While lurking around the message boards over at Panther Digest, I came across the link to an interesting interview a few days ago with H.B. Blades. I hate to look back at the season that was, especially how it ended, but perhaps Blades knows why some things happened that maybe shouldn’t have.
HOW FRUSTRATING WAS IT THAT PITT STRUGGLED THE LAST TWO YEARS AFTER BEING IN A BCS BOWL GAME AS A SOPHOMORE?
“Personally, it was heartbreaking. You play this game to win, especially as much as you put into it through spring ball and winter conditioning and the summer camp, then to go .500 or don’t even make a bowl game, it’s heartbreaking. It was one of those things that just happened. There was adversity, so I appreciate things a little bit more when they happen. We went to the BCS game my sophomore and then we got kind of complacent. It was one of those things where we had guys that weren’t thinking about the games. They were thinking about what they were going to do after college football.â€
The last two lines that I bolded there are the key. The only guys who should have had NFL thoughts were Revis, Palko, and Blades himself. I’m pretty sure none of those guys mailed it in early. I’d love to be a fly on the wall of the locker room there to see what guys weren’t focused on Pitt games and instead were looking towards the next level.
It should also be known that Paul Rhoads likes a good cry or two.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PAUL RHOADS AND CURTIS BRAY?
“Coach Rhoads is very intense. He will be there for us, he will cry with us, he will make you want to play for him. Coach Bray was more humble and laid back.”
It’s probably safe to assume that even the mention of the name “Rhoads” will start some sort of outlash towards him.
Basically, we win last two, we clinch a share of the regular season title, regardless of what GT does.
Omar: It isn’t like they lit it up against us – 58 instead of 61 points still beats us. It was out offense that lost the game. I have them going 3-15 from three, 20%…
And I am certain that the bums at pitt, as soon as they heard they have a chance to be co-champs, got back into their regular thoughts of “we’re going to win just by showing up these last two games.” I think it just assured us there is no chance we’ll win both the last two games. This is the mental equivalent of being up 8 with 12 minutes left. “Time to start worrying about the tournament instead of taking care of business…”
Second, when the Orangemen got a 9 point lead with about 9-10 minutes left, they stayed on the gas both on offense and defense. They had a few stupid turnovers, but otherwise played very hard. I know it was a home game, but, still, they wanted that game more than Georgetown.
Maybe tonight the Zoo needs to alter their T-shirts and just put “40 HARD MINUTES” on the front. Maybe that will send some sort of message to the players and coaches. Nothing else has seemed to work.
Oh, that’s right…..
Seriously, I think we’ll see an improvement in the defense this years with the lessening of his duties.
