As a long time Pitt season ticket holder, I am disappointed but not surprised. Pryor is just too good for a program as down as the Panthers. Teams with losing records and no bowl games do not even get close to signing the big talent. He is like every other national-level recruit from this area. He will be going elsewhere. Of the 5 to 7 such kids, we will be fortunate to get any of them. For Pitt, I look at them as must-get prospects if they have any hope of getting out of the bottom tier of the Big East. After all, there is no way possible that we can get national-level recruits from anywhere other than SW Pennsylvania. The sad truth is that we have no base anymore. Who ends up in Oakland from the WPIAL? The players that Ohio State, Michigan & Notre Dame don’t want. Eastern Pennsylvania? We get the Penn State rejects. I am certain that some one who reads this might comment that Pitt had 1st round NFL selection in Darelle Revis. Yes, they may get the random local star once a decade, but that one big talent is not enough to elevate the program. In fact, 3 NFL draftees are not enough. Look at last years defense. One of the worst in the country. They could make back up QBs from UConn look like Pat White. The other sad truth is that the coaching is not good enough to overcome their shortcomings and have some success. And maybe get find a hidden gem like Steve Slaton. And maybe be able to keep a local superstar home. Until then they will be a bottom feeder. As for the fabulous Mr. Pryor, I guess our mantra will be ” Anywhere but Penn State “! He is so good that the only way he can screw up his athletic career is to sign with them. 4 years of being coached by Jay Paterno and he will be back in Jeannette wondering where his NFl future has gone. They have done so much with Anthony Morelli.

Recruiting is the least of our problems, and Pryor going elsewhere shouldn’t be so bewildering—would you really want to “go away” to school 50 yards from your backyard, for 4 yearns? Under Wanny & Co. we’re top-25 2 years going. So you can cite poor coaching all you want, but to find fault with recruiting is excessive.

I completely disagree! In the times when Pitt was a power, the Panther got the top local talent. If they do not, look at the current results. As long as the Big Ten and ND get the elite players from the WPIAL, we will NEVER be much better than what we are. Talent is everything! You can only do so much with the rejects we get. We have to sign the top local guys. A superstar from another area like Larry Fitzgerald was a fluke. He came because of Harris’s passing offense. The coaching staff has recognized this fact of life in that they have given up recruiting in Florida. Why? Because Florida, Florida State & Miami and some other SEC teams get the top 60 Florida recruits. Pitt competes for the next 40. So they have moved into the DC/Northern Virginia area to try to expand their possibilities. After the losing season we will have in 2007, we may not be able to sign the level of player we could count on being able to sign.