Pitt scrimmaged again this weekend, and another video was released. Since our crack team of video analysts did such a great job last time, I’ve decided to bring that back in for a second go round. Enjoy the double-click into what the Pitt SID really wants us to see.
First the still images:
Trying to decipher who is in the the huddle with the ones…Pickett Obviously. I think that’s Carter Warren he’s got his arm on? I can sort of just make out the 7 on the right side of the back of his jersey… If it’s Warren then it does indeed look like he’s slimmed down. Huge arms too. That’s #4 at Running Back – I.e. Daniel Carter. Seeing a lot of him in scrimmage footage. #18 is Shocky. There is another receiver inside of him. Can’t see a number. It’s not Addison because of the black t-shirt poking out from under the jersey. (Addison as you can see below has a blue one). Maybe Tipton? Another of the true frosh? I’m assuming that’s Krull immediately to his right. Paris Ford does appear to be practicing. Is that him saying “my bad”?Jason Pinnock’s arms (and dreds) pass the eye-test. With Mathis out he’s our unquestioned #1 corner. While I’m no body language expert, he appears to be walking with a bit of a swagger.#3 Jordan Addision and #71 Bryce Hargrove (number is hidden but it’s him). Addison doesn’t look as small as I thought he would next to the 6’4″ 320 Hargrove.
And now the film breakdown:
Herd of ZebrasObligatory setup shot. Pitt Videography department doing work. Do we know who this is? That mask/hat/hoodie combo is kind of badass.KennyLooksLoose
Also nothing says Pittsburgh like a little Southside ‘Stache.
Dude needs to keep it for the season.There was a coach, who will remain unnamed who once said, “If you want to get into the endzone, you’ve got to think like you’re already there”. (Actually I just kind of made that up. It’s supposed to be “Act like you’ve been there before”. Both relevant to this team though.)This is a double Tight End formation where #7 (Krull -foreground) looks like he’s releasing down the field and #41 (Zilinskas) either comes over to pass block or possibly releases as well.This is the next frame. Note the apparent hold on the left tackle – or maybe guard if he came over to help out (looks like #76 Matt Goncalves) But the important thing is that Pickett throws a strike……to a wide-open Krull, who makes an easy grab for a touchdown. I’ll stop here and say this is the SECOND TIME in as many videos that a Tight End has been wide open down the middle for a TD. (Earlier this week it was Beville to Moraga). Either Whipple really has something cooking on the Southside or we need to be really worried about our secondary.Morrissey helps Krull celebrateConfirmed The Christodoulou is still the holder. With three backup QB’s on the roster you’d think they’d have gone with someone that would open up some play fake options…just me being an armchair quarterback.#23 Todd Sibley gets wrapped up and pulled down by #17 Nate Temple. This was apparently a nice play. That’s #3 Hamlin in the background (I think). If yes, it’s possible that Temple was running with the ones.#30 MLB Brandon George reading his keys… In the next frame Davis Beville steps up to throw and in-route to #35 (walk on rFr Isaiah Stewart if I’m getting this right…). Beville has got plenty of time on the play. Lets take a quick look at the linemen . #61 Brian Burgess (walk on). #50 Jason Collier (converted TE). #52 Kenny Rainey (walk on). If I had to guess they’ve got Beville running with the threes on this play. The route BTW…was jumped by … Brandon George. Apparently he read those keys correctly.George celebrated with a turnover Dunk. #28 Rashad Battle, #14 Marquis Williams, #20 Wendell Davis all share the moment, as well as two others. So #2 defense against #3 offense on this one I’m guessing.Pickett takes the snap. (Gloved right hand a giveaway)Thows to Shocky wide open down the middleShocky hauls it in. Trucks defender. (#26 Judson Tallendier)Shocky Scores TD. I’ve now seen Tallendier get beat badly once with a blown coverage and get trucked after coming over late on another one. Lot of lessons for this young safety in this camp. Lets home Hamlin and Ford stay healthy. I’m pretty sure this is our boy Daniel Carter giving yet another defensive lineman a free ride. There is only one player in the City of Pittsburgh who will ever be called “the Bus” but Carter sure seems to be trying to steal that nickname. This is the second time in two scrimmages that #6 DE John Morgan seems to be celebrating something.14 vs 14. Wait, what? (rFr WR Will Gipson- white jersey, goes against rSo Marquis Williams)Williams peeled off Gipson in the previous frame, and …if this is the same play…he came down with an INT on a ball intended for #10 true freshman Jaylen Barden. Williams had good position and made a great grab but Barden needs to fight to knock that ball away. Looks like true freshman #27 Buddy Mack coming in late with over-the-top safety help. Based on what I can see I’m not sure he took a great angle but tough to tell from this shot and he may have changed the angle after he saw the INT. No word on who the quarterback was on the throw.They didn’t show Marquis’ dunk, but here’s the posse that escorted him to the hoop. Tallendier and Mack helping him celebrate.If that’s (#28) Kyi Wright, then I don’t Want to be Wrong. He just made Paris Ford (#12) miss……had Damar Hamlin (#3) bounce off of him……and slipped inside a block for a couple of extra yards (Wright’s listed at 6’2″, 260 BTW and he did not look slow on that play.)#11 true Freshman Bangally Kamara……with a strip of #37 – not listed on depth chart. But hey it’s still a strip. And a damn athletic one at that.Pat won’t tell you this, but George Aston stopped by practice. Just kidding it’s #41 rSr TE Jake Zilinskas. Gotta love the throwback neck roll.Beville drops back and……throws it up to Zilinskas (who was interfered with AND makes the catch). That’s #32 Sirvocea Dennis on the coverage. Gotta turn that head Vos.Zilinskas then drags the 6’1″, 230 lb Dennis into the endzone. #28 Kyi Wright (who i think might have been wide open down the seam…this is the 3rd time I’ve seen this folks) looks on……and then helps congratulate his fellow Tight End
Also for those of you who may be interested, Reed has a new (non-sports) article up on The Homeport. https://reedkohberger.com/as-an-excuse-goes/. Please keep all comments on that article on Reed’s blog! Thanks.
Again couldn’t sleep, came down stairs to tire myself out and found this article. Now I’m ready to go out to the backyard and at least toss a football. I know longer own a football or have anyone to toss it to if I did. Thanks Mike. 🙂
R. I. P. in peace Mr Gore. Famous line from ex PITT head coach Dr Roy Chipman. Demetrius needs to learn you don’t get extra points for the degree of difficulty.
Eliott Donald makes a wise decision but I hope it wasn’t because of an underlying condition. Obviously he’s just smart and rich.
Looks like D Carter may change the opinions about PITTs running game this year? Reminds me of Iron-Head.
Great to see Paris out there.
Too bad EJ can’t get Reed into one of these scrimmages.
I don’t know if I said Twyman was foolish? Two things, he may have jumped the gun by leaving school instead of just opting out but now I’ve been told he may have been handed a hefty bag to not play and risk injury.(I believe he already has an agent) RC from Pittsburgh.
Thirdly, Eliott has a very rich uncle to act as a safety net.
fwiw, Ohio St top recruit has opted out …. but is considering enrolling early just in case the B10 does play FB this spring. Kind of reminiscent of a college player opting out of a bowl game
I live in Pickerington. Many students transfer to North and Central HS’s for their well respected athletic programs and not just fb. Central was Ohio state football champ for two of the last three years. It all started with girl’s bb: state champs in 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2018 and national champs in 1999.
right now the B10 looks to be pretty foolish, but that might not be the case in 2 months. I still don’t see how college FB is going to work if the players are going to integrate with the students ….. hope I’m wrong
Well so far after two weeks of online learning for high school, no infections yet.
After one week of online at Texas, no new cases.
Why is it that we had to rush kids back on campus again?
Wbb is right. Don’t see how players remain safe by interacting with a student body on and off campus. Must be real disciplined to avoid anyone outside your bubble.
But then it exposes a double standard for the football student athlete. Students don’t have the same bubble as the players. But there’s always been special treatment for athletes. Hence the resentment from the intelligentsia at universities like Pitt.
And why just football. What about soccer and other Fall sports particularly women’s sports. Why don’t they get a chance?
In the scrimmage video, looks like QBs KP and D. Beville both had braces on their left knees — the step into the throw leg. Probably just a safety precaution…
Be interesting to know how many passes each of the QBs threw…
Especially this season – nice to have 3 QBs who have had the experience of playing in a real game…
On Beville’s intercepted throw, I never played QB, but I would think it’s really hard to learn to looks at a bigger window – rather than just focusing on the receiver… If he has a step on a guy running with him, that’s pretty easy to judge, but if someone is lurking and going to break from the other direction, that’s a tough one to read, seems to me…
Seeing a bigger picture but then focusing enough as you release the ball to still be accurate takes a lot of skill and experience, I would guess.
Playing QB against a good pass defense (or with a porous OL) and hitting a good curve or change-up — tough things to do…
Congrats UPitt to you and the Mrs. Don’t worry about school….according to the CDC only 94 people from the age of 0-18 have died from Covid 19 this year. Which makes me wonder why college football is shut down in various conferences….
David Hale is an ESPN CFB writer who really seems to like Pitt …even more than many of us
Had to vote for preseason All-ACC and order of finish… Not very easy this year. Here are my picks and since that’s… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) August 31, 2020
RIP D Gore…..while I will never forget the Vandy loss, D was quite the showman. Several times I watched him pass up a breakaway layup in order to take a double pump hook shot from 15 ft.
Congrats UPitt! You will feel both younger and older as this little one grows.
A pretty accurate assessment of Pitt based on its 2019 season performance IMO. Now if Antonio Brown ADDISON and Rob Gronkoski KRULL show up for Pitt on the offense this season then maybe we can all finally be drinking that Kool-Aid.
Write-up is a very fair assessment of PITT….At the end of the year we lost to Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College and barely beat a Mac team in a bowl game-that’s the reality going into this season.
We should order 50K Paterno cutouts and fill Heinz Field for the ACC opener. That would really torture the pedo fans who have no football. Maybe we can get a volume discounts from pedoenablers.com .
Pitt is probably the 4th best team in the Coastal. All ahead of Pitt have good coaching staffs and better recruiting based on Rivals over the past three years. Only Miami spends more than Pitt. And they also play off campus.
$4 million better result in more than 7 wins and a 4th place finish. Wanny made a penny over one million and gave Pitt ten wins. You don’t over pay a head coach for graduation rates marketed by a person who dresses like a 🍌 .
Congrats Mark, been babysitting my grandchildren, from time to time. They are really fun and I am just as happy when they go home. They do keep you young but at my age they also make me really tired.
Maybe when this Covid thing is over we can have a Pitt Game with all the Kids, you will have to be on your best behavior, right?
I am up for either. Pittfan1 says we can play at Willowbrook CC again or I can probably get Totterridge with enough notice. Will enough guys be willing to travel due to Covid and no football attendance in September. The ND game might have been really cool at the end of October if we got lucky with weather.
The spring game next year may be best, hopefully with a vaccine.
BigB said he was interested a while back and us locals are always up for it.
To keep a coach beyond his initial contract length it is important to overpay a bit to show confidence in future performance. Narduzzi is actually probably underpaid if you consider all the missions of the university such as graduation rate, good social awareness, ability to represent the university well, not to mention program stability. The current group of players does a great job of representing the university which is a credit to PN. This obsession with 10 win seasons as the only acceptable performance metric is ridiculous. We all want to see 10 win seasons, but there is more to the university than that.
Hey! I’ve saying that for years when everyone on here thought I wanted PN to be fired…which I have never said or ever wanted. Give me a 7-8 win coach with a clean and strong off field program over a 10 hot mess (yes, I’m talking about you DW).
Of course a 9-11 win coach with a clean program would be great also.
Four million is primarily based on field performance as it should be. Seven wins on average and just one crappy bowl win to show for it. No nationally ranked teams. Plus probation. Let’s not gloss over that one.
He is grossly overpaid. Avg saragin and rpi rankings in the 50s yet top 25 compensation. Are you telling me that grad rates are worth an extra $1.5 million each year?? I guess I don’t also value the saving of kittens from the tall oaks on the Cathedral lawn. Not like pitt football donations have ramped up under the reign of King Pat either. And season ticket sales?
If you ask me, Narduzzi is costing pitt more than just his compensation. You really think pitt is creating new supporters because the football team averaged a 3.2 gpa?
If there is anyone that is underpaid it is mister atom counter. There is no way in hell that Narduzzi should make over four times what Gallagher makes.
Or do you not believe in the mission statement?
Tex who sees no reason in your voice on this matter
Let it go Reed, you’re letting it get in the way of something you care deeply about, PITT football. I’ll play this video again. You go through is my best advice. I’m facing many more problems than Narduzzi calling me a spy. Enjoy life, embrace it and worry about more important things in life like your family and old friends.
Cannot believe that Duzz chose to utterly nuke Canada. Horrible PR and wouldn’t be surprised if Canada poked back that Narduzzi was an idiot as HC and he felt safer going elsewhere.
Oh, just watched the Narduzzi video about MC. Oh Canada made his money but he sold his soul. Now he’s a QB coach. Please don’t blame Narduzzi for Canada, the person, for being a dumb-ass.
Agree. Narduzzi likes to spout but he was right. Be patient, Matt.
Canada, had he stayed, might now be in year one or two as a head coach making some serious bank. I’m not sure now Canada will ever get an opportunity to be a head coach. Then again, maybe Max Browne would have killed his chances in 2017. A million a year at Pitt was nothing to sneeze at. The BoT would have been very upset and wanting to kill football once again if Matt decided to stay.
The ACC’s talk with Pitt about upgrading facilities and getting its Olympic sports in order means football, as long as it is in the ACC, cannot pull a 1938, a 1966 and a 1990. We’ll definitely have another idiot A.D. who will wrongfully fire a coach well suited for Pitt. That is just Pitt being same old Pitt.
My take on the duzz vid if you want it: it’s peak Narduzzi.
He’s illustrating a point to you g coaches. And that point is ‘be patient’. Canada has been the anthesis of patient for his entire career. As far as overarching message, Narduzzi is not wrong. And his story about Canada is very relevant to his point.
However, as usual, when he’s been slighted, or someone disagrees with him, pat will overstep the bounds, and let his emotions get the better of him. Do we really believe that pat thought Canada “wasn’t that good”? c’mon. And if you listen to the delivery and tone of pats voice when he says it, he pauses for a second and then just blurts it out, and his voice goes up and octave when he does. To me that says embellishment 100%. Was it the right thing to say? Nope. Was it even accurate? Nope. Is it classic Narduzzi hyperbole? Yep. Look back at when he was giving Jerry DiPaola what-for about the top twenty five. He could have stopped at a few different parts, his point made. Instead he kept going until he finally (and I truly believe he was joking) told Jerry “oh come on…your wife doesn’t like you”. And then there was an awkward moment. He just didn’t know when to say when to stop. Probably something you should figure out by his age but hey…we all have our own path to walk.
I do agree that he’s burnt a bridge and it’s probably going to make for some awkward moments if their paths cross, but hey canada was never going to come back and work for pat anyway.
MM — I agree with your take on Duzz. My impression is that Duzz puts everyone into just two categories. Your either with him, or your his enemy. If you’re not with him, you’re against him. If you’re neutral, you’re against him.
I think that’s just how he looks at the world. I think he’d do anything for those who are with him.
And in dealing with those on the outside, he tries to be too cute. He tries to be clever or funny, but often misses the mark. And doesn’t know when to stop…
Duzz certainly has his flaws, but I love his passion. Just listen to his voice at the beginning of the scrimmage video — he’s so pumped for his team, and they seem to love him.
…………..and Mike.. you make the point I try and make…. Narduzzi mostly thinks he’s funny and doesn’t realize how abrasive he can be. It’s a character fault but not a coaching fault. Although there is some of that to.
I don’t recall Narduzzi saying Canada wasn’t that good. He just said Canada took the LSU job for the money. Maybe Canada thought a HC job coming from Pitt would be to a MAC school, whereas success at LSU would lead to a P5 HC job.
One thing I’ve learned over and over and over in Sales and Management in the corporate world is NEVER EVER BURN BRIDGES! Some of it the hard way.
Let’s say Duzz goes 1-9 this year and Pitt decides to cut the chord. Canada could well be a hot property post Steeler season. They could be competing for the same job. Jeez Duzz… did you have to show someone such arrogance !!
He may have been the best Pitt OC in history. You made yourself look small and clumsy.
And while I’m on the topic, I rewatched both the UCF game and the EMich bowl game. While Duzz was doing his usual ranting on the sideline, I counted 19 incidents of Pitt players being out of position.
That…. is all on the coaches.
As far as Canada goes………. sometimes you reach a fork in the road, You can go left or go right, there is never is a road straight ahead. You can take either road and may or may not prosper? The thing that is always a part of the puzzling decision, what did you give up by not taking the other road?
“You give up something for everything you gain”……. Bob Dylan….
The sad part in Canada’s case is that he sold out and traded loyalty for opportunity and money. Maybe he felt it was the quickest road to a head coaching job. In turn, Maryland showed him no loyalty, perhaps they felt he could not attract a loyal coaching staff. What goes around comes around. Not sure why Narduzzi felt the need to call attention to it now, but there must have been a reason the public is not aware of.
This also tell me I was right all along and the offer was real that Canada was offered. How many times times did I read that it was just a fluff offer? PITT was willing to pay One million dollars for a coordinator. Let’s stop bashing PITT and Narduzzi at every turn of the corner.
Canada back in the Burgh as a QB coach, nice career move Matt. LSU threw his ass out before his first year had been completed. What a dip-schitt. He runs a high school offense, has no morals and less scruples.
Catching up…..graduation rates are a joke if you actually read the difference between being ranked #1 in graduation rates and number 100. The difference is minimal and is just basic stuff.
Voice, I am a nice dude. I can go get kids to represent the university well. I can probably cheat better than Narduzzi did. I know I can fundraise better. A P5 college coach and P5 sports in general is a business.
Maybe we start hearing about other non-revenue producing sports this week. Should be an interesting topic.
Huff, nothing unexpected, after-all you are an attorney. I would expect nothing less with all due respect. 🙂 I know on a first name basis no less than 50 attorneys. All pretty much nice dudes like you are.
Tidbits of info from PSN: Pitt talking to a grad transfer at CB less than 2 weeks from their opening game and J Addison named to the 247 pre season All American freshman team.
Actually thought I’m a Pickett believer. And yes maybe I’m setting myself up for some disappointment, but let’s roll the dice.
OL I’m skeptical
WR I’m on the fence. What is Mack? A possession guy? He’s too fragile. A speed guy? Not fast enough. A jump ball guy? He needs more heights. Btw his catch % was one of the lowest in the team last year.
TE is wait and see for me.
Lot of if’s just like every year.
I guess that’s what keeps me coming back. Intermittent rewards.
Well Michaelangelo, why care if you don’t believe success is at the very least, a possibility? I could break my arm patting myself on the back for sticking with this team all this time, I’m just not a skeptical person at heart. I do have my one kryptonite call “the steve”
Sure it’s a possibility. And I’d say it’s even more of a possibility this year.
The best year I had watching Pitt football was 2009. That may sound obvious but the key was that I wasn’t following the team all that closely (I mean I knew a few key players but wasn’t all up on the recruiting and who was filling in all the vacant spots on the 2 deep) and so I had pretty tempered expectations going it. Especially after that sun bowl debacle vs Oregon State.
Well sure enough Pitt wins 9 of 11 in the regular season and caps it all with a bowl win. And it was a joy to watch it unfold. Why? Because I had low expectations.
If I’d expected them to win 10 I’d have been disappointed at the end of the regular season … even though it was Pitts best season in the modern era. (Defined as post JM2 for me)
Well I guess it could have made you even more confused when they fired Dave soon after that season? SOP happened more off the field than it did on…………………… imo
Well yea we had 2010 which was a step down right? 8-5, though we did beat an SEC team in the bowl. But yea when I saw they fired Dave I was hurt and confused. And then just mad. They Haywood. Then fraud. Then three years of 6-6 with Paul.
Narduzzi was 100% correct about Canada. Another year at Pitt with the same success, Canada is a head coach. Canada Was supposedly tight with Narduzzi, Canada burned the bridge by screwing his friend. Narduzzi just threw the rubble in the dumpster.
GC – We still need our golf outing this Fall or at least Spring!!
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Gordon Conn
September 1, 2020 at 8:30 am
I am up for either. Pittfan1 says we can play at Willowbrook CC again or I can probably get Totterridge with enough notice. Will enough guys be willing to travel due to Covid and no football attendance in September. The ND game might have been really cool at the end of October if we got lucky with weather.
The spring game next year may be best, hopefully with a vaccine.
BigB said he was interested a while back and us locals are always up for it.
Gordon, I agree spring is probably best for a full blown outing but I can play in the fall…either course is OK with me.
Shoot me a text or email and we can talk…
I didn’t see the interaction, but still feel that Canada would have been a fool to not take LSU”s money since it was stupid money in multiple ways.
The fact that he was lucky at Pitt to have all the pieces to the puzzle assembled at one time and knew how to use them was great for us as well as him. That was the finest offense assembled at Pitt since the Marino years, but was a one year deal.
Canada leaving probably did not hurt Pitt because much of that team graduated, and we still didn’t have a defense the following year. Maybe we win one or two more games if Canada stayed.
In any case his subsequent performance showed he did the right thing taking the money. LSU certainly recovered.
What does a QB coach do to earn his money at Pittsburgh as long as Ben stays healthy for a couple more years? The guy was a one hit wonder and I am glad he did it at Pitt. Hopefully he invested well.
If he gets a million at Pitt he has job security, a stable situation for his family, and can basically stay as long as wants. So let’s say he says for 3 years that’s $3M
Now if he says at pitt for one and then goes to be a G5 HC (let’s say something better than the MAC)
That’s like 1 M plus another let’s say 1.5 for a head coach. But maybe only a million. If he does go the MAC it’s probably like $600k.
So yea… in some ways maybe he did the right thing bc he got to take a year off. That seems kinda worth it.
Gordon,
If money is the only goal one has, then you may be correct. But his reputation was further damaged by the total breakdown between he and Ed Ogeron and the high profile firing. Even if the severance agreement either party from disparaging the other, it got out there that Canada not only had communicaiton shortcomings, but was apparently difficult to work with.
I understand Narduzzi being pissed and holding a grudge. He extended an opportunity to a friend with the understanding that Canada would remain in the job for a while – Narduzzi need to rebound from the Chubs Chaney exit. They had a deal and Canada broke that. His word isn’t worth a piece of dried camel dung.
Narduzzi made a mistake in being that candid with the younger coaches – everything one says these days can potentially end up in social media. Im OK with his comments though, except for the he’s not worth MUSD 1.
As good a synopsis of the situation as anyone has written. Your integrity is all you have in life when you really get down to it (and your innate talent and drive on top of that). If canada truly had a verbal agreement with Narduzzi to stay for multiple years – and he broke it – well Camel Dung may be too good a term. 🐪 🐪 🐪
Just spoke to Fran. We are going to put together a golf outing in September if there is enough interest. It won’t take much. Fran will send out an email blast to everyone he has on his list to determine interest, best date, probably a Friday. I will check on course availability.
If you haven’t played with us before we promise a good time. Come as a single or bring your own group, all are welcome. Kool-aid drinkers and Negative Nellies. Even you lurkers can come and don’t have to give your opinions, but we hope you do.
Fran has offered to host the game in his man cave the day after the Friday event.
I second UPitt’s motion. Friday Oct 2. Will still feel like Sept and the NC State game is the next day. Who knows?…. they might allow a few of us to attend in person by then (that was not an invitation to debate that btw).
One point is being overlooked with the Canada issue: Narduzzi went out on a limb with the administration to get Canada the bump to $1 million. This money commitment probably came out of some other budget or else Heather had to go to the BoT to get approval. Now, other assistants are aware that more money can be had when they attempt to negotiate new deals, so the staff salary structure is affected even though they didn’t pay the money out. Narduzzi did this for a friend and it came back to bite him. Not sure it made good sense, though, to remind the current staff at the clinic that more money can be had if they threaten to leave.
Ike – let go of what? Prior to C-19 I did more travelling to visit friends and family then ever before and 30 hours of volunteer work a week…enjoying the hell out of it. My life is pretty fantastic even with the changes we are going through.
Pitt offered Canada $1M – that is true. After he had already told Pitt he was taking the LSU job for $500K more. That was indeed a ‘fluff’ offer because at the time Pitt knew he was already committed to leaving. It hasn’t worked out the way he would have wanted it too but at 44 years of age in ’16 getting an addition $500K towards bolstering a retirement nest egg is a pretty good financial decision at the time.
I think it is rather hilarious that 2016 was the singular year in PN’s Pitt HC career that we had anything at all like a good offense. That year we averaged 40.9 PPG…all his other four years we averaged 24.5. PN’s O with 2016 aside has been ranked on average 73rd nationally and in ’16 it was 10th.
Canada got a back-up QB in Peterson to play the best ball from a QB then Pitt had had in many years. Let’s look at the difference between NP and KP
NP = 2,855 yards; 27 TDs / 7 INTs and a 163.37 QB rating for 8th nationally.
KP = 3,098 yards; 13TDs / 9 INTs and a 122.42 QB rating for 91st nationally.
Quite telling to me anyway. But if PN says Canada sucked when he was here then I guess that’s true.
Bottom line is Canada was fired at NCS at the end of 2015 after a “disappointing 7-6” record. He was fired from LSU after the 2017 season. He was fired from Maryland after the 2018 season. He is now the qb coach for Big Ben who needs and wants a qb coach like he needs and wants a another elbow injury.
I have to agree with the Duzz, MC made a mistake leaving Pitt, but maybe Pitt made a mistake by even trying to get him to stay.
Canada was fired in Jan 2016 at NC State after getting a 3 year extension on his contract in Jan 2015. NC State averaged over 32 points per game in the 2015 season so what the problem was at the time of his firing is unknown. I believe it was rumored that he was talking to other teams at the time he was fired and that may have set too well with his head coach.—Canada adding the jet sweep into Pitt’s 2016 offense really was the difference maker confusing PSU(and many others) until the second half. No way Pitt wins that game if Canada wasn’t in place as OC at the time.
So let me understand this NC State rumor situation better. Following the logic of the rumor you’ve offered, the HC goes to his AD with a demand that they fire a coach with a 3-year contract and consequently a buyout payment due for his early termination because he’s looking for another job. If they don’t do this, the coach might leave and he’d have to pay them an early termination payment. Either way they’re going to lose the coach, but one way they’re going to pay hundreds of thousands and the other way they’re going to receive hundreds of thousands. Oh, BTW NC State had the 13th out of 15 lowest football budget in the ACC. Does the old adage, “cutting your nose off to spite your face” ring a bell? With that scenario I think the AD might be searching for a new HC as well.
I agree with your opinion that without the jet sweep Pitt loses the PSU game, but that jet sweep didn’t help enough at LSU. Canada came up with innovated offensive “gimmicks” but once good DC’s knew his modus operandi his offenses could be neutralized, as Pitt found out in the PSU second half and LSU discovered in 2017.
A famous coach once said (see following poster), “It’s not about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.”
Well you’d think the jimmys and Joe’s would have been better at LSU. I remember reading that the players complained about the offense bc was too complicated. They way Pitt had been recruiting under Chryst the players were smarter but certainly less athletic overall. At LSU probably the exact opposite. So there is that as well. Adds a different dimension a to the Jimmy / joe convo. The truth is we will never really know bc only one season at Pitt!
Speaking of recruiting, it seems it makes sense to load up on graduate transfers this year since they will automatically get another year of eligibility due to COVID. If, as in Pitt’s case, they had an additional scholarship due to Twyman leaving, then go to a position of need and find some depth or even a starter. There may also be a huge number of good players on the transfer portal due to the Big 10 and PAC 12 not playing. Some good players might want to play one more year before heading to the NFL.
MM, I wonder if AT&T Net will pick up the Pitt games that are covered by the ACC Network. I would think the ACC could use some additional rights fees this year from local networks willing to pick up the feed since Comcast is being stubborn again.
Pat Narduzzi asked today about this video, which he said he heard about but did not see. Today he called Matt Canada "an unbelievable offensive coordinator."
"Everyone wants to twist words around. I love Matt Canada. … If Matt took that the wrong way, I sure hope he didn't." https://t.co/IYochbScMX
For any of you that are not familiar with “coach speak”, allow me to interpret the Duzz’s comments from today
He Said Interpretation
“Canada is an unbelievable coach” I couldn’t believe he would leave after promising to stay
“If Matt took this the wrong way…. ” I hope you’re enjoying picking up Ben’s jockstrap at
minimum wage
Pitt signs graduate transfer from Maryland D J Turner. WR/KR is an area I didn’t think needed anyone right now but I’m guessing Narduzzi might have been a little uncomfortable with using freshman back there. He will have 2 years of eligibility(from PSN) at Pitt if he decides to stay on because of this years Covid exemption.
The staff has not settled on a return man, so good to have someone enter the mix. If he doesn’t pan out he is gone so the gamble is worth it. His DUI at Maryland with have the elitists at Pitt and in the fanbase probably concerned.
Question for all of you oldies …..who remembers what the financial penalties for underage drinking/drinking and driving back in the our youthful years…I would live threw those years straight-laced… had Big Sherm to lay down the law if I got outta hand….Reed, Coach Dan72, wwb chirp in….rkb would know the exact historical info if he was with us……
If the kid can play ball who gives a crap if he had a DUI (if no one was injured)
It’s a character issue. I’m surprised Pitt picked him up given their emphasis and near cult obsession with high character guys. Tells me they are desperate. Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
Pitt is not a military academy or BYU. The emphasis on character is a distraction from mediocre on field performance. It’s a shiny object for all Koolaid drinkers.
You need some high character guys and leaders. But you also need the other side. Not everyone is built to save kittens from trees or wants to lead.
Nobody of high character drinks and drives michael. All are aware of the dangers. None are ignorant.
The kid made a mistake. I believe in second and third chances. But to me pitt is being hypocritical. If there’s one thing I can’t stand besides going through life as mediocre, it’s hypocrisy.
Turner played in 3 games for MD last year then was charged with DUI on 9/20 and was redshirted after the incident. Beatty coached him at MD a couple of years back and it would seem that connection was instrumental in getting him to commit to Pitt. My HUNCH Narduzzi doesn’t want to use Addison on KR’s or PR’s for fear of injury to what may end up being his most valuable(and electric) WR. Turner would give Pitt some senior experience in those positions.
not many kick-offs even being returned these days-I only remeber a handful, if that many, last year….sadly, I think those in charge would like to eliminate the KO return completely……..
^^ I highly doubt that, especially after Narduzzi gets another raise and extension in two years. PITT and Heather love the guy, not hard to understand. He’s not going anywhere soon unless he chooses to. If he choose to leave then Charlie would become head coach. Canada screwed the pooch when he left PITT.
BTW the one million dollar offer to Canada was completely real. I wish people would stop telling me it wasn’t. This spy video explains it perfectly. Continuity….. Canada is no further ahead of the game now than if would have stayed, perhaps behind the eight ball right now.
Heather will be gone in two years Ike. She’s taking her banana outfit to Michigan state. Narduzzi will not last long without his self appointed protector. Just like cornholes reign of terror quickly ended after his buddy nerdball retired.
pittpov.com 
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Gore, Lane and Smith …. best front line Pitt ever had
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So sad, so young.
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Eliot Donald is foregoing his senior year at Central Catholic due to C19
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MM – I know breaking down that video took some time. Appreciate it.
If only we could see some scrimmage stats! Still, it’s great to see these guys in action and read your commentary.
RIP D. Gore — a big-time Panther.
Go Pitt.
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Again couldn’t sleep, came down stairs to tire myself out and found this article. Now I’m ready to go out to the backyard and at least toss a football. I know longer own a football or have anyone to toss it to if I did. Thanks Mike. 🙂
R. I. P. in peace Mr Gore. Famous line from ex PITT head coach Dr Roy Chipman. Demetrius needs to learn you don’t get extra points for the degree of difficulty.
Eliott Donald makes a wise decision but I hope it wasn’t because of an underlying condition. Obviously he’s just smart and rich.
Looks like D Carter may change the opinions about PITTs running game this year? Reminds me of Iron-Head.
Great to see Paris out there.
Too bad EJ can’t get Reed into one of these scrimmages.
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sorry have to ask …. so why is Donald wise and Twyman foolish?
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I don’t know if I said Twyman was foolish? Two things, he may have jumped the gun by leaving school instead of just opting out but now I’ve been told he may have been handed a hefty bag to not play and risk injury.(I believe he already has an agent) RC from Pittsburgh.
Thirdly, Eliott has a very rich uncle to act as a safety net.
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Maestro, damn good stuff!!
RIP D. Gore…one of my favorites back in the day mainly because of the “degree of difficulty”
Quite the showman.
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fwiw, Ohio St top recruit has opted out …. but is considering enrolling early just in case the B10 does play FB this spring. Kind of reminiscent of a college player opting out of a bowl game
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to clarify .. he opted out of high school (Pickrington North) and is considering enrolling early at OSU
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I live in Pickerington. Many students transfer to North and Central HS’s for their well respected athletic programs and not just fb. Central was Ohio state football champ for two of the last three years. It all started with girl’s bb: state champs in 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999, 2018 and national champs in 1999.
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Gore was awesome to watch, with Smith scoring the ball and Lane rebounding they were a force and played when the Big East was at its finest.
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https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/29775675/auburn-tigers-16-players-coronavirus-related-issues
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They don’t start until sept 26 which helps. Mahlzahn’s line at the end of the article though…
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right now the B10 looks to be pretty foolish, but that might not be the case in 2 months. I still don’t see how college FB is going to work if the players are going to integrate with the students ….. hope I’m wrong
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Pitt kicks off in less than two weeks at an empty Heinz Field with two more at home in September.
Four straight home games then the trip to BC. Easiest start to a year in many years. Will they take advantage of it?
What is the plan if teams get sidelined by Covid? Is the game postponed or forfeit.
If forfeit, teams that stay in the bubble and have the best testing and medical resources will benefit.
A new definition for team discipline.
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As much as we criticize the kids, this has to be hard.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/08/31/covid-cases-college-fall-semester-nc-state-syracuse/5659611002/
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Good stuff
https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2020/08/29/previewing-the-panthers-versatile-phil-campbell-gives-pitt-speed-to-burn-at-lb/
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Well so far after two weeks of online learning for high school, no infections yet.
After one week of online at Texas, no new cases.
Why is it that we had to rush kids back on campus again?
Wbb is right. Don’t see how players remain safe by interacting with a student body on and off campus. Must be real disciplined to avoid anyone outside your bubble.
But then it exposes a double standard for the football student athlete. Students don’t have the same bubble as the players. But there’s always been special treatment for athletes. Hence the resentment from the intelligentsia at universities like Pitt.
And why just football. What about soccer and other Fall sports particularly women’s sports. Why don’t they get a chance?
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In the scrimmage video, looks like QBs KP and D. Beville both had braces on their left knees — the step into the throw leg. Probably just a safety precaution…
Be interesting to know how many passes each of the QBs threw…
Especially this season – nice to have 3 QBs who have had the experience of playing in a real game…
Go Pitt.
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Also did you see the brace of Nate Temple’s arm? Not that he’s a starter but that’s quite a piece of hardware
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On Beville’s intercepted throw, I never played QB, but I would think it’s really hard to learn to looks at a bigger window – rather than just focusing on the receiver… If he has a step on a guy running with him, that’s pretty easy to judge, but if someone is lurking and going to break from the other direction, that’s a tough one to read, seems to me…
Seeing a bigger picture but then focusing enough as you release the ball to still be accurate takes a lot of skill and experience, I would guess.
Playing QB against a good pass defense (or with a porous OL) and hitting a good curve or change-up — tough things to do…
Go Pitt.
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Saw that MM… probably history of hyperextending his elbow….
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My kids are in school here and all is fine. 5th and 4th grade. By the way we are having a baby. 😳
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Well congratulations Mark! I’m really happy for you all.
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Congrats! I guess you found new ways of entertainment once things shut down. 🤠
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Congrats on the pending new arrival Mark. Hope you still have time for Pitt 🏈
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Congrats!
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Outstanding, Mark. You and the Mrs. will be outnumbered….
Best wishes for a helathy baby and mom.
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Congrats UPitt to you and the Mrs. Don’t worry about school….according to the CDC only 94 people from the age of 0-18 have died from Covid 19 this year. Which makes me wonder why college football is shut down in various conferences….
https://data.cdc.gov/NCHS/Provisional-COVID-19-Deaths-Focus-on-Ages-0-18-Yea/nr4s-juj3
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There’s more to worry about Covid than death- it’s also long term problems with heart and lungs that the docs are still learning about.
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UPitt — Congrats on Baby UPitt! Best wishes to your wife for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Go UPitt!
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Congratulations Mark!
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I guess I should expect a cigar sent up to Latrobe….. Mr cigar-man. I don’t smoke em but for you and the new baby, I’ll puff one.
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Thanks Guys!! I will send you some Ike. Give me your address. 43 boys. Kinda nervous at my age. 😊
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I did it at 44
I’d like to tell you not to be nervous but I can’t…but YOU seem like a younger 43 by far than what I was 🙂
most importantly how old is Mom of course with regards to healthy baby
good luck and best wishes!!!!
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I’m 42 with a 3 and a 1. I agree with all the guys they will make you feel young again as long as you can think like a kid!
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No reason to be nervous. It slowly gets easier the older they get and it gets more fun. Enjoy the ride.
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David Hale is an ESPN CFB writer who really seems to like Pitt …even more than many of us
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Mark, congrats my man!
BTW I was 55 when my daughter was born…if you’re immature enough its easy!
I’m smoking one for you at golf Thursday.
H2UP.
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That’s funny Fran.
Although I see your talented and beautiful daughter hasn’t inhibited your hobbies and social activities. haha.
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^^ Which is a good thing brother Fran.
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RIP D Gore…..while I will never forget the Vandy loss, D was quite the showman. Several times I watched him pass up a breakaway layup in order to take a double pump hook shot from 15 ft.
Congrats UPitt! You will feel both younger and older as this little one grows.
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a little bit younger at times but a lot older far more often 🙂
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66 Dan, here hoping you feel well soon and get back to having a belt every now and then. Keep up the good work.
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I am sure that watching the Duzz. Follies will inspire me to have a few!!
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For those of you drinking the kool-aid, here’s how Notre Dame fans are viewing us: https://irishsportsdaily.com/s/13017/notre-dame-opponent-preview-pitt
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A pretty accurate assessment of Pitt based on its 2019 season performance IMO. Now if Antonio Brown ADDISON and Rob Gronkoski KRULL show up for Pitt on the offense this season then maybe we can all finally be drinking that Kool-Aid.
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Write-up is a very fair assessment of PITT….At the end of the year we lost to Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College and barely beat a Mac team in a bowl game-that’s the reality going into this season.
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They have a ten win defense but a five win offense. So another seven win season. What else is new.
Domers have a solid D and more explosive options on O. I really don’t see Pitt beating them unless half their team is infected.
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But but…the hype video showed several passes for a touchdown
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TEX, I see you’re already hedging your bet…..”unless half their team is infected”. Let them play and may the best team win; no excuses.
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How much would you pay?
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I suggested $50 for Pitt two months ago. If anything I’d say provide a 20 percent discount for the first 5000 fans.
I’d like mine where Narduzzi will take notice. Want mine to make him sweat. My eyes will always be staring right at him in glowing disapproval.
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I’ll pay extra if they use my photo sleeping with a Fanta in hand.
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We should order 50K Paterno cutouts and fill Heinz Field for the ACC opener. That would really torture the pedo fans who have no football. Maybe we can get a volume discounts from pedoenablers.com .
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Add a white face mask on each cutout saying “Joe Knew” and we can have a White Out!
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Congrats UPitt!! May I suggest Tyler Patrick if a boy, and Heather if a girl. (I hear these names are very popular in Estonia)
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Wwb – Thanks it’s a boy. I was thinking Gorilla Calfs, Rockports, Chubbs (Old OC) or Skunkhead for Jamie. Haha.
We may add a Estonian twist to it.
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Congrats on putting a baby boy in the…. he will keep you young for years to come-
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Oven…
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I still think Miami wins Coastal
and gives Clemson a run.
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Pitt is probably the 4th best team in the Coastal. All ahead of Pitt have good coaching staffs and better recruiting based on Rivals over the past three years. Only Miami spends more than Pitt. And they also play off campus.
$4 million better result in more than 7 wins and a 4th place finish. Wanny made a penny over one million and gave Pitt ten wins. You don’t over pay a head coach for graduation rates marketed by a person who dresses like a 🍌 .
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At last look there is no Coastal this season so I don’t think Miami has any chance of declaring themselves the winner of the Coastal for 2020.
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Ok
Then I correct myself. Pitt is the 8th best team in the ACC…includes ND.
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You are a renegade Mark in all you do.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=zomWsSBgxIQ
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Congrats Mark, been babysitting my grandchildren, from time to time. They are really fun and I am just as happy when they go home. They do keep you young but at my age they also make me really tired.
Maybe when this Covid thing is over we can have a Pitt Game with all the Kids, you will have to be on your best behavior, right?
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GC – We still need our golf outing this Fall or at least Spring!!
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I am up for either. Pittfan1 says we can play at Willowbrook CC again or I can probably get Totterridge with enough notice. Will enough guys be willing to travel due to Covid and no football attendance in September. The ND game might have been really cool at the end of October if we got lucky with weather.
The spring game next year may be best, hopefully with a vaccine.
BigB said he was interested a while back and us locals are always up for it.
Anyone else have an opinion?
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I just hope a few teams give a rude welcoming to ND, don’t want to see them in the Championship game.
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To keep a coach beyond his initial contract length it is important to overpay a bit to show confidence in future performance. Narduzzi is actually probably underpaid if you consider all the missions of the university such as graduation rate, good social awareness, ability to represent the university well, not to mention program stability. The current group of players does a great job of representing the university which is a credit to PN. This obsession with 10 win seasons as the only acceptable performance metric is ridiculous. We all want to see 10 win seasons, but there is more to the university than that.
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You are entirely too reasonable Voice of Reason
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Hey! I’ve saying that for years when everyone on here thought I wanted PN to be fired…which I have never said or ever wanted. Give me a 7-8 win coach with a clean and strong off field program over a 10 hot mess (yes, I’m talking about you DW).
Of course a 9-11 win coach with a clean program would be great also.
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Thank you! 😊
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Four million is primarily based on field performance as it should be. Seven wins on average and just one crappy bowl win to show for it. No nationally ranked teams. Plus probation. Let’s not gloss over that one.
He is grossly overpaid. Avg saragin and rpi rankings in the 50s yet top 25 compensation. Are you telling me that grad rates are worth an extra $1.5 million each year?? I guess I don’t also value the saving of kittens from the tall oaks on the Cathedral lawn. Not like pitt football donations have ramped up under the reign of King Pat either. And season ticket sales?
If you ask me, Narduzzi is costing pitt more than just his compensation. You really think pitt is creating new supporters because the football team averaged a 3.2 gpa?
If there is anyone that is underpaid it is mister atom counter. There is no way in hell that Narduzzi should make over four times what Gallagher makes.
Or do you not believe in the mission statement?
Tex who sees no reason in your voice on this matter
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Austin Peat should have 5,000 cutouts of that Reed Star Wars meme in the lower bowl staring directly at the Pitt bench.
PN would be running around screaming “HE’S LOOKING AT ME!!! HE’S LOOKING AT ME!!! E.J., MAKE HIM STOP!!!”
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Narduzzi would claim you’re stealing signals and somehow communicating them to the other team via the Force.
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Let it go Reed, you’re letting it get in the way of something you care deeply about, PITT football. I’ll play this video again. You go through is my best advice. I’m facing many more problems than Narduzzi calling me a spy. Enjoy life, embrace it and worry about more important things in life like your family and old friends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcd3BIP-ly0
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Narduzzi burns bridge with Canada – per PSN
https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2020/08/31/pat-narduzzi-said-matt-canada-was-impatient-not-worth-offered-salary-in-2019-video/
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Cannot believe that Duzz chose to utterly nuke Canada. Horrible PR and wouldn’t be surprised if Canada poked back that Narduzzi was an idiot as HC and he felt safer going elsewhere.
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Everywhere Canada went after PITT they him packing in one year. Are you sure it was Narduzzi or the rest of the world?
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Horrible? This will blow over so quickly.
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Oh, just watched the Narduzzi video about MC. Oh Canada made his money but he sold his soul. Now he’s a QB coach. Please don’t blame Narduzzi for Canada, the person, for being a dumb-ass.
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Agree. Narduzzi likes to spout but he was right. Be patient, Matt.
Canada, had he stayed, might now be in year one or two as a head coach making some serious bank. I’m not sure now Canada will ever get an opportunity to be a head coach. Then again, maybe Max Browne would have killed his chances in 2017. A million a year at Pitt was nothing to sneeze at. The BoT would have been very upset and wanting to kill football once again if Matt decided to stay.
The ACC’s talk with Pitt about upgrading facilities and getting its Olympic sports in order means football, as long as it is in the ACC, cannot pull a 1938, a 1966 and a 1990. We’ll definitely have another idiot A.D. who will wrongfully fire a coach well suited for Pitt. That is just Pitt being same old Pitt.
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My take on the duzz vid if you want it: it’s peak Narduzzi.
He’s illustrating a point to you g coaches. And that point is ‘be patient’. Canada has been the anthesis of patient for his entire career. As far as overarching message, Narduzzi is not wrong. And his story about Canada is very relevant to his point.
However, as usual, when he’s been slighted, or someone disagrees with him, pat will overstep the bounds, and let his emotions get the better of him. Do we really believe that pat thought Canada “wasn’t that good”? c’mon. And if you listen to the delivery and tone of pats voice when he says it, he pauses for a second and then just blurts it out, and his voice goes up and octave when he does. To me that says embellishment 100%. Was it the right thing to say? Nope. Was it even accurate? Nope. Is it classic Narduzzi hyperbole? Yep. Look back at when he was giving Jerry DiPaola what-for about the top twenty five. He could have stopped at a few different parts, his point made. Instead he kept going until he finally (and I truly believe he was joking) told Jerry “oh come on…your wife doesn’t like you”. And then there was an awkward moment. He just didn’t know when to say when to stop. Probably something you should figure out by his age but hey…we all have our own path to walk.
I do agree that he’s burnt a bridge and it’s probably going to make for some awkward moments if their paths cross, but hey canada was never going to come back and work for pat anyway.
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MM — I agree with your take on Duzz. My impression is that Duzz puts everyone into just two categories. Your either with him, or your his enemy. If you’re not with him, you’re against him. If you’re neutral, you’re against him.
I think that’s just how he looks at the world. I think he’d do anything for those who are with him.
And in dealing with those on the outside, he tries to be too cute. He tries to be clever or funny, but often misses the mark. And doesn’t know when to stop…
Duzz certainly has his flaws, but I love his passion. Just listen to his voice at the beginning of the scrimmage video — he’s so pumped for his team, and they seem to love him.
Go Pitt.
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…………..and Mike.. you make the point I try and make…. Narduzzi mostly thinks he’s funny and doesn’t realize how abrasive he can be. It’s a character fault but not a coaching fault. Although there is some of that to.
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I don’t recall Narduzzi saying Canada wasn’t that good. He just said Canada took the LSU job for the money. Maybe Canada thought a HC job coming from Pitt would be to a MAC school, whereas success at LSU would lead to a P5 HC job.
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One thing I’ve learned over and over and over in Sales and Management in the corporate world is NEVER EVER BURN BRIDGES! Some of it the hard way.
Let’s say Duzz goes 1-9 this year and Pitt decides to cut the chord. Canada could well be a hot property post Steeler season. They could be competing for the same job. Jeez Duzz… did you have to show someone such arrogance !!
He may have been the best Pitt OC in history. You made yourself look small and clumsy.
And while I’m on the topic, I rewatched both the UCF game and the EMich bowl game. While Duzz was doing his usual ranting on the sideline, I counted 19 incidents of Pitt players being out of position.
That…. is all on the coaches.
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As far as Canada goes………. sometimes you reach a fork in the road, You can go left or go right, there is never is a road straight ahead. You can take either road and may or may not prosper? The thing that is always a part of the puzzling decision, what did you give up by not taking the other road?
“You give up something for everything you gain”……. Bob Dylan….
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I thought you were quoting Yogi Berra there for a second, ike,
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Yogi — “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”
Yogi — “No one ever goes to that restaurant anymore, its always too crowded.”
Go Pitt!
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I get it Mark. Ironic as well. I could have gone either way.
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The sad part in Canada’s case is that he sold out and traded loyalty for opportunity and money. Maybe he felt it was the quickest road to a head coaching job. In turn, Maryland showed him no loyalty, perhaps they felt he could not attract a loyal coaching staff. What goes around comes around. Not sure why Narduzzi felt the need to call attention to it now, but there must have been a reason the public is not aware of.
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The session was not supposed to be videoed.
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This also tell me I was right all along and the offer was real that Canada was offered. How many times times did I read that it was just a fluff offer? PITT was willing to pay One million dollars for a coordinator. Let’s stop bashing PITT and Narduzzi at every turn of the corner.
Canada back in the Burgh as a QB coach, nice career move Matt. LSU threw his ass out before his first year had been completed. What a dip-schitt. He runs a high school offense, has no morals and less scruples.
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Catching up…..graduation rates are a joke if you actually read the difference between being ranked #1 in graduation rates and number 100. The difference is minimal and is just basic stuff.
Voice, I am a nice dude. I can go get kids to represent the university well. I can probably cheat better than Narduzzi did. I know I can fundraise better. A P5 college coach and P5 sports in general is a business.
Maybe we start hearing about other non-revenue producing sports this week. Should be an interesting topic.
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Huff, nothing unexpected, after-all you are an attorney. I would expect nothing less with all due respect. 🙂 I know on a first name basis no less than 50 attorneys. All pretty much nice dudes like you are.
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Tidbits of info from PSN: Pitt talking to a grad transfer at CB less than 2 weeks from their opening game and J Addison named to the 247 pre season All American freshman team.
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Thx Jrn. This suggests the loss of matthis is a bigger blow than pat is letting on.
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Mike, it may also suggest that PITT and Narduzzi believes that this may be the year?? I know I did.
Who’s Addison? Thought Narduzzi couldn’t recruit? There are NFL draft pick littered throughout PITTs lineup and roster.
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On defense I agree.
Two on offense so far…
Morrissey and probably Pickett
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Mack, Hargrove?? It could happen?
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Always drinking that kool aid buddy
Hargrove needs to take a step but yes he’s a possible. Not a lock like jimmy tho
Mack needs to stay healthy. I think his chances depend a lot on the rest of the WR crop.
Krull could be another guy … if he lives up to the hype.
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Thinking alike are we? If Pickett has a strong year than somebody or two are catching the rock.
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Let’s just say I’m humoring you.
Actually thought I’m a Pickett believer. And yes maybe I’m setting myself up for some disappointment, but let’s roll the dice.
OL I’m skeptical
WR I’m on the fence. What is Mack? A possession guy? He’s too fragile. A speed guy? Not fast enough. A jump ball guy? He needs more heights. Btw his catch % was one of the lowest in the team last year.
TE is wait and see for me.
Lot of if’s just like every year.
I guess that’s what keeps me coming back. Intermittent rewards.
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Well Michaelangelo, why care if you don’t believe success is at the very least, a possibility? I could break my arm patting myself on the back for sticking with this team all this time, I’m just not a skeptical person at heart. I do have my one kryptonite call “the steve”
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Sure it’s a possibility. And I’d say it’s even more of a possibility this year.
The best year I had watching Pitt football was 2009. That may sound obvious but the key was that I wasn’t following the team all that closely (I mean I knew a few key players but wasn’t all up on the recruiting and who was filling in all the vacant spots on the 2 deep) and so I had pretty tempered expectations going it. Especially after that sun bowl debacle vs Oregon State.
Well sure enough Pitt wins 9 of 11 in the regular season and caps it all with a bowl win. And it was a joy to watch it unfold. Why? Because I had low expectations.
If I’d expected them to win 10 I’d have been disappointed at the end of the regular season … even though it was Pitts best season in the modern era. (Defined as post JM2 for me)
That’s just me though.
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Well I guess it could have made you even more confused when they fired Dave soon after that season? SOP happened more off the field than it did on…………………… imo
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Well yea we had 2010 which was a step down right? 8-5, though we did beat an SEC team in the bowl. But yea when I saw they fired Dave I was hurt and confused. And then just mad. They Haywood. Then fraud. Then three years of 6-6 with Paul.
And yet here I am. A loyal son.
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Krull?
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Yes. See below.
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Narduzzi was 100% correct about Canada. Another year at Pitt with the same success, Canada is a head coach. Canada Was supposedly tight with Narduzzi, Canada burned the bridge by screwing his friend. Narduzzi just threw the rubble in the dumpster.
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“Narduzzi just threw the rubble in the dumpster”. 😆
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Anyone up for golf?
GC – We still need our golf outing this Fall or at least Spring!!
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Reply
Gordon Conn
September 1, 2020 at 8:30 am
I am up for either. Pittfan1 says we can play at Willowbrook CC again or I can probably get Totterridge with enough notice. Will enough guys be willing to travel due to Covid and no football attendance in September. The ND game might have been really cool at the end of October if we got lucky with weather.
The spring game next year may be best, hopefully with a vaccine.
BigB said he was interested a while back and us locals are always up for it.
Anyone else have an opinion?
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Yes, I will travel for golf. Friday, Oct 2nd before the 10/3 NC state game?
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If you don’t mind a hacker slowing you down I’m in!
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Gordon, I agree spring is probably best for a full blown outing but I can play in the fall…either course is OK with me.
Shoot me a text or email and we can talk…
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I didn’t see the interaction, but still feel that Canada would have been a fool to not take LSU”s money since it was stupid money in multiple ways.
The fact that he was lucky at Pitt to have all the pieces to the puzzle assembled at one time and knew how to use them was great for us as well as him. That was the finest offense assembled at Pitt since the Marino years, but was a one year deal.
Canada leaving probably did not hurt Pitt because much of that team graduated, and we still didn’t have a defense the following year. Maybe we win one or two more games if Canada stayed.
In any case his subsequent performance showed he did the right thing taking the money. LSU certainly recovered.
What does a QB coach do to earn his money at Pittsburgh as long as Ben stays healthy for a couple more years? The guy was a one hit wonder and I am glad he did it at Pitt. Hopefully he invested well.
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Well did he?
So 1.5 M x 1 year + whatever severance he got
If he gets a million at Pitt he has job security, a stable situation for his family, and can basically stay as long as wants. So let’s say he says for 3 years that’s $3M
Now if he says at pitt for one and then goes to be a G5 HC (let’s say something better than the MAC)
That’s like 1 M plus another let’s say 1.5 for a head coach. But maybe only a million. If he does go the MAC it’s probably like $600k.
So yea… in some ways maybe he did the right thing bc he got to take a year off. That seems kinda worth it.
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Canada was divorced when he arrived at Pitt – family security was not a factor in Pitt’s favor.
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Interesting…
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Retirement $$$ is still needed.
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Plus alimony…
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Gordon,
If money is the only goal one has, then you may be correct. But his reputation was further damaged by the total breakdown between he and Ed Ogeron and the high profile firing. Even if the severance agreement either party from disparaging the other, it got out there that Canada not only had communicaiton shortcomings, but was apparently difficult to work with.
I understand Narduzzi being pissed and holding a grudge. He extended an opportunity to a friend with the understanding that Canada would remain in the job for a while – Narduzzi need to rebound from the Chubs Chaney exit. They had a deal and Canada broke that. His word isn’t worth a piece of dried camel dung.
Narduzzi made a mistake in being that candid with the younger coaches – everything one says these days can potentially end up in social media. Im OK with his comments though, except for the he’s not worth MUSD 1.
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As good a synopsis of the situation as anyone has written. Your integrity is all you have in life when you really get down to it (and your innate talent and drive on top of that). If canada truly had a verbal agreement with Narduzzi to stay for multiple years – and he broke it – well Camel Dung may be too good a term. 🐪 🐪 🐪
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You only get so many opportunities to grab the brass ring. I am sure he didn’t go into it knowing he would fail at LSU.
He also knew what was returning at Pitt, and that the luster of his genius would be diminished, especially with a million dollar salary.
I have no quarrel with Narduzzi either way. It won’t be warm and fuzzy when they run into each other in the hallway at SouthSide.
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Well he grabbed for it…
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Tape of the Austin Peay game on ESPNU at 9am today…
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Are we the Rodney Dangerfield of the ACC……..
http://www.southernpigskin.com/acc/best-acc-games-week-by-week/
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(Georgia tech) “Drawing Pitt at home is one of their most winnable matchups”
Man if that’s not bulletin board material.
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Not impressed with Holcumb’s take.
And you are correct Maestro.
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Biggie, I think that dude is from Pittsburgh…
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Just spoke to Fran. We are going to put together a golf outing in September if there is enough interest. It won’t take much. Fran will send out an email blast to everyone he has on his list to determine interest, best date, probably a Friday. I will check on course availability.
If you haven’t played with us before we promise a good time. Come as a single or bring your own group, all are welcome. Kool-aid drinkers and Negative Nellies. Even you lurkers can come and don’t have to give your opinions, but we hope you do.
Fran has offered to host the game in his man cave the day after the Friday event.
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Make sure Fran puts me on the email blast. I’ll post something about it. Can’t attend but can at least do that
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Excellent…thanks guys…
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PittFan1 will host us at Willowbrook CC.
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Great course..fish sandwiches are the best!!!
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October is better for me but throw dates out asap if Sept. I have to fly.
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Get in on before that baby…
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Early October may work, we need to hear from all of those who travel.
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I second UPitt’s motion. Friday Oct 2. Will still feel like Sept and the NC State game is the next day. Who knows?…. they might allow a few of us to attend in person by then (that was not an invitation to debate that btw).
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One point is being overlooked with the Canada issue: Narduzzi went out on a limb with the administration to get Canada the bump to $1 million. This money commitment probably came out of some other budget or else Heather had to go to the BoT to get approval. Now, other assistants are aware that more money can be had when they attempt to negotiate new deals, so the staff salary structure is affected even though they didn’t pay the money out. Narduzzi did this for a friend and it came back to bite him. Not sure it made good sense, though, to remind the current staff at the clinic that more money can be had if they threaten to leave.
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Yep.
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That’s the case with any employee that is good at their job.
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Ike – let go of what? Prior to C-19 I did more travelling to visit friends and family then ever before and 30 hours of volunteer work a week…enjoying the hell out of it. My life is pretty fantastic even with the changes we are going through.
Pitt offered Canada $1M – that is true. After he had already told Pitt he was taking the LSU job for $500K more. That was indeed a ‘fluff’ offer because at the time Pitt knew he was already committed to leaving. It hasn’t worked out the way he would have wanted it too but at 44 years of age in ’16 getting an addition $500K towards bolstering a retirement nest egg is a pretty good financial decision at the time.
I think it is rather hilarious that 2016 was the singular year in PN’s Pitt HC career that we had anything at all like a good offense. That year we averaged 40.9 PPG…all his other four years we averaged 24.5. PN’s O with 2016 aside has been ranked on average 73rd nationally and in ’16 it was 10th.
Canada got a back-up QB in Peterson to play the best ball from a QB then Pitt had had in many years. Let’s look at the difference between NP and KP
NP = 2,855 yards; 27 TDs / 7 INTs and a 163.37 QB rating for 8th nationally.
KP = 3,098 yards; 13TDs / 9 INTs and a 122.42 QB rating for 91st nationally.
Quite telling to me anyway. But if PN says Canada sucked when he was here then I guess that’s true.
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Bottom line is Canada was fired at NCS at the end of 2015 after a “disappointing 7-6” record. He was fired from LSU after the 2017 season. He was fired from Maryland after the 2018 season. He is now the qb coach for Big Ben who needs and wants a qb coach like he needs and wants a another elbow injury.
I have to agree with the Duzz, MC made a mistake leaving Pitt, but maybe Pitt made a mistake by even trying to get him to stay.
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Canada was fired in Jan 2016 at NC State after getting a 3 year extension on his contract in Jan 2015. NC State averaged over 32 points per game in the 2015 season so what the problem was at the time of his firing is unknown. I believe it was rumored that he was talking to other teams at the time he was fired and that may have set too well with his head coach.—Canada adding the jet sweep into Pitt’s 2016 offense really was the difference maker confusing PSU(and many others) until the second half. No way Pitt wins that game if Canada wasn’t in place as OC at the time.
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So let me understand this NC State rumor situation better. Following the logic of the rumor you’ve offered, the HC goes to his AD with a demand that they fire a coach with a 3-year contract and consequently a buyout payment due for his early termination because he’s looking for another job. If they don’t do this, the coach might leave and he’d have to pay them an early termination payment. Either way they’re going to lose the coach, but one way they’re going to pay hundreds of thousands and the other way they’re going to receive hundreds of thousands. Oh, BTW NC State had the 13th out of 15 lowest football budget in the ACC. Does the old adage, “cutting your nose off to spite your face” ring a bell? With that scenario I think the AD might be searching for a new HC as well.
I agree with your opinion that without the jet sweep Pitt loses the PSU game, but that jet sweep didn’t help enough at LSU. Canada came up with innovated offensive “gimmicks” but once good DC’s knew his modus operandi his offenses could be neutralized, as Pitt found out in the PSU second half and LSU discovered in 2017.
A famous coach once said (see following poster), “It’s not about the X’s and O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.”
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Well you’d think the jimmys and Joe’s would have been better at LSU. I remember reading that the players complained about the offense bc was too complicated. They way Pitt had been recruiting under Chryst the players were smarter but certainly less athletic overall. At LSU probably the exact opposite. So there is that as well. Adds a different dimension a to the Jimmy / joe convo. The truth is we will never really know bc only one season at Pitt!
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15 years ago, a true freshman rises to the top of the depth chart…
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I was sorry when he had to transfer back home to Lynchburg, VA
Has done well and is involved in some charitable work these days.
https://www.rashadjennings.com/about-me/
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The Panthers’ Sept. 12 season opener against Austin Peay will kick off at 4 p.m., while their Sept. 19 game against Syracuse will have a noon start.
Both games will be played at Heinz Field and televised by the ACC Network.
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I sent out an email regarding the golf outing…if you do not receive it and want to play let me know at lokarfr@gmail.com
I had some outdated email addresses and am attempting to fix that.
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Speaking of recruiting, it seems it makes sense to load up on graduate transfers this year since they will automatically get another year of eligibility due to COVID. If, as in Pitt’s case, they had an additional scholarship due to Twyman leaving, then go to a position of need and find some depth or even a starter. There may also be a huge number of good players on the transfer portal due to the Big 10 and PAC 12 not playing. Some good players might want to play one more year before heading to the NFL.
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MM, I wonder if AT&T Net will pick up the Pitt games that are covered by the ACC Network. I would think the ACC could use some additional rights fees this year from local networks willing to pick up the feed since Comcast is being stubborn again.
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A belated happy birthday to Larry Legend Fitzgerald
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That is a highlight reel.
Pretty good O-line and strong arm of Rutherford.
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Huh, Pitt is still selling non-existent tickets for September home games at Heinz.
https://pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/football/schedule
Might be worth getting a hard copy one as a souvenir for these weird times.
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The Duzz is backing off his Canada statements.
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For any of you that are not familiar with “coach speak”, allow me to interpret the Duzz’s comments from today
He Said Interpretation
“Canada is an unbelievable coach” I couldn’t believe he would leave after promising to stay
“If Matt took this the wrong way…. ” I hope you’re enjoying picking up Ben’s jockstrap at
minimum wage
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Hah
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Pitt signs graduate transfer from Maryland D J Turner. WR/KR is an area I didn’t think needed anyone right now but I’m guessing Narduzzi might have been a little uncomfortable with using freshman back there. He will have 2 years of eligibility(from PSN) at Pitt if he decides to stay on because of this years Covid exemption.
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5’9” 203. Probably fast. Carbon copy of Maurice Ffrench?
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Sounds like a bowling-ball at those numbers. You don’t see many bowling-ball kick returners. Must be quick though…
I like how Duzz is always searching…
Go Pitt.
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The staff has not settled on a return man, so good to have someone enter the mix. If he doesn’t pan out he is gone so the gamble is worth it. His DUI at Maryland with have the elitists at Pitt and in the fanbase probably concerned.
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If you ask me this is why the canada comment got released. This dude probably hated him too! (I’m being sarcastic)
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Question for all of you oldies …..who remembers what the financial penalties for underage drinking/drinking and driving back in the our youthful years…I would live threw those years straight-laced… had Big Sherm to lay down the law if I got outta hand….Reed, Coach Dan72, wwb chirp in….rkb would know the exact historical info if he was with us……
If the kid can play ball who gives a crap if he had a DUI (if no one was injured)
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It’s a character issue. I’m surprised Pitt picked him up given their emphasis and near cult obsession with high character guys. Tells me they are desperate. Hypocrisy knows no bounds.
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I know lots of otherwise high character guys who like to drink and probably have driven a lot after they did. Many of them post on this blog!
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Pitt is not a military academy or BYU. The emphasis on character is a distraction from mediocre on field performance. It’s a shiny object for all Koolaid drinkers.
You need some high character guys and leaders. But you also need the other side. Not everyone is built to save kittens from trees or wants to lead.
Nobody of high character drinks and drives michael. All are aware of the dangers. None are ignorant.
The kid made a mistake. I believe in second and third chances. But to me pitt is being hypocritical. If there’s one thing I can’t stand besides going through life as mediocre, it’s hypocrisy.
Be exceptional. Be true.
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Ahh Tex someday I’m going to miss your bombast and hyperbole
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Turner played in 3 games for MD last year then was charged with DUI on 9/20 and was redshirted after the incident. Beatty coached him at MD a couple of years back and it would seem that connection was instrumental in getting him to commit to Pitt. My HUNCH Narduzzi doesn’t want to use Addison on KR’s or PR’s for fear of injury to what may end up being his most valuable(and electric) WR. Turner would give Pitt some senior experience in those positions.
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not many kick-offs even being returned these days-I only remeber a handful, if that many, last year….sadly, I think those in charge would like to eliminate the KO return completely……..
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Don’t be surprised if Canada is on a list of coaches to replace Narsnoozi in 3 years.
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Wonder what two jobs he’ll have between now and then? 😊
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Just posted a DJ turner article for those that are interested
https://pittpov.com/2020/09/01/to-everything-turn-turn-turner/
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^^ I highly doubt that, especially after Narduzzi gets another raise and extension in two years. PITT and Heather love the guy, not hard to understand. He’s not going anywhere soon unless he chooses to. If he choose to leave then Charlie would become head coach. Canada screwed the pooch when he left PITT.
BTW the one million dollar offer to Canada was completely real. I wish people would stop telling me it wasn’t. This spy video explains it perfectly. Continuity….. Canada is no further ahead of the game now than if would have stayed, perhaps behind the eight ball right now.
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Well he did get a year off…
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Heather will be gone in two years Ike. She’s taking her banana outfit to Michigan state. Narduzzi will not last long without his self appointed protector. Just like cornholes reign of terror quickly ended after his buddy nerdball retired.
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He was actively searching for a head coaching job that year…no offers.
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No says that offer wasn’t real Ike, just that Pitt did it knowing it wouldn’t be accepted. Thus it was no more that a “Hey, we tried” move.
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