Okay, this was one the Pitt football team needed. Dan Mason out of Penn Hills made his verbal. One of the top remaining uncommitted players in Pennsylvania, and one of the top linebacker prospects. He’s a consensus 4-star recruit.

He had offers from Pitt, WVU and PSU among others. He had it down to WVU and Pitt — because there was an opportunity to get out there early.

“That was a huge part,” Mason said of the middle linebacker opening. “That’s why I wanted to get down to Pitt and West Virginia. Both are losing their star middle linebacker. I can play in the middle, outside, wherever you want me to play.”

It doesn’t mean he will. It just means there is a better opportunity at early playing time.

Ultimately, the comfort with Pitt’s coaching staff was the difference maker.

“The main thing is that I was real comfortable with the coaches at Pitt,” he said. “They have been recruiting me for three years and I’ve had a great relationship with all those guys. I took my time with this decision because I wanted to have no doubt and I have no doubt. I know that Pitt is the right place for me.”

Welcome back Chas. My pleasure to fill in for a few days and I will be doing my best to offer some opinions on a semi-regular basis.

During the Syracuse games a few commenters reacted to the Zoo chanting “You hit girls,” in reference to Eric Defendorf and his incident from last November

Defendorf did his time (short suspension and community service) and returned to the team, but Big East student sections are, and will certainly continue, reminding him of the incident throughout the season. Just like they did with Marcus Williams, the laptop thief, a few years back. But my Pitt fans, a short memory we have. You could argue that Defendorf was just pulling a Yuri –  Yuri Demetrus that is. Yes, that’s right. Yuri Demetrus hit girls too. Too bad he couldn’t play basketball like Defendorf.

Hitting a girl is wrong. You don’t need me to tell you that. But should the incident be fair game during a basketball … game? Here is what two commenters had to say in the Pitt Syracuse Open Thread.

First from Ira:

Ehh the zoo was kind of annoying, maybe I am just old fashioned, but making fun of hitting a girl chant just seems in poor taste.

And now the other side of the argument from Mike:

i think it was funny when the zoo was chanting “you hit girls”, if he doesnt like it, then dont hit girls. If steeler fans want to chant that at fitz, so be it, but i think the Zoo did an awsome job today, its a great home court.
people need to lighten up

I am on Ira’s side on this one. When I was at Pitt, the Zoo not-so-creatively came up with a “Quinn’s a pussy” chant directed towards Notre Dame’s Chris Quinn who had owned the Panther’s in recent match ups. The chant was so obvious it could be heard on the National television broadcast. I wrote an entry for my old blog condemning the chant and my opinion has not changed.

Unlike Quinn**, Defendorf brought the chant upon himself deservedly through his actions, but to quote an old elementary school adage, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

** Unless Quinn deserved it for raining ridiculous 3-pointers on the Panthers, or for having a scrawny mustache

College athletes represent their Universities and should act accordingly.When students attend a game, and choose to make themselves heard, they are representing the University as well. There are other, classier, ways to support your team.

And yes, I know… everyone else is doing it so why shouldn’t we.

These actions have a trickle-down effect. In both Pittsburgh and in Maine I have covered high school athletics on a semi-regular basis for different newspapers. More and more I am seeing similar student sections and similar vulgar antics at the lower levels of athletics. Is it okay in high school? How about junior high? Actually, I might expect it from junior high kids…

A solution? Conferences should have a Sportsmanship award for each sport. I’ve seen it for high schools. Both the team and the fans should be taken into account for the award. Players and coaches should vote and a banner should be awarded. Maybe it wont solve the whole problem, but it will give a little motivation for fans, teams and schools to clean up their act.

Stay classy Pitt. I’d love to hear some other opinions. Just don’t call me a pussy.

Thanks to everyone for the e-mails and the comments left. It, admittedly, surprised me about how much it meant to read. The family is doing well, as there was about six weeks to prepare for this time.

A very big thanks to Keith for making a return to this blog for even a few days. Keeping things going and generally helping out. You’re always welcome to post here, Keith.

Watched both games on DVR delay.

I was not shocked that Pitt lost to Louisville. I was a little disappointed in the way they lost — but then I’m trying to figure out a way that I wouldn’t be disappointed. The thing I take away from that game, is that Pitt can beat Louisville and any team out there. Pitt got caught up in the concern over the trap and press and forced the ball to the basket too fast. It’s one thing to get the ball over half-court, but they still have plenty of time to set a play. Letting the shot clock get down to single digits is not necessarily a bad thing — especially against Louisville.

Then the Syracuse game, was excellent on several levels. The team bounced right back from the loss and losing the #1 spot to wear out the Orange. Once Rautins cooled down a bit in the second half, no one else was able to really do much against Pitt’s defense. Once more, the Orange zone was ineffective against Pitt. With Paul Harris in foul trouble, they were limited in going to man defense. I was most impressed with the way they shut down Jonny Flynn until he was scoring garbage points late. That really prevented them from ever getting a spark.

In case you hadn’t noticed, home court means as much as ever in the Big East. The best teams in the Big East are going to go no worse than 6-3 at home and 4-5 on the road. I really don’t  see how a team won’t finish with at least 4 losses. Inititally, I thought maybe 5 losses minimum, but Cinci and Seton Hall have not been as close to the middle as first thought and DePaul is far worse than expected. Providence and St. John’s — to varying degrees — seem just good enough to lose close games more often than not.

Good to be back.