in Pitt Football 676 Words

When are We Getting an OC?

For the fifth time in eight years Pat Narduzzi will be hiring a new Offensive Coordinator, and for the fifth time in eight years the process is shrouded in mystery.

As usual, a familiar name was bandied about. As usual, it turned out to be a dead end.

Well, so much for that. The Offensive Coordinator Search Drags on, but ever-astute Johnny McGonigal did make a great callout:

I was going down a similar line of thinking around hire timing and here is what I found:

  • Chaney – Jan 11th, 2015 – Sunday
  • Canada – Jan 8th, 2016 – Friday
  • Watson – Feb 2nd, 2017 – Thursday
  • Whipple – Jan 14th, 2019 – Monday

In addition to that, this year’s AFCA convention is January 9th – 11th (Sunday to Tuesday). And sooo… if we look at the past dates of the AFCA and and correlate the hire dates above…we learn absolutely nothing.

  • 2015 Convention: Jan 6th – Jan 9th
  • Chaney Announced: Jan 11th
  • 2016 Convention: Jan 10th – Jan 13th
  • Canada Announced: Jan 8th
  • 2017 Convention: Jan 8th – Jan 11th
  • Watson Announced: Feb 2nd
  • 2019 Convention: Jan 5th – Jan 9th
  • Whipple Announced: Jan 14th

Well that’s not entirely true. We learned a couple of things. First, Canada was an outlier, and was hired before the convention. But then again, Matt and Pat had a longstanding relationship:

“I’ve known Matt and his family for a very long time and I feel very fortunate to bring him to Pittsburgh,” Narduzzi said. “Matt is an innovative offensive mind, excellent teacher of quarterback play and strong recruiter and evaluator. He is a great leader who will provide our team and staff with a real spark. Most importantly, Matt is a tremendously loyal person who will be a great fit for Pitt.” – Pat Narduzzi via Accsports.com. No wonder there was bad blood after Canada left. For a refresher on the drama, please click here.

Second, we can infer that Watson probably was not hired at the convention, although that doesn’t mean that talks were not had at the convention between Watson and Narduzzi. Or, if you want to go down that rabbit hole you could infer that Pat and Pitt were a bit radioactive after two one-and-dones? My own opinion is that Pat was desperate for Stability, and Watson offered just that, if little else (although it could be argued that the transition to a run-heavy offense under Watson and Borbley unlocked Pitt’s first Coastal Division championship for whatever that’s worth. It can also be more credibly argued that Pickett would NEVER have been a projected first round draft pick and carried Pitt to great heights if Watson had been allowed to stick around for 5 years.)

Third, we can see that both Chaney and Whipple were announced within a week of the convention, so we can assume that the convention played a role.

Looking at all the OC’s above you can also see that all of them had experience running an offense at the Power 5 level (You’ll remember that Whipple was Miami’s OC for two seasons). We also know that 3 of 4 of them were on the open market prior to being hired by Pitt. Chaney had been let go by Arkansas, Canada had been let go by NC State and Whipple had just gotten fired as the head coach of UMass. Additionally, Watson was languishing as a Quality Control Assistant at Indiana, which is about as close to being unemployed as a former Offensive Coordinator can be.

So what’s the punchline here? Pitt will hire someone experience. Pitt will hire someone unemployed (or close to it). And there is close to a 100% chance Pitt will hire an offense Coordinator in the next 30 days, and a 50% chance it will be in the next two weeks. Other than that, it’s anybody’s guess.

Hail to Pitt

Michaelangelo Monteleone

176 thoughts on “When are We Getting an OC?”

  2. I don’t care if Duzzi hires Groucho Marx as OC, however, I want to see a few basic traits in the new OC.
    1) OC who favors a more balanced attack forcing opposing defenses to have difficulty scheming a game plan.
    2) OC who has recruiting skills and has a desire to use them
    3) OC who is not looking to “step up” to the next P5 super program
    4) OC who has a minimum of 5 years experience

    Last but not least>>> it is up to Pitt to find the $$ for a high-quality hire.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Isnore99 – I only agree with number 2.

    1) As long as the offense scores points, I don’t care how they do it. Just let them do their job with minimal interference … that doesn’t mean you can’t manage them and coach them … trust your hire and your people
    2) Agreed
    3) Always hire people with ambition. Always. Always hire someone you think is, or has potential to be, better than you are. It will make you better …and the program better
    4) Competence > Experience … Hire the best person not the most experienced person … always, without exception

    I actually agree with 5, too even though you didn’t label it 5 … Don’t be cheap. Ever. I’d rather over-spend than under-spend every day of the week.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I appreciate your comments>>>on point 3 I want Pitt to become a destination position in college football.
      You can’t stop any high-quality OC from moving on to greener pastures or to “heaven forbid” the NFL.

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      1. yeah, that wasn’t meant to be anything but a discussion. I liked the list. Good talking points. Thanks for posting.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I would maybe add to #1 as “makes the use of the talent on the team and adapts to it”. Don’t try to fit the talent into a system or a box. yes that can work but also leads to long transitions. Fortunately we are pretty stocked at all positions so that makes anybody’s job easier.

      Liked by 3 people

  4. An additional thought about experience…I picked 5 years out of a hat, but it would be common sense to have a track record that shows what an individual can do under changing circumstances. With very few exceptions most teams face on-going conference challenges that force an OC to sometimes think “out of the box” in order to win.

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    2. Canada is signed for one more year. Most people think his system will work better with Mason Rudolph as QB. Big Ben was aa worse possible fit for his system.

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  7. I see no downside to hiring Mike Shanahan as the OC.

    Except for my ideal scenario: fire what is left of the offensive position coaches: Borbeley, because ha can’t walk (pass blocking) and chew gum (run blocking) at the same time; Salem, because. . . .ah, remind me — what’s he ever done of note in 7 years?; and Powell, because of the special team’s play vs. MSU would be reason enough. Then, hire a first rate experienced OC, ponying up the necessary coin to do so, and let him hire the position coaches, an area for which Narduzzi is not qualified.

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      1. I think you missed something. The two best offensive coaches had in 2021 have already left the program. Nothing left except has-beens.

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  9. No clue on the next Pitt OC. Not that deep in the weeds.

    Just hope it’s someone with a history of RUNNING the football.

    If you haven’t noticed, ALL the the good teams do it.

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    1. I’m hoping for just the opposite because I don’t think our returning OL is worth a dam at run blocking. And who the hell really wants to take the ball out of Addison’s hands along with some of our other very good receivers?

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        1. jrnpitt & POD, I agree with you both, unfortunately, we need an upgrade on the OL and/or in our scheme, or we will be exposed with Pickett gone. The one caveat is the performance of Slovis; although I have fairly high hopes for him, this is the most important position on the field and it is a question mark at this point.

          I hope whoever the new OC is, he will help us develop a more balanced offense, especially given the change at QB (with a less mobile guy).

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      2. I think most fans would love to see more a more balanced ratio to keep the defense honest and our qb whoever it is in 22 upright and not murdered.

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    1. If I had a VOTE I’d take Canada back in a minute. That jet sweep surprised the hell out of the opposition for a good part of the year he was at Pitt. Also our talent on the O is very good and a good innovative OC can work wonders with that talent. And needless to say I think Canada can be very innovative.

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  11. Why would AVP leave a solid NFL job to make a parallel move (most likely for less money) to work for a guy who can’t keep OC’s? That and he’d have to recruit now too.

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    1. If his job is on the line … and he doesn’t call plays. He has the title like Bienemy but the HC calls the plays … Whipple made like $500K right? I doubt the Browns are paying him that much.

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  12. I would venture to say our next OC is still employed in the NFL. Once their season ends they will move into the position, btw it’s not Canada.

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  13. MM good article. I would add that the future OC runs a pro style offense unless PN hit his head and lost his memory. RPO spread is out, it would take a year to adjust the personnel. Air Raid is possible and adaptable in my opinion. That is why I wanted Virginia’s OC Anae.
    Could very well be a current NFL offensive position coach ready to make the jump to OC. Many have been OC at smaller colleges.

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  14. Groucho was president of Huxley University…surely he’s competent enough to handle the OC job.
    #obscurefilmreference

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Unless the OC comes from Saban’s staff there will be plenty of dissatisfaction….you can bet that.

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  19. While we are listening to crickets chirping waiting for news on Pitt’s new O.C. hire, there has been an interesting hire in the world of ACC volleyball. Notre Dame just hired Salima Rockwell as their new head volleyball coach. Salima was an assistant at both PSU and the Lone Star State university. In my opinion, this was a great hire by the Irish. Salima was a name frequently mentioned for the PSU head coach position but apparently the Irish paid more. Lots of people in that Valley north of Altoona not Happy!

    Liked by 2 people

  20. Not entirely off topic — I heard a very interesting discussion on ESPNU radio this morning. A B10 writer was asked about the ‘Scott Frost / Mark Whipple experiment’

    The writer (name was Mark Rizzo or something similar) replied that he has his doubts. Apparently Frost as HC likes to call the plays whereas Whipple has always called the plays as an OC. Appears that Whipple may be if an analyst/ consultant

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    1. If it is true that Whip got a million dollars to be a consultant, I can’t blame him one bit for leaving. Who wouldn’t like a job where the salary is doubled and the responsibility halfed?

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  21. This may have already been reported – OC Kevin Johns was hired away from Memphis to Duke yesterday.

    Major Major and I liked Johns for the vacant Pitt OC position.

    Twiddling my thumbs…

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Just to kill some time, I was looking at some of the NFL coaching staffs where a coaching changes looks like it will happen or they have an interim coach (Denver, Jacksonville, NYG, Raiders, and Chicago) to see if I could pick any worthy candidates for Pitt’s OC. I didn’t consider any guys with a long career in the NFL and limited college coaching experience, but 2 guys seemed reasonable. OC Bill Lazor of the Bears and Receiver coach Zach Azzani of the Broncos, who I like a lot. Lazor was the OC for UVA from 201-2012 and a college coach at other schools from 1994 to 2002. From the Broncos web site.

    Zach Azzanni is in his fourth year as wide receivers coach with the Denver Broncos in 2021 after being named to his current position on Jan. 22, 2018.

    Azzanni has coached wide receivers for 22 years, spending the last four seasons coaching that group with Denver (2018-20) and Chicago (2017) following 18 years at the collegiate level.

    This past season, Azzanni coached one of the youngest position groups in the NFL after Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. First-round pick Jerry Jeudy totaled 52 catches for 856 yards (16.5 avg.) with three touchdowns—the second-most receptions (52) and receiving yards (856) ever by a Broncos rookie—while second-rounder KJ Hamler caught 30 passes for 381 yards (12.7 avg.) with three scores in limited action.

    Undrafted wide receiver Tim Patrick, who enjoyed a career year in 2020, has developed into a full-time starter in his three seasons working with Azzanni. Patrick led the team with six touchdowns on 51 catches for 742 yards (14.5 avg.) and was the only NFL player with at least 75 targets and zero drops this past season (according to SportRadar).

    In 2019, Azzanni coached Sutton to his first career Pro Bowl selection in just his second pro season after leading the team with 72 receptions for 1,112 yards with six touchdowns. Sutton, who totaled the most receiving yards (1,816) and receiving touchdowns (10) in franchise history through his first two NFL seasons, became the first receiver in team history to be named to the Pro Bowl by his second professional season.

    Denver’s receiver group in 2018 featured little NFL experience behind veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, who only played eight and 12 games, respectively because they were traded (Thomas) or injured (Sanders).

    Azzanni was instrumental in developing first-year receivers Sutton (42-704, 4 TDs), DaeSean Hamilton (30-243, 2 TDs) and Patrick (23-315, 1 TD), who combined for 95 receptions for 1,262 yards (13.3 avg.) with seven touchdowns. Sutton’s 704 receiving yards ranked fourth in franchise history for a rookie as he became the team’s No. 1 receiving option during the last four weeks of the season.

    Before his lone season coaching wide receivers for the Bears, Azzanni spent four years at the University of Tennessee. He joined the Vols as wide receivers coach/recruiting coordinator in 2013 before being promoted to passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2015.

    Tennessee went to three consecutive bowl games from 2014-16, winning each contest while averaging nearly 43 points per outing. The Vols’ passing attack in 2016, which featured six different players with at least 200 yards receiving, helped the offense set school records for single-season points (473) and touchdowns (63).

    Prior to joining Tennessee’s staff, Azzanni spent one season each at the University of Wisconsin (2012 – wide receivers coach), Western Kentucky University (2011 – offensive coordinator/wide receivers) and the University of Florida (2010 – wide receivers/passing game coordinator). Azzanni coached in three bowl games at Florida and Wisconsin, including two BCS Bowls, and won the Big Ten Championship in 2012.

    In his lone season at Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers featured college football’s second leading rusher in Bobby Rainey (141.3 ypg) while Jack Doyle ranked fifth in the nation among tight ends with 614 receiving yards.

    Azzanni was hired by Florida after the conclusion of the 2009 college regular season. In his first game coaching with the Gators—the 2010 Sugar Bowl—quarterback Tim Tebow threw for a career-high 482 yards in the Gators’ 51-24 win against Cincinnati.

    Azzanni spent three years as assistant head coach/wide receivers at his alma mater, Central Michigan University, from 2007-09 and won a pair of Mid-American Conference Championships. He was the lead recruiter and position coach for current NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, who totaled 305 receptions for 3,199 yards (10.5 avg.) with 22 touchdowns during the same span in Mount Pleasant while transitioning from a high school quarterback.

    After beginning his coaching career as wide receivers coach for Valparaiso University from 1999-2000, Azzanni worked as a graduate assistant under Head Coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green from 2001-02. He stayed with the school for four more seasons (2003-06) as wide receivers coach.

    A former wide receiver at Central Michigan from 1994-98, Azzanni graduated from the school with a degree in sports management in 1999.

    Azzanni is married to Julia and the couple has four daughters: Ava (14), Lyla (13), Zia (9) and Lucia (5).

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s the type of guy that will go back to college for an OC job. There has already been one or two such coaches hired in the college ranks this year.

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  23. Per PSN:

    WPIAL Rodney Gallagher Gets Offer from future offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and Texas

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    1. Per Jim Hammett:

      Actually talked to Gallagher today and we’ll have a story on him tomorrow. Nothing earth shattering in this one but he’s in constant contact with Pitt. Actually sounds like Narduzzi himself is the lead recruiter for him.

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  27. I can imagine Dooz thumbing through the coaches equivalent of a Carfax site looking for an OC…
    “Hmmm, this guys listed as a “great value”…Heather will like that.
    Low miles sounds good… only had 2 owners, might not leave after one year.
    Sport package sounds like a system I can embrace.
    Think I’ll give him a test ride.”
    YIPES, I hope I’m wrong…

    Liked by 6 people

    2. Embarrassing performance by the women basketballers – but that’s the norm when we play Louisville.

      Lost 81-39. Until very late in the game we had more turnovers than points.

      Ugh!

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  30. Listened to Capel tonight on the Fan tonight. He made excellent points about how Pitt needs to learn how to finish and win games. He pointed out Pitt had the lead with 8 minutes to go in their last 5 games. He mentioned their zone sagging too much and allowing L’ville best shooter to beat them with uncontested 3’s and their lack of boxing out. My biggest complaint. Pitt was out boarded 11-5 in the last five minutes.

    He didn’t mention the missed clutch FTs or the Tech Fouls against his coaching staff.

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  31. @danh72 … His teams have struggled finishing seasons too. I don’t have the time to go back and look but from late January to early March his teams crash and burn.

    Having said that, learning to win is a real thing. It’s hard to teach. It’s one recruiting tactic I liked from Jamie Dixon. He only recruited kids from programs that won state titles. Or I seem to recall that being a story-line anyways.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. I would think the poor finishes by Pitt are at least partly to blame on the lack of a bench. Late in the game, our guys tend to be more tired-out than their guys…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Some of the best teams in hoops history played only six guys. Wooden’s last championship team, Duke’s 1991-92 squad. Indiana’s 1987 title team had just four players account for its 74 points (Smart 23, Alford 21, Thomas 20 and Calloway or Garrett with 10).

      It’s a lack of talent and skill over the course of 40 minutes that is hurting Pitt.

      Hopefully, Pitt just keeps grinding away and posts some Ws in the coming weeks.

      Liked by 1 person

  34. I’m thinking the OC hire will be made after the championship game. My money is on the Alabama OC.

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      1. One of Bill’s sons has a major medical issue and UPMC would be an attractive draw. Just ask DC Bates.

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    1. It should be. Almost all the Alabama coaches are ex-head coaches still making the big $ from their buyout. Really, I haven’t a clue on the new OC. But it meets Mike’s timeline and just a good a guess as anyone’s.

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  37. Pitt doesn’t have as many graduating seniors but they still could have 3-4 players drafted by the NFL. In addition to Pickett and Mathis, Pine, Krull and maybe Camp could get drafted. Am I missing anyone?

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  39. Bad news for Pitt basketball – we made the final five for a power forward recruit from Cleveland. You knows that’s the kiss of death for our chances…

    From PSN: “Hall is a 6-foot-7, 255-pound power forward who plays for Speights Academy. In addition to Pitt, Missouri, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, and Texas A&M also made his top five.”

    Move along, nothing to see here… 🙁

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  40. I just want to say that I am really enjoying all the articĺes being written by the various writers. Not only does it give Reed a break, but it adds a nice variety of topics and perspectives. Thanks to all of you who are contributing!

    Liked by 14 people

  41. I guess we should be rooting for the Murphy – Levitt ice dancing team as they compete in the nationals, which would lead to a spot in the Olympics beginning in about a month. (Though I will very likely not be watching)

    Cara Murphy apparently is the best dancing Pitt alum since Gene Kelly

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

    Liked by 1 person

  42. There is an article in the PG by best writer John McGonicle which lists all 89 schollie FB players. The beginning of the article looks like it was derived from Rich’s POV piece of a few days back.

    It appears to me the the DL is way over stacked as are QB and DB. Wouldn’t mind to see a few non-playing personnel in these positions move on, but you think it would have happened by now since I believe the winter term has just begun

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    1. Agree he is their best writer.
      PSN also did the same type of article but it is locked down.

      I think the media is reading the POV. 😀

      Liked by 1 person

  43. From what I’m reading about basketball, I think Capel is all in on the transfer portal for the near future. It doesn’t sound like we’re recruiting anyone super intensely right now. To be honest, I don’t think this is a bad move. Pitt fans aren’t going to want to wait for kids to develop. Bring in some guys that can help win now and fix recruiting, if you need to, in the future. Recruiting for basketball I think is evolving this way. Might as well go all in. Let the Duke’s and Kentucky’s go get their All-American kids and we’ll focus on getting high profile transfers who want playing time or a fresh start. The recruiting route didn’t the past few years. Adapt and change. Capel’s going to be here at least one more season so just roll with it.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Unfortunately I think that is his only option since Judah Mintz walked away. Too bad because a combination of the Hugleys, Odukales, and Champagnies with enough tansfers like Burton and Moe,
      could make a competitive team.
      I am amazed at how close this team is right now, imagine if Champ or someone with similar talent was on this team, they would at least be middle of the pack in the ACC.
      If he can hold on to what he has and add that one difference maker things could turn around pretty quick.

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  44. Tossing, fwiw both Gueye and Burton are doing pretty well, pretty good transfers. Sibande and Horton (issues notwithstanding) were also good pickups

    I think the issue is that Pitt doesn’t lose Hugely or Okudale to the portal. I hope Santos and Collier Aldo stays put

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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  45. Gueye and Burton definitely helped their pro stock (international or G league tryout) by transferring to Pitt.
    You can build a team fast through the portal. Capel has to excel there or he will be gone after next year. It is possible. It is a free agent market. Go for it.

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  46. This is a time of total confusion in college basketball recruiting. The top high school players, if a college is successful in recruiting them, will stay a year or two and bolt for the NBA. The so called top 150 players could become good with a couple years of development, but are unwilling to wait and will transfer if not seeing significant minutes. So that leaves the portal, where a team can get immediate help without the years of investing in development.

    Early signings of players with potential like X Man and Toney are risky since they may develop over time but may not fit in later. Or someone like Champ who develops rapidly and then heads for the NBA, again a no win situation.. In my opinion, Capel should stick with the transfer portal until this mess straightens itself out.

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  47. Even if PItt doesn’t win another game this year, I htink Capel returns if the squad keeps playing hard and there isn’t any additional off-court drama. They just need that “one thing” to flip those 5 one possession losses in their favor. I have no idea what that is other than someone in the locker room with a winning mindset.

    Q to Coach Dan – your thoughts on how to get the FT % up…. is it simply practice, conditioning, or ??

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    1. It’s all about using proper form, being on balance, following thru with the hook hand. Anyone can make a free throw with fresh legs but when you have bad form and it’s late in the game and your legs are gone, it’s 50/50.

      It was easy for me to teach good form in HS because I controlled playing time. In college, no player wants to ever change. I could take anyone on this site, teach them FT shooting w proper form, and have them make 7/10.
      It’s not nuclear science!

      Liked by 1 person

  48. And back to the OC discussion. From my perspective, I never loved Whipple as OC, I think Pickett largely made the offense, but I did respect that Whipple had Pickett’s trust, and also appreciated his speciality, which was working with quarterbacks (going back to his time with the Steelers). So that would be part of my preference in finding the next OC, either find a guy that has experience working with quarterbacks, or hire an additional (QB) coach.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I remember a couple of our opposing coaches saying that it was tough to prepare for Whipple’s offense. That’s quite a compliment.

      I’d like to see an OC with a history of a proven, big-time passing game….

      I think an OC’s reputation for producing good passing-game stats is what recruits QBs, WRs and TEs…

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Good point MajorMajors, in this day and age an exciting passing game is not only fun to watch, but attracts playmaker recruits. And I did not say I didn’t like Whipple, I said I didn’t love him; I was actually glad he moved on. I was at the Virginia game and listened to a lot of Pitt fans booing and cursing Whipple for some of the play calls, and at the time I didn’t disagree with their sentiments. I think Whipple’s (Pickett’s) offense was unpredictable, which made them hard to prepare for. One of the real differences for this past year’s team in terms of wins and losses, was all the completed bombs on 3rd or 4th down; toward the end of the season, teams started to adjust a little, but I think in a nutshell, Pickett’s escapability and accuracy combined with those surprise long passes in critical situations was the difference in results.

        Liked by 1 person

  49. Pretty interesting that for years our weaknesses were at Center and Point, now we seem to have those pretty well covered but lack at the other positions.

    I think the success of the football program has justified more patience with Capel than he might have gotten otherwise.

    VOR makes some excellent points regarding recruiting. Just hpe Capel figures something out and finds some reasonable success.

    It is also very interesting that the ACC is not performing anywhere near it’s usual standard. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

    Answering JoeL’s question, it is very difficult finishing a game when you are a mediocre team that is used to losing. Most of the time it takes that go to guy or set play that you can execute. So far Burton is the only one to pull it off and only once. Most of the ACC teams have at least one go to guy and usually guys that can hit threes to get them back in a game in a hurry.

    It will be interesting to see if the team continues to improve or it hits the wall. I like the way they are playing as a team and there doesn’t seem to be an ego problem or any quit.

    Liked by 3 people

        1. Send it DOWN Mo!

          He’s quick, can leap out of the gym and is 6’10”.

          We want more Mo…

          How’s this for a drawn up play:

          Feed the ball to Hugley who instantly is double teamed, have Mo enter the lane from the 3 point line, Hugley lofts an ally-oop to the board for Mo to send it home.

          The 5 Pitt players then hustle back and play D.

          Liked by 1 person

  51. Alexandre coming back to Pitt for another season. Maybe he is hoping for the same success KP had when he decided to return to Pitt to play one more year.

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  53. Time to go back to Foge’s 5-2 defense. Baldanado, Alexandre, Danielson, Klancey, Morgan up front.

    Too bad no one runs the ball anymore like they did forty years and you had to stop the run.

    Liked by 1 person

  54. I kind of enjoyed watching Baldonado playing from the middle linebacker position and blitzing up the middle in the Virginia game. How would you like to be the center having to block Baldonado coming at you with a running start? Bates will have a great of flexibility coming next season using many of our DE’s. I also liked the play of Hayes late last season. He could become a major disruptor for us at DE.

    Liked by 4 people

  55. If you disregard the hassles associated with trying to attend an event in person, this is a pretty good time to be a Panther fan. Some tremendous success in several sports, a ray of hope in both men’s and women’s basketball … I’ll take it! To top it off, Penn State crashes and burns at 7-6 after a 5-0 start, coinciding with a ten-year extension to Franklin. West Virginia football leading the nation in number of rats abandoning ship. It’s good to be a Panther!

    Liked by 12 people

    1. Wolfe – women’s BB team played a terrible game yesterday. The good news is that their 3 ACC losses have come against #2 NC State, # 3 Louisville and about No. 20 ND.

      The bad news is they have to play Louisville and ND again, as their ACC scheduling has not been ideal…

      Hoping they can make a bit of hay against the rest of the league…

      I’d go tomorrow to root on the Panthers against BC if I wasn’t so old and susceptible…

      Go Pitt.

      Like

  57. Looking at the PITT roster with a quick glance it looks like PITT could be well stocked at DB in the near future. Also some interesting names with the front seven. Prognosis looking up for the mighty mighty Panthers. Sorry, I can still remember the cheer from the cute neighborhood girls from my youth football team. We Are the Panthers the Mighty Mighty Panthers!

    No song, Glory Days, today. More like gory days, strange days indeed.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. They stole that from my catholic grade school team. We are the Vikings. Mighty, Mighty Vikings. Evey where we go, people want to know. Who we are So, we tell them We are the Vikings, Mighty, mighty Vikings.

      Repeat until those young ladies get tired/bored. Do the cheer again 5 minutes later. Only other thing I remember from those days was my mother’s cheers embarrassing me.

      When my brother came to South Carolina in late November, we attended my grandson’s last game. My daughter was loudly cheering. We were 10 rows above her. I turned to my brother and said. – that’s Mitzi, doesn’t she sound just like mom. He laughed and said yes.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Laugh out Loud Richard. My one buddy to this day had a mother who rang a cowbell all game long. Those were some cool days.

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    2. At my school on Mt. Washington, we were the Mounties, the mighty, mighty Mounties, everywhere we go, people want to know…

      Go Pitt.

      Liked by 1 person

  58. From The Athletic:

    Ubben: There is one clear way to stop the chaotic roster turnover taking over college football

    The complaining is deafening and everpresent.

    “It’s chaos right now. Tampering galore. Adults manipulating young men,” said Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, long the most prominent opponent of the transfer portal, who recently softened his stance and offered Louisiana transfer O’Cyrus Torrence this week. “Education is like the last thing now.”

    “Out of control,” one Power 5 coach told The Athletic.

    Neither is wrong. College football got a lot less exploitative in the past year, but it also got way, way more chaotic. In the past two months, more than 1,500 FBS players have entered the transfer portal, seeking a new home to continue their college football careers.

    As he built his new staff, Florida head coach Billy Napier hired former NFL scout Bird Sherrill to essentially oversee all recruiting of the transfer portal. It’s currently a rarity, but it’ll become very common soon.

    Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams led Oklahoma to an Alamo Bowl victory on Dec. 29, then, less than a week later, turned down the opportunity to be the Sooners’ starting quarterback under new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby in 2022. Like Spencer Rattler, the preseason Heisman candidate he usurped as starter midseason, Williams entered the portal.

    Oklahoma’s response? It first released an unprecedented joint statement extolling the benefits of staying. Then it flipped Dillon Gabriel, who had committed to UCLA and is now on his way to Norman.

    Meanwhile, one former NFL quarterback publicly offered Williams $1 million to go to Eastern Michigan, his alma mater. (Note: That arrangement, as phrased, is almost certainly illegal, although it’s highly unlikely to be an offer Williams accepts. Name, image and likeness deals cannot be based on pay for play.)

    College football has barreled headfirst into a new world, and NIL money has teamed up with the NCAA’s now-allowable one free transfer to produce the single most roster upheaval in any one offseason in college football history.

    There have been more shifting allegiances than in a season of “Cobra Kai.”

    It feels a lot more likely to be a negative development for college football than a positive one, but college football today is a far less inherently exploitative enterprise than it was a year ago. That’s a good thing, even if the sport requires further adjustment to reach a serviceable stopping point for its current state of upheaval.

    Preventing the sport from becoming more fair and equitable is never the right decision if maintaining the sport’s health comes at the cost of continuing to allow everyone involved to benefit except players.

    In short: Player freedom is good. But this amount of turnover is not likely to help the sport, and it’s even more likely to cost players scholarships and degrees as they enter the portal but struggle to find a serviceable way out.

    The unprecedented player movement might leave fans less invested. It worsened an already barely sustainable quality of life for coaches, who are left recruiting high school prospects and now their own rosters and opposing rosters with players who elected to transfer.

    There’s a fix, and it’s a familiar refrain: Pay the players.

    It always has been the right thing to do. But now it’s the price of returning to some level of sanity in roster construction and maintenance.

    College football, as currently constructed, leaves programs with zero right to decide where players are allowed to pursue their education and play out their careers. The free transfer was long overdue. Coaches weren’t subject to non-compete clauses when they left for better jobs or were told they weren’t good enough to continue doing their current jobs. And yet, unpaid players were. It was the definition of a power imbalance.

    And while free agency has arrived in college football, it’s a lot more like an annual fantasy draft for 130 programs, especially for those who believe tampering is rampant. But there’s a reason free agency doesn’t run wild every offseason in professional sports.

    Contracts. That pay real money. (Sorry for getting you excited about restricted, free labor, NCAA.)

    That gives a program (dare I say, employer) a right to restrict a player’s movement without exploiting that player. College sports are at a crossroads: live with the chaos, tampering and impossible roster management or take the final step toward making college football a truly equitable enterprise and make players sign contracts that require them to remain at a campus for a set period and also allow them to earn money.

    Now, the impact of NIL money on players’ free trips into the transfer portal might push decision-makers to finally employ a long-overdue fix.

    Unlike NIL, there are a host of issues in turning the concept of player contracts into reality. Title IX is a hurdle. The entire economic structure of college athletic departments is a hurdle. Smaller programs might not be able to keep up. News flash: They can’t keep up now.

    There are no easy answers to those fair questions. But college sports’ economic model long has been broken and is badly in need of a reset. And hurdles can be cleared.

    Again, it’s not simple. But it’s the only way to calm the roster pandemonium.

    And it’s the right thing to do, and when major athletic departments routinely clear nine digits in annual revenue, the “we don’t have the money” complaints ring extremely hollow.

    “Finding the money” would require a budget overhaul that completely changes how athletic departments are run. That’s a good thing for the future of college sports.

    And those who cry about the “professionalization” of college sports have an admirable amount of willful ignorance toward every other aspect of college sports. What, pray tell, is amateur about getting paid $2.64 billion for six years of TV rights? And why shouldn’t athletes, whose work those companies are paying to broadcast, get a cut?

    This amount of roster turnover every year isn’t a positive development for the sport. But there’s no going back now. And we shouldn’t.

    The only way to fix it is to take another step forward into a place where college football should have lived a long time ago.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Clemson is now ranked ahead of Pitt in the polls even though the Panthers won the head to head meeting in 2021.

        Dabo won his bowl game and Duzz lost his.

        The preference from most on the POV was that we did not want to face Clemson in the ACC Championship game – the majority of comments were that W_F was the 1st choice, NC State who we can’t seem to beat in any sport was 2nd and Clemson 3rd.

        I believe the majority of POV-ers believed Clemson was better than Pitt at years end. Just a perception and the polls mirror that perception.

        Dabo just completed his 11th straight ten win season. He’s been in the top 5 more in the last 11 years than Pitt has been in the top 25 in the past 41 years.

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        1. No argument on any of that Rick. I’m just saying that the portal has made his hold at the top infinitely more difficult, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

          Like

    3. Then make the NFL start a minor league.
      Have students apply and get a scholarship to the school.
      No tutors for every class
      No academic requirements APR BS
      They either stay in of flunk out like every other kid that goes to school.
      Let the others play minor league ball in Altoona for 1,800 a game in front of 3,500 people.

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  59. I think I saw where Capel said looking at the past 5 games Pitt was ahead in each game at the 8 minute to go mark. If correct, that is amazing and may be characteristic of a team that hasn’t played and won together and loses confidence at the end. Missing free throws at the end is an example of no confidence under pressure down the stretch. In football, with Pickett, we never thought they were out of it at the end, and Capel needs to find that guy with the confidence to say he wants the ball at crunch time. The good news is that he has experienced players (transfers) who could be that guy.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Wish I had your confidence, Dan. Does this team shoot well enough to kill anybody??? 🤔

        Go Pitt.

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        1. Pitt owns the inside if they play properly. With Horton and Burton raining threes, Pitt finally has balance! And the best inside game in years. Great upside once they mesh. I’m betting that is tomorrow.

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  60. OT: Volleyball: “Pitt announced on Friday that Pitt volleyball coach Dan Fisher has signed a contract extension that will keep him with the Panthers through the 2027 season. This new deal adds a year onto Fisher’s contract, which was previously extended following the 2019 season.”

    Most astonishing is that the rumor mill says Heather was wearing her yellow blouse when the extension was signed. (Oh, and signed it in the Outer Banks, I hear)

    Liked by 4 people

    2. Coach Fisher’s extension was expected. It undoubtedly included an increase in pay immediately as well. Next year will be an interesting one for Pitt’s women’s volleyball. I expect us to continue to be able to compete for the ACC title. It will be interesting to see which of the depth players join the regular rotation.

      Liked by 1 person

  61. Interesting tidbits from a Chris Peak article on the Lair about DT Calijah Kancey:

    Kancey had 7 sacks and 13 total tackles for loss last season.

    And this: “Pro Football Focus loves Kancey. He is No. 3 in pass rush grades among Power Five interior linemen with at least 250 pass rush snaps in 2021, and he is No. 5 in that category in total pressures.”

    And the best news -we get him for another year. Congrats to Calijah and Coach Partridge…

    Go Pitt.

    Liked by 1 person

  62. That D-line in uber talented. I hope Narduzzi and PITT are doing all they can to be sure Charlie Partridge remains on the staff. There are many in S. FLA who want CP as the DC in Miami.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. The one missing piece on our DLine, in my opinion, is a true NT that can be rotated in, a Tyrique Jarrett type of guy- I loved watching him play. This would make us more stout in short yardage situations.

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Ulterior. Couple of comments from the thread made me smile:
      “Matlin asked the team what the team wanted from a coach…says Matlin hired the exact opposite of what they wanted.”
      “…. there was no connection between coaches and players…that he lost his love and passion for the game because of Todd Graham.”

      Yep, our TG episode was a honeymoon….mainly because he walked out—-in a high octane manner (what a loser he turned out to be)

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  64. A recent quote about Todd Graham “the worst guy I ever met in my life”

    Yet, Pitt Blather was in love with this guy … until that fateful day in December 2011. Just shows you how public opinion can go awry

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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  66. Bolla / Knight / Martin / Starr / Richards

    Remember them well; maybe the most accomplished Pitt team ever

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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  70. I didn’t think Cancy had his best game vs MSU, I wonder if Camp not playing affected him?

    I love Alexander coming back, with Hayes coming on and some of the youngs that must be chompin at the bit, the D-line should be awesome, although I would like to see confirmation from Baldonado our best guy.

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  71. I liked the Tyrique Jarrett reference, it brought to mind how we missed out on Twyman’s last year due to Covid. He was following in Donald’s footsteps and messed up the chance for possibly our best defensive line since the High Green days. Cancy definitely in that bunch.
    Unfortunate that Danielson doesn’t get that much respect, he is a big guy that plugs up that middle and made some big plays this year. One of the main reasons for our strong run defense.

    Liked by 2 people

  75. Anyone want two free lower bowl tickets and parking at the field house today?
    I could meet you at Panera in Monroeville (Miracle Mile)

    Like

  76. Some of the Pitt players may have looked at Twyman and Ford and decided another year of college ball may be a good thing…

    Liked by 2 people

  79. Of that group, connecting the dots with Kedon Slovis one might think Graham Harrell late of USC may be the guy, but if so, why not make the announcement and start recruiting!

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  80. The coaching conference is this weekend. Traditionally, he does make a hire until he does interviews there. I doubt he knows yet. I’m sure he has several interviews set up and a favorite but this is the way he’s always done it. Pitt usually kicks off recruiting season with the June camps. He already got his QB and WR. He’s not in a hurry. I, personally, like the idea of Mike Shanahan from JMU. No idea if he’s on the short list but he checks a lot of boxes … Pitt, former recruiting coordinator for one of the best FBS recruiting schools, Keeps us in VA, got a year as OC under his belt this season and the offense didn’t miss a beat … who knows if he’s even a candidate though

    Liked by 2 people

    1. In Kenny’s defense, he’s already off the board at #6 in that mock draft. The Steelers will focus on the DL and stopping the run is my guess. Tomlin doesn’t strike me as a guy who will want to deal with a rookie QB anytime soon. They’ll add a veteran.

      Liked by 1 person

  83. Howell really didn’t impress me that much. There were at least 2-3 QBs that Pitt faced during the season that impressed me more than Howell.

    Liked by 4 people

  84. I noticed that the Under Armor All American HS game is on NBC at 1:00. I wonder if any of them will be putting on a Pitt hat?

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  87. Sources tell FootballScoop that:

    Vanderbilt: David Raih is no longer part of the staff. Raih was hired as offensive coordinator but Joey Lynch took over the responsibilities a while back.

    Kansas State: Collin Klein has been promoted from quarterbacks coach to offensive coordinator.

    Tennessee Tech: HC Dwayne Alexander is hiring Wes Satterfield away from the University of Richmond to run the offense, as well as coach its quarterbacks.

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  88. Re: last year’s dropped passes—TB (who was disparaged on here by a few) would have helped—

    “As we (justifiably) talk so much about the #Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, let’s not lose this: Tyler Boyd’s 67 receptions w/out a single drop is BY FAR the most in the #NFL this year. (No. 2 is Randall Cobb who has 28 catches w/out a drop.)”

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  89. Per FootballScoop –

    Detroit Lions: Offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn is not expected to be retained per multiple reports.

    App State: Sources tell FootballScoop Pat Washington will not return as receivers coach.

    Ohio State: Following the announce to that he was the 2021 FootballScoop Receivers Coach of the Year, Ryan Day has promoted Brian Hartline to passing game coordinator.

    Carolina Panthers: The organization is expected to target former NFL head coaches like Jay Gruden and Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien for their open offensive coordinator spot, Adam Schefter tweets this morning.

    Like

  90. More from FB Scoop –

    USF: West Virginia tight ends coach Travis Trickett is expected to be the new offensive coordinator, Mike Casazza shares. He replaces Charlie Weis Jr. who left for the same position at Ole Miss.

    penn state: Running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider, who was being pursued by Florida State for a co-offensive coordinator role, has decided to stay at psuX, Matt Zenitz shares.

    Illinois: UTSA offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Barry Lunney Jr. has been named to the same post at Illinois.

    Pitt: with vacancies at OC and WR coach, the Panthers are expected to fill both positions by April 1st.

    Liked by 1 person

  91. Former Pitt TE with a promotion to Co-OC per FB Scoop –

    UAlbany (FCS – NY): Delaware offensive coordinator Jared Ambrose has accepted the offensive coordinator / quarterbacks job at UAlbany. Multiple coaches also have new titles, and the complete staff consists of Nate Byham (associate HC / Co-OC / OL coach), Joe Bernard (DC / ILBs), Bill Nesselt (STC / OLBs), Will Fiacchi (TEs / PGC), Jordan Orlovsky (RBs / DFO), Peter Davila (DBs), Darrin Walls (Safeties), Chris Calabrese (defensive assistant), and Brendan Smith (offensive assistant.)

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  92. LSU: Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has signed a three-year deal making an average of $1.4 million per year (before incentives), and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan also has a three-year deal averaging $600k annually, Wilson Alexander tweets.

    Georgia Tech: Offensive coordinator Chip Long’s deal is two years ($800,000 and $850,000) and quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke’s is $300,000 per year for two years as well per multiple reports.

    Like

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