I will stick to my principles and maintain that recruiting sites, generally, don’t do any real harm. Still, how seriously can you follow and seriously consider an interview with a high school junior’s father regarding the kid’s future college decision.

Howard Mabin is not sure when his son will make a decision.

“First you have to get some offers,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just so early, it’s tough to tell.”

The elder Mabin says his son has three schools currently at the top of his list.

“Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Michigan,” he said. “Really, anywhere in the Big Ten, but the Big East is starting to look good too.”

Jordan Mabin’s cousin, Dorin Dickerson, recently committed to Pitt. That could affect Mabin’s decision because he and Dickerson are close.

“Possibly,” Howard said.

That just seems a little creepy and borderline stalking of Jordan Mabin. I mean, I guess it’s nice to see Pitt listed as a possibility with a kid who would appear to be considered a top talent for the 2007 recruiting class, but it just seems to be the sort of thing to give those who are looking for ways to limit, control or stop these sites more ammunition.

Last week, Bruce Feldman at ESPN.com took note of Coach Wannstedt and Pitt’s early recruiting success. Later, Ivan Maisel in an ESPN.com chat said he thought part of the reason Pitt’s recruiting success being ignored was that the Big East has been written off by the national media.

Late yesterday, and now today, a story about Wannstedt and Pitt’s recruiting success, written by the AP Sportswriter in Pittsburgh, Alan Robinson, got picked up by plenty of papers.

Now, slightly more than six months since former Pitt coach Walt Harris was pushed out the door despite five consecutive bowl game appearances, Wannstedt is keeping his promise to reinstate Pitt’s one-time recruiting dominance in its backyard.

With the national letter of intent signing day still seven months away, the Panthers already have 12 verbal commitments from high school players — including 10 of Pennsylvania’s top 46 players, according to Rivals.com, which tracks football recruiting nationwide.
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“Dave’s taken a page out of (Southern Cal coach) Pete Carroll’s book as a former pro coach going back to college — he’s gone out and met the high school coaches 1-on-1,” Burton said. “He brings a familiarity that’s tailor-made for what he’s trying to do.”

Excitement. Solid recruiting. National publicity.

And then out of nowhere, a voice of caution.

Now I’m not saying Panthers fans shouldn’t be optimistic about the future of the program, but let Wannstedt and his staff coach and win a game first.

All this persuasion hype reminds me of two seasons ago when the Panthers opened the season ranked No. 15.
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What I’m saying is all of this publicity could come back to haunt a young team trying to build a championship-caliber program just as it did in 2003.

The Panthers weren’t able to handle the spotlight two years ago and it could be tough this season. One loss to a team they’re supposed to beat – such as that humiliating setback at Toledo in 2003 – could cost them not only this year, but for years to come.

Wannstedt has come home with hopes of building a national championship team. He should be careful what he wishes for.

Oh, sure. Throw some cold water in our faces.

It’s something I have said to keep an eye on. The Big East and Pitt being put on Friday nights for games would upset area high schools, and the tradition of the Friday Night High School games. I expect some more closer to the actual season starting, especially from the Pittsburgh area.

Here’s some of the early sniping from a sports editor in the Mon Valley.

Pitt’s football team will be going against the high school kids for another Friday night with the Panthers’ contest at Ohio University being moved from Sept. 10 to Sept. 9 for the national ESPN2 television audience.

It’s the night of most of the WPIAL team’s second games.

The Panthers’ other Friday night contest is at Rutgers Sept. 30.

This year, they are road games, so the impact may be blunted. Next year, if there are any home Friday games, expect some real pissing and moaning.

Spend around 6 hours on the turnpikes of Pennsylvania and Ohio with a whining 3-year old and you miss some things. The great unanswered question these days is why there is no other rest stop heading West on the PA Turnpike after the one around mile marker 77, while the Eastbound side has two. Annoying.

Anyhow, the boys at Marquette Basketball have some pieces of information. It would seem one of Pitt’s three home & home opponents this season will be Marquette. Likely, WVU will be another for Pitt. My guess for the third home & home match-up would be either Notre Dame or UConn.

They also note, the HoopScoop ranking of the 2005 basketball recruiting classes. Pitt is ranked #23. The rankings are based on the total “value” of the entire class, not the average of each recruit — which is how Middle Tennessee State and Utah State are ranked ahead of Pitt. On a talent ranking per recruit scale, Pitt would be around #15.

A little late on the link, but Rivals Radio did an interview with the first commit for the 2006 class, Gilbert Brown (Windows Media).