Game’s on ESPNU if you have it.
I’ll be offering limited commentary throughout. I’m hesitant to add too much since I’ve been consuming bourbon all day to brace myself.
7:24: Welcome to the implosion. 13-0 and then fumble on kickoff return.
7:29: It’s 20-0 UVa. Pitt and the Wannys have the Grohs right where they want them. Now Groh will invoke his NFL knowledge and go prevent the rest of the way.
I hope.
7:47: I’m hoping this is the proverbial “rock bottom” for the season. 27-0 and it’s not even the end of the 1st quarter. Pathetic.
7:55: Since the game is already lost, I might as well note a bizarre FatHead rip off ad for “Wallbangers.” Brit accent for lots of soccer, plus they’ll make oversized vinyl prints of uploaded photos. Picturing a fired up Rhoads after stopping a team for only 9 yards on 1st down on my wall. Plus some paint thinner and a lighter.
7 for 51 yards on penalties.
8:10: Only 30-0 now. Way to stiffen for only a FG.
Remember, when slitting wrists, cut with the vein, not across.
9:00: I mean, what the hell? You run, run, run, that means they will put 8, 9 men in the box. So then you have Bostick drop and look deep? NO!!!! You throw quick. Hit a TE on a screen. A slant, something quick. Not a drop back.
9:45: What can you say. Two straight passing plays by Virginia that are off the hands of Pitt defenders and then they let the Hoos complete a 3d and 20. I regained consciousness for that?
9:54: You know why I’m feeling pissed about this. Because part of me feels bad for the players that they have to suffer through this. Another part of me can’t help but be somewhat happy insofar as if Coach Wannstedt and the administration has to see there is a huge problem after this week and last. If they can’t see the need for a coaching shake-up of some sort after this season — minimum changing DC and OL Coaches — then I just don’t know anymore. And I can’t stand feeling a little good about Pitt bottoming out like this. It just seems like the only frickin’ way there is going to be some necessary changes at this point.
At times this year Pitt has looked like the WORST football team I’ve seen in my life.
Fumbled the kickoff as I type this, fuck me!!!
It’s official Shady has now been taken out of the game
Always good that your most valuable weapon is out of the game in the first 8 minutes of the game
140 points in 60 minutes
Let’s get it on!
They just don’t seem to have any desire
Pass interference….hey at least we are trying now.
1. Do we have “practices”
2. Do our linemen understand what a false start is?
3. Please kill me
oh screw it…do you think any recruit is gonna believe that steamy pile of shit anymore
What makes this worse is that I live in Tampa and the USF bandwagon exploded yesterday. I have family members that didn’t know who Matt Grothe was 2 weeks ago that now are apparently USF fans. Not bad for a team that only drew 35,000 to their game the week before eh?
Bandwagoning fans are even more annoying when you’re trying your best to stick by your own shitty-ass team.
Seriously, cut all the upperclassmen. It is obvious that are of no use. Line up whatever is left and let er rip.
We’re running on second and third and long because the best that can happen if we throw is nothing; the worst is an even shorter field for them. We should be quick-kicking on 3rd.
This season is a lost cause. Use the rest of the year as scrimmages for the freshman and sophomores.
We are trying to kill the clock I think……I may have to agree with that strategy.
You know, walking down the hill after a hoops game a few years ago we ran into a group of the cheerleaders walking home after the game.
I thought about it, then realized that it’s pretty fucking impossible to get away with hitting on someone when you’re walking with your girlfriend.
There, hot cheerleaders, I’ve officially found a way to pull myself out of my own personal malaise.
But thinking of the cheerleaders isn’t going to cut it all night…. SO I’m going to pick up some drinks. What do you guys think, beer or a bottle of cheap wine?
I like beer more than wine, but cheap wine will capture the depression better.
Please just let Pat throw the GD ball!!!! What in the hell do we have to lose?
You are so right…what do you lose by having Bostick throw the ball?
You have already lost this game and likely the season
Let him get some valuable experience taking reps this year
Dammit Wanny/Cavanaugh….you need to get this kid molded into a QB
Let him learn now in a wasted season as opposed to later
And the cheerleaders are disgusting.
HOLY F’N SHIT!!!
A MORAL VICTORY!!!!!
TAKE THAT NAYSAYERS!!!!!!!!
http://pittsburgh.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp?Player=63704#bio
Thank you for showing up Tyler!
as Willis said in Diehard (to Wanny/Cavanaugh) “Welcome to the Party pal”
The “pass” play.
Some trickeration by Cavanaughaughfff
But….can we blitz on 3rd and long? Is that in the playbook?
Classic
How ironic.
That reads “3 for muther fucking 3″
If this game is anyones fault….It’s definately Bostick.
The fact that we have only attempted 3 passes means we aren’t even going to try to come back. Sad.
Screw him…injuries are not an excuse.
Screw DW, screw Cavanaugh…
I sure know I don’t
Anyone know by how much “bye” is favored?
FIRE THEM
FIRE THEM
THEY LET BOSTICK THROWN DOWNFIELD AND WE GET A TD.
……SO THEY DON’T LET HIM THROW THE REST OF THE GAME.
-WAIT!!!!!!! THEY FINALLY LET HIM THROW AGAIN ON 4TH DOWN AND WE GET DOWN TO THE 7! CAVANAUGH IS A PIECE OF SHIT. FIRE THEM ALL.
I FEEL BAD FOR THESE POOR KIDS. THEY DESERVE BETTER.
That has been my sentiment exactly…the season is lost let Bostick get as much value with reps as possible.
But alas, that isn’t the Wanny way…he can’t see the forest from the trees
Boy if anyone needed a cranal analectomy its Wanny
(I mean Wannstadt by the way, and yes he has fucked us all…..in the ass…..hard, and he made about 10 million for doing it)
Well played, my friend.
(guess what FMITA means)
….you’ve been married for like what, a year? Not more than two, no way, man….
Actually kidding here, Dave; good for you; I honestly respect your courtesy and decision towards the wife. And I mean that sincerely.
…Whoops, didn’t read far enough to where you smartened up:
“…guess the wife will need to drive to the restaraunt tonite…I am in! (hope i don’t make too much of a public nuisance drunk lol)…”
BTW: you’re in deep sh*t tomorrow…glad it’s not me
_______________________________________
Last, while I’m off the topic of football — why anyone’s on the topic of Pitt football is beyond me, momentarily — I say to Scott in Istanbul:
Lucky bastard, whores by room service + jail. Smoke some opium and bring some back’d be kool. yeah… bring some back? USD ($$$) >>> ndavidm@lycos.com
Pitt football in sum:
…without doubt, rock bottom’s been hit. And sigh of relief (IMO)…it’s over now, it’s really over.
That said, we can look forward to some shaking-up of the staff hereafter…Most any self-respecting program would attempt to save-face… But to be honest — and horrendously negative — I’d say that we Panthers (admin. et al.) tend to reserve-reverse everything rational when it comes to the football program. So I’d advise not hold your breath in anticipation of a bold maneuver. ________________________________________________
Time to exhale; laugh, it’s a circus (or carnival, whatever suits you). Too bad for Wanny, though. He’s a real good guy and I do not say that with a remote hint of sarcasm. But stick a fork in him, he’s done.
___________________________________oh yes, I have been drinking
I think this whole game Cav has just been playing possum. What a GENIUS!
Is to learn now and not next year.
3 and out and punt, Pat……when are you going to learn our system?
(guess what FMITA means)
Comment by Jon C 09.29.07 @ 9:33 pm _______________________________________________
Word of advise for Scott in Istanbul:
DO NOT FMITA TO ANYONE THERE.
They’ve not only hit rock bottom, but have begun to dig.
Shady?
Bostick?
Line?
somebody give me a report card for them… plus coaches
Maybe next week we’ll come out with a real offense of running AND passing. Just play the fucking game, see what happens. Who cares if we lose. Its practice for next year.
And I don’t want to hear any of this bullshit about “you can’t worry about next year, you have to try to win for the seniors this year.” They’ve had several years to try to win for themselves, obviously they’re incapable. Now its time to try to win for the future. Dump all the upperclassmen, play all freshman and sophomores. Be done with this waste of a team.
We didn’t let bostick throw in the first half. We’re the worst team in the big east. Game over.
We will get crushed by them.
You sure you’re not thinking about those other dancer type girls that hang out with the band? They’re pretty nasty looking.
Even the fucking announcers knew that they had to turn Bostick loose… but the offensive line still sucks.
I dunno, thank god for the fucking Steelers… but the way this weekend is going they’ll probably lose too.
THis is looking like 1996. There could yet be a 72-0 game. And plenty of 66-0 and 60-6 candidates. Problem is at least that got Majors fired. This administration doesn’t give a flying f**k if we lose, they merely field a football program to keep nostalgic old f**ks who donate money happy, and those old f**ks must like Wannstedt glad handing them at trustee lunches, since Harris apparently didn’t bother doing so.
Can’t any of you guys win the Powerball and offer to donate 8 figures to Pitt if they get their act together? $$$ is the only thing that talks to this turd Nordenberg.
For as bad as I felt listening to the game, I feel even worse after reading Geeman’s post above.
I’ve tried to throw my support behind Wannstedt as much as I can and I’ve tried to be patient. I’ve tried to look ahead to future recruiting classes. I’ve tried to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to do so.
I’ve tried to explain some of this season away by looking at the injuries to some integral players. But I don’t think the return of Bill Stull, Derek Kinder, Gus Mustakas, Kevin Collier, Chris Jacobson, etc. would matter much because I’m not sure the problems rest with the players.
I have zero faith in Rhoads and Cavanaugh. As Chas said above, I feel terrible because many of these players deserve better than this. Down 23 points halfway through the third quarter and we’re running LSH up the gut. Multiple times. It’s a stupid call and everyone - even LSH - knows it’s a stupid call. Everyone except Cavanaugh.
At one point when Pitt was on defense, Fralic said the same routes he saw UConn using were being run by Virginia…you’d think Rhoads would be able to make some sort of adjustment there and get them in a better scheme. But that would assuming Rhoads knew his elbow from his ass.
Wannstedt has to be on the verge of losing this team for the third year in a row. Zeise said in one of his Q&A’s this past week that players are starting to get frustrated and if things went bad this week, it might have pushed things over the edge. Unfortunately for Wannstedt, if he loses this team, he won’t have any more of Harris’s players to piss off after this year.
I want to say Wannstedt still deserves to see this thing through the end of next year, but I’m not so sure I think that anymore. I like the guy and many of the players seem to like him. But I watch some of these other teams play…teams that have been down for the last few years just like Pitt and I’ve seen the strides they’ve made, and it just leaves me shaking my head.
If they don’t turn a corner in the very near future (and I don’t see any reason why they will, even if Stull comes back), I’d have to say Wannstedt ought to be shown the door at season’s end.
Get a young, up-and-coming coach in here who’s got the energy and the wherewithal to rebuild a program from the ground up.
I haven’t given up on the players, never will, but I have no clue about the coaches anymore. It’s almost as if they are being paid to drag a name through crap. Here’s a tip..on most teams, usually the ones that win, they throw on 3rd and long(unless they have a badass OL). Here’s another…If you run the ball 50 straight times, then you will probably run it again at 51. They know we’re running!!! Fool me once Shame on me, Fool me 51 times, I’m A Pittsburgh Panthers Coach. Open up the Bleeding Frakkin run by throwing the ball(and not just in the 4th quarter). It seems that Cav and Wanny failed Math because down by 20ish in the 4th quarter means let’s move the ball faster because we’re running out of time.
A few positive things that I saw today:
1-Bostick is ready “enough”… he throws the ball like a Pittsburgh Pirate(not a good thing nowadays), but players around him are glad he’s there.
2-Shady
Well DW you have just secured the fact that every D you face will put 9 men in the box. You will not be able to use the run until you make them pay.
But not in Wanny’s dream world where his stubborn way will save the day.
Stupid is as Stupid does…and Wanny is king of the dipshits
A real class move by UVA at the end faking the field goal to jam another TD down our throats.
just another week, at least I have the steelers.
I suggest every one who can call into the show with one question: when are you going to quit?
Bostick did not throw his first pass until it was 27-0. 27-0!!!!!!!!!! That alone is justification to fire DW and Cavanaugh.
This is pathetic and really, no matter what it means for the next few years, it seems fairly obvious that DW cannot coach and that he is incapable of resurrecting this program.
Time to end the charade now.
“One of these weeks, I’d really like to find out what type of team we have, we didn’t give ourselves a chance.”
“We have to run faster”
“LSH is the starter”
Give me a break, this guy really just does not have a clue.
This team is in reverse, we went from a BCS team and we are now an also-ran, we could finish the year with only 2 wins!
History always repeats itself and the tenure of Dave while he coached in Chicago and Miami are very well documented.
Wait until next year, for what? He doesn’t deserve another year, the guy cannot coach or put together a staff that can coach.
Too many penalties, too many excuses, when Dave came to Pitt we had an established program, he did not have to start from the ground up, but he is driving the program off a cliff.
I would think Pitt would get stung financially/contractually if they fired him now, and they made that mistake once with a guy named Gottfried. I don’t think they want to do that again anytime soon. Its hard to watch a guy doing color commentary for ESPN while he’s still on your payroll for big bucks. And you have to think about who might be willing to inherit this steaming pile of poop down the road, especially if they feel like they’ve only got a couple of years. The BE isn’t exactly a premier conference, and we ate a lot of our own this past couple of weeks. There’s a good chance that we’ll send a 2 loss team to a the BCS, which doesn’t do much for the PR. At this point I have to pull for South Florida. How sad is that?!?!?! But someone is still going to have to want the Pitt job, and there has to be some kind of upside. An AD with a perceived itchy firing finger won’t help.
I still think we have a year and a half left of this clown. At least I’ll save money not being tempted to buy tickets anytime soon. The funny thing is that I still don’t think it was a bad hire AT THE TIME. I had my doubts, but I figured that if the guy was willing to go out there and recruit like hell, it couldn’t be any worse than what Harris had here. I was well aware of his track record, but I was hoping that perhaps he could turn it around and we’d have someone for the long term for a change. I would have still preferred an up-and-commer from a smaller program that had real college HEAD coaching experience and succes, but I was willing to accept Wanny at face value. I feel kind of silly about that now - like I’m a sucker. I’ll bet the administration is starting to feel that way at this point as well.
A serious question: is there ANYONE left on the schedule that Pitt has a chance of competeing with? Not necessarily beat - just compete with. I might be willing to ammend my “stuck with him until 2008/2009″ statement if we get completely crushed every weekend from here on out. If there is absolutely no improvement for the rest of the year, if might be worth it to just write him a big check and show him the door. At some point you have to assess the negative aspects of terminating his contract early vs. the damage he could do the the program and Pitt’s reputation in the future. Still don’t think it will happen, though.
The Seige continues….
i admire everyone who watched/listened to that whole game, you must be some sort of masochist. after 20-0 and uva getting to the red zone i said a bunch of swear words and left, i couldnt take it. the only good thing was that i figured bostick could play a game with no pressure and get in some good reps. then i saw he threw the ball 3 times in the first half and got pissed all over again. im a grad student at UCF, at least the knights are winning and my saturdays wont be total losses.
During Johnny Majors Part deux….the excuses were the same: injuries, bad luck, poor facilities…blah blah blah..guess what..it’s none of those…it’s always coaching and preparation at the College Level…
The only reason to continue to follow this train wreck of a coaching staff is simply out of morbid curiosity at what they will screw up next….
Wanstedt is the highest paid employee at the University of Pittsburgh. We can’t afford to fire him until his contract is out. We aren’t Alabama. We don’t have that kind of money. It’s not going to happen.
Wanny and Cavanaugh are on the hot seat.
but lets get some talk about who will replace all the coaches. Any ideas for head coach, DC, OC??
I’m guessing we look to a guy that is working his way up though. Someone like a dantonio or leavitt. (not those two, they are just my example)
I don’t know about the Pitt ties being a necessity. I’ve always liked the fact that Wannstedt had those and that certainly led to his strong belief in the program. I think that’s important, but only to a point. Like someone said above…it’s got to be a smart football decision much like the Howland hire was a smart basketball decision. I think they would need to find someone with a good college background first…someone who understands the college game a bit better and doesn’t try to force a pro system no matter what.
A good parallel (so far, so good, at least) is Brian Kelly moving up from Central Michigan to take over at Cincy. Obviously, it’s way too early to determine that’s been a rousing success as they could still get stomped by the tougher teams in the conference. But if this guy can get kids to come to that program and get fans to care about it, it’ll be a minor miracle.
Anyone know Brookhart’s status at Akron?
yea stuart, it doesnt look good to prospective coaches, but as i was following the OU/CU game on si.com yesterday all the OU people were ripping on Bob Stoops. if they are taking shots at that guy with his success, i think our coaches are fair game.
To entertain this crap, we could either go get someone who will use us as a stepping stone again and gain some success, or find a “Pitt guy”, who i don’t know of any right now that would qualify/accept the program. We are taking a shot with Wannstedt because we think he won’t use us as a stepping stone, and has a lot of experience, so we hope he’ll win. There is no easy solution here. I see no reason not to give Wannstedt at least 1 more year - its not like there’s an Urban Meyer out there waiting in a crappy program to come here. At worst, hold on to Wannstedt until we do locate someone like that in the future. But we’re still no Florida, so it’ll be hard to convince a hot prospect to come here anyways.
Or we go back to mediocrity: Walts back in town, i’m sure he’ll take the job.
Good points all. Even if there was an Urban Meyer-type candidate out there, I’m pretty sure Pitt isn’t where he’s looking to go unless he sees Pitt as a stepping stone. It was like Meyer going from Bowling Green to Utah to Florida, with Pitt being the “Utah”.
I’m getting more and more torn on Wannstedt himself, but I think if changes are made to some of his coaches, that would be reasonable. I’d start with Rhoads, Dunn and Cavanaugh, although I will admit Cavanaugh will be the least likely of those three to go.
its time to hit the switch, at least we went to bowl games, i will take smoke and mirror over daves “power” football team. dave will never take them to a bowl game he is a complete idiot.
face it they suck and dave must go, it was a bad hire, the ohio u game should have been the eye opener.
i am out of here, best of luck to all of you, i am not wasting my time following this idiot (dave) who makes excuse after excuse.
Oh, Groh’s, call on the fake fg just rubbed it in to show how ill prepared we were
later
Dreaming, Dreaming is free…
As much as we all know that Wanny can’t coach, I also think that a college coach should be given at least ONE YEAR to win with his recruits and his recruits alone (and no, being forced to start your freshman RB and QB doesn’t count).
So, ditch the assistants this year, Wanny next.
Thanks to all for your comments …they were echoed by all of us in attendence. The boos at halftime for DW and crew were deafening.
Some thoughts from the game:
* What a great college atmosphere at VA Stadium.
Singing and cheering traditions by the fans
decked out in orange and blue and every seat
filled. Nicest people I have met in a while.
We used to have that same on campus atmosphere
at Pitt Stadium.
* Stayed at the same hotel with Mike Mcglynn’s
dad and family. Not much comment from any.
* Worst first quarter I can remember in Pitt
history….maybe 1970 Oklahoma came in
with Jack Mildren and co.
* Worst coached team in Pitt history. Doesn;t
Rhoades or anyone teach our linebackers and
safetys to watch the linemen (not the backs and
ball fakes)??? Every misdirection VA pulled
Pitt was out of position
* At one embarrasing point VA hiked the ball to
the QB and their entire team went left along
with the entire Pitt D….QB just stood there
motionless with the ball and then took off
untouched for 27 yards.
* To a person…in the stands…we wanted a DW
resignation at the half.
* and now the Steelers fall….long weekend…
good point about the navy game at night, i will be drunk and disorderly while watching
DW is a nice guy and I personally like him, but as a coach he leaves a lot to be desired….its time to move on.
The bottom line is that Walt Harris did a lot more with a lot less. DW has done a lot less with a lot more…thats just reality. say what you want about DW needing time but this is year three and things should not be this bad, even with the injuries.
Pitt trys to win football games with a pro style offense, but in order to run a pro style offense you need big guys that can block. WE HAVE NONE. WV and alot of other teams have moved to a spread offense or option style offense, and can take advantage of not having the best recruits or good O linemen. WVU recruits pretty poorly…
MSU looks like they may be a very good team - this obviously means they’re about to fold and go winless the rest of the way. I distinctly remember saying the same thing during the middle of the ND game last year…