By all means, we must bring back Buddy Morris! Please do not start that crap.
The same players would not have gotten slower with a new strength coach. That is trying to stir up something that is not there.

The offensive line has been improved over last year and will get better.

I’ll give you the criticism of the DL.

I already emailed Pederson, Borghetti, Lasalla..
- Replace the S&C coach… now. he is a yoga instructor.
- Some assistants will need to go by year end.. and bring in some who can recruit.

The only thing good about last nights game…
is Chyrst chewing out Clemmings.. he actually cursed!!
Quite frankly, why not bring in another QB to start 3rd Qtr.

notrocket…
The Oline is improved from last year??
Did you watch the game last night?
Clearly both Dline and Oline lack strength… that is on the S&C coach!!!
The LB’s are clueless… does Chryst replace the HS coach from Mt. Lebo??
Did they rotate the DB’s… didn’t seem like it? If they played slow, it was because tired or lack of rotation.. that is on the S&C coach or DC.

Chryst needs to swallow his pride, cheap Stevie P needs to pony up the money, and Pitt needs to go out and find some bad ass coordinators from the SE part of the states. Chryst then needs to learn how to be a head coach. He is in over his head right now.

Remember when Dokish kept saying Brecketfield was a stupid hire? If he knew it how could Chryst not know it? I fear for the future. I think we got another stinker.

The scariest statement you uttered which really is an accurate assessment was, “Yet, he (Tino) isn’t the biggest problem on this team” That fact ALONE can strike terror in a full grown man!

Chas, with what we are putting out on the field presently, this season is toast! The “coaching” that needs to be done at this point is one of damage control. Back to the drawing board and a reassessment of every eligible player on the roster to find the ones who want to be out there on Saturdays giving it 100%.

Once that roster is established, use the rest of this season as 10 scrimmage games in preparation for entering the ACC. $hit, you think Pitt has issues now, wait until you see how VA TECH has their way with us next week. It’s going to be ugly. That will just be a preview of our entire season come 2013 if Chryst and Co. fail to throw convention to the wind now. Instead, they have to find the core group that are in it to win it and move forward from there. Once that group gets playing time the rest will remain to be seen but we have to be better off next year than continuing this failed experiment for another 10 games.

After the season, cut loose the dead wood both in the coaching staff and the player roster to free up the max scholarships for 2013 and recruit hard for next year! Find the uncommitted kids with talent that want to play early and build from the ground up starting NOW.

Chas, we have been pushed all over the field the last two games. We lack physicality. I’m not sure if it’s because everyone is playing so tentative or if we lack conditioning. There are so many problems with this team that it’s tough to figure where to start. I can’t understand how this team can be this bad when we went back to a scheme they were supposed to be somewhat familiar with. Hell at this rate bring back he spread and go to a 3 – 4 defense. At least we scored points and the defense stopped people….

You are 100% right. The defensive scheme for this group is simply not working and the Sunsuri is a very bad QB. I mean to be in the redzone and run out of time is the act of someone with the intelligence of a raw carrot.

I think we should have looked hard and strong at Bud Foster. Anyone with the first of “Bud” has be a successful coach.

Its just been reported that Loyd Carrington transferred to ASU to join Fraud. WTF so much for being lose to his family in Texas?

Pitt Fans. Its time to bring out the paper bags next Saturday for VA Tech. Let’s show the administration that even if no one else is embarrassed by the product on the field, we are. I’d love to see a stadium full of fans wearing paper bags over their heads. What say you?

this season is lost who cares if we would end up 6 and 6 i would ruther do that with players who have a future not sr who are going to leave and are not good enough any way.

Comment by FRANKCAN 09.07.12 @ 10:45 am

Agree with Frank. It serves no point whatsoever to keep playing these Seniors and go another 6-6 at best, 2-10 or 3-9 or who knows the way they’re playing now 1-11 is a definite possibility.

That method of coaching to play the Seniors, just because they’re Seniors, can become cyclical and you see last year and this year being repeated over and over. Give the seniors one more chance
to play with some pride in the Va Tech game. After the beatdown, start playing for the future, minus a few notable exceptions, one being obviously Ray Ray. The rest of the seniors and some of the juniors have failed this team, imo so put them on the bench, so that their cancer doesn’t spread to the younger players.

That is the only sensible course, cause this team stinks anyway, so the current path is criminally insane and will only lead to more seasons of mediocrity or downright stench.

I just feel damn worn out after two games.

We are pissed off about the same things over the past four years: Stevie P, Tino, choking, no passing game, dumb penalities, losing when we should win.

Nothing in this program ever seems to change. I’m sick of yelling about the same problems and reading everyone’s posts about the same problems.

We need change and have no hope.

Then we Pitt fans have to usher in the change. Change just doesn’t happen. Sacking Stevie P, benching Tino, hiring new assistants, recruiting 4 star players will give rise to HOPE. Pitt fans need to demand these things. Make your voices heard.

I am as much as a Pitt fan as any of you and actually drive 7 hours each way to attend home games. But I think your criticisms are way off base. Am I pleased with the first 2 games? Of course not. Do I think that the season looks ominous? Unfortunately yes. But the fact remains that these are the players from former staffs. Their evaluations were over inflated and their rankings, although not really important, were way off base. We all fall in love with 4 and 5 star recruits. How productive have many of these players really been? It is easy to jump on Chryst and his staff. The bottom line is that players play and play to a system. Chryst needs time to get his breed of player into the system before we all break out pitch forks and lighted torches and storm the Cathedral. To write this staff off after 2 games is ridiculous. Although an entirely different level, Joe Gibbs started off his career losing his first 8 games. How did that turn out?
Try the decaf gang. H2P.

ACC? I think this team would be hard-pressed to compete in the MAC. We are in deep shit.

Here I go again…repeat, repeat….if we really want change the ONLY WAY to send a message to Nordy & Co. is to have an empty Heinz Field.
Yes, I know it will look terrible to potential recruits (assuming that Chryst is recruiting).
$$$$ talks…..a stadium with only 10,000 or HOPEFULLY less at a game has to be noticed!!

Actually the defense stiffened up, after the first 2 Cincy drives. I was expecting them to totally collapse after Cincy scored on their first offensive play of the game and their 2nd possession. it was 14 zip with 10 minutes to go in the 1rst Quarter.

The offense did absolutely NOTHING IN the 1rst quarter with a measly 40 yards of Total offense.
The defense ONLY gave up a FG in the 2nd Quarter.
The offense moved the ball a little better between the 30′s, in the 2nd quarter but again couldn’t make any plays at crucial times (this is what Tino Time will be remembered for, can’t make the plays at crucial times of the game, oh he’s adequate at times, between the 30′s, after that garbage)

Nope the defense wasn’t good but PITT only scored 3 points (not going to count the mercy TD Cincy let PITT score at end of game). And most of us agreed before the game, PITT’s only chance of wining after giving up 31 to a D2 team, was by OUTSCORING Cincy. Fat chance . This was on Tino and the offense. Not letting you off the hook.

Even at the end of the first half PITT had a chance to get back into the game as the defense ONLY gave up a FG after the first 2 Cincy possessions. Nope this was on the offense after that, and nothing more highlighted that as PITT’s last futile attempt to score before the half ended and the poor leadership and clock management from a 26 yr old who has been in the program for like 7 years. How can a 26 yr old still be in college anyway ?

What did Sal & Roxy do, hold him back in school a few years do he’d be bigger, stronger and more mature than his classmates. And of course be better than them in sports. For he would have been like 2-3 years older than 14 & 15 yr olds he was competing against. And at that age that’s huge. That’s really bogus. What people won’t do to get their kid some advantage over others.

Pull the plug on this farce Chyrst, at least you will have earned our respect for that noble gesture.

A BIG OY VEY !!
GRP !!

The best part of this season was that I had no hope from the beginning. So not the usual dashed hopes of seasons past.

Any guesses as to what Tino would score on the Wunderlich test (not that he’ll ever get to the combine)?

It’ll be 4-5 years until recruits forget how horrible Pitt has managed its football program. Perhaps a new coach at that time can rebuild things and get them back to the mediocrity we enjoyed under Harris and Wannstedt.

This is exactly why he’s never got any better since he was 21. His advantage of being 3-4 years older than other kids worked in HS but not so much in college except with vastly undersized walk-on 170 lb QB’s from Texas. Or QB’s like Myers who had only very limited playing experience, what was it, one year as a starter.

Coach C needs to realize that he’s playing with a full deck here. Get the kids on the field and build for the future. Playing the upperclassmen accomplishes nothing; they’ll suck this year and move on and we’ll endure another shitty season next going through “growing pains” when you start playing the kids. Amputate a limb now to save the our dying football program.

I watched the game into the fourth quarter and then the jameson’s started to take over.

I’m taking the opposite tack of you here Reed. I think we are close. More importantly, I think we showed some sparks in this game. Whereas we showed nothing against YSU.

Bright Spots:
1. Shell looked powerful running the ball especially during his first series. He’s a gamer and a hitter. Did anyone else see him lay out that linebacker on that 3rd down pass play? Tino was under pressure from another area of the line and Shell just hit the guy because he could. It was before the whistle and totally legal. We need more of that.

2. Manny Williams. Yea he might not have the athleticism but all that guy does is hustle and make plays. I’ll take him on my team any time.

3. Running game got going. Ray Graham. ‘Nuff said.

4. Defense was pretty stout in the 2nd and 3rd quarters.

5. Special teams. I thought Yoklik’s punting and the punt coverage was excellent.

Problem Areas:

1. Who is #78? Clearly overmatched by speed rushers. If we ever want to complete a pass he needs to be helped out. On every play.

2. Who is #3 and why the hell is he on the field? That guy is a train wreck. Can’t pursue, can’t tackle. No hustle.

3. Bennet Ran hard but he tends to stop and stutter at inopportune times. He needs to just freaking hit somebody.

4. Devin Street. No. Effort. At. All. Hey Devin, see that oblong thing flying through the air at you. It’s a football. You’re supposed to want to catch it.

4. Tino. Actually had some bright spots – that desperation shuffle pass was a thing of beauty – but when the chips were down or we were inside the 20…same old Tino. I’ll give him another game or two but i’m starting to swing towards the Voytik camp.

5. Overall the whole mindset of the team (execept for maybe Jacobson and Shell and Manny Williams) need to change. They need to WANT it. They need to want to get out there and HIT somebody. Have that Punch them in the Mouth mentality. I dont’ think it’s lack of talent on this team. I think it’s lack of desire.

chryst deserves some blame for poor clock management and some questionable play calls but ultimately it’s up to the players to make plays. for example, i’m fairly certain pitt’s DEs aren’t coached to lose contain on the QB every f’ing play. there were plays to be made on both sides of the ball that couldn’t changed the outcome of the game and Pitt didn’t make em. munchie missed a ton of open receivers btw. he’s a horrible passer. things could’ve been a lot worse.

FSU is giving 70 1/2 points to Savannah State. Thats insane.

I wonder how many VTech will give.

Any guesses as to what Tino would score on the Wunderlich test (not that he’ll ever get to the combine)?—-Yes, I have the play-by-play for that…Tino gets the test, looks at it once, twice, sees where it says name, looks confused(as usual)wonders if it means his name, decides he will write his name, cocks his hand back to write, taps the pencil once, twice…oops times up O%

@ Atlanta Panther,

Sure it was Jameson’s and not LSD. Hallucinations are fun but will not do the football team any good.

We are close alright. Close to being the worst team in FBS. We aleady lost to a team who finished #115 in the last Sagarin Power rankings of 2011. (that being D2 YSU)

I agree however with your last two sentences.
“I don’t think it’s (a) lack of talent on this team. I think it’s a lack of desire.”

We have some talent obviously on this team. Certainly more than a YSU, yes? There is NO DESIRE to play with the 10th yr Sr QB anymore, who despite all the upheavals at PITT in his 3 years, has somehow, someway, miraculously been able to hold on to his starting position and somehow someway there’s never anyone on the roster to challenge him for the position. Or if someone was, they were never given a fair shot or they were put in the broadcast booth.

So enjoy the Jameson’s my friend.
Here’s to, actually seeing a D1 QB actually play QB at PITT sometime in the near future.

Cheers !

Three coaches in 3 years, and all of the controversy surrounding each change, had to have an impact on recruits (pretty thin at QB, OL and LB, aren’t we) and the current roster. Change can be great, but too much change, not necessarily so. And add in a rookie head coach, and it can be ugly. I think this is a transition year, and we should we keep expectations low.

Atlanta Panther, I also thought #3 was clueless. Turns out it’s Nick Grigsby, redshirt freshman.
I think things like Shell not picking up blitzes will get better. I think the LBs will get better as they learn where to go. Same with the Defensive Line. It will be long, but in reality we’re pretty young.

While at the Utah game last year, a guy sitting near me went off yelling how bad a QB Tino was. A woman sitting a few rows in front of us yelled “This is what you get for booing Bill Stull” My comment back to her was booing Bill Stull might not have been the right thing to do, but It may have motivated him enough to have a great year and get invited to a NFL camp.

I really was hoping for Tino to bust his ass this offseason and come out firing this year. Thought he would be ready to quiet some of the haters. Well I’m sorry but Tino just doesn’t have it. I know we are very hard on the guy but he isn’t a Div 1 qb. 5th year seniors don’t screw up the redzone as bad as he did last night. Chryst gets blame but most of it goes on Tino.

WE ARE THE CUBS!!!! except their fans seem to relish in it!!

Maybe not, we did have 76′! Pretty damn close though!!

@ KeyboardKev. Yea, rebuilding year. Lets see how we finish.

@ Atlanta
oh btw #3 is Nick Grigsby, who was a highly rated recruit 2 years ago out of Ohio, redshirted last year.

I believe DW’s staff recruited him and Graham saved him and actually marveled over him as did Zeise in training camp this year and last.

The problem with the LB’s is lack of game experience, not talent as I see it. Sure they stink, but they weren’t expected to be starters this year. Losing Todd Thomas AND Ejuan Price to injuries, cause this position to be a FAIL even before the first game. If ever a REd Flag was staring you in the face this was it.

As I stated in August camp blogs, the other Red Flag(maybe Herring) was Shane Gordon being the starting MLB.
This was like the blind leading the blind.
For he was an epic fail last year after 2 insignificant starts and was yanked and the defense got much better after that. Not saying it was all on him, just sayin.

Again Grigsby and the other outside backer (his name is Eric Williams btw cause you prolly didn’t hear his named announced, since he was invisible)
weren’t supposed to be playing now. Which only shows how this team had no depth at certain positions. However (positive note**), we will have a little depth when Thomas & Price come back since these guys got some playing time now.

Oh Maxie Gruder we miss ye and hard to say this but Greg Williams too. Yes that’s how bad the LB play has been.

Rebuilding yaar? This was a bowl team last year folks, with many starters back (unfortunately, Tino the Magnificent being one of them…).

This year, based on what I’ve seen so far in Weeks 1 & 2, we’ll be lucky to win a game, zero hopes to win two. And on the flip side, 0-12 is not impossible.

The main difference? Don’t say scheme, because Tino stunk under Wanny too (except for the ‘Cuse game…).

Nope, it’s Chryst and his cronies. This team looks like it’s running in cement galoshes because they don’t know what they’re supposed to do or where they’re supposed to be.

That, my friends, is poor coaching!

Reply to MTD23456: so far this gang looks a LOT more like the failed Dan Hawkins regime at Colorado (including losing to a 1-AA team at home in Season 1) than to Joe Gibbs.

And it’s likely to get worse before it gets better: right now, Chryst has bowl-team caliber talent (other than QB) at every postion. Wait until his 2-star guys are in the pipeline.

And at least Paul Hackett could recruit…

HTP!

1976, wow seems like eons ago now Dan-0.

At one point under DW (when we were in the Top 10 in November before the Bigeast title game with Cincy, actually up to the returned kickoff TD when we were up 31-10 right before half)
I had my only feeling in the last 30 years, we were headed back to our latest (and possibly last) glory years period.

I have become so disillusioned with this program since that time, the sh*t Marty Hilyard reversed our fortunes in 10 seconds, and then this Tino favoritism BS following that, SP all that, DW injustice. It’s really gotten to the point, I just might quit following this program all together. Come to think of it, life was more enjoyable when I did that in the 90′s.

So this might be my last post. Good luck to everyone, I would have enjoyed meeting some of you so would could commiserate and remember the good ole days.

to paraphrase a Hall of Fame NFL coach .. Pitt has problems and they are many!

One thing brought up in Cook’s column … Pitt wasted nearly 20 seconds from the time Bennett was tackled on a screen pass until the first fade pass was run …. and Pitt went to halftime with a timeout (another Chryst error.)

Nordy wants his legacy to be how he led Pitt to the ACC, that is fine.He did some other things academically, but also pulled the trigger on the stadium destruction.

Pederson’s legacy is that he led Nebraska to the brink of disaster and tried to perfect that at Pitt. Pitt should not stand for this.

Coach Chryst has no legacy yet and this is what I don’t understand. Why does everyone want to attack and fire Paul Chryst 9 months into a job, but not Steve Pederson after 5 years (the second time)?. The problem is not Chryst. We need to support Chryst and find a way to keep him here.

We lost our original offensive line coach because of money. Steve P wouldn’t pay Bostad and the NFL did. That is what Todd Graham talked about as to why he left. Graham just couldn’t talk about it in detail because of the separation agreement and secondly because it is a career suicide to “dog” an AD, because the next AD doesn’t want you to do that to him.

Pitt will win games this year. It is best however to let the young kids play and sit out the equally or less talented juniors and seniors. After Vtech, let’s see Voytech. Chuck Noll I think only won one game his first year. They drafted football players not 4 and 5 stars. Chuck developed those guys or doesn’t anyone recall Donnie Shell (Undrafted) or LCGreenwood (10th round), Rocky Bleier (16th round).

On a side note, I just read where Syracuse and Nebraska lost their AAU status. Hmmm! Thinking the Big 10 should hav done more diligence on them before the invite. They are the only university without AAU status in the big10. Pince since 1974!!

Emel, I was actually thinking about Gillyard’s KO return last night, as well as the KO return at UConn 2 years ago on the last play of the 3rd quarter. Those 2 plays may have changed Pitt history.

Despite all of the above, I am all for giving Chryst an opportunity to grow into the position … at least 3 years.

OK the players or most of them are not good
but 2 coachs really worry me the DL coach was fired after 1 year at ucla red flag .
the LB coach was a high school coach last year.
all the coachs were hired becuse they were frends or frends of frends with a wisconsin
tie in.
there was not one person hired becuse he was the best DC out there or the best DL COACH

If you did not have a tie in with wisconsin forget it i have talked abought this before and so has chas.

it worrys me but will he have the guts to fire his boys from wisconsin.

And will he have the guts to bench tino
or the eye sight maybe EMel is right mybe tino weves a spell on the coachs and makes them blind when it comes to him

Did you hear? The deffensive line tried rushing a local frat, but didn’t make it in the front door because the front patio fan blew them off the doorstep.

I’m not a Wanny apologist and I was okay with decision to move in another direction. Not necessarily the way it was handled but a change. I was also excited about Fraud Graham and that style of offense…we saw it on display with Cincy last night and it would have eventually been successful. Having said that, I was also okay with the Chryst hiring. I preferred Cristobal but did not hate the hire. The problem now is that the team has been ravaged by two mediocre recruiting classes for two different styles on both side of the ball with Wanny malcontents tossed in. With Wanny and his first year struggles, you knew he would eventual bring in the recruits…which he did. You also knew that he was going to coach from a pro perspective instead of a college…which he did. Can Chryst recruit himself out of the mess he was left with? I have my doubts. He still deserves time, but based on the current class I’m real concerned.

I echo all the thoughts and concerns with assistant coaches but I do have one big question that I have not seen addressed anywhere.

How much money did the Admin pony up for assistants this year. If I remember correctly, one thing Fraud did do well was negotiate a lot more money to hire assistants. Did we really cheap outafter the last fiasco or two?

I agree with both Chas & wbb. There is no way we can go through another head coaching change. This is his program to build or kill. Changes with assistants must come at the end of the year.

I think we also see several more transfers or “removals” at year’s end. Desire and passion certainly seem lacking. As bad as it is, I can handle the glaring mistakes from Grisby, Williams, Pitts, Shell, Vinopal, etc. They are young enough and inexperienced enough to improve. The mistakes from Sunseri and Street and maddening.

I know there’s a lot of youth on the O-line as well but if a 325 sophomore can’t budge a 260 lb tackle, there’s a problem. When the left tackle can’t even get a hand on his rusher because he’s too slow, there’s little hope.

I’m partially for sitting seniors and getting youngers guys ready like emel suggests but there are some concerns.

1) How much younger can we really get at cornerback and lb? Gordon would be the key replacementbut aren’t his backs backups Trebitz (sr) and Mason?

2) Lippert, Holley, Tags, Turnley, both Grahams and Jacobsen arent the main causes of poor play.

3) That leaves Tino. He has been far from the worst aspect of the season so far and had no time for success last night. But his mistakes are SOOO HUGE! I would say play hi against VT to take the physical beating they will administer and then start Voytik next week if he is close to ready.

Despite giving up an untouched 58 yard TD run on UC’s first play, and despite Tino quickly fumbling it right back and giving up another TD, the defense actually kept the game in check in the first half.

What doesn’t surprise me is breakdowns in the 2nd level with LBs who shouldn’t be playing the amount they are, and young, albeit talented corners. What surprises me are defensive ends eagerly contain against a running QB – and doing it again two plays later.

That is also such a basic, basic responsibility for that position that if a guy isn’t doing it, it’s because he isn’t thinking, or he just doesn’t have the instincts to play the position. The worst high school coach teaches his ends that their number one responsibility is to keep contain. I don’t even know how to fix it, aside from figuring out in recruiting whether a kid can think football. Recruit all the 4-5 star guys you want, they’re man-children beating the crap out of kids slower and weaker than they are. But it looks for all the world like this team is filled with guys with no aptitude for the game.

And speaking of no aptitude for the game, it’ll be a happy day when I never have to watch our clueless QB again. Steps up in the pocket right into an oncoming rusher. Triple pumps with 5 seconds and a timeout. Again – do you think they don’t practice this? Do you think nobody told him the play had to be run quickly? SHOULD A 5TH YEAR SENIOR EVEN NEED TO BE TOLD THIS? I don’t know if Graham ruined his brain or what, but it’s a sad state of affairs when he made the best play of his Pitt career last night by flipping the ball away before landing on his face. I rarely come down on players this way, I recognize they’re young, but this is mental, and far inferior athletes have had far superior results because they use their brain and make the most of their coaching. I still believe in Chryst, it’s on the players now. H2P always, get your asses in gear.

who was number 44 on or d i saw him put cincy players on there ass 2 times he can hit

OFF TOPIC:

Syracue and Nebraska are no longer members of the AAU. If you recall the ACC prides itself on having a roster of highly rated academic institutions as does the Big1G.

At the rate Pitt is going I hope that our football team does not turn into Temple and is not shown the door (basketball is not where the money is in TV contracts).

We have a long road ahead of us to get this mess straightened out. The VTech game is going to be VERY UGLY!!

Good QB play really can change things. If a guy can escape and make an adlib play once in a while, it can really make the line better…and open more holes for the run game. But more than anything, not being able to hit a downfield pass with any consistency is such a killer, both strategically and momentum-wise. I just can’t see the downside of giving Anderson an extended shot, and then Voytik if he can’t show improvement. People will at least give them credit for making a change and trying.

I still think Chryst is a good coach. Call me crazy, but I’m with Mark May when I say I still think he is the man for the job. On the other hand, we are so bad. Keep Heuber, Engram, Huxtable, and Rudolph, and can the rest. Those guys must have done something right at Wisconsin. HIRE RECRUITERS, SPEND $$$$$$$. Scary time to be a Pitt fan.

Matt N you are so right what has he got to lose
not a dam thing

Bowling Green Panther i to have wondered if they went back to the old pay out on chryst you know
the one were they dont pay the big bucks to asst.

There is one thing i dont understand i must have said this 20 times’ and you all have said it in
outher ways.

why cant they see that tino sucks that he has brain farts that he has no arm why wont they at least try some on else and i dont mean for a play or 2 any thing less then a half is not fair.

Let some one else play QB for at least a whole half what can it do we all ready are loseing the games. how can the coachs be so blind.

I don’t think Chryst is a good head coach now. Maybe he can learn on the job. For better or worse we are stuck with him for the time being due to our recent history. I would fire Huxtable today. Giving up over 30 points per game deserves firing. Our first two opponents are not the best we will play by a long shot. VaTech and some of the others will just run up box car numbers on this defense.

This is NOT a problem with the Senior/redshirt Senior class members that are starting needing to sit. This is a problem with team spirit and each particular individual’s desire to put out 100% to improve for the betterment of the entire team.

Yes more of those starters that may need to sit are upperclassmen and/or Seniors but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Who wants to sit Lumpy on the O Line or tell Donald that he needs to take a break on the D Line?

Chyst is following a very predictable proven coaching technique to give the team the best chance to win this year. You play to your more experienced players simply because, in general, the veteran troops screw up less than the newbies.

The very facts of multiple coaching staffs, different systems, and just the turmoil within the program over the last couple of years has thrown this logical coaching approach out the window however.

That doesn’t mean that you throw every Senior under the bus however, but it does mean that the “experience factor” alone shouldn’t be utilized as a primary determining factor on who should start.

At this point, hustle, desire, spirit, mindset and potential should trump experience across the board regarding who gets playing time. That’s planning for the future. It might hurt you in the short run but it will pay dividends in the future if the primary goal is to transform this team. In fact some guys starting right now are out there because of their potential and not their experience, ie. L. Pitts. Did you see that TD saving tackle he made on Cincy’s QB coming from the completely opposite side of the field. Are you kidding me!?!?!? Now that’s hustle!

There might be only a handful of guys that actually need to be given the hook to change around the total mindset of this team. The results might not change AT ALL short term, but CAN IT GET ANYWORSE staying this course?

One of those “experienced” guys that HAS TO SIT to initiate this strategy is our routine scapegoat Tino Sunseri. The guy just does not have the goods to get the job done and it has destroyed the chemistry of this team. Good things on offense just DO NOT HAPPEN with Tino at the helm. It’s more of an intangible thing than any other factor, the guy is just not an inspiring player and at such an important position as QB, THIS TEAM, RIGHT NOW needs inspiring play from that position. Even if it is inconsistant, mistake prone, error filled play. That is what we have now with our 5th year starter anyhow, at least with a true freshman, AKA Chad Voytik, it would seem more acceptable.

With Hubie Graham going down with a shoulder I would not be surprised to see true Freshman J.P. Holtz out there at TE from here on out. That is what I’m referring to. Young talent seeing the field who is the real deal, being given a chance to contribute which will be very beneficial in the future.

The defense really doesn’t suck as bad as they seem but I’m not sure we are playing the correct guys at LB yet. How soon can we get Todd Thomas back is the question. Grisby seems to be in over his head but Shane Gordon played a pretty good game. We have three true freshman that should be given their shots, Bam Bradley, Gribsby’s younger brother, Deaysean Rippy and Mike Caprara. Caprara supposedly has a nose for the ball, let him play and see what transpires, it all depends on these kids attitudes. If they want it 100%, put that kid on the field at LB and experiment. The LB corps needs work anyhow, try differnet personal to see if anybody rises to the top. Discover their potential and see what each can bring to the table in game situations, all of a sudden you may discover the right combination.

With a more mobile QB, the OL doesn’t look so bad protecting the QB on pass plays and in fact they have been productive in run blocking even with a 90% Ray Graham. Only Cory King really seems exposed to me, being unable to cover the QB’s blind side at left tackle. We don’t have a lot of options there but we have four underclassmen to give a shot to if they are quicker off the snap, give them a try it may be all we need.

I’ve mentioned four positions, and perhaps a couple other guys get sat down considering their lack of effort to give other guys their opportunity. That is just six guys. As long as one of them is Tino Sunseri that takes a break then we have the start at least of a new beginning. Even though there are no easy answers to our woes, this team requires that essential change at QB this point at least.

You know this all makes me want to scream
to utter a prolonged piercing cry of pain
it is no wonder EMel and outhers drink on game day tino would try the patince of a saint.

Put the money in assistant coaches, imo it is the only way to go.
You get what u pay for.
Chryst can’t do it alone, and when he figures that out we will be fine.
I think he is the right man for the job.

DR. Tom what you wrote was well written and well thought out and i think you are 100 percent right/

Thanks FRANKCAN. BTW, 44 is Shane Gordon, he was playing pissed off last night. He wanted to eat somebody’s liver with fiver beans. That’s the kind of effort that we’re looking for.

Where is the coaching? Nick Saban couldn’t go .500 with these sacks of shit for players. Where is the “talent”? They are all slow, small, unathletic. The difference in the caliber of athletes between us and even Cincy, much less Alabama, is absolutely astounding. We have 1-AA talent, size, speed and it shows.

This also kills what many of us talk about with regards to attendance. Just win. You might not get 65k, but you want a nice 40k-50k crowd, you have to win, and win consistenly and beat some teams.

Yes, this is obvious.

Pitt will always have us, the die hards. And I realize not all can attend, health, location, etc. etc.

But they will mostly have us and have a core of say 15k to 20k.

We have to get the others from the casual pool.

Three people at work, I had been “motivating” to go to the Va. Tech game, all are not going.

Really, I thought at least one would go with his family, even after last night, but, no kidding, all three are not going now.

One said she and her husband have a wedding she forgot about. (Hey, maybe they do).

The other two guys, flat out said, before I could even get a good morning in,
“what the hell was that?”

The other just said, “yikes”.

I said, “guess you guys aren’t going to the V-Tech game??”

They just kinda of laughed.

Just in my little world, that was 3 people, with their families and or friends, probably about 12-16 people all together, that aren’t going to go down and buy tickets to the VT game.

Admittedly, they hadn’t committed totally yet, but I feel sure if Pitt was 2-0, they would all be there. (expept maybe the wedding girl).

And please, neither I or any of you can be mad at these types of fans. They don’t have any real Pitt ties, other than growing up in Pittsburgh.

Nice day, fielding a good team, these people come.

This type of stuff, they ain’t comin’.

I know this was rather obvious, but, I wanted to vent about my day.

Completely empty stadium =’s no revenue and bye bye Smiling Stevie!!

The bags worked in New Orleans. Took a while.

This program is in very deep trouble, if they don’t win any games this year, and it looks like they might win 1 game, but what happens if they lose to Gardner Webb? It’s a possibility, if they finish 0-12 do you fire Mr. Excitement, do you fire Stevie P or do you fire both?

Do you blame the losses and the horrible performances on the multiple coaching changes?

My take is Pitt has had a least a top 50 recruiting class on average for the last 6 years, so is it the players? or is it the poor coaching from the current staff? Change is difficult but these kids have been playing competitive football for multiple years and you do not lose that overnight.

Coaching is about strategy and placing your players in a position to perform and I have to say I have not seen a Pitt team be so ill-prepared since the Hackett/Majors II era.

We all have seen multiple coaches over the last 30 years, the current Pitt coaching staff has a grade of F for the first two games and I do not really see that changing as the season moves on, Chryst really appears lost and over his head, he is not HC material, he is a bad hire.

I really think he does not know what to do. This entire program really needs an enema.

Dan i understand but may be that is good lets say the get 10 thousand a game then they get the message. may be the ad goes then maybe they start spending some mony to fix things.

the pete is also going to be dowm bye at least 25 percent there will be alot of empty seats there as well why go to a basketball game when you never hard of the team they are playing we have become a joke in both sports.

I was going to come to Pittsburgh this weekend for some football, but my QBs have scared me away. No way I’m spending that much money to watch Tino and Sanchez fuck up.

It is irrational for Tino to have taken every snap this season. You need to at least get a little experience for the back up in case of injury (since bad play isn’t reason enough). Wiith the play of the Oline the backup will get action at some point, and it should be the freshman.
One thing is certain for me, I will not be attending any games this season, unless the line up changes, this reminds me of the days of the running of the clock during delays to keep the scores down.

Let me get this straight. We have had four actual head coaches in the last three years, two temporary bowl game coaches, two completely different offensive systems, and two so-so recruiting classes. With that we expect to be a half decent football team?

This is a rebuilding year. It is going to be ugly this coming week against Virginia Tech. There is no way around that. I am interested to see what happens against Syracuse and if there is any development during the year. If there is, then I give Chryst a pass on this year. I can still remember Chuck Noll’s first year. He went 1-13. And yes these Panthers are as bad as those Steelers were.

One final thought, until the offensive line is less offensive, there is no way I would want to ruin a promising freshman quarterback by putting him in the game. It would take several years to cure him of happy feet.

You don’t show up to the tune of 10,000 or less per game and this admin might just drop FB entirely.

So continuing down the worst-case, gloom-and-doom path, if Pitt doesn’t turn it around in a few years (and they are in a very deep hole), is there a possibility that the ACC could kick them out?

Serious question.

Can these players be that bad. This team last year although disapointing was in most games, should have beaten Iowa, lost in the last minute to WVU, beat good USF and Louisville teams. What is the difference, who did we lose of note (not one player was drafted). I don’t get it! They should not be this bad or is it the coaching.

Lost 3 starting linebackers with about 50-60 games of experience. Anyone missing Max Gruder this yr? The middle of the defense is all brand new. If your not strong up the middle?????????

8 new starters on defense … including 6 of the front 7 (DL & LB) … 3 new starters on OL

that’s 6 of 9 on both lines that are inexperienced. Believe many fans don’t realize the importance of the trenches (just my opinion)

According to AP a Sunseri quote: “They played the play right,” Sunseri said. “I learned with 5 seconds left not to put so much air under it so you have a couple seconds so you can kick a field goal.”

Source: cnn.com

Arrrggghhhh. I don’t care how overwhelmed the coaching staff looks right now, when your 5th year starting QB admits he “learned” that..its freakin mind boggling.

Sunseri do yourself a favor, STFU when reporters talk to you. You might not look so freakin stupid.

Go ahead Coach Chryst start’em again next week!

Read ron cook of the post he really gets on chryst for not haveing the team ready to play then he tears tino a new ass for his brain farts and bad play then junks most of the team and you know what he is right on.

i dont think pitt will have him to luch an time soon at last the truth not a cream puff pice that the heading seamed

JD will love it.

EMel Dan DR.Tom read ron cook in the post the heading seams like a cream puff pice but it was tounge in cheek he rips chryst and really rips tino you should read it.

Tino sucks as a QB, no doubt. But he is pretty tough. He has gotten the crap kicked out of him all the time, for over two years and he keeps getting back up. I mean I wish he would just give up sometime so any one else could be QB. But damn him, he keeps getting back up. It boggles my mind that 3 different coaches think that he gives us the best chance to win. I’m really surprised that they haven’t let Ray run the wildcat. He is the only one that has been showing any heart.

whos the one on probation?…us or penn state??…man were dying quickly

NYPanther,

The sad thing is that over the last three years, by many accounts of people who see the practices, Sunseri HAS been the best option.

In 2010, his only real competition on the roster came from Pat Bostick, who never seemed capable of elevating his own game to overtake Stull or Sunseri. I believe the only other QB on the roster was Janocko.

In 2011, Graham came on board and installed the spread option. Bostick was out of the way. Myers wasn’t suited to run the spread option. Gonzalez, who was considered a dual-threat QB coming out of high school, couldn’t pick up the offense. Had Gonzalez been even remotely capable, Graham wouldn’t have had to bring Trey Anderson in late.

And here were are in 2012.

I thought the departure of Graham and hiring of Chryst left the door wide open for Myers. But he was never as good as advertised and didn’t take his opportunity here seriously enough. Gonzalez was bad enough that he was moved to DB. That elevated Trey back up the depth chart and put Chryst in the position to at least consider having to burn Voytik’s redshirt now.

I can’t say I should really be surprised by this. Tino was a Wannstedt recruit, and Wannstedt was infamous in NFL circles for never having an eye for quarterbacks. You could say much the same about his tenure at Pitt. Wanny & Cavanagh turned Palko into a game manager. Bill Stull? Well, if we use Sunseri as a basis of comparison, Stull looks good. But really, Stull was the embodiment of everything Wannstedt ever required his QBs to be at the NFL level = average.

Stoosh,

Your right on with everything you said. I just can’t believe that PITT can’t get a viable option at QB. Other schools can. Why not us? I know some kids wash out or were not what they seemed to be when recruited, but man, we have just been unlucky. I also don’t want to just pile on Tino. He’s bad, but we have so many problems in so many other areas. I mean 3 different coaches can’t get anything out of this Oline?? It just really hurts to see schools that don’t recruit as well as us get things together.

The teams play mirrors the program for the past year…chaotic!

Chas – really great post.

I think he made a rookie mistake in hiring as he did. Hope he has the guts to do what he’ll probably be asked to do after the season is finished.

Thought he may have made a mistake by not retaining Keith Patterson. The guy was well regarded and would have brought som continuity, allowing Chryst to spend year one retooling the offense. So far Huxtuble has not impressed.

The problem is with the defensive scheme, holes all over it. When u defend a spread u need to attack it. Play a 3-5-3 or a bandit. Blitz a lot to put pressure on the qb. This tea needs to play a bandit , 3-4, or 3-5-3 again spread teams.

Chryst went out on a limb saying that he could build an offense with Sunseri. Why would he do that? Because he does not want to lose the Voytik red shirt because he can recognize that Savage has the talent to lead the team next year.

Unfortunately Sunseri is not doing his part by failing to improve and screwing his coaches plan.

Time will tell but if Sunseri has another epic fail at Va Tech PC could make a long overdue switcheroo.

This could get a whole lot uglier before it gets better. I would love to think that the Pitt ship will be righted one day in the not too distant future. For now it’s just embarrassing to be perpetually lapped by the youngest programs in the Big Least. There isn’t enough bourbon for the rest of this conversation.

Stoosh, don’t forget Rutgers current starting QB, Gary Nova, who was a Wanny recruit until his firing. As a frosh last year, he beatChas Dodd, the guy who as a frosh, beat out Tom Saage

BATR – no. They wouldn’t.

Pitt and Syracuse just netted each ACC about $4 million a year via the renegotiated TV contract.

Hoops is still strong.
Academics is valued by the ACC.

Maryland looks like train wreck also. Think they are in danger of being booted?

Syracuse has also been to all of 2 bowls for the past 10 years.

Who would be a replacement?
Rutgers has been an embarrassment outside of the Schiano era. He’s gone.
UConn is seen as the worst job in the east.
USF has no appeal.

Temple is a bad camparison. They weren’t a full fledged member, and was always the Villanova factor.

UConn was actually picked before Pitt but was nixed by the BC AD

Why does WVU consistently field a competitive team and we are a laughingstock? Could it be SP?

Why do we always seem to have more key injuries to impact players?

Hindsight is 2020 but firing Wanny has been a disaster.

We have no choice but to hope that Chryst will turn this around, there is no quick fix.

Two weak recruiting classes have left us with little depth, Tino is Tino, but playing Voytek may ruin him or get him killed. Tino may choke in the redzone, but he sure can take a hit’

Fire Pederson! He does not have the ability to hire football coaches, ask Nebraska(Callahan).
Just re-watch the last minute before halftime of the Tino and Paul show. Horrible!

Don’t know if anyone has checked but Myers is now at division 3 John Carroll. In his first game he throw for 457 yards and 5 TDs. Set a school record. I know it’s div 3 but ???

Our three best lb’s are out. It is amazing that Ray is even playing.

They are going to need fireworks nights or bobblehead days to fill some seats. I’d show up for a Hugh green bobblehead

An Ironhead bobblehead would be awesome

Somewhere in buffalo Dave is laughing, somewhere in arizona todd is gloating, somewhere in Pittsburgh steve is still smiling, everywhere else we are miserable.

wbb-good point on Nova. He would have kept Tino on the bench.

I think there needs to be a fundamental change in the Admin, not just SP. They need to value the football program more. Throw millions more into it for coaches, assts, recruiting, whatever will help make it like USC or Alabama. If you get a top coach, and great assts, they will get the recruits and make it a perennial top 20 team. Then guess what happens…thousands fill the stadium, buy the merchandise, donate to school. It’s an investment. Spending 10 mill a yr prob gets you like 50 mill from all the things that come from having a great football program. Then they could spend the profits in other areas of the school. It’s just smart business. They want to be cheap but want great results. That rarely happens. It’s like the Pirates making a big deal about picking someone off waivers. If no other team wanted him, he’s now gonna magically be a clean up hitter or your ace?? Spend the money!

Chas, you ask “Where is the coaching?”

One thing that seems to be case, Rudolph is calling the majority of plays.

My guess is that the time management problemms reflect some indecision on Rudolph’s part and possibly Chryst overruling some playcalls.

As a college football junkie in general, I’m trying to not let this ruin my love of the games.

In the end, I won’t, but I’m human, and my joy of Georgia v. Missouri and TAM v. Florida doesn’t have the same gusto, knowing that you’re team isn’t part of the scene.

Not even the “mediocre” scene.

@John, lol, I was thinking the same thing.

Chryst considers himself a great teacher and he probably is. Therefore, subconsciously, he sort of enjoys not having the best players. There is more of a challenge in making something out of nothing. More recognition too. This would explain less-than-enthusiastic recruiting. And the faith that Sunseri will eventually get it.

NYPanther – I hear you, but many overlook some basic facts. The school is not a business and it is, like most other schools, working within limitations set forth by its Board of Trustees. And as fiduciaries, they will appropriately set a risk averse course. “If you build it, they will come” is not risk averse.

The fact is that investments in programs start with large donations from alums. So, if you want them to spend more, be prepared to start donating or donate more – up front. We donors are the ones who will have to take the risk, not the school.

Obviously I have no idea as to what support you or anyone else here gives to Pitt and I’m not inferring that you don’t. But everyone here who suggests that the budget should be increased needs to understand it has to come from somewhere before it can be spent. That’s just the reality of the situation.

Hey, Pitt did get a couple shout outs, during the Utah-Utah State game. I’m gonna para-phrase, and I’m not real sure what the context was.

I was watching with “one eye open”!! However, I did catch this discussion, and it had to do with “Rocket” Ismail I’m assuming trying a comeback??? “Rocket” Roger Clemens doing a comeback, and Mark May was in the studio.

Three announcers, all laughing, and it went something like this.

Anncr 1 : “Well, I guess the Rocket announced he wants to come back and play in the NFL at 37″

Anncr 2 : “Why not, the other Rocket is pitching in Texas at 50″

Anncr 3 : “50, maybe May Day can come out of retirement too”

Anncr 1: “ya, maybe he should, Pitt could use him”

Anncr 2: “ya, they could use Clemens too”

Hey, I didn’t say anything about it being a good shout out!!!

POD – that’s an interesting observation. I had not noticed myself, but it makes sense and I suppose that’s simply the pain a first-time HC and first time OC have to go through. No other way to avoid it in other words.

Having said, that I guess we will have to see if each of them can settle into their respective roles. Chryst certainly would not be the first former OC to struggle with the transition to HC.

I have no guess if he will or won’t …. But am absolutely certain of one thing…. someone else on this site will (haha)

Pitt is caught in a “perfect storm” of chaos right now. Most above have hit every point but one. I would suggest that switching from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 has caused massive confusion in the ranks. Add that to all the other stuff!

No more excuses please! Play some f’n football and STFU!

@Joe Lawrence. Excellent point, very well understood, you are correct.

One of my problems however, is Nordy and Steve telling us “we’re here to win BE championships”, “we’re here to win NC”, and when we go to the ACC, “we want to be a strong, competitive program that vies (sp?) for the ACC championship game.”

If in fact, we don’t have the finances to be competitive, then let us know. If football is secondary or even further down the list, we have a right to know as fans.

Now, someone might say, “what do expect them to do, come out and say, “”we stink, we’ll always stink, but still come to the games”.

I understand that. I don’t know how you’d do it.

Perhaps a letter to supporters, saying, we really need to start a fund drive, like they did on the academic side. Not just soliciting normally, but, “if we’re gonna be competive, we really need to start a serious initiative”.

Now, we’ve all assumed this to be the case, we don’t have a huge alumni base, we don’t have a (insert guy’s name from Oregon) to help.

I want to hear it, in some form, some way, even subtley, that we have big financial issues to be competive in football, from a higher up at Pitt,

and quit telling me we’re here to be competive and win championships, if that is not the case(they don’t really care), or it can’t be the case(we don’t have enough money).

I want to hear it from them.

What’s the old quote that fits this situation?

“don’t piss down my leg and tell me it’s raining”.

Joe Lawrence-it’s too bad that that is the way they operate. I think they are missing an opportunity to really have a great program and get a ton of money for the university. I’m sure there are many other non-football areas that could use an influx of cash.

Joe Lawrence said: “everyone here who suggests that the budget should be increased needs to understand it has to come from somewhere before it can be spent”. Now if only the Federal Government understood that!

Dan – I don’t think the size of the alumni base is really an issue. It’s big enough.

Pitt Athletics no longer needs to run major capital campaigns…unless someone wants to – once again – raise the off-campus stadium issue. And BTW – regardless of what one may think of the Heinz Field situation, the current facilities for other sports are simply first class. So I would guess the challenge is in annual giving.

As a donor, albeit a modest one, I believe the Pitt Athletic dept treats me extremely well. I have some friends who are in collegiate athletics and they marvel at some of the materials I’m sent. The ticket office folks could not be nicer – and I ‘m bummed that Mary recently retired. She was a gem. in short, everything I see points to a good organization.

So, they’ve done a lot of good things and yet the budget for coaches is perceived to be 2nd rate. Perhaps. I personally believe that Pitt is being prudent in attempting to pay attractive salaries to up and coming coaches while not looking like spendthrifts ( see earlier remarks about risk).

Find a guy who could improve the program and generate some excitement…interest increases…revenues games and merchandise rises…and some donor pockets open wider. Then the guy either leaves for the big time or Pitt retains him. Either way, there’s now more money to spend and thus the budget increases.

I believe that was the Graham strategy, even if it blew up in Pitt’s face. Looks to me like they stuck with that strategy with the Chryst hire.

But to your point – and a good one – is how to accelerate that money from the donors. Tough one – it’s a chicken/egg challenge in my opinion. But I think they do need to find a way to increase the average donation – and probably the participation percentage as well…to date, no one has asked me to give more… And if they had a campaign where there was a personal touch – perhaps events targeted at getting more modest donors to give a little more, I’d give it serious consideration. I believe the program is heading in the right direction long term and want to keep both my seat location and parking spot. And for that I will need more Panther points.

Perhaps I’m a bit like Linus sitting in a pumpkin patch, but in the end aren’t all Pitt FB fans?

Anybody that follows politics should realize that JUST throwing money at problems doesn’t guarentee that they will be fixed.

This program is in trouble for multiple reasons. It apparently is going to take some time to figure out exactly why this train wreck happened. Let alone developing resolutions to address them.

However, one persistent concern has become self evident over a three year period. We have a problem at QB.

Using a medical analogy, if you notice that you’ve developed a suspicious lump, you may just monitor it for awhile. If you notice it becomes more prominent over time you should get it examined professionally. If the diagnosis is unfavorable and it is recommended to be removed in the best interest of your health, then that should be done, no matter how much pain and disfigurement that might occur in the short term, because you realize the long term benefits.

Here is the diagnosis by Ron Cook concerning that which ails the Panther’s football team, “Chryst put his trust in Sunseri instead of taking the 3 points with a field goal. With another quarterback, maybe that faith would have been justified. But Sunseri, throughout his career, has been known to take bad sacks or make bad plays at the worst possible times. This was another example. He held on to the ball too long before finally throwing it out of the end zone. The clock expired and Pitt got nothing”.

Ladies and gentlemen, anybody that has followed Pitt football over the last three years has recognized an unmistakable tumor growing on this football team during that time. We’ve all looked at it, discussed it, tried to ignore it, hoped it would get better with time, but in fact it now is so blatantly obvious that it is constantly effecting the overall physical and mental health of this team.

That tumor is the decision making & playing ability of our QB, Tino Sunseri.

IT IS TIME TO SURGICALLY REMOVE THAT PROBLEM.

Start Chad Voytik, Trey Anderson or even Ronald Jones at QB against Gardner-Webb and never look back. It will be the single most important coaching decision that Paul Chyrst could make in his first year as a HC.

The results might not be immediately apparent this season but it will excise the culprit that is most responsible for this team’s current illness.

To do so will require guts and faith on the part of Coach Chryst, but it needs to be accomplished, SOON.

66Goat, the way to lower the deficit is either to raise taxes (donations) or for people, esepcially the wealthy, to reinvest in the US economy (more season tickets and sellout crowds.)

Otherwise, you have to really lower the spending but then you risk not being competitive (games) especially in defense which comprises over half of the budget.

If someone at Pitt could tell me that money was the issue and promise that if I gave enough, the football program would be a yearly Top 20, I would take a second mortgate out on my house and give it to Pitt!

As a fan and alum of 40 some years, I am weary of the debacle that is Pitt Football. I have been involved in management turnarounds for poorly performing companies most of my life and quite frankly am completely lost at why our football program sucks?

Maybe it’s both Nordy and SP. They have been the one’s in charge.

I noticed no names on back of uniforms. Players are probably glad. When you mess up knowbody knows who you are. Good Planning. Linebackers on this team are really stuck in mud.

face it, Pitt has a history of major lows in its FB program … (late 60s/early 70s, mid 90s, now) … can it be attributed to lack of administrative commitment or just plain lack of leadership? I believe a combination of both.

Even when they fired Wanny, they weren’t comitted to pay a salary competitive to other BE coaches (let alone real conferences) … it was only when they were up against it did Stevie lobby for more money to pay Graham and staff (and thanks to Stevie, Fraud had all of the leverage)

I believe it’s the blind leading the blind

It is money and fan base, and maybe academic flexibility. Look at the SEC. Huge schools, rabid fanbases, tons of cash. Football is a way of life to them.

No, throwing money at the problem rarely works.

Many examples, Detroit, Baltimore, Maryland’s football program.

I get that.

I guess what I’m wondering, has their been a “de-emphasis” of football in the administration???

Hard to say, anyone have any information, any insiders, assistants to the assistants, anyone like that, that can tell???

It won’t help the team, but I’d like to know, are Nordy and Steve as pissed off and upset as we are??? Ya, I can’t stand Steve either, but regardless, is the admistration not happy either?

Or, are Nordy and the BOT winking at Steve, telling him, “no problem, do what you can”.

Is Nordy pissed because we may embarrass ourselves in the ACC if this ship doesn’t get righted, or,

is he just thrilled that we’re in academically with Wake Forest, Duke and Georgia Tech???

Serves no purpose, only to my mind, but, I’d like someone to re-assure me that, yes, Nordy and the BOT haven’t taken the last 5 years football wise well either.

Dan 72, your points are spot on. I have been in government all my life and know throwing money at a problem doesn’t work. Our public school system is a classic example. Private teachers make less money and provide a better education that is based on my own experience in public and private education.
PITT has no strategic plan for football. When Wanny was relieved there was no plan in place. In good programs, continuity is maintain as someone from the staff is promoted to
HC. In some ways, I think SP got Graham mostly to excite the base. What did he really do nothing. SP is the problem here. He showed in Nebraska and he’s doing the same thing here. He is responsible for athletics period. In your business, if your manager was responsible for a project and it failed miserably because of things he could control, I’m sure he wouldn’t be around long. We lost a lot of good recruits who decided to go elsewhere after Wanny left. I can only wonder how this team would be performing if that staff was still intact?

It’s not a money issue….
Pitt was willing to spend $2million on Graham plus $2million on assistants… that is a lot… and enough..

However, since Pederson did not tell Chryst who to hire for assistants…. he has surrounded himself with ex-Wisky coaches or those related to Wisky or him in someway.

I think Pederson will come down hard on Chryst at season end regarding assistants!!!

Emel, wbb,
I’ll never forget that Gilyard TD return. I was sitting in the closed endzone, everyone sitting there was laughing and pointing away from Gilyard, (to the left, I think) as the kicker ran toward the ball. Then, as we watched the ball go directly to Gilyard, a wave of horror filled silence fell over the crowd. It was unbelievable, why would they kick it right to him?

And Nordy has done a fantastic job academically, no question about that.

Top 3 or 4 in public university research.

Top 8 in university research when including the Ivy League.

Fantastic, and I love that fact. It’s what the university is here for.

He has a lot going on, I know, but if they’re not behind the football program 110%, I guess,

I’d just like to know that.

Private schools may pay teachers less money but the quality of students are much higher. I don’t believe this is a good analogy.

But I do believe the quality of participants are — and the SEC are surrounded by a plethora of talent. Western PA still has some quality but definitely not the quantity

At this point I don’t see a reason not to try out Voytik. If Savage is great and starts over Voytik next year then you redshirt Voytik in 2013 instead of this year. They did it with Palko. By 2014 Voytik is a redshirt sophomore either way.

DR. Tom what you wrote yesterday and to day
was so well written and thought out that you should type it up.
then you should send it mail it to head coach
chryst. and you should send copys to the sports writters and news papers and to our AD.
REALLY YOU SHOULD DO THIS PLEASE.

Chet Masterson that is a very good idea.

I know we dont all read every post on here
but you should all read DR. Tom post from yesterday and to day he has nailed it point for point.

Wbb, I don’t buy your argument. I am an example of attending parochial school to 8th grade and then transferring to public school. I was doing school work in public high school that I already finished in parochial school. I know of many people that experienced the same effect. And many of my parochial grades wer split meaning one teacher for 5th and 6th, 7th and 8th.

I’m watching PSU game…
They are looking good… coaches made adjustments, etc… and yes, 1st time HC!

btw…
I say, Bring in Tom Bradley for DC next season..
the smoke cleared..

Private/parochial schools do better than public schools because they can kick out the clowns who are disrupting the class…that simple. Instead of chucking them, public schools have to ‘reason’ with these mental midgets or sociopathic aggressors, and the rest of the kids are f’ed. I’ve gone to all three types of schools and taught in private and public schools…that’s how it be.

On a happier note, pretty sure Anderson could at least make the rest of the season fun and interesting — if for nothing else than simply not being Tino — and if he’s healthy, I think he could actually be good. Unfortunately his hand may still be an issue, so burn that redshirt for Voytik and save us all from despair…please!!

PSU puts in True Frosh Bench over Paul Jones…
McGloin injured.
Hope Chryst is watching.

Interesting stat. According to the National Football Post the highest paid coordinators are in Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Clemson.

Let me share how it is in the real world. If one of the people who I manage screws up, I can count on a meeting with my CEO…post haste..
If he screws up a second time, there will be NO meeting…just a pink slip…for me.

That’s how it is in the real world. Pitt must be “Disneyland” because no one ever pays…Steve Pederson…Hear me!

Penn State looks light years better than Pitt, by 2016 they will be WAY better than Pitt if this keeps up.

The question isn’t whether or not PC is right for the job at the moment (even if the entire coaching staff looks in over their heads), it’s how high should the next round of firings go? And I’m not simply talking about the AD. The board knows how Pitt is being perceived nationally. The highest leadership has allowed this to happen, allowed the athletic department heads function as they have. PC isn’t to blame for all of this- he’s not the reason we are in this mess, he’s the only one trying to get us out. At this point, the ones to blame are higher than the AD and the program is now in a pitch black hole. Hopefully there will be more conversation in the Pitt world about these decision makers, because it’s useless talking about another coaching staff. PC needs to block everything else out and build a foundation while the fans, boosters, bloggers, administration, etc. reevaluate things at the top. They have overseen everything up to this point.

JoeD – I don’ t think SP will – or should – “come down hard” on Chryst…but I agree with your point. Chryst will have to make some staff adjustments. If he is going to bring along Rudolph as OC, he will not have the luxury of having a journeyman DC. I posted somewhere that perhaps he should have retained Keith Patterson, but your suggestion of Tom Bradley is an interesting one -Zeise said it will never happen – but if he doesn’t get pulled into the PSU litigation, we could probably get him within Pitt’s budget.

Joe D…In a related story, Paul Jones to transfer at end of this season…That is the mess PSU is in…Any player that is unhappy with their playing status this season already has the green light to leave after this season.

PSU’s kicker is killing them…
Missed 3 today… a 20 yd… smh

I’m not a Tom Bradley supporter..
I didn’t want him as HC…
wanted him as DC… but with all the stuff going on… had to wait for the smoke to clear.
At this point… the DC position is his if he wants it.

I don’t understand the reluctance to get Voytik snaps this year. He can redshirt next year with Savage as the starter, and who knows with Chapman coming a semester early he may even be ready to see some backup time. Then in ’14 there can be a legitimate battle between Voytik and Chapman for the job, both with a bit of backup experience. Anderson can keep hanging around too. Is he even on scholarship yet?

FWIW as a public HS teacher I’ve never had a parochial student transfer in and be one of my “better” students. I’m not doubting DJS and his experiences, but I’ve seen first-hand these students struggle with the work and expectations. But, as a Catholic, I pray for all of them. And for Coach Chryst.

No to Tom Bradley. Let him visit his friend Jerry.

JW – I transferred from parochial school and was sent to the next grade up for reading and math because we had already covered what the public school was teaching the prior year. And I can name a whole slew of kids my age that went through the same thing. The public school system I attend was/is highly regarded as well.

Regarding Bradley… will the recruiting ability he’s enjoyed in the past be wiped out by the taint of the scandal? Would a HS kid and/or his parents receive him in their living rooms? I suppose if it was my kid, I would at least let him in, but I might ask him some tough questions.

PSU lost due to kicker who missed 5 FG’s..
smh

Looks like we got the wrong Central QB. Frosh Perry Hill leads Maryland to its second victory of the season with 2 TD passes.

How abought that 2 outher teams do well with a freshmen QB and are coach keeps starting a sr who
QB who cant find his own ass with his hands in his back pocket.
DO you belive this tino sucks but we cant even get another QB in the game when all is lost to see how he would do and FR are starting for outhe schools

Remember Pitt. And anyone in any type of business knows this. The worst customer isn’t the one that is upset and complaining.

The worst customer by far, is the one that is upset, never complains, and is never heard from again!!

Usually never get them back.

DJS, you confirmed my argument. I said that the quality of student is higher in the private school than public school …. and it is much more likely contributed the environment the student is raised in as well as the classroom environment than the quality of teaching.

certainly the students attending Shady Side Academy are much better stduents from a more condusive home environment than students attending Oliver. I admit this is an extreme example as there are plenty of really good stduents at USC, Mt Lebanon and Peters but, by and large, students attending private schools are much better prepare than this attending public

Regarding public HS…
My daughter is in a large HS and the quality is there.
Subjects are in 3 categories… AP/Honors, College Prep, General Studies. The knucklehead are in GS classes.
Small public schools (say 200/class or smaller) can’t offer that.
Many school districts in wpial need to merge… better education… better/more competitive sports.

In side the cincinnati locker room before the
game with pitt.

The D line coach is talking to his players
geting them hyped up for the game excitement
is growing.
A huge DT stands up and yells dont worry coach i
will smash that tino guy grind him into the ground

A look of fear shows on the D line coachs face
he grabs the front of the D line mens shirt

and says you must not do that you must not hurt
that QB tino becuse as long as he is there QB
we are sure to win this game. a joke but it could be true who knows.

Dr Tom, your post this morning hits the nail right on the head (Tino’s head). The quarterback has to be the leader of the team, and it has to show in his play on the field. How can this team possibly get up to play when they know the odds are stacked against them already because their QB has limited skills and capability?

The best way to shake up this teams morale is to put someone at QB who can present more of a threat than the 10 yard pass.

I’m not being oblivious to the problems on the defense but I think this is a move that has to be made.

Texas A&M QB is true Frosh..
unbelievable HS career..

Joe D that make at least 3 that we know of
so why must pitt suffer with tino EMel has a reason could it be true?

QB Manziel is a redshirt freshman, who was a three star recruit according to Scout. I am sure he ran track. Jody, the point is correct that it is okay to go with a redshirt freshman, even in the SEC.

Pitt is currently operating with the assumption that Voytik and Savage Will be duking it out next year. We shouldn’t assume Savage to be the starter. That is one reason I want to see Voytik take over for Tino after the Vtech game. Tino is done and the last two games should be enough for Paul Chryst to pull the string and make that happen.

Manziel was a 3star by rivals…
that was a surprise as announcers said he was most sought after QB..
his HS number are crazy… over 7000 yds passing.. 75 tds… then almost 4000 yds rushing and 75 tds..

He came from a small HS in bumf Texas… and he didn’t run track!! but has speed.

and I agree dhuff..
give Voytek some playing time…
start with Gardner game..

If we keep loseing if bye game 5 he has not put anderson or voytek in i am done with pitt football till next year.

Another interesting nugget is that Wisconsin has scored ZERO points with 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter against oregon state.

Maybe our guy is that good and we just don’t have the right pieces in place. That will happen in time.

What? Joe, no forty time on that kid? Slacker! LOL.

DJS-

Don’t think that comparing public and private schools is as easy as using your own experience (whenever that may have been). My son just graduated from public high school with 21 college credits, all classes he took at the public school. Many are not offered at the private schools in the area. Also, public schools have more government restrictions and have to deal with ALL students, not the select students who attend private school. In my 25 years as a public school teacher I have seen many students who were asked to leave private school. And that is not to mention those students who have special needs that are not typically accommodated in private school settings.

FWIW, YSU beat Valparaiso 59-0 and led 49-0 at halftime … not much consolation but I’m grasping at straws

It’s a myth that America’s schools are much worse than many other countries and we need to spend more to improve them. Asian Americans do better than Asians, African Americans do better than Africans, European Americans do better than Europeans in schools. The problem is our scores are an average, and some cultures, because of parenting, outperform our average.

One poster proclaimed that we “should keep expectations low”.
I agree but not for the reasons he cited.
Pitt does not want football to be successful. They are in the ACC, do not enjoy significant university donations from the football team performance and thus, are not bothered by perpetual lousy performance or the snickers from their peers.
Pederson would not have kept his job at Duquesne, but he has at Pitt. Firing Wanny without a plan, hiring Haywood was a stretch at best but the lack of a background check made Pitt and Pederson look stupid.
Hiring Graham and then being jilted by him leaves Pitt and Pederson branded as class A suckers.
Chryst is behind the 8 ball as Pitt essentially lost 2 recruiting classes on top of the coaching carousel.
But Pitt could care less.
No one there has ever worked for a winner…they all have Pitt as the first stop on their resume…if you know any if them you know this to be true; if not, read their bios.
I stopped my donations and called the Athletic Department.
I didn’t go postal.
When I called, I told the nice lady that Chryst was going thru a hard time and I wished him well. She sounded surprised.
I then told her that her boss was incompetent, had been fired by Nebraska for good reason and by virtue if his lousy personnel decisions had sunk Pitt recruiting for 2 years and given Chryst nothing to work with. She said “thank you” in a very low voice and hung up.
I also sent Pederson an email and told him point blank that I would fire him and had (withdrew donations) and held him responsible for the chaos..he might fool his bosses but he didn’t fool Nebraska and he ain’t fooling me.
I signed my name.
Pitt care? No way. They fired Wannstadt and treated him like dog shit, yet they keep dig shit Pederson who is far worse at his job than Wanny was at his.
Don’t go to games and don’t donate money and tell Pitt why you are taking this action.
Otherwise, they will treat you like a chump.
Remember, Pitt football has underachieved for decades…it isn’t by accident.

Actually, really simple SFPitt when you think about it.

The man got chased out of one of the most storied college football programs of all time, before he completely ruined it.

Pitt re-hired this man.

Watching Todd Graham against Illini. He is using true freshman, even at qb. He is using two qb’s even. Both qb’s understand his offense and at least through the first half, are pounding illinois.

This again shows how terrible tino really is. He couldn’t grasp it. Graham has hinted at Pederson being the problem and I believe him.

Wisconsin continues to struggle offensively. They put up 7 points against oregon state. I continue to believe players respond to paul chryst. He will win for us!

With TG and AZ state killing illini that is proff
that he was a good coach he had nothing to work with here
he left because we have no players and he knew it
i dont like him but it shows it was us not him in a way and maybe our AD WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

Today’s article in the Trib talks about the downfall of both the Pitt and PSU football programs with the arrow pointing to the AD of both schools.

dhuffdaddy… You’re right on the money.

don’t think dave is laughing in buffalo!