in Pitt Football 451 Words

Two Commits Revealed + Another Announced

Pitt landed three verbals yesterday and only one was announced.  Today the other two made themselves known to the public.  Maryland WR Jaden Bradley and Ohio OT Terrance Rankl have both announced that they are going to be Panthers in 2021.

Both are three stars.  Here’s a look at Bradley

Jaden Bradley Rivals

While he had twelve offers, only three were from power five schools.  Pitt, Wake Forest and Virginia.  Names like Morgan State, Towson, Georgetown (didn’t even know they had a team…) and Liberty should maybe give some of us pause, but maybe they were just on to the kid early?

Here’s the link to the highlight reel (sorry I just can’t seem to get these to embed)

http://www.hudl.com/v/2CPbic

Looks like he’s got some athleticism to him and good speed.  Highlight reels aren’t going to show any dropped balls, but looks like decent hands.  If you get far enough in you get to see him do some blocking and he seems good and physical.  I believe I saw today that he played quarterback until this year, so he’s likely one of those raw recruits that could take a year or two to polish up.

And here is Rankl.  Probably more telling than anything I can post is the PSN “Coachspeak” article on him.  Of course these types of articles are always going to cast the player in a positive light, but one thing I noticed on Rankl’s highlight film was his quick feet.  That’s something Pitt seems to lack in their OT’ right now and it’s a welcome sight for sure.

Terrence Rankl

Offer analysis:  7 Power five offers including Pitt.

  • AZ State – Odd they are recruiting Ohio
  • Duke – Shows he’s a good student and checks the “probably can pass block” box.
  • Iowa State – HC Matt Campbell been recruiting the WPIAL since the day he left Toledo.  Fun fact:  Campbell actually enrolled in Pitt on a football scholarship in 1998.  He spent a year here and then transferred to DIII Mount Union and was a two-time DIII All American, while winning three DIII championships.
  • Kentucky – Seems like Pitt and Kentucky battle for a lot of guys in Ohio.  Pitt wins their fair share.  For not being a football power, they’ve got a nice program going down there in Lexington.
  • Purdue – Meh
  • Vandy – Double Meh

Non P5’s were mostly MAC and above.  Liberty did sneak in there as did William and Mary.  But hey, I guess you can’t blame ’em for trying.

Highlight video:

http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9420278/5d8c225f02b125069825547c

Lastly, there is also a fourth mystery recruit out there.  I suspect he will reveal himself this weekend.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

155 thoughts on “Two Commits Revealed + Another Announced”

  1. From previous thread:

    Tex, that “lazy and stupid” comment when referencing Narduzzi is over the top. Many of us are frustrated with this level of animosity directed on this site towards any Pitt coach. If you support Pitt athletics you must know that players, coaches and recruits read this site and it doesn’t help the cause to talk this way.

    Liked by 9 people

  2. Well said VOR. Also, whether a particular fan likes Narduzzi or not, the comments are simply not true. Frankly, dumb comments don’t even make for good reading on a blog like this anyway. I prefer reading analytical, insightful comments (even if critical) here, and that’s how the majority of you contribute anyway.

    Liked by 4 people

  3. Face it …. thanks in part to the internet, we have become the United States of Ridicule. It is one thing to disagree with a point of view contrary to your own, but now tweets, blog posts and responses to media articles have become commonplace, full of caustic, unnecessary and mostly false rhetoric.

    Welcome to the 21st Century …. boy does this millennium suck so far … in so many ways

    Liked by 3 people

  4. I have to back both my man VoR and Tex here. I know that sounds confusing and VoR is speaking the truth for some that grow weary of the SOS negative comments when it comes to anything PITT. On the other hand, Tex pulls off his condescending remarks with a certain panashe that imo gets a little stale at times but I find him somewhat entertaining. I say this realizing that I too, may be a little too much for certain posters. Actually I know this for a fact as I’ve been told this. So I say live and let live. We have options to read or not to read…. Now back to my hiatus.

    Like

  5. I think some of the frustration by some of the faithful is the slinging of negativity at a time when there are some positive trends coming from the football program, commitments coming in in bunches and a team to have some hope for, if only there is a season.
    PittPT

    Liked by 4 people

  6. Thanks, MM.

    “Quick feet.” Not a term that has been used to describe Pitt OLine recruits over the last several years. Okay, Brian O’Neill…

    If Mr. Rankl has quick feet and is 6-5 and 290, then he may well find himself taking serious snaps as a red-shirt freshman…

    And we need a couple more sets of quick feet on the Oline…

    Hail to Pitt (and pass the vaccine!)

    Liked by 2 people

  7. ike, I agree that there can be opinions on both sides, but your own comments are clearly borne out of a love for all things Pitt. Optimism is a good thing, and is much preferred over the constant drum of negativity that comes from some posters regardless of the facts on the ground. We have documented over and over how difficult it is to recruit at Pitt, and yet in the midst of what is typically the most active part of Pitt’s recruiting calendar we have such derogatory comments coming from someone who is supposedly a Pitt fan (or else why follow this blog?). I can’t accept that kind of negativity.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. It’s well documented that Tex does not like Narrduzzi (or Heather) and his constant diatribe against a should come be a surprise to anyone. Is he biased against Italians? Maybe. Perhaps he just doesn’t like people from Youngstown. Maybe he truly does think the university can do better. (Although you can count on one finger the times that it has since the 80’s). Maybe he’s just a grumpy old man. Either way, as long as he’s not insulting any other POVerts directly (which it doesn’t look like he has) he’s entitled to express his opinion. Them’s the rules, for better or worse.

      Liked by 2 people

  8. MM, Voice, Ike,

    Here is my take on the matter. We are free to compliment and to denigrate the work accomplishments of others. BUT I heard the word “Lazy” and “Narduzzi” used in the same sentence and that could only be from someone who is lazy in his/her investigation of character.

    I’ve met Coach Pat in social get-togethers and can’t think of anyone who would describe him as lazy. Ask Coach Dabo Swinney if he thought Coach Pat was lazy when he stood across from him at Death Valley.

    You don’t win the Broyle’s Award by being the Nation’s top college assistant football coach and becoming a Head football coach by being lazy.

    What’s next: Wannstedt despises his alma mater?

    Liked by 2 people

    1. That’s more than fair Tony and yes it’s true, I can’t stay away from the POV for very long. Especially during these trying times. The redundancy can get on your last nerve but at the same time so can family members where we don’t have much control…….. On here at the POV, we are in complete control.

      Now having said that……. We all can say and express our opinions which I interoperate as long as they stick to the guidelines BUT!.. … I also stand up for those who speak out and simply comment.. that they don’t like what others have to say. I see no difference. If some get a little tired of the negative comments, they also have every right to say, I don’t like that.

      Like

    2. Well there are two kinds of people in the world Tony. Those who can follow logical arguments, and those from Texas 😉

      Liked by 1 person

  9. If you’re expecting an apology you won’t get one.

    Being mediocre in my book comes down to two primary things. How smart you are and how hard you work.

    In my experience, those who achieve excellence are smarter and work harder than the next person.

    There is a reason why Narduzzi has not placed any of his teams in the top 25 after 5 years. And it’s not going to happen this year either.

    My denigration of the coach is no worse than those being his chief apologists. Like I said, if you don’t like the taste of vinegar, ignore my comments and rot your teeth with Koolaid from other posters.

    Tex

    Like

      1. I know that. That’s why I’m wiser than the vast majority of posters including you anon. At least I don’t hide behind a handle.

        Tex

        Like

  10. I’m trying my hand at making bread from scratch today. No bread maker. Really don’t have much of a clue as to what I’m doing other than adding an egg and some rosemary to my pizza dough recipe. Probably end up with rubber biscuits?

    Like

    1. Pizza dough will be too chewy for bread! Ike, google a recipe for bread from king arthur flour. They should have plenty to choose from.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I’ve been following as closely as I can Pitt football since Conner’s sophomore year (yes, I know that Narduzzi wan’t the HC then) and have decided that even to this moment I have no idea if Narduzzi knows what he is doing. How do you explain the 2016 defeat of Clemson and the 2018 loss to NC (that defensive performance was disgusting)? And as impressive as the team has been on defense on occasions, it has been awful on defense on other occasions – perhaps as often as it has been good (and I’m talking about last year). So I don’t care how much expectation we have for the defensive team this upcoming season (please, please happen), the team has to win some games it will be favored to lose, and all games it is favored to win. When that happens and the team has at least 9 wins before the bowl game (I will believe Narduzzi knows what he is doing or at least he did that year).

    Like

  12. Well said, 6&34, and perhaps Narduzzi is just not a very good coach, which includes things like motivating teenagers to play their best, organizing everything down to the type of jock strap to be worn, managing a large group of coaches to teach football a certain way and to recruit players who can play that way, etc. Narduzzi can be smart and very hard working, but could fail at some of these tasks, especially since this is his first shot at being a head coach. Constructive criticism is fair, but timing personal insults to occur at the peak of recruiting season strikes me as the very definition of “dumb”.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. This is a good point. With that being said if we think that one poster’s comments – and a opinion that is in what amounts to a 30% minority of fans – (based on the survey I did during the season) influences a recruit, then The Program has bigger problems

      Like

      1. Only an idiot recruit or parent that reads my posts and decides against Pitt because of it are at danger. That probability is less than 20 basis points because 99.99 percent of recruits and parents don’t read this site or care about what posters think and know. Seriously folks if you think some teenager is reading sites like this, you are delusional at best.

        Tex

        Like

  13. Tex is right. Narduzzi almost lost to Eastern Michigan for God’s sake in a bowl game. Anyone that stays at Pitt we keep and are happy because of the shambles the program has been in. We now spend double the money than when Wanny was a coach. Support the assistants way more than Wanny. You guys care more about tenure and stupid catch phrases. How many were there? 412 crew. Lock the gates and Pitt is Lit like a bunch of instagram 19 years olds than winning. It is year 5 and lifelong assistant Billie Nardozzi is what he always was. Below average guy from youngstown. Pay 3M for that all you want. When 87 year old Mack out recruits him in 6 months (More 4 Star Talent) than. nardozzi’s 5 years you know there is issues.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. ^^ But PITT didn’t lose…… and they haven’t lost to silly MAC and FCS teams and although they did play some close games but again, they didn’t lose those games like Lumpy did!

      Like

  14. And tons of Narduzzi Recruited Talent being drafted this weekend. Guess the 3 stars he coached up with offers from Elon and Toledo aren’t good enough for the NFL.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. We can’t forget about those offers like you forget about the big-time offer sheet that the recruits also receive. That’s not how it works Tex. That’s a funny premise though. I see where PITT offered players this past week that me me laugh because of the offers the player already held. There is no way in hell that PITT will lure a Florida kid to WPA with offers from Miami, Fla State and Florida let alone Bama, Clemson and LSU! but they offered none the less. That’s what Elon and others do, especially during these times when kids don’t want to venture to far from home.

        Like

  17. I will be the first POVert to shake his hand. I hope he makes practice squad. And some on here think I’m negative and can’t possibly be a Pitt fan because I dare tell the truth about Narduzzi during recruiting season. Please!

    Tex
    Vacation in North Texas in August

    Tex

    Like

  18. Bills just picked Dane Jackson in the 7th. He’s a steal. I had a 4th round grade on him. He’ll make the Bills

    Tex who lived in buffalo for nearly 9 years

    Like

    1. Louis was there in my day

      Can’t say he stood out like others on the football or basketball team

      Seemed to be low key.

      There were some big personalities on football in my day.

      Many a 40 O was tossed down and smashed outside the Towers.

      Tex

      Like

  21. Though I’ve defended Coach Pat for not being “lazy”, my pick for Pitt Head Coach in 2015 was Pitt 2 time academic All-American Louis Riddick, who was working at ESPN I believe at the time.

    The best man in my wedding was a friend and a Monessen HS and Pitt graduate classmate of Pitt Associate Athletic Director Donna DeMarino Sanft at the time. Word from Donna was that Louis ain’t gonna happen.

    Like

    1. no coaching experience but should have been hired instead of Barnes

      Washington Redskins (2001–2004)
      Pro scout
      Washington Redskins (2005–2007)
      Director of pro personnel
      Philadelphia Eagles (2008)
      Pro scout
      Philadelphia Eagles (2009)
      Assistant director of pro personnel
      Philadelphia Eagles (2010–2013)
      Director of pro personnel

      Like

    2. If he could keep a (talented) OC around for more than a season he might actually be able to win some games … I’m not yet sold on Whipple but I do think he’s at least one notch better than the guy he replaced

      Like

      1. Losing Canada was 1,000 percent on Pitt. You either play with the big boys or you try to preach stability. You cannot put your coach to the fire and say “win big with this budget or you’re fired.”

        Like

        1. c,mon nate, you can’t be serious. Pitt could not pay Canada $1.6M per. Yes they could have maybe doubled his salary to $800k …. but making him the highest paid cfb assistant? No way.

          Think about it LSU made him the highest paid assistant, then fired him before the season was over …. who does that? Only an SEC school or a school like OSU.

          Just one more of the many reasons why Pitt can never repeat with the big boys. If they couldn’t pay Sherill back in ’82, they surely can’t do it now

          Like

          1. True Bill but it wasn’t just that, Canada wanted to further his resume along. LSU provided a big boost but he just couldn’t cut it. The only place he has been real successful was at PITT. He got a lot of mileage out of one year from PITT.

            Like

            1. Canada did well in that one season with Maryland under difficult circumstances. The year before and after Matt’s lone year the Terripans were pathetic. Matt had the Terps a two-point conversion away from beating Ohio State. Maryland lost to PSU, 59-0, last season with that boob coach who got the job.

              Matt left because of the money. He didn’t need LSU to make him a household name. His offense at Pitt did that for him.

              Hit up the boosters to keep him. Pitt’s leaders have no problem puckering up and kissing their butts asking for cash when it needs to fire a mistake.

              Like

              1. I agree that Canada did a fine job at Maryland. Just can’t see Pitt, even with booster support, ever having the highest paid asst

                Like

              2. In an alternate universe, Pitt doubled Canada’s salary and he stayed put for five years. Then he moved on to become a P5 Coach which is what he always wanted.

                What Matt never realized is that the one thing lacking from his resume was stability.

                Like

            1. That makes zero sense and is a cop out for not wanting Pitt to spend big on football. You probably call for Narduzzi’s head though after an 8-5 season.

              Like

  23. Is the fact Ben Dinucci was drafted by the Cowboys ironic in some sort of fashion? I’m mean after-all, HCPN has been roundly criticized for giving him a scholarship. hmmm?

    Annie, bread turned out decent but you’re right, a little dense. When sliced thin will make for a good sandwich bread and with a thicker slice sauced and topped with cheese should make for a good frrench pizza

    Like

    1. Ike my wife got a book called Flour Water Salt Yeast. She made a decent bread before that, but the book (like good coaching) took her game to another level

      Like

  25. Could you guys and gals who know a lot more about football than I do explain why Maurice French didn’t get drafted and had to sign as a free agent? I’ve watched him play several times in person and many times on TV and he frequently looked like the best player on the field or at least one of the best.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Maybe Dinucci will turn out to be the next Tony Romo, Mike McCarthy must of seen something in the kid. Probably could of signed him as a free agent.

    Like

    1. I it was seen, it was something observed after he left Pitt. Dinucci was the definition of not good enough to play QB in a Power Five conference. If anyone disagrees, well, I’d have to articulate why in another blog because this one disallows ad hominems.

      Like

  31. Maybe they drafted DiNucci to play a different position? He’s a good athlete. Frankly, I hope he sticks and gets a job in some way, good for him if he does. If they drafted him to play QB, even for depth, it would explain that organization’s ineptitude. Almost as much of a head-scratcher was the drafting of Griffin-Stewart, but again, best wishes to him.

    Like

    1. I don’t know. DiNucci had really good stats at JMU and came up just short in the FCS Championship game. Guess Pgh native McCarthy thought he was worth the final round pick. Maybe McCarthy knew his family …. at Green Bay, his staff always had a strong area connection.

      And did you note that the Steelers took 2 players from Maryland yesterday. Maybe suggestions from new coach Canada …. I’m sure the fact that Dino Tomlin who is a WR there had nothing to do with it

      Like

      1. A QB that can’t throw very well in the NFL? That’s hard to fathom unless they planned to transition him to another position. I don’t get it.

        Like

  33. Just to be clear here…. Are we ridiculing Narduzzi for letting Ben DiNucci leave or praising him for having the great foresight to sign him very late in the recruiting season just days after he was hired to be head coach at PITT?

    Like

    1. Ike- my kids even commented how bad he was after watching him play on tv. I can read defenses better half drunk on a bottle of bourbon than little Ben.

      Tex

      Like

  37. The Dallas Morning News…

    The Cowboys wanted to draft a quarterback for new head coach Mike McCarthy to develop in the final day of the draft. DiNucci was it, and the club intended to sign him quickly as an undrafted free agent.

    But when the club learned that Chicago and Cleveland were interested, it decided not to wait. Dallas used a seventh round pick on the James Madison signal caller.

    Click here to learn more.

    https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2020/04/25/dallas-cowboys-select-james-madison-qb-ben-dinucci-with-no-231-pick-in-the-nfl-draft/

    Like

    1. I think they’d be happy as long as he isn’t the next Nate Peterman. No offense to Nate.

      Like

  40. It could be that Dinucci and McCarthy both are WPIAL dudes and McCarthy wanted to do him a solid or Coach Cignetti (another local) a solid. He can put him on the squad for a year or two and the kid will always get to have on his resume’ that he played in the NFL. He will have a contract that proves it. Great stuff. Sets you up for life if you can use it correctly.

    Or, McCarthy saw something better than the 1:1 turnover to TD ratio he had at P5 Pitt. Look, a 1 to ! ratio is awful and it didn”t get better his first year at James Madison. In his first three years of college he had 22 TD’s and 19 interceptions. That does not include fumbles/turnovers, so I would imagine his turnover to TD ratio was at least 1:1, if not worse.

    But then it turned around for him his last year. Maybe the lightbulb went off. Maybe Cignetti is indeed the quarterback whisperer. Hopefully his last year was more indicative of what he can do. It was a spectacular high 60% completion ratio against inferior opponents. My sense is that completion percentage would be about the same as many of us chucking a ball to a target 15 yards away without any rush and any defenders so go good on him.

    But let’s not be confused. He was awful his first three years at Pitt and first year at JMU. Criticism in his talent was okay. He wasn’t criticized as a person. You know, it only takes a couple of good interviews to change perception of many thinkers. Did any watch Joe Burrows interview at the draft when a reporter asked him if it was extra motivation etc that noone even considered him draftable after his junior season at LSU? His answer was ….candidly, I wasn’t that good and shouldn’t have been in any conversation!!! Hopefully it is the same with din.

    Sometimes it takes a kick in the shorts to get it together. Sometimes it could be one person doing a solid for someone else. It doesn’t mean anyone was wrong for criticizing poor play. That’s just being honest.It also shouldn’t be an opportunity to quibble about whether someone has made it, before taking a snap. He has a head coach that is local to him and pulling for him, so that should get him a year or two. At a minimum, it gets his resume built for future coaching. That is what I think has happened and McCarthy will keep him as long as he can. If Prescott never gets hurt, you might see him as a 3rd stringer for 4 years. But again, that doesn’t mean he was a qualified nfl qb’r. Just means he was in a great position and the stars and coaches alligned. Time will tell.

    Liked by 3 people

  41. Credit to DiNucci for fortitude and grit. Many times I thought he would wind up with a career ending injury. A lesson in do not give up your dream. H2P

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad Dinuch got drafted. Once out of Pitt he developed well and had a great College career. He deserves a crack at the big league.

      Like

      1. I believe before Pitt offered, DiNucci was headed to the Ivy League, so I am guessing he isn’t lacking in the cerebral department. Maybe his Wonderlick (sp?) score was through the roof and/or maybe he is being groomed for a future coaching gig, like many QBs who have passed through Pitt like Matt Cavanaugh, AVP, and Luke Getsy.

        Like

  42. Those kids with Elon offers are really setting draft day on fire

    Tex

    Like

    1. that will likely change next year. I would have to think Weaver, Twyman, Jones, Pinnock, Mathis, Ford, Hamlin, Mack, Morrisey and Kessman will all be candidates. And of course, Pickett is a 4th rounder.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Well Tex, maybe PITT didn’t have that many draft picks this year because the potential draft-able players love Narduzzi and PITT and decided to return for one more year to the school and football program they love? Just a thought. I can think of at least four players that would have been drafted had they decided not to stay.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Ike this is over five years. Pitt is being outrecruited by BC. And Pitt lost to them last year. When you can’t beat a school like BC for talent and development, you need to pack your meatballs in a Tupperware container and head back to your moms basement in Youngstown.

        Tex

        Like

        1. Right Tex and his 3 1/2 million dollar a year contract. Now if you made more than Narduzzi I would respect your comments a lot more. The man has done something right over his short life. You remind me of another resident of Texas……. you guys don’t like anything PITT. Now remind me again, do you like or not like Pat Narduzzi? Not sure if you’ve made that clear enough. We just look at life from different sides. I don’t have the mind strength to be so negative.

          Like

          2. I like soccer and volleyball enough to donate Ike. And I’ll be donating to basketball next year. But I won’t give a penny to football or victory Heights.

            Tex

            Like

        2. Your first sentence on Pitt being out recruited by Boston College is absolutely, totally wrong. Over the last 5 years 2016 – 2020 recruiting classes Pitt is out recruiting BC per Rivals. Even the 2021 early class Pitt is higher.

          Now your 2’nd sentence is correct. Can’t deny it. The third sentence could just be a quirk or mean nothing. All “average” teams have “STAR” players, Just not enough of them.

          The last part of your third sentence could be phrased better.

          Liked by 2 people

          1. BC is better at developing players. Hence more drafted players despite lower average stars relative to Pitt. Like Syracuse, it’s challenging to recruit in that neck of the woods. But not impossible.

            Tex

            Like

            1. Then why did you say BC is out recruiting Pitt. Could have said BC is better at development, But no, you had to say BC is out recruiting Pitt. I only take issue when someone makes a factual statement which I know is wrong.

              Liked by 1 person

              1. Then I erred. But it’s not like pitt is significantly out recruiting BC either. I think I’m within the margin of error with my statement.

                Tex

                Like

            1. Just a question – On my laptop there is not a “reply” button to push on Tex last reply to me. Is that normal or can a commenter block replies? Or is there a limit to back & forth comments?

              Like

              1. There is a limit to nested comments so if the specific comment thread is like 5 deep it will probably cut you off

                Liked by 1 person

    2. Huh?? Maybe meatballs Narduzzi was a little ahead of the curve after-all?? I’ve been told transfers aren’t recruited. Just might be that transfers are a little under-rated when it comes to judging recruiting classes. Just a thought?

      Like

    1. If Tyler palko can make it, Kenny can. Both are leaders and have moxy despite their physical limitations.

      Tex

      Like

  47. Saw this elsewhere:

    States with the most drafted players. See any trend?

    Texas – 33
    California – 23
    Florida – 22
    Georgia – 20
    Louisiana – 12
    Alabama – 10
    Pennsylvania & Michigan – 9
    Mississippi, Ohio & Tennessee – 8
    North Carolina – 7
    South Carolina & Wisconsin – 6

    Go Pitt.

    Like

  48. For anyone that has been on the Blather, and then followed the crowd over here, knows that Tex is fine. He has valid frustrations. He does not cross any lines that I’m aware of. I don’t like personal attacks on players still representing the school outside of they played well or they didn’t but that’s definitely my moral code and outside of disagreement won’t hold it against anyone unless I think it’s overtly ugly. Tex is not one who has gone there. There have been others, but he is not one of them.

    Tex definitely does not like Duzz or Heather. I get the Duzz part but never understood the Heather, and still don’t. He holds Pitt to a high standard, however. Something most of us would aspire for. I complain to the athletic department every year they don’t win 10 games in football and 20 games in basketball. Been sending emails for years after the season. So I get it.

    The one thing that I will credit Tex with is that at least he comes with solutions. I get frustrated by blanket statement repeated over and over and over ad nauseam. Tex can be repetitive but at least he tries making his point from different angles.

    The board has digressed at times into name calling and repetitive ambushing of Pitt fans but I’ve never lumped Tex into that category.

    For whatever reason, Pitt definitely has it’s Chicago Cubs fans who just watch Pitt for fun; win or lose. I probably fall a little bit into that category. I have my frustrations but Pitt is family so I don’t like people calling the baby ugly. I can always find storylines to keep me engaged each year. For those that just want to win, I can certainly see how that would be frustrating. Haha.

    Liked by 1 person

  50. Shout out to Kylan Johnson, signed by the Dolphins yesterday. Some of you may know that my sister became his second mom in Pittsburgh. He is a great young man. He worked his tail off to prepare for the draft. I think not having a Pro Day at Pitt was a factor in why he didn’t get drafted, because he did not get invited to the NFL Combine. Anyway, he worked his butt off in Tampa and dropped his 40 time to 4.5. Dolphins have a roster full of mediocre linebackers, so I hope he sticks.

    Liked by 3 people

  51. Hey Ike,

    I am a very experienced bread (and pizza dough) maker. The book recommendation of Water, Flour, Salt, Yeast by the Maestro is an excellent one. In addition, because you’re a pizza maker, the same author, Ken Forkish, has a recent book on all things pizza — The Elements of Pizza. It is the only book you will need on that subject.

    Jim Lahey’s book My Bread, The Revolutionary No Work, No Knead Method, was a game changer for at-home bakers. The title explains. Also, all the books by Peter Reinhart are more than worth a look.

    Happy baking !!

    Liked by 2 people

  52. Well thank you Pete. I try and use anna tipo 00 flour and I actually enjoy kneading the pizza dough. I don’t have a stand mixer with a dough hook but my dough turns out good most of the time. There is something to say about humidity. I season the living heck out of my pizza and I love oregano. I made a homemade Pico de Gallo to top my lightly toasted bread. (thanks Annie)

    Gee, can you tell it’s the off season in the middle of a pandemic? I’m talking goofy here. 🙂 I actually made myself laugh and I’m not drinking, swear to gosh.. Still haven’t made that Dark N Stormy yet but I’m getting closer.

    Like

  53. and no Fran I’m not lightly toasted. 🙂 .My wife would kill me if she saw me with a mix drink in my hand with my kidney’s. So I guess I have to make sure she doesn’t see me.

    Liked by 1 person

  54. Regarding the subject of pizza dough, bread, etc – It’s all about the water. Pizza crust and bread are superior up north (especially NYC) to what we have in the South. It’s a real differentiator.

    As for our colleague Tex, he is informed and has ideas. Don’t always agree with him – and don’t need to hear the same message ad naseum. I skip those. I’m sure some of mine get skipped…life in the blogosphere.

    Now for this “lazy” crap and the stupid remarks about Heather’s blouses or whatever…talk about lazy. Not only are you wrong about him in that regard, you can do better Tex. Take a cue from your buddy Huff, who keeps his criticism at a thoughtful level.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. If lazy is a swear word around here then gosh darn I’ll stop saying it. But you can’t tell me that Narduzzi our hustles other coaches and has some superior work ethic where he sleeps at his office and is all consumed with football. For over 3 million dollars, I’d be.

      Tex

      Like

  55. meanwhile, I am sipping good bourbon as my sister just tested negative. She lives in the hottest county in PA, and just south of the 2nd hottest county and was exposed to someone early last week who tested positive,

    But as she said … you never know, she might contract it tomorrow.

    Liked by 3 people

  56. Mike – go back to the 5. It looks like there are now no levels. Comments are now by time of entry. Sorry for the trouble I cause.

    Like

  57. Richard is the kind of guy I like to call “On the Beam” In other words……. he knows his schitt!

    Like

  58. I’m not seeing a “Reply” option in any of the 128 posts for this article. Checked both my IPad and IPhone.

    Liked by 1 person

  61. Tex gets a +1 from me. We need more like him or it’s a koolaid fest around here. In my book, being positive can be good. Being truthful is always great. Tex says things in 20 words that takes me 8 paragraphs to convey. I am used to billing by the tenths of an hour so bear with me.

    For some of you younger dudes, you haven’t had to hear the same refrain for the last forty years. Next year is our year! Our guys are great. They don’t get drafted, but they are great!

    I think this draft actually was a bit flawed in that on campus tryouts didnt occur due to C-19. As a result, we saw more P5 big team players drafted. Not that they were the best, but they played in bigger games and showed how they performed in big games. Just an observation. Didn’t watch past the first five picks.

    Next year, we might put a handful in the nfl. It will be about time. Need to have 4-6 drafted per year.

    Like

  63. Nice response Huff – I enjoy reading posts from you and Tex. I was at Pitt when Marino played, so I’ve been waiting a long time for a return to good Pitt FB.

    This NFL draft was a good reflection of Pitt’s 2019 FB season – the talent on that team was young, but underachieved. In 2020, IF Pitt, Duzz and Borbs can develop an Oline, we should have a ten win season and one of the 4-6 players drafted will need to be an OT. I’m not sure we have that guy on the roster yet.

    I’m still waiting….

    H2P!

    Like

  64. I don’t think Pitt having 4 to 6 players drafted every year is reasonable at all. Pitt may well reach that level next year, but to think that can be done yearly is just beyond the reach for a program like Pitt.

    Now note that I don’t think Huff, Tex and EE are morons …. I just disagree and here is why ….

    The SEC (LSU, Bama, Auburn and GA) provided half of the 1st rounders this year. OSU provided 3 or 4 more, and OK and Clemson provided at least 2 each. LSU actually had 14 players drafted … fourteen!

    More than ever more, there are about 10-12 teams or so that dominate the college landscape. You will find them in the Top 10 of college recruiting year after year. Now, how they get there is debatable … tradition, resources, extremely large fanbase, TV/media exposure, and yes . illegal payouts

    Even long time traditional powers like Nebraska, USC, and UCLA are no longer invited. They have become part of the of the other 110-115 teams of which Pitt has been a long time member. Heck, even Texas, with its own TV network, is having trouble maintaining its status. Some of these teams may occasionally have real good teams …. even UCF has 2 Top 10 teams …. but it likely won’t last.

    https://ucf.rivals.com/commitments/football/2020

    Oh, they should continue to do well ….. but they will not have 4-6 players drafted each year.

    This is the landscape of college FB right now, and it’s not likely to change any time soon. In fact, the next change will likely be a Super Conference of the top teams …. and the chasm between the haves and the have-nots will be Grand Canyonesque

    Liked by 4 people

    2. i’m with you on this,,,,and many points you make here often,,,, your “here is why” is appreciated

      agree that nobody here comes off as a moron, quite the opposite, and having high expectations is nice but truly unrealistic given the full story

      whining, bitching, and moaning about where we are at times accurately and at times far from that in a way that only supports your view while ignoring the rest of the story is my criticism of the consistent complainers. combine that with legitimate and feasible suggestions as to how to address your areas of complaint and all is good

      i read here sporadically and don’t really keep up with many things surrounding Pitt football or really anything Pitt as much as i did a decade ago so i appreciate the knowledge of those that do

      my problem is when the negative posters and i’d certainly include Reed in that group when he was here, may at times fairly post thoughts based in reality and fact but seemingly forget to consider or at least mention or maybe they aren’t so smart and actually don’t understand the full context of “why”

      Liked by 2 people

      1. We should all be able to post what we want as long as we don’t break the golden rules. That goes for the ones who want to bitch about the bitchers. I see no difference. It’s just the disdain that some have for a certain coach or athletic director that bleeds through and permeates through every other comment that I grow weary of. I’ve been taught that if you never ever have anything good to say……. yada yada yada. We get it, you don’t like so and so. Moving forward..

        Like

  65. some food for thought …. Pitt may end up having 4-5 NFL draft picks this year.

    The NFL holds its Supplemental Draft every July for players who status may have changed from the time of the original draft. It usually doesn’t consist of many players of significance, but occasionally it does …. Terrell Pryor was selected in this draft.

    Now come July this year, if it looks like there will be no college FB season or it may be delayed to spring, you may be seeing a large handful of quality players applying for draft eligibility …. including Ford, Twyman, Jones, Morrisey, etc. Who knows?

    Like

    1. wwb – if that happened it would be so SOP.

      Maybe we could play our games in Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas instead of cancelling the season.

      I hear you can get your hair cut and go bowling in those states as of this week. Not in PA yet. The media in Central PA has pedo updates daily in anticipation that the season will be played.

      Yesterday I heard the pedos were experimenting with Micah Parson’s returning punts. Hopefully Paris Ford will get another shot at that skill – many on this blog may disagree. I say put your playmakers in a position to win games, which seems to be a struggle with Pitt FB, unless you are ok with 6 to 8 wins.

      I’m not!

      H2P!

      Like

  67. @wwb – I think this years draft was impacted by C-19 in a lot of ways from what I have been told by college AD’s. Some of the AD’s liked it because their schools were the direct beneficiary. So for that reason, I am calling this draft an anomaly. Interesting also to note that in the past Pitt seemed to have a lot of guys sign UFA contracts the day after the draft. Perhaps it is because we had low numbers come out, but it just seemed low this year.

    Like

  68. Pitt won’t have 5 players drafted every year even with the coaches I want to replace Narduzzi. I’m a real pessimist remember. But Pitt should not ever be outrecruited or out developed by schools like Syracuse, temple and BC. Pitt has far more selling points and great practice facilities. That’s my point of the dokish tweet and it gets back to just how smart and how hard Narduzzi and his staff work. Partridge holds the recruiting together.

    Tex

    Like

  69. And picking up on wwb’s superconference, it will happen. The money will force the issue and the non P5 schools. The inequity in the system will produce a chism.

    There will be 30-40 schools with the biggest brands and fanbases competing in a national semi pro conference. It may very well be played in spring so football is all year round and doesn’t compete against the nfl because it will be their farm system subsidized by the massive tv contracts, donors and using university facilities

    The have nots like Pitt will be in a better and more competitive and fair position. No longer will they be outspent in the arms race. No longer will pitt need 4 stars. No longer will pitt play schools with little historical rivalries. No longer will pitt be penalized for the mission statement.

    I’d love to see an eastern conference of schools like Pitt, BC, Syracuse, Rutgers, Temple, Maryland, Virginia, va tech, WVU, Navy. I would miss playing the domers though. Could care less about Miami.

    Tex

    Like

      1. Psux joins the super conference. They are a top ten brand with a top ten fan base. Army would be a good school for the eastern. I’d not include UConn. Maybe even throw buffalo in there…my alma mater. Y’all could tailgate on some real good sahlen hot dogs, wings and beef on wek.

        Tex

        Like

        2. Agree on UConn and Buffalo cuisine.
          UVA and VT will never do that though. They see themselves as Souhern schools and UVA will not end the UNC rivalry – oldest in the South.

          Like

  70. A good southern conference whose winner would play the winner of the eastern could include schools like duke, Nc state, wake, ga tech, south Florida, central Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, vandy, Florida Atlantic.

    Change is coming on the horizon. The smart leaders see it and are planning for it now. Pitt will react and go with the flow like they normally do.

    I can also see some sort of relegation concept in both the super conference and this traditional regional scholar athlete conference.

    Tex

    Like

  71. Tex, we went to Buffalo for a Pitt football game (not sure what year) and had a blast…ran into a group from Pitt that sat near us. Scooter was in rare form.
    I’d go back in a minute…isn’t there a golf course near the stadium?

    Like

    1. Buffalo fans love a good tailgate. Yes, there’s a golf course nearby. I’ve played it. The bike trail runs along it and a canal system. It’s a real pretty campus. I needed something more rural and suburban after 5 years at Pitt. And upstate New York was the culture shock I needed.

      Tex

      Like

  72. Texas is an even bigger culture shock. But the Texas I knew 20 years ago is different from the Texas I know now and what it will become. Texas is an international non isolated state with a large influx of immigrants and transplants like myself. It’s truly diverse. Every time I head back to wpa, I get culture shock now.

    Tex

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.