in Pitt Football 960 Words

New Hampshire Info & Fan Predictions

OK – here is the basic run-down on the New Hampshire Wildcats (UNH); they aren’t as good as the Western Michigan Broncos…or so we hope.

If we are truly scared of what might happen this coming Saturday that, I believe, reflects more on us than it does on New Hampshire.  Then again – not sure too many Pitt fans called for us to lose last week.  Even I predicted a win, albeit a close one. I just got the name of the team wrong.

NH Wildcat

Here is what I see in the Wildcats of New Hampshire.  Not a whole lot although they are now ranked #21 in the latest AP FCS poll.  Note that Austin Peay is at #19 and our friends the Duquesne Dukes received 15 poll votes also.  Huh, all three get more respect from the FCS voters than does Pitt from the FBS voters. That doesn’t feel real good.

Here is a post game video of the Wildcats HC, Sean McDonnell, discussing the latest of their wins (he sounds that way because he just returned to the team after a serious illness).

We have already read about the famous house painting experience he and our HC Pat Narduzzi had when they were kids:

Q. When you worked on that $1.5 million house painting job, how did you end up cleaning the mess you made?

PAT NARDUZZI: Geez, Jay, you’re crazy. I thought we talked about this already. But I don’t know, I don’t know, back then, I was in college. I don’t remember the price of the house, but you do. I don’t know if you got the address or something and Googled it.

But for everybody that doesn’t know, we painted a house together and a bucket of paint got spilled in the bedroom and we were scrambling to clean up a bucket of paint off the carpet. So we have been through stress together and adversity. So…

But after seeing Narduzzi’s presser after the Western Michigan loss I’m wondering if Pat didn’t kick that paint bucket over and then point directly to his ‘Defensive Painting Coordinator”.  Sorry – but if PN thinks spilled paint is “stress and adversity” then his head might explode should we lose.

OK – seriously, back to the NH Wildcats. As we see below they all look somehow smarter and more at ease than most players on a team do – at least more than the Pitt kids after last weeks fiasco.

Team Photo

Their best players are… I can’t really tell. I guess their QB Brett Edwards is pretty good – we’ll make him a star no doubt by Saturday afternoon.

Here are the season stats for them so far. Pay no attention to the fact that they have thrown for almost 250 yards per game with seven TDs and no picks . I mean, Pitt’s DBs can handle him, right? Then again WMU was averaging only 182 yards per game passing when they waltzed into Heinz last week – and that included passing for only 174 yards against non-powerhouse Illinois State.

Can someone remind me again how WMU did against us in the passing game? Oh, right – 357 yards (68% completion rate) and 3 TDs. On second thought UNH might actually tear us a new one through the air.

Their running game isn’t that good at a 3.9 yards per carry average, but still better than ours is. That’s fine because Pitt will stop them no matter what it takes! Why, you say? Because the defensive brain trust at Pitt feels strongly that if you stop the run and get pressure on the QB nothing bad can happen…ever.

The troubling fact is that even thought UNH can’t run the ball all that well they are adept at stopping the run. Yes, they give up only 106 yards per game on the ground and at only a 3.1 yards a clip. Crap! I just remembered we suck at running the ball. This is starting to sound really familiar…

The Wildcats have even put a bunch of players into the NFL. Even had a UNH Wildcat Steeler back in 1948…

Norris Browne

Check this out – New Hampshire honors a “Donor of the Game” each week at the home games. Please disregard the fact that he’s so happy he pee’d himself just a little. Hey – us old guys have to remain within a 25 yards of a rest room at all times – I know just how this guy feels (except I’ve never pee’d myself since I was 18 and stumbling out of the Dirty O at 2:00 am. Ah, the good old old days…)

This guy probably didn’t demand that a staff position be named after him – he’s obviously happy just to be a Wildcat supporter.

Here are the New Hampshire Game Notes – but from their last game against Lafayette. They aren’t stupid – for the Pitt game they just provide a link to Pitt’s game notes – why go to the trouble when someone else does it for you?

I’ll do up a more detailed Game Thread article on Saturday morning. But until then just let me assure you, based on all my football knowledge and experience (not playing, watching) that there is no chance we lose this game. No sir, impossible!

There just isn’t any way for this 2021 Pitt team, which almost every local media pundit thought would win 9 or 10 games, to get beaten by a non-P5 team (and certainty not a FCS team) at Heinz Field – the true unassailable home of Pitt football!!

Is there?

Hail to Pitt!

P/S: Here is Pittsburgh Sports news website’s Narduzzi briefing before the UNH game:

79 thoughts on “New Hampshire Info & Fan Predictions”

  1. From the last thread, a holding penalty can be a good thing when your man has you beat for a touchdown.
    Not good when it happens consistently.

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    2. What is the over/under on attendance this week-end. In all honesty, I am the type of fan who would miss these types of games against small schools ..not interested. I like to take on solid competition. I know that goes against today’s “this is how you get ranked ” (by having a soft OOC schedule) wisdom. .

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      1. Based on real butts in the seats or those fake figures announced by Pitt?

        I peg the number of empty yellow seats at 55,000.

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          1. With bleacher seating like they had at Tennessee, you never have to worry about your butt fitting in a seat.

            And I’ll ask my bud Pat if he got a call asking him about his experience. He bought the tickets from zack from the tennesse office. Based on Bernie’s recommendation. Bernie recommends a lot of things. Listen to Bernie. He’s old. He’s made mistakes and learned so you don’t have to.

            Wisdom is a good thing. Just listen and do.

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  6. I’ve never seen a picture of Pitts mascot. Does an Allegheny Panther still roam the hills? Or is this a fictitious beast like the Nittany Lion?

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  7. penalties weren’t our problem last game

    adjust on defense!
    disguise the defense!
    vary the look!

    something is very wrong when Michigan puts up 47 to their 14
    but more damning is WMU only put up 28 on S Illinois but rather easily puts up 44 on us

    then the coach blames the offense at halftime
    and we close it to a tie in the 3rd quarter, then can’t stop them on the last posession

    and I’m not totally absolving the offense and Whip as in all 3 games so far, iirc we have started with 1 or 2 three and outs for each of the game’s halfs
    something is very wrong with that kind of coaching and preparation with a veteran team

    Liked by 1 person

  8. GT gave Clemson a run for the money. No easy games for Pat going forward…Talked with my Carolina buddy Gregg who has been to Red5A. He thinks PITTvsHeels will put a 100 points on the board as Carolina has no D.

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    2. Pitt used to be O line U and running back U.

      The talent on the line is THE problem.

      It’s not the backs. It’s not the scheme.

      These guys couldn’t block the sun on a cloudy day.

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      1. The problem is the coaching, but there are five guys to build a good O-line with: Gonclaves, Minor, Kradel, Zubovic, Warren.

        Sadly, we’re not close to seeing it work out this way. Warren is at left tackle because Kenny wants him there. Huoy should not be starting at right tackle but is for some reason. We can never hire smart coaches and it is getting insanely frustrating.

        Powell would have been fired two years ago by any other coach. Not by Narduzzi of course.

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        1. The other problem since forever is our approach to the RB position. We continuously use the RB by committee formula. RBs need consistency to help gain rhythm then you have a change of pace back. All we hear from coaching is that the backs can’t do this or can’t do that. Our RB coach needs to go too. Izzy needs to be the #1 back and Davis or someone else as a change of pace. IMO

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  10. Guys, just added the Narduzzi UNH briefing video to the end of the article…

    I voted for the OL as the biggest problem.That was clearly going to be a weakness going into fall camp. We had a poor run blocking OL last year and the same type talent-level guys this season…with the same bad OL coach.

    Although PN hasn’t gotten a successful RB to commit to Pitt in his seven years here. He’s got just two 4* runners to commit to him and one has already left the team (Salahudin) and Anthony Davis hasn’t done anything.

    https://n.rivals.com/news/transfer-report-5-high-profile-players-who-have-entered-portal

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    1. on an 0-2 NC A&T team Salhuddin doesn’t even make the box score
      for anything

      an 0-2 team that he doesn’t see the field with in the (not so) Big South conference that has Robert Morris and Kenessaw St.(who just lost to GaTech by about 30)

      maybe you meant that as a compliment to PN that he facilitated Salhuddin’s exit – maybe 4 stars aren’t all all that

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          1. Salahudden has stats this year at NC A&T. Didn’t start in the two games NC A&T has played (0-2). But did play in opening day lost to Furman. Had 1 rush for 4 yards & a kickoff return for minus 10 yards.
            From NCAA stats.

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  11. This is interesting about Salahudin’s departure. He hadn’t decided anything yet and asked to discuss things with Narduzzi:

    “When I approached Coach Narduzzi, he didn’t try and talk me out of leaving, which was something I was shocked about. I didn’t say ‘Coach I’m gone,’ I was like it’s a lack of opportunities here and Coach it might be time for us to part ways and he said, ‘Yeah, we can just get your stuff worked out with compliance,’ as if he wanted it to happen.”

    https://pittsburghsportsnow.com/2019/12/03/four-star-rb-mychale-salahuddin-went-went-wrong-at-pitt-and-whats-next/

    He’s playing DB at NC A&T now. Maybe we can get him back for that…

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    1. I forgot all about Houdini. It’s amazing how so many come and go and most never pan out.

      Our NYC & DC RB recruits seem to flounder and never live up to their ratings.

      Perhaps the RB coach needs changed. We really are pathetic this year running the ball.

      Or all part of Whip West Coast thing. You would think if you can spread out a Defense, you should
      be able to run some.

      I see it in Mountain West games all the time.

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  12. Let’s make this the prediction thread also as I’m not writing anything tomorrow…

    I’ll start:

    Pitt – 48
    UNH – 31

    I hope. Again, not shocked by much when it comes to Pitt FB but if these guys beat us I’ll donate a LOT of money to create the “POV / Mr. Ike Sports Information Adjuster” position on the AD’s staff.

    I’ll have to accept subscription fees, advertising revenue and your personal non-tax free charitable donations. But, I’ll do it!

    Liked by 2 people

  13. On a more serious note I will most probably be away from the POV for some length of time depending on future circumstances…

    My son has some lymphomas in his lungs and we are getting his biopsies done on Monday. Fingers crossed and I truly think we got it diagnosed early enough for optimism. But, obviously, that will take precedent over everything else for me.

    I’m writing, and scheduling, all the game day threads in advance and will schedule & reprint Rich’s great opponent previews also.

    So, you’ll have the POV at least over the weekends. As always, if you send me some written pieces I’ll proof and publish as soon as I can (cue Tex)…

    Thanks folks,

    Reed

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    5. Thoughts and prayers for your son and your family.

      I will be back to writing an article for the GT game and beyond.
      Richard

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  17. NH motto is Live Free or Die. If we lose this one Pitt FB may die.
    As the Pirates rush to get 100 losses, we hopefully rush for 100 yards this Saturday.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. Poll over at PSN today….What is the Biggest Problem with Pitt’s Running Game ?

    Talent at Offensive Line (33%, 143 Votes)

    Mark Whipple’s Play Calling (30%, 128 Votes)

    Dave Borbely Blocking Scheme (29%, 123 Votes)

    Talent at Running Back (9%, 37 Votes)

    Total Voters: 431

    my vote

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  19. Reed – our thoughts and prayers are with your son, you and your wife.

    Praying your early detection thought is correct.

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    1. Interesting answers…but Zeise is mistaken as much as correct when it comes to Pitt football.

      He predicts an 11 win conference championship from Pitt this season, yet when we lose to a MAC team he makes it sound like he expected that somehow.

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      1. He has been down on Narduzzi more lately as have a lot of people even Dokish…I get more out of reading the peeps on hear than their platform preacher……

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        1. Enjoyed the call Reed…the POV prayer warriors have circle their wagons for your son and your family….WE ARE FAMILY.

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  27. Prayers for you and your family, Reed. Especially for your son. Thank you for letting us know.

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  29. Reed, we will pray for you and your family.

    New Hampshire comes out and runs the wishbone, Narduzzi and Bates are completely perplexed and finally adjust late in the 4th quarter, but it’s too late for the Panthers offense to score and win.

    New Hampshire 3

    Pitt 2

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  30. A little Sinatra to start your day:

    And now the end is near
    And so I face this last non-con opponent,
    My friend, I’ll say it clear
    I’ll state my case of which I’m certain
    I’ve coached a career that’s full
    There’s been many offenses run up and down my highway
    And more, much more than this
    I’ve lost many Pitt games… my way

    Regrets I’ve had none
    I am King Pat, there’s nothing bad to mention
    I did what I had to do…only man coverage
    Hell Heather’s not going to make me pack my luggage

    I didn’t plan or adjust to each course
    No careful steps along the ACC by-way
    And more, much more than this
    I lost to Western Michigan… my way

    Yes, there were times
    I’m sure you knew
    When I had no idea what the hell to do,
    But then I hired Mark Whipple…I thought it would end the losing
    The fans are boozing
    I faced it all
    And I stood tall, I didn’t need Reed’s NYC directions at all
    And I coached those Panthers my way

    Liked by 2 people

  32. From today’s Trib:

    https://triblive.com/sports/take-5-theres-a-game-saturday-but-the-real-pitt-season-starts-next-week/

    …and yes, lots of people read the POV. This is almost word for word from a long comment I made a day ago about TOP:

    Pitt scored six touchdowns, but its time of possession on three of the drives was less than 43 seconds (10, 40 and 42). The longest was 3 minutes, 7 seconds.

    Combined with three turnovers (two lost fumbles and an interception) and a defense that allowed Western Michigan to convert eight third or fourth downs, Pitt held the ball for 19:45 of 60 minutes, only 5:41 in the final, decisive quarter.

    https://triblive.com/sports/pitt-scores-quickly-but-falls-short-in-time-of-possession/

    Like

  33. From the Post Gazette:

    https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2021/09/23/Johnny-McGonigal-s-Pitt-football-chat-09-23-21/stories/202109230158

    This was part of the chat (to excerpt):

    Q. Is there a growing sense in the locker room that the players don’t have that much confidence in the coaching staff to put them in places to succeed on the field?

    A. But one thing that interested me after the game: Narduzzi said the players weren’t mentally focused … and both Kenny Pickett and SirVocea Dennis said they didn’t think that was a problem.”

    And they both were publicly speaking when they said it…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. PN also stated he couldn’t crack open their heads and look in
      what’s he to do, walk around and administer a psychological “focused” test?

      really Reed, I don’t get the purpose of pointing out this contradiction between PN and KP/SD as well as the comment above about TOP which doesn’t change anything whatsoever as to your point that it suggests KP isn’t a good QB as if a good or very good one would’ve somehow influenced that to affect the outcome

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        1. You don’t think it is interesting that the players felt like they ‘mentally focused’ but the head coach thinks they weren’t?

          That had nothing to do with Pickett’s play – he’s the starting QB and thus is in much closer contact with the offensive players in every huddle then also on the benches when off the field – if he contradicts the HC on that subject I’ll believe him vice Narduzzi – who probably hasn’t talked to an offensive player aside from KP in years…

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  36. Tvax – I certainly do believe that if we could have kept WMU’s offense off the field more often than we would have had a much better chance of winning. Had we held them to one or two less possessions that would have upped our chances of a win greatly.

    As it was we went 1-7 on 3rd downs. You truly wouldn’t have wanted to convert two or three of those to possibly get in a position to score even a FG at the end of the drives…or another TD? It would also have kept the ball out of WMU’s hands.

    I honestly cannot see the argument against that. But if you don’t have any sort of running threat the opponent’s LBs drop into coverage and you get either an incompletion or they stop the receiver short of the 1st down – which happened twice – and we turn the ball over to them so THEY can score.

    You make it sound like Pickett threw TDs on every one of our possessions which is far from the truth. Love six TD passes, but he could have played better in other ways also.

    I just don’t get your argument here – it is blatantly obvious to me.

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    1. simply, KP’s influence on the TOP by his QB skills and anybody in the QB position ranks far lower than several other units and individuals who actually perform in ways that directly and indirectly affect TOP.

      RB’s
      O-line
      TE blocking
      Whip calling the plays and his running scheme v pass
      WR’s(blocking and sometimes jet sweeping)
      O-line coach
      what am I forgetting?
      the Pitt Panther
      then KP
      🙂

      Like

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