in Pitt Football 575 Words

Noah Biglow, Defensive Gigolo

Pat Narduzzi and co flipped a commit from Iowa State today.  Noah Biglow is a 6’0″, 170 lb cornerback from the Tampa area.  He’d been omitted to Iowa State for about a month and a half before flipping his commitment today.  I for one respect his decision.  I’m sure my counterpart in Ames, Iowa does not.

Biglow

Rivals lists him as a 5.5 – three star, so he’s about what you’d expect Narduzzi and company to reel in.  However, he’s from Florida and well their track record with slightly undersized mid-level recruits out of Florida has not been all that bad…at least on the defensive side of the ball.  Case in point:

Narduzzi-era Three-Star and Under Defensive Recruits from Florida

2016

  • Keyshon Camp – DT – 5.7 – Hit – at least when he’s on the field.  Injuries aside, the talent is there.
  • Henry Miller – DB – 5.6 – Miss
  • Rashad Weaver – DE – 5.4 – Hit

2017

  • Damarri Matthis – DB – 5.7 – Hit – average to above average corner (at times) as a true sophomore.  Will improve this year.
  • Albert Tucker – LB – 5.6 – Miss
  • Deslin Alexandre – DE – 5.5 – Hit

2018

  • V’lique Carter – Recruited as a DB – 5.6.  I’m going to call him a hit since he helped us beat Duke twice, and I think he’d have contributed in a bigger way this year if he didn’t hit the transfer portal.
  • Marquis Williams – DB – 5.6 – Too early to call him a hit, but he’s in line to be the third corner this year.  We still don’t know if he’ll be a good third corner though.
  • Habakkuk Baldonaldo – DE – 5.5 – Hit

2019

  • Brandon Hill – DB – 5.6 – Too early to tell
  • Kalijah Cancey – DT – 5.6 – Too early to tell
  • Leslie Smith – LB – 5.5 – Too early to tell

Looking at this list it’s pretty apparent that roughly 67% of three star defensive recruits out of Florida pan out for Pitt.  That’s a pretty good hit rate.  So I think you have to at least give Mr. Biglow a couple years to develop before you pass final judgement.

Speaking of judgement, lets have a look at his offer sheet

Power 5 (6 offers):

  • Duke – Has brains.  Check.
  • Iowa State – The Pittsburgh of the Corn Belt
  • Kansas – The Rutgers of the Wheat Belt
  • Virginia – Say what you want about this kid’s offer list, Bronco Mendenhall knows defensive talent
  • Washington State – On the other hand…Wazzu not exactly the paragon of stellar defense
  • Pitt – Is Lit.

Non Power 5

  • Army – Takes a special kind of guy to play for a service academy, and I’ll never fault anyone who chooses to.
  • Buffalo – Requisite MAC school offer?  Check.
  • Campbell – All hail the Fighting Camels
  • Charlotte – Check
  • FIU – Made a play for a relatively local guy.  Good for them.
  • Georgia State – Beat Tennessee on the road last year.
  • North Dakota State – Carson Wentz would be proud.
  • Tennessee State – HBCU located in Nashville
  • Tennessee-Martin – mmmeh
  • Western Kentucky – All the charms of West Virginia, but with lower-grade athletics.

Here’s Biglow’s highlight reel

Welcome to Pitt Noah.  May you prove the three-star haters wrong.

Michaelangelo Monteleone

Ps- also this

123 thoughts on “Noah Biglow, Defensive Gigolo”

  1. Pitt is now ranked 20th in Rivals for FB and MBB. Subject to change, especially FB, but recruiting appears to moving in the right direction

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  3. meh, at least he can catch by the looks of the first several plays

    doesn’t look particularly fast, or particularly anything else for that matter

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        1. Don’t agree Mark – your assessment seems hyperbole-laden.
          Now, if you want to say mediocre, middle of the road, average, yada yada yada…. I’d be OK with that.
          I need to send you a case of Gaviscon. 😉

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          1. Look at the offers Joe.

            We won’t win 10-11games with this level of talent. We have invested 10-11 game wins into football money wise.

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  5. Why limit the comparison to Florida. The issue really isn’t Florida recruits; it’s Narduzzi’s ability to recruit and develop diamonds in the rough. Like 5.5 star Jason Pinnock who In my opinion is the best pass defense CB Pitt has had on its roster since at least 2014.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I remember Pinnock, as a natural freshman, playing against OK St in 2017. Like everyone else, he had a rough day but I also remember a few times where he had really good man coverage, It was the safeties in that game that were completely outclassed.

      Overall, Pinnock has been solid in a position that when you’re doing a really good job, you rarely get your name mentioned

      Liked by 1 person

      1. If pinnock can stay healthy he could have an all-acc season. Not bad for a former two star out of a non football state

        Liked by 2 people

  6. Gotta trust the coaches on this one. Evaluating D-Back talent has been pretty sound.
    Of course Paris Ford makes everyone better. And finally having a great pass rush makes all D-backs better.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Speaking of Defense… Pgh Sports Now has an interview with Darrin Walls who projects some BIG things for Pitt’s “Best Player since Donald.”

    Interesting if you can tolerate Vukovcan.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Jason Pinnock has great speed. I remember him running down a running-back where Pinnock came all the way from the far side of the field.

    Imagine the task of narrowing down the hundreds of 170-180-pound DBs to the relatively few you will offer… Certainly not an easy task — so many of them are totally interchangeable…

    Somehow Pitt zeroed in on guys like Pinnock and Mathis and got it right…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Watched the interview with Darrin Walls last night and either forgot or didn’t know that Ford and Walls are brothers. Unless I heard that wrong?

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  11. a major issue of the 2017 team was its (lack of) pressure / pass rush, It ranked 109th in tackles for losses and 79th in sacks. Just 2 years later, it ranked 10th and 3rd

    Now … if only Pitt can score TDs instead of FGs, we may have something.

    Liked by 3 people

  13. A street that should be closed to traffic.

    Seriously, Congress needs to pass an infrastructure bill. Easiest way to pump dollars into the economy. And sets up business for the future.

    Both Forbes and fifth need closed on top. Create parks and green space and outdoor vendors in a cafe environment. Open campus up with air space and outdoor activities. Tougher to catch any virus outdoors. In the name of health there is perfect justification.

    Dc already employs this approach. Dallas does things opposite. They build green above highways. For Oakland I’m talking tunnels. Route traffic below the ground for about 5 city blocks. About the same cost as a MPC.

    Campus would be greener and safer. Winner winner meatball dinner. Plus you’d have trees for kittens to climb up so football players can get them down. Unfortunately players wouldn’t be able to help walk old ladies across fifth ave anymore. But I say let’s do this. 🤠

    Tex

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    1. Oakland busses are dangerous particularly how they flow against traffic. Poor student either got killed or seriously hurt every year I attended. They also didn’t have the safety rails yet in my day. They are noisy and pollute. I’d ban 🚌
      Go with flying cars instead.

      Tex

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  16. The city needs to take advantage of this money and kick in another 100 million or so and extend the T. Raise it above an existing roadway out to Oakland.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I have been saying for years that the only reason there is no T going from downtown to Monroeville is because it makes so much sense.

      It would impact no less than 5 colleges, 5 hospitals, and several communities not to mention that it would lessen the traffic on the most traveled road in Western PA.

      Liked by 2 people

      2. Funny thing is…….. there’s a bike trail all the way to Washington DC from Pittsburgh. << Which is a good thing but?

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  17. Buy all of South Oakland. Bulldoze South Okland. Start New with tons of greenspace and make it a campus. Buy out the old folks and pay them triple what their house costs.

    Tex I’d invite you to Chuy’s but you are still holed up rumor is.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. When asking for directions in Pittsburgh the answer usually is… you can’t there from here.

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    2. I’ve barracaded my self in my office/pitt man cave where I plot an overthrow of heather and experiment with new meatball recipes.

      I’m actually about to head out on a beer and wine run to Kroger. I get a chance to see the Rangers new ballpark on Tuesday when my son graduates. Looking forward to seeing that billion dollar stadium. I guess over 40 high schools are having graduation there. Mansfield’s 5 high schools are all day Tuesday…5 different times.

      And looking forward to a longhorn game this Fall. Don’t have any burnt orange gear yet. But I do have 4 shades of blue and 5 colors of yellow that go with all my pitt stuff since 1979. Talk about horrible branding.

      Tex

      Liked by 2 people

        1. I will. Just hope when I come back to a pitt game this fall that I can enjoy Forbes and Carson.

          Tex

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      2. Just drove through Mansfield on 287 going to FW. 5 HS! Wow. Doesn’t look that big from highway.

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        1. The 360 side is huge and near joe pool
          I’m on the 287 side. Still rural in many parts.
          There will be a 6th high school in 5 years
          20 years ago it was around 20k in population. Today it’s 75k and will top out around 120k
          Grand prairie and Arlington kids share the high schools

          Tex

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    3. The site is much better with UPITT back.
      I am not sure about this particular plan.
      KMAN

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  18. I think we discussed bike trails before, and agreed that they suck… Maybe Pitt should let their friends at the City know where the future MPC will be located so that they can route that T Line past it. 🙂

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  19. Meanwhile in the Nation’s capitol…

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  20. Commenting rules: you may comment on the legislation. The minute partisanship comes into the discussion on either side the discussion shuts down. Proceed.

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  22. My box of chocolates always had the fillings I didn’t like.

    Tex who hates surprises.

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  23. https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrDQ2r7VtFe2DMAoCa3mWRH;_ylu=X3oDMTEwM3NoMXVlBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDQjg2OTEEZ3BvcwMy?p=box+of+chocolate+and+gump&vid=59fe65e2b3f4b18e7e20bfbd12958885&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.3TLWa-TIZxjgHATW7FU7-QHgFo%26pid%3DApi%26h%3D150%26w%3D250%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuWzrIX5l0vc&tit=Life+is+like+a+box+of+chocolates+-+Forrest+Gump&c=1&h=150&w=250&l=38&sigr=UENuEjYcPfHl&sigt=QJeySSpMvDVT&sigi=xr9zMgECvKiR&age=1384247052&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&fr=iphone&tt=b

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    1. Joel. thanks really enjoyed the article. While I’ve been to the Decade only 3 times, I’ve seen most of the local bands listed in the article as well as SRV a few times …. the last time was at Station Square with the Joe G / Houserockers opening up

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  25. BTW Allegheny County will now be in the Green phase starting next week, so there is nothing preventing Pitt athletes from coming in. It needs to be noted that there is no formal practices until early August, but players can work out and run thru drills

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  26. one thing to consider …. Steelers usually practice at Latrobe from approx. July 20 to last week of August. This year may be different .. last week, Tomlin said a few things are being considered including holding training camp on southside; it’s possible that in August, St Vincent’s main focus will be preparing the campus for fall classes.

    Trouble is that when Steelers were holding morning /afternoon practices at Latrobe, Pitt was practicing in the morning and working out in afternoon at SS. Then when Steelers returned to SS, classes had started at Pitt … so Steelers used the facility for much of the day, and then Pitt came in late afternoon.

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  28. When will we learn, predicting what an 18-year old will do before he even knows how to get out of the dressing rooms and onto Heinz field is fool-hardy. However, it typically will rile up the supporters.

    Here’s hoping Mr Biglow makes Iowa St. sorry that he de-committed.

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  29. Biglow has a teammate or buddy that’s looking strongly at PITT as well who wanted to play on the same college team…. Stay tuned….

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  34. Nice looking recruiting class by PITT so far but wouldn’t it be something if Elliot Donald commits elsewhere? What’s he waiting for? If he wants to see Columbus or Mobile his uncle would just buy him a plane ticket there. Or could that actually be illegal? If he’s considering psu I would pay for him to ride up there in a pedicab.

    Liked by 2 people

  35. ike, don’t forget these are 16 and 17 year olds who are being offered by schools who are being shown on TV with large, packed stadiums. Pitt never had a chance for Rocco Spindler; but how about Kahil Dinkins who is a 3-star at North Allegheny? He plays TE and is 6’4 but only 205 lbs … could he be another area surburbanite who despite Pitt ties, will go for the bright lights?

    He doesn’t have the choices that Eliot has, but you can make a case that maybe Eliot should go anywhere but Pitt due to the high expectations that will no doubt follow him here, where the workout center is named after his uncle. And rest assured, this point is being made to him by rival recruiters.

    Let these kids be kids and give him space. This may surprise you but this is even a bigger decisions for him than it is for you and me

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    1. Bill, firstly I agree about Dinkins, he’s worth a flyer imo.

      If I recall correctly Aaron Donald was a late commitment? Of course he didn’t carry the lure or flair at that time as Elliot does now. I do realize that I’m not the one being recruited it’s just that if he is thinking of coming to PITT it would be better for the team to come on board asap maybe helping the PITT with the rest of their recruiting efforts. Believe me, I’m not losing sleep over it.

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  36. The fact that team recruiting rankings are heavily skewed by volume of players committed make the rankings useless.
    It should be an average of the individual player ratings. This would show many teams are ranked the same but that isn’t exciting enough to publish so the give us the bogus team rankings.
    It is all BS.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. mostly agree but it is also part of the reason why Pitt ranked so low the past few years. No doubt that recruiting matters but the real measure will always be W-Ls

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    2. If I’m not mistaken, the rankings only consider the top 20 ranked recruits which does diminish the importance of total number of recruits.

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  37. Tex and Billy

    I agree, Oakland needs seriously altered. The University pretty much split the campus in two.
    Athletic, administrative and classes on the hill. Victory Heights adds to this.
    All housing south of Forbes (I know there is some housing on the hill). Makes South Oakland a huge greener student housing complex. Buy up some more land.
    Most importantly, They need to connect the two so kids don’t get run over by busses. Build a huge park/platform over 5th and Forbes connecting the two.
    Aren’t they building a park over major roads downtown to connect the city to the new arena development? It isn’t that difficult. Hillman to the student union to the lawn of Soldiers and Sailors. It is NRS. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  38. Billy Nard-Dog – great idea. If we are going over 5th and Forbes to “connect” the 2 with green space, then THAT would be the perfect place for Tex to build his MPC! Easy ingress/egress via Forbes and Fifth on game day; located walking distance from student housing; and we’d have a Primanti’s in the “basement”! Also, Cuban’s “New Dirty O”.

    When land is at a premium, Go Up!

    Someone call Heather, and an urban planner.

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  39. Go up or down when land is scarce. Cheaper to go up most of the time. Your two choices are to build above the road or route traffic below via a tunnel. Both are done in other cities. But Pitt and the city will still be talking about this 30 years later. Pittsburgh has poor leadership and too much red tape. Dallas doesn’t have great leaders but there’s far less red tape and Dallas just finds a way. Pittsburghers are one excuse after another.

    Tex

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  40. The terrain in Pittsburgh makes things a little more challenging for infrastruture. Hence the lack of any type of beltway. Exactly why they should think beyond roadways. The commuters to the east of the city have to feel like students waiting on a bus to get to the PITT football game and worse………. get back home. . ;(

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  41. Pitts terrain in general is more difficult and therefore costly. But Forbes and fifth are flat runs. And south Oakland is pretty much flat. It really needs carpet bombed and rebuilt from ashes. Damn embarrassment to this year because all a Yinzer does is talk and make excuses. Believe me, at most other schools, slums would not be tolerated so close to campus. And the university would do something about it with partnership with local authorities and possibly state or federal.

    Tex

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  42. ^ Tex, south Oakland is definitely a dump of a neighborhood but hardly a slum. Do I wish they would buy up the properties and start over. YES!! It’s just another wish and a prayer that ain’t happening. Putting a brand new on campus stadium on top of the Cathedral Of Learning has a better chance. Unless Mrs O’leary’s cow can knock over some kind of lantern down there? Let it burn!!!

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  43. ^^ Let me rephrase that Tex.. South Oakland is really not a total slum but is run by total slum lords. I helped to paint not one but two apartments down there. Yet, I’ve been to many other college campuses and it’s pretty much on par with many neighborhoods. Although the really ratting ones were much smaller schools and campuses.

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  44. It doesn’t help when Nitters are on the BoT or city council. Before I bomb south Oakland, I’d nuke creepy valley

    Tex seriously I’d do it if I had the plutonium.

    Liked by 2 people

  45. ike, happy that Tex doesn’t have plutonium. 🙂 You’re like a pyro with a gallon of gas and a box of matches….

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  46. I’d like to pursue this conversation further, but the Jacksonville ACL Cornhole Championships are on right now and I’m a little preoccupied!

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  54. Pittsburgh is having it’s vandalism frenzy as I write. 2 police cruisers torched and the Veterans Bridge is shut down. Very sad.

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    1. Dear them on the grill for 2-3 minutes then finish them off in the oven pre-heated @350 F…… use your meat thermometer to finish it to how you like it…… learned that from Chef Bob Waggoner’s cooking class in Charleston SC……Talk about something fun to do with your significant other….

      Liked by 1 person

  58. There have been several concepts about an MPC with hockey as a mainstay saying it makes money. Guys you are out of state Poverts. There is Consol a mile from Pitt, Mario has an icoplex compleX in Wexford, the Southpointe facility where the Pens used to practice is in Washington pa and finally RMU teamed with UPMC and built a beautiful facility on Neville Island. This aint Minnesota; just dig a bigger hole under the new OCS and build your facility underground. 🙂 Seriously it is a money loser. why do I think of Tex and Nardozzi idea of a Texas BBQ involving a steer and a flamethrower?
    HAIL TO PITT

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  59. Bernie, do you have a WordPress account? If so, sign in and get a picture from Google pics. Then sign into Google on your cell or laptop. You can import the new logo and name to get back in business with WordPress.

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  60. Penn state makes a profit on hockey. That’s them saying it and opening their books and being transparent unlike Pitt who will never disclose anything regarding financials. I think mainly because it’s not flattering and they use the cover of being semi private to hide the dirt. At the very least penn states revenues cover expenses and its highly successful in dairy land.

    Most Olympic sports programs lose millions each year. Pitt has 17 money losing programs costing them well over $20 million each year. Womens basketball has been known to lose $4 million a year. Talk about a gut punch.

    If you build a MPC, hockey would be a no brainer. Pitt has a far better chance to succeed in hockey than basketball given all the talent within 500 miles including Canada. And the fact that fewer P5 teams play it. Pitt could get the donors for this sport. Hockey is extremely popular in Pittsburgh and per the nhl, is a great market for a elite college team.

    That’s right, pitt could be elite in this sport. And it would be well attended. Not at basketball levels but far more than any volleyball game.

    But Pitts volleyball team is getting a stand-alone venue costing about $20 – $30 million. My estimate based on square feet, functionality, design and capacity. That’s a waste of money. Along with a proposed single purpose lacrosse field. A MPC is thinking smart.

    $700 million to support multiple programs, generate money from multiple revenue streams, support the community, help connect fans and alumni and be a symbol of pride in the covid age. But no let’s spend $250 million for Victory Heights and borrow 95 percent of the cost to support programs attended by fewer than 500 people and pitt still doesn’t get an outdoor track.

    That’s stupid yinzer thinking. You think like that in dallas, they send you on the first mule to Oklahoma.

    Tex

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  61. The English Dept loses money too. Should universities eliminate it? A first class university makes choices that often don’t produce a profit. That doesn’t mean it’s wasted money.

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    1. I believe in balanced budgets and making a profit.

      There could be some programs that are subsidized in academics and athletics but not at a cost of losing millions each year. Like pitt sports borrowing millions from the general fund to balance the books. And Pitt asking the commonwealth for handouts each year to support their massive and inefficient budget.

      Pitt has far too many academic and athletic programs. Moreover it doesn’t have the right ones. It needs to cut programs and raise prices. That’s a prudent business decision. Painful but you don’t go bk that way and will find success and your identity.

      To be blunt and personal, the only academic programs that should be offered are those that can help a student make money in life and not put them in lifetime debt. Learning for the sake of learning doesn’t have to cost hundreds of thousands. Not a big fan of worthless degrees or sports programs.

      And the only sports programs should be those where pitt has a chance to succeed in the ACC. Pitt football and basketball don’t make enough money to support the Olympic sports. To me that means pitt needs to reevaluate things and begin cutting. Or find ways to raise revenues. Hence my MPC idea.

      Education and sports should be treated like a business. Pitt really needs to go full private and become smaller and more efficient.

      Tex

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  62. Tex – I’m getting used to your song. If it had have been played on American Bandstand in the 50s, the kids wooda said, “I’m starting to get the words, I like the beat, and it’s easy to dance to!”

    Don’t stop singing. It’ll be Number 1 on the Hit Parade shortly! 😉

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  63. Tex, your vision of an American university’s mission is not in the mainstream. You would want most liberal arts colleges to go out of business. And nonprofits would not exist. You’re becoming a fringe thinker..

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  64. Colleges are negligent when they charge students hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthless degrees. I graduated from Pitts CAS. Dual major in poly sci and Econ. Minor in history. Those disciplines prepared me for grad school. But I wouldn’t pick them now. I’d go to a school that had undergrad business or a 3/2 program. I think that’s what it’s called for both mba and law. Enrolled maybe right after frosh year and begin working on getting your masters. Graduate much faster and with less debt.

    And as far as that English degree, should drop that program. Only offer journalism or teaching. And neither are programs that Pitt is very good. So if I was a bot member, I’d cut those three programs. Save the university millions and prevent students from being burdened with massive debt on a degree that doesn’t pay well. That’s not fringe thinking. That’s common sense.

    Pitt needs to find what it’s good at. Can’t be everything for everyone. Streamline things and become more efficient. And yes begin thinking like a business. Privatize the school. Reduce programs by probably half given Pitts massive waste. And raise tuition. Begin selling off properties.

    Did you see Pitts directors cup rankings. Did you see that Florida state is as highly ranked as pitt in academics. Only 4 schools worse than pitt in the ACC. Pitt is mediocre in general. Very good in some things. But plenty bad in far too many other things. That’s the problem. It has a scatter brain approach to what it does. And it shows.

    Tex

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  65. I agree with Tex on this subject also. I lot of worthless degrees being handed out along with some pretty heavy Student Loan IOU’s attached. Burdening our youth with high figure loans coming out of college does no one any favors.

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    1. It’s evolved into something more than college.. it’s a money making venture- multi- million dollar coaching salaries don’t hep matters !!!

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  66. The word on the Street is that Narduzzi declined a commit from a player that wanted to sign on the dotted line Friday. Any chance that Narduzzi consulted with Upitt on this lad prior to not accepting the offer?

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  67. Was watching an old episode of “Blood and Water,” a detective series produced in Vancouver, when there was a reference to Joe Paterno. A character was talking about how despicable people are who cover up heinous crimes. She used “Joe Paterno” as an example.

    This is the second such reference I’ve seen in a month. Can’t remember for sure, but the other “despicable like Joe Paterno” reference may have been, appropriately enough, in an episode of “Sneaky Pete.”

    Hope the JoePa worshipers are watching…

    Liked by 2 people

  68. BTW, this is the anniversary of the Johnstown Flood tragedy — May 31, 1889. The South Fork Dam failed sending a wall of water 14 miles downstream through Johnstown, killing more than 2,200 people.

    I’ve seen reporting that bodies were found in Pittsburgh and Steubenville.

    There’s an excellent book on the subject by David McCullough. “The Johnstown Flood” was the first book he published — 1968.

    Go Pitt.

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    1. Read that book amazing how the iconic names from the Burgh’s past were indirectly related to that tragedy…excellent read.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. If anyone is into books on building things – and I mean BIG things — David McCullough’s books on the Brooklyn Bridge (“The Great Bridge”) and the Panama Canal (“The Path Between the Seas”) are excellent too.

        Go Pitt.

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  69. Universities and Colleges have been getting in financial difficulty for some time Tex. They have over built and were starting to pay the price before the pandemic which will cause more severe downsizing. Some examples, a few years back Duquesne cut their tuition in half for education students and Clarion cut their education department all together. So supply and demand does work. Pitt’s focus on health care professions has helped maintain demand and is why SAT scores have gone up.

    If you want to cut your college debt in half go to Community College for two years. Unfortunately you miss out on the “College Experience” and most kids don’t want to do it. I offered my daughter a new car and she still wouldn’t go for it. She and we are still paying off debt, grad school at Pitt is really expensive, but worth it.

    I am hearing a lot of stories about how much kids are hating remote learning, it may have its place but won’t replace traditional classroons.

    Still wish Fitz would have finished his Pitt Degree instead of Phoenix U. I’m sure they paid him.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. just talked to a Pitt student about a month ago, right after the spring term ended. She was a frosh, living in the Towers …. but when she had to return to her cushy suburban home and finish out the term, she detested it. Couldn’t wait to get back to Oakland

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  70. Finals today…
    Pitt Stadium vs The O

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  71. I think too little has been made of Narduzzi recruiting kids with character, and his developing a positive culture. A number of things support that supposition. Academic achievement appears to be very strong, multiple players are foregoing a pro career start this year, say what you will about the reasons, but this has been rare at Pitt, and lastly, not many opted for the Portal.

    Is this just a moment in time, maybe, but a positive one none the less. I hate to jinx us but the lack of off the field black eyes is also noteworthy. Off course being locked in your home makes it hard to misbehave.

    Liked by 3 people

  72. Tex, you keep talking about how hockey could be a moneymaker, using PSU as an example. I will point out that there is nothing to do within 100 miles of State College, the townies there are all-in with the university and whatever it hosts, and they have no professional hockey team to suck fans away from the college game. Pretty much the same situation as the football team. Just because it works in Creepy Valley doesn’t mean it will work here. I’m pretty sure the fans buying tickets for Pens games won’t be coming to Pitt games. There’s only so much $$ and time to be spent in hockey arenas for most people, IMHO.

    Liked by 2 people

  73. I will step in for Tex on this. I have two sons that play competitive hockey. One is an elite prospect AAA and the other is quite solid at A. They are both 15. One travels the US and Canada regularly. One travels in a 5 state area very consistently during season.

    These kids are in programs with thousands of other kids by birth year. We also live very close to a college town that competes with professional hockey in the same city. The college hockey is a Division 1 program. Although a good Division 1 team, they are by no means in the national championship hunt year after year. They make a solid run at the frozen 4 every 10 years it seems. They are usually pretty good. They draw 4k-6k for every game with ticket prices about 10-20 apiece. They make money, albeit not much. At a minimum, a wash. They do lose money on womens hockey, but not much. College students love to go to the games (engagement for future giving).

    Fast re-wind. In my town, there is only 1 AAA Elite program for each of 8 birth years. At 20 kids per team at each birth year, that is 160 elite kids. When you go down to AA, there are 3 teams for each of 8 birth years. Same type of roster so that is 480 AA kids. You then go to A players with 20 teams, etc.

    Compared to Pittsburgh, there are 4 AAA teams, and over 50 AA and A teams (see link). This does not include high school teams OR the non-elite players that haven’t yet made it to A (thousand more kids).

    See Link – https://www.myhockeyrankings.com/rank.php?s=PA&y=2019&a=3&v=126

    I did not include Erie teams that are close to our market. The numbers support the add. Pittsburgh is a developed hockey town and pipeline. Pitt is missing a great opportunity. The parents love to take kids to these games because they can legitimately see their kids matriculating to college and because they are so much cheaper than a pro game.

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