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December 10, 2009

Look Back in Frustration

Filed under: Assistants,Coaches,Football — Chas @ 1:46 pm

For some reason, knowing that Pitt lost its last two games by only 4 points will remain a bitter pill in the offseason. Especially when you consider that it also came down to special teams screwing up and a defense that couldn’t make the stops when needed. The team just didn’t finish.

Disappointment isn’t the right word to describe the way I feel about how the season finished. Frustration probably is the better choice. There is an undercurrent not of anger so much as annoyance — or some setting lower than outright anger. It wasn’t that the team underachieved from preseason expectations as much as it underachieved from what it showed it could do. Zeise sums most of it up.

…expectations always change as the facts change. And given that, let me rephrase my statement and see if you think you can come up with any other way to describe it than disappointing – what if I told you before the season that all of these things would go right for Pitt……

  • Bill Stull would have by far the best season a quarterback has had at Pitt since Tyler Palko in 2004.
  • Dion Lewis will be better than LeSean McCoy was, at least production wise.
  • Dorin Dickerson would turn into Shannon Sharpe.
  • Dan Hutchins would turn into a very reliable kicker from 40 yards and in.
  • The entire starting offensive line would be healthy and start every game together.
  • Matt Grothe would blow out his knee and thus USF was a much less dangerous team plus N.C. State, Buffalo and Notre Dame would all stink, Rutgers would be very mediocre (and awful on offense), West Virginia would be ordinary AND you’d have a 21-point lead at home against Cincinnati.

I’m sure some will argue that this is moving the goal posts, but we don’t jump from preseason expectations (i.e., guessing) to the end of the season without enduring or enjoying the games.

The offense surpassed expectations. Special teams disappointed — especially in November and the beginning of December. Defense really, really struggled with stopping the pass — which was somewhat expected but not this badly and when it counted the d-line couldn’t get the pressure up front to help.

Of special note in Zeise’s post is this.

It is almost certain that defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, as has long been suspected, will head back closer to his home in Texas. But even though he is a good coach, if he does leave, it is not a big blow because defensive line coach Greg Gattuso has been groomed for the job the past three years and would almost certainly be promoted into the job as Dave Wannstedt is a big fan of keeping the momentum going and believes continuity is a big part of that. If Bennett goes, perhaps linebackers coach Joe Tumpkin could follow him as Bennett brought him here but that is purely rumor mill kind of stuff and not a given.

The Bennett stuff has been very quiet, news-wise all season. It strikes me as one of those things the beat writers and those around the program knew as an open secret but (1) didn’t want to create a distracting story out of respect for Bennett who stayed after last year when he could have gone back to K-State, and (2) no one has any hard feelings about him doing it to be with his family.

Gattuso makes sense on all the reasons mentioned, but also because finding or mining for a good DC this offseason may be a lot tougher. Other programs looking for a new DC include FSU, Florida, Georgia and ND. All with a lot of money to toss around. I would expect that WVU could be looking for a new DC because Casteel has a good shot at being a target for one of those programs.

I think most Pitt fans, while dismayed by the missed extra point, hardly lost their head at Andrew Janocko. The holder who fumbled the snap. It wasn’t like he dropped it in perfect conditions. Plus at that point I think a lot of Pitt fans knew that even if it hadn’t happened if the defense couldn’t stop Cinci in the final minute-and-a-half, then it would have at best prolonged what would have felt like an inevitable Cinci win in OT.  A couple sympathy pieces on him were very nice and interesting (and expected), though.





The Pitt brass think so highly of Wanny that they decided to name a street in front of the Cathedral of Learning after him. It’s called “one-way”. He will never recognize (or accept) his shortcomings on Saturdays even though they have been apparent for years now including Chicago and Miami stints. So what to do? He is what he is and we either stop being a fan or live with it because he is not going anywhere and he will never change. The reason nobody blames the kicker is because the loss was inevitable with Wanny on the sidelines and everybody in Heinz that day knew it. If he had made that kick it would have been a boneheaded call in OT or something else. My venom has parted and I am right back where I was last year after the Sun Bowl – it’s the only Pitt I got so I just learn to deal with it. In fact I am trying a new tactic on myself. I keep telling myself Pitt has no chance in Charlotte so if they lose, I am well prepared and if they pull the upset I may actually feel good for a few days.

Comment by wally 12.10.09 @ 3:03 pm

I guess when you acquire a reputation then people will continue to look for all te reasons to perpetuate it.

1) although in 5 previous kicks (including 3 by Gilyard) Cincy never returned past the 30, Wanny was severely panned for the 6th return.

2) people rapped the game strategy of scoing too quickly with a minute and a half left … but in a tied game whenthe defense still has 2 TOs left, a “7” point lead quite frankly was the logical choice … say as opposed to kicking to Cincy with a minute left and only a 3 point lead.

3) Pitt’s strategy was to exploit its strenght (run) against Cincy’s weakness while Cincy’s strategy was to exploit its strength (pass) vs Pitt’s weakness, and all that separated them was an extra point.

I contend that is much more about execution than about coaching strategy.

Comment by wbb 12.10.09 @ 3:16 pm

wbb, if you think Brian Kelly didn’t instruct his team to let Pitt score you are whistling past the graveyard. Wannstedt had to know that. Giving the ball back to Cincinnati with that much time left had Pop Warner doing cartwheels in his coffin. If you want to wear your rose colored glasses everytime Wanny’s name comes up go ahead. But the cold, hard truth is he can’t coach on Saturdays. Period.

Comment by wally 12.10.09 @ 3:52 pm

Naaah. If you saw the UCONN-Cincy game you would not be saying that. The Cincy run defense is usually pretty gassed in the fourth quarter. Dion just plain ran over them. There was no gamesmanship on Coach Kelly’s part.

Comment by Chuck Morris 12.10.09 @ 4:04 pm

Wether its coaching or whatever, there really is no excuse for Pitt to finish 3rd in this conference with the schedule and talent level. As noted above I thought Zeise’s Red Shoes diaries entry nailed it, with all that went right for Pitt this year how did we end up third and in the Meineke Bowl????

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.10.09 @ 4:10 pm

Honestly, I don’t blame the loss on Wanny that much in hindsight.

Cincy’s a really good team, and they needed a little bit of the old horse show up their ass that day to win.

Here’s the thing with Wannstache. He came with a reputation from the NFL. Now when Pitt loses a game (believe it or not, every team loses sometimes, most more than once) you’ll have the people who laid in wait for something to go wrong so they could pop out and scream “AHA!!! KNEW IT!!! TYPICAL WANNY!!!!”

It’s vastly unfair.

Criticizing them for scoring too fast is ridiculous. It is unheard of for a guy to get a 1st down and take knee to save time off the clock. The ONLY time I saw it ever happen in that situation was Jones-Drew this past year in the NFL. How can you blame Wannstedt for that? Oh nooooooo… he scored a TD to take a lead with under 2 minutes left! WHAT A SHITTY COACH!!!! FIRE HIM!!

I mean c’mon, there’s not much you can do there but score whether Cincy gave it to them or not.

I could see if Wanny demanded that Stull gun 3 incomplete passes into the end zone in that situation and failed. Them you demand the man’s head! But when you run, you’re trying to eat up clock and hopefully score. It’s the right thing to do. They only passed on that drive when it was completely necessary. Even if Kelly did tell his defense to do the old “ole!” on Lewis, there’s nothing the ‘stache can do about that.

I blame Wanny when it’s necessary, I’m not big on being an apologist for anyone. But I don’t just blindly blame everyone’s favorite whipping boy when something doesn’t go our way.

(The first 3 years where Wanny stupidly tried to sue Walt Harris’s weak-ass players to play a style of football they obviously weren’t built to play, now THAT was stupid.)

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 12.10.09 @ 4:31 pm

“…the loss was inevitable with Wanny on the sidelines and everybody in Heinz that day knew it.”

I don’t know about that, Wally. I was there and was feeling pretty confident.

People forget that there is another team on the field. Cincy just played much better than Pitt in the second half. I’m not so sure that the analysis is much more complicated than Tony Pike and his receivers are better than Pitt’s secondary.

Comment by Bryan 12.10.09 @ 5:07 pm

Poor Wally. The sky is falling. The shy is falling Perhaps we should rally the troops and rearrange our priorities. There are some real challeges out there. May I suggest that one’s attitude toward life should not depend a football game or a season. The Panthers had a successful year. They were exciting. competitive and yes, even frustrating. Both the Big East and the Pitt program present a prognosis of optimism Looking back on the season I congratulate the team and the coaches. Losing by a total of four points to two good teams is no disgrace. I prefer to win,of course, but, the current Pitt grid program is going in the right direction. To all the Wallys out there—-THE SKY Is Not Falling. George.

Comment by rev. george mehaffey 12.10.09 @ 5:10 pm

Haven’t seen you post in awhile, Rev. Good to have ya back!

Comment by Bryan 12.10.09 @ 5:27 pm

So everything listed by Zeise that went right with pitt this season had nothing to do with Wanny … only just the wrong things? Amazing!!

And I have watched the replay of Pitt’s final TD a half dozen times .. and am not convinced at all that Cincy let it happen.

Here you decide link to youtube.com

and look at the reaction of the Cincy defensder in the end zone

Comment by wbb 12.10.09 @ 5:30 pm

The Big East is ours for the taking for years to come… Kelly is headed to ND.

Comment by Eric R 12.10.09 @ 5:44 pm

I was not at Heinz field for the game but I definitely thought Pitt would win–I certainly never thought the loss was inevitable, I doubt most, let alone “everybody,” at Heinz thought that the loss was inevitable, and I’m not sure a loss in OT was inevitable either.

Comment by Silv 12.10.09 @ 5:56 pm

Rev – thanks for writing what a lot of us are thinking…

BTW, ESPN is now reporting that Brian Kelly has accepted the Notre Dame job.

Comment by Pantherman13 12.10.09 @ 6:02 pm

Don’t get me wrong. I was pissed on Saturday. From the time the extra point was missed to about twenty minutes after the game, I was screaming “f*** f*** f***” at my TV pretty much non-stop.

But I’m in the “2009 exceeded my expectations” camp. I’m in “I was way less of an alcoholic in 2009 than I was in 2007” camp. I thought it was ridonkulous that Pitt was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big East. That they came within about 30 seconds of actually doing so? I tip my hat to the kids on this team, and especially to Stull, who I had pegged as the weakest link.

Comment by Brian BK 12.10.09 @ 6:11 pm

Brian Kelly is gone, total scumbag, I’ll take Wanny any day. Kelly told all his players before the game that he was not going anywhere and was definitely staying. And for all of you who think he is some mastermind consider how Pitt absolutely shredded the bearcats D. Cinci needed a miss-snap extra point to pull that win off, so I really don’t think Wanny was outcoached. Both teams shredded each other. It was a one point game, and games that close come down to making a play. One more play made and we’d be celebrating. I’m pumped to have a coach like Wanny and am glad Pitt is not just a stepping stone job!

Comment by OntarioLett'sGoPitt 12.10.09 @ 7:26 pm

Wanny being hopelessly devoted to Pitt can never be taken for granted. He bleeds Pitt and genuinely cares about building a program. I will take Wanny over any potential ‘who’s hot coach’ any day. Coach Kelly’s departure (although, who could blame him) makes Cinci feel like such a 2nd tier program. Knowing that the spoiled brats at ND win once again; being able to hold this almighty position above everyone’s head. I guarantee Kelly pulls some JoePa move in a few years and discontinue the Pitt v ND series. Does anyone else see him being a HUGE d-bag as soon as he steps foot on that campus?

I think there’s a lot to be said about loyalty and knowing Wanny has no interest for ANYONE but Pitt. He. Loves. This. School. No doubt it’s been stressful, but keep in mind that it is moving forward. Let’s keep the faith for once and show some solidarity.

On a side note, why do all things Notre Dame have to carry some stretched six degrees of seperation? link to sports.espn.go.com “Kelly has long admired Notre Dame, which seemed to be the perfect fit for an Irish Catholic coach raised in the Boston area.” He’s from Boston??? Oh my God! He’d be f@#$in’ PERFECT!!! How many times have we heard, ‘oh, I’m a Notre Dame fan because my cousin new a kid around the block who went to Notre Dame”.

Good for Cinci to take him away from the Sugar Bowl btw.

HTscriptP

Comment by Cool Hand Nuke 12.11.09 @ 12:16 am

*knew* sorry for the grammatical

Comment by Cool Hand Nuke 12.11.09 @ 12:20 am

Frustration, def- “to prevent from gratifying certain impulses or desires”. Pretty much sums it up. I want the Panthers to win every game and bring home another National Championship. When they don’t I feel frustrated. Now unlike some other posters I just don’t react to my frustration by throwing a temper tantrum yelling at my Mother, oops, football coach that “I don’t love you anymore” when I’m denied what I want. Get used to it! Lets see, last time Pitt did that, 1976. Well its been a long wait. Where are we now 9-3, not since the early 80s (discounting LAST year). Thats a pretty steep hill I guess. Yea, I’m pissed too. But you know what, if we had won those last two games, these same posters would have been bitchin about the let down in the 4th quarter against NCS and “if only Wannstedt wasn’t such a bone head coach on game day we’d be playing for the National Championship”, WHAA, WHAA, WHAA! Frustrated yes, could had been a really great year, but I had a lot of fun watching Pitt football this year, because they have become a competitive program that is filled with good players that are entertaining to watch on gameday. Mix in the coaching controversy and you have all the ingredients needed to hold your interest throughout the season. Sure beats the crap out of those years of loosing seasons, routine blowouts by better teams and no hope of a bowl game from just a few years back. Does that mean that I’m satisfied where we are now, no, but it does mean I’m enjoying being a Pitt fan again, even though it can be very frustrating. At least they are relevant on the national scene again and like it or not, its becuase of Wannstedt’s efforts. Watch what you wish for, good coaches aren’t just hangin around waiting to take the Pitt job when Wannstedt gets the axe. The Pitt program is in fine shape, quit you’re whinning and start blogging about how we should be preparing to beat UNC.

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.11.09 @ 8:08 am

No doubt it was a disappointing end to a very good season. While Wanny isn’t the perfect coach (who is?) he is the perfect coach for Pitt. Even Jackie Sherrill lost one game each year with maybe the best personnel ever assembled.

We lost at WV because Stull played poorly. He redeemed himself against Cincy. We lost to Cincy because no one could tackle Gilyard and because Pike is for real. Not because Wanny can’t coach.

Big players make big plays in big games. Marino to Brown, Dorsett for 303 against ND. McKillop vs. WVU. We needed one more big play on the last drive. We didn’t get it. They did.

I’ve been to a lot of disappointing Pitt games. 42-14 was the worst. This was the best loss I ever attended. There were big plays all day long. Everyone there had a great time except for the last minute.

While we are all disappointed, Dave has built a program and we are competitive and getting better each year.

As long as he keeps recruiting bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, we will continue to get better.

Comment by gc 12.11.09 @ 8:24 am

Pitt never seems to have that Luck factor. It always seems that Pitt is on the opposite side of these great comebacks. In basketball we lose by 1 point to go to the final four. In football we botch an extra point and lose in the last 30 seconds to go to the Sugar Bowl. Can anyone remember the last time Pitt pulled out a lucky one? Or made some miraculous last second play??? Im sure there might have been some but right now cant think of any in recent history…maybe pistol petes 4th and 17 against wvu in triple overtime to land Pitts first bowl berth in almost 10 years??

Since we are all depressed here is an article to relive the 97 season:

link to post-gazette.com

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.11.09 @ 8:36 am

Not asking for Wanny’s head….I like him as a coach and don’t think anyone out there is any better…though I do think there are limits with him.

Comment by milo bloom 12.11.09 @ 8:48 am

good point abput Sherill. In his 3 consecutive 1-loss seasons, I thought 2 of those losses were to inferior teams … but e did win the rest albeit with probably the best talent Pitt ever had.

Question: if Texas is not given that second back, and Cincy sneaks into the title game, Does Kelly go to ND?

My guess is yes, but he would stay to coach the bowl.

Comment by wbb 12.11.09 @ 9:03 am

Coach Ditka, you’re a member of the glass half empty club. Quick review, Clausen’s incomplete pass overturned by review to a fumble, an official’s decision in our favor, to kill ND’s comeback, WTF? Our own solid comeback from a “six to the house” Stull interception with fans already in the staduim parking lot. Iowa fumble due to defensive pressure, to end their last drive, look where they ended up this season , no slouch. And 13-9 game, come on, we were playing against WVU and the entire officiating staff in that one and we still got some breaks, no pun intended, how DID White hurt his thumb again? We get our breaks, you just remember the sh*tty ones that go against us because they leave a mark a lot longer.

Comment by Dr Tom 12.11.09 @ 9:08 am

Not asking for Wanny’s head..I think he is the best coach for Pitt…not going to find anyone in the country that is a better fit for Pitt…and as wbb stated you got to give him credit for all the good things that happened not just the bad and the season had a lot more good things than bad things…….

and it is true Wanny didn’t lose the game for Pitt……lot’s of mistakes in the game that he didn’t control…however he didn’t win it for Pitt either..and I think once Baldwin got a first down at the 13 he could have won it for Pitt with a little thinking. It would had been fairly easy at that time to run the clock to zero kick a FG and game over….though a little different scenerio they did take a knee on 3rd down in the UConn game on the 1 yard line instead of scoring a TD and leaving time for UConn. Idea is exactly the same….the clock is just as important as points at that time..and considering they were playing one of the best offenses in the country and had already given up 38 points it should of been in his head to run the clock down. Hey they scored the TD…it didn’t work…sure say it is hindsite..but all the writing was on the wall that Cinn would be able to get a TD with that much time..wasn’t like they scored TD on a fluke play or that defense was pitching a shutout up to that point.

Comment by milo bloom 12.11.09 @ 9:18 am

I am talking about a real lucky break Dr Tom. We beat WVU straight up the entire game – there was no luck or big break there. ND – we kicked their ass up and down the field and the call was the right one. I would argue the same for the other games you mentioned and there was nothing big time on the line in those games.

The 97 game I referenced was a last second big time play to send us to a bowl game – an important part in the resurgence of the pitt football program.

You are right, I probably do look at it as glass half empty. Thats what happens after years and years of let downs and disappointments when you are so emotionally invested in a team – thats what makes sports so great! The wins are incredible and the losses hurt – if they didnt whats the point in watching?

Think back to the Steelers of the 70’s, yes they were great but in almost every one of their Super Bowls they got some miracle plays or big breaks. Great Teams seem to have that confidence that when they take the field something great is going to happen, some way we are going to win. These DW teams seem to have the feel of “I hope we dont F this one up”. Teams with that air of confidence and swagger are the winners – Yankees, Patriots, The 70’s Steelers, Florida Gators, etc…..just my 2 cents

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.11.09 @ 9:30 am

The feeling of watching an “inevitable” loss stems from the fact that there seems to be a lack of confidence coming from DW. He has his system and there is relatively little adjustment from game to game and especially within a game (see Andy Reid). This trickles down from DW to his coordinators and to the players. DW is like a spectator who is at the mercy of the game rather than the game being a chessboard that he is mastering. Contrast this with Brian Kelly who exudes confidence and control in an almost Belichick-like way. Granted, anything can happen in one game and especially with just over a minute remaining. But you just had to have a feeling that Kelly and Cinci were licking their chops whereas DW stood clueless on the sideline, headset in outstretched hands looking like a third grader who had just gotten a wedgie just as the bell was rining on the last day of school.

Comment by phillypanther 12.11.09 @ 9:51 am

wbb..I think he still goes to ND….unless he is thinking about retirement he would be crazy not to go to ND from Cinn…ND is not the same job as it was years ago..but still a big jump from Cinncy will always be a BB school. But great question on would he had of stayed to coach..that would had been fun to watch play out.

Comment by milo bloom 12.11.09 @ 9:53 am

Phillypanther you articulated exactly what I was trying to convey. Wanny is at the mercy of the game, Kelly was in control of it – that was the difference.

It is an attitude that breeds confidence or can also breed fear and negativity. With Wanny we all seem to be sitting back and waiting for the f*ck up. With other coaches (and these are very special coaches) like a Kelly you just sit there knowing something special is going to happen. I really like DW but he doesnt have that “it” factor.

Everyone I was sitting around at the cinci game just looked at each other scared when we noticed there was a 1:30 on the clock with 2 TO’s. Do you think anyone for cinci was scared knowing that Pitt had 33 seconds only needing a field goal?

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.11.09 @ 10:04 am

If Bennett leaves, I would go strong after Sal Sunseri–though I hear that Sunseri is ready to sign with the Seminoles as their DC.

Comment by JSS 12.11.09 @ 10:26 am

Coach Dikita and Philly Panther..agree totally with yout posts…again not a cry to get rid of Wanny..it is just what you get with him on gameday.

Comment by milo bloom 12.11.09 @ 11:16 am

Coach Ditka, you really want some magic as an example. Those don’t come around very often. The one I still remember was that last minute pass from Marino to Brown for the winning come from behind TD to take the Sugar Bowl over Georgia (they must hate our guts), Brown got tattooed exactly when he caught that ball and got launched across the endzone but still held on to the ball. I think that was in 81 after we got our heads handed to us by Penn State, no less, in a 14-48 debacle after being up 14-zip to start with against the Lions. The magic comes around. Still, tough being a Pitt fan though isn’t it?

Comment by Dr Tom 12.11.09 @ 11:45 am

Just wondering with all of the hype of Kelly leaving for ND, have any names surfaced to replace him at Cinci?

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.11.09 @ 11:47 am

Yup…I wish we could have a “special” coach like Kelly at Pitt…One who would take us one point further than the coach we have…Lie to our players and administrators…and then dump us for greener pastures right before the biggest game our program has ever played in….now thats special.

Comment by HbgFrank 12.11.09 @ 11:49 am

Dr. Tom – yep, that was 1981. The other amazing/magical part of that play is that it was on 4th down. Instead of just going for the first down, Pitt went for the win. If they don’t make that play, Pitt loses. Great pass from Marino, great catch by Brown.

Comment by Pantherman13 12.11.09 @ 11:55 am

Frank if thts what you got from my comments then you missed the point.

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.11.09 @ 11:57 am

Bummer end to a strong season, but let’s see the team character in the bowl game…could be a great start to next year, unlike the Sun Bowl. I’m excited to see Sunseri next season, as he throws a nice looking pass..and will have Baldwin and Shanahan to hook up with. Finish strong this year and develop that mid-range passing game for next season.

Comment by Matt N. 12.11.09 @ 12:01 pm

1) Skip Holtz has been often mentioned as a candidate to replace Kelly
2) if Sal comes in as DC, does that ensure that Tino beats out Bostick (and Kolby)?
3) I have little criticism for Wanny and the coaching staff for the Cincy game. I thought the team was well prepared and gave great effort throughout. Every close game you lose has its what-ifs, but overall no big complaints … except

the winning TD play …. it seems to me that when protecting a 6 point lead with a less than a minute left, that the primary defensive strategy is to keep the receivers in front of them … and they did that on the 1st 3 plays of the drive, although Cincy did move it over 30 yds. Still, I did not understand putting Chappel in press coverage with no safety help, since all other Cincy receivers were lined up on the other side. Again, great players make great plays … and Cincy made just one more than we did … but that one more play still haunts me.

Comment by wbb 12.11.09 @ 12:26 pm

Matt N, thats what I want to read, looking forward to something we can do something about. Can’t do a thing about yesterday. Not that others haven’t brought up valid points on some of Wanny’s shortcomings but I’m feeling Cignetti gets a lot more input in developing the character of the offensive unit next year, being its his second year on board, and the O starts to really blossum. Now if Wannstedt gives up the special team coaching to an assistant as well, then even more positive cudos go to him in trusting his subordinates to take charge. This team has a lot of upside potential for next year but its critical to end the season on a positive note. We have to get this bowl game into the win column.

Comment by Dr Tom 12.11.09 @ 12:33 pm

another quation: Paul Zeise believes that DL Coach Gattuso would replace DC Bennett if he leaves. Would you then make Gattuso DC/DL coach and hire a full time special teams coach?

Comment by wbb 12.11.09 @ 12:54 pm

Just a thought….I noticed that Bennett had a hardy handshake with Kelly, I think before the game started (it was televised recently) and they seemed to exchange words. ND needs a “big time” Defensive man….seems to be a good match to me, although I would hate to lose Bennett. Any thoughts? Also, Congrats to the Panthers’ entire team and coaches….best year in a long time, even with the disappointments. Looking to the future with continued optimism.

Comment by The Bear 12.11.09 @ 1:09 pm

Magicical moment: Dec 2007 – Levance Fields beats Duke with a trey … it’s a stretch, but it’s all i got over the last few years.

Comment by phillypanther 12.11.09 @ 1:36 pm

Wow! Great blogs. Great chats. Much to ponder. The athletic administrators are having a grand time playing musical chairs and the sports media is having a blast with all the breaking news. Bottom line for Pitt’s Panthers is they have several people at the top who have both loyalty and integrity. Those virtues are worth more than several victories. C’mon Panthers play like TIGERS! George from Columbus where the grid program wins with boredom.

Comment by rev. george mehaffey 12.11.09 @ 2:02 pm

Just read Cincinnati has asked and received permission from Houston to interview head coach Kevin Sumlin

Comment by Coach Ditka 12.11.09 @ 2:04 pm

Interesting thought re: ST coach, WBB. In the end, I think DW places so much emphasis on pressure from the front four that not having a full-time DL coach would be a mistake.

Although I will admit I have no idea what happened with special teams from last year to this year (besides, of course, Tags).

Comment by Bryan 12.11.09 @ 2:14 pm

There is no question in my mind that Pitt needs to hire a dedicated special teams coach. I know it is not his specialty out there at SC, but how about Yogi Roth?

Comment by JSS 12.11.09 @ 2:24 pm

is Yogi interested in giving up his media job?

As long as they don’t rehire Bob ‘Swinging Gate’ Ligashesky after Tomlin cans him in January.

Comment by wbb 12.11.09 @ 3:08 pm

One thing is certain. Bennett is not going north. He’s a southerner through and through. Gattuso will do a fine job.

Comment by Bobby 12.11.09 @ 7:29 pm

Big 10 going to push for expansion with a 12th team. Would you or would you not take an invite if it is on the table?

Comment by Todd Gack 12.11.09 @ 7:50 pm

I don’t think Pitt gets the invite…It may make sense geographically and gives PSU an actual rival, but it makes no sense for the Big 11 from a financial standpoint. They already have the Pittsburgh market with PSU…If they go after a BE team it will be RU which gives them the NY/NJ TV market

Comment by HbgFrank 12.11.09 @ 9:48 pm

If it is on the table… absolutely yes. Not b/c I think much of the Big 11 but everyone else seems too. Plus, if the Big East weren’t controlled by the non-football school interests (at least from my perception) then I might say no to the big 11, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. All it takes for the big east is to have 1 down year and everyone will question their right to be in the BCS again. Other BCS conferences could have multiple down years but no one will question them.

Comment by thewrathofwalt 12.11.09 @ 10:00 pm

I think HbgFrank is right. I’m sure Rutgers would accept too – Big East gets pillaged again and as usual doesn’t see it coming.

Comment by thewrathofwalt 12.11.09 @ 10:08 pm

this is the reason that the BE needed to look into expansion before … but again, the main comcern is that it would expand an already too large basketball conference. No doubt that it would provide Pitt or RU or whoever with a financial windfall but I believe it would hurt the BB recruiting a great deal

Comment by wbb 12.11.09 @ 10:17 pm

I disagree that SPU already gives the B10 the Pittsburgh market. PITT’s market is broader and different from SPU’s. PITT is followed over a broader area of the NE. A lot of those folks tuned away from SPU after they left the East. SU FB had a following but lost it. PITT has a large NYC following. The NE area does not feel as attached to SU any more, especially in FB where SU has lost their non-SU following. SU is more a rural area of NY state and is not a big university with a huge alumni. I came from NY state and grew up less than 100 miles from SU so know what I am talking about. Forrestry is big at SU – know what I mean? PITT makes way more B10 sense from a fan standpoint and from a travel standpoint. Travel time, convenience and expense is huge these days and I don’t see any end to that. No other campus in the B10 is as easy to travel to as PITT is. SPU, IL, Iowa and Wisky are way tougher trips. Northwestern (Ohare flight delays) is tough in bad weather, but not as bad as SPU. I have lived and travelled NY, PA and in the Midwest so know what I am talking about. PITT is a way better fit.

Comment by IronManEE68 12.11.09 @ 11:26 pm

Sorry, I neglected to say HAIL TO PITT!!

Comment by IronManEE68 12.11.09 @ 11:30 pm

One more thought – if Bennett leaves, there is a great DC 100 miles from PITT that is rumored to be possible candidate for PITT DC and would be an outstanding choice. My guess is Gattuso (as well as the entire Panther Nation) would welcome him to PITT’sburgh, while Gattuso would probably get a raise. That is not a bad scenario…

Comment by IronManEE68 12.11.09 @ 11:36 pm

*warning: unfounded theory ahead*

The ND Kelly announcement and Big Eleven expansion confirmation in the same week? Coincident? I. think. not.

Seriously though, it will be interesting to see who the Big 11 expands to. I would never expect changes on our end, but I would certainly imagine Pitt AT LEAST is mentioned in the talk since there is stability and tradition. Not to mention Dixon and Pitt would help immensely with the BB side of the conference. Also, me thinks the ‘Penn State needing a natural rival’ argument may have more merit than some care to believe.

HTscriptP

Comment by Cool Hand Nuke 12.12.09 @ 2:01 am

No doubt that the B10, which has constantly denied any desire to expand, would do so in a NY second if ND wanted to join. I don’tknow the finincials of th situation but wonder how far NBC is willing to keep paying the large sums for an average program … or could it be that there may be a behind the scene discussions about bringing the B10 to NBC? (note that I’m just throwing out some thoughts and have not heard or read anything to suggest it.) However, with the big $$ being thrown around these days, nothing would surprise me.

Comment by wbb 12.12.09 @ 9:05 am

link to bleacherreport.com

Interesting article. He thinks its a move to try and get Notre Dame in since their program has been at a low point in recent year.

Also: “Staying in the Big East, there has also been some talk of Pitt or West Virginia. This is primarily because of geography and that they’ve been pretty good in football. However, Pitt is seen as an “urban” school which doesn’t fit the Big Ten’s paradigm, and West Virginia is a little too “trailer park” in the eyes of the Big Ten. I hasten to add that I don’t think that personally but the Big Ten seems to have that view.”

Comment by Foursnow 12.12.09 @ 10:28 am

In my humble opinion, gentlemen (I have not noticed any blogs from the fair sex) the “Big Eleven” is overrated, over financed, over blown, over budgeted and over built. I write this from their mecca of Columbus which is struggling to survive in a downtown which is turning into an empty cave. Bah humbug to the Big Eleven and their arrogance. As for me, I enjoy competitive football. George

Comment by rev. george mehaffey 12.12.09 @ 12:31 pm

Northwestern is urban-ish. I don’t think Pitt would be tossed to the side because of its urban setting. Pitt has been gaining a huge presence in NY and would be a good move. BB is a no brainer

WVU is only followed by toothless rubes and would never garner interest from the Big11 marketeers for their backwoods ratings…

…13-9

HTscriptP

Comment by Cool Hand Nuke 12.12.09 @ 1:23 pm

I believe that OSU, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are “urban” campuses (I mean that they are located in cities rather than rual areas)…Still don’t think Pitt gets the nod because of TV…When Miami needed two teams to move to the ACC why was it Syracuse and BC? The answer is simple, Syracuse BB, and the New York and Boston TV markets…It’s just the way college sports is run now…TV is king.

Comment by HbgFrank 12.12.09 @ 2:09 pm

Ah, Big 10 expansion. Always an amusing subject…

I hope they pursue Notre Dame and hope Notre Damn joins. I’d love to see them go. We’d probably have to write them off the football schedule forever, but I can live with that. From a basketball perspective, I offer a collective “who cares”. You do have to wonder how long NBC is going to be willing to write them big checks every year. Honestly, they might as well wipe their asses with the money; at least they get a tangible benefit and a funny story. The BE could replace them in BB with Memphis, and get a football team to boot.

If it were offered to Pitt… I might take it. I look at it this way: As pathetic as the Big 10 was this year, they will always have the respect of the media and the polls. Their bowl contingency is better, and their TV package is probably way better too. Hell, they have their own channel on my FiOS network.. and it’s not that bad. Shameless self-promotiion, yes, but it beats what we get now. And lets be honest – they do produce some outstanding football teams from time to time. From a another revenue perspective, you have to think about game attendance; Big Ten fans travel. The prospect of increasing attendance that dramatically can’t be ignored. Sure, there might be more Ohio State/Michigan/PSU/Michigan State fans in the stands than Pitt fans, but they represent paying customers that bring business not just to the stadium but to the surrounding community as well.

Basketball wise, I think its somewhat of a wash. Yes, the Big East has been stronger recently, but IIRC, there have been quite a few good teams out of Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and even Illinois. It’s not UCONN/Syracuse/Louisville/etc… but its still competitive. The biggest problem would be recruiting; if Dixon could still get the kids, I would feel pretty good about Pitt’s chances of competing for the Big 10 hoops title on a regular basis.

On a decidedly selfish note, I would personally relish to opportunity to play Michigan, OSU, PSU and a couple others on a regular basis. I get tired of Louisville, Rutgers, and company from a football perspective. Maybe it injects some new enthusiasm for Pitt football… or maybe Pitt fans remain perpetually apathetic 🙂 🙂 🙂

Downside: Big East football probably doesn’t survive. Or it does, but with additional casualties that cause it to languish. If Pitt leaves the BE, I would expect WVU to lobby the ACC hard. If they would go, the credibility of the league is in serious jeopardy. Candidly, I could give a crap.

Will it ever happen? I doubt it. I think Notre Dame will eventually pull their heads out of their pious poop chutes and align. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but unless they get into the National Championship picture in a big way soon, it almost has to happen. It would happen sooner if BE basketball would stop pandering to them – that could be the final incentive.

See, that was fun 🙂

Comment by Figures... 12.12.09 @ 3:03 pm

Please – no Sal Sunseri rumors. After Cincy, Indiana, and the Cleveland Browns, I cannot take that. No more “Pitt Guys.” Three (Foge, Grgurich and Wanny) are enough for my lifetime. The closer Greg Gattuso gets to the top job the better, and I for one will not open a vein if Bennett leaves. This defense cannot be considered anything but a disaster this year, except for the line, which clearly was well coached. As we really get very little coaching out of the head coach, and are apparently stuck with him for a while, we need top notch coordinators. Gattuso and Cignetti are quality coaches.

On the B-ball side, Pitt again struggling with a lousy Kent State team. If Kent could shoot at all they would be up by 12. Taylor needs to wake up. He is the most unimpressive McDonalds AA I have ever seen. Nasir Robinson needs to either immediately shoot the ball when he gets it, or pass it back outside. Even if he is a terrible shooter, at least we will get a shot, and not a turnover. Most disturbing sign is that the team REALLY struggled when Wannamaker was out, which shows how really bad this team is right now. We need to pray that Jermaine Dixon stays healthy all year. Clearly a difference when he is on the court. Still puzzled as to why Miller and Richardson are getting so little time. Our only hope is that those guys develop, so we can have a little muscle, and that is not going to happen on the bench.

Comment by PO'd Panther 12.12.09 @ 4:08 pm

I agree that ND glomming on to BigEast basketball has been the only thing keeping their heads above water. They may have been able to outlast the worst of it though if Kelly pans out. Either way, I say good riddance to Notoriety Dame. I’ve grown weary of their presence on Mount Pious and subsequent summer home on Coy Hill.

HTscriptP

Comment by Cool Hand Nuke 12.12.09 @ 6:30 pm

The Big East is the best basketball conference in the country, and the BE tournament in MSG is the premier college basketball event in the country, short of the NCAA finals. The Big 10 BBall is Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin and OSU, and sometimes Illinois, and with Indiana apparently moving back in the right direction. And a few scrappy teams like Penn State and Northwestern. While sometimes effective (mainly MSU), the style of basketball is different, and far less entertaining than the BE. Football wise, overall, I am not sure the Big 10 is better than the BE, but there is certainly more tradition. I am one of those Pitt alum that could care less if we ever play Penn State again – putting up with JoePa’s crap (metaphorically, to be clear here) over the years is enough for me.

The only offer I would consider, if I were Pitt, would be from the ACC. And I am not even sure about that – football wise it is a marginal step up, but more tradition from top to bottom perhaps. But for the BE raid, the ACC would be terrible, and as it is, they are so-so even with BC, UM and VT. ACC basketball is not on par with the BE (top to bottom), but overall, there would be some appeal, and geographic connection. A style closer to the BE. WVU would have to come as well.

Comment by PO'd Panther 12.12.09 @ 8:21 pm

the B10 would provide a financial windfall with the network, the TV contracts, the bowl tie-ins and the big name schools … but I see very little other advanatge except for stability … but the financial aspect may be enough reason to join.

No doubt our basketball would suffer since our current recruiting base from DC up thru NYC/NJ provides very fewplayers who seem to be inerested in the midwest .. note that the B10 did very little yo upgrade PSU’s program

Comment by wbb 12.12.09 @ 9:29 pm

I’ve always been of the belief that the Big East should go on the offensive after Penn State, BC, Temple and Memphis to round out the Football side of things. Temple could be replaced if Villanova can upgrade to DI football. I would tell DePaul, Marquette, and Notre Dame to go pound salt.

North
—–
Syracuse
Rutgers
Penn State
BC
UCONN
Temple (or VU)

South
——
Pitt
WVU
Louisville
Memphis
South Florida
Cincinasty

Comment by Pauly P 12.13.09 @ 10:24 am

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