“[Graham] could recruit commitment even if [he] couldn’t understand it” — 85mf

While waiting for the Chryst presser yesterday, a Twitter discussion broke out about how the Pitt recruiting class was handling all of this.

One of the remarkable things about this insanity of the past week plus, is that the rather quality recruiting class Pitt put together — stayed together. The players may have been recruited by Graham and many of the “mercenaries,” but they have hung tight with Pitt. Even before the decision on the next head coach was made, they were stating strong support to still come to Pitt.

This, of course, is in stark contrast to last year. When as soon as Wannstedt was fired, many of the recruits started looking elsewhere and reopening recruitment. Many factors in last year’s issues. One, Wannstedt was fired, so Pitt was the bad guy to the recruits. In their view, Pitt broke the commitment to the coaches — and by extension to them. The other was that many of those assistants who were cleared out of Pitt quickly landed elsewhere — especially in New Jersey. That made it easy for several to just switch commitments — especially since they had already been recruited by Rutgers and others in the East.

By contrast, all the departing coaches this year, headed for points in Arizona. Very, very different.

(more…)

Today PITT starts another new era to go along with the other new three eras we’ve had in the last 12 months.  This era may actually last longer than our last era which will be a marked improvement for everyone involved I would think.

Our eras were getting longer though. We went from the 16 day Mike Haywood Era, commonly known around the PITT football program as “Them Bitch Slapping Days of Old”  and the longer 338 day Todd Graham Era, referred to as the “There’s No Business Like Show Business” period.  Prior to those two we had, of course, the six year Dave Wannstedt Era entitled the “Are We Running Faster Yet?” time period. That ‘run faster’ video never gets old.  Funny that people remember that so fondly, huh?

(more…)

Everyone is just a wee bit focused on the football side of things. There are some basketball things to get out there.

The Khem Birch situation just remains incredibly sad to me. This apparently was not thought through particularly well. There are even rumblings that Birch might actually want to come back to Pitt. Just one little problem so far:

That could be a hindrance.

(more…)

Okay, in case there was any question that there might be a last minute change. Pitt has put out the press release announcing Chryst has been hired.

(more…)

With the hiring of Paul Chryst by Pitt to be all but officially announced (hint: 3 pm Eastern), there is already the first controversy. Will Paul Chryst continue to coach the offense for Wisconsin through the Day After New Years Day Rose Bowl? Predictably plenty are already saying/demanding that Chryst needs to step down right away and take over his duties at Pitt.

There are compelling reasons for the Pitt side. Shore up the recruiting. Put together a staff. Meet with the players. All the things a new, first-time head coach needs to do and learn. Not to mention becoming acclimated at a new place.

Well, I’m not trying to be contrarian. There are, however, plenty of compelling reasons for Paul Chryst to finish things in Wisconsin.

(more…)

They are coming. Whether Paul Chryst is announced officially tomorrow or Friday. So brace yourself for them.

The tweets and radio reports have been a steady drumbeat all evening. The Trib and Jery DiPaola late in the day went with Chryst as emerging as the top choice. Paul Zeise at the P-G seemed to be first on the confirmation.

The Trib story stressed that certain boosters were won over to Chryst, and Sports by Brooks tweeted a specific name:

(more…)

Well, as the day already starts getting late, and not even the hint of a late day press conference. I think it is safe to say that Pitt will not be announcing the next head coach for at least another day. I do expect that Pitt will have the announcement no later than Friday? Why? Cynical timing.

They definitely want it done before Christmas. They also want to be able to do the standard press conference and then have the new coach show up at the Wagner-Pitt basketball game on Friday night on ESPNU. Speak to the fans. Maybe get a few minutes on the national broadcast. Pitt has done it before — both Graham and Wannstedt showed up at the next basketball game. It’s standard for most schools, and I think Pitt could really use it.

But all reports are that it isn’t going to be today. From FootballScoop.com (h/t Scott):

Sources tell us Mario Cristobal is meeting with Pitt officials today…and plans to meet with FIU administration after (possibly not until tomorrow). We’ll keep you posted.

(more…)

In happier news, Pitt had no problem with St. Francis. This is not exactly a shock. The Flash aren’t exactly a mid-major threat. The only questions coming into the game were the amount of minutes for the players and the size of the win.

Pitt built a lead of as high as 31 before finally ending up with a 71-47 win.

Ashton Gibbs continues to see his shooting percentage suffer with point guard duties piled on top. On the bright side, he only played 27 minutes in the game as opposed to the 38-39 he had been playing. So, that’s nice. Nas only played 25 minutes. Basically, the starters got rest in this game.

J.J. Moore stood out in this game. He tied Gibbs for the most minutes played. He had 15 points including a monster jam and a lot of shots that were right around the basket — rather than pulling up for jumpers.

Dixon was pleased with most aspects of the game, including reserve forward J.J. Moore getting 15 points. Moore came off the bench in place of Lamar Patterson, who ended up with 11.

“He’s been playing hard, and he’s working hard,” Dixon said of Moore. “Lamar was banged up on the one play and wanted out, and Lamar has probably been one of our most steady guys.

“J.J. is going to be a really good player. At some point, they will be playing a lot together in the future.”

Moore said he thought even before the opening tip it might be his night.

“I felt fired up on the layup line,” he said.

I think my favorite moment for Moore came late in the game, when he got whistled for a foul. It was a dumb, late foul — and he knew it. And in was coming Patterson at the horn. Moore started walking back to the Pitt bench when he realized Patterson was subbing in for another player. Coach Dixon was leaving him in the game. He spun back to the court on his heel and the camera caught him with a big, big smile on his face. Those little moments when a player realizes his coach is giving him more freedom — and responsibility.

(more…)

So much of this backlash (not all, but it sure gets tossed out there a lot) against the possibility of Mario Cristobal being named head coach at Pitt seems driven by the fact that reports say he is legitimately weighing the options of moving up the coaching ladder and money versus moving his family,  leaving his hometown, a job he is doing well and has solid relationships with his bosses. I’m not sure how this is considered a negative other than some of the usual provincialism that people in Pittsburgh display at time over anyone who doesn’t profess absolute love for the ‘Burgh and fully embraces it.

As has been pointed out in the comments, a lot of this seems to be driven by the fact that FraudGraham bolted. And part of the spin — the spin — was that he and his family never felt comfortable to not liking Pittsburgh. How dare they insult the ‘Burgh!

This is spin people. This is the absolute bullshit that a piece of excrement put out there to rationalize his actions. To hide behind “what’s best for his family” to chase the money. Stop buying into it. You are looking like idiots.

(more…)

Sorry, meant to post this before the game, but got distracted.

Gametime: 8pm

How to watch: ESPN

Why to watch: What have you not been paying attention?

Added bonus: NO CRAIG JAMES!!!!

I’m sure this game will do much stronger in the ratings in the Pittsburgh market than expected initially. I’m also certain, that all those who have expressed very strong opinions already will suddenly watch with an open mind. A couple links to share. Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports.com actually suggested Cristobal for the Penn State job last week.

There’s also this glowing piece about how far FIU has come in such a short time. I’ve already said that Cristobal is a guy I like a lot for the Pitt job. This piece did a lot to harden my opinion. Some have pointed out that the commitment from the school and the athletic department played a huge part. I agree.

But it also has to be conceded what kind of job Cristobal did. He came into a situation where the program was losing 30 scholarships. 30! It’s a tough enough job, but that also means you cannot miss on the kids you bring in. The margin is even smaller. They have to be really coached up, as well. To build something when that was the foundation. Well, I find it exceptionally impressive.

Gametime: 7pm

How to watch: ESPN3.com (internet only)

There are two reasons I am doing this as an open thread tonight. The first is that the game is on ESPN3.com. This means tying up the computer watching the game, and I don’t feel like doing 2 computers at once. The second is that the Beef O’Brady Bowl is at 8pm, and I will probably have that on as well (note: there will be a second open thread for the Cristo-Bowl).  Need to watch a possible future coach do his thing. So there will not be total attention to the second half.

I’ll be checking in here and on Twitter.

Never bought the possibility. Just did not see Chancellor Nordenberg signing off on Jim Tressel. The cover-up. So much plausible deniability that it is hard to deny. The undercurrent of fans, though, that somehow figured that if Tressel only got one-year show cause it was a possibility. However implausible.

That can die as the NCAA handed out its penalties on Ohio State and Jim Tressel.

You can read about the Ohio State penalties — 4 lost scholarships per year for the next 3 years, and a postseason ban for 2012-13.

For Jim Tressel, it is the end. He was hit with a 5-year Show Cause penalty.

He’s not coaching anywhere. No school is taking a chance on hiring him only to find out that the NCAA rejects him.

Don’t feel that the likely top-3 candidates for Pitt aren’t local enough? Worried that Teryl Austin lacks that real head coaching experience? Want that head coach with a fine, fine stache? Then apparently Pitt may be interviewing that guy.

A source said that 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula either will interview or already has interviewed for the job as the University of Pittsburgh’s head coach.

…

Tomsula replaced the fired Mike Singletary last year for the season finale in St. Louis. Tomsula is also highly regarded by the 49ers and his players. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said players and coaches try to get on bus three while going to the airport. That’s the bus Tomsula always sits on, and players and coaches feed off his energy and humor.

Jim Tomsula is from West Homestead and even coached the D-line at Woodland Hills for a year. Local ties, check.

(more…)

Sorry. I can’t help myself.

So many topics. Khem Birch leaving still swirls. The next coach for football. Todd Graham leftovers. Oh, and there happens to be a basketball game tonight. And hey, the Beef O’Brady Bowl is tonight that features an FIU team coached by Mario Cristobal. No winter break around here.

There’s nothing about Birch’s departure that makes me feel good. Pitt will be fine, but you do have to worry about the kid. People really seem to like him, but not the people he has let surround him.

“Khem is a great kid,” Hurd said. “This situation is painting him as something he is not. The problem is he is being led down a road by so-called advisors. It’s going to end poorly for Khem, and that is sad for me because I care about the kid. This is not going to end well for him.”

…

“If you asked me last year at this time I would have told you Pitt was the perfect place for him,” Hurd said. “If you ask me today I would tell you Pitt is the perfect place for him. I don’t know that this was his decision. Khem is an emotional person. My experience with Khem is that sometimes he can paint himself into a corner, and he didn’t know how to get out of it. This isn’t a situation where Jamie doesn’t like the kid. He likes him.”

This echoes the comments Chris Dokish made when Birch was first rumored to be bailing.

(more…)

Man, I’m really enjoying this coaching search.  I mean it.  It is fun to read all the rumors and hear all the BS from people who act like they actually know something, someone, or some such.

The best part is reading all our commenter’s thoughts on who they like or dislike and why.  There are a lot of strong opinions on here and good justifications for those opinions.

As of this morning there seems to be only three viable candidates remaining… with a smattering of other names popping up here and there.  Let’s look at the top three guys.

We have Mario Cristobal, the head coach of FIU who seems to be the young up and comer.  We have Luke Fickell, the ex-DC who took over the reins of a scandal ridden OSU and kept anymore bad things from happening at least.  Then there is Paul Chryst, the OC from Wisconsin and Mr. Personality himself.

Here are my impressions of the Holy Trinity so far. (more…)