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May 1, 2012

A Little Help Please

Filed under: Football,Media — Reed @ 10:19 am

This period between the end of spring practices in April and the start of the summer training camp in early August is a real dry spot for PITT football.

Chas is great at putting up posts on lots of different PITT related issues as he writes about basketball, recruiting, the media coverage PITT gets, etc.

Me, not so much.  My interest is heavily on the football side and that’s what I care to write about, but I need some help now.  So, I’m putting out a call for your thoughts on what would be interesting to read about and then debate/discuss on here.

We are all PITT football fanatics  otherwise we wouldn’t take as much time as we do with this blog so I assume we all want some fresh subjects to discuss at least every few days.  Hey, I strung out the Star Rating System into three pretty long posts just to get something up on the board.  I’m desperate.

Therefore, unless you  really want to discuss Tino Sunseri’s attributes and potential for three months, and I can go there, then chip in with some ideas.

(^^^ My first image on The Blather!)

Let’s not do just a Q&A please, I need some substantive subjects that I can be able to expound on and produce something of decent length and quality.  How I get ideas for articles is usually event driven when there are events to drive something.  Without that I usually just let my mind wander over some things I myself would like background, info and opinions on.  I’ll do the heavy lifting – all you need to do is point me in the right direction.

Thanks guys…





You should write about our upcoming ACC foes. Will Maryland get the ship righted just in time to become our regional rival? Will we continue the run of success we had against the Hokies from early in the 00’s? If I want to go to an away game against a Carolina team, do I fly into Charlotte or Raleigh? I don’t even know.

Comment by Jeff 05.01.12 @ 10:46 am

Great one Jeff. Reed, you could make that last for 13 articles. Or, if that would be too much, do two at a time.

Locations, fan bases, where to fly into, history of programs, where they are at “now”.

Might do one at a time, hoops and football.

Probably get some good comments, and some dialogue from Pitt fans that live by these schools now.

I’ll even start with a comment. Elliott Walker sticking the ball in the Clemson db’s face at the 5 yd line going into the end zone in the Gator Bowl I believe.

Penalty flag, ya, taunting I guess, but I love it and a great Pitt memory!!!!!

Jeff, you started this off well, IMHO!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 11:06 am

Given all the recent emphasis on recruiting and “stars”… and given the fact that many of your contributors seem to live all over the country… how about asking people to post names of local high school players that might be flying under the radar but could be good enough football players to warrant having their names brought to Pitt’s attention?

Comment by PittofDreams 05.01.12 @ 11:15 am

How about an occasional “where are they now” article. Maybe looking for past Pitt football captains or other interesting former players.

Comment by Pitt70 05.01.12 @ 11:17 am

Jeff & Dan – excellent ideas, especially the thought that I can write 13 articles on one subject.

So, I quit!

Dan – I won’t do any hoops stuff at all, not my bag.

Comment by Reed 05.01.12 @ 11:19 am

Reed, I second the idea about doing a series on upcoming ACC foes, and I also suggest a “Pro Prospectives” series where you examine each UFA from Pitt and their chances to make their respective pro squads.

Comment by TartanPanther 05.01.12 @ 11:45 am

Where the hell is conference realignment when you need it?

Comment by longsufferingpittfan 05.01.12 @ 11:45 am

Related to what Pitt70 wrote, I’d like to read about the Pitt players in the NFL right now. We all know about the star players, but sometimes I’ll be watching an NFL game and I’ll hear a name of a former Pitt player who I didn’t even know was on their roster. So I’d like to hear about the guys who are on rosters, and also if there are any veteran free agents looking for work. Thanks.

Comment by Lollard 05.01.12 @ 11:46 am

I’d like to see something on Pitt baseball. Once we’re in the Big East, we’re going to be expected to care about college baseball… it’s a big deal.

More specifically, there was a thread on Scout debating whether Joe Jordano is competent or just allowed to continue on as HC because no one cares. Is he the guy to carry us into major college baseball? Can we ever be competitive as a cold weather university?

Comment by Greg in New Orleans 05.01.12 @ 11:51 am

once we’re in the ACC… oops

Comment by Greg in New Orleans 05.01.12 @ 11:51 am

Here is a time honored debate question: Should the University of Pittsburgh seek to build its own football stadium? Why or why not?

Comment by HbgFrank 05.01.12 @ 12:10 pm

What HbgFrank said, plus ways to increase attendance from a fan perspective. What types of things do we wanna see to make us want to come to Pitt football games?

Comment by Timmeh 05.01.12 @ 12:23 pm

How about some info on the current and future ACC TV contract for football and basketball? Is there a weekly all sports update show? Any info on ACC media.

Comment by notrocketscience 05.01.12 @ 12:25 pm

Sorry for two posts, but I agree with Greg in New Orleans. Please makea post on Pitt baseball. ACC baseball is no joke. Also, it would help very much for increasing attendance/awareness of the baseball team. A couple a years ago they were ranked #23 in the nation at one point. They aren’t doing as well now, but they are still entertaining to watch.

Comment by Timmeh 05.01.12 @ 12:25 pm

May I add something Reed??? Great ideas so far, and I would suggest to all of the posters (INCLUDING MYSELF ESPECIALLY)!!!

Seems like we could get some good, informative info and debates just from the ideas allready.

In light of HbgFranks post, and the idea I will throw out there in a moment, I would suggest, that we don’t throw any “never gonna work”, “never happening”, “don’t like it” comments on anyones ideas. If you (again, INLUDING MYSELF) don’t like a subject, maybe we could just bypass the subject and wait till the next article.

Case in point, some of the one liners, to the stadium issue. In my humble opinion. We don’t need any “never gonna happen” opinions. We’ve seen those, and we know there are many that feel that way and your (and MY) points have been made before.

Would be nice to have some really constructive dialogue on the subjects. Ex. HbgFranks stadium. Yes, we all know “never gonna happen”. I would rather get a good discussion going of how it could happen, and if we disagree or feel it’s “never gonna happen”, please give some serious thoughts and answers to why “it’s never gonna happen”.

I say this sincerely, because I know some topics are gonna come up, that some of us (one more time, INCLUDING MYSELF) that may say on some subjects, “oh no, not this again”.

If Reed elects to write an article, I’m not saying we can’t disagree, certainly we can. But, let’s not get into shouting matches, if we disagree of something can’t happen, let’s give a few more sentences of why not, instead of just one liners.

Just my thoughts, because, I know the subject that I bring up, will be declared by some a “Dead Issue”. I understand that, and I repsect your opinion, but Reed is going out of his way to give us something to talk about, let’s have some real discussions.

Certainly, In My Humble Opinion, to all of my Pitt Blather friends.

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 12:32 pm

Debate on Sweet Caroline.

How to improve the college game day experience and get more fans, students and alumni passionate about their university.

History and traditions of our new rivals in the ACC.

Any discussion about Tino and Pitt’s QB predicament.

The good, bad and ugly for Stevie P.

How the state budget crisis and reduced funding will impact the scholar athlete at Pitt.

Where are they now on athletes.

Conference realignment talk/unsubstantiated rumors.

Disparaging Hoopie and Nitter talk.

Comment by TX Panther 05.01.12 @ 12:34 pm

@Greg in New Orleans. I think an excellent topic. Don’t know if Reed or Chas are really too interested in the subject, maybe someone else is and has some knowledge on the subect.

This could be the other one sport, I might get a little interested in with the move to the ACC.

No, I’ll never get into it like football or hoops, but, I do know Pitt had a pretty good baseball team a few years ago (possibly a top 25, and almost made the College World Series), and if for example, the ACC helps us in recruiting and makes us more competitive………

I could see myself, say, if Pitt was ranked #13 and hosting #7 Florida State for a 3 game weekend series, possible running down on a Saturday with my family to catch a game and a couple hot dogs and cokes.

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 12:37 pm

Maybe combine the baseball with lax/Olympic sports in the ACC.

I know people have said before that its not happening, but with the inclusion of Cuse, the ACC is now the premier Lax league. I would love for Pitt to get a mens team (and to keep title 9 even, prob a women’s team as well).

Comment by H2P-2007 05.01.12 @ 12:49 pm

“I’ll even start with a comment. Elliott Walker sticking the ball in the Clemson db’s face at the 5 yd line going into the end zone in the Gator Bowl I believe. Penalty flag, ya, taunting I guess, but I love it and a great Pitt memory!!!!!”

You love taunting, Dan??? It’s a major turn-off for me, whether it’s my team or another team; whether it is college or the pros. Taunting is generally outlawed, but certain hot dogging in the pros is not. That is a major reason why I don’t watch NFL games.

Comment by BigGuy 05.01.12 @ 12:51 pm

Tx Panther I am always in the mood for some disparaging Hoopie trash talk. They have envailed their new Big 12 t-shirts and on the back they say “Pitt still sucks”. This is typical moonshine mentality of these bare-footed inbred peckerwoods.

Had a WVU insider in my office the other day and he confessed that the higher ups are still steamed that they got snubbed by the ACC. They would have LOVED to play Va. Tech, Virginia, Maryland, Pitt and all the other natural geographic rivalries. In the end the Big 12 will take its toll on the trolls in Morgantown. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Panther Fan in Hoopieland 05.01.12 @ 12:51 pm

Oh for God’s sake Big Guy, it was the 1977 Gator Bowl, 35 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get a grip on yourself!!!!!!!! Geez!!!!!!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 1:14 pm

I was a kid, it’s a Pitt football childhood memory, that’s all!!!

Again, GEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 1:15 pm

The future of the BCS/playoff scenarios.

Paying athletes and its implications.

What does Pitt need to do to become elite again in football (without cheating)?

One and done players and what this does to the game.

Anything to keep my mind off work.

Comment by TX Panther 05.01.12 @ 1:17 pm

I’ve got two ideas.

First, discussions on high school pipelines for Pitt football. What schools put out college level players the most and why? Who are the head coaches, what are their styles of teaching and why does it work. Lists of significant Pitt guys from each school, vintage, position and where are they now.

Second, discussion on the pros and cons of selling beer at the Pitt home games. Hmmmmmm BEER.

Comment by Dr. Tom 05.01.12 @ 1:39 pm

“I was a kid, it’s a Pitt football childhood memory, that’s all!!!”

Dan, in 1977 I was a full-fledged adult. Taunting performed by Pitt players, by Miami Hurricane players or by any other team was an irritant to me back then and presumably others. Again, presumably, that is why it now invokes a penalty.

Comment by BigGuy 05.01.12 @ 1:42 pm

I agree with some ACC talk. It would be great to learn about which teams are on the rise/decline and an outlook for what teams might be like when Pitt gets there. Maybe even some fellow blog talk/interview with ex-Big East schools to what they noticed most when they moved to the ACC a while back, do they welcome back the rivalries between Pitt and Cuse, etc….

Comment by silverfox 05.01.12 @ 1:43 pm

@Big Guy, ha ha ha, I can’t even believe I’m discussing this!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha

You’re right, you win, sorry I offended you, with a memory of mine…………that happened
35 friggin’ years ago!!!!!!!! Ya, when Jimmy Carter was president.

If you’re that blind, that you read into my comment that I “love” taunting, then I feel sorry for you.

I think it’s pretty self evident, considering my whole remark taken into context, that I love the memory of that game, that season, and yes that particular play.

Seriously, you couldn’t see from my comment, that it wasn’t even about taunting or Elliott Walker or even the Gator Bowl??? It was just about a memory of mine????

It was just suggesting to Reed that he was onto something, with his future articles on subjects, that the disucssions could really be great, and stir some long dead memories of Pitt football??

Maybe I should go to a re-education camp, since it is disturbing to you, that one of my memories involves a taunt by a Pitt player!!! LMAO!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 2:22 pm

Taunting is now penalized and looked down upon by most sports fans??? Really??? When did that happen???

I was really hoping for a bench clearing brawl against Gardner-Webb!!!!!!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 2:23 pm

I agree with pursuing the ACC angle. An overview of each of the ACC schools along with what sports in which they excel. The baseball angle is good. The ACC thinks baseball is not that far behind football and basketball, especially Clemson. Pitt is going to have difficult time in baseball due to the weather up there during the college season. Where would you rather play: in the sunny south in early March or in the ‘Burgh?

One sport in which I think Pitt will be dominate in the ACC is wrestling although no major Pitt blog seems to want to cover Pitt’s improvement in that sport over the last several years.

On the stadium issue on campus, that is a dead horse if there ever was one. One of the major casualties of the end of Pitt Stadium was our track program. Hopefully we will get a home track in the near future.

Comment by John In South Carolina 05.01.12 @ 2:31 pm

Dan, you were making conversation that you loved the taunting of Elliott Walker.

I was making conversation that I dislike taunting, period.

No big deal on anyone’s part. I don’t believe that I was directly critical of your feelings in 1977 (or now) regarding taunting; however, I’ll keep it in mind that you have certain sensitivities on posts generated by your post topics.

Comment by BigGuy 05.01.12 @ 2:56 pm

Ya, I was 9 years old!!!

Not sensitive at all, just couldn’t believe you made a comment about taunting, when it really had nothing to do with taunting at all and you couldn’t see that.

Hopefully you can see that now, that I’ve explained myself. Good day!!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 3:03 pm

Pitt shouldn’t have even been playing in that Gator Bowl …. they were the best that year … finished 2nd and didn’t even play in a new Year’s Bowl!!!

Nat’l Champ Georgia played a lame Notre Dame team that had no business in an NY Bowl. That Bulldog team had several returnees including Herschel Walker while we lost Green, Jackson, Neal, Thomas, Williamson, Grimm and Meisner … and yet we still beat them in Sugar Bowl the following year.

Comment by wbb 05.01.12 @ 3:05 pm

I forgot Mark May and Randy McMillan — all the above were future pros .. some Hall-of-famers

Comment by wbb 05.01.12 @ 3:07 pm

Actually big guy, to show my actual lack of sensitivity and that I’ve been laughing the whole time and enjoyint the banter,

actually reminds me of a Seinfeld. The one where Elaine asks George to buy her a “Big Salad”. When they come back, George’s girlfriend hands Elaine the bag with the salad in it, even though she didn’t pay for it.

After a half hour of George over thinking and questioning the girl, the girl finally looks at him and says…….

“George, all I did was hand someone a bag!!”

LOL

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 3:17 pm

@wbb, I remember Randy McMillan having a big game up at the University of Washington.

National tv, ABC, and I believe Keith Jackson!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 3:19 pm

Ill give you a difficult topic to cover. May require a lot of work, since it is basically unknown to the general sports world. PITT ultimate frisbee. They have quite the reputation as a (if not THE) top notch team in the country. Looking for the national championship this year, after being favored the past two years. The post-gazette had a feature on them last year. It would be a hard post, since no one knows anything about them, but ill bet if you got a hold of their captains or any team members, you could get a good bit out of them.

it may not be the most interesting, but it is a different topic, one most of us dont know about!

Comment by Dave 05.01.12 @ 3:50 pm

“Actually big guy, to show my actual lack of sensitivity and that I’ve been laughing the whole time and enjoyint the banter”

Actually, Dan, I am amused that you would get exercised because I stated that I did not like taunting. This was in response to your comment that you loved Elliott Walker’s taunting. (Actually, I should have realized that in 1977 you were just 9-years old, and your post …ah, hell. this is silly. I’m wasting my time.)

Comment by BigGuy 05.01.12 @ 3:51 pm

Sometimes you need to just leave things go….

then, there are other times when you are having down time at work

No, no, certainly Big Guy, you should not have realized that I was 9 years old!!!

One, however, might expect you to pick up on the fact that I was kid, and it was a childhood memory early on during this banter………..

as my reply to your initial comment was, and here, I’m quoting myself…………

“I was a kid, it’s just a childhood memory”!!!

I’m sorry you didn’t pick up on that!!! LMAO

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 4:24 pm

When I was a kid (10-12 years old), I loved the showboating that Dwight Collins or Julius Dawkins did right before they crossed the goal line for a touchdown. I think one of them did some type of high step scissor kick. Those were very good memories. My father (old guy) didn’t appreciate it…the half Nitter he was.

Comment by TX Panther 05.01.12 @ 4:47 pm

That picture is truly f…ed up!

Comment by Marco 05.01.12 @ 4:59 pm

I would like to see some analysis (speculation?) on what possibly greater financial rewards and exposure in the ACC could mean for the football program in terms of recruiting coaching talent, and on the field talent and consistently being able to compete for national recognition. Does the ACC move put us on significanly better financial footing than we have been historically or do we still suffer from not having football crazy donors with deep pockets who are willing to pledge millions to hire the best coaches?

Comment by KeithS 05.01.12 @ 5:01 pm

All great ideas and some stuff that I’m pissed that I haven’t thought of.

Here is a small reminder… I don’t much care about anything than PITT football. So baseball is out as far as I’m concerned.

But here is an ‘in’ to the wonderful world of blog authorship, and I’m not joking or being sarcastic… send an email Chas via the email link on the right of this page and see if he wants to run with baseball, or whatever you are interested in doing an article on, and ask if he’d agree and post it for you.

I’m not speaking for Chas here, he may not want to branch out, but who knows.

You never know… The way I started was that Chas had read some of my comments on here and other places and asked if I’d like to contribute. Chas may not want to go that direction but he’s pretty flexible with this stuff – never has once asked me to change a word.

Again, what I do isn’t journalism or I wouldn’t do it. It is loving a subject and writing about it. Chas is more accurate and more like that but I’m not. So don’t think you have to be super accurate or anything – it is more like writing an essay.

Comment by Reed 05.01.12 @ 5:28 pm

Someone asked if the ACC had a conference TV show,they do its a weekly ACC sports show year round covering all the ACC schools and all the different sports, it appears on the cable company which is Charter Communications (in NC).
I would be interested in ACC stories covering how Pitt is perceived by the different ACC members academically as well as athletically. Also with Mark May’s ESPN vantage point , he could shed light on what Pitt will be exposed to in the ACC and what he thinks Pitt’s strengths and weakness will be in coping with the ACC.

Comment by spindler's spirit 05.01.12 @ 6:09 pm

The club ice hockey team

Comment by steve1 05.01.12 @ 7:26 pm

I’m interested in what bowls the ACC has? What other bowls they might obtain now that they have 14 schools. Finally, how are the crowds at ACC Bowls (Big East like or Big Ten like)?

Comment by James 05.01.12 @ 7:31 pm

Throwback script uniforms. No reason I can think of to never use them. How ’bout for Homecoming?

Comment by Imma Man! Im 40! 05.01.12 @ 8:20 pm

Topics regarding the generational differences between passionate fans like Dan and Big Guy.

And debate about whether Reed’s mustache is truly real or a cheap knock off bought at the Dollar General.

Comment by TX Panther 05.01.12 @ 10:25 pm

LOL!!!!!!

Comment by Dan 05.01.12 @ 10:59 pm

Where does the River city trophy end up? Should we drop it from the Ft PITT bridge? Give it to Memphis or place it in the lobby of the BE offices as a momento? You could calculate the total travel miles WVU will make over the next year for all sports. I bet it will be twice around the earth. What ever you write about I will read every article posted. H2P

Comment by Tackle made by Hugh 05.01.12 @ 11:13 pm

I echo the suggestions to discuss how Pitt can better brand, market and improve its football program.
An on campus stadium and creating other facilities are good topics too (track! What track?).
Lastly, a piece on traveling from wherever to Pitt road games..the why’s, why nots, pros & cons.

Comment by SFPitt 05.02.12 @ 2:54 am

Tackle made by HUGH, I believe this year’s game with Cincy is for all of the marbles in regard to the River City trophy … whoever wins has that baby forever! (Unless Cincy is a future ACC member – then it tarts all over again)

Comment by wbb 05.02.12 @ 7:52 am

How about comparing football recruiting budgets among ACC teams? Also comparing salaries of assistant coaches and coordinators among ACC teams to see how Pitt fares? This information would be hard to come by reliably though.

Comment by SouthSide Sal 05.02.12 @ 9:12 am

Reed’s stach is real, that is why it grays with age and still makes the ladies swoon. The generational thing is a good idea though.

I’m the only PITT fan who liked that River City Trophy – it is one of the few trophies that actually had a historical background for both schools.

Comment by Reed 05.02.12 @ 9:41 am

lots of great ideas for topics. does anyone else dislike the panther logo? i won’t buy merchandise with it. a clerk at the pete told me that i wasn’t alone.
script pitt is a recognizable branding option. if not that, how about some kind of monogram?

Comment by pittkeith 05.02.12 @ 3:18 pm

I dont know how hard it is to get interviews with former players, but I got this idea from the pantherlair message board. I would love to hear from Greg Romeus and see how he is progessing, outlook for this season, etc.

Comment by H2P-2007 05.02.12 @ 8:38 pm

It seems that we have a history with many of our new conference foes in the ACC. Of course, BC, VaTech and the U were in the Big East when it was actually bigger as a football conference and the Cuse is going with us. We also had some great games with Florida State back in the day and have played NC, NC State and Maryland from time to time. How but a series of stories on our history with those schools and what they are looking like today as we get ready to join the ACC.

Comment by Houston Panther 05.02.12 @ 9:49 pm

Dunno if yinz are still monitoring this page. But a fun article would be a DETAILED list of all the obstacles that would be required to design & build an on-campus Pitt Stadium Part Deux. No doubt you’ve heard form the loud minority that thinks that is needed for Pitt to return to prominence. I don’t happen to agree with them, even if it was technically & financially feasible, whatever….

For example, how half of south Oakland would need to be bought & razed for the site plus parking, then more dorms might need to be built for all that displaced off-campus student housing, how a new light-rail link or 4-lane highway would be needed from the Parkway West (3 lanes in / 1 out before games, reverse after games), etc.

And a rough guesstimated cost: I think the ball-park cost would be in the ballpark of $1.5B, maybe higher. Almost certainly not lower.

Comment by Imma Man! Im 40! 05.04.12 @ 8:07 pm

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