I really want to pile on the Hoopies for their sloppy, unfocused, turnover-filled non-effort against NC State. Except for the fact that it wasn’t like I was rooting for them. Big East solidarity has its limits.
Heck, the outcome shouldn’t be too surprising since they lost their starting center for academic issues, and starting CB to injury. To say nothing of the coaching mess they have created for themselves over the next year.
So, part of the pile-on is over back-up running back Shawne Alston having the temerity to post to Facebook at the half. Some sort of oversimplified evidence of how little the players were into the game. Hoopies were down 10-7 at the half and it wasn’t like he posted about the cheerleaders, giving a shout-out to someone or going out after the game.
“2nd half is da best half!!! Let’s go!!”
Apparently that sort of thing is only acceptable to put on Facebook or Twitter before the game. Halftime is sacred. When the coaches spend the entire time talking to the players and the players listen attentively without any thought of distractions or wanting to post the things they are supposed to be thinking should happen.
Alston had a total of 5 plays in which he was involved in the game. 2 runs and 3 passes tossed his way (2 catches). All of them took place in the first half. He was not a factor in any shape in the second half. He didn’t fumble the ball. He didn’t fail to make plays. He didn’t miss FGs. He was irrelevant in the second half, but he’s the symbol for WVU’s lack of focus? He’s going to be the focus of all the ire and blame?
Everyone is still trying to figure the social media thing out.
For Pitt, the aftermath of Wannstedt’s firing/resignation showed that. There was Jon Baldwin spouting off about how he was gone to the NFL, then the furious backpedaling with the knowledge that he needs the bowl game to try and help his draft stock.
Players now have their own outlets to speak, and the bigger issue is that programs still have to figure out how much control they should exercise.
When a number of other players, such as Cam Saddler, Chas Alecxih, Todd Thomas and Devin Street, posted their thoughts on Facebook or Twitter they were instantly posted on message boards and some were e-mailed to the Post-Gazette.
And therein lies the difference in the world of media and media relations today: Because there are so many different outlets and so many different ways to get the message out, the days of being able to control it are long gone.
E.J. Borghetti, Pitt’s senior associate athletic director for media relations, spoke Wednesday about the difference in his job compared to five or 10 years ago when a breaking story — like a coaching change — happens. He said it is far more difficult to get players to understand that what they post on social media sites such as Facebook are part of public record and can be seen worldwide instantly.
“The days of needing a TV camera or a reporters’ tape recorder to reach a wider audience are no longer,” Borghetti said. “Nowadays, anyone can hold a one-person press conference from their own cell phone or laptop. We no longer have the benefit of working ahead of the late TV news or the morning newspaper deadline.
“Everything is immediate now, everyone is a reporter now, and making matters worse is the fact that one impulsive decision by a young person, even if it is just 140 characters on your Twitter account, can create a storm. We really try to reinforce that to our young people, but the misuse of social media isn’t just a problem among young athletes, it is an issue in the pro ranks and really in many walks of life.”
And if you have noticed since Mike Haywood’s hiring, along with Pitt’s athletic department shutting down all football talk, it has been on the quiet side for social media by the football players. Hard not to see the tie-in.
What more can you expect the media to do? If they call the athletic department for reports on the team and the department says access is closed, then access is closed.
Most of these media types have sources tied one way or another to the program, but in situations like this, who knows how many of them are actually going to talk? And even if they talk or leak some info, there’s the matter of trying to get some sort of more official confirmation of what THEY say. At some point, the higher up your sources sit, the easier it is to determine who may have leaked information. Look no further than what Mike Prisuta went through a few years ago when he trusted one of his sources enough to go with a report that the Steelers had hired Russ Grimm. Or just go back a couple of weeks and look at the excitement Zeise generated when he speculated in his blog that Holgorsen was the main candidate of interest at Pitt.
How many people were actively aware that the athletic dept. had shut down access until Zeise reported it in his blog? Look just a few threads back for proof. Comments about lack of coverage weren’t angry over the possibility of access being closed off the media…people were actively speculating on Zeise’s job status.
The media can not accept it as much as they want, and I’m sure Zeise isn’t thrilled. But I’m also not sure what the media can really do, outside of reporting that they’ve tried to get in touch with people and sources, and have been shut out because the dept. has decided to close all access. Maybe it elicits enough of a response (fans calling the dept. to complain about it hindering coverage) and in turn that response chnages things, but I doubt it.
This was a mediocre team with a lame duck staff preparing to play in a mediocre bowl. Nothing of any real import is happening until after Jan. 8, when the new staff takes over. It stinks that they can’t be using these practices to impart their new systems, philosophies, but 15 practices won’t be the difference between success and failure next season.
= Nobody yet because Wannstedt won’t make a decision. If it’s not Wannstedt it will be Bennett. We already know the answer to this and Chas wrote a whole article dissecting it.
“who is on new coaching staff?”
= Mike Haywood as Head Coach and Morris Watts as the OC, probably add Carl “Bull” Reese as DC.
“What do the players think abought this mess. what did the AD really do or not do?”
= There is no way in the world that we’ll find out what the players think thru official channels until Spring probably… and who cares? When a University starts making multi-million dollar decisions based on what a few 20 year olds think – who aren’t even paying tuition – then it’s lights out.
“How come haywood is not on the fan or KDKA or talking to the press.”
=Because he’s preparing to do the job he was hired for – which BTW doesn’t start formally until Jan 9th.
“Who are the two player who cant play in the bowl game?”
= Hendricks and Cruz.
“Why cant they play?”
= Sorry I can’t answer that one, my smoke alarm might… might, mind you… have just gone off.
You have to realize that Miami also has a Bowl game this season so any other guys coming from that staff will probably be announced after the Bowls…
They are kids and they are shooting their mouths off. It is the same story at every school with a coaching change.
The bottom line with all this is that it isn’t “X-Files” or “Fringe”… and there isn’t any conspiracy to point to.
There is a problem between employer and employee in DW’s case, but none with Haywood – he isn’t the HC yet so don’t expect him to make numerous press conferences or talk about his plans in detail while the old HC is still in place.
At the very least it is professional courtesy… like using the proper case and paragraphs are when writing posts.
Finally – everything I write on here and other places are my own thoughts, gleaned from many articles, interviews, etc… I’ve no ‘inside’ info so yes, the staff hire reports may be wrong, but I doubt it.
In all seriousness I understand it’s not just one person– I just don’t understand what all of you are up in arms about. I am not drinking “AD Kool aid” and I am displeased about alot of how this is transpiring. I just don’t think there’s any significance at this point about anything that is/isn’t happening. All anyone can do is wait until Jan. 9 and see what transpires from there.
The new staff is expected to be announced early next week and all but one job is already filled, but the overlapping tenures has meant Haywood has had to be sensitive to the situation and continue to do a lot of his work behind the scenes.
Haywood said he expected to sign about 19 or 20 players but has been overwhelmed by the number of players who have reached out to him — who his staff either didn’t know or hadn’t planned on recruiting.
“We have a lot of players interested in us,” Haywood said. “Now we just need to figure out who fits what we are looking for athletically and academically.
Read more: link to post-gazette.com
Every time he goes for a swim, dolphis appear.
Alien abductors have asked him to probe them.
If he were to mail a letter without postage it would still get there.
His blood smells like cologne.
When it is raining it is because he is thinking about something sad.
The police often question him just because they find him interesting.
His personality is so magnetic, he is unable to carry credit cards.
He once had an awkward moment just to see how it feels.
He is the godfather’s godfather.
The moon is actually orbiting him.
He knows Victoria’s Secret.
He once helped a one legged man win an ass kicking contest
He once won a? staring contest with his own refection
His legend precedes him the way lightening precedes thunder.
He is the most interesting man in the world, he is Dana Holgorsen!
sorry, couldnt resist.
Dana Holgorsen and I once spoke under the cover of night in an undisclosed location with a cooler of Dos Equis and a bucket of wings. It was there where he dispensed the secrets of his powers and vast knowledge. Minutes after we finished our last Dos Equis, he disappeared into the night, it was the last time we would speak. I now guard these invaluable secrets with my life until I pass them on to the next chosen one – FRANKCAN
Stay Thirsty My Friends and Hail to Pitt
Also, please remember that we just had a major holiday and Zeise, Borghetti and even Pederson do get time off from work like any employee. It would make sense that they’d have taken it last week since the bowl game is so late and the first meaningful bball game wasn’t until Monday. Might explain some of the lack of info as well.
Also, I infer from the article that DW is and has been coaching the Panthers in preparation for the bowl game. I guess that I missed the newspaper articles (if any) that questioned, “Where is DW and what are his intentions?” Apparently, he is at the South Side complex with a whistle in hand.
And, what was so important? To find out that Haywood couldn’t name staff until after the Miami bowl game? To find out that Haywood can’t talk to the current recruits until next week? C’mon, it’s not like the Cathedral of Learning was part of a terrorist attack plan or something. Give the guy a break. He deserves time with his family, just like you.
Accountants dont take off during tax season, plenty of time for rest after the busy season.
Not totally defending Zeise, but he has been the most reliable source of info on the football program this year. I for one would like him to remain that way.
Zeiss can’t “just post” like we can, unless it is purely opinion. We can shoot our mouths off as much as we want, but as a journalist he should be working at research and confirmation. There are more than enough people freely sharing their unsubstantiated crap on his blog.
I love carsn seotons and tuning, and you ?
