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December 15, 2011

A Tip of the Hat

Filed under: Uncategorized — Reed @ 6:09 pm

Can we all give Chas a standing ovation for his work over the last two days please?

And while we are at it, accept my thanks also for all the good and decent discussions and debates you commenters have provided.

This blog has always been enjoyable to read and, for me, to contribute articles to. Chas is the reason it has the great reputation it does but the discussion after his posts contribute greatly to that also.

I think these last two days have been top shelf as far as talking PITT football goes.

Thanks Chas.





Well played Reed. Couldnt agree more. For those of us that check this board daily, it is like a fix that you cant live without.

Thank you Chas.

Comment by Outlaw 12.15.11 @ 6:25 pm

Thanks Chas. Great venting. great therapy. have read every post. LOL at some of the suicide threats on certain hires. Just hope we hear some good news soon.

Comment by bossdaws 12.15.11 @ 6:41 pm

Hmm. Not to be a downer but there is a twitter rumor flying around that Birch is about to transfer off the team…

Comment by yeahimajerk 12.15.11 @ 6:44 pm

Holy crapola. It appears that Birch is going to transfer to … Kentucky?

Comment by yeahimajerk 12.15.11 @ 6:54 pm

Big Malc time.

Comment by CB 12.15.11 @ 7:02 pm

Birch?? If he transfers he would have to sit for a year. I wonder if he is having problems with academics. I can’t recall a frontline player being coached by Jamie fleeing the coop.

Comment by isnore 12.15.11 @ 7:06 pm

On second thought if it is Kentucky there are NO ACADEMICS!!

Comment by isnore 12.15.11 @ 7:07 pm

Yes, great job Chas. Thanks.

Re: Khem…huh?

link to twitter.com

Comment by steve 12.15.11 @ 7:08 pm

word has it that birch is done. check out all the players twitter accounts.

Comment by dave 12.15.11 @ 7:11 pm

Right on Reed. Great work Chas. Thanks for your great reporting and providing a forum for us to share our passions and opinions.

Comment by Scott 78 12.15.11 @ 7:11 pm

Birch transferring. Can this really be happening? I really hope this isn’t true. I can’t take much more of this.

Comment by omar 12.15.11 @ 7:22 pm

Two tweets from Jermaine Dixon below:

If he think some just going be giving to him cause of who he is than he went to wrong school…..not going happen under Coach Dixon n

Guess everybody aint built for tough coaching and competing for minutes.

Comment by sweet caroline 12.15.11 @ 7:35 pm

i bet he wont tell me if i am wrong he has played this year so even if he sit this year out he will have to sit out next year also i cant see him going with out bb for two years . am i right on this please give me a post and let me know i think iam becuse he has played this year.

Comment by FRANKCAN 12.15.11 @ 7:45 pm

Even if he doesn’t transfer, I suspect he’s one and done. I’ve heard some scouting services have him as a top 15 pick in the draft.

Comment by Scott 78 12.15.11 @ 7:53 pm

sent a question about paul chryst’s potential interest in pitt. reply from a wisconsin beat writer:

Tom Mulhern wrote:

A source said as of midday today, no contact from Pitt asking to talk to Chryst. But that could change. UW athletic director Barry Alvarez told us a couple weeks ago, Chryst told him he’s ready to leave and be a head coach. I know there was some interest from Pitt last year.

Chryst is not much of a recruiter, in part because he’s not asked to be. He recruits the quarterbacks and that’s it. He doesn’t have a specified area.

Everybody says he’s not a big fan of recruiting. But I think he certainly has the personality to do it. I think he would be a fine closer. I think parents would love him. I think he realizes, if he’s going to be a college head coach, he would have to get more involved in recruiting. Tom Mulhern

Comment by scott 12.15.11 @ 7:55 pm

Scott, an offensively raw and scrawny pf will not get drafted after playing 13 minutes per game if that

Comment by pk 12.15.11 @ 7:55 pm

Scott, exactly. Not a big loss if he does leave. Hopefully he stays but he was never expected to be a 3 or 4 year type of player. I have my doubts he would transfer and sit out a year. Taylor must have passed him on the depth chart this week in practice.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 12.15.11 @ 8:00 pm

Just saw this tweet from Fittipaldo.

@rayfitt1ray fittipaldo

#pittbasketball Junior C Dante Taylor said Khem Birch has been at practice with the team. Of the rumors “This is a surprise,” Taylor said.

6 minutes ago via web

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 8:05 pm

another one from RF.

@rayfitt1ray fittipaldo

#pittbasketball Jamie Dixon has no comment on Khem Birch twitter rumors. Jeff Goodman of CBS tweeted he wants out but no final decision yet.

23 minutes ago via web

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 8:07 pm

this just in from Mark Stoops wikipedia page

Mark Stoops (born July 9, 1967) is an American football head coach who is the defensive coordinator at Florida State University, Auburn University, and head coach at the University of Pittsburgh. He accepted all of these after turning down an offer to own the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Comment by Chicken Little 12.15.11 @ 8:12 pm

@PaulZeisePaul Zeise

Mike Norvell has resigned as #Pitt offensive coordinator. QB coach Todd Dodge will likely call the plays in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

24 minutes ago via web

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 8:16 pm

If this stuff is true, and Birchs’ twitter about everyone lies, was directed at Coach Dixon, screw that kid.

1. Especially coming from Pitt fans, nothing would suprise us after the Graham debacle, but Jamie Dixon has a long track record now, and being a fantastic person as well as coach.

I’ll error on Coach Dixon’s side.

2. Does anyone think Coach Dixon is stupid enough to tell ANYONE, “yes, you will be my #4, no matter what, you will line up at #4 every time you step on the court???

Why would anyone put themselves in that position??

May have Khem Birch taken “ya, Khem, I see you as a #4, certainly that’s where you belong”, or “we move people around a lot to different positions sometimes, but Khem, you’re really a #4”

as some sort of promise etched in stone???

If this is true, I’ll error on the side of Coach Dixon before some young kid with a big head.

Oh ya, he’s got a big head, his twitter name is

Mtlgift.—-Montreals Gift!!!

Comment by Dan 12.15.11 @ 8:34 pm

Oh, before i forget. Great job Chas and Reed.

Now back to the inforamtion flow…

New Reshirt Diaries post from Zeise is up at the PPG.

link to blogs.sites.post-gazette.com

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 8:37 pm

What the hell is happening to our beloved University of Pittsburgh?!

Comment by Timmeh 12.15.11 @ 8:38 pm

Penni Graham just tweeted that Khem Birch has family in Lexington…

Comment by ECH 12.15.11 @ 8:39 pm

John Meyer from WTAE just put this one up.

@JOHN4MEYERJohn Meyer

Source close to the Pitt program tells me Khem #Birch met with coaches about an hour ago to discuss his possible transfer to another school.

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 8:49 pm

John Meyer…the guy who said Bradley had been hired as Pitt’s head coach

Comment by sweet caroline 12.15.11 @ 8:53 pm

I thought he was the guy who did “Your Body is a Wonderland”.

No?

Comment by maguro 12.15.11 @ 8:57 pm

Regarding Birch, Fittapaldo says “About those Birch to Kentucky rumors, don’t count on it. A source told me Calipari had to be told who Khem Birch was tonight. FWIW.” He also says that Birch’s AAU claims to know nothing about it.

Comment by velvil 12.15.11 @ 9:29 pm

Oh, and kudos to Chas. Awesome work. And here’s hoping your liver isn’t spasming from what I assume to be a healthy workout these last few days.

Comment by velvil 12.15.11 @ 9:30 pm

Things have changed a little paul rhoads is still at the top of pitts list but luke fickell from ohio state is now on the list as is mark stoops.
and hold on to your seat smiling stevies frend and budy RON ZOOK told you stevie was a snake.

Comment by FRANKCAN 12.15.11 @ 9:30 pm

No coach, freshman phenom bolting…..

ARRRGHHHH!!!

Oh, and if you’re a Pens fan, Crosby’s career = most likely over.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's My Dad 12.15.11 @ 9:31 pm

Wait… if he transfers, he’s done this year, and he has to sit next year.

Cripes, he may as well just quit the team and go to the NBA after this year instead of transferring if that’s the case.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's My Dad 12.15.11 @ 9:35 pm

He only needs to sit one calendar year – he can play next season around this time for someone else if he leaves.

Comment by maguro 12.15.11 @ 9:52 pm

@rayfitt1ray fittipaldo

Per source at #Pitt nothing has been determined yet on Khem Birch situation. The team does have a closed practice tomorrow at noon b4 scst.

6 minutes ago via web

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 10:24 pm

Great work chas we appreciate it

Comment by CJK 12.15.11 @ 10:24 pm

Graham on ESPN radio right now!!

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 10:26 pm

but can a transfer practice with the team during that year? if not, makes no sense. If he can’t practice, he won’t step in and play. He is young and away from home. Someone needs to sit him down, talk sense, and confirm his commitment to PITT…Like Toddie G

Comment by Bossdaws 12.15.11 @ 10:36 pm

He’s still saying it’s all about family and it’s his dream job. He wants to retire there.

Said it was a tough situation that he came into (at Pitt) with 26 arrests which was #1 in the country and he cleaned it up.

He also said that he resigned from his head coaching position at Pitt and the kids have every right to be upset because the process is unfair to the kids and the coaches.

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 10:45 pm

Dick V. is ripping Graham a new a-hole right now. ACC membership has it’s benefits!!

Comment by Steelfan 12.15.11 @ 10:50 pm

Anyone catch what Dicky V said?

As much as I can’t stand his constant pandering to Duke, Carolina and the likes he is good for the college basketball game and truly love being around the game and cares for the kids that he builds relationships with.

Comment by sweet caroline 12.15.11 @ 10:58 pm

Yes, Chas’ many kudos to you for a place for us to bounce ideas around and certainly to vent.

Hey, I personally like Dicky V. I also understand easily why some people may not like him.

Loud, bombastic, energizer bunny.

From what I’ve seen over the years, the guy is sincere. Loves family, kids, and hoops. Does a lot for other people and people with illness’.

Maybe there is a bad story out there I don’t know about, but, from what I’ve seen and heard, very genuine human being.

Again, don’t fault you for the loudness, I get it, hard to take some times even for someone who likes him.

Overall though, pretty good guy I think.

Also, have seen comments, that allthough his enthusiasm is over the top and crazy, many people have said he is the same way in person, not putting on an act, genuine enthusiastic guy.

Not stumping for him, no relation, just b.s.ing on a Thursday night, when the NFL game was absolute crap!

Comment by Dan 12.15.11 @ 11:09 pm

Agreed Dan, he’s tough to take sometimes, but its mostly just his style and his love affair with Duke/Carolina/ACC (which I guess we should start to embrace). But don’t think you’ll find many people who have negative things to say about the guy as a human being.

Comment by sweet caroline 12.15.11 @ 11:12 pm

Frank, you helped me decide who I don’t want.

In no way, shape or form, Ron Zook. Did nothing at Illinois, the definition of re-tread.

I can’t believe Steve survived this. I’m still stunned at that as much as Graham bolting. Thought one would follow the other.

I even gave him some props with the ACC move, that was huge, but I believe Nordy had most of that, but, I threw Stevie a bone anyhow.

Football is the money ball though, and he’s blown it several times now.

He’s the teflon AD. All the good things, IMHO, don’t add up to blowing it on the football coach.

It’s the engine. I love the hoops just as much as football too, and I’m glad the olympic sports have places to play, but, I also know, football is the engine.

Don’t understand it.

Comment by Dan 12.15.11 @ 11:15 pm

Oh, I agree totally with you Sweet Caroline, good post.

I wonder though, if it’s just that he does so many ACC games.

When he has done some Pitt games, he’s kind of been nuts with the zoo, and saying the Pete is one of the top places in the country.

Your points are well taken though, maybe he decided to take more ACC games???

Always pumped at the Pete, just not there as much.

Comment by Dan 12.15.11 @ 11:18 pm

Ha ha, Sweet Caroline, I think a nice compliment for Dicky V., in a left-handed way, would be….

He doesn’t have a phony bone is his body, he’s just out of his mind!!!!!!!

He’d probably take it!!! Ha ha ha

Comment by Dan 12.15.11 @ 11:21 pm

Chas

As a two time Pitt dad and a fan long before either of my sons attended Pitt, I have truly enjoyed and appreciated Pitt Blather so thank you for all you do.

As for the next HC, one of my sons suggested Brian Schottenheimer – son of Marty Schottenheimer (former Pitt linebacker) and currently the Jets OC. Brian could bring Marty in as his DC. Just don’t let him bring Matt Cavanaugh back as QB coach.

Comment by Pitt Dad 12.16.11 @ 12:20 am

Chas, Thanks as always.

Cheers.

Comment by Neon Tiger 12.16.11 @ 1:48 am

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