Who questioned Chryst’s ability to recruit? It seems he is off and running. Grabbing players that fit his style of play. The ACC isn’t gonna know what hit them in a few years when the PANTHERS are RUNNING like bulls in spain thru that conference. Gotta love the Big TE’s big time RB, another good QB possiblly? I think they need to find some DL and LB’s soon. But, all in all it seems to be a good start.

Too bad we cant get him to play this Fall. Our kickers suck. Punting is pure vanilla average and place kicking is pathetic.

If we somehow land Chapman, Foster, and Boyd that makes up for the loss of Johnson

After missing on so many other recruits, it’s starting to seem like actually landing Foster would be a pipe dream. Prove me wrong coach.

Please don’t be negative on this blog. I already saw one blog go to shit from negativity. I understand the need for concern (I have my own as well) but people calling for Chryst’s firing do indeed need assistance to the toilet.

Doesn’t every team need a good punter?

But how many stars does this punter have?? As we all know, that is the only true way to evaluate recruits…

Hey, at least there was no confusion over whether he had an offer or not!

I have not saw on these posts any one post that they want the coach fired. I have saw posts that
say he might need help with recruting.
that does not mean that we want him fired please be realistic in how you view things.
most punters are walk ons.
i tend to think CJK and Glory might have it right
we lose a 4 star OT and get a 2 star db and a punter who should be a walk on we should rave abought that sure.

Few if any Pitt fans on this site are calling for Chryst’s head. But, a few like myself are critical of his recruiting thus far. State Penn has a new unproven coach and an epic scandal yet Pitt loses out on an elite prospect in a position of need from their own backyard. That one boggles my mind.

Yes – the game day experience at Pitt may pale to other schools but Pitt has a very bright future going to the ACC.

I don’t think this blog has many negative yinzers and self loathing Pitt fans, but we have the right to voice our critical opinions. Chryst needs to step up and get his recruiting into high gear ASAP. And, FRANKCAN is right, you don’t waste scholies on punters. I want some 4-stars with Big 10 and ACC offers to rave about.

@ Frank
Who did we lose, OT? I haven’t been following this recruiting stuff much other than the RB we got from NJ. Aren’t we supposed to land this QB Travon Chapman?

One thing was/is apparent, Wisconsin was much more successful, “coaching them up” with their lower rated recruits, than Pitt was, with their higher rated recruits.

Hope everyone is enjoying the first few days of Summer officially !!

Veritas et Virtus
Hail to Pitt !

Read what chas posted on the 25th of june he said what the coach is doeing has not translated into recruiting at this point. and dockish also posted the same and TX panther and outhers so dont get mad at me there are qustions abought recruiting not abought the coaching. dont bury your head in the sand like you did with TG. no one wants to lose the coach or see him fired but you do have to wonder if he can recruit better that is a fair qustion.

For what it’s worth, i don’t buy into the “sky is falling” or “Chryst can’t recruit camps” on this or other blogs because of a missed recruit…I’m firmly in the “cautiously optimistic and hope that winning is the best remedy” camp. Sure, I was hoping the OT kid would come to Pitt, but you just never know what an 18 year old kids gonna do. So let’s not cry about the ones who don’t love us, let’s focus on the ones that do. Plus, I think we all need to just give Coach Chryst an opportunity to coach a season or three before we start looking for ledges to jump off of…If he is a failure after three years, then and only then, will we know he wasn’t the right choice. Until then, I’m staying positive about Pitt’s chances!

I’m still positive about Foster, but only because Bobby Engram is a dynamic recruiter and will be Fosters position coach. Plus, Larry Fitz might be helping in some ways. Hopefully, Pitt does land Chapman. Need to keep the recruiting momentum going full speed without setbacks.

EMel we lost johnson to state penn he was a 4 star ot from our own back yard and was said to be a lock for pitt but it is what it is read the last dockish post or the one chas posted on the 25th of june as far as the RB that was a good get but he was a 3 star per rivals not a 4 star and you cant count the QB till he says i do. the point is penn state has 8 players who are 4 star and we 2 stars and low 3 stars except the TE and RB who are high 3 stars and bouth coachs and both staffs are new in both schools and both have had turmoil so why is penn state kicking are ass some of us qustion chryst recruiting.

FRANKCAN, to my earlier point, why would a stud 4 start player want to play in front of 30,000 empty seats against UConn versus 100,000 against Iowa, Indiana, Mich. St, Michigan and have the chance to go to a major bowl game…it has nothing (absolutely nothing) to do with recruiting, it’s about the opportunity to play big-time football. Once Pitt is in the ACC and produces results, then the better players may come to Pitt.

Not sure we can lose something we never had. Just because some blogger said he was ours to lose doesn’t mean he was ours. Johnson never said he was going to Pitt and until a recruit commits it is pure speculation. And Just because “someone knows a guy” doesn’t make it true either. The ledge seems to be getting crowded!!!! Ready one, two three JUMP

no one said the sky is falling to say the coach could do a better job recruiting when he could and should does not meathe sky is falling. if you all think he to this point he is doeing a great job on recruting compared to penn state than i dont no what to say i am nuts i guess or you are blind but if i am wrong on loi day i will say so.

Gentlemen: May I respectfully suggest that it isn’t the number of stars after a highschoolers name that matters, but rather how many WINS are recorded by his chosen team upon which he plays. A coach is recruited (offered) by a college to COACH. With some mentors coaching comes first. I would rather have a COACH at my alma mater than a “snake oil”salesman who thinks he can tutor, and talks a great recruiting game. The previous head coach at the largest university in the “Steel City” mayhave been a good recruiter. We don’t know yet, but several he brought in have much potential. We know the new head coach can develop players because he already has done so,but not as the head honcho. So please “cool it” guys and enjoy the summer. In several years you will know whther Paul Chryst can teach football or not. Till then, you can count as many stars as you wish by merely looking upward on a clear night after dark. Rev. George from Columbus

FrankCAN, today, Penn State is in a different league (competition wise) than Pitt. Pitt is rebuilding (reputation, fan base, stability, etc) – and isn’t as attractive as PSU.

markp dave got the good players to come he faced the same stuff . i know dave was a bdd coach but that is not the point. if dave got them to come chryst should to unless he is not a good recruter which is m point that maybe chryst needs help with recruting

DW got some of the better players (he lost Ricketts), but he couldn’t coach them. Things have changed drastically since he was fired and right now Pitt isn’t an attractive destination to some of the stud players – but it will be. Support PC – the man can coach. He has to make up for a lousy reputation by the AD and two poor recruiting classes due to coaching changes.

markp we had 2 good recruting class from TG if you look them up he may have been a snake but he recruited well.

I’d fire the AD before Chryst. Stevie has a mediocre track record much like Wanny. Since 2005, Pitt has only won 3 Big East championships in all sports. That is pathetic. I believe Pitt is last among BCS schools in the Director’s Cup standings as well. State Penn finished ranked #10. Pitt was #125. Highest ACC school was FSU at #9. Highest ranked Big Least school was ND at #17. Louisville was #36. The Hoopies were #43.

Stevie P has also been awful at fundraising. We all know he can’t pick coaches and that is his primary job. Pitt’s athletic department does operate in the black however. But, how this man still has a job is beyond me. He must have something on Nordy.

no one wants to fire chryst stop saying that all that was said is he might need help with recruiting and he does we have 9 players most low 3 star and 2 star penn state 8 players that are 4 star and 11 total the outhers 3 star who is doeing better if you say us you are blind that is the point.

The help that Chryst needs is winning games, not different personnel. Let’s face the facts, unless some kid has always wanted to go to Pitt, I don’t care who the coach is, convincing them to commit is an uphill battle. All of the coaching changes, dim view of the Big East and the overall lack of national recognition doesn’t exactly move Pitt to the top of recruits list. If Bill O’Brien was Pitt’s HC I think that he would have the same challenges as Chryst. Big 10, 100K+ crowds, winning tradition, bowl games. That’s why kids go to Penn St, not because Chryst doesn’t know how to close.
If he wins, he will win more recruiting battles. So I will wait and see. For right now, I think he is doing a pretty good job with the cards that he has been dealt.

Football recruiting rankings from scout penn state the 10th best class so far in the USA pitt number 44th
rivals rankings penn state 13th pitt number 47th
it is what it is readem and weep.

I am backing Paul Chryst now and for the next four years. He has a non-losing record as a head coach at Pitt, yet many complain. Let’s see how his first commit list looks in February. Listen, I kicked TG to the curb the minute he was hired because a friend of a friend of a friend…Not really. I booted him because he was transparent in all the negative ways. Coach Chryst is also transparent, but genuine. He puts together an 8 or 9 win season this year and Pitt is back!! I believe it will happen.

As far as Pederson goes, he needs to go. Again, I have been a proponent of his dismissal for years. Outside of Football and Basketball, Pitt sports is pretty doggone bad. How have we competed in baseball during his tenure? How about women’s basketball? A couple years of minor success, but that’s it. Does he have an inkling about Lacrossein the ACC? Soccer? Joe Luxbaucher used to coach soccer fairly successfully for years. What has happened. Men’s and women’s volleyball? Don’t give me Title9 bs. Pitt has funding.

Anyways, I am all in with Chryst. Thank goodness we didn’t go after Smileys other first candidate Christobal. He hasn’t signed squat! Paul Chryst will win and win big. Buckle up your chinstraps sportsfans! No Chryst negativity here.

dhuffdaddy i think pitt will win with chryst also i think he will be a great sideline game day coach but that does not mean he is a great recruter he might need some better recruiters on his staff what is wrong with saying that it looks like that could be true also what did we sa abought dave he recruited good classes but not mutch on ol men or dl men so far chryst seams the same were are the OT AND DT that we need so bad.

I’ve had about 10 posts the past week, all about how pumped up I am about this coming season, letting Coach Chryst have a couple years before we decide on his recruiting.

Also said I was pumped about the coming basketball season and pumped overall, about Pitt’s football, hoops and academics lately.

I did post yesterday, “fire the coach, and fire Dixon the bum too”.

I mean, you can’t be referring to that, anyone would know that I was being sarcastic?? Right??

My 2 year niece, my dog, my cats, they would all have known this.

You can’t always read everything, so I don’t know, but if anyone took my comment for anything other than pure sarcasm, gotta say, that’s on you. I’ve been on here battling FRANKCAN and others sticking up for Chryst’s recruiting.

Maybe not referring to me, to some others who have posted that, that I haven’t read??

Maybe just glanced over the posts, and didn’t see it in context, or not know me from my posts????

Other than that, haven’t seen anyone say much bad about Chryst at all.

Some debate on recruiting, other than that, seems like everyone is pretty pumped up for the season and to see what Chryst can do in the next couple of years.

FACTS: (at least according to our buddy Chris Peak at Rivals), since 2005, PSU has landed 3 5* players and 56 4* players. Pitt has landed 1 5* player and 32 4* players. So that shakes out to PSU landing twice as many recruits at the two highest levels recruiting rankings. Granted we are really lagging behind so far for 2013, but when has that not been the case? Even the year that we had a top 20 recruiting class, PSU out did us with a top 10 class.

Guys are certainly within their rights to outraged by the fact that PSU can still out recruit Pitt even with all repulsive stuff that has been going on there for the past 20 years (and especially the last 8 months), but it doesn’t change the fact that OVERALL, PSU has always handed it to Pitt in recruiting.

We can be disgusted, have hurt feelings and “what if” all we want in terms of future sanctions or penalties against PSU, but as it stands right now at this moment, like it or not, a kid with top tier talent understandably sees more opportunity to be successful at the next level by playing up there than at Heinz Field. For shit’s sake, PSU’s opening game against Ohio University is on ESPN nationally. Our opening game is only available on the Internet and 2/3 of country can’t even watch it there!!!! There will be more national press passes handed out for that one game in Happy Valley than we will hand out all season at Heinz Field.

It stinks BIG time, we all HATE it and have the right to BITCH about it, but I’m not sure it’s fair to lay it all at Paul Chryst’s feet, at least not 6 months into the job and 8 months before his first LOI day ever as an HC. I’m not even sure it would be fair a year from now with the all the disappointment that PC has to undo from the past 5 or 6 years.

Fire Tomlin and Bylsma!!! Both bums. One Super Bowl and one Stanley cup!! They both should have had 4 championships allready!!!

(I’m being sarcastic!!) Allthough some yinzers probably think it’s Pittsburgh’s natural right to have the championships every year and the other 30 teams in each league should never win!!!

Actually, I know this to be true, I hear them calling in on the Fan all the time!!!

LOL!! Yinzers, they’re a funny lot!!!

n’at!!!!

Dan bud check this kid out anthony taylor from river ridge louisiand OG 6 foot 6 330 pounds he is only a 2 star and has no offers yet but he looks like a mean SOB if you recruited on looks you would sign him up. look at his photo just something to do he sure is big.

this yinzer thinks it is pittsburghs right to win all the championship in all sports every year
even the bucs all that wont happen but it should becuse we are the city of champions so pitt needs to get on bord another super bowl and pitt in basketball and another one in football 76 was to long with out one it is pittsburghs right to win them all for ever and ever amen .

@cnorwoodaz,

excellent point.

Amen Frank!! LOL

Fire the AD. I mean that. If Pitt is ever going to become elite, it starts with an AD that is a good fundraiser, a good judge of coaching talent, and doesn’t piss the alumni off by getting rid of traditions. Then, the administration that means the BOT and boosters need to pony up the money to buy good coaches and recruiters. Then, the program needs to win and not shit the bed when it plays on national TV in an important game. Then, the fans need to show up and travel to games. Then, we’ll be able to compete with State Penn and Pedo State and we won’t have to recruit thugs, look the other way and allow tickle monsters to roam free in campus showers. But, it starts first with the AD. Stevie P must go!

DAN did you check that kid out he is on pitts list but at the bottom of the list on one of pitts sites eather scouts or the outher one. click on his name and photo will pop up he looks mean as hell.

dan he is on panther lair just click on g than go to his name click on that then photo will pop up anthony taylor

just lookin around football power tounge in cheek wake forest has 4 OL men commits duke has 3 OL men recruits northwestern has 3 OL men .
If these football power houses can sign that many
you would think PITT could get at least 2 but we seam to have just 1 and all most all of thiers are 3 star but i am sure we can dig up a 2 star ot some were. tounge in cheek

Slightly different subject: I heard Lavar Arrington (sp?) today on the College Sports Channel. He clearly gets it regarding the PSU scandal. Sadly Franko does not.

have you heard any thing abought ND comeing to the acc with all sports but football or is it just a bull shit story.

@Frank, ya, big dude. Chryst specialty is coaching em’ up. Whip him into shape.

As for ND, heard today that ACC will host Orange Bowl. This is good, as it’s in the rotation for semi-final games. Also, if it is a semi-final year for the Orange Bowl, and an ACC team doesn’t make it, the ACC is still guaranteed a spot in another BCS bowl.

I’ve seen a couple other commissioners commenting about “the 5 major conferences”. Not “4”.

Swofford and Va Tech prez seemed to have a lot to do with the playoff meetings, and how the commitee will decide.

The demise of the ACC may have been greatly exaggerated.

Clemson not wanted by Big 12. Is FSU really?? They’d have to do a lot of soul searching before sending all of their teams to the Southwest and Great Plains.

Oh, I went on a tangent. ND suppose to possibly be the opponent in Orange Bowl, depending on their ranking and record.

A lot of people feel ND belongs in ACC, but I haven’t seen anything new on that.

ND to Big 12 past week, which I find hard to believe.

Who knows, however, the Big East is facing a dangerous situation. Boise St having trouble finding a place for their Olympic sports. May stay in Mountain West, which would severely damage the Big East, and the upcoming Big East tv negotiations.

The ACC has held firm, ND all in, or nothing.

Keep strong ACC, don’t want that crap again.

Let them wave in the wind with their olympic sports, or go ahead and take your soccer, volleyball and swimming teams to Lubbock and Waco.

ND is out for ND alone. Understandable, however, when 10, 12, 14 other teams are involved, you have to give a little.

Giving your olympic sports and a promise to play a couple conference teams a year, is absolute nothing.

ACC has one of strongest olympic sports conferences.

And hell, ND plays Pitt and other ACC teams often enough.

Notre Dame, all in, or nothing!!!

That has been ACC’s stance, don’t weaken!!

p.s. Don’t get me wrong, would love to have Notre Dame. Just go ahead and bring your football team too!!

Chryst hasn’t coached a game and Pitt does not have the pedigree or the conference affiliation that PSU boasts. IMO, he candidly has done it with smoke and mirrors. I repeat, 4 coaches in 13 months.
ACC looks very good now that 4 team playoff is announced. The SEC, Bug Ten, PAC whatever and BIG 12 all have won NC’s in the last 10 years. None in the ACC. Committee to select the 4.
Finally, ND is inching closer to oblivion. It was their isolation in hoops and being edged out in the NCAA hoops that spawned their need for Big East hoops. Now, a committee made up (presumably) from reps of conferences will call the shots. Think they will favor a team without any conference affiliation when they make their picks? Being an island works if you are England. Not so hot if you are Neville Island.

Punter on the checklist…

Your right SFPitt. Stated before, we all know money and football rules the roost.

Beyond that, ND really take pride in it’s olympic sports, as all schools should.

They gonna stay in the BE and play a mish mash of unrelated schools?? Then still have to give the BE 2 or 3 games a year in football?? (UCF, Houston, SMU???)

Go to the Big 12, send all their teams to Texas and Kansas??

They have a little pickle going on.

They want their olympic sports in a big time conference while keeping their football to themselves.

Those days may be coming to a close.

Maybe ND waiting to get big bucks from NBC/COMCAST. ACC much better for ND than B10/B12 state mega schools. Most ND alumni are east.

Frank MD

Boise State update, pickle.

Need to tell Mountain West by Sunday if they are really leaving.

Mountain West denied BCS exemption as 7th conference yesterday.

Pickle 1. If they decide to stay in MW, they will lose 7 million or so, and possibly up to 24 million. Don’t get to keep any bowl money, or maybe have to share amongst conference instead of keeping it. Not exactly sure, but, not good.

Pickle 2. Decide to go ahead with their move to Big East. They have nowhere for their olympic sports.

A). The WAC accepted Boise olympic sports last year, however, the WAC has been raided, and is down to 5 teams now.

B). Big West is entertaining the idea. However, with that, Boise State is asking for help financially from the Big East for travel costs.

Anyhow, in the end, this could effect the BE greatly and ND a bit too. If Boise doesn’t come on board, the tv negotiations in September between ESPN and BE will certainly be different without Boise.

SNAFU

if boise does not go to big east will we still get out of big east early or are we fucked then.

They’ll still have enough teams I guess.

Pitt boat left the dock with the lawsuit.

Pitt will be in ACC in 2013, as well as Syracuse.