bigger disease…apathy.

      Just like Pitt doesnt care about Temple or Villanova.

      We should however.

      Just another sign of being chicken crap or suffering from a case of hubris.

      As the school of the City, Pitt needs to play other City schools.

      I’m a Pitt alum remember. I care.

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  16. I’m actually going to be at Mario’s in Oakland tonight (old peters pub) 50/50 in going to the game.

    Meeting some fellow Pitt grads in the cold weather tonight.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I would like a Drumgoole sighting tonight, though I’m pessimistic. Has anyone heard anything about him? I thought he was getting close?

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  19. I seem to recall Pitt saying that the Pitt/Duquesne game was a one year interruption due to scheduling conflicts. BTW Tex, as far as stadium size I think due to economies of scale the last 10,000 seats are the cheapest (per seat) to build. If a college can get fannies in those seats 2-3 times a year they are easily paid for. (Or concerts for that matter). The trick is to paint them black or cover them up for TV games when an uninteresting game is played.

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    1. Capel did not say a word on what would happen after 2022. So it could very well end.

      Heather needs to say it will be played every year. Not capels decision to make.

      Pitt is the city of Pittsburgh’s school. It’s named after the city. It has an obligation to play other city schools.

      Just like penn state has the obligation to play pitt and temple. Other states understand this. And fans. And alumni.

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  20. VoR – Exactly. It’s a one year interruption. This is a very absurd controversy against a historically non-competitive opponent.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Service was good, packed mostly tonight with people going to the game. Once the game started mostly cleared out.

      Bathroom was updated and heated, last time I was at Peters the bathroom was cold.

      Happy hour beers very affordable.

      Check it out.

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  22. A mention of psux above. I thought Birmingham was a meaningful game tonight for us, but I saw where The Farmers have a Biggie tonight with East Connecticut State. We’ll see just how good they are!

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  23. Every team needs a blow out win like this….Pitt’s first this year. And…this is exactly what we’d do to Duquesne! Look I love the Dukes…grew up w Red Manning and Dukes for years were the dominant team in Pittsburgh. Those days are long gone…like Pitt’s glory days in football.
    H2P

    Liked by 3 people

  25. Listening to the game on the radio. It sounded like another “uh-oh here-go-again” game for the first 7 – 8 minutes, then a superior Pitt team showed up… Pitt had an 18 to 4 run at one point…

    Lead by 20 at the half…

    Go Pitt.

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  26. Man, the color announcer for the last two games on the ACC network was the worst I have ever heard. His named David Padgett. Was Louisville player and interim head coach. He just can’t do radio.

    Plras ACC don’t use him for any more PITT games!!!

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  27. Nice to see us blow out a team like we’re supposed to. Murphy finally made some shots which was huge. This team really defends well which should keep us in most games.

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  29. Hoping Murphy gets a good nights sleep tonight and moves on from his shooting slump…

    Still hard for me to believe this team has won 9 games — but they seem to be improving some…

    Go Pitt.

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  30. When Pitt wins in football or basketball, it is easy to understand why. Typically because our team played better than the other team.

    Maybe that is where the rub comes in. The conversations are more plentiful during losses because as fans and players of sport, we see things that may have turned the game from a loss to a win. Some see it as negative. Others see it as possible learnings.

    BBFlennory and the Dukes!

    Call me crazy, but it seems that the AD is responsible for scheduling and Capel tried to take pressure off his boss and deflect for her. Blowout wins in the pre-season can give a team confidence and also get more players actual game time so they can learn the system before the big games that count are played. Seems appropriate but why don’t we do that in football. Not smart!

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    1. I did not hear the WFAN interview from what I understand, Capel was quite clear that it was his preference not to play Duquesne and it may be more than just a one year hiatus. Again, I can be wrong but that’s what I read was implied in that interview

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      1. thats what he said
        he shouldnt be placed in this spot or frankly have a say in this matter
        Heather should come out and say how important the game is for the city and the two schools
        right now the series ends come 2022

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    3. Capel should not have to take pressure off his boss. His boss should have said to defer all those scheduling questions to me. Capel should have little to no say in scheduling particularly ‘rivalry’ games. Heather could take his input under advisement but thats it. He doesnt call the shots. He needs to focus on making sure his team makes shots first.

      Only at Pitt. You get what you pay for. Pretty sure if Tressel was AD he would have told Capel to STFU.

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        1. He should have very little input into the matter. He has zero understanding of the ‘rivalry’ and importance to the City. Pitt is better than Penn State (big brother vs little brother thinking). I think his Duke arrogance is blinding him. Bad look on his part and I’m a firm supporter of his. He aint perfect and it shows. Just being human. Heather needs to say something and back the continuation of the series. Her silence shows that she’s unfit. I know thats a strong and stinging word.

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  31. Just saw Billy Hillgrove out with back surgery…
    Any POVerts going to the bowl game? I’m staying home with family.

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    2. My friend, former college roomy and tailgate bud Pat wanted me to go. I’ll enjoy 70 degree weather for my tailgate and be watching on TV thank you.

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  32. 2020 signee Buddy Mack is playing in the Shrine Bowl (SC all stars vs. NC all stars) today. I believe, BeVille & Nate Temple played in the same game last year.

    The local tv station in Spartanburg had a nice 2 minute personal video of the Mack family ties to the Shriner hospital in Greenville. (Older sister as a young child spent time there correcting a severe bow leg problem.)

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  33. Just read an article that says CBS will not be broadcasting the SEC football game of the week after 2023. They currently pay $55M per year for that game. They bid $300M per year and were outbid by ESPN/ABC. The article mentions the extra money possibly funding the players payments for likeness, etc. Yeah, we’ll compete with the big boys.

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    1. No need for Pitt to compete against the big boys. There are 6 other teams in the Coastal. That should be the focus.

      Pitt should always have wins in the range of 7-10 each year.

      A typical year would be win 3 of 4 OOC, win 5 of 8 ACC, win your bowl. Thats a 9 win season.

      Then get the 10-11 win season every 3-4 years and a nice Florida bowl.

      I think thats very reasonable.

      The biggest boy in the division is Miami and they are just a bully. Clemson will be hard to beat but Pitt has beaten them. Need to find an offense first. Baby steps

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    2. No need for Pitt to compete against the big boys. There are 6 other teams in the Coastal. That should be the focus.

      Pitt should always have wins in the range of 7-10 each year.

      A typical year would be win 3 of 4 OOC, win 5 of 8 ACC, win your bowl. Thats a 9 win season.

      Then get the 10-11 win season every 3-4 years and a nice Florida bowl.

      I think thats very reasonable.

      The biggest boy in the division is Miami and they are just a bully. Clemson will be hard to beat but Pitt has beaten them. Need to find an offense first. Baby steps

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  34. Didn’t make the game yesterday, recovery not a straight line. Did watch it though and wanted to point out that Verizon has moved ACCTV to 571 next to the ESPN Flagship at 570. Much better placement, which will pick up more channel surfers.

    Seems like it has been a while, possibly Italy where we have seen an easy win.

    I am not sure how much either side cares about the City game, which has been so one sided for so long, although Stallings figured out how to lose one.

    Not sure why Capel wouldn’t want to play the game, kind of fun at the PPG Arena, or home and away.

    Saw where the Dukes are one of the last four undefeated teams, good on them.

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  35. Here is a question, has the BBall non-con been tougher or are we really not that good?

    Overall the team looks much better than last year to me, much stronger inside and Champ filling a needed role as a swing guy making intermediate shots. By the way the channel 11 guy did not know how to pronounce his name last night, ouch. McGowens is much more consistent this year, Brown is improved and having Hamilton has been a huge plus. Pitt finding many more easy baskets this year.

    Saw a chart with Pitt at #7 power ranking in ACC. Say What? If true we should win some games. The ACC is down this year. Carolina’s star is out for a while and Duke and VA not what they were last year.

    Still don’t see Pitt winning more than a handful, if that. But we should at least be more competitive with games not being over by halftime.

    Defense is much improved and scoring slumps should not last as long, with more options.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. GC — I think the schedule has been tougher, but I also think we’re not very good. And not very good mainly because the offense lacks consistent shooting. We’ll need to get to the line a lot and make a high percentage of foul shots to be in ACC games, IMHO, but it would be great to see the scoring improve…

      At any rate there should be a night or two when the shots are falling…

      Best wishes with your rehab.

      Go Pitt.

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  36. Sorry if this has already been discussed ad nauseum, but why would Pitt oppose playing Duquesne and RMU on a regular basis. They have to/want to play teams at those schools skill level in the NonConference schedule anyway. Why not save some money on traveling costs and keep the local fans happy. I don’t like when a PSU pulls that big brother stuff so I don’t like when my alma mater does it either. What is the rationale of Pitt not wanting to play the City game?

    Liked by 2 people

  37. Watched most of 1st half. Looks like Johnson is playing a lot more under control. 1st option isn’t to try to drive to the hole every time down. Working the whole team into play, and getting some nice assists.

    I’m afraid when we get into conference play, with the Blue Blood refs, they will work to get him out of the game – no, not with targeting calls. But when he does one of his dazzling drives, I think we’ll see him called for Xual Harrassment. I believe that is a flagrant foul!

    Liked by 2 people

  38. Back to Football. Could Addison be the next Tyler Boyd?

    Again Pitt is missing any PR opportunity from the Bowl practices, why not hype a few players and the game a little bit. Have an open practice so the media can get some film and some comments. Surely somebody is doing something noteworthy in these preparations. Certainly no need for all of the secrecy at this point.

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    1. Gordon – you know who the coach and AD are? Thats why.

      My nastygram to Heather will cover all the bases. I have a real problem with lazy and stupid people.

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  39. from what I have seen so far, Pitt BB is improved. They have more balance, more options and depth, and play better defense than a year ago.

    But even more apparent is that the ACC is not as good as it was a year ago. A year ago the ACC dominated the B10 in pre-season showdown; this year, the B10 won.

    Thus far, Pitt seems every bit as good or better than GT, Clemson, BC, Wake, Cuse, ND and maybe even Miami. A year ago, they didn’t seem better than anyone. Barring key injury, Pitt should finish right in the middle of the pack.

    Liked by 2 people

  41. Absolutely nothing to take away from last nights scheduled W. Binghamton is a horrid team with 10 point losses to Columbia (3-8). A 20 point loss to 1 win Cornell (1-8) and a 53 point loss to Mich State. Among others. Pitt would have gotten a better game playing the Oakland Catholic girls team.

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  42. Tex – I just googled Big 10 Bowl practices, and SEC Bowl Practices. Got a total of about 3 minutes of drills. Not exactly a promo to excite any fan. Nobody is giving away info on their team via open practices – bowl prep or summer camp.

    Every thing down here that I’ve read/heard is that practice (bowl and summer camp) is closed. At this point in the season, there’s enough video available, that if an alumnae group or athletic department wants to excite fans, they easily do that without giving away any game prep stuff.

    It would seem to me that if you need video as PR for your players and the bowl game, actual game film – not practice – would stir the fans’ juices more than boring practice shots. Assuming, of course that the team had any good plays during the season!

    The games I have attended, the home team shows actual game footage on the Big Screen during time outs; not practice shots of players in shorts!

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  46. Just a thought. How about a preconference tournament every year-Pitt, Duquesne, Bobby Mo and WVU? Everyone plays 2 games, winners the first night play for the championship and the losers play a consolation game the 2nd night. An option would be Pitt, Duquesne, Temple and Nova. Or to spice it up substitute WVU for the Dukes. I also miss our old rival. Georgetown-might want to put them into the mix occasionally. H2P Soccer Gramps

    Liked by 4 people

  47. If that last pass was from Brady and the Pats, you can bet that pass interference wound have been called on the defender.

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  48. Fran — not going bowling either.

    Tex — I hope the BB Coach has the main say in the OOC scheduling. Seemed like Dixon made a science out of trying to pick the most beneficial OOC games. The BB Coach is certainly better informed than the AD about opposing teams.

    Capel strikes me as a reasonable guy who would play Duquesne unless there are unusual circumstances. But I guess I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.

    (Isn’t it interesting that Duquesne is 10 and 0 in the year they didn’t play Pitt. 😊)

    Go Pitt.

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    1. I would like to see Pitt play Nova, Temple and G-Town. As well as Duquesne. I think this is more the AD’s call to make with input from the HC. I see nothing wrong with early season games against the Dukes and then a mid season game or two against former Big East Rivals or even an early season game. Its Heather’s job as AD to be informed and to understand Pitt’s past and what the fans want. I dont really care what an ex-Duke player wants for Pitt. Its my alma mater…not his. Fans pay his salary. We are his true boss.

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  50. Any whispers regarding how many tickets Pitt has sold for the Quick Lane Bowl? I’m guessing less than 5000.

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  51. Possibly a duplicate post (I’m beginning to hate Word Press). Wondering if anyone has heard any whispers regarding how many Quick Lane Bowl tickets Pitt has sold. I’m betting less than 5000. My gut tells me closer to 2500. When the POV is not well represented, you know things are bad.

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    1. Pitt will probably buy up many and just give them away to local schools and charities. I doubt more than 500 Pitt fans attend. Fans with no association with the players. You’ll find more stray dogs and cats outside the stadium than Pitt fans. Its rated the second worst bowl match-up and destination. I’m nuts for even wanting to watch this game.

      Liked by 1 person

  52. Good high school game on right now on ESPNU. Saint Aquinas vs Saint Louis. PITT 4* recruit playing for Saint Louis. Looking good.

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  54. After the finish again this year, Narduzzi should declare that EVERY position, including QB, is open in Spring ball. But as I said before, PN is in love with his players and refuses to hold them accountable for all of the mistakes, penalties, dropped balls, etc. As a result this team fails to get better during the season.

    Liked by 3 people

  55. Jack again…..saw that. He has to say that but he better not mean it.

    Doesn’t matter what we do against the bottom MAC team on the 26th. He has definitely not gotten enough help from his “bros” with pre-snap penalties and drops. But let’s be objective here..he is not a good QB. Telegraphs every single pass, does not look at or see the field, happy feet too early, extremely panicky, absolutely no touch on short passes or arc on long passes, etc. Belongs at JMU like Dinucci and he’d be just fine. I’m not calling for the 2nd string QB like everyone else in Pittsburgh. He must suck too or Whip would have him out there. Nobody else is afraid to play talented frosh and sophomore QBs. So the only possible answers are Whipple is a complete idiot, or this is the best we got. And either way this stubborn staff will trot out “our guy” no matter what happens this week or in the spring.

    Kenny will/should have an awesome game against this MAC cellar dweller. He better. And no coronation if he does. I’m calling a 300+ yd. game, 3 td’s and one int. That doesn’t matter or change his ceiling- which he has reached.

    Sorry to vent but that article hit a nerve. Guess I still care even if I don’t want to.

    Liked by 2 people

  56. Narduzzi exposes himself when he calls KP a great QB… didn’t we hear words along those lines in trading cap last year when Watson anointed KP??? Come on Pat.. your coaching in a football town- we aren’t stupid….

    Liked by 1 person

  58. Interesting article from the Baltimore Sun today. Not a big pro football fan due to the crazy costs associated, maybe shouldn’t think any differently about college football and basketball.

    College football
    Does bowl association really play needed role?
    Claiming he’s overwhelmed, director doesn’t seem to be
    Liberty’s Johnny Huntley celebrates after scoring a touchdown Saturday during the Cure Bowl against Georgia Southern. (James Gilbert/Getty )
    By Will Hobson The Washington Post
    TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — He claimed to be one of the busiest people in college football this month. But at 9:30 one December morning, on a day he had said he couldn’t possibly find time to talk, Wright Waters waved a reporter inside.
    “Alright, I can give you 30 minutes, as long as you don’t mind interruptions,” said Waters, executive director of the Football Bowl Association, a little-known trade association that works on behalf of the 40 games that cap each college football season.
    Waters, 70, made $205,000 last year to run the FBA, whose $800,000 in revenue comes from a combination of annual dues from bowls and a trade show each April. He is the FBA’s lone full-time employee, and he works from his stately, brown brick home on the shore of Lake Tuscaloosa.
    A few weeks before, Waters had said he would be happy to address skepticism that the bowls — despite being powered by ESPN, which has billions invested in the games — need a trade association to promote and protect them, and that that trade association needs a full-time director. But then Waters changed his mind and cancelled, citing his around-the-clock schedule.
    “I just don’t know how I could make it work,” Waters said over the phone, in canceling an interview scheduled for Dec. 5, a few days before the bowl schedule would be announced. “The closer we get to December 8th, it gets worse and worse. And after we get there, it’s just nuts.”
    Travel arrangements had already been booked, though, so on Dec. 5, a reporter knocked on Waters’ door anyway, hoping he would change his mind again, and let a visitor observe a morning in the life of one of the busiest people in college football. Waters answered the door dressed casually, in olive slacks, gray sneakers and a gray Nike windbreaker, and led a reporter to a small office adorned with football memorabilia.
    “Whatever you want to know, I have no secrets,” Waters said, leaning back in his chair. He placed his cell phone on his desk, within arm’s reach. In emails and phone conversations a few weeks before, Waters had mentioned the torrent of calls he gets this time of year, from frantic bowl directors, ESPN executives and conference officials trying to hammer out the bowl schedule.
    “Mornings are usually nuts this time of year,” he’d said.
    In the grand scheme of college sports, the $205,000 Waters makes is a drop in a multi-billion-dollar bucket. Alabama coach Nick Saban, who made $8.3 million last year, earns Waters’ annual income about every nine days. For NCAA president Mark Emmert, who made $2.9 million last year, it takes about 25 days. To Waters’ bosses — bowl directors — the FBA and Waters are a reasonable expense to help protect a treasured tradition that generates more than $600 million each year for major colleges and universities.
    “We needed somebody to be a voice for the bowl system,” said Eric Poms, chief executive of the Capital One Orange Bowl, who made $680,000 last year. “Wright’s done a tremendous job.”
    “He’s been a great advocate for us,” said Rick Catlett, chief executive of the Taxslayer Gator Bowl, who made about $407,000 last year. “I can’t think of a better person to sit on a front porch with, pour a little glass of bourbon, smoke a cigar, and talk college athletics.”
    But to advocates for college athletes, Waters’ job – which didn’t exist before 2012 – is just another example of the fun-house economic structure of college sports, a professional entertainment industry where the market forces that determine salaries are distorted by the fact that college athletes are unpaid.
    Over the course of nearly two hours in his home office – with one short interruption – Waters portrayed himself as playing an essential role in preserving the bowl industry, by advocating on the bowls’ behalf with the NCAA and in the media.
    “As long as you’re taking care of your bowls. … I don’t think you have to please John Doe in Des Moines, Iowa,” Waters said, when told that some people were surprised by the existence of his job.
    As Waters spoke, he periodically glanced at his phone, and expressed confusion at its silence.
    “I’m surprised the phone hasn’t rung,” he said. “It usually does.”
    Money making
    The arc of Waters’ career follows that of the increased professionalization — and money making — of major college sports.
    A native of Montgomery, Alabama, he attended Livingston State College, later rebranded University of West Alabama, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a master’s in secondary education.
    He worked in several athletic departments, including Florida and Tulane, then moved to the Southern Conference, where he advanced to commissioner. In the late 1990s, he worked briefly running Crimson Tide Sports Marketing — a corporate partnership that owns the commercial rights to Alabama athletics — before becoming commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference in 1998.
    Waters remade the Sun Belt, converting it to a conference with football and locking in television contracts with networks including ESPN. He also created the New Orleans Bowl to host the annual Sun Belt champion.
    From 2000 until 2011, when Waters announced his retirement, Sun Belt revenue more than tripled, to $12.2 million, and his pay more than doubled, to $340,000. But before Waters officially retired in 2012, the bowl bosses came calling.
    At the time, Waters chaired the NCAA’s bowl committee, which effectively oversaw the bowls. As Waters recalled, the industry was in turmoil, thanks in part to the Fiesta Bowl scandal, in which that bowl’s director had been caught spending the nonprofit’s proceeds lavishly at a strip club and on illegal campaign contributions.
    “I told them, ‘You guys have got to get organized. You need some direction,’ ” Waters said. “And so they called and they said, hey, before you really retire, would you be willing to do this?”
    The Football Bowl Association had technically existed since the late 1980s, but it had never had any full-time employees. The director job rotated between bowl directors as an additional, unpaid responsibility. Waters agreed to take over.
    In an interview, Mike Nealy, the Playstation Fiesta Bowl executive director, disputed that his predecessor’s scandal inspired the decision to hire Waters.
    “Certainly that wasn’t the reason,” said Nealy, who made about $685,000 last year, running both the Fiesta Bowl and the Cheez-It Bowl. Waters’ main utility, said Nealy, is as an advocate with the NCAA, which licenses bowl games and produces a rule book prescribing proper bowl management.
    Just like running a bowl game is a full-time job, Nealy said, so is advocating for the bowl industry.
    “I can’t imagine not having an [FBA] executive director,” Nealy said. “He’s not making widgets on an assembly line; the needs change throughout the year… . But college football is a year-round sport … and you can extrapolate that to the bowls as well.”
    Catlett, the Gator Bowl CEO, said one of the most important parts of Waters’ job is “to get the message out about the bowls.” When asked how Waters and the FBA — which does not have an advertising budget — promote the bowls, Catlett cited the FBA’s website, its social media accounts, and Waters’ interviews with the media.
    But when it comes to promoting bowl games, the FBA gets significant assistance from ESPN, which owns and operates 14 bowl games, and, along with its sister station ABC, televises 35 of the 40 bowls. Throughout December and early January, ESPN blankets its platforms with advertising for clashes ranging from the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, between Oklahoma and LSU, to the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl, between Utah State and Kent State.
    This perhaps explains the FBA’s near-dormant social media activity. The FBA’s Facebook page has published eight posts this year, most recently Sept. 3, with a message expressing excitement about that weekend’s matchup between Texas A&M and Clemson. Its Twitter account hasn’t posted since May 5, 2016.
    Richard Southall, professor and director of the College Sport Research Institute at the University of South Carolina, expressed skepticism that the bowls need a trade association.
    “It would be interesting to find out, on a month to month and day to day basis, what work this association actually performs,” Southall said. “What does he say he actually does?”
    Best matchups
    “This is why I didn’t have time to deal with you today,” Waters said. “This is my life right now.”
    Waters was staring at his computer, where a spreadsheet listed bowl-eligible teams by conference. His life is consumed this time of year, he said, by keeping track of how many teams have won the requisite six games to qualify for a bowl, and working his relationships across the sport to ensure each game gets the best matchup.
    “I touch almost all of them. I don’t touch the CFP (College Football Playoff) games… . That’s done by formula,” Waters said. “But almost all the rest of them we touch.”
    Asked to elaborate, Waters sketched a hypothetical scenario in which the Southeastern Conference was considering sending Texas A&M to the Belk Bowl, played in Charlotte, North Carolina, but Belk Bowl officials really wanted Tennessee. Waters would work the phones, he said, starting with Mark Womack, associate commissioner at the SEC.
    “I got to call Womack and say, ‘Hey, what are you thinking about Belk?’ ” Waters explained. “And he’ll say, ‘Well, I’m thinking I’m gonna send A&M.’ And I’ll say, ‘Mark, they ain’t going to bring anybody to Charlotte. It’s too far.’ And then he’ll say, ‘Yeah, maybe you’re right.’ Then we go from there.”
    This claim came as a surprise to Nealy, the Fiesta Bowl director, who also chairs the FBA’s board. Asked if Waters had any influence over bowl placement, Nealy replied unequivocally.
    “No, he does not have any input… . Most of that is all contracted,” Nealy said.

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  61. North / South Carolina high school all star game on ESPNU at 10 am today…dont we have a recruit playing in that?

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    1. It is Buddy Mack. – Spoiler alert – While he is not the Defensive MVP, he does do something late in the game.

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  65. Pitt is probably embarrassed to even promote the game. Seriously, the second worst rated bowl among the 39 based on match-up and location. I do not blame any Pitt fans for turning off the TV. Any Pitt fan making the trip is to be commended or is down right crazy…thats a shout-out to you Pat, my former college roommate and tailgate bud.

    I would have road tripped to Nashville but thats about it. Of course Florida is nice but when was the last time Pitt played a bowl game in that state. A bit of trivia.

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  66. Again, PITT BEAT and finished the season with a better record than the ACC’s commissioners team (UNC) playing in Charlotte’s Belk Bowl. Translation = PITT got jobbed by the their own conference.

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    1. that should come as no surprise. Pitt wouldnt have fared much better in Charlotte. Its tough to get excited about a team that craps the bed at the end of every year. Tough to get excited about this high octane offense. Tough to believe the stuff Narduzzi says about QB play. Tough to get excited about another 7 win season. Tough to be a Pitt fan these days.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Lets hope because a loss to Heather’s former MAC school will send me on a war path and I’ll be personally calling Gallagher every day until she is fired. I would trade her for the existing EMU AD anyday.

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          1. ^^ Mark, I’m not saying it wasn’t a disappointing end to the season, just saying they will end up with 8 wins and like Tx says, they better dam well win this last game or else….. or else it will be a long long winter. Narduzzi is not going anywhere anytime soon.

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      2. I went to the Continental Tire Bowl (predecessor to the Belk Bowl) in 2003. Larry Fitzgerald’s last year. There were about 3000 Pitt fans there. It too was the day after Christmas (or perhaps the 27th. I think it was the 26th). I expect no more than 2500 Pitt fans in Detroit. Us POVers are amongst the most passionate Pitt fans out there. And I have yet to hear one of us say that they are Detroit bound.

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        1. Most of those fans will be parents or relatives of the players. I cant see anyone getting excited about the match-up or location. You’ve got to be hard core and a bit crazy to drive or fly in for this game. But I’ll be watching on TV like most Pitt fans.

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    2. Pitt jobbed themselves – you have to admit, Pitt played poorly to end the season. Maybe even played the worst of the bowl eligible teams.

      Lower bowl was earned.

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      1. Yeah, you can say that Mr Someone but I was pointing out that UNC goes to the Belk Bowl but lost to PITT and had a worse record. How did they earn that? It’s rigged. I wasn’t referencing PITT at all, just how the ACC commissioner engineered a better Bowl for his own team.

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  68. Tex, I attended the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando…2001 or 2.
    Met a very young Tyler Palko and his dad at the pool.
    Hillgrove commandeered the bar at the pool…haha.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bingo. Must of been good times.

      Think about it. 19 long years since a bowl in Florida to not only reward players but the fans as well.

      Its been far too long and frankly something needs to be done about it. Pitt really should be really embarrassed by drawing the second worst bowl game.

      And if Pitt does lose to EMU, heads must roll…meaningless bowl game or not. As AD, I would tell Narduzzi that he better have his team ready to play and they better win. He can then read between the lines. I’d make the DC interim/acting HC for 1 year until a permanent replacement is found or Bates wins 9 games. I’d pay him Narduzzi money.

      I fully expect Pitt to lose this game.

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  69. So many questions:

    MM – what if you do a Quick Lane Bowl Game Thread, and no one comments?

    Is this game played in what used to known as “The Silver Dome”? Does it still have the “Blow-up Roof”? Any danger of KP’s deep passes hitting the dome??

    What is a Quick Lane? Is it a sarcastic reference to our receiver’s pass routes?

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  74. The Duquesne Dukes are now 10-0. Best start since 1954 when they would go on to win the NIT, which was more prestigious than the NCAA at that time. Most likely, the best college team Pgh ever produced … with the Ricketts brothers and the great Sihugo Green

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  76. In the Shrine bowl that the sandlappers won over the tar heels 28 – 17, Buddy Mack didn’t play much. It seems that he broke a finger in practice. For the game his hand was taped into a ball. Anyway, he finally got into the game with about a 1:30 to go in the game. After two short passes, the N.C. QB, over threw his intended receiver straight into Mack’s number. He caught it & proceeded to run it back 25 yards before running out of bounds. Two kneel downs & the game was over.

    My question – why do the announcers & local tv, radio & sports writers refer to South Carolina team as sandlappers.

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  77. I guess you are not bombarded by Liberty Mutual Insurance company commercials featuring LiMu EMU & Doug. That’s the commercial I though of when I see EMU.

    Never heard of Blue Emu.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Just tried to link & post my favorite LiMu EMU & Doug commercial. Obviously didn’t commercial. work. Mark- Thanks. I now vaguely remember Blue Emu pain cream. I used salonpas & icy hot but really think prescription Penn Said is best.

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        1. Emu posts were banned by Reed a long time ago Richard. Just kidding don’t know why it didn’t work. Liberty mutual is some of the most expensive auto insurance in Georgia but I will say they have a catch little jingle

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          1. Maybe it’s hung up in Word Press purgatory.

            I used to post links on interesting articles that mentioned Pitt. Quite doing it when WordPress all of a sudden quit allowing links posted by me. Later, after I persisted, it gave me the sign on problem. But it relented after I prayed for resolution & forgiveness of my errors. I guess I will wait awhile before I try to post a link again.

            Liked by 1 person

  81. Will Brinson@WillBrinson

    Tyler Boyd is a HERO for Cincinnati. Leg about to fall off, refused to stay down, would have cost the Bengals the game.. Instead, OVERTIME after the Red Rifle walks into the end zone on the 2pt

    BTW, if he gets 13 yards next week, he’ll have back-to-back 1000 yard seasons

    Liked by 1 person

  82. I remember how excited Paul Chryst was on signing day when Pitt got Tyler Boyd.

    The normally extremely low-key PC was positively giddy talking about TB that day. Made me think — wow, this kid must be something special; and he was…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  83. Has Heather spoken publicly about the football season yet? If not it could mean she is unhappy with the progress. And why does Narduzzi need to come out now with a vote of confidence for Pickett? What does that accomplish?

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    1. I don’t think there’s any question that HL is not happy with the FB situation. Lost opportunities the last two seasons.

      If FB doesn’t have a stand-out season next season — I’d say at least 9 wins and top 25 ranking — I wouldn’t be surprised to see Heather make a change…

      But I think they have a decent chance to pull it off.

      Go Pitt.

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  84. I would guess that Pitt is taking a pretty large financial blow for participating in this game. They have to buy a minimum number of tickets, they have to put the team, coaches, etc., up in a hotel for a week. Pay for meals. Flight to and from Detroit. Not inexpensive.

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  85. Missing, it’s a tough price to pay when they were bypassed for a tier 1 bowl that probably would have at least covered expenses. Poor finishes do mean something and the 2 season ending losses cost Pitt big time.

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