While not as disastrous as the Dave Hart era of Pitt football, the Carl DePasqua period that came right before Johnny Majors I was hardly stellar. A 13-29 record over 4 years and only one season at .500. Pitt under DePasqua effectively peaked halfway through the second season. Pitt had reached 5-1, before riding a 4 game losing streak to 5-5. Those were followed up with 3-8 and 1-10 seasons and Pitt’s 3d coach in 7 years.

Still, if there is one thing that lingers — and vaguely redeems — from the DePasqua era, it is the 1970 Backyard Brawl which also served as Pitt’s homecoming. A game that saw Pitt come back from 35-8 to win 36-35 (hat tip to EDSBS).

In two parts. Part One:

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Ah, what is expansiopocolypse without the idea of Notre Dame making a move?

Last week, my favorite Big 12-based “throw-shit-against-the-wall” expansiopocolypse outlet, Chip Brown of Rivals.com’s Orangebloods had his latest. It was the big card: Notre Dame.

Two sources in the Big 12 said Wednesday the possibility of Notre Dame moving its Olympic sports out of the Big East and into the Big 12 is becoming more and more likely.

Speculation is growing among those sources that an announcement could come from South Bend before the end of the summer.

As part of such a move, Notre Dame, which has a contract with NBC to televise its home football games through the 2015 season, would agree to play up to six football games against Big 12 competition (but most likely three or so to start with), sources tell Orangebloods.com.

Notre Dame would maintain its independence in football … for now.

As far as speculative fiction goes, it was something of a doozy.  Reading the piece as a whole you can see it a couple ways.

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Well, the good news is Pitt picked up another recruit. The bad news is missing (again) on another very important recruit.

I’ll start with the positives. Titus Howard out of Clairton gave his verbal. The defensive back/wide receiver has good size, and he might be able to help bring in a big WR target in his teammate Tyler Boyd.

“I am going to try to get him there,” Howard said.

Howard, 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, was on campus with many of his teammates, helping Clairton win a championship at Pitt’s seven-on-seven camp.

Clairton defeated Thomas Jefferson, 25-20, in the title game.

Howard said he considered waiting until after the season to make a decision.

“But it felt right today, and I ended up doing it,” he said. “I like their program. I love being around the coaches. Coach (Paul) Chryst was really excited. He said he can’t wait.”

His size, of course, is up for debate.  Rivals.com lists him at 6-2, 165 pounds and says he’s a 2-star cornerback. 247 Sports also says 2-star cornerback, but lists him at 6-1, 170 pounds. Scout.com has him as a 3-star recruit, but has him at safety and puts him at 6-3, 180 pounds. ESPN.com doesn’t have a ranking for him at this time, but lists him as a cornerback and puts his size at 6-2, 160 pounds. To recap. He’s anywhere from 6-1 to 6-3 and 160 to 180 pounds.

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