Well, it’s the end of another football season and another year (and the end of my first full season at the helm of the POV), and I’d like to try to start a tradition if I might.

After the Quick Lane bowl I posted (rather hastily and somewhat drunkenly) on Twitter that “90% of POV readership had turned on Pat Narduzzi”.  I later deleted this tweet after a couple of people commented (in a very diplomatic way I will add) that this may or may not be true.  Well, I thought to myself, there is really only one way to find out, and so I developed a few poll questions…

The poll is open for a week and I’ll write and article about the results when I have them. I’d like to get at least 30 responses, but would love to get over 100 because more responses make the data that much more meaningful.  If I can get over 100 responses I’ll also send them directly to the Pitt SID, although I suspect they read the POV from time to time anyway…

Please note that you can only vote once.

Also…regardless of whether or not you answer the questions, I would like to thank each and every reader and commenter for being part of the POV this past year.  While running this blog can be gruelling at times, it is also an incredibly rewarding way to build relationships with some truly outstanding people, both virtually and in-person, and I value that tremendously.  So Thank You All.

I’d also like to thank Reed (again)  for handing me the keys to the Corvette.  It’s been a heck of a ride and I’m just starting to get a feel for the clutch.

Okay so on to the Poll…It’s easy and 100% Anonymous, so  EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A COMMENTER PLEASE TAKE THE POLL.  It’s a way to have your voice heard in a very safe and secure way.

Poll Instructions:

  1. Answer the five upfront questions first (Ideally before you read any comments)
  2. Note that you will have to click VOTE for each separate question.  Yes WordPress sucks.  I appreciate your participation.  
  3. THEN look at the stats.
  4. Then answer the final question.
  5. Then comment as per usual.

About the stats:  The goal is to see if Pitt has progressed under Narduzzi, so I’ve compared Paul Chryst’s last year (2014) with Pat’s most recent year (2019).  In an effort not to influence the poll I’m not going to write any commentary, but please feel free to add your analysis in the comments section. I’m sure you will find a lot to talk about.

Pitt 2014 - 2019 Stats - Offense

Pitt 2014 - 2019 Stats - Defense

Pitt 2014 - 2019 Stats - ST, Cont, Power

Pitt 2014 - 2019 Stats - SOS, Wins

Okay folks, that is it.  Thanks for playing along, and I’m looking forward to a great 2020 with all you crazy cats.  Have a safe and happy New Year!

Michaelangelo Monteleone

 

Michaelangelo holds a degree in Travel Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a former staff writer for InPittsburgh Newsweekly, and currently resides near Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a Pitt fan since 1997 after he witnessed Pitt upset #22 Miami on Thursday night at Pitt Stadium.

525 thoughts on “Pitt Football Year End Survey and Statistics Recap”

  2. Voted. One caveat. When responding to question about how I feel about Pat Narduzzi today, I would have liked to have better defined choices. My answer would have been a combination of Neutral and negative. I think he’s doing okay. But I am not satisfied with the results. However, the critique is more complex than just our head coach. My analysis relates to the whole athletic department, AD, Chancellor, and BOT. Overall, we are underperforming everywhere. Showing promise in areas, to be sure, but still underperforming.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. I think forcing a coach to get into the top whatever is stupid.

    A coach and a team have no actual control over that. Yes, they can “just win” as someone will try to argue. but yknow, just because they win doesn’t mean voters have to vote for them.

    I think 9 wins is obtainable. I wouldn’t force a coach into that but I do think it’s obtainable.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. I agree with missingwlat on the how-do-you-feel-about-Coach-Narduzzi/today question.

    I feel positive about Coach Narduzzi but I’m not pleased with the team’s performance.

    I think Duzz has made progress but still has things to fix/improve. He’s improved the coaching staff, for example, but still has a couple of coaches to go, IMHO.

    I feel positive about Duzz because I think he has a very tough recruiting situation – very tough. Yet I think he continues to improve the roster.

    I probably think it’s tougher to recruit to Pitt for football than most POVers, which shapes my opinion of the job Duzz is doing.

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Only the 1st question showed that I commented. The rest of the results showed -0- comments.

    Are the ACC refs officiating the poll results?

    =====
    Heather Lyke-s this a lot that Ford, Jones & Twyman re-committed.

    Now, can she market this occurrence to a success?

    The bigger question will be can Duzz coach the team to a successful 10+ win season – fans will want to know.

    A good offseason of silence awaits.

    Like

  6. I agree with AD Lyke as I think Narduzzi is progressing(but too slow) especially on the recruiting front. I also think he and his coaches do a very good job on finding some low star talent overlooked by others. But that’s what Pitt has to do with the limitations the program faces with lack of attendance and playing off campus at Heinz.—But he is not a good pre game or game day coach IMO. Some real strange game day decisions and almost no half time adjustments that I can see that makes Pitt a better team in the second half. The futility on offense all season has been a downer and the futility on the offense in the second half at most games has been an even bigger downer.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I don’t think playing off campus has anything to do with it, and I think the arguments about the stadium are just plain nostalgic nonsense.

      I also have to disagree on the planning, I think he overplans and overcompensates and that bites him in the butt.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. I think it would also be interesting to see what fans think of Heather.

    An AD has many responsibilities such as setting the sports culture, marketing and promoting all programs, ticket sales, athletic donations, facility improvements and major capital projects, hiring coaches, establishing the proper budgets for every program, compliance, adding new programs, student/athlete support, merchandising and branding, and of course that infamous Directors Cup which ranks a schools ‘winning’ success.

    However, some of these things are difficult to grade since the information is tough to obtain or hidden unless you know where to look.

    What we can see and feel is probably the culture somewhat, fans in the seats, facility improvements, merchandising and whether Pitt’s programs make the playoffs or post season play.

    Compared to Cornhole, the culture is not toxic anymore but its still not where it needs to be for students to connect with the school via sports. I’ve seen more yellow seats at Heinz than at any point in recent memory but basketball is slowly getting attendance back. The soccer pitch was upgraded and well as improvements to the Pete and Fitzgerald. There is Victory Heights…at least a plan for it. The colors permanently changed to closely resemble the retro uniforms and most fans seem to like it. Outside of volleyball, wrestling and mens soccer, Pitt’s programs struggle to even be mediocre. Lacrosse was added but at the expense of tennis. Her hires, mainly for basketball, wrestling and softball/baseball, will take some more time to judge but I think she got at least basketball and wrestling right.

    Like

    1. I really like Heather. Her only mistake was to renew Narduzzi’s
      contract but she had little choice in the matter. She made that choice without knowing the facts of the last two pathetic seasons.

      Like

  9. I too thought that perhaps their should have been more options for rating our satisfaction with the coaching, but then I answered based on how I felt most of the season…did I leave a game with a warm and fuzzy feeling (no), or wanting to pull my hair out (yes). Next year should be very interesting and telling.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Agree with wlat on the narduzzi satisfaction question. I am not satisfied with where we are but recognize some progress. Could have fired everyone midway thru the bowl game but I got over it. So call me doubtful but willing to wait and see for another season.

    But Narduzzi’s apparent lack of interest in the offensive side of the game makes me crazy. It shows in his recruiting- or lack of recruiting- offensive line talent. It shows in his game planning, most notably the second half turtle mode. And it is obvious in some of his in-game decisions. The stats above tell the story. He’s a DC in a HC role. I question whether he will ever grow into a true HC.

    And thanks,MM for your amazing commitment to this blog. I dont post much but I read at least daily. I hope you can keep it up for a long time to come.

    Happy New Year to all!

    And H2P

    Liked by 6 people

    1. his lack of interest in offense?

      His 1st OC hire would be lured away by Georgia which the following year would appear the national title game
      His 2nd OC hire would be lured away by another SEC elite and become the highest OC in CFB
      His 3rd OC hire was not his 1ss, 2nd or 3rd choice, judged by how long it took to hire him
      HIs current OC hire had the reputation of being one of the best pass coaches around, an obvious need

      Yes, the offensive recruiting is wanting, no doubt, but IMO it is certainly not due to a lack of interest

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Canada has also been an interim head coach and is in talks for jobs all the time now, even if he himself doesn’t do the talking.

        Like

  11. I’m a realist and don’t expect Pitt Football to win 9+ games every year. Would I like to see Pitt go undefeated, sure.

    It takes big donations to get to the top tier in football and I don’t think Pitt will ever commit to this kind of investment. However, I’d like to see Pitt play with more discipline and restraint — especially with more respect for its opponent.

    The number one responsibility of a university is to educate its students and prepare them for their lifetimes work. This responsibility starts at the top of the administration and it does not take $$ to be successful.

    There is a saying that a good loser is a loser, I feel it’s not how one reacts when they win but when they lose.

    I don’t want Pitt athletics to be losers but to just play hard, fair and respect their opponent. After all, college sports should be treated as an extra-curricular activity.

    The cheap end-zone demonstration in the Quick Lane Bowl was an embarrassment to the university and its alumni and I don’t wish to see this embarrassment to Pitt ever again.

    To all POVers a Happy and Healthy 2020. Hail to Pitt!

    Liked by 5 people

  12. BTW, Maestro, I liked the survey … mainly because it wasn’t promised to take only 5 minutes but actually last 20. Also, it didn’t include a back-up question after every multiple choice …. why did you choose that answer?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Glad to hear it. I tried to keep it simple and good to know I succeeded

      Like

        1. Yes it is. Taken at the Tech game down here in Atlanta. Some other poverts to the right and left of me

          Like

  13. Polling is an artform, and the design of the poll affects the results. I don think 9-10 wins and top 25 is a reasonable goal, perhaps if it is done half the time.

    Also the results of the poll will be skewed by those that take it. We are not casual fans. Overall Pitt fans are a very apathetic bunch, a giant part of the problem.

    If the goal is to win 9-10 games a year, we will need a much stronger commitment from the administration and a willingness to at least bend the rules considerably. If not we will be firing a coach every 4 years.

    I neither love or hate Narduzzi and of course would like to see better results, but an easy OOC schedule will do much more to achieve that goal than a coaching change.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Fair comment about the design of the poll. I assure I had no overt agenda when I designed the questions, other than to satisfy my own curiosity. However if you’re into psychology you could probably argue that a subconscious bias shows through on how the questions are built.

      I also agree about this not representing all Pitt fans. I really just want to get a feel for what POV readers think. I suspect that if the same questions were posted on another site , or the Pitt Panthers fanatics Facebook page the answers would differ. (Although that certainly would be an interesting experiment)

      It’s also fair to say that if someone wants to skew a poll like this all they have to do is get a bunch of like minded people to vote the same way and then the system would effectively be gamed. For example, if the football team all wanted to show how much they love playing for Narduzzi (which I believe they do) they could just get everyone to vote (I don’t think this will happen but i suppose it could)

      I also originally had a bunch of questions that really qualified repondends “how long have you been a fan”, “have you ever had season tickets”, “do you donate to Pitt football”, “ are you going to keep donating”, “are you going to renew your season tickets” etc. but it was just too much and didn’t really get to the heart of what I wanted to know so I cut those out.

      So overall…I’ll keep your thoughts in mind as I’m reporting out the results and make sure to add the appropriate context. Much appreciated on the feedback GC

      Like

  14. Really miffed with Word Press again. It seems that when you put together a long post it times out and will not post. I guess the thing to do is to sunmit shorter posts.

    Like

    1. I think anything over a certain word limit gets flagged as spam . I’ll look to see if I can see it in the filter

      Like

    2. That seems to explain why my longer comments do not post. I also have the problem of stopping for a smoke break or being interrupted by something else. With all that & hunt & peck typing, it can take up to half hour to compose a comment.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Kman – Happy New Year!

      The offense the way it is “manned” right now will give us similar results in 2020 as we witnessed in 2019.

      However, adding an OT or two from grad transfers or the JUCO route, the two new TE’s who are pass catching specialists (ikr) and adding Ironhead’s son Connor at RB through the transfer portal via MSU, then I think the O is considered upgraded for 2020.

      A lot of work left to do, but doable.

      Only 2 starters leaving on offense – Ffrench and Ulizio.

      If the Pitt administration and BofT’s could get serious about Panther FB for 2020, the $’s should start flowing now and the coaches should bring in the missing pieces now in time for Spring practices.

      NOW – Not Over the Weekend!

      Like

  18. By the way Mike, I do appreciate the intent of the article and the work put forth.

    We all knew how bad the offensive performance was and that stats make it even more painfully clear.

    I don’t think that it is all on Narduzzi. Certainly the lack of enough quality linemen and tight ends is his responsibility, and of course the buck stops with him. However, if we are giving Bates much of the credit for the defense, we have to give Whipple much of the blame for the offense.

    Like

    1. I am stringing thoughts together rather than being rejected by WordsPress.

      The fact that we did a 180 degree change from a running offense to a passing onehad a great deal to do with the lack of production. The change has been made so next year should be more efficient. With that being said, I still believe a healthy Ffrench gets us 1-2 more victories and there is your 9-10. There would still be guys calling for Narduzzi’s head, but not as many.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I really think that the goal for success is very much a moving target and should be discussed as well.
        Reed has stated what he believe’s is Pitt Admin’s expectations. Tex has stated his goals ad infinitum. I have stated and still believe that the majority here have unreasonable expectations.

        Most agree that the ship has sailed on Pitt competing at the highest level, ie Clemson, Alabama, LSU , tOSU etc. I would also add the next level, PSU, ND, Michigan most of the SEC, etc. So where does that leave Pitt. Pretty much out of the top twenty, maybe with a shot at the top twenty five, if the stars are aligned.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. And so here is the rub… if Pitt …

          Builds the right schedule
          Cleans up the penalties
          Cuts down on turnovers
          Keeps the defense good
          Improves the offense so it’s just average

          They probably win 9-10 games every year and finish somewhere between 25 and 18 most years.

          That’s still a far cry from the blue bloods but I don’t think it’s unreasonable. Schedule, penalties and turnovers are all very controllable things.

          Liked by 6 people

          1. True but keep in mind this years Pitt team was a sliver away from losing to Delaware and EMU as well as a couple of others. And in the games we won our margin of victory was around 6 points I believe. Pitt could have easily ended this past season at 4 and 8.

            Like

            1. You are not wrong. Any yet for some reason narduzzi seems to have a knack for winning the close games and generally beating the teams he’s supposed to beat. Look at Chryst’s record in one score games in 2014. Horrible.

              I guess maybe your point is that if you clean all that stuff up we might not win more, we might just win bigger against lesser teams…which is actually a good point and a reason why many are somewhat frustrated with Pat

              Like

    2. Yep I hear you. Someone else pointed out that it’s been a revolving door at OC for the last five years. You can’t blame that on whipple. So in my mind it’s part “how bare was the cupboard” (pretty bare I think) and how how much of that revolving door was duzz’ fault bs just plain bad luck?

      Chaney hasn’t been more than a couple of years in any one place – should duzz have realized that before he hired him? I don’t know

      Canada is another guy who has no more than two years on his resume at any one place – seems like Pat May have made the same mistake twice

      Watson was clearly a retread but would have stayed as long as we wanted to keep him. Again, probably not the right strategy, although valuing loyalty was certainly a move in the right direction

      Whip … let’s see what he cooks up in year two. I’m planning on running the same 2014 stats vs the 2020 stats next you and I’m hoping to see a nice year two jump in the offense

      To say this another way, Bates year 1 wasn’t a huge improvement over the other guy, either

      Liked by 1 person

      1. but as pointed out above, both Chaney and Canada accepted lucrative offers from SEC elites. Not sure you can call them mistakes. This is just being a school that is a stepping stone for the very gifted.

        Just hope that nobody hires away Partridge and Beatty.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. Well yes there is probably a little bit of that in there too but still, history shows these dudes are apt to jump. Pitt hopefully learned a bit of a lesson as well about paying coordinators but the canada / LSU situation was tough. Cheney was driven out after two years at Georgia so you have to wonder if personality is an issue with him or something

          Like

  19. Glad you had a survey. Any survey. I was going to ask during the Detroit fiasco but lost my link.
    Narduzzi is just OK. PITT
    deserves and needs better.
    BAD decisions during the season have turned me off permanently. There is an old saying , “You can’t fix stupid.” Not saying the Duzz is lacking some good traits and he is definitely not an idiot. BUT he exercises too many poor choices and lacks guts on calls. I don’t think you can educate a coach on instinct and intellect…Narduzzi just doesn’t cut it. Time to move on. Pitt doesn’t need 3 or 4 more years of mediocrity to prove my point.
    H2P !

    Liked by 2 people

  20. It always comes down to player talent. Canada looked like a genius because the team was loaded with experienced talent. Same thing with Bates this year, there weren’t many weak links on the defense.

    No doubt coaching is an important ingredient, but it can only do so much if you don’t have the horses.

    Too many are willing to give Narduzzi the blame for the failures and too few are willing to give him credit for the successes.

    He got 8 wins out of a team that was predicted to win 5.5 by the experts. How is that failure?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. One of the things that jumped out at me 2014 vs 2019 is the number of wins by 7 or less vs number it losses. Chryst simply could not seem to win the close games. Pat wins more than he loses by almost 2-1. That’s intangibles.

      If he could figure out the rest he’d be very good but right now I agree with some other comments in that he’s just okay.

      Liked by 2 people

  21. The question is “what do fans realistically want?”. Other than 2017, I would say that Narduzzi has delivered on the realistic goals. 3 8 win seasons, a Coastal Championship, depth at most positions, and better recruiting results.
    Yes, the penalties and lack of discipline is a problem-that costs you games.
    But let’s be REALISTIC, consistent 8 win seasons would be taken in a heartbeat at most schools.

    Liked by 3 people

  22. I really thought Narduzzi had a bad coaching year and i will be watching to see if he can clean up the penalties and discipline for next year.
    I think he is a good fit for the most part and doing well. Definitely not perfect.
    The fact that he has achieved 8 wins three times in five year despite stupid OOC scheduling and fans are not happy shows that he has raised expectations to an extent.

    Liked by 2 people

  23. off topic but thought you Pitt alums would enjoy this since even I, a non-alum, identified with it. Chris Peak retweeted this, remarking that “So that intersection wasn’t an accident? It was always supposed to be absurd?”

    Liked by 1 person

  24. When I think of my view of the Pitt football program, I immediately think of Fran’s tailgate. For me, the five hours before the game make my day. For anyone who goes to the games but doesn’t join this tailgate group, you have no idea what you are missing. What a great group of people!

    But when I walk into Heinz Field a few minutes before game time, I get depressed. The empty seats really bother me. I can’t help but think why would any coach want to come here? Why would any player who doesn’t live nearby want to come here? I think of the image presented to the TV audience. I’m embarrassed even though I think I’ve done my part by being there.

    To be honest, I am amazed that we do as well as we do. We are better than average (I know, not a ringing endorsement), play competitive and usually exciting games, and I can see incremental improvement in a lot of areas.

    I can’t fault the administration. They have giveaways, professionally produced intros, and seem to go out of their way to give you the seats and parking you prefer while still honoring the priority point system. They go $10Million in the hole every year trying to turn things around. I don’t know how much more they could spend before reaching the conclusion that “it is what it is”.

    Since I am also a basketball season ticket holder, I can’t help but fear a football scenario just like we are going through with basketball. The announced attendance for yesterday’s game was over 8000. I don’t see how there could have been 3000 there. Had to be tickets sold and no-shows. I could almost cry for Coach Capel and those kids playing their hearts out. They deserve so much more. I hope we can get back to the Pete being half full in the next year or two. Waiting lists for season tickets again? Not in my lifetime. How did we get here? Losing in the first or second round of the NCAA Tournament was not good enough. (Losing in the second round placed you somewhere between 31st and 17th in the country. Out of 300+ schools). We needed someone who could take us to the next level. You will never convince me that this can’t happen with football.

    Liked by 7 people

    2. Wolfe — we share the exact same feelings and dread about the yellow seats.

      I cringe when someone reports that perspective recruits will be attending such-and-such game.

      I’ve been down there “lining -the-tunnel” when the team comes out. It is embarrassing. It especially bothers me on “Senior Day” when these guys, who have put in so much time and effort for Pitt, have to come out to join their parents to polite and not very loud applause. I can’t clap any harder than I do at that time.

      How the coaching staff gets some of these players to come to Pitt from places like Florida and Georgia, I don’t understand. But I’m glad they do.

      Hail to Pitt.

      Liked by 4 people

  25. Interesting that defenses are at a disadvantage in bowls this year. I thought pitts defense was horrible against emu. But ped st, Clemson, osu, and countless others have sucked too.

    Liked by 2 people

  26. Good survey, MM. My Master’s (joint GSPIA and Business School program) thesis dealt with survey design. I am really good at math—but, some of the statistic classes were way out there. I still remember being taught that there is no such thing as the number “1.” And, they weren’t talking football rankings.

    Anyhow, Happy New Year. I look forward to 2020. I am a Duzz fan (mostly). I think that he represents what western PA is all about.

    pmdH2P

    Liked by 3 people

  27. Just a reminder Mike when you start to tally up the results from the poll. Remember the preseason win totals predicted, In most cases we got at least what we predicted or even better.

    I’ll suggest another question as well. Do your personal feelings about Naduzzi influence how you voted?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. No, I lyke Duzz as a person, to answer your question Ike.

      As for preseason predictions, mine was 10 wins. It was very doable if the focus was there.

      Next year has to be 10+

      Like

      1. Yep Rick, hard to win games with so many mistakes. PITT let this season slip away like they did the with the football. Weren’t they one of the top teams in dropped passes, fumbles and penalties?

        Like

  28. Ike, my Masters thesis was related to recruitment strategies for medical research. I will guarantee that personal feelings impact almost everything we decide to do…from voting to purchases. Social marketing 101. “Likeability” is huge.

    Liked by 4 people

  30. EE, I guess you would fall into the outlier category then. 🙂

    That’s right Fran, if someone doesn’t like the coach, how can they honestly judge what type of job they are doing? Example, if so and so picked PITT to win 6 or 7 games this past season and they won 8 games, how can it be justified that they are dissatisfied?

    Like

  31. I am disappointed in how Pitt finishes the season yearly. Instead of showing improvement we tend to regress This year is great example Thre losses and in my mind not an outstanding bowl game. Remember we were overlooked for better bowls for that reason. I know he coaches hard but is very stubborn and doesn’t adjust well second half. Our offense has gone from strong running game to passing attach which at best is average. How many three and it’s did we have this year. Tough to recruit with big boys in the neighborhood I understand. Improvement as season progresses important something we lack. I look at other teams and coaches and realize we will never be elite but we could be more respectable. I gave up my season tickets this year after 15 years due to cost of club box parking and most of all 2500 contribution to panther club. I loved to tailgate but being in my 70’s makes it physically tougher. Handicapped parking etc people not treated well and after rooting for Pitt since 1965 (first real season watching) I’ve seen the good and bad I now watch when I can since no ACC channel here but never expect to gain respect we once had.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Try a streaming service to get the ACC network, I gave up on cable and now stream.

      I live in Florida and went with YouTube TV.

      Watched every game.

      I’m not affiliated with any provider or service, just throwing it out. Good luck

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Wlat

        We have DirecTV now and, when we move, we are also opting to go with YouTube TV. The new house has Comcast cable now. We will use it for the fast internet connection—but, not the tv stations.

        pmdH2P

        Like

    2. One point friendsofpitt, seems to me we’ve gone from trying to get that sixth win at the end of the season to become bowl eligible, to trying to get to nine or ten wins…

      I think we were 7-3 the last two seasons — then finished poorly. But we were at least in a position to win nine or ten. Now we need to take that next step…

      The good news is we’re not maxed-out and certainly can play better – minimize the drops, turnovers, and penalties, for example…

      Course we can play worse, too. I’ve seen us play way worse! 😊

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. I’m neither a Narduzzi booster or detractor…

    Narduzzi (and Pitt) will get to a somewhat consistent nine wins per season when the University comes up with a solid plan and everyone begins to pull in the same direction. Things like building a fan base over a couple of decades, planning and building a multi-sport facility on or near campus for football and other activities, purchasing real estate in South Oakland to improve the campus optics, engaging the students who are located at branch campuses, and a thousand other things that Tex/Huff/Upitt and others have previously articulated. Put together an ambitious 20-year plan. Commit to annual task and goals to achieve the plan.

    Narduzzi’s pluses and minuses:
    communication style (improved in 2019, but still a ways to go).

    offense – pick a style (RPO would be my choice), recruit to it and stick with it (similar to defense). Yes, he has picked a “pro-style” offense, but has let the OC of the day take major liberties to where the offense varies widely every other year. In 2016 we were motion and pitch heavy. In 2018, we were off tackle run heavy. In 2019, we were pass happy. And pass happy regardless of weather conditions (see VT game). My guess is, that if the current OC sticks around for a few years, it may be difficult to recruit RBs.

    recruiting – the past 35 years of luke-warm commitment to winning football killed the fan base (hence the empty seats). The commitment of the three big state schools to the east, west and south (plus ND) has never waned during this same period. Given this reality, Narduzzi is actually holding his own in recruiting (not doing great, but holding his own) and has gone outside the region often to get decent players. A plan and commitment to winning that includes developing a fan base will improve recruiting. This will take time.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Rocky — good post.

      On the running backs, we already haven’t recruited running backs well for a while now, in my opinion…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

    2. IMO your recruiting segment was spot on. And when you couple that with the decline of WPa high school football, there are real issues.(and I don’t care who is coach)

      Your viewpoint about the offense certainly has merit. Whether you run a power offense (Wisconsin), a wide open passing offense (Oklahoma) or a combination (OSU), you need to find recruits to fit the style. Just think the changes that occurred this past decade in offensive styles at Pitt.

      Narduzzi has stressed his desire of a balanced offense, and did so again in his post-game presser the other night. Of course, there has been nothing but imbalance over the past 2 years. .

      Like

  33. I compiled some data on the benchmark in the survey, “consistent 9-10 win seasons and a top-25 ranking most years.”

    Over six seasons following realignment (2013-2018), only 13 programs met those criteria: Alabama, Clemson, OSU, OU, Wisc, LSU, Stanford, FSU, Wash, MSU, OK St, ND, and USC.

    Some notable names who did not even come close to those benchmarks: Michigan, Florida, Texas A&M, Miami, VT, UCLA, Tennessee, WVU, Texas, Nebraska.

    Liked by 4 people

  34. Additionally, over six seasons following realignment (2013-2018), Pitt is tied for 42nd among 65 power five programs with 6.83 wins per season. (Data includes bowl games) Who are they tied with? Texas and Nebraska. In that time, Pitt has had more wins than Tennessee, among others.

    Over that period, Pitt is one of 17 programs that did not finished a single season ranked.

    Pitt is also one of 15 programs that did not have a single 9-win season

    Liked by 3 people

    1. and how much money is Pitt spending to get these results
      the fact is Pitt is over-paying for these results hence a poor return on investment by the BoT
      thats how the BoT looks at things and rightfully so

      Like

      1. Wait a minute, I thought Pitt didn’t care about sports, that’s why they get mediocre results? I’ve seen Pitt athletics compared to Bub Nutting on this blog and elsewhere. Now they spend too much?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Pitt’s BoT started caring around 2 years ago when certain Nitters were purged from its ranks. Look at the BoT composition today. Its still not where it needs to be but it is an improvement and hence the change in mentality and I’m sure that ACC money allows some risk taking because after all its nothing more than a welfare check for Pitt.

          Pitt is not cheap in their football spend. Top third in the ACC. But Pitt is revenue poor. One of the poorest in all of P-5. Heather wont deny that. There are many reasons to explain it. Some are very obvious. But Pitt makes little progress on addressing this issue with each new AD. Heather is no different.

          Like

          1. Tex — if the BOT started caring only two years ago, how do you expect to be winning 10 games already? 😊

            (And I don’t actually believe that about the BOT, but I admit I know nothing about the BOT…)

            Go Pitt.

            Liked by 2 people

            1. the BoT did up their game and the football budget reflects that. Now whether thats because of a Nitter purge…who knows. But the composition has fewer Nitters on it today compared to just 2 years ago. It still has a long way to go to make it less white and less male and less old. A younger BoT with minorities and women is what Pitt’s future fan is going to look like. Not some 70 year old white guy. Spend a day in my part of Texas. Thats the future of America whether people like it or not. Very diverse. Very cosmopolitan. I feel more at home here than Pittsburgh.

              getting back on point. if Narduzzi isnt gutless in his play calling at Penn State, has the team prepared to face a very bad Miami team and doesnt coach like Mike Tomlin for the BC game, Pitt wins 11. The BoT had nothing to do with this season.

              Like

              1. Good comment Tex.

                For those new to the board, politics are forbidden so please do not let Tex’s comments about demographics push the conversation into the wrong direction.

                Thank you

                Liked by 1 person

                1. My point is that the fan demographics are quickly changing. Any marketer knows this. The fanbase of the future will have different needs and preferences. To be blunt and not in a PC way or really in any political way, the future Pitt fan is a young woman of color. Better begin listening to that fan. The smart schools already have and that is why Pitt is being left further behind.

                  Like

    2. So we are averaging just South of 7
      Duzz is averaging just north (7.2)

      It perhaps is fair to say that the next level is 8-9 instead of 9-10. But 10 is the university’s stated goal. (The famous cure polio quote). Maybe that should have been a question as well… “how do you define success for Pitt football / what are your expectations?” I’ll add it.

      Like

    3. I like the data provided above, but looked a little deeper, so indulge me.

      Same AD at Pitt and Nebraska……just sayin! Draw your own conclusions on that one.

      Data provided also suggests that warm climate teams are not at an advantage in recruiting/W/L results as some suggest.In fact, some of those teams are in the most fertile areas for recruiting.

      The reality is that some of the schools listed have multiple priorities placed upon their head coaches such as more fundraising and shmoooozing, which takes them away from coaching, but why they also pay their assistants better. At each of the institutions below, the coaches have been fired….errr asked to move on or moved on their own. Let’s look at the rest of the story over the same time period.

      texas a&m – 49-29 – ranked AP, 6 times during season – High #6 times2. Highest W’s 9×2
      texas – 41-36 – ranked AP, 6 times during season – High #6, Highest W’s Season – 10
      wvu high school – 44-32 – ranked AP 5x – High #6, Highest W’s Season – 10
      Pitt 41-37 – ranked AP 3x – High #22, Highest W’s Season – 8×2
      Tenn – 39-36 – ranked AP 3x, High #9, Highest W’s – 9×2
      VT – 47-32 – ranked AP 5x, High #12, Highest # W’s 10
      NEB – 41-35 – ranked AP 3x, Highest #7, Highest W’s 9x3yrs.
      UCLA – 41-35 – ranked AP 5x, Highest #7, Highest W’s 10×2

      Comparing success and perception against those schools truly emphasizes how poorly we compare when looking in the totality, especially, most wins in a season. They have all gone thru coaching changes, AD changes, and diaper changes. But they each gave their fan base something to hold on to by winning a lot of games in a season at least once, while they search for an answer and wait for resurgence! There is no sign of that happening at Pitt under this regime.

      Like

  35. let this sink in fellow Pitt fans
    Pitt has finished ranked only 4 times in 40 years (WVU has been ranked 12 times in that span)
    Pitt has won 10 games only once (ONE time) in that span (WVU won 10 or more games 7 times)
    thats downright inexcusable

    A budget at well over $30 Million for the program, Pitt sure as hell should finish higher than 60 in the Saragin and RPI rankings

    Pitt sure as hell should have similar numbers to WVU. Final ranked every 3 years. 10 wins or more every 4-5 years.
    I wont bother to mention Penn State because they are a near elite school whose budget Pitt will never match (well over $50M for football)

    It comes down to coaching
    do you believe Narduzzi is that coach to reach 10 wins and a final ranking in the top 25?
    do you believe the results justify the money being spent? (thats the question the BoT is asking)

    thats why next season is so important

    we can debate all day on this but we’ll have our proof next year because come Year 6, you should know that answer

    and we can debate all day on what it will take (besides a new coach) to make Pitt into a team that is consistently ranked in the top 25 winning 9-11 games each year.

    Like

      1. I’ve posted links before from Pitt’s public disclosures and articles written in ACC publications abut the football spend per ACC school. Thats how I know the dollar amount and that Pitt has a top third spend in the ACC. But I suggest you ask Heather directly. Transparency is lacking at Pitt. My letter to her hammers home this point. I also dont like Pitt lying to me (front porch talk, attendance figures, etc)

        Pitt’s overall athletic budget is only about $80M. That IS one of the lowest in P-5 and explains to some extent Pitt’s poor showings in the Directors Cup, and 80 year old facilities (Fitzgerald and Trees) that need to be condemned.

        The sources of revenue for any P-5 school are the conference monies (Pitt receives around $30M each year), ticket sales (95% come from football and basketball), donations (historically under $10M), media network (ACC projected at $10M each year per school), licensing fees and rights (merchandising), and other third party contracts.

        Your conference is the primary driver of revenues, ticket sales and donations are next.

        Pitt spends that conference money as fast as it receives it and the majority goes to support football since the vast majority of the conference hand-out or welfare check is driven by TV and bowl money for football.

        So the football spend is not a good value or fair enough return in my eyes unless one over-values running a clean program with high character players who are also Rhodes scholars. Pitt isnt Ivy league last I checked.

        Like

  36. Your data spans 40 years Tx, Narduzzi has only been at PITT for 5 of those years. Again, you answer your own question. It’s the egg and not the chicken. PITT is who they are and not the cause of Narduzzi or Heather, again PITT is who they are. Also, Narduzzi’s first 5 years stands up as one of the best records in those 40 years.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. no former Pitt coach has had the budget that Narduzzi has
      Chryst won 6 games to Narduzz’s 7 on a budget that was half the size

      i could win Pitt an extra 2 games at a cost of $1M each year by just changing the OOC schedule.
      yet most on here think I dont know what I’m talking about
      i know more about how to build a front porch (figuratively and literally) than 99.99% of the people employed at Pitt who run sports
      and their number 1 cause for failure is that they dont treat sports as a business
      i think the BoT is slowly catching on to this fundamental concept

      Like

        1. Chryst was paid $2M
          Narduzzi is paid over $3M
          Narduzzi has a larger budget for staff (see what the coordinators make today and what Partridge makes today)
          Narduzzi has a private jet and those toys arent cheap

          But the better way to look at money spent is the relativeness of it and not just dollar amounts. So how does Pitt compare to other ACC school spends

          And I know for a fact that Pitt’s spend was bottom third during the Chryst days. It is now top third spend. I dont lie and make things up like the Pitt administration. If you dont trust me, do ur own research, ask Heather.

          I personally dont even trust my own children so I get you.

          Like

        2. I suggest you contact Crazy Paco on Pantherlair or Heather directly. In the past, all this information was disclosed in the Snyder report. Pitt refuses to share much if any financial information these days unless you know where to look for it or are an insider with access. Its more difficult to obtain this information than the Pentagon Papers. Thats because its a dirty little secret and Pitt does an excellent job at covering things up helped in a large part by the media and alumni not demanding the truth and accepting the lies.

          Like

      2. “i know more about how to build a front porch (figuratively and literally) than 99.99% of the people employed at Pitt who run sports”

        I know it’s New Year’s Eve, but maybe lay off the sauce until the evening?

        Like

      3. Tex, you speak the truth. I have been a proponent of the easy ooc schedule… since there was such a thing. I counseled athletic departments on that point specifically. I also counseled them to have their SID’s vote for other conference members in the polls each week as well as petitioning the conference to allow the playing of inter-conference cupcakes earlier in the season which led to wins and a perception that the conference was strong.

        For example, have you ever noticed that the Big10,11,12,14…always has five or six teams in or near the top10 as the season heads into week 8/9? It’s because they all played cupcakes until then (ooc and inter-conf) and then whoever wins the 2-3 big games at the end, gets to pay dirt! They actually do it with both divisions to ensure that the conference championship pits two high ranked teams against each other for the final push into the CFP. It’s called a Plan. Hope is not a plan. Strategy is a plan, and executing it flawlessly year after year is pure beauty. The media plays along and doesn’t even know it.

        Unfortunately for Pitt, we have been the cupcake for many years. That needs to stop.

        Like

  37. Go to the blog posted the night of the Bowl game. At some point 19 posters stated that they wanted Narduzzi fired now. Ike did not post until games end. But there were NO happy campers during the game.

    That’s how many of us felt game in and game out this year during the games. Stupid coaching decisions, sloppy play, lack of D1 talent and just ugly all round play game in and game out showed me (and many of you!) that Narduzzi is not the guy to lead Pitt Football.

    Yet, here you all are… “hey things are not too bad, we won the bowl, recruiting is looking up, we need continuity, next year looks great, etc. etc.”

    Hypocrites all!

    Enjoy another season of Narduzzi’s follies and a 6-6 record!

    Like

    1. a couple of thoughts here

      1) the game brought out the Narduzzi haters, many of whom are only heard when the team is not doing well

      2) when games are not meeting expectations, all fans are frustrated and let their emotions go …. and this is the ideal place for venting. (this is why I never participate on game threads … whether the team plays good or bad. You may see a post of mine a while after the game over when the dust settles, but that’s about it

      Liked by 3 people

      2. agree with f-wwb and would add:

        3) and many posters are consistent (ie., not as you say “hypocrites”). And many of the consistent posters realize that the whole is the sum of its parts. Narduzzi is just one part of the ‘winning football’ equation. An important part for sure, but just one part… The big picture ‘plan’ (or lack thereof) are more controlled by the University and BoT.

        Liked by 3 people

    4. The Miami game was the worst game I ever attended. The games are boring. The coach needs to get fans. You don’t need to close practice to kick 4 field goals.
      KMAN

      Like

  38. Dan, I try and stay away from game threads. To many knee jerk reactions for me. BTW Narduzzi has had 3 8 win seasons out of 5 but you knew that. Where are you calculating this 6-6 record? Another thing you know, the only time PITT finished with a 500 record is when they won their division and had the privilege of losing one extra game to Clemson.

    Like

  42. Some just awful offensive stats in the stats MM included above. On the positive side (😊), we somehow won 8 games with those offensive stats!

    But the best stats are these two from the Pitt defense:

    TACKLES FOR LOSS: 103!
    SACKS: 51!

    Hallelujah!

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  43. In addition to the stats above, Pitt has only won 10 games ONCE since 1982. Lost fan base as a result. And before anyone jumps on attendance, a fan base is more than butts in the seats. Think globally and the totality of fanbase. Think about missed opportunities to play on national TV to grow the brand.

    Pitt needs people who understand how to grow a brand because they have done it. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  44. So PSU fired their OLine Coach? After running for 400 yards or something in their bowl game?

    Matt Limegrover is 51. He’s from Pittsburgh and went to Central Catholic.

    Maybe we should talk to him…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I don’t disagree. But I think for continuity sake they probably keep borbs. Next year will tell us for certain If that was the right decision. Probably not but we’ll see

      Like

      1. Good poll Michaelangelo, interesting stuff. I will piggyback on others’ comments concerning the “how do you feel about Narduzzi now” question, and say that I picked Neutral but had trouble answering because in one sense I’m pleased that he has stabilized the program at a respectable level, especially relative to where things were at when he took over, however it’s now time to show progress or move on in my opinion, so I’d have him on a short leash now. The troubling trend is the ‘end of year decline’ evidenced during the past 2 years, and the bowl game performances; these things lead me to be concerned over our leadership.

        Liked by 3 people

      2. I am not a fan of keeping Borbs for one more year (though I suspect we will), but if someone would PROMISE me it’s really just one more year, I could at least feel a little better about it….

        Like

    1. Everybody’s a good recruiter when there’s a shady PSU alum with a large bag of cash following you around

      Liked by 4 people

  46. Looking at the team coming back, Duzz does deserve to see if he’s truly built a team that can consistently compete for Coastal championships. UVA and VT lose their QB’s. Miami is a hot mess. Pitt has a ton of returning players on both sides of the ball. 10 wins should be the expectation. Hot seat for anything less than that. Especially when considering the “easier” schedule … at least on paper before the season begins.

    Toughest part of the poll is determining what I am. Haha. I sometimes post 3 times or more per week but then I go dark at times. Haha.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You are correct about Virginia & Bryce Perkins but Va. Tech started the season with Ryan Willis (Sr.) but was replaced by Hendon Hooker (So.). in 5’th game of the season. Hooker went 6-3 including bowl. Willis was 2-2.

      Jamie Newman @ Wake just entered the transfer portal as a grad.

      Like

  47. C’mon Fran, it’s common knowledge that you were recruited to Pittsburgh Central Catholic. So I give them credit for recognizing a talent. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  48. Its like we need to gene splice and create a Paul Narduzzi or Pat Chryst.

    I don’t think the DNA could coexist together.

    And with Pitt’s luck our NardenChryst monster, we would get the D skills from the Chryst side and the O skills from the Narduzzi side

    Oh the horror!

    😛

    Dave

    Liked by 5 people

    2. the irony is that Chryst’s defense at Wisconsin has rated higher than his offenses at Wisconsin, Just about every year, UW has top 20 defenses.

      Like

  50. Here are my top 10 Pitt Prognostications for 2020:

    10) Season ticket sales hit their lowest levels since the ‘I cant Hackett’ days
    9) Victory Heights is scaled back due to disappointing fundraising results
    8) Pitt finishes second to last among P-5 schools in the final Director’s Cup standings
    7) Wrestling has 2 All-Americans and a top 10 final ranking
    6) Capel’s team makes the NIT quarterfinals and he lands another 5 star recruit
    5) Tepper gifts Pitt $5 million dollars for a feasibility study regarding an on campus MPC
    4) A well know POV ‘realist’ commentor runs for a BoT position…and Wins!
    3) The Pitt POV s nationally recognized as the best ACC sports blog
    2) Narduzzi wins 8 and he resigns to become the DC for Miami…the Dolphins that is.
    1) UPitt makes a triumphant return bringing joy to the pessimists while antagonizing the kool-aid drinking optimists

    Happy New Year and H2P!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Tex are you running for the BoT?? Trying to think how many realists we got on here with experience in these matters! Do tell!

      I think Mrs Limegrover got her husband canned by not being a size zero in franklinburgers little black book! It was franklinburger that demands the wife or partner of the assistant coaches to be…ummm….pretty, right? Or was that Kiffin.

      As far as borbely goes, a dime a dozen. He has not shown the ability to reel in Trench winners. When you have been coaching the OL as long as he has, the big time recruits should be flocking to him…or…they know better and flock elsewhere. Joe Moore!

      Like

  51. Can Linegrover recruit? If so, Pitt should make the change. However, Heather is out there touting how important coaching continuity is. I wonder if she would feel that way if Dabo wanted to come to Pitt!

    Like

  52. Narduzzi has learned to fly the plane but hasn’t mastered the landing part…. he crashes and we are on board…. maybe one day he learns to finish…. and it better come sooner cause I predict there will be no later!!!

    BTW, my Carolina posse has informed me the Heels return 10 on the O side next year lead by a championship caliber QB… they are looking forward to PITT coming to Chapel Hill!!

    Like

    1. BigB — tell them the Heels better score in the first half while Paris is sitting out for targeting in the previous game… 😊

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 2 people

  53. Luther … provide a little more in depth counter view… your one sentence jabs at Tex are not needed .. if you disagree presents the facts as you know them please.

    Like

  54. Satisfaction is not an option for a sports fan. The two terms are mutually exclusive. Why? Because any success immediately becomes the bar, the floor. Anything less is failure.

    Example A. Steeler fans have enjoyed a level of success over the last 20 years to be the envy of any fan base other than New England. Fans of other teams, whether in the NFL or other sports would do almost anything to experience the success Steeler fans have seen. But Superbowls are now the floor. Anything short is cause for upheaval. Finishing in the middle of the pack at 8-8 mandates that heads roll. Don’t talk about injuries or players walking out on the team. No excuses! And this in a league that uses reverse order drafting and salary caps to ensure equity and to prevent dynasties.

    Take a look at the Alabama message board. A 10-win season and playing in a New Years Day bowl is completely unacceptable. Not winning the National Championship is a failure. Not making the playoffs means its time to clean house.

    You can see the same thing everywhere. What a strange phenomena. Imagine if we held our kids to the same standards. Or worse yet, if my parents had held me to those standards. I’d be an even bigger basket case.

    I guarantee that if we achieved the 9-10 wins each year and top 25 ranking, that level would be acceptable for about a year or two. Then we would need to bring in someone who could get us into the playoffs at least every few years.

    And that is one reason I rarely post during a game thread. In fact, I had to stop reading the thread during the bowl game. I could feel myself getting so angry that I couldn’t enjoy the game. And it was an exciting game.

    Liked by 5 people

    3. Absolutely right with the Bama fans. But then again they take Sabin’s cue when they do lose a CFP game. It’s either the coaches were looking for new jobs at oth they only lost by 4 leer schools or the players were worried about their draft status.

      Sabin still hasn’t acknowledged that Clemson was the better team last year (2018 – that was the ass’t. coaches looking for new jobs excuse).

      Like

  55. Hey Farmer…I hear ya. Tailgates used to be a 30 pack of Miller Lite and some “exotic” potato chips…now I’m searching for affordable DJs and some “exotic” dancers.

    Liked by 8 people

      1. Is Richman dancing on the side now too?

        The national media was pushing Tomlin for coach of the year because the steelers were 8-6 at one point. What they never mentioned was that he did not beat ONE team with a 500 record when they played them. I will repeat this. As soon as the steelers brass find someone they think is better than Tomlin, he is gone. In college you can take a chance on an unknown. Not so much in the pro game, where brand is EVERYTHING.

        Like

    4. Fran, your tailgates are the envy of sports fans everywhere. No need for DJs- we get ear-piercing crap blasted from the scoreboard during the game. As for exotic dancers… ya mean Lisa and I aren’t enough eye candy??? Haha JK on that one!😉 Happy New Year to all POVers- and here’s hoping for a successful 2020 in our lives and on the Pitt athletic venues!

      Liked by 1 person

  56. VT just lost 37-30 giving up a 9 minute drive with 19 seconds left. Their great DC couldn’t stop 34 QB draws. The guy threw 12 times.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. and Pitt loses to them 28-0
      8 win season with gut wrenching losses to the Nitters, VT, Miami and BC
      There was a very fine line between 3 wins and 12 wins this season

      Liked by 3 people

    2. Saw it. Kentucky QB ran em down the field and was completely gassed with 15 seconds left, literally kneeling while they were signaling in the lay. Tech called a defensive time out, and allowed him to recover and the throws the game inning TD pass on the next play.

      Granted the corner played horrible technique but still. I don’t think KY wins if tech doesn’t call that TO

      Like

    3. The most impressive part of the game was the pregame workout. Both teams on the field. Both teams trash talking. It got so bad that the Kentucky QB was throwing punches.

      Since it happened more than hour before game start, neither team was penalized.

      Oh the disciplinary problems on HC Fuente’s Va. Tech squad & HC Stoops,Stoops Stoops Kentucky team.

      I wonder if either fan base is calling for their HC to be fired.

      Like

  57. Chris Kleiman with 8 regular season wins in his 1st year at Kansas State – playing Navy in the Liberty Bowl today.

    Like

    1. and Narduzzi had 8 regular season wins in his 1st year. Both played 4 teams that finished ranked … and get this, both play a ranked Navy team in a bowl game. KS is playing Navy as I write this.

      Liked by 2 people

  58. Stats from PSN article…

    “After averaging 41 rushing attempts and 23 passing attempts in 2018, Pitt averaged 34 rushing attempts and 40 passing attempts per game in 2019.”

    So seems to me that Coach Whip wasn’t as pass happy as he is sometimes portrayed…

    And that should still be enough carries to attract a top RB, if we could attract a top RB…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Don’t we have a couple of 4 star RB’s on our roster currently? Off course most play like 2 1/2 stars when they get in the game. But I can’t totally blame our RB’s considering the OL they are running behind.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Take out the qb scrambles and his pass run is about 60/40 I believe.

      Like

  60. Happy New Year to all….and most of all a Healthy New Year to Mrs.Erie, Big B, Missingwlat, and all others who had health scares this year. We can’t afford to lose a single POVer! Hey, we don’t have to drink heavily until next September. H2P

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Thank you danh72. And to all POVers who were so kind to me during my recovery. Happy to report that my three month post transplant visit was about perfect. New kidney working as smooth as a Fran Lokar/Lastrow tailgate. Happy New Year, Hail to Pitt, and Hail to POVers everywhere!!!

      Liked by 1 person

  61. Michaelangelo,

    Simply an excellent, excellent year running the POV. I am sure Reed is proud of your take-over. Off subject, but I have to say that my wife and I perused your “David” in Florence and you hit it WAY out of the ball park.

    Anyways, with all the SOP doom and gloom, I counter with a tribute to Randy Bates.

    You lose two of your top DL befor and after game 1 and turn in a masterpiece. And you were fighting cancer.

    I’ve lost touch over the years with Pitt’s BOT (the ones I knew are mostly dead), but if any BOT’s and Pitt coaches are reading this blog please, please give a group hug to Coach Randy Bates from all POVites.

    And to Coach Bates and his lovely wife and care-giver Tracey:

    Hail to Pitt, Hail to Pitt, every loyal son
    Hail to Pitt, Hail to Pit, till the victory’s won

    Liked by 11 people

    2. Thanks Tony much appreciated and excellent point about Bates. No matter how you feel about Pitt’s performance this year Bates has done an exceptional job in the face of massive adversity

      Like

  62. With all of the defensive stars returning, next year needs to be the make-or-break year for HCPN.
    Mediocrity, SOP, garbage bowl, head-scratching losses, etc should make Heather seek a new coach.
    If he is to flourish, it will be next year or never.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. all due respect … when has Pitt FB not have its share of mediocrity, SOP, garbage bowls (remember 3 straight Birmingham only to be succeeded by the 1st trip to Detrot?), head-scratching losses, etc

      It amazes me to no end that the current staff is being picked on for stuff that has been occurring for decades

      Liked by 1 person

  63. Piggybacking on Luther Van Dam’s posts, and realizing that other than the truly elite top 6-8 programs, other schools will have an occasional down year when restocking recruits, I pose this question. What program do you see as a realistic goal for Pitt to replicate in terms of regular success/equivalent level?
    What other program do you see as Pitt’s current equivalent?

    Off the top of my head, with no statistical analysis, my realistic goal would be for Pitt to get to the level of say, Iowa, and Pitt is currently thought of in the same terms as Northwestern.

    Like

    2. Iowa is an excellent example, Mark. Or maybe Michigan State in both football and basketball. I’d take that.

      By the way, I think one of the best examples of lightning in a bottle is Clemson. For 20 years they wandered between 5 and 9 wins per year, probably averaging 7. Then they fired Bowden in mid season and promoted Dabo, who was their WR coach, to interim head coach. He won 10 games in his third season and has never looked back. No hiring of a proven Head Coach, hot OC or DC, nor the up-and-coming young gun in the MAC/AAC/other low major conference team. To me that is the ultimate “look what we found” story.

      Liked by 2 people

  64. Maestro,

    Thanks for a great year on the POV. Glad it is still alive and quite well!

    Interesting post today and I enjoyed the ensuing dialogue.

    Have to leave for dinner but will add more thoughts later/tomorrow.

    Here’s wishing all of you a Happy, prosperous and healthy 2020!

    Liked by 5 people

  69. Obviously I am having technical problems… I am on my 1st Manhattan!!!!

    Hey Fran … you and Richman get the exotic dancer and my buddy Whiskey=BadB will by a lap dance for everyone!!!

    Liked by 4 people

  70. Thanks Mike for the survey which got the juices flowing like no one else could – except maybe uva, psux, The u, VT and/or BC.

    I keep thinking that after 40 years, and how many coaching changes, it looks like we are what we are – regardless of who is HC. Tell me, again, the definition of insanity??

    Prolly best to see if PN can do with the O what he’s done with the (House) D. It’s not as though the players don’t like playing for him. Any young up and comer that could somehow appease the Fire Narduzzi crowd would be gone in 3-5 years, anyway.

    Pitt, obviously, is not perceived by talented 4&5 players as the place to be. There are too many competing coaches out there with more bullets in their guns, outshooting Pitt for the past 40 years. If we are going to get to a steady 9-10 win season’s, it will be built on the backs of 3* s developing into 4* in 2-3 years.

    If you look where our D was 5 years ago (there’s no place like House for the Holidays), and where PN has brought it by developing his 5.2 or 5.5 recruits, we may just want to see what he can do with the O.

    Everybody stay safe tonight, and have a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

    Erie – hope The Recovery blossoms and takes off this year!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Pray the coaches can do it with the O.,..I am taking a wait and see ..”trust the process approach” envisioning(while sugarplum fairies/maraschino cherriesdance in my head) an O that transforms into what the D has become…

      UPitt.. miss you buddy… Emel hope you are reading… FRANKCAN you will make your April 2020 appearance in all your glory…!

      Liked by 2 people

  72. Clempson is still alive too!

    For those that think the goalposts move if Pitt wins 9 games a few times in a row, I almost agree. Look, at 9 wins, there is most likely a coastal title, a very good bowl game and a ranking. All acceptable after such a long dry spell. Pitt could get away with that for at lest 3-4 years straight but the fans would then want an ACC title. Pitt needs to prepare for success and be able to capitalize on it when it occurs. We failed at that when we last won 10 games. The Administration and coaches failed. We weren’t ready for our own success.

    Alabama makes a run at a title every year, so one year out is not a problem. Miss the playoffs three years in a row and you might hear rumblings. But not now. Not even next year. You have to give your fanbase something to be rabid about by making a run every few years and it would be the same for Pitt. Actually easier for Pitt if we could ever break free from the ceiling.

    Happy New Year folks. Wishing you all extreme great health, much happiness and tons of prosperity (so you can share it with me and Pitt athletics) in 2020. 2020/Vision for Pitt Athletics…it’s a focus issue….also the original banter about the POV – Keeping an eye on all things Pitt (2020).

    Liked by 3 people

  73. Not to be a downer on New Years Eve but the Randy Bates hire was pretty much poo pooed upon.

    Gonna hunker down here at our little bungalow and sip a little prosecco with my lovely wife and as it turns out, the not so lucky Eli. We will get em next year!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Try changing your name and see if it still happens

      Also everyone else types it out in word as a backup.

      You know the definition of inanity right? 😜

      Like

        1. Yep. Sorry to hear that. Nothing I can do about it. Happy new year

          Like

  76. Why do Narduzzi’s players like him so much? Given his recruiting challenges, once they are actually here they are loyal and stay the extra year. How do you account for a 2 star (or even a 4 star like Ford) who becomes a key player and then sticks around an extra year? Isn’t that as good as a 4 star recruit?

    Liked by 2 people

  77. ^^ VoR, two reasons…………. There is no discontent on the South-Side and the players feel like they are playing for a family. +… they love Narduzzi.

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  78. If the AD was paying attention to demographics and our emphasis on recruiting and southern footprint, she would schedule at least one ooc game against USF, FIU or FAU every year and perhaps Georgia State. Guarantees the kids play close to home (Flurrida) at least every year since Miami is always on schedule and once a year in Georgia because GT is always on schedule. Rotate them appropriately.

    Pull in same direction AD. Our recruiting is not focused in TennyC, or WV or Iowa or any other place other than the eastern seaboard. Study high school populations for the next 5 years and recruit appropriately. Pitt should be on the sunshine network in florida every weekend with a replay of game next year to go with the Pat narduzzi / Pitt Panther Show. BRAND where you recruit. Be ready to pounce on your success. This is not difficult.

    I promise not to post any more this year!

    Like

  79. Can we officially change the term “realist” on here to “Narduzzi objecter?” That is the one thing that sets these folks apart. Firing Narduzzi for only winning 7-8 games per year when pitt has not had that happen basically at all for 35 years is not “reality” it’s “insanity.”

    Liked by 2 people

  80. Narduzzi needs at least a 10 year run to show whether or not he can get it done. Look at what he has overcome. In five years he has brought Pitt from disaster to basically middle of the ACC Coastal group. The next few years, including the transition after KP to a new QB, will determine if he can be an upper tier P5 HC.

    Liked by 3 people

  82. I have read POV over the past few years but have never posted. I enjoy reading the articles and the comments. It gives me different points of views about the football program. I took the survey but wanted to clarify how I feel about Pat Narduzzi. But first here is a little background about me. I am a 1973 graduate from Pitt. I was at Pitt when they went 3 -8 and 1 – 10 under Carl DePasqua. The favorite cheer at the game was “good bye Carl, good bye Carl”. I am pleased with Narduzzi winning 7 or 8 games a year but I am not satisfied. I don’t like his game day decisions and his lack of trust in the offense. He always wants the defense on the field when it comes to winning the game. Having said that, I think we need to keep him another 3 to 4 years to see if he can win 8 or 9 games a year. Pitt is not a school that can/will hire a coach that will bring in 4 Star/ 5 Star recruits based only on his name. Narduzzi is getting 8 / 7 win seasons with 3 Star recruits and an occasional 4 Star. Remember, he is getting the best players he can that are willing to come to Pitt. I believe that with 9 / 8 win seasons, multiple things happen. We get ranked. We get more people coming to the games. We get better recruits. Then we get to the next level, double digit winning seasons. If we get rid of Narduzzi, we start over.

    Liked by 11 people

  84. Welcome to the club pittman1973…we’re the same age. Keep posting brother and if you attend any games try to come to a tailgate.

    Like

    3. Most resolutions are “broken” within three weeks. But, maybe you can stretch that to nine months, since we have no games until then.

      pmdH2p

      Liked by 1 person

  86. As we bring 2019 to a close and welcome 2020, let’s give thanks for another year of POV participation and for the good fortune that Michaelangelo agreed to pick up the torch from Reed. Ike, Huff, BigB, Tex, Wlat, LastRow, Erie, joeknew, wwb and so many others have made the annual pain and agony that is Pitt sports easier to endure. Happy New Year to POVers across the nation and good health and happiness to all in 2020!

    Liked by 5 people

  87. Having a little trouble with WordPress again, so I’m not sure if my last post made it to print. Just wanted to say Happy New Year to the entire POV family. And a special thanks to those of you who were so thoughtful and kind during my recovery from my kidney transplant. I truly appreciate all of you. My three month post surgery visit was great, and the new kidney is as the kids would say “lit”. H2P!!!

    Liked by 5 people

  90. Hoped we all survived the New Year

    It’s a new year. The basketball team is 10-3 but from here on in, it is all league games. Yet, from what I have seen the past 2 months, there is every reason to believe that the Panthers can finish in the middle of the pack (which considering 2017-18) is a very good thing). It also has some very promising recruits in tow.

    The FB team is coming off an 8 wins season, which many here term as disappointing. Looking at the recent (and not so recent) history, that can be determined as a good thing. The team returns many starters and experienced players. There are some promising recruits in tow … and judging how the current staff has done the past few years, it may well finish with one or two more,

    For the most part, the other Pitt sports are on the upswing. Yes, Pitt athletics may have not be close to the level many here wish …. but at least people are still talking and debating about them. I can remember times when just about every sport at Pitt have been on the verge of collapse and most of the alums could have cared less.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I’ll play the contrarian here because my New Years resolution was only to refrain from calling a certain coach a certain ethnic slur.

      When the final Directors Cup standings come out this summer, Pitt will yet again finish near dead last among P-5 teams. I dont think they will finish ranked number 145 like last year, Pitt’s worst showing since the 90’s (in over 40 years) but the overall sports competitiveness of Pitt is still very poor. This is Heathers 3rd year on the job now.

      There are only 3 programs that consistently achieve points for making the playoffs or post season. In other words, there are only 3 programs that are mediocre to above. Those are football, volleyball and wrestling. Thats it folks out of 16 programs. So 80% of Pitt’s programs are in bad shape when you look strictly at performance on the field in terms of wins.

      In 2020, there is some hope mainly for mens soccer and basketball. The soccer team was ranked come years end. They went to the playoffs for the first time in 50 years. Two words: Coach Jay.

      The mens basketball team will probably win 7-8 ACC games placing them in the middle of one of the toughest and best basketball conferences. They won zero just 2 short years ago. If Pitt receives a NIT bid, it will be proof of significant progress since the program was dead after KS. Capel inherited a dumpster fire.

      Pitt’s volleyball program much like wrestling has been historically successful. They won Big East titles back in my day and were ranked. But they have elevated the program to a new level under the coach from Cali. Remarkable what volleyball has achieved playing in a dump and in a conference not known for volleyball.

      Wrestling is another solid program. Pitt is ranked in the top 10 right now. How far will Pitt’s wrestlers get in the tournament is anyones guess but Pitt could very well have two All-Americans when its said and done. You get that status by reaching the semis.

      There is hope for womens basketball. I read that the coach is excellent and its just a matter of short time before Pitt is back on top. The mens baseball coach gets good reviews so lets wait and see. Swimming and diving have historically done well…again, despite being housed in a 70 year old relic that should be condemned. Track n Field and X Country have been o.k. But the competition in the ACC is just so much better than the old Big East. Again, remarkable that any recruit would even want to attend Pitt given it has NO track or field for the team. I know Victory Heights will address it.

      So I guess my point is that Pitt still looks like Pitt and if there has been progress, its been very slow. Very difficult to see if the overall sports program is moving in the right direction. It may not be treading water anymore but its going against the tide and the wind.

      Its Heathers job to get Pitt to where 80% of the programs are contributing points in the Directors Cup. If she achieves that mark, Pitt will finish in the top 50. Thats where 10 ACC schools already reside year in and year out. If They can do it. Why cant Pitt?

      The other take away – coaches and facilities matter.

      Liked by 1 person

  91. Happy 2020 everyone

    Should be a very interesting one.

    Not sure how many games BBall will win, but a much better team than last year and trending upward.

    I think the football team is three or four players away from being very good next year .

    A solid O-Tackle to protect KP’s Rear End.

    A reliable tight end that can catch third down passes.

    A power running back for third and short and red zone plays.

    A stud linebacker.

    Four guys to eliminate a lot of shortcomings and maybe not guarantee that 9th or 10th win but make it much more achievable.

    I am assuming Pitt gets another year for Hamlin, who was injured for much of his first two years.

    Liked by 3 people

  92. I think it is also very positive to see guys choosing to come back rather than taking a crack at the pros.
    It says a lot for the coaching staff, the direction of the program, the team atmosphere, the advice they are getting from inside and outside the program, and their decision making ability.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. none of them probably graded out well and all probably think they can have big years to improve their draft positions. Plus why wouldnt you want to come back when Narduzzi allows you to get away with being undisciplined and not having to worry about being benched since youre one of his favorites.

      Like

      1. The fact that Ford didn’t play until his third year when he was ready would be contrary to your thinking.

        We have seen plenty of guys go to the NFL before they were ready.

        Unfortunate that you have to look for negatives in good news.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Its good news but lets not pretend they are coming back to help Pitt win 10 games and because they love Narduzzi or because they love attending classes at Pitt. They are coming back because they think a good year will help them make millions more. None of these guys would have been drafted any higher than round 4. With a blow out year, some might get drafted in round 2. Thats a huge difference in rookie pay. I look for the truth in news.

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Rumor is that Paris got a higher grade than expected … 3rd … and could improve it with a great combine and he still came back.

            Having said that, I think if you can get drafted you should leave. No questions asked. Screw trying to improve your stock. You leave when you can get a job and prove yourself at the next level to get a better contract. If my kids are ever in that situation, I’ll tell them they can always go back and get a degree. Go get paid doing your craft as soon as you can, however.

            Liked by 1 person

            2. I would agree if you can get drafted in the top 3 rounds. Otherwise you can get cut before September and no coach would care. You want job security for 3 years or more? Get drafted in the top 3 rounds.

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  94. GC posted:

    “I think the football team is three or four players away from being very good next year .

    A solid O-Tackle to protect KP’s Rear End.
    ( Josh Lugg)

    A reliable tight end that can catch third down passes.
    ( the big athlete from Florida and the Juco transfer)

    A power running back for third and short and red zone plays.
    (Daniel Carter, already on the roster)

    A stud linebacker.
    (I forget the Stanford LBer in the portal but him)

    Four guys to eliminate a lot of shortcomings and maybe not guarantee that 9th or 10th win but make it much more achievable.

    Liked by 4 people

  95. All would be good stories Ike…Carter now at 220 lbs. Cant understand his lack of playing time especially on short yardage. Maybe he doesn’t run hard enough.
    Safe travels to BigB and any other POVerts on the road today.

    Liked by 1 person

        1. He has a passing addiction. To ignore the run like he does is frustrating.

          Remember the bowl game on our next to last series? Third and 1 and Whipple called pass and Ffrench lost two yards. Had the D not forced a punt we lose that game? AJ could have run up the middle for the necessary yardage.

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      2. If he’s not appreciably better than AJ or Sibley then no reason to burn his redshirt.

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  96. I think the Stanford LB’s name is Andrew Pryts? He only had like 100 tackles last year. I think he is an inside backer though.

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    1. We could really use this kid. The team caught a bad break with Reynolds’ groin injury and then his subsequent dismissal. I read so much about what Nordy did for academics at Pitt that I’m wondering why Pryts isn’t sprinting to Oakland to get that Pitt graduate degree.

      So this kid can wait until the spring semester to enroll? Classes start on Monday so to participate in spring ball he’d have to be enrolled.

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  97. The 3 guys who considered going simply weren’t ready. These were the best we had, not good enough yet. Surprised they didn’t take the money, but glad.
    Next years team will most likely be a mirror image of the Connor team. Great on one side of the ball, really poor on the other. That team is what turned me off to the Duzz. How could he lose 5 games with that team. FIVE. They only had one big upset, and it was a Duzzy, if you will. One of the greatest in school history. If good enough to beat Clemson away,how did they lose 5!! And before anyone mentions the Nitter game, no, not an upset, we were favored. Please think about it, 5 games with that talent. That’s when he lost me.

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    1. Narduzzi was the head coach who was responsible for bringing in Nate Peterman and Lumpy left the defense as bare as Mother Hubbards cupboards.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Who left the defensive side in worse shape for the next coach: Harris for Wannstedt or Chryst for Narduzzi?

        Walt left Revis but maybe the slowest defense in D-1.

        Lumpy left more players for Narduzzi but botched some redshirts and left a terrible linebacking corps.

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    2. The defense was worse than putrid. So what that we were favored vs PSU, they were the much better team.

      While I agree that the three weren’t ready, many guys go pro early anyway. The fact is, the big money is in the second contract, so improving draft position does not mean all that much.

      I think there is a good chance the offense will be markedly improved next year with much of the O-line coming back. We lose our biggest star in Ffrench but Wayne and Shocky with Mack should be pretty good. Should be fewer penalties and definitely fewer drops.Running game can go nowhere but up.

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  98. Just watched a couple of bowl game recaps from yesterday. Unranked Texas Destroyed #11 Utah 38-10 and Navy beat Kansas State in a very entertaining game on a last second field goal. Pitt needs to hire Navy’s chief talent evaluator.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That Texas-Utah game is the case for why we DON’T need an eight-team playoff.

      How in the world would a round one game where Clemson destroys a two-loss Pac-12 team be worth it? Clemson just gets beat up for its next game.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I completely agree, Nate. It is amazing how irrelevant the non-playoff bowls have become. Folks as old as me can remember when there were only 9 or 10 bowl games a year. Half were played on New Years Day and getting an invite to a bowl was a big achievement. The crowning of National Championships were so subjective that it wasn’t unusual for 5 or 6 teams to try to make a case as to why it should be them.

        Now 78 teams get bowl invitations. The Cotton and Orange bowls aren’t played on New Years Day anymore. Non-playoff teams struggle to get up to play the game. Not a single one can make a legitimate case for being named NC. Saw where the Utah QB said they treated the bowl like it was a vacation.

        And the worst change for me is the fact that players opt to sit out the game. Imagine being a WVU fan last year. Making your plane and hotel reservations then finding out your quarterback has decided to skip the game.

        I know, I know, it is up to the coaches to get the players up for the game. But these are adult men. They can see though the BS.

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  99. Well, Ike, there were a few guys on that d who are doing quite well in the pros. Also, he had over a year to “ coach em up”. All those 2&3s should have been great, as we know how 2&3s are. He fell flat then, and looks like he’ll do it again, maybe he can find a transfer qb this year as well. What a waste.

    Liked by 1 person

  100. Nate, I thought the 2019 statistics showed that the proportion of passing and running plays were not way out of line. I think it reflects the lack of a power back for short yardage situations and red zone that forced Whipple to throw those horrible short yardage passes. I STILL don’t understand why Narduzzi didn’t make getting a power back and FB more of a priority from the walk on category. These situational players should be readily available from local high schools.

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  103. The Utah QB said the team treated the bowl as a vacation. Just one more example of how motivation is the key to most meaningless bowl games. In fact, I’ve only caught a few games but virtually every announcing team so far has discussed the motivation factor.

    It’ll be interesting to see how Bama does today. If this game was in October, Bama would win by 25

    Liked by 1 person

  104. There may be a lot of bowl games, but look at the weak alternative broadcasting when bowls are not on. ESPN needs to fill its many affiliates with content and the bowls are an easy way to do it around holidays.

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    1. FWIW I have no issue with them; some are entertaining. I’m just saying that the results of many of them are to be taken with a grain of salt. And I assure you that this opinion is not solely my own, by any means

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  105. Narduzzi has won as many games in his first 5 years as any coach since 1981. What and why are expectations so high and so many disappointed? Don’t tell me the money Tx, the football program was left for dead for too many years and I never expected an instant turnaround and let’s get rid of Narduzzi like they did Wanny. That worked out just great.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Tex give me a break with rpi and sagarin. It’s about wins and losses. Did you use a forklift to move the goalposts this time?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. PITT decides to dump some money into the football program and after only two short years you want a complete and utter change in results Tx? Let’s be a little more realistic and a by and by, who was the athletic director when the money dump happened?

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Two years ain’t short. The coach is 15-12 in those two years. Better coaches have turned dumpster fires completely around in that span.

          He’s an overpaid coach. I said coach and not something I just recently cooked. See…I’m a man of my word.

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          1. aren’t you one of us that agrees the OOC schedule is to tough? You make so many great points but you bounce around way too much for me. Dan threw the hypocrite word out there, you know what that means. Talking out of both sides of your mouth to make an agenda point.

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            1. It is too tough but as coach I don’t use it as an excuse. He crapped the bed with three games this year. That’s a lot of crap. The guys a career DC and not HC material.

              Liked by 1 person

              1. Well Tx respectfully imo, maybe you should consider it an excuse since you’ve said it a dozen times or more.

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          2. 15-12 with a coastal championship as well as having 4 losses to highly ranked OOC teams (which U admit shouldn’t be scheduled) is not bad. You often say pitt overpays… if they are in the top third of the ACC in spending, they are the top fifth in ACC winning percentage under Narduzzi, that seems like a bargain.

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            1. That just shows me how bad the ACC really is. It’s still overpaying. As AD, I’d rather give that money to Capel or the volleyball coach.

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          3. Two years is not even close enough to turn around a football program left for dead for 40 years. BTW, in these two short years Narduzzi won a division title and went 8-5 this past year. Let’s run him out of town asap.

            You don’t like the guy, I get it but you’re setting the bar way way too high and you guys call yourselves realist? That’s funny.

            Liked by 3 people

            1. Imagine if Pitt wins eight games in 2020 and Heather caves to the upset fans and she fires Pat.

              No coach worth a salt will touch a job where a coach won 8 games four times in six years, a Coastal title, plays in Heinz Field and buses it’s players to and from practice.

              Now it is a repeat from 10 years ago and brutal schedules await us. Now we lost a recruiting class, kids have transferred and WVU spanks us at home. We’d be SOL and football would officially be dead. Nail in the coffin we’d never recover.

              Liked by 6 people

              1. The good news Nate, is that just ain’t going to happen. I find it perfectly ok if some just don’t like Narduzzi or think he’s a lousy coach and all but Narduzzi’s seat isn’t close to being luke warm let alone hot.
                Many think I’m madly in love with Narduzzi, which I am NOT! I just look at the alternatives like you’re doing and do not like the options at this time. Point being, he just isn’t going anywhere anytime soon so why belabor the point?

                Liked by 1 person

    2. We are all caught up in our own little bubble. We love Pitt and talk Pitt but after watching the big boys play I can only come to one conclusion- we suck! Spin it any way you want we aren’t good and Narduzzi will never get us to the next level. Happy New Year!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Could not agree more! Just watch the precision with how these other teams operate. The adjustments the coaches make throughout the game. Then, think of Pitt in every single game this year. No comparison. ,

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    3. True, but faint praise. The Brown’s HC has won more games this year than any Brown’s coach this century. He’s now unemployed.

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  106. All you who think PC left a depth of talent on d should check the roster on that 2016 team. It was terrible, I repeat, terrible coaching that led to 5 losses that year. Technique taught to db had to be unlearned in the pros. It was stubbornness pure and simple. That hubris caused me to question Narduzzi. 3 of those db played in the pros, and be honest, how did they look at Pitt?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I consider that the fact that the 3 defensive backs played in the NFL the 9th wonder of the modern world. Aside from AM how was that possible. Bad coaching may satisfy Occam’s Razor but my eyes didn’t lie to me for three years. And most of the rest of the defense was awful. How many points did Syracuse score on us in that highest scoring game in modern Division 1 history?

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  108. You can look at it anyway you want JoeK and that goes without saying but I bet if you asked Maddox he would give a lot more credit to PN then PC.

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  109. If bet if you asked the Eagles taught him to turn and look for the ball, not face up and try to knock the ball out. Same for Pitts, same for Clark. 3 pro db on a secondary that constantly got touched. You can’t sugar coat it, he screwed the pooch with that team.

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  110. Joe – the great conundrum – if Nard had used the D system the players knew in Year 1, instead of his system, then, come Year 2, he still has a roster full of D guys who don’t know his system. Then, according to your idea, he MUST, again use the old system, cuz,”you can’t change horses in the middle of the stream” (again). And, so on, and, so on, and, so on

    It REALLY made no sense to try your tactic! Nard had no choice but to start installing his system asap.

    Liked by 4 people

  111. Why do you think the ncaa is seriously looking at expanding the playoffs? Money and secondly, to stop a majority of the high ranked players from sitting out the bowl games. If the kid feels his team has a chance at a national championship, they are more likely to play and not rip off the fanbase. Does that help the 39th ranked bowl team like Pitt, no, but noone cares about that game anyway.

    With respect to our 3 defenders that are returning, it has zero, nada, nil, zilch to do with how they feel about Narduzzi and getting their diploma. If your grade is late 3rd high 4th round, your guaranteed cash diminishes significantly. A great example is Jordan Whitehead #117 overall pick (who loved Narduzzi so much, he left early, but I digress). His signing bonus guarantee was $167k and a first year salary of $480k. No where near enough to have the easy life. After taxes and how disciplined he is spending it, he will be okay if he can hang on for 3 more years.

    #63 2nd round pick the same year got you $480k salary and a $320k guarantee signing bonus for $800k per year for 4 years versus 650k for pick 117 and not a 4 year salary guarantee although both have guaranteed signing bonuses pro-rated over 4 years.

    This is all about improving stock from 4th round to 2nd round. If they did not grade out in the nfl in the top 3 rounds, they cannot be underwritten for loss of value or injury insurance through Pitt. That is my sense of what transpired. Must rate at top 3 rounds or you get hosed!. .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Those kids would love Narduzzi more if his staff truly developed their skill sets. It’s all about the money. These kids love Narduzzi because they can take it easy at practice, take dumb penalties and not be afraid of losing their starting job. Plus they get to save kittens on Thursday nights.

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    2. I agree Huff the Third. Yet if there was this huge tiff (like someone reported) between coaches and players it could have played a factor if they had left?

      Liked by 2 people

  112. Seriously the argument is that there were a couple future pros on the team?
    It takes 12 guys to have a solid defense and some depth. That defense had no pass rush and couldn’t stop the run to save its life. It was slow and small. Chryst had the guy that became the best defensive player in the league two years in a row and only won 6 games, it takes more than a few guys to win games.

    Right Ike, we were told there was a massive locker room problem a couple years ago. A few weeks ago Narduzzi was going to be fired the next day. TX says that Narduzzi lets kids take it easy in practice. How does he know that, since practices are closed, oh yeah another bone of contention.

    I understand the frustration with Narduzzi, but when did it become OK to start making stuff up? Oh, never mind.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. When do I make things up. Practices are closed. You play as you practice.

      And stop by the cathedral lawn on a Thursday night. You’ll see.

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      1. Bowl games are pointless. I’ve been saying it for years. That doesn’t mean there aren’t good games. It’s impossible to gauge motivation for an exhibition game. Now that recruiting is over before they begin you can’t even make the recruiting argument any longer.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. They do count for your win total, but I get your point overall.

          But Pitt needs to win anything they can including bowl games to win their fans back.

          Pretty frustrating to go to a bowl especially a crappy one when your team doesn’t show up.

          Annapolis was frustrating but understandable to an extent, the PinStripe Bowl was just plain hideous.

          Georgia has 12 guys out today. Not a good look, course they still may win.

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          1. Just curious Gordon, what did you feel was hideous about the Pinstripe? I was disappointed that we had to play in it, because on paper we were a much better team than our record. As for the game itself, I sat on the 50 yard line. The commonly expressed narrative expressed here on the POV is false. First off, they were playing a decent big Ten team, not Bowling Green or UMU. Second, they played well in the first half and were down 4. We lost by a touchdown. We lost several important players during the course of the game, including Nate Peterman James Conner, and I believe Dorian Johnson. Disappointing loss, but I wouldn’t describe it as hideous.

            Liked by 1 person

          2. Gordon/missingwlat … The Pinstripe Bowl is a perfect example. Both Conner and Nate come out of the game … in a regular season game they both most likely play. Dorian Johnson had a bad injury that affected his draft stock.

            Because the game was meaningless, the coaching staff decided to error on the side of caution and protect their professional careers … correctly, I might add. We also had an in-limbo OC with his mind at LSU. No matter what people say, it’s an exhibition game and the stakes are not as high. It’s after the season. No one really cares about the final W-L record except fans. With recruiting essentially done before bowl season there is even less motivation to at least “show” for potential recruits.

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            1. Now I’ll differ with you a little TT. The game may be meaningless to you but I don’t think it is for the players or at least the majority of them. Of course the seniors by in large do not want to risk injury but the underclassmen are playing for the next season. While losing a bowl game is not as paramount as many think, it’s far from meaningless. … and what about the seniors who may never play another football game the rest of their lives?

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          1. I’m not saying the kids don’t play hard but it’s a game with no stakes. If you’re in a middling bowl game and not the playoffs or New Years Day ones, there is just a natural lack of excitement. Winning or losing has zero affect on the season at this point. Conference and division titles already in hand. Other teams playing for the national championships. Just a fact of life not an indictment on pride.

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  114. Please explain Thursday night saving Kittens? Are you talking about community service? I think they even do that in big bad Texas.

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    1. It’s a joke Gordon. The analogy of saving kittens from high cathedral lawn trees and helping old ladies cross Forbes is my dig at the over emphasis and marketing of these community service projects for these high character kids. When you can’t sell championships, you sell off the field stuff. Heather did say that Pitt deserves a D on championships. I damn well respect the truth. I’m beginning to warm up to her. Seriously, after all my vitriol, I just might buy her a shot of bourbon.

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  115. ^^ gc, it’s the day after Wednesday night when the players walk little old ladies across the street.

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  116. Tex, those kittens are actually baby panthers that are growing up to attack the tigers, Bulldogs and other dangerous creatures prowling in the ACC. Narduzzi is nurturing them to grow and become ACC attack animals that will instill fear in the competition!

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    1. Well if that’s the case I’m all for it. 🙂

      Save the kittens so they can grow up to be ferocious Panthers.

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  117. A little interested in the poll results but I’ll take them with a grain of salt, perhaps with tequila and a lemon or lime slice. << Haven’t done that in 40 years.

    Will the real realist please stand up….. I really don’t think they exist on the POV.

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    1. I believe you are standing Fran and a real realist. One problem, you do not dislike or like Narduzzi per se, so how can this be? Is it possible you can see what’s actually going on? 🙂

      Like

  119. Savanah, his technique did not work. Insanity is doing the same expecting different results. If you notice, he ,in fact has changed “his system” although it took hiring another secondary coach. That team was special. His system was flawed, Point is he had talent, not an empty cupboard, but he made them look like jokes. Considering where they ended up, ask yourself, was it the players or the sceme?

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    1. Right on Randy… several of those DBs who were giving up a 1000 yds passing a game ended up on the NFL…but in defense we didn’t have the numbers to bring the heat on a consistent basis…

      He should hire great coordinators and get out of their way… I surrounded myself with really good people at work- my job was easy!!!

      Like

      1. That’s right BigB, it’s works both ways. Pressure from the D-Line plus man to man defense are essential. Don’t forget the hike and heave deployed against PITT’s B- backs. Lots of push offs but PITT adjusted the past year. << coaching

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  121. Also, Gordon, check out that roster. There actually was a lot of talent on d on that team. No way, NO way they should have lost 5 games.

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  122. Hey JoeK and I’m being serious here and not sarcastic cause I don’t know. Is that the year PITT lost to Northwestern you’re talking about? << Not to bring that subject up again but their linebackers knocked the crap out of PITT that day after PITT had the great start to the game. Northwestern’s LB coach at that time was a Frank Broyles finalist this past year for defensive coordinator of the year.

    Speaking of knock, I think I will for the night.

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  123. Yes Ike, that’s the same NW team that was 6-6 with loses to Western Michigan and Illinois State. So, they hit our poor boys, oh my! NO WAY they should have lost 5 games. NONE!

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  124. 2 Bowl wins in 9 years and those 2 wins aren’t even against a P5 school. Add in, in those 9 years, no year with more than 8 wins. Playing at home to mostly half empty stadium and a sea of yellow (hey they finally figured out, with Sea of Yellow, might as well change the uniform colors). And you get only 1 logical conclusion. Pitt’s BoT could care less.

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  125. Even Walt got us into the Fiesta Bowl, where we got urbanized for his grand entrance into Gainesville.
    And Walt got fired, as did the only Pitt coach to win 10 games since Jackie Sherrill.

    The BoT must have had less Pedo’s on it back then !

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    1. That was an entertaining game.

      Did anyone see the unsportsman call against Wisconsin on Oregon’s last TD. Wisky player hit QB Herbert 8 yards deep in the endzone. I demand the immediate firing of Chryst for having such a undisciplined team.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Agree. Before the game, I thought it would be a close 1’st half & then Wisky would pound the smaller Oregon team to death in the 2’nd. When they didn’t, I think they got frustrated.

          Fire CHRYST now.

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  129. Predicted BIG things for Chryst and Wisconsin this year.

    Unfortunately for Chryst, he has fallen victim again to his one BIG weakness. That is his propensity to be LOYAL to a fault.

    Just as he did at Pitt with Voytik, Chryst sticks with Coan, the perennial Starter at Wisconsin, instead of giving freshman Mertz a shot, the No. 1 Pro-style QB out of High School a year ago.

    Keep this in mind eventually when the time comes that you see Mertz behind Center and the Chryst Offense operating on all cylinders.

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  130. By the way, that was a HORRIBLE Offensive Pass Interference Call against Wisconsin with minutes ticking down. Something you would expect out of Happy Valley.

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    1. I totally disagree
      the wide out almost BLOCKED for the kid who caught the ball
      didn’t need to but DID

      Like

    2. after the first replay, I would agree with PoD … but then I realized that off defender had a chance to make a play on the ball when he was pushed away … clearly a penalty. When a WR pushes off when the ball is in the air on a defender who is in the play, it id interference. Unfortunate for Wisc but the correct call

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  131. I read this blog daily but have not commented. There is just too much negativity going on. Being an old grad I have come to enjoy the game with the realization that another championship in my lifetime is wishful thinking. I have maybe missed 10 games in the last 50 yrs when my son played soccer. By the way he went to Clemson and being with him at that game 3 years ago is one of my football highlights that I will never forget. Can Pitt do better? Maybe but it is what it is and history tells us that 10 wins is possible once in every how many years. The yellow seats at Heinz is an embarrassment but as I remember back in the late 70s Pitt Stadium was far from sold out. Pitt can never replicate what they have at the southern schools where football is king or at the B10 schools to our west and east. I only met the Duzz one time when I was picking up pizza and we was picking up 20 or more for the team. He could not have been nicer and we talked Pitt for 10 minutes. Is he the right person, I don’t know but in my opinion I will give home another year or two. Dan72 perge

    Liked by 7 people

  134. They practice black magic in Homer City. That’s right down the road from my childhood hometown. That magic runs off on you. 🎩 🐇

    I’m fine with the 8 Narduzzi disciples. But which one of them will give him a kiss and turn him over to heather after another 8 win season and crappy bowl?

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  135. IMG_3729.HEIC

    Not sure if my link worked (WordPress strikes again), but Tre Tipton was featured on the halftime show of the Georgia-Baylor game. Real impressive kid.

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  136. Nice mention of Tre Tipton and his community work during half-time of the Sugar Bowl.

    Tex not pleased…😊.

    ( Just kidding, Tex.)

    Go Pitt.

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  137. Let me try again… WordPress driving me nuts.

    Not sure I’d this link will allow you to open…. but nice reference to Tre Tipton being a member of the Good Works team at halftime of the Sugar Bowl. Great kid. Hope he comes back next year. Here’s the attempted link….

    IMG_3729.HEIC

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  138. Homer City has a giant power plant. Use to swim up there in the reservoir. << illegally, I think it must have been the power plant that gave me brain damage, imagine if you lived there?

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Ike, I lived between two of them. In elderton and homer city. My brain IS gone. At least Narduzzi has some home cookin in his. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  139. A bit OT but I just realized that, other than Clemson, Pitt was the ONLY ACC team to finish with a winning record on the road. Maybe those yawning yellow seats have our kids falling asleep for home games?

    And I should add my own thanks to MM for giving so much of his time to this blog (and to all of us).

    Liked by 1 person

        1. I havent been back in Indiana since 1993. Once my parents moved away, Lower Burrell became my new PA home. And then of course home became Buffalo and DFW.

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  142. Wisconsin yesterday

    — had 4 turnovers
    — called a TO late in the 3rd quarter when they were on Oregon’s 2 yard line (it could have been important late in the game)
    — had a few bad penalties, especially the unsportsmanlike penalty after the Oregon TD
    — despite outplaying Ore, lost a close game
    — and earlier in the year when it was 6th ranked, lost at Illinois as a 3 TD favorite. The same Illinois team that lost at home vs Eastern Mich (not to mention lost to a 3-9 Northwestern team 29-10)

    No, I am certainly not advocating a Chryst firing … he was born, raised (and groomed) to be the UW HC

    But these things even happen to a program that averages 10 wins (even before PC’s arrival)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. wwb – I am not calling for the firing of Chryst. Just my way of pointing out Pitt is not the only team that has done the same things that causes some to call for the firing of HCPN.

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  143. Hey Jackagain, the Browns were 6-10 this year and 7-8-1 last year. They also had more than 6 wins a few other times this century

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  144. Convenient no mention of the questionable GAME CHANGER of a penalty called against Wisconsin with just minutes to go.

    The anti-Chryst bias among some still running deep.

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    1. unfortunate for Wisc but the correct call. The Ore DB had a chance for the ball but the WR pushed him away while the ball is in the air … and it doesn’t matter that it wasn’t the primary WR and his defender.

      Liked by 1 person

  147. and BTW, Wisconsin wins more because of kits defense than its offense (7th ranked this year) and has for a long time. Although, in fairness, the ground control game certainly helps the defense

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  148. The only thing certain about the call was that the “pseudo infraction” was of absolutely NO consequence as far as the play was concerned.

    Should not have been called… and I would argue that in most cases would not be.

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    1. what was pseudo about it. It happened … the DB had a clear shot to make a play. If you watched the post-game coverage, Herbstreet went through it in slow motion and said that it was clearly the correct call (although he too didn’t think so at first)

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  149. So I’ll try again.

    I reviewed the results of the 16-17 season .
    It was the best opportunity to win 9 or 10 games, no doubt.
    But only because Pitt beat Clemson in the biggest upset of the decade, and beat a much better PSU team, although not officially an upset because miraculously we were favored. But remember, PSU went all the way to the Pose Bowl that year and we may have kept them out of the playoffs.

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    2. there appears to be a misconception that Pitt’s por defense was solely due to the DBs … but the lack of pressure on the opposing QBs and the lack of speed of the LBs were just as important. All the opposing team had to do was double team E Price and there was no other DL that could pressure the passer. And the Northwestern game clearly showed the lack of linebacker speed … they consistently ran the ball on 3rd and long, with their RBs beating the LBs to the edge

      Liked by 2 people

    1. exactly the same opinion but unhappy he didn’t get away with it
      most are capable of objectivity, whether they choose to apply it is the ?

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  151. So short entries to avoid rejection.

    Pitt certainly could have and probably should have beat UNC, but for Narduzzi not having enough faith in his passing game to go for the throat. He relied on his defense and it cost him.

    The other game that Pitt could have easily won was the Bowl Game, but Canada left, the team had a string of injuries in the second half.

    But I will take the big wins and suffer the poor losses. The only reason Pitt should have won more than eight is because of the unexpected wins.

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    1. get this … out of the 15 OL on the Wisc roster, 11 are from Wisconsin. They are bred to play for UW. The others … 3 from MI and 1 from IN

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    2. No doubt Chryst and Rudolph know how to recruit and coach up those O-linemen, While Narduzzi and Bates are showing that the can recruit and coach up D-linemen.

      Fortunately for Chryst he has a D-coordinator who gets his job done as well if not better.

      Certainly better than our O-coordinators so far, other than Canada who could coach them up but wasn’t here long enough to recruit much.

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  153. As far as Pitt and next season, I don’t see this Team doing anything special UNLESS they somehow find a way to run the football effectively.

    Given Whipple’s apparent allergies to the Run Game… not much chance of this happening.

    And that’s unfortunate.

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    2. No doubt the running game was our weakest link, Blame can be shared among Whipple, The Backs, and the Line. But I agree they must do better and they will, the question is how much better?

      I am kind of wondering if AJ Davis and Sibley will use the Portal, since the other two seem to have passed them by, at least for now.

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  154. Chryst has a Rose Bowl Jinx, it was the turnovers that cost him the game.According to Pitt Fans a lack of discipline, and taking it easy in practice., or something to do with kittens, that I’m not clear on. I kid Tex.

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  155. After five years under Pat Narduzzi, Pitt ranks:

    tied for 3rd out of 14 ACC teams with 24 wins

    tied for 32nd out of 65 Power 5 teams with 36 wins

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  156. I want to highlight something posted above by natebailey4:
    “Imagine if Pitt wins eight games in 2020 and Heather caves to the upset fans and she fires Pat. No coach worth a salt will touch a job where a coach won 8 games four times in six years and got fired”

    A six-year stretch that good hasn’t happened at Pitt since 1980-1985. Folks, firing Pat if he wins 8 games next year is insanity.

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    1. Then bring on the insanity

      Insanity is accepting 8 win seasons, playing in crappy bowls and not being ranked every year

      I need a coach that can get pitt to the next level and stay there.

      Any new coach coming in would need to understand you have 4 years to reach ten wins and a top 15-20 ranking. And then to repeat that every year pretty much with minimal down years.

      As AD I’d make sure the ooc is easy. I’d make sure the money is there for staff and recruiting. I’d make sure those yellow seats get covered one way or another.

      Otherwise it would be insane to keep seeing ground hog repeat itself in Oakland. Oh pittsburgh that’s right. Pitt doesn’t play in Oakland anymore. I’d also conduct a feasibility study for that new coach as well.

      Liked by 1 person

  158. I wouldn’t worry about Narduzzi being fired LVD….. period. … and no way after another 8 win season. Although I will add I think anything less than a 9 win season will be disappointing depending on injuries. If everything falls into place a 10 or even an 11 win season is not completely out of the question. << bowl included.

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  160. Gordon, revionist history. I’d say Pitt was every bit as good or better than that PSU team. Remind, we were up28-7 and driving for another score when Peterman hit Ford right in the numbers, he took his eye off the ball and it popped up right into a defenders arms. People only want to remember the Nitters dropped pass at the end. It was only after half PSU realized they could throw at will, even with McSorley under intense pressure by the front 7. Further, Nits beat OSU on a fluke and got ranked as a 4-2 team. I think they jumped 12 places. And they should have lost to Minn the week after Pitt. It’s the rep and the very weak BiG that made them look so good. That Pitt team should have won at least 10 games. It was one of the top 3 offenses in Pitt history.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I totally agree it was a great offense and it surprised PSU, but we still only won by a mistake from their QB. This great offense only put up 24 vs Northwestern one of those very weak B1G teams you talk about, and couldn’t put up 20 vs UNC. If Narduzzi is such a bum, how did he beat Clemson at Clemson?

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      1. My mistake on Carolina, looking at the wrong numbers, but the defense gave up 35 points a game. Hard to win 10 when you give up that many.

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  161. Neal Brown, who is worth a salt, took over the WVU program after the last 4 years win totals of 8, 7, 10 and 8 by holgy….was holgy fired or was there an understanding he wouldn’t come back. I’ll go with understanding and non-extension. I am sure there are plenty of examples across the ncaa, but that is the closest one and easiest reference. Coaches follow the cash! You pay well, you should get more.

    The Cleveland Browns seem to field a new coach every year,why? Because of the cash!! Expectations are high in cleveland and when you don’t reach the expectation, you get replaced. No different than any workplace in amurrrrrica!

    Problem with our AD is she extended mediocrity. And before anyone jumps down my throat, I did state that Narduzzi should have been immediately extended for an additional 2 years after starting 8-4 his first year at Pitt. The situation was different at that time and I was also pushing for program stability, and get us off of the coaching carousel, which occurred. I stated this before the bowl game and me and Reed had a slight tiff about it. Had my plan been adopted, this would be his final contract year.

    I think next year scheduling aligns for a run and then trouble for the years following due to ooc and better recruiting by our competitors in the coastal.

    Finally, for all of those that keep trying to say we have a bunch of 2 star recruits on the team, you might want to re-check that as it is a false statement. We have:

    2020 – 1
    2019 – 3
    2018 – 0
    2017 – 2 (One is the punter, so net 1)
    2016 – 3 (Reynolds is off team, so net 2)

    Two of the 2 stars are rashad weaver and patrick jones from 2016. Perhaps that is why the perception is that we have a lot. We don’t. The majority are low 3 star. We need high 3 star caliber kids as it increases the likelihood of a better, more refined product. The 4 and 5 stars have the measurables for the most part and are then coached to be football players. The majority of the 3 stars don’t have the same elite measurables for the most part and still need to learn the game.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. weaver and jones also had multiple P-5 offers. Every P-5 school that recruited them knew the recruiting services got their grades wrong.

      Pitt needs more players rated 5.7 stars and above. if half of Pitt’s class are high end 3’s or low rated 4’s, Narduzzi would have his 10-11 win seasons and I would be his biggest fanboy. But the reality is that he is a 8 win coach who cant recruit enough playmakers on both sides of the ball and have the impact made in one single season

      so we end up having a debate on a 8 win coaches future at Pitt and whether fans are willing to accept the risk of change or are content with stable mediocrity given their fears, uncertainties and doubts.

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    2. Huff – both you and Tx might be right in the long run about Narduzzi. I’ve never argued the opposite. What I have said is that its premature (imo) to conclude on him yet, given a plethora of other factors (and facts, for our buddy Tx). I also believe that our group here does not have all the facts about the program to know if the HC or AD are up to their jobs. We have limited ones, such as wins or Director’s Cup standings to point to, along with anecdotes passed on from so-called “insiders”. I think that is what many have argued here.

      Having said the above, I think we are now at the time when Narduzzi has to deliver. 2020 is make or break for him. Its really important for him to show that he can win more than 8 games. Will he do that? I wouldn’t put money down on either side of that bet. We’ll see.

      Your mention of Neal Brown is a good counter-argument to the Frank Beamer one regarding how long a coach needs to right a ship. It certainly speaks to the desirability of hiring someone with prior HC experience. Brown was fortunate to inherit a program with a solid foundation of winning and support. His predecessor was there for 24 yrs and had a lot of success, even if his last 4 were not up to par. Will be interesting to see if he can bring WVCC back to the glory years of RichRod or Nehlen. My money is that he won’t.

      I think it was a given that Brown was going to get well-paid somewhere. If he didn’t have multiple options last year when making the move, they were going to come. He may have even had P5 options before last yr. and turned it/them down. I don’t believe the deciding factor is money; its just the ante.

      Almost choked when I saw you included the Cleveland Browns in your post. The reason they have new HC’s each year is not because they have high expectations and are willing to pay for it. Its because they continually fail in hiring head coaches, drafting QBs and so on. Of course the money is there – its everywhere in the NFL. But you won’t convince me that any coach would take that job due to the money alone. The smart ones stay away from the Browns and other teams like the Redskins.

      Liked by 2 people

  162. I disagree. I think a lot of coaches would understand that mediocrity is not a standard and be impressed Pitt gave Duzz as long as they did. BC did not get raked over the coals for firing their coach with a similar record. My issue is that Heather’s MO is top assistants at ACC institutions. So, I’m looking at you Brett Venables at Clemson. Is replacing Duzz for Brett Venables a net positive? Probably, at least in the short term with recruiting, but he’s going to be learning on the job like both Chryst and Duzz and may not win 10 games over night.

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    1. Steve Addazzio did not have a similar record. BC has been considerably worse than Pitt over the course of his tenure. BC is tied for last overall in the ACC from 2015-19 with just 14 wins! Not comparable.

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      2. Since 2016, he’s gone 7-6, 7-6, 7-5 and 6-6 for 27-23 record

        Duzz has gone 28-24 over the same period.

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  163. I’ve written this before to the anti-Narduzzi crowd but it needs reminded:

    1) We may have struggled in beating EMU and Ohio U of the MAC this year, but Walt lost to Toledo and Dave lost to Ohio U. and Bowling Green. Things have been way worse over the past 20 years for our program folks. Heck, Potato Paul coached us to a double digit loss to Akron. I was verbally abused in section 513 by Akron fans. It doesn’t get much lower than that.

    2) Wanny and Walt both lost to perennial world beater UConn. Wanny’s loss was an butt whooping at Heinz that my at the time PSU grad girlfriend gave me some doodoo for. UConn football had only one good year and then Randy Edsall left. Could you imagine Chryst and Wanny coaching PItt against respectable conference competition like Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Miami, ect. We would never make a bowl.

    3) Narduzzi struggled against 1-AA Delaware….wait, Paul Chryst lost against 1-AA Youngstown St…and badly. Pine-Richland High or Central Catholic would have been more prepared. In my opinion, this was the lowest point in Pitt’s 100 plus year history of football.

    This is our first eight win season in a few years. Enjoy it. Let’s realize the good ole days weren’t that good. Wanny’s first three years at Pitt were losing ones so I only got one bowl trip during my undergrad experience.

    Liked by 3 people

    2. Walt did get Pitt to their first and only BCS game and recruited the most exciting player to ever put on a Pitt uniform

      Wanny did get 9 and 10 win seasons…something that Narduzzi hasnt achieved yet and probably never will

      I’m not saying the good ole days were up to my standard, but they were better than what we have today and all were done on a shoestring budget

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      1. Wanny’s legendary 9 and 10 win seasons were against schedules that were considerably easier than anything Pat Narduzzi has faced.

        Liked by 2 people

        1. And Pitts budget for football was far far less. Pitt was very cheap. Narduzzi has every advantage today. We can go back and forth all day if you like.

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      2. Tex – come on now. I’m a huge Walt fan but he didn’t recruit Tony Dorsett or Hugh Green, or even Shady… 😊

        Go Pitt.

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        1. I was too young for Dorsett I do remember HG. But I was in College Station when Pitt played the Aggies. Every Aggie fan knew they saw greatness. Thats saying something. He’s the best Pitt football player to ever wear the jersey. I’ll stand by those comments. Tony didnt even make the recent top 100 college football players to ever play the game. And thats not a slam against TD, its just reality. There have been better backs. There has been no better receiver than Fitz.

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    3. I care about NOW! Not the past. Narduzzi has proven over and over he’s NOT the guy! Who would hire Narduzzi with the 5 year resume he’s posted?

      Like

  164. I think replacing a 8 win coach sends a strong message that Pitt is serious about winning. Some coaches might be scared to walk into an environment with high expectations. While others would be up to the challenge and excited. But any new coach wants to make sure they have the opportunity to succeed and are fully supported by their boss and board. That means having a budget at or above your Coastal rivals (check), an easy OOC to stack up the wins (Heather needs to work on that) and to do something about those yellow seats (tarping anyone along with a feasibility study for MPC). With those conditions and about $4M, Pitt could have their pick of coaches.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree with most of what you write, Tex. What scares me about Pitt hiring a new coach is that we’ve botched coaching hires in the recent past (in multiple sports)… Heather would need to have a short list and know that they would like the opportunity that Pitt presents…

      A couple of random thoughts:

      I’d like to see Pitt take the ‘long view’ and put together an aggressive 20-year plan that includes developing a fan base, build a small multi-sport complex that would seat 40,000 for football, increase the size of the campus (by aggressively obtaining options to purchase certain properties in south Oakland, the Hill, panther hollow etc.), and thinking about sports differently than they have in the past…

      Accurate or not, I tend to compare Pitt to other urban type campus schools when thinking about facilities and recruiting – like Temple, Cincinnati, Memphis, Miami, BC, Denver (no football but ranked in hockey/lacrosse) and maybe USC. And honestly (and to your point) we can do better…

      Like

      1. thats the proper way to look at things. victory heights is part of that strategic way of thinking. i just think it doesnt go far enough and thats quite frankly why fundraising has been so disappointing with this project.

        i do actually trust Heather to make the right coaching hire. I know that sounds ironic coming from me one of her biggest bashers. But being under pressure (which she is from the BoT) can help one rise to the occasion. I just have this feeling (maybe its my intuition) that she will make the right decision.

        and louisville is a good example as well. they however have no morals.

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      2. I’ve posted this many times….there is not a single business that doesn’t have a 5,10,20 year plan. Why not Pitt? Or is it so anti sports they don’t want to publish it??

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        1. Dan, not sure many businesses publish their long range plans. My company doesn’t.

          I don’t mean to be snarky, but those of us who hang out here aren’t gonna even sniff it. Need to be a big donor to get near that. And if one is a big donor, they wouldn’t be hanging out here. They’d be texting Heather directly with their thoughts.

          Liked by 1 person

  165. imo, Cleveland is a horrible example. Proof positive what the lack of continuity can do for a team. I know the difference between college and the pros are but it just shows why change is not the answer. Ask the Steelers about continuity.

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    1. so you would keep a 8 win coach for fear of having a new coach come in and start producing 5-6 win seasons

      i think differently, i fear the stable mediocrity of 8 win seasons and have no fear to make changes that result in establishing a new standard of 10 win seasons

      without change, one cannot grow.

      Pitt is a sleeping giant. The Sleeper must awaken.

      Clemson did!

      Like

      1. Cleveland won more games two years ago then this year after they fired the head coach. Now they already fired this latest guy. That’s the definition of insanity.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. For very Clemson there are many Miami’s, Florida States, Virginia Tech’s and loads of others that had great Championship runsbut are now average at best. Look at Florida’s run. Clemson is pretty unique.

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Aww GC, cmon. Look at Florida. From 1990-2001 they were 122-27 with Spurrier. They than brought in Zook (almost narduzzi like) cheap and they went 23-17. They fired him due to mediocrity and expectations and immediately hired and paid Urban who went 65-15 with 2 championships. Then they went back to mediocrity and cheapness for 7 years and have re-surged with Mullins who has won 10 and 11 games his first two years and paid him his value.

          From 2010 thru 2017 (8 football years), FSU paid for Jimbo and he rewarded them with a record of 85-23 and a national championship. They went cheap with the last hire and have come back to mediocrity. They will wake up again.

          Alabama went cheap and dipped into mediocrity for years until they loosened the purse strings and bought themselves a Saban.

          Miami has been a hot mess since they got rid of Larry Coker after going 7-6. Mediocrity killed him that one year. Prior to that, his record was 53-9. Miami regrets that decision. They get too many athletes not to turn it around soon.

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    1. Pitt’s been in a coma for 40 years. Pitt has slept long enough. Time to wake up and get busy.

      My delusions of grandeur are steadily becoming a reality of grandeur. I have a delusion of insignificance instead.

      Like

  167. The only point about cleveland Ike was the cash! You can get good coaches if you pay. Perhaps I should have spelled that out a bit better. The prior comment was that coaches wouldn’t come to Pitt for firing a coach with 7-8 wins (mediocrity). If you pay, the coaches will come. If you pay assistants that can recruit, the recruiting will improve. It is all doable. It’s whether there is an appetite for championships.

    To date, the BoT, The Admin, the faculty and the AD have not shown an appetite to work together and to pull in the same direction. Each of those groups can get their individual wins, when you can convince each that an overall athletic win helps their specific areas. The data is there to prove to each unit how it works. The examples are there across the country. That is exactly why Pitt is a sleeping giant. Unfortunately, when you sleep for as long as Pitt has, bad habits form and you get passed up by others that have figured this out.

    Higher education is a bunch of decentralized units that typically are consumed with just their specific areas. Pitt needs someone to pull those areas together and explain/show them the overall benefit that can be gained by working together. It hasn’t happened because the vision and execution is lacking. Taking risk is an Opportunity as well as a defense. I look at risk as an opportunity to soar, while still protecting your back side. You can do both well. Pitt needs to get someone that understands that…and pay for someone that has done it before! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Try this Joe:

      If those sites you refer to are on WordPressdotcom, then Akismet may have you flagged accidentally.

      Please use the Akismet contact form at https://akismet.com/contact/ and enter the words “marked as spam”. Then fill out the form that appears on the lower half of that page to notify Akismet staff of the problem. Make sure you enter the email address that is associated with your WordPressdotcom username account.

      Like

  170. Here is a really wild prediction from an old fan, we beat Clemson next year even though our crossover football opponent is FSU. The stars may not align so do not take it to the bank.

    Liked by 1 person

  171. Always copy your longer posts JoeK.

    Unrelated: Nick Sabans record in his first 5 years of being a P-5 head coach at, ironically enough, MSU.

    6-5-1
    6-6
    7-5
    6-6
    9-2
    equals 34-24-1 and 23-16-1 in conference games. Narduzzi has 3 eight win seasons and a record of 36-29 with a conference record of 24-16.

    The stats seem fairly similar? The rest is history.

    Like

  172. danh72, a 5, 10, 15, 20 year plan? 10 years ago today ….

    — who would predict that the 10-win coach would be fire the following year?

    — who would predict that ACC would join the ACC 2 years later?

    — who would predict Pitt would hire 4 HCs and 2 ADs in the next 7 years?

    But the real problem is …. the long term plan back in 1990 was to DEAVLUE the FB program, and apparently the very same back in 2013

    Liked by 1 person

    2. THIS IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM EITH PITT FB. EVERY 5-7 YEARS, THEY DECIDE TO DOWNGRADE THE PROGRAM .. AND THEN THEY DECIDE TO UPGRADE THE PROGRAM, AND THEN THEY DECIDE DOWNGRADE, AD THEN THEY DECIDE TO UPGRADE …..

      SO QUIT BLAMING THE CURRENT SCHMUCK (AD AND COACHES) FOR PROBLEMS THAT THYE DIDN’T CREATE

      Liked by 2 people

      1. The current coach is being supported yet is achieving mediocrity. That’s my problem. And the BoT will stop supporting him. I’ll bet my 10 gallon hat and ostrich boots on it.

        The question then becomes will the BoT continue to spend the money. I think they will. Why? Fewer Nitters on the BoT. Pitt doesn’t want any Pedo supporters given the child rape scandal.

        The Sleeper will awaken.

        Like

        1. Tx, I don’t know if you are 100% serious with the Nitters on the Board comment, but I don’t think that’s the underlying reason.

          The BOT will keep spending the money because the boys in Greensboro and the other member institutions will insist that Pitt keep up in order to remain in the conference. And the BOT likes being in the ACC because they like the idea of Pitt being associated with a number of highly respectable schools – something the Big East could not deliver. And lets not forget that membership in the ACC extends beyond athletics and into the classroom and research activities. They may not like having to spend the money, but none of them would want Pitt to be asked to leave on their watch.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. Yes. ACC pressure for sure. But there is a reason two years ago that they made a leap. Some of that is due to changing mindsets in the BoT. You’ll get that with a younger, more minority and women comprised board. And those with pitt degrees. Thrrr is some truth and sound reasoning in what I say. I’m not being facetious when I say Nitters on the BoT have kept sports from excelling.

            Like

              1. Not THE reason but A reason. When you receive over $30 Million each year from the ACC, you want better stewards on the board. It becomes very important how that money is being spent and you begin to look at financial metrics such as payback times and ROI’s. As the BoT grows younger, more minority and more women, you’ll also begin to see changing mindsets. That should be a good thing for the relationship between academics and athletics.

                Like

      1. actually it started in 2008 …but around 2012 or do, the main focus was on academics. After the fiasco of the previous 2 seasons, Nordy and Stevie P decided that image was Priority 1.

        However, the program was devalued even before that …. after Pitt won 9 games in 2008 … guess what? Not only was Wanny diverting some of is salary for his assistants, the recruiting budget was cut. This is what started the big rift between Stevie and Wanny. This is Well Documented.

        You may remember that when Wanny was fired, he was the lowest paid HC in the BE, And Steve went out to hire his replacement with a whopping $1.4M salary offer. Graham and a few others scoffed, he hired Haywood. Then a few weeks later to save face, he got Nordy to offer Fraud $2M. Chryst was hired at $1.6M and PN at $1.8 …. so you can make the case that PItt FB was always devalued

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Let’s remember that Wanny couldn’t get steve to allow funds for new carpet in the PITT locker-room on the south-side. I think Dave W paid for the new carpet out of his own pocket?

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    1. Only one wrestler in the finals – Harvey at 174. Not what I would have predicted. Thought that we’d have three in the finals (based on this morning’s results).

      Like

    2. The Saban 5 years into his tenure at MSU is not the Saban of LSU and ALA either. By the way, do your sleepers have names?

      Like

      1. I have a list of potential coaching candidates yes But the sleeper I reference is you and me. The Pitt fan who awakes and is an impact of change. I think the BoT is slowly awakening since its composition is changing (less Nitters, younger, more women of color). Change allows an organization and for one to grow. Without growth, one is essentially dead.

        Like

      2. Exactly Special K that’s the point. Do we know if this is the ceiling for Narduzzi as Tx likes to say? The parallel is very similar at the same point in their careers.

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  174. There is no way I was saying Narduzzi is Nick Saban, at least not yet and there is no way right now we can tell what the future holds in PN’s coaching career based on his first 5 years. Plus, gosh forbid a PITT football gets stuck on winning 9 games a year. Plus #2 if PITT wins 9 games a few years then what would follow? 10 – 11- then 12 wins? I’m waving the white flag on this debate as it is a moot point. . . …. ike

    Liked by 2 people

  175. There are not too many “sleeper coaches” willing to commit to a city school like Pitt with their always half full off campus stadium in the mix for the foreseeable future.

    Like

    1. But the future isn’t written like the past. If you understand the quote, you can do something about it. Be active and be engaged. Fans control how the future will be written.

      Boycott. Protest. Write letters. Create a movement.

      If enough fans had half my passion and did something about it, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

      So how do you get fans to care. To care as much as every reader and commentor on this blog.

      I’ll hop in my tardis and get back to you.

      Like

      1. You can protest all you want but I doubt you will change the Pitt administration on advancing any prospect of an on campus stadium. The only chance of that happening is a large donor offers up $500 million for the stadium contingent that it be based on campus.

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        1. All I have to get is $250 million in fundraising with another $150 million in debt financing. Well heather has to. It’s up to MPC supports like myself to pursuade her.

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  176. There comes a time watching a coach that you know if he has it or not. You can be fooled, but most times you’re spot on. For example, with Wanny it was the deer in the headlights look on the sidelines. Then the in game decisions, and the pro attitude toward the college game.
    With Narduzzi it was giving up 35 a game and not changing the d because he wanted his system, damn that it didn’t work with that team. A good coach adjusts his system to the talent, maybe modestly, but he adjusts. Difference between a coordinator and a guy learning to be a head coach. That was a 10 win team.

    Liked by 1 person

  177. There is no doubt Narduzzi had a lot to learn about being a head coach his first couple years. Hell, he still has much to learn but in the meantime he has put up respectable numbers and has built depth and a pretty good returning team for next year. Is he the guy 3 years from now? I don’t know but it’s worth the time to find out instead of starting all over again.

    Anyone else get sick over the holidays? Love the grand kids to death but they bring their school bugs with them.

    Like

  178. Like

  179. OT: PSN reporting Pitt volleyball coach Fran Fisher got a 7 year contract extension. He deserved it and AD Lyke stepped up to the plate I assume to secure this deal with Fisher.

    Liked by 1 person

  181. Correction Tx, we use to swim up more towards New Florence at the Tubmill reservoir. I think? Do you remember it? The water was so crystal clear you could see the fish and the snakes.

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  184. Huge news IMO. He will have to sit out the 2020 season and will have 4 years left to play. He played in only 2 games and hence he retained his Red Shirt this year as a freshman. He backed up a star freshman in Jaylan Daniels at ASU this season. In a game against USC when Daniels was injured threw for 292 yards on 28 of 44 attempts with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Oh yes he injured his throwing shoulder on the 3rd play of that game it’s been reported. He was a 4 star recruit out of California rated 9th in the nation and is a pro style QB. Congrats to Coach Narduzzi and Coach Whipple is in order IMO. I’m sure Tx and dan72 will agree with me on that last statement.

    Like

      1. Them bringing in Yellen speaks volumes about their confidence in Beville and Patti

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        1. I’m not sure if it is that or just doing what the big boys do: Make sure you have as much competition possible at the most important position on your team.

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  186. Yellen 6′ 3″ 210 lbs. He could use a year in the weight room and battle for the starting job. Good to see he is enrolling early. Of course the coaches won’t get any credit for the commit since he is…………… oh no, a dreaded transfer. (sorry about that, couldn’t help myself) Joe Burrows not pleased.

    Liked by 1 person

  188. From Rivals : Maybe we stopped using rivals as the recruiting site for reference, but he was a 3 star that couldnt beat out the 4 star. We will see what happens. At least we add a qb to the room and he was almost a 4 star.

    From Rivals: Joey Yellen

    QB
    Mission Viejo, CA
    6’3″
    220

    5.7
    6/10/18 – Signed ASU – 3 Star

    This consensus 4 star stuff is crazy. I was excited when i read the headline and then poof, the wind went out of the sails. Can’t always believe what others type when it involves pitt athletics. Just turned on tv and see that the Pitt beater, Boston College was losing 24-0 to Cincinnati and then cincy blocked a field goal and returned it for a td. I dont expect cincy to attempt any more field goals.

    If they win it will be two 11 win seasons in a row. Dang city schools cant compete.

    Like

        1. Had a brief chat with Fickel over the summer when I did some work for UCincy….good dude! Not the brightest bulb in the toolbox and his elevator might not go to the top floor, but very likeable.

          Liked by 1 person

  189. Quick query: Does Clempson only get the 15 extra practices or do they get 15 + another 10? I don’t know that answer but it seems they get an advantage…as does lsu.

    31-6 cincy. They did not kick field goal on 4th and 2. Instead went for it and made it. Then finished drive with a td.

    Oops, prior post – bc blocked a cincy fg and returned it for td.

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  190. Well, that is what happens when you fire a head coach the players love. Maybe BC bounces back in … hmm around 8 years or so?

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  191. OT but Dan Potash is interviewing Coach Sullivan on Penguin pregame…Potash dressed as Randy Macho Man Savage. Must be 80s night or something.

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  192. Bad news on guentzel….terrible injury. 4 to 6 months is a long rehab. Maybe closer to 4 and he can come back for the playoffs, if pens can advance…if they can get in with all their injuries….

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  194. Beville is our best bet for our future quarterback. Assuming the old man OC we have lasts until the year after next, Beville is our best bet. The ASU kid is just insurance as a back-up in my opinion. After the Max Browne fiasco, I am very skeptical of these California kids.

    I am not a big Pickett fan to say the least but hope what we saw in the bowl game is his new normal. I would be satisfied with that for all of next season. If he reverts to his mean performance for this past season, I will not understand why we do not give someone else a chance.

    Like

    2. Pickett threw for over 3,000 yards and his receivers let him down mightily. Imagine his yards if half those passes were caught, not to mention the lack of a running game and porous pass blocking.

      I think another offseason with the playbook and the offensive players a year older Kenny is going to be really good as a senior.

      Yellen was highly ranked and has some pretty good tape from the USC game. I wouldn’t get too concerned about Max Browne and Yellen being from Southern California. The only time you worry about that is when you’re an NFL team and looking to draft a kid you grew up in SoCal.

      Liked by 1 person

  195. Anyone who has watched Beville throw the Ball in person likely has noticed one thing… the Kid throws a lot of WOUNDED Ducks.

    Frankly, he makes Pickett look more like Marino than anything else.

    Don’t think for a second that this Kid transferring in hasn’t seen the tape on Beville and every other Quarterback on the roster.

    Like

  196. Of course, this doesn’t mean Beville can’t get better. And that is a must if he expects to have a chance of replacing Pickett a year from now when he’s run out of eligibility.

    Like

  197. You’re right POD. This kid is not coming cross country to ride the pine. He believes when KP leaves he will be the man. I’m sure he could have found a spot closer to home, but you’re right,,,he’s seen the tape.

    Liked by 1 person

  198. The BC fiasco vs Cincinnati just confirms how bad a loss that was for Pitt. If Narduzzi didn’t tank that game to help his buddy Adazio, then it was truly an epic fail in game planning and motivation. Such a frustrating season!!!

    Liked by 3 people

  199. John in South Carolina … This kid is completely different than Max Browne. As a true freshman he performed very well against a P5 opponent. The kid ahead of him has 2 more years of eligibility. While he’s riding the pine at ASU as a redshirt sophomore he can be starting at Pitt as a redshirt Freshman. He won’t get a real chance to start at ASU until his redshirt junior year. It’s a no-brainer. I think the competition will be wide open in 2021. If he wins it, Beville will transfer. If Beville wins it, he’s kind of f’d. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Patti leave after next season. He’ll stick around this season because he’ll have a shot at the backup spot and be first in line if Pickett gets hurt.

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  200. Trey Anderson former Pitt QB was an offensive analyst(not sure how they pay an offensive analyst) at ASU this season and helped steer Yellen to Pitt. Supposedly his parents are big Steeler fans and the family has visited the city in the past to attend a game. So I guess he is at least a little familiar with the city. He did not make a visit to Pitt and I believe there was some NCAA rule on the reason behind that due to the lateness of him entering the transfer portal.

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  201. Trey Anderson
    ‏@CoachAndersonQB

    Extremely excited for my guy @JoeyYellen headed to my alma mater! @Pitt_FB is getting a good one!

    2:39 PM – 2 Jan 2020 from Tempe, AZ

    Like

  202. They Yellen transfer solves two problems because if he wins they can always move Beville to Tight End.

    (I’m kidding of course…just throwing some shade on our tight end room 😎)

    Like

    1. That room is empty…no shad, just darkness! No true tight ends yet! We had a DL Mimes try, and the local Kyi Wright, the lb’er…and Carrigan…and Charles Reeves that went to Youngstown who i thought transferred back….and Chris Clark….and Sear…..and Wheeler…..and Collier who may be an OT now.

      Nothing like letting your fanbase identify and bond with the players at their positions.

      Pitt should have put Mathews at TE (like darnell dinkins ended up) from day one and redshirted him, so he would have a chance at the next level. Didn’t need to get him to 250 pounds, but 230-240 with his affinity for blocking would have been great in my opinion.

      Liked by 1 person

  204. BC destroyed by Cincy……..all the air let out of their tires when Addaxio was fired….. so what was our excuse when BC humiliates PITT “ missed so asdignmensyy” “ left a few plays out there on the field.” We are not ready for prime time… it starts between the ears and what you have in the chest-… we haven’t arrived…. as Dabo was quoted saying “BRING YOUR OWN GUTS.” Get to work DUZZ and start with discipline

    Liked by 1 person

  205. Agreed BigB and a few other things.

    The BC game came down to PITT turnovers
    At that point, BC was playing to save their coach his job
    When Addazzio was fired BC quit for the season.
    But the bottom line in that game was that PITT beat themselves. AGAIN!

    Like

    1. no argument here … but were they really that much better throughout the year? IMO the best game they played was a loss. I believe they were 6-3 in one-score games.

      Like it or not, they are definitely in a division among their peers. The Virginia schools have made very good hires as did UNC. The GT hire remains to be seen but it is located in a state loaded with recruits … same with Miami.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. having said that, expectations are high … which is good. The defense should be very good so it all depends on if the offense makes any strides

        Liked by 1 person

      2. The defense in particular regressed the last third of the season. The offense was pretty much the same except for a couple of games in which they actually scored some decent 2nd half points. Peak’s 3-2-1 column today gives some good details on the Pitt D falloff the back end of the season.

        Like

    2. Going in to the last three regular season games (UNC, VT and BC), I said to myself, if we win three out of three or even two out of three I’d be happy. If we win one out of three or zero out of three it would be a lost opportunity.

      UNC was much better football team than expected this season. And beating them, after losing to them for four or five years, was never going to be easy. That was a nice win. Should have beat BC… But that’s been discussed enough already.

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  208. Yogi Roth former Pitt player is the lead analyst for the Pac 12 Network currently. PSN had a chance to talk to him today about the QB transfer Yellen. He made a couple of interesting comparisons on Yellen. But one must consider he had only one game to watch him in action this season for ASU to make those comparisons.

    Like

  211. alright Michael the suspense is killing me. What were the survey results? I’m itchin to know if I walk alone. Any Premier league fans here?

    I hope you had 1000 responses

    Like

    1. Had about 300 as of yesterday which is honestly a bit more than I expected.

      Basketball opens the acc schedule tomorrow and the next game on the 8th so look for something on survey results around the 5th or 6th

      Like

      1. Then it’s a good sample size. Biased population though. But it’s probably plus or minus 5 in quantitative percentages.

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  212. Tx, the only two votes that counts are Heather’s and the BOT, who don’t seem to give a crap so you better get on the good side of Heather.

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    1. ike – theres over $35 million reasons why they do care because thats the Pitt football budget and believe you me, they are very concerned about season ticket sales and donations for next year. if they spend that kind of dough and actually receive fewer revenues, I can give you a big ole Texas guarantee that heads will roll. you spend money to make money…not to lose it.

      Like

      1. OK Tx, common ground again. I’ve always said the major college football is a revenue maker. You spend money and should expect a return 10 fold. The problem I’ve watched is that it took the BOT 40 years to figure out we all knew all along.

        Like

        1. But…they finally appear to have figured things out. I truly believe that for the first time, the academic and athletic sides of the university can work in harmony as opposed to being adversaries. And since I own a Tardis, I have seen great things in Pitt’s future.

          Like

    2. ike – given 2020, you’ll see a new Tex. I’ve decided to drink some kool-aid albeit mixed with bourbon. My letter to Heather is more of a pep talk as opposed to a nasty-gram but I am still demanding transparency and accountability.

      I’ll be less piss and more vinegar this year.

      Liked by 1 person

  213. Classes start Monday and it would have been nice to get a grad transfer OL candidate signed up for classes so he could participate in Spring drills. We need all the help we can get to shore up that problem prior to next season. But it looks like that door is closing very fast.

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  214. Tex — you may be right about this but I’m old and skeptical — you seem to expect the mysterious Pitt BOT to be more Athletics-friendly when comprised of more women and minorities.

    That just doesn’t make any sense to me – in fact, I would think just the opposite…

    Go Pitt.

    Like

    1. I cant imagine the BoT mentality becoming worse.

      The best managers in my career have been women. Women are consensus builders, they listen and far less adversarial than their male counterparts. And minorities understand how a scholarship can provide you with a great education that wouldnt be there if not for the sports opportunity. Thats just not my thoughts. Talk with some families who are ‘minority’ like I have.

      And BTW, I’m a minority in Texas. There are no majorities in the Lone Star Republic. Thats future America for you. Best that Pitt begins to understand that.

      The game will be viewed differently and played differently in the future. Future fans are from our most diverse and tech savvy generations…the Millennials and Gen Z. Their needs and preferences are far different than yours and mine.

      To be honest with you, the Boomers really blew it running Pitt over the past 30 years. Yet my generation just sat on the sidelines and didnt care. I’m hopeful that the future generations will bring Pitt to the Promised Land. And who says I’m not an optimist.

      Like

      1. I think having more women and minorities on the BOT is good news for the University — because of the positives you note — but not necessarily good news for Pitt athletics.

        I just don’t think women and minorities, especially in an academic setting, are going to choose athletics over academics when it comes to allocating resources or setting priorities…

        Go Pitt.

        Like

  215. I had high hopes for QB Beville. Thought he did surprisingly well in the spring game as a true-freshman early-enrollee…

    I don’t like the idea of having 2 QBs with the same remaining eligibility. I hope Beville stays and wins the job.

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  216. You need competition Major and I’m hoping it brings the best out in all 3 remaining after next season. Both Patti and Beville have a chance even next season to step up if Pickett falters at all or is injured.

    Like

  217. Went to the women’s BB game last night. Pitt lost to ND by 8. Was down by 17 in the 3rd quarter but cut it to 3 in the fourth.

    Too many turnover and poor shooting did them in. Pitt shot only 25% and 3 for 17 from 3.

    Can see the freshmen making progress – the good streaks are getting more frequent but the bad streaks and scoring droughts have been too much to overcome.

    They had a “chalk talk” before the game – with assistant Coach Bridget Mitchell. Enjoyed the chance to talk to her. Admire the women’s team’s efforts to connect with the fans…

    This team will require “Patience, young Panthers,” but this will be a very competitive team by the middle of next season, IMHO…

    Go Pitt.

    Like

    1. BTW, Pitt lost by 56 to ND last season. ND lost a lot and is rebuilding too, but still…

      BTW, Pitt has a 6-4 freshman center named Rita Igbokwe. She’s a presence in the paint. She’s way inexperienced, but ND’s post players did nothing offensively while Rita was in the game.

      Will be fun to see Rita’s development… Same goes for the other 4 freshmen…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

  219. well, PSU must have been impressed how BC ran through the Pitt defense. They let go of their OL coach of the past 4 years and hired the BC coach, who is only 33 years old.

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    1. Pitt should have hired him. Consistently turned out top offensive lines

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        1. Well I can understand why a northern guy might not want to go down to the Deep South, but I hear you. Pitt wouldn’t have been able to pay

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  220. Pitt vs Wake today at noon at the Pete. Hoping the Zoo is back.
    Pitt favored but we will learn a lot today, about the team and about the fans.

    Still hoping for one or two last minute transfers but time is running out at least for spring ball.

    Like

  221. Wake suspended two kids for today’s game. Not major players, but cuts into its body count.

    Pitt has to win this game today. Home game, get to 11 wins and with Carolina next on the road, the Heels lost another starter to an injury and Pitt needs to learn to bounce on a wounded squad.

    Liked by 1 person

  222. MM

    Thanks for keeping this place up and running. I visit at least twice every day but don’t comment all that frequently. I really enjoy the cast of characters on here. Love the survey idea. Anxious to see the poll results.

    I was neutral to disappointed when Duzz was hired because he lacked HC experience. I really wanted him to succeed in a big way. I defended him from snide remarks by my friends and Pedo coworkers BUT he has plateaued. He is not a 10 win coach. I’m not sure he is a 9 win coach. His mind numbing decision to kick a FG in the Pedo game was flamed nationwide. He then showed no growth and made the same decision a few weeks later . That shows a fundamental flaw in his thinking that is not correctable IMO.

    Until yesterday I thought he should get one more year. If he doesn’t win next year with all those guys back, then you could move on.

    Then…. Joe Moorhead became available. An offensive wizard. Born in Pittsburgh former Pitt grad asst with plenty HC experience. I would hire him in an instant. Keep Partridge and try to keep Bates. Don’t care if Whip stays or goes. This, I believe is the best way forward. Won’t happen but I can dream….

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