Figures, it’s always in the notes where the most interesting nuggets are found.

Freshman defensive back Ronald Hobby is the only player who is out for the Sun Bowl. Wannstedt said Hobby’s career is likely over due to his academic issues. … Redshirt freshman walk-on lineman Josh Marks has been dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons. … One player who could still be left behind if he doesn’t continue to toe a fine line is redshirt junior defensive tackle Tommie Duhart. Duhart has been suspended most of the second half of the season with various off-field issues. “As long as Tommie continues to do everything he’s supposed to do, he’ll get an opportunity to play,” Wannstedt said.

Hobby was a 3-star recruit from Maryland. I can’t even conceive of how little effort he must have put into the school portion to be permanently done after one semester. What makes it so poor, is that you just hope it was pure laziness that led to this outcome. Not some sort of personal problem or family issues. No matter what, I hope he can figure things out somewhere else. Hobby even enrolled at Pitt back in January to get an early start on things. Hmm. There might be a clue in that story.

“Half the time, I want to sleep,” Hobby said, “but I can’t sleep because I have so much work to do.”

Uh-huh.

Then there’s Josh Marks. Well, here’s what I wrote back when he first came aboard in August.

The controversy at Penn State was over his conditioning. There is little dispute he was overweight. With a year of only practicing and Buddy Morris working with him, we’ll find out whether it was the something more that was bothering him at Penn State.

I’m cautiously optimistic about this. At the very least, this is a low-risk gamble. Marks was a top OL recruit, that Pitt really wanted. His work ethic had never been questioned before. Again, the reports – even before his departure – were that he had struggled with conditioning from the spring onward.

If it was a short term slump on his part he will get over it and Pitt greatly benefits. If it really is his attitude, then the team will probably figure it out before the end of this year.

Looks like it was his attitude, and Pitt did figure it out before the end of 2008. The only minor concern is worrying if he poisoned the atmosphere with his old HS teammate. Henry Hynoski. Hyno will likely be fine. His work ethic and attitude have never been questioned. Plus the bloodlines are solid.