in Pitt Football 1,792 Words

Steel City O-Line

I’ll be working my way through the position groups over the next few weeks.  It’s the kind of offseason activity that every Pitt outlet does, and one that nobody has done for a while, so hey, why not.  I did wide receivers last weekend (the Jared Wayne article) , and I saw this video on Twitter recently, so I figured I’d do the offensive line today.

So first of all, two points to Pat Narduzzi for this little confidence builder.  While the ‘Duz’s game day coaching may sometimes be questionable, he overindexes in the motivation department, and to be a good motivator you’ve got to get your guys believing they are better than they are.  This video helps to do that.

Because depending on who you ask, Pitt’s O-line graded out as fair-to-middling last season, and that’s probably being generous.

From Pro Football Focus’ “Ranking all 130 College Football Offensive Line Situations”

94. PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

Highest-graded player: C Jimmy Morrissey – 72.4 (28th)

Pitt’s offensive line improved as you traveled inward, as their tackles ranked just 126th overall, their guards 66th overall and Morrissey at center helped them rank 26th in overall grade. Morrissey allowed just 10 pressures — all of which were hurries — as he kept a clean sheet in sacks and hits allowed this year.’

I don’t think anyone is surprised by this assessment.  It became clear to even the casual fan that first-year starter Carter Warren was sometimes overmatched at left tackle, and grad-transfer Nolan Ulizio was more or less a dumpster fire on the right side.  So much so in fact that we was replaced mid-season.  As is per usual, Pitt is on the lookout for yet another grad transfer tackle this offseason, so no matter what the coaching staff tells you, the situation has not improved.

Interestingly enough there are nearly half-a-dozen ACC teams ranked below Pitt in the PFF piece.  Just to help you feel better about being a Pitt fan, I’ll post them

130. GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS

Highest-graded player: OG Mikey Minihan – 61.9 (181st)

It was a rebuilding year for Georgia Tech, as their offensive line had to adjust to pass-blocking more than they ever had with the triple-option of years past. The Yellow Jackets struggled mightily in the switch from a dominant run-first offense, and they gave up the nation’s highest sack+hit rate, with 12.1% of their pressures ending up with the quarterback on the ground. They also lost 34.9% of their pass-blocking reps, by far the highest in the country, and the unit also had the nation’s lowest pass-blocking efficiency rating as well as the 129th-ranked run-blocking grade.

129. FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

Highest-graded player: OG Dontae Lucas – 61.7 (185th)

Everybody knows that it was an ugly offensive year for FSU, and any layman who watched their games could say they knew the main culprit: the offensive line. The Seminoles’ offensive line gave up the 11th-most pressures (136th), the fourth-most sacks, the fourth-most hits and the second-most combined sacks and hits this year. Their 10.5% sack+hit rate ranked fifth in the country, and their allowed pressure rate of 25.9% was the 20th-highest.

111. DUKE BLUE DEVILS

Highest-graded player: C Jack Wohlabaugh – 67.2 (50th)

For a team that liked to pass as much as Duke, their 125th-ranked pass-blocking unit certainly hurt their chances. They ranked 69th in run-blocking as a unit, but they gave up pressure in the passing game an average of 2.29 seconds after the snap. That rate is the second-fastest among all offensive lines. 

101. SYRACUSE ORANGE

Highest-graded player: OG Evan Adams – 64.0 (156th)

Syracuse’s offensive line really struggled to move the line of scrimmage in the run game. On their 513 pass-blocking snaps, however, they allowed a pressure on 23.0% of their snaps, which is not as bad as it could have been given their 107th overall grade in the run game.

100. MIAMI (FL.) HURRICANES

Highest-graded player: OT DJ Scaife Jr. – 68.0 (135th)

The Hurricanes may have seen their highest-graded player on the offensive line finish at tackle, but how bad they were opposite Scaife is put into perspective when you realize they ranked just 110th overall as a unit on the outside and 110th in pass-blocking grade. They allowed the eighth-most pressures as a group (140) this season.

Also one last thing that should strike fear into the hearts of Pitt fans.  The former teams of our Head Coach, our Offensive Coordinator and our Offensive Line Coach all rank near the bottom of this list.  Yes Pat Narduzzi is five years removed from his Michigan State tenure, and yes he coached defense not offense, but the apple does not fall far from the tree people.  And Mark Dantonio is that tree.

125. UMASS MINUTEMEN

Highest-graded player: OT Larnel Coleman – 66.0 (163rd)

The UMass offensive line had just one position group rank inside the top 100 in both pass-blocking and run-blocking, and that was thanks in part to Coleman, who finished with the country’s 97th-best run-blocking grade. It was an ugly year on offense for UMass, and the offensive line certainly didn’t help.

118. MARYLAND TERRAPINS

Highest-graded player: C Ellis McKennie – 70.2 (35th)

The Terrapins struggled to keep their quarterbacks off the ground this season and allowed a sack or hit on 11.7% of their pass-blocking snaps, the second-highest rate in the country. They also allowed 130 pressures on just 420 pass-blocking snaps for a 30.9% pressure rate that ranked as the fourth-highest mark in the FBS. It’s a good thing that their run-blocking grade ranked inside the top 100 at each position, otherwise they’d be much lower here.

114. MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

Highest-graded player: OG Luke Campbell – 60.9 (202nd)

When you see that Michigan State’s highest-graded offensive lineman is in the 200s in terms of rankings, you can understand just how bad it was for the team. As a unit, the Spartans didn’t crack the top 100 in run-blocking, pass-blocking or overall grades this season, and their highest-graded unit overall came by way of their center play — checking in at 83rd overall.

Sooo yea.  Whipple could neither recruit linemen to UMASS or develop them.  The cupboard that Borbely stocked at Maryland is bare and we already talked about Pat “the Apple” Narduzzi.  Maybe we should just turn our attention back to Pitt.

As Pro Football Focus correctly points out, Morrissey anchors Pitt’s line, and he’s damn good at it.  He returns for his senior season, and that in and of itself is something of a reason for optimism.   Both guards also return (all three actually because Jake Kradel played significant snaps at RG) and you’d have to think that they will be at least as good as last year, if not slightly better.   As far as the tackles, well… You could assume that Carter Warren will improve somewhat.  Maybe slim down a little.  Maybe work on his feet.  To be honest I’d be happy if he just improved to average (and you should be too…)

It’s also addition by subtraction with Ulizio gone on the right side, right?  Well lets hope so.  At this point you’d have to figure that Carson Van Lynn (or Gabe Houey) would be slotted in as the starter if either of the had what the coaches were looking for.  Given the fact that Pitt is still looking for something…anything …to help shore up the tackle position means that, sadly, neither Van Lynn or Houey is the guy (well at least not yet…)  Which is a shame  Also let me nip the Grant Carrigan optimism in the bud.  I heard a lot of “well he’s approaching it with a great attitude and he’s learning” in the Spring ball interviews, and we all know what that means, so don’t get your hopes up for another Brian O’Neill people.

And yet, after all this gloom and doom, I will give you some small hope for optimism.

First, the line actually protected Pickett well on passing downs.  Pitt’s “Pass down” sack rate was only 5.3% last season, good for 26th in the FBS.  Raise your hand if you saw that coming.  I did not.  Their “standard down” sack rate was 5.5% – so kind of the same, but Pitt’s ranking actually fell to like 80 (78 actually) because a lot of other teams are much better at protecting their QB on first and second down, or third and short.  (sigh)

Also… Pitt largely struggled to get push in the running game.  This was also pretty apparent to the casual observer last year.  You could probably argue that the run blocking got better as the year went on but I don’t have any hard data to support it.  Or at least I don’t feel like going and looking nay up.  The stats by the way were 2.42 “line yards” per play, and 2.3 “line yards” per carry on standard downs in 2019 (91st and 102nd respectively).

For those of you wondering what the heck a “line yard” is, it basically measures how much space the line is creating for the running backs.  For comparison the 2018 Pitt team was ranked 23rd at 2.76 line yards.

Line Yards Definition:   The line gets credit for rushing yardage between 0-3 yards (instead of 0-4) and 50% credit for yards 4-8 (instead of 5-10). Anything over 8 yards is quantified as a highlight opportunity, and credit goes to the runner. As with the pro definition, lost yardage still counts for 125%. (Garbage time is filtered out for all line yardage averages.)

So yes, Pitt struggled to get push when it was supposed to…on “standard downs”.  (First down, 2nd and less-than-seven, and third and less-than-four).  Maybe it was because opponents were stacking the box.  Maybe it’s because Pitt couldn’t execute.  Either way, it was bad.

But…oddly enough, when Pitt had to get a couple of tough yards, they were noticeably better.   Their “Power Success Rate” was 74%, good for 52nd in the country.  I mean that’s not great, but it’s also not 102nd.   In other words Pitt got a first down or a touchdown 3 out of every 4 times they ran the ball on third or forth and less than 2.  (If only Pat had had those stats in his back pocket at Penn State…)

So what does this all mean?  Building the line from the middle out, line yards, sack rate?  Nothing different than previous years I’m afraid.  Seems like as long as I’ve been a Pitt fan there has been questions about the offensive line, particularly the tackles, and the jury is still kind of out on how well coach Borbs can teach pass blocking to the group we have now.   And so yet again, the biggest question mark on offense is also the second most important position.  Hope is not a strategy folks, but sadly, right now hope is all we’ve got.  And I sure hope Borbs can work some magic.

Pitt 2020 OL Scholarship Players
Pitt 2020 Scholarship Players.  Yellow indicates returning starter.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

 

256 thoughts on “Steel City O-Line”

  1. Excellent article, MM.

    —I’m going to predict that Van Lynn wins an OT spot. He moves his feet pretty well. I think a grad-transfer is for the other OT spot.

    —I kind of like Coach Borbs, but he lost me when he said in an interview that Warren was our most athletic OLineman. I don’t see how that can be true with the way he struggles to move laterally.

    —I just wonder if our tackles are too damn big? Why do they have to be 320 pounds to block DEs who typically go 250-260? But what do I know…

    —And the reason that our actual sack-rate didn’t look as bad was that KP often fled the “pocket” and then threw the ball away. We had to have had a very high throw-away rate. Better than a sack, but not productive…

    —Maybe one of the young OTs is good enough to play? Goncalves, for example?

    Thanks, MM.

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  2. I think the O-line will better just because they have one more year of maturity and working together.

    Too bad it is looking more and more like there won’t be a football season. The good news is that social distancing appears to be working, the bad news is because it is working it will take longer for the virus to run it’s course. Large gatherings of people will not be safe for the foreseeable future.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Now that’s some pessimism. I’m not willing to give up on the season just yet

      Like

      3. Just a month ago we didn’t even know what America was in for, so I’d suggest taking a wait & see attitude regarding what the reality of the COVID-19 epidemic is going to look like 4 months down the road. a lot can happen in four months. Hopefully the good news will out weigh the bad by August.

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  3. Well, you all know I’m usually very optimistic so I do indeed feel this O-Line will be much improved over last year. Glass half full people will say that the players are one year older and just have to be better. Half glass empty people will say, you can’t make a race horse out of a jack-ass. I believe this unit will be fine, remember there were injuries to every running back last year at one time or another.

    I’ve been saying for a good while now that there won’t be a season this year but on second thought……… I think there has to be, one way or another. Actually the season may not be conducted fully this year but well into next year. So I may be half right.

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  4. Absolutely hope I am wrong, I have no crystal ball. A vaccine is the only cure and they haven’t ever been produced very quickly if at all. Viruses hang around for quite a while and this is obviously one of the worst ever in how it transfers and how deadly it is.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. When will it be safe for teams to travel by bus or airplane?

    Rapid testing and mass production of N-95 masks will help.

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    1. Will football players have another face mask under their face mask?

      Can you picture Coach Duzz getting on the refs while wearing a face mask?

      It’s going to get even weirder, I suspect…

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 2 people

  6. the 2nd wave is allegedly coming in late summer or early fall. I guess I fall on the side of overcaution … but will wait and see. I still think there is a chance of a shortened season beginning on Oct with league games only. Spring FB is certainly not out of the question

    On the other hand:

    9/5 Miami (oh) … script Pitt mask day
    9/19 Richmond …. sanitizer day
    9/26 Duke … script Pitt toilet paper day
    10/17 ND … script Pitt disposable glove day
    10/24 Ga Tech … homecoming
    11/6 Va Tech … UP Research Appreciation Day
    11/28 Cuse …. vaccination day

    Liked by 7 people

  7. I didn’t have an issue with the offensive line last year. I had issues with QB play and dropped balls. I didn’t even care about the run game. I still say the only thing holding Pitt back from 10 wins this year will be Pickett. He isn’t a P5 QB. I don’t expect a magical turnaround. He has a big enough sample size to see what we have. The kid from Arizona State is really intriguing. I wish he could get eligibility ASAP.

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    1. Exactly TT, if those very catch-able balls are brought in, then the close games could have been wins. The trajectory of Pickett’s passes have nothing to do with a drop pass if it hits an intended receiver in the hands and he bumbles it. The consequences of a dropped pass let alone multiple drops a game is an insurmountable mountain to climb despite who a team is playing.

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      1. Wider receiver and QB play can both be bad. Haha. He had a lot of drops but he was not a great QB.

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    2. You’re not going to goad me into reviewing the QB play until I’m good and ready …

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dr. Tom – I haven’t been on the forum as much lately … have you returned? Always miss your sage takes on the positive of Pitt athletics. Anyone ever hear from Emel?

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  9. We all need a sense of humor to get through this.

    Certainly perspective changes depending on which risk category you and your loved ones are in, and where you live. How and when social distancing requirements are relaxed is obviously yet to be determined. My guess is that the strength or weakness of the secondary wave that follows will determine if social distancing is reinstated. No one knows what the timeline is. The Chinese are relaxing their social distancing. Theirs was much more complete than ours. similar to S. Korea and Singapore. Our experience is more like that of Europe. Population density a major risk factor.

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  11. I vaguely remember getting a polio vaccine shot as a first-grader…

    This excerpt from a web site — (maybe we should be sending dimes to the White House…)

    “Parents were scared of the polio epidemics that occurred each summer; they kept their children away from swimming pools, sent them to stay with relatives in the country, and clamored for an understanding of the spread of polio. They waited for a vaccine, closely following vaccine trials and sending dimes to the White House to help the cause. When the polio vaccine was licensed in 1955, the country celebrated and Jonas Salk, its inventor, became an overnight hero.”

    (Walt Harris, who was born in 1946, had polio…)

    Go Pitt.

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    1. What a relief it was when that happened. I remember getting the shot as well and the Sabin sugar cube.

      I also remember the kids that had leg braces and crutches. An awful disease.

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  12. All QB’s are better when they have more time to throw, but I agree KP is what he is.

    That is why I would like to see a stronger running game that can convert short third downs, and break off a few longer gains.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yeah, I think KP would be decent if he had time in the pocket — The Pickett Pocket… Too often one of the tackles left a DE thru and KP was running toward a sideline which rarely worked out well…

      I thought Concalves and Liam Dick had the type of bodies you look for in a tackle – leaner, versus the massive, heavier guys like Warren and Carter. But then in this last recruiting class, we seemed to go back to the massive OTs….

      I figure there are only so many bodies out there that are 6-6 and 300 pounds AND athletic. Getting those guys away from the blue bloods is a tough challenge for Pitt… And based on MM’s article, for other ACC schools too…

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Don’t forget that there are many companies working on treatments that could reduce the severity of the virus and make it a reasonable risk to get together in groups. If an effective treatment is approved, it could change things real fast.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That would be great, but I am not holding my breath. The common cold has been around forever and no real treatment for it. The way this thing attacks the lungs is the problem and a treatment would have to stop that.

      I am wondering if the pneumonia shots that us old folks have taken provide any protection from this thing?

      I have not heard anyone mention it so I am guessing it doesn’t.

      The treatment that is currently being touted apparently has some nasty side effects and some countries have stopped using it.

      A big problem is that the vast majority survive this thing so you don’t want to give a treatment that could do more harm than good.

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  14. as gc stated above, vaccine and efficacy will be key, IF and imo likely but not soon enough for 2020
    treatment silver bullet could make it 2020 but big IF

    without either above, plan on 2021 football, maybe

    large venue events with big crowds are on hold as identification might be quick via blood stick or other methods available and developing but in those kind of numbers and 100% accuracy will be virtually impossible

    a next wave begins when this is attempted prematurely and fails – once we know about prevalence in the general population this may change but my minimally informed guess is we are at 2-4% and need to get to 70-80% to be effective herd

    the next wave begins when attempts are made to resume normal and the 5% to 20% of the human race makes the stupid human behavior mistakes, some through stupidity, some arrogance some evil, etc

    someone smart, please let me know where i’m wrong

    Liked by 1 person

    1. “Large venue events with big crowds are on hold”, so you’re saying that Pitt football is going to be OK then? I feel bad for penn state though.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I think there are a few keys to getting back to a new normal and having a football season.

    Rolling out a treatment regimen like hydrochloroquine for widespread use is one.
    Having a readily available test for the virus with near instant results is another. I think the test is available in limited volume now.
    A test to identify those with immunity will be a big help. UPMCand Pitt are close on that.
    Down the road a bit a vaccine will be the final step back to normal. There are at least 3 in work including Pitt’s creation.
    I’m optimistic that football will happen. Maybe not in September.

    Whether attendance will ever recover is another story.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. We are teetering on politico talk but it is very relevant right now. What I’ve read and heard this hydrochloroquine can be of use but not necessarily or just for real sick patients but more as a barrier from the virus. People with Lupus and the people in Malaria prone countries who have taken the drug for years have a much smaller rate of being infected.

    BTW, answer to my above joke………… dinner is on me.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. As long as you talk about the science and not who’s touting it and who’s not it’s fine

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Some very sick patients have recovered using the Plaquenil (plus zpak & zinc), so it has not just been beneficial as a barrier, it has saved lives of the desperate. My question isn’t whether its effective or not, but HOW effective this treatment is, and when the results for the thousands being treated will be know. Maybe the plasma treatment will be even better?

      As to football in 2020, right now I’m guessing it will be a GO, but I don’t feel very confident about it. The goods news is: we’re turning things around quickly in terms of the curve. As for a ‘second wave’, there’s no proof of that at all, but it has to be at least a concern.

      Well, today is an odd Good Friday, I hope you all have a great Holy Week, stay safe, Hail to Pitt.

      Like

  17. In that case, Thx MM. I wonder if anyone is looking into Lime and Coconut, as in:

    You put de lime in de coconut and drink’em bot’ up…..
    Called de doctor, woke ‘im up;
    And said, “Doctor, is there something I can take…”
    “Doctor, to relieve dis belly ache”

    Iek – you out there??😉

    Liked by 2 people

  18. Getting back to the O line discussion, I thought all of those sideline passes were an acknowledgement by our coaches that our Oline couldn’t be trusted to open holes for our running backs. The sideline pass to a receiver behind the line of scrimmage was just a running play with more space. Once the receiver caught the ball, the object was the same as any running play. You hope the guy can juke a defender for a good gain, bowl over a defender for 3 or 4 yards, get a block from a teammate if there is one out there, etc.

    I’m not into stats so I don’t know how those are recorded, but I think anytime you put the ball into the hands of someone behind the line of scrimmage, it should be recorded as a run. Whether that be a handoff, a toss, a shovel, a swing pass, or a sideline toss, I don’t think any of those should count as a pass stat wise. I know the differentiation between forward incompletions and sideways or backwards fumbles.

    Does a sideline pass going backward count as a pass?

    Considering how often we ran the sideline pass, I was surprised we never gave up a pick 6..At least I don’t remember one. But it did seem to me that as the season went on, we saw more and more defenders out there stuffing that play.

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  20. It’s hard to get too excited about the Pitt roster on the OL. I’m actually thinking our OL this year will take a step back from last years OL. Their only savior may be that the Covid-19 virus may shelter them from shame this year.

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  21. But, seriously, I wonder why we haven’t tried the Brian O’ Neal Conversion again. I grew quite weary last year of watching DEs come around our tackles all last year.

    If the big boys gobble up all the quick-footed tackles, then we need to grow our own. Seems to me that some team of yester year had their linemen take ballet lessons – or am I dreaming??

    Our problem may be our lack of depth at TE – none to spare for experimentation. If we’d throw to them more often, perhaps we’d attract more TE recruits.

    Bottom line – we’ve got to have a lot more 3rd and 2-3s, and a lot fewer 3rd and 7-8s if we want to get to 9-10 Ws

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  22. Mr Wolfe, A pass going backwards in the backfield is consider an overhand lateral and a running play. It’s why they still have the option to throw a forward pass. The ole shuttle pass is indeed a pass and counts towards or against passing yards. The biggest difference between college and the pros is that sacks count against rushing yards in college and passing yards in the pros.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Ike! I knew folks on the POV would have the answer. Guess that puts the burden on the stat guy/gal to quickly decide whether the pass was forward or backward.

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  23. Farmers HSPA – agree on relationship between sideline passing and OL run blocking ineptness. And to add to that perception, we kept the TE in to block almost 100%of the time – and still couldn’t develop an effective ground game. Might’s well have sent the TEs out for 5-6 yd passes – unless they have hands of stone (in which case, turn ’em into tackles! Pre-dawn PB’n’J sammiches). Are Oakland grocery stores sold out of peanut butter?? Could be a problem!

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  24. Warren, Hargrove, Morrisey, Kradel, Houy. and Van Lynn all got many snaps last season …. but going into the season, only Morrissey and Van Lynn had any experience of note. IMO, there is reason to believe that the OL will be better; how much better remains to be seen. Younger players like Zubovic, Dick and Goncalves may contribute but can’t be counted on yet.

    There are two OLs coming in …. a 5.7 and 5.6 but will very likely not see the field.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Thanks, Ike! Always enjoyed a little Harry Nilsson. BTW, they spared no expense on that video, did they? Very creative! Of course, other than a lime and a coconut, what else was there to video? Maybe a doctor and a sister?

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  26. Again, I think the O-Line will be a bit better this year as the running backs will be, which will also help. Third part of the equation is KP and the offensive package PITT will be able to deploy to do being familiar with what coach Mr Whipple has in mind. Can’t forget how many OC’s PITT and Kenny has had to deal with.

    Also, In my minds eye, the biggest part of a successful O-Line starts in the middle with the center. Jimmy knows what he’s doing and what the rest of the O-Line should be doing. He may not be a first rounder (who knows?) but he is an overachiever and a cerebral player. That unit will be OK when they get the chance to play.

    Michaelangelo, love what you’re doing and greatly appreciate your fine work and efforts.

    Here is a little more Harry and another masterpiece of his skills in making riveting video’s.

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    1. Thanks for the flashback from my college days, farout. Kids, take it from somebody who knows what he’s talking about, Just,, say,,, NO!

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  30. Not exactly Mark but my way of expressing my frustration for messing up the video presentation 3 times. Jerry’s hit song “Great balls of Fire” which I’m sure you know was a huge hit. Mark, keep on rocking in the free world! Hope all is great with you and your entire family, stay safe and hope to see you sometime in the future. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Yes, Ike, I look forward to seeing you soon too. BTW, while we are off on a tangent, does anyone else watch Schitt’s Creek? A very different but funny sitcom on Netflix.

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    1. Yeah, I’m skeptical. The folks on TV are talking like the curves are peaking out. I don’t know what curves they’re looking at… 🤔

      Go Pitt.

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      1. I go to work each day , stay away from the non-stop CV19 news…. people aren’t dropping dead in the streets…. at least ‘round here…world experts are looking for a fix…. I have sat through years of hurricane models and projections – lots of over- blown BS any usually nothing like the Weather Channel makes the moment out to be…the “Jim Cantori Affect!” Life goes on…. my hour glass is running and not a lot of sand left in the top half of mine…. Hopefully, we will soon hear the captain say” you are free to move about the plane.”

        Liked by 5 people

        1. truth about the “paddits” and won’t, so far so good

          hope you are right, but hurricane analogy doesn’t fit for me yet you are correct about the weather channel bs, this isn’t that bs

          hoping you have way more sands that you might think

          should’ve last time at Dukeg game, but will bro hug next POV tailgate or whatever,,,you and many of the pitt guys here help make my day often

          Liked by 2 people

          1. tvax, Reason #1 this ole world is fueled by money and greed….ever think UPMC has so much money they would think to give the little guy a break by lowering his insurance premium:: he’ll no.. jet,s spend the excess on advertising in a market they own and contribute to getting their brand on sporting facilities not to mention fueling some millionaires….that’s the way of the world…the” need for green” will fuel the comeback,,,money talks

            Liked by 1 person

            1. Reason #2 .. watch the stock market…I already jumped back in water… there is money to be made… buy low sell high….

              My biggest worry isn’t my health – that’s why they make pills to sell and exercise is free for the willing… I am so afraid of a meteor strike and we go into a global ice age or worse yet by way of T-Rex….. kidding….

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              1. Reason #3… we all need haircuts… we are all going to look like lastrow with our pandemic piney-tails….. with the exemption of you smooth clean look shavers…

                Liked by 2 people

          2. Using the hurricane analogy means things won’t be as bad as the talking heads would have you believe….

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  32. As you will tell from this post, I believe Pitt academics is excellent. I think the OL will be excellent, the WR’s will be excellenter, the qb will be excellente’, the running backs will all run an excellent 4.2 forty and the play calling will be excellentness.

    @wwb – I would not give out Pitt Script to the 100k announced Pitt attendance in the game versus Duke. Rather I would give out Duke toilet paper…..for the obvious reasons.

    Flew to Orlando and back on Southwest about three weeks ago. Four passengers on the plane. It was awesome. C-19 can be managed if we are smart about it. And luckily my education made me smarterer.

    We will have a graduated return to normality taking place soon. Not just with my comments but the fall semester as well.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Back to the OL…. they will play a huge roll in determining if we have a 9-10 win season vs a 6-8 win season… I also hope there is real QB competition… KP is a gamer but instinctively and inately inconsistent

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  35. Ike. Thanks for the continued music videos. I play them while I read the other posts every time.
    Biggie, haircuts are overrated and I’m buying stocks too.
    Huff, most excellent first paragraph in your above post.
    tvax, virtual bro hugs until further notice…

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Dang right Fran – haircuts are overrated. Late March, early April is when I’ve been getting my yearly trim. Not upset at all in missing that 1 hour waste of time.

      But then again I am relieving my hippie years w/out the free sex & drugs (obviously excluding all the prescription drugs I take).

      Liked by 4 people

      1. I get a haircut every three months, whether I need it or not…

        (Actually, I splurge and “get them all cut.”). 😊

        Go Pitt.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Sometimes I think I post too many Fran but I do try and keep them topical though. They may seem random but in my crazy head they are not. 🙂

      Like

  36. Dam right haircuts are over-rated. Last time I went to my barber I lied and said I was going to have surgery and to cut it super short cause he never cuts it short enough. Old barber trick. Well he finally cut it short. That was 6 months ago. I usually go twice a year.

    Like

  37. Ike, I like the fact you keep them topical..
    Richard, next tailgate you attend I’ll get you drugs and free sex if you like.😎
    I still have good contacts…

    Liked by 3 people

  38. You guys are tough critics. Warren’s first full year at left tackle was decent. Look for him and Kradel to make big improvements. Really big improvements.

    I don’t see Houy grabbing the right tackle spot. Hope I am wrong because he has experience.

    Please no grad transfer. I’d rather see a young guy thrown in there.

    Like

    1. NRS —I hope you’re right about Warren. If he makes a big improvement that would solve a big problem. But I must say that I just didn’t see the necessary agility and aggressiveness on display in his pass-blocking.

      Hope you’re right and I’m way wrong…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

  39. Last time I paid for a hair cut.

    Told the girl to just shave what is left of my follicly challenged head. She did it in about a minute. Went to pay her and she said, “Oh honey, I can’t charge you for that!”

    Liked by 4 people

  40. unfortunately, or fortunately, my hair doesn’t not grow like you guys …. in another week, I will be achieving mountain man status

    Like

  41. Nice article in PSN on Lay-trobes own Luke Pletcher joining Pitts wrestling staff and RTC.
    Also, how the Regional Training Center helps Pitt wrestling. I had no idea…you need to open a link within the story to learn more on the RTC.

    Like

    1. Iek: I got into a fistfight at Latrobe Memorial Stadium with Luke’s father Dan at a football game during my Junior year in high school. We were rolling around on the bleachers until people broke it up. He was a pretty tough dude.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Dan was the youngest of the brothers Eric. Donnie, Kip, Chip are his older brothers. I actually thought Luke was Chip’s son? Good people but apparently had a “CHIP” on their shoulders. Won a Sunday softball tournament with Donnie……………. geez am I getting ole. 😦

        Like

  42. Know the Pletcher family well. Spent many days with Luke’s grand pap golfing, swimming at their pool, sitting by the fire-pit making mountain pies and going to the oldie dances at Harry’s Danceland. We All Had a Real Good Time! His grand pap passed a few years ago… RIP Bill.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Certainly no surprise, social distancing is working, numbers heading in the right direction.

      Like

  45. Talked to my brother. The Lord willing & the Covid don’t rise. we have narrowed down my visit to Pittsburgh will be for either the Duke or Georgia Tech game. We also both settled on arriving at the POV tailgate 3 hours before the game. He totally enjoyed meeting everyone. Last year, a large number had already left before we arrived.

    Crazy weather here. 87 yesterday. Turned on the AC. 77 today but low of 47. Friday high 61 low 34. Will turn on heat this evening.

    Liked by 1 person

  46. Richard, I sure hope there is a season next year and we can cross paths again next year. Your weather is crazy, our weather is crazy, I’m going crazy, everything seems like it’s crazy!

    Liked by 2 people

  47. I just realized that Olineman Jerry Drake is no longer on the roster. He was 6-5 and 310 and would have been a red-shirt Junior.

    He was a big recruit from Florida. An example of how tough it is to evaluate OLine recruits…

    Go Pitt.

    Like

    1. You nailed it, ike. I had forgotten.

      Here’s from PSN:

      “The team announced update that redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Jerry Drake and junior linebacker Albert Tucker were being placed on an exempt medical list. This means that the two of those were no longer on the team and their scholarship won’t count towards the 85 man scholarship limit.

      This medical situation is similar to what occurred years ago with George Hill and Zack Gilbert following their preseason physical. No reason has been given for what the situation is with Drake and Tucker.

      Drake is a big loss considering he’s a former highly rated 4-star recruit and was supposed to compete for playing time in 2020.”

      Go Pitt.

      Like

  51. It will take eight weeks for the players to get into condition for camp rigors per Urban Meyer. Tack on a month of camp and it we’re looking at three months from the day health officials declare us safe. So maybe football starts in December?

    Regarding the O-line, I hope Pitt lands that grad transfer right tackle. His tape is exactly what Borbley wants in a tackle: long, lean and can move.

    Liked by 1 person

  54. There is snow on the ground here as I am about to venture out to the local grocer’s senior hour with my homemade mask. While I never dreamed I would have to experience anything like this, and for those who are begging for sports to re-start, remember the words of Nietzsche “Whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes you stronger”

    If nothing else, I would have to think that all survivors would have a better perspective about our world.

    I have always wanted to be a philanthropist or a philosopher .. but have come up short in both areas. Thus, you are stuck with me

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Not sure how this will make us stronger, I’ve put on seven pounds already. Nervous eater.

      Like

    2. Well wwb, maybe you can combine the two and just think about all the pros and cons of giving away money….

      Like

  55. Just can’t help but think how many babies will be born next December and January. Hope their parents are back to work by then. Invest in diapers, car seats and strollers.

    Boy do I miss Masters week.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. As a guy who makes his living in the baby business in all for this

      Like

  56. Those babies are future Pitt fans. If the mother drinks sweet things during pregnancy, the child born becomes an optimist. If the mother drinks sour things, then the child is born a pessimist. Either way, becoming a Pitt fan is a choice made. If the child chooses Pitt, God bless him. Nobody willingly signs up to experience SOP so the boy or girl will always be tough. Maybe not so smart but tough as nails and loyal to a fault.

    Tex

    Liked by 1 person

  58. Found out I have a cousin and her husband in a Pittsburgh hospital with coronavirus. Word is she was just taken off a ventilator; he’s still on one.

    May the Pitt vaccine work…

    Like

  60. Fran — there was supposed to be POV pre-spring-game golf today, correct?

    Would have been chilly, but fun. 👍

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Bummed about that. Was planning to be there and looked forward to seeing everyone.

      Played in shorts yesterday and it was beautiful here in Central VA.
      Azaleas in full bloom, fairways lush green, yet firm and fast.
      Greens approaching bikini-waxed speeds.

      Slightly cooler today, but no snow!

      I hope you all get to enjoy a pleasant weekend, wherever you may be.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. The high here is supposed to be 44 today. But 55 with some sun tomorrow and then 68 on Easter.

        Would have been a good day on Saturday for the Spring Game…☹️

        Go Pitt.

        Liked by 1 person

  62. I’m off this afternoon, Fran & John. Got a few things to do in the back yard, and then it going over to the driving range and hit a bucket or 2. High today – mid 70s!

    C’mon down- I-95 is uncluttered!

    Liked by 1 person

  64. Praying for the best for your cousins John. Are they local?
    In an unrelated manner, so many of my POV brethren seem to enjoy golfing so much I am thinking about getting a set of 2nd hand clubs. I may need some pointers on what to look for. I haven’t swung a club in 30 years!

    Liked by 1 person

      1. saw somewhere that Passavant had the 2nd most number of cases in the area, probably behind Presby

        Like

    2. Since you haven’t played in a long time, get a set of oversized, cavity backed irons with graphite shafts.
      Graphite is lighter in the bag, produces higher clubhead speed and it forces one to have good swing tempo. Best to have someone check your swing speed to determine what flex you need.

      Think about hybrids instead of buying 3, 4 or 5 irons. They are more forgiving and are great tools for some chip shots.

      Whatever putter you buy, get it outfitted with an oversized grip. They are simply great.

      Without know what other stores are available up in the Pgh are, I’d go to Golf Galaxy out near the airport. (Fran may be able to direct you a place on the East end of ‘tahn.) They have a second hand stock and have guys who can guide you in picking out clubs. You might be able to get one of them to have you hit a few balls in the simulator to assess your swing speed.

      Good luck and hope to see you out at a future outing!

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Good advice from JoeL. Especially the cavity backed irons and avoiding 3, 4, and even 5 irons.

        You do need a good mashie-niblick though…😊

        Go Pitt.

        Liked by 1 person

    4. Go see my cousin Joe, he may be able to set you up. He’s closed right now, but Tressa can get you in touch.

      Like

  65. Saw where someone compiled a list of Top-100 WPIAL FB players for 2021, and the first QB shows up at No. 42.

    I think 3 of our QB offers are to QBs in Texas…

    With what’s going on, might be a tough year for us getting a good QB recruit…

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  66. I had snow yesterday afternoon and this morning. A friend of mine sent me a ;picture of his property up in Sharpsville … a blanket of white.

    However, Pgh forecast for tomorrow at 5 is supposed to be sunny and low 50s. IMO, the Blue would have beaten the Gold 10-6

    Like

    2. My roommate, Gary Roos, was also Big 33 In that class. From Wilkes Barre along with Dave Blandino and others. After getting flooded out, Gary got hurt in practice and Pitt yanked his scholarship. The Rooster then enlisted in the Navy, got a PhD afterwords. Last I heard he was in Ohio. Before deciding on Pitt he shared a meal with Woody Hayes

      Like

  68. Mark, do you golf right or left handed? I have a ton of right handed clubs you can try.
    Shoot me an email or text..and everything JoeL said is correct.

    Like

    1. Mark, I have a set of Pings just going to waste here that you can have but JoeL is right, graphite might be the better way to go as we age. Let me know.

      Liked by 1 person

  69. CBS wrote an article on 20 Impact Freshmen to watch. The very first listed (although maybe in alphabetical order) was:

    Jordan Addison
    Height: 5-foot-11
    Weight: 161 pounds
    Hometown: Frederick, Maryland
    Ranking: Position (10, as an athlete), State (12)
    Barton’s Take: In three spring practices, Addison was already turning heads before things got shutdown. Pitt has a need for playmakers and Addison is fast, dynamic and explosive. Don’t expect him to be the only impact freshman for Pat Narduzzi, either.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. this was a 45 min video which I believe will get much LESS criticism than Heather’s last week

      Like

  73. Apparently the feds are throwing billions of dollars to colleges losing money during the pandemic. PITT needs a stadium, how about a zero interest loan?

    Like

    1. How about federal grant monies for infrastructure projects. Pitt could probably get a negative rate government bond right now.

      Tex

      Liked by 1 person

      1. If Pitt were a bit innovative in their thinking, they would have already been prepared for this financial borrowing opportunity by preparing and procuring all the appropriate approvals for a shelf like bond issuance in the municipal bond marketplace. The corporate world does this all the time so that a corporation remains nimble and can take advantage of market conditions as they are presented. Typically, once there is an opportunity, organizations start to allign financial matters to execute a bond offering, but it takes too long and the opportunity is missed. By gettin pre-approval for a large bond offering and placing it on the shelf, the pre-approval process is removed and you can take advantage of the market accordingly. It’s an innovative strategy for higher education (municipal bond market) and takes leadership that understands how to manipulate finances now to secure the best future results. In addition, you can have more flexibility in how the funds are spent…..like a stadium or something!

        Cash is cheap! What a great time for a smaller stadium to be financed with the best in-stadium technology available. Happy Easter….

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Yeah, Huff the Third and I agree. I’m still stewing over the loss of the PAA building and the Schenley high school. Act now PITT and don’t let this opportunity slip through your fingers.

          Like

  74. A big concern is what this virus and associated cancellations will do to Pitt’s athletic programs. Word of budget cuts including for coaching salaries, if any, will leak out and would hurt Pitt’s brand and prestige. We need an AD and administration to come out and voice some commitment to Pitt’s athletics programs.

    Like

    1. I don’t think asking for $ for athletic programs would go over well with the public, even if it is disguised as for academics.

      Liked by 2 people

  75. For those of you who love the music of the 60s and 70s check out Echo Canyon on Netflix. Good documentary. Ike you will like this.

    Liked by 1 person

  76. Mike this is not meant as political but as a joke and a warning to the USA to not be caught again and be fooled,

    Like

  77. JP, just Googled “Echoes in the Canyon” and watched the preview…looks AWESOME.
    Right up my musical alley.
    Thanks.

    Like

    1. Saw it a while ago. Remember one of the real cool things is the map they show that within about a mile or so circumference, Crosby, Nash, Stills, Young, Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Brian Wilson, John Philips and Roger McGuinn all had residences …. probably left a few out.

      Like

  79. Also watch Every Nights a Saturday Night about Bobby Keys Rolling Stones Sax Player.

    Amazing stuff.

    Netflix really helping us get through this.

    I did see the echoes in the Canyon, excellent.

    Like

  80. About to watch it now but in the meantime I had missed this for you posters that say PITT doesn’t get any 4 star players.

    “247 Sports announced some changes to their player ratings and moved both wide receiver Jaylon Barden and linebacker Bangally Kamara up to 4-star recruits.

    With this news, Pitt’s Class of 2020 now has five 4-star recruits on it: Barden, Kamara, wide receiver Aydin Henningham, safety Jahvante Royal and wide receiver Jordan Addison.”

    Please, no nitpicking over which recruiting service either. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ike- if we could play game of pick and choose your stars, the new standard for 4 stars would be higher. 4 is the target to hit using rivals. If you use all the recruiting services, that number increases. And it would also help improve the class rankings of other schools as well and probably more so since other coastal schools have more borderline 4 stars than Pitt…if you look at the 5.7 rated recruits. I’m still not sold on Narduzzi as a recruiter. He’s a better coach than recruiter. Partridge is his recruiting ace on staff.

      Tex

      Like

      1. Tex, I just think all recruiting services rankings should be added together and then divided for a consensus. No way in hell do I think Rivals have any better idea of high school players than the next service. Cause they don’t.

        Like

        1. Ike – what you describe is the 24/7 composite. It combines Rivals, ESPN & (regular) 24/7 recruiting sites rankings,

          I am sticking with Rivals. If I didn’t it would make a significant portion of last 2 1/2 years of my free time worthless.

          Liked by 1 person

        2. Rivals is the biggest and best. Been around forever. Has the biggest budget for scouts. Coaches look to rivals first. Every service is off on individual players. But in aggregate, the numbers don’t lie. Rivals does a very good job predicting high impact players. And of course this is just based on certain tangibles. It’s often the intangibles that determine if a player reaches his ceiling and how high.

          Tex

          Liked by 1 person

  82. FWIW, in the press conference with the local media yesterday, Narduzzi said that the shut down order may actually help Pitt’s recruiting because the 2021 PA class is by fa the best it’s been since he came in 2015 …. and a lot of area recruits may not get to travel much before committing.

    He also seemed pretty optimistic about this year’s team and hopes they get to play a 12 game schedule

    Like

  83. As schools and colleges are forced to go to virtual learning on line (I have always advocated that), it is a matter of time before it moves into sports. Fans will always go to games but less and less. Cameras in players and refs helmets, robot umpires, sensors in baseballs, basketballs, pucks and footballs are coming. Pitt needs to get technology into a new OCS while money is cheap. Very sad that this had to happen because of this tragedy. Happy happy Easter. May the Easter bunny you bring you many chocolate liquor eggs. H2P

    Like

  84. A recent Dokish tweet has a link to a Wall Street Journal article about Pitt’s research, past and current. It goes a little bit into detail of Dr Falo growing up locally with his WPa twang, and Dr Gambotto coming here from Italy 25 years ago. It is not real long but a very good read.

    The last paragraph actually begins with Pitt is still more known for its football team but that may be soon changing

    Liked by 1 person

  85. A stadium is a legit infrastructure project. It supports programs for scholar athletes and provides public entertainment. Pitts venue could also be used for community events. Money is cheap right now and pork is for the taking in the next stimulus bill.

    Large social gatherings will happen again. Build a venue with social distancing in mind. Smaller venue with spread out seating. And with the ability to quickly sanitize it and with a on site lab to check every fan before attending.

    Pitt will have a first of a kind stadium for the new normal.

    Tex

    Like

    1. Agreed Tex but I shiver at the thought of being frisked and then have my temperature taken before being allowed into a game. << I sure hope it’s not rectally. 🙂 Our society is going to hell in a hand basket…….. whatever that means.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I see temperature checks for every fan. Very easy to do and quick. I see leaving your saliva at will call and then to come back in 15 minutes for your results. I see thermal imaging of fans once inside. And I see larger distances between seating and no more piss troughs. And sanitizing of things going on constantly. That’s the new normal. It’s already here.

        The sporting world will adapt. But my god man, what a perfect time for Pitt to lead on the first social distance certified stadium. Although one might argue, Pitt is already a leader in that regard given the yellow seats and Heinz being at 50 percent capacity. Who would have known that yellow seats can help prevent virus spread.

        Tex

        Like

  86. Ike, as a nurse I know the worst part will be being assigned to TAKE the rectal temperatures.

    Like

  87. Ha ha Fran, I get that being married to a nurse. The hospital was like going to Las Vegas…. Don’t give me the details when you get home. Rough job indeed and happy that both Angie and youself Fran are out of that element right now. But thank you for your service.

    Like

    1. When I had open heart surgery several years ago, the nurses were amazing. After the surgery, all through the night, every time I woke there was a nurse at my bedside to provide a sip of water.

      I tried to remember the name of every nurse and sent a thank-you letter to the hospital administrator where I told him how much I appreciated all of them.

      Hats off to the health-care workers.

      Hail to Pitt.

      Liked by 2 people

  89. A question now being raised … Why only the city of Wuhan hit with a Corona epidemic and no other city in China?

    Funny how this minor fact has skirted its way through without much media attention.

    Like

  93. This is not intended as a political statement just a thought regarding sports start up again; if deemed a political post please erase MM. We know that generally there is a second wave of any pandemic which may be worse or less than the first depending on the virus at issue ability to mutate.. It generally takes 1 or so years to get a vaccine, (reading The Great Influenza by John Barry – I am a glutten for punishment then again I am a Pitt fan). At some point either at the federal level -the President or state level -Governors someone will make the decision to reopen society. This will also apply to those who run sports leagues etc. It will take some guts to be the one to reopen as if the 2nd round spikes that person(s) making the decision will catch all blame. I will pass on being that unlucky SOB.
    As to Wuhan it is a very modern city. The wet market is next to the biological research center – hmm for you conspirator theorists. i was surprised to learn that there are 60 wet markets in NYC (according to PETA – for what that is worth).
    HAIL TO PITT AND HAPPY EASTER OR GOOD PASSOVER. Be safe.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s okay to post an opinion as to how to best move forward as a society as long as bu political figures , parties or philosophies are mentioned, and no political agenda is pushed. Of course I’d prefer that we all stick to sports but the above is okay as long as nobody takes it down a slippery slope.

      Liked by 1 person

  94. where is everyone? Such a nice day but hardly anyone here. .

    Pretty good first half … Defensive struggle for the 1st quarter but the Blue team broke thru early in the 2nd after Pickett hit Addison for a 65 yarder. Ford was able to push him out at the 16. Then on the very next play, Pickett threw a rope right over the middle to Krull for a TD

    The Gold came right back when Abandikanda ran through a big hole, broke a tackle and ran 58 yards for a score. Boy can he scoot! On the final play of the half, Duzz let Kessman try a 62 yarder, and I’ll be damn if he didn’t put it right through, with about 7 yards to spare!

    So far you’re missing the best scrimmage in years. Plenty of good play on both sides. Can’t wait for the 2nd half.

    BTW, looks like Yellen has a major league arm

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I would have believed your yarn if you mentioned the 4000 fans in attendance and free fantas provided at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

      Tex

      Like

  95. I heard today that the number of cardiac arrests has spiked since the virus hit. I wonder if anyone will calculate all of the additional deaths that have/will occur while the nation is locked up and preoccupied with the corona virus.

    Like

  96. I find it interesting that the same scientists who insist that all of the anecdotal results in the world for a given treatment are worthless without double blind clinical trials with comparison to an untreated control group are the very same people who are now certain that the flattening of the curve is a direct result of the social distancing/lockdown. I guess I missed the half of the country that did not lockdown and now have out of control numbers by comparison. And I guess we have already proven that there is no seasonal decline associated with this virus. Hmmm.

    Liked by 2 people

  97. That and mental health and spousal abuse rise significantly during these times. Even the introverts are feeling like they need to be a little more extroverted. ITs just a weird phenomena.

    Don’t tease wwb. You were watching with the announced crowd of 47,512, weren’t you? The problem was that the rest of the fans were the notre dame fans who bought season tickets so they could watch the third game of the season at Pitt.

    Like

    1. ^^ So true Huff the Third……. I’m perfectly fine staying to myself 24/7 except when it comes to family and PITT games. Having said that, I am struggling without live sports content. I need my family and my live sports. Life sucks without having something to look forward to no matter how trivial sports are and not seeing your family is the worst. Days we can never get back. I’m a quasi extrovert which is what all of us introvert’s usually are. By the by, not abusing Angie but have to say…….. Eli is helping a lot to cope with all this schitt! IEK!

      Liked by 2 people

  99. Happy Easter to all of you out there in these most surreal times. Stay home stay safe and do not matriculate. Skype, Zoom, Face-time or a simple phone call to stay close to the ones you love. We are the lonely all together, together we’re all alone. …..

    Liked by 2 people

  100. Happy Easter to all POVERTs and their families! Have a great day, and be sure to communicate with absent family members.

    BTW, web, I enjoyed your 1st hand announcing of the Spring Game. I didn’t have time to read your whole post at the time – I was watching the game on the ACC Network.

    But, the team really looked sharp – can’t wait for the Corona Season to start! I’m sure telecasts will go “Viral”!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. May I suggest you turn off the ACCN for Easter and turn on TCM at noon. You can watch Ben Hur and The Greatest Story Ever Told …. and then 8 hours later, whatever you want or prepare for bed.

      (DeMille’s The Ten Commandments was only 3 hrs and 40 minutes so apparently it didn’t make the grade. BTW, Charlton Heston was in all 3)

      Like

  101. wwb – I agree on Yellen’s arm strength, but I think he has a ways to go to beat out Kenny this year – not saying he can’t. Kenny looked really good yesterday. Did you see that pass to the wide open water bottle in the End Zone? He totally unscrewed the cap with 1 throw! And he was 5 for 5 on full court tosses – Nuttin’ but net. Although, I must admit, he wasn’t his best when he missed the trash can completely on his thru-the-fountain toss.

    Liked by 1 person

  102. I understand Eli Kosanovich was named MVP of the game and the most improved spring practice player. He’s the backup QB to the backup QB’s

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think it really helped that he got to throw to high school teammate Will Gipson … just my opinion

      Like

  103. JP, thanks for the recommendation on Echo in the Canyon. Great show! It is interesting to me that Jacob Dylan’s musical taste is more pop/mainstream than his father’s. Jacob must have loved it when Bob was a Traveling Wilbury!
    PittPT

    Liked by 2 people

  104. Another grad transfer on the radar: NC State corner, Nick McCloud. A starter in 20 games for the Pack but got hurt early and missed most of last season.

    I know the Pitt fanbase is in the minority of disliking grad transfers, but this is a new era of college football. Landing McCloud and Wilson would be two nice additions to the roster. How McCloud is rehabbing on his own is definitely concerning in terms of can he be ready to play football whenever it resumes.

    Fans might remember a JuCo receiver Pitt landed in 2002 to pair with Fitzgerald, Princell Brockenbrough. He had to rehab a knee injury on his own and it never came together for him at Pitt. Maybe his bad hands were the reason.

    Liked by 1 person

  105. China, like Singapore, and S. Korea, enforced almost complete lockdowns, restricted travel, had much more thorough testing and contact tracing, everyone wears masks, but they are still having secondary outbreaks, which they are fighting much more aggressively. We still are not testing enough and it is slow, very little contact tracing is being done. Thankfully most people are obeying social distancing guidelines which is slowing the spread.

    Without more complete testing and contact tracing we will continue to see flareups. Since as many as 50% of the people with the disease are symptom free, but still contagious, more complete mask wearing is also necessary. Unfortunately this is resisted by many.

    The first wave may be through by the end of spring, but it won’t be over especially if sound public health measures are not implemented.

    Hopefully that vaccine comes soon.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Well that is what Bill Gates and his buddy Dr. Faustus Fauci want.
      The vaccine will probably kill more people than this supposed pandemic and inflict all kinds of
      various mental and other health problems on millions more. As most vaccines do.
      But sounds like you’ll be proudly be wearing your coronavirus free badge or armband proudly.

      Like

      1. so all of sudden now Gates is concerned about viruses …. too bad he wasn’t about 30+ years ago

        Don’t get me wrong, I very much admire anything he is doing right now …. but he made billions without much regard or warning of the serious consequences of using his product

        Like

      1. Plenty of them roadkill in Texas. The only armadillo I ever met was a dead one. They actually hop when hit.

        Tex

        Like

        1. They make a crunching sound when ran over. I ran over a few on the dirt roads of east Texas. Had one that hung out in the yard of the mobile home I lived in. Actually snuck up on it & touched it.They are nearly blind & deaf. Only touched it once. Supposedly they carry leprosy.

          Had a roadrunner on the dirt road I lived on. Last time I was in Texas, there was a roadrunner in same area even though county put asphalt down. Probably the great, great, great ………. grandchild of the original.

          Like

  109. Just heard on The Fan that the Oh St AD estimates anywhere from a $35 to $50M loss in revenues if CFB is played in front of empty stadiums. As I continue to say, Pitt may well be one of the least affected. Another thing to consider is that most college sports are money losers anyway, just think of the expenses saved if they are closed down.

    AND OH BY THE WAY … I am really ticked off here! About a week or so ago, Heather does this fluff video and it resulted in a bevy of critical posts here. Now, Duzz does a 45 minute press conference on Friday which updates everything he. his coaches, and players have done since the shutdown …. and more, …. but not one freakin’ comment.

    Like

    1. People get to fussed up over all the media stunts Bill. Me? I couldn’t care less what the talking mouths say. I’m all about actions.

      Breaking news………. Ham is in the oven, perogies about to be boiled then sauteed in onions with sweet potato casserole on deck with a cherry babka drenched in maple syrup (or honey) top with powered sugar for desert.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. What a coincidence. I had the same thing except I substituted baked chicken for the ham, mashed potatoes for the sweet potatoes casserole, Substituted a salad for the perogies & sautéed asparagus (fresh cut from the asparagus patch) instead of onions & some cookies I made the other day.

        Liked by 1 person

  110. So in 1970 Pitt got 11 of the big 33 team in recruits. How many are going to Pitt from this year’s team? Was 1970 Majors first year at Pitt?

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  111. not true wwb and you dont type ticked off. I for one, said that they apparently listened to my original comment about updating the fanbase. Glad to see it. When an organization struggles to connect in its market, you can either accept it and play the woe is us card for the last 40 years….or change it. My statement when she posted was “tell us what is going on”. Glad they did it! They should do it every week.

    And they should read and follow a lot of advice on here. Believe me, the ADs and others involved in athletics are not some kind of “sport gurus” and should not be put on a pedestal. They are normal people. Some are good people and some are not so good. Some are smart and some are not. I recently played golf with an ex P5 AD whilst in Vegas and he indicated just that…….funny how we elevate people due to titles. Some smart people could be dog catchers….

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    1. ^^ Huff the Third, you’re not telling me anything I already didn’t know, “the steve” cured me of that a long time ago. I just happen to think “the steve” couldn’t wear Heather’s slacks. Point is. I do have an opened mind about all this fuss about the current AD situation. It’s still TBD but looking promising imo.

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  112. Took a break and was reading the Lair. THANK YOU REED AND MIKE for forbidding political talk…… The threads are like a car wreck, you cant look away but it’s a terrible scene non the less!

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  113. Only fans allowed to attend games will be those with the covid antigen. You’re hearing it here first.

    Tex
    PS: I’m flying in for the Domers then

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  114. Glad to see Pitt is listening to Huff.

    I watched the Duzz interview; thought he was okay. He seems to be getting a bit more relaxed with the media, IMHO.

    But then I saw an interview with Coach Capel from his beach house rental. Coach Capel comes off as amazingly relaxed, genuine, and at home being interviewed. And not one “You know” in the whole interview…

    Hail to Pitt.

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  116. Web, the Duzz gave a very solid but not spectacular performance in his video. Conversely, Heather talked about doing the laundry and how she spends her day. No comparison. Not saying Heather should be canned, but she should be growing into the job by now.

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  119. you can call me web, you can call me wbb, you can call wwb, you can even call me late for dinner … but you doesn’t have to call me ……

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    2. Is that our POV JoeL? If you click on Joe L twitter (above) he’s from Richmond. Isn’t our JoeL from Richmond.

      Probably isn’t because he’s using 24/7 ratings instead of the preferred Rivals ranking.

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    3. Good post joe. i just wrote a long response keyed off of it.

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  121. Tex, that may be true, but may be not as true. Lots of stuff floating around. What do you do with 50% of the players that havent been exposed? As a university, do you put that athlete student at risk? Planes, buses and locker rooms are petrie dishes for viruses.

    There are some real interesting theories circulating and Tex mentions the one that is gaining traction. Going to provide a new slant this coming week.Will let you know how it floats….the ncaa needs to go! Two years ago, i said the ncaa wouldn’t be around in its current state in 5 years.We are moving that way.

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