It really is remarkable how much of a bounce Pitt and Coach Wannstedt seemed to have gotten in recruiting with the contract extension and upsetting WVU. Up until then, there had been only a couple commits (and one reneged shortly thereafter I think) during the season itself. The speed with which players committed after the season almost seems to suggest that while Pitt was in on all of these players (and others); the players while interested, were looking for something to show that, yes the team and the coach are heading in the right direction.
Beating WVU was the spark needed. That has to be exceptionally galling for WVU right now. Not only did losing to Pitt cost them the national championship game, but it also reignited Pitt’s recruiting in what had appeared to be the point where Pitt’s on the field performance the last couple years was catching up to them. Scout.com and Rivals.com have had Pitt shoot up the recruiting rankings past WVU in the past week to #22 and #21 respectively while WVU is at #30 and #27.
Here’s a little on JUCO QB Commit Greg Cross from Rivals.com.
“I just got back from Pittsburgh, and I wanted to let you know that I committed to Pittsburgh on the visit,” Cross, the nation’s No. 49 junior college player, said. “I love Dave Wannstedt. He really helped me feel at home. He was telling me the truth about how I can come in there and compete.
“He said none of the jobs are given to the kids there and that I’ll have to earn it. He told me how it was really, and I appreciated that. They want a hard worker, and that’s what I wanted to hear.”
…
Cross, who was offered scholarships by Kansas State and Louisville, said he isn’t expecting to come in and get the starting nod right away, but he also felt like there is a chance for him to compete.
“They told me it’s open,” Cross said. “Whoever comes in and takes over will be the starter. I know I have to come in and learn system. I don’t expect to get anything handed to me. I know I’m going to have to work hard and compete.”
ESPN’s recruiting blog was impressed with the haul in the last week and the overall class being put together. Obviously the focus was on Jonathan Baldwin, who was listed at #24 in their ESPN Hot 150 (Insider subs.).
In fact, coach Zmijanac stated that many college coaches were comparing Baldwin’s exciting size-to-speed combination to New York Giants wide out Plaxico Burress during spring evaluations. We see the similarities, but also see a 6-foot-6, 230 pound athlete whose lean body should explode in a fulltime college strength training program. The hands, athleticism and straight-line speed after the catch are evident, but so is the good initial pop and strength as a drive blocker. He will need to continue building up his body to produce in the trenches at the next level, but the surprising power and physicality are there to mold.
Aside from possessing good — potentially great — blocking skills, we do not see the sharpness and fluidity as a route runner or the speed and elusiveness needed to consistently separate from Division I cornerbacks as a potential college receiver. His game resembles the play of a basketball forward (his winter sport), which in our analysis is more suited for matchups in the passing game on linebackers. Regardless of position, Baldwin’s great versatility and rare blend of size and speed as an athlete should help him develop into a great college football player.
Pitt is quietly assembly a good class despite coming off a disappointing 5-7 season.
They highlight Chris Burns and Lucas Nix who are ranked #106 and #119 in their top-150 (and by coincidence as the 13th ranked RB and OL respectively). They also seem to like Tino Sunseri who they say is “right outside the ESPN 150.”
I am looking forward to seeing these kids in action over the next few years. There is a lot to be excited about at Pitt… As long as Pederson doesn’t turn us back into “Pittsburgh” I am really looking forward to see both the football and basketball teams progress. Heck even the ladies hoops are improving (despite a slightly disappointing start this year).
I think that we are going to be wearing out the bulbs on those victory lights on the Cathedral over the next few years.
Hail to Pitt!
Did anyone else thing our new away uniforms were a 50000% improvement over anything in recent memory. PITT looks like they have their own identity in those uniforms- it’s a nice change. I’m still not sure about the all-blue home uniforms, but I think their an improvement over the past couple years.
LET GO PITT!!!
I expect a compromise between the new and old — A script Pitt with the current blue and gold. Similar to what Palko had on his helmet in the senior bowl.
For away games:
link to sports.espn.go.com
For home games:
link to geocities.com
Steve Pederson all you have to do is make one change and we wont have to have the constant switching the uniform up, and that is going back to the script uniforms that EVERYONE wants
Could you imagine the quick-kick on 3rd down in the NFL?
Let’s focus on getting back to a bowl game first.
good point on the B-ball uniforms Omar- script would not work there
If you guys are into recruiting i HIGHLY suggest getting rivals. i got a short time ago and it is awesome. The fans are really good on the message board. there is always good stuff on there. The admins will answer questions on aim or email all the time.. They love to answer questions.
Now that my marketing is over i just talked to one of the admins on aim.. i have been saying that Pitt is getting vaughn for a while, but he feels that vaughn might go elsewhere. I dont know, but the recruiting seems to be changing each day.
I liked the look of this past season’s uniforms and I would expect to see a similar scheme for the next few years. I really liked the gold unis, to me that is the real throwback look.
I’m a huge proponent of the block letter PITT. It is just the classier logo and it represents the university and the team very well. Take nothing away from the script, though… the script is real cool, but dated.
When it was $2 they jacked it to $4, so when it they brought it back down to $3, we were like “thank god!”
Started at Pitt, changed it to god-awful PITTSBURGH, knowing they could just drop it back to PITT – and knew we would stop complaining ’cause at least it ain’t PITTSBURGH.
I say go with the script and new colors. But i really don’t mind the PITT look (see, it worked on me).
And yes, this would all be irrelevant if we won a NC. But we haven’t, so it is.
But, so far I only see a pining for script amongst the football fans. No archive photos or Photoshopped images of the bball team in script ever pop up here. Possible it is that limited appeal that is causing some of the reluctance on the part of the Athletic Department?
Just a random thought, really. Could be nothing at all.
P.S. How does our baseball team look this year?
If DW lands Pryor, I will grow a stache for the first game. Heck, I’ll feed my girl steroids so she grows a stache.
(The tighty-whitey shorts excepted)
FWIW I vote for the script and colors of 1976. Our greatest year. Our best player (perhaps until now).
Yes, perhaps this is all irrelevant. I always felt silly wasting time commenting on it. But I’ve just come to the conclusion that Stuart is right. Who is anyone to tell us what to care about or not care about? It’s all entertainment. If there’s no game for us to be entertained by, we have every right to speculate on this.
However, Joey D above is even MORE right. The administration can print more money for itself by coming out with jackass new logos every 5 years, and STILL sell the “throwback” crap at the same time. Think anybody would buy “throwback DynoCat” shirts and caps?
I liked the blue pants and white jerseys of the larry fitz years Probably because how he wore it (how he played) just good memories..just like the ones they wore for the 13-9 game..it will always be a fond memory.
I have always been a fan of the script, however, with the exception of the 76-83 years, it actually saw the most loses (% wise that is).
We’ve always been Pitt and I like the current design-just wish we could get a decent panther logo-I haven’t liked any of them.
going to the hs champ games this weekend and then the duke game next week!
go pitt.
I am a script man myself. That is what I grew up with. But, I don’t care if they leave it so now…just start winning again like the old days.
Oh well… count me in.
“The Knicks wanted [Demetris] Nichols, a 6-foot-8 rookie from Syracuse, to develop his game overseas. He insisted on going to training camp and was cut by New York in late October…Nichols latched on with Cleveland…[then] Nichols was claimed off waivers by the Bulls…
“Yeah, they (the Knicks) wanted me to go overseas,” Nichols said Monday at the Berto Center. “But I think this is where I belong. I think I’m good enough.”
…The Rhode Island native mentioned there was some sort of mistake on the medical tests he took at the NBA predraft camp and believes that’s why he lasted until the 53rd pick of the draft…
“If I didn’t have the false test, I would have been a guaranteed top-30 pick,” Nichols said.”
Right. And if Syracuse made the tourney last year they would have won it all…
And SU’s gonna make the tourney this year too…hold your breath…please…
I follow recruiting non stop and every year i go into the year as giddy as a little school girl, but my hopes get smashed once Pitt is a few games in… (not going to happen this year)
Those sweatshirts and sweatpants are given only to the athletes and the rest of the department. They’re all around campus – but you’d have a hard time getting your hands on one. It’s a new design too – the old one had the arch logo with no drop shadow and the dinocat. The closest you’ll be able to find is a gray zippered hoodie with blue vertically-arched PITT across the front. There are some other good looks I’m sure you’d like.
I’d personally prefer a blue, gold or white polo with an arch patch for coaches – it’s a good look for decent weather. Then again, I’m not a fan of the Bill Belichick look.
The PITT script was always my favorite hat. It just looks better with wear and tear.
This weekend could be huge. One of the best defensive players (i.e. S Hale) PITT has recruited in decades is visiting this weekend. We could have great news Monday. It also appears that Holley might pull the trigger soon.
We recently changed how we recruit. The emphasis was to be decreased in Florida and increased in New Jersey and surrounding areas (i.e. Virginia, NY, Maryland). We now have 9 verbals from PA, 2 from OH, 1 from Maryland, and 1 from KS with a total of 13 commits. Of course our target is on PA players Holley, Sales, and Pryor. What has this shift in tactics produced this year?
My point is that we appear to be out recruiting PSUcks. We took McCoy & Berry from The Harrisburg area that they considered their backyard. Justin King came from Gateway & the coach of Gateway is a PSU guy and this year their two top players didn’t even have PSU under consideration (that is ***** Hale & ****Saddler.) PSU has bet the pot on Pryor. I can imagine that Bradley is writing him love letters everyday. To lose Pryor would be devastating to PSU. They will be completely insignificant/irrelevant in PA recruiting. To lose Pryor to PITT would change the football landscape in PA for years. PSU has become what it is from Western PA talent. Now the Western PA talent is staying home. Oh yea, and we beat them last.
