I won’t even pretend to write that I saw that coming.
I made the weak jokes about putting members of the 2001-03 coaching staff and team on the sideline for this game, but to see to this happen is utterly befuddling. (If anyone has pictures of Walt Harris or players from those squads on the sidelines, please share.)
The quandary this puts me in is that I watched the first half of the game on DVR delay because of a surprise project at work. I caught up by halftime. I panicked after halftime when VT returned the punt for TD (by a former Pitt commit no less). I paused the game and found excuses to do some dinner prep that could have waited until after the game. And sure enough, Pitt stayed in control to win this game.
So, now what? Intellectually I say that I have nothing to do with the on the field activity. Emotionally, I just don’t want to eff with this. Okay, it doesn’t hurt that my wife is calling in an overrule to say I have to miss next week to visit inlaws
Heading into this game, I said Tino Sunseri needed to have a USF-in-20111 game. And he did. He was outstanding. Does it erase everything before? Of course not. But the few errors he did make in this game can’t be claimed as damning.
Basically, Sunseri could have gotten a 300 yard game if Paul Chryst wanted him to. Just as he could have had let Ray Graham have a 1oo yard game. Neither did, but that was individual goals. I’m rather certain both are happy to give those numbers up to get the win. Especially against a top #15 team. about the team goals.
The defense, though, finally showed up. Huge game for them. The D-line got some pressure up front without blitzing, and the secondary reallymade strides.
Still digesting. Debating about whether to sober up. More later.
Huge win for Pitt.
Long-suffering Pitt fans find that hard to believe; we’re so used to any positive being followed by the inevitable, agonizing thud.
All we can do it watch and wait. Maybe PC is the steady, unglamorous, even-keel guy who can make that happen.
What a great day…HTP
I think so. You could tell today that something in practice this week clicked – this team is executing schemes now, guys are going where they’re supposed to go and they’re executing when they get there. The tackling on defense is a 180 degree reversal from the first two games. Gaps were being filled. The O-line hit its spots consistently, the receivers ran their routes (except on the interception), and the natural talent of Graham and Shell did the rest. And Tino’s play was not mediocre so he didn’t sabotage the rest.
it was a depressing few weeks
I come down hard on the guy when he comes up short, which is more often than not, but today he deserves all of the praise that he earned. Good on ya Sunseri! Hail to Pitt!
Tino outplayed the V-Tech QB. Got to give him his due, great throws when really needed.
The lines were awesome. Shell is for real, not as flashy as Tony or Shady, but he hits the hole and is hard to take down. Graham missing his burst or he breaks several big ones. Still a major asset though.
Much better coaching, IMO only one bad call when we needed four yards went for a long one to Saddler. Preceded the punt return for a touchdown.
Still got the shakes when it was down to 11 points, with plenty of time left. Too many bad memories. Not convinced until our last td.
Total team effort.
Best win since WVU. Maybe saved a season.
Hail to Pitt!
There is no need to bad mouth Wanny — this is his pro mentality. There is also no need to go overboard for Chryst. While I hope this is his breakout game and a portend for what is to come, he has another big test in 2 weeks against a team that gave USC a pretty good tussle in their dome.
(yes I guess I am overlooking GW.)
Tino hitting early bombs was HUGE. Kept their defense honest.
Tino had a very good game. best I have seen.
Shell is a player. Always falls forward. Will carry this team on day (did it today). Bonifide player.
Grahams knee is fine. Confidence growing.
Shanahan is a NFLer.
L Pitts will be 1st team all-big east and one day will play on Sundays.
As I use to say with Walt Harris… Thank God for Vtech. That win should open a few eyes in the ACC since they all seem intimidated by Vtech. PITT still has Vtechs number.
HTP
2. O-line, teriffic
3. Shell, is going to be one of the top backs in the country in the next few years.
4. Defense, guys, where you been, great.
5. Ray, getting his cutting business back in gear.
Great game, great day!!!
HTP.
If they start serving up some of that slop they called football, from the first two games, yes, you will.
“what’s up with Pitt, they beat Va. Tech 4 in a row, the rest of us get hammered”.
“some kind of curse over them?”
Wow, sweet game. Great job coaches, Tino and team!!!
- Wow.
- Hope it’s a sign of things to come.
- Since we’ve had some negative knee jerk thoughts towards Pitt Football over the first two weeks, let me take this time to re-knee jerk back after recent events:
* PC MUST be signed to a lifetime contract NOW and when will the statue be installed. They can call PSU for the bronze.
* SP is the smartest AD in college football. Hired PC and got Pitt in the ACC. Let’s get him signed up for life as well.
* PC is the greatest QB developer in the history of CFB, Tino’s now call little Marino.
* If VT is the best the ACC has to offer then those other schools better learn how to recruit. I’m sure JoeD will be getting a call from them….
* Boy can Pitt’s AC’s “coach” up those players
* With this win, PC will now sign every 5 star recruit around since they rule the Northeast when it comes to college football.
* And while we’re at it, can someone lock up the DC to a 20-year contract.
* Finally, I think the real reason they won was the current uniform colors, logo and stadium.
both sides of the ball…
There play today was night and day versus the last 2 games.
1. Tino – The kid has guts. Much of the criticism over his limitations as a QB is warranted, but the kid absolutely has guts. To this point at least, this is likely the game that will define his Pitt career, as well it should. He looked in control. He was efficient. He put touch on the ball not just on the touchdowns, but on some of the longer passes that he hit to sustain drives. He was exactly what Chryst/Rudolph/Bollinger need him to be in this offense. Just a terrific performance by him, and hopefully we see more of this.
2. Ray Graham – Holy hell, that jump cut. Just devastating.
3. Rushel Shell – As a testament to his performance, members of the media tweeted that VT players in the postgame were offering unsolicited praise of Shell, particularly how hard he was to bring down. I expected to see this kind of running from him, but not until next year, to be honest. This is going to be fun. Speaking of which…
4. I really hope Corey Clement was watching today’s game.
5. Very solid game by the o-line, relatively speaking today. Turnley, Schleiper and Jacobsen in particular looked really solid. Rotheram struggled a little (and what’s with the false starts on third and short?), but all in all, this group was really good against a very tough test.
6. Oh hey, another Mizzou TD. 17-0 over ASU. Hah.
7. Defensive line – Aaron Donald was a beast today. Devin Cook was a monster in a reserve role as well. Ezell was in the mix. Murphy and Clemmings were solid. What an improvement from last week.
8. Linebackers – Becoming a huge Shane Gordon fan very quickly. How many stand-him-up tackles did that kid have today? Five? Six? I also really liked getting Manny Williams into the lineup. Really solid game by Eric Williams, especially that head-up hit he laid on Logan Thomas.
All in all, just a great game. This is the best thing about college football…that a team can and often does find itself getting better week after week. Hopefully today was a preview of what Coach Chryst can build with this program, and they take the next step next weekend by hammering Gardner-Webb.
Very happy for Coach Chryst on his first win, and very happy for the entire Pitt team. The players worked hard and earned this one.
Now we have Chyrstism’s….
- Neat
- Really Neat
what are others?
- The truth is….
then L Ville is the key game if we beat L Ville
then then the 10 and 2 is a real posiblity.
if we lose to L Ville.
then we are 8 and 4 or 7 and 5 i think we go to a bowl this year.
things look good run the ball run the ball.
Congrats to all involved…and the Bucs held on!
Hail to Pitt…actually had a tear in my eye in the fourth quarter!
keep calm
hail to pitt
I hope Penni’s is too. She had no use for Pitt. I don’t know why given how we subsidized her shopping sprees.
A despicable duo.
“effin’ bastards”.
Ya, they hate us. I’d say it’s a bit of a rivalry!!!!
- Wow.
- Hope it’s a sign of things to come.
- Since we’ve had some negative knee jerk thoughts towards Pitt Football over the first two weeks, let me take this time to re-knee jerk back after recent events:
* PC MUST be signed to a lifetime contract NOW and when will the statue be installed. They can call PSU for the bronze.
* SP is the smartest AD in college football. Hired PC and got Pitt in the ACC. Let’s get him signed up for life as well.
* PC is the greatest QB developer in the history of CFB, Tino’s now call little Marino.
* If VT is the best the ACC has to offer then those other schools better learn how to recruit. I’m sure JoeD will be getting a call from them….
* Boy can Pitt’s AC’s “coach” up those players
* With this win, PC will now sign every 5 star recruit around since they rule the Northeast when it comes to college football.
* And while we’re at it, can someone lock up the DC to a 20-year contract.
* Finally, I think the real reason they won was the current uniform colors, logo and stadium.
Should’ve mentioned Shanny above in my earlier post. I believe it was Hillgrove that said in the postgame that this was Shanny’s first 100-yard receiving game.
For what it’s worth, too, they had him lining up as a TE at times tonight with Hubie Graham out of the lineup. Not sure how often it happened, but I saw it at least a few times in the first half.
Lots of contributions from a few true freshmen today, actually.
Shell was tops, obviously.
JP Holtz started at TE and actually came up big when he recovered Shell’s fumble.
Also saw a ton of Jahmahl Pardner in the passing defense as well.
Once the final stats post to the Pitt website, I’ll check to see who else was out there, but it’s certainly nice to see.
I have criticized Tino heavily, but after today, he has earned this:
THREE CHEERS FOR TINO MARINO, CLUTCH QB?!
Seriously, I could not believe my eyes as he threw beautiful pass after beautiful pass. I do not know what clicked, but this was hands down the best game of his career. Last year, he got a lot of YAC against USF and UConn, but tonight he was money with the deep ball, putting it where only his receivers could get it in stride. Amazing.
I still can’t explain how Pitt pulled this off, but the team and its fans really needed it. I CANNOT WAIT for some ACC action. I loved seeing the return of the power run game. This was not VT losing a clunker to a bad team, this was a thorough domination.
All in all a happy, happy, day. I’ll worry about the future in the future, tonight is all about dark beer, highlights, and victory lights!!!!
Devin Cook (RS FR) had a monster game at DE. Shane Gordon had a great day. The secondary finally lived up to their preseason hype. The defense actually got a rush with only 4 linemen, but also mixed in a good deal of blitzes as well.
Even with the run working, the coaches were not afraid to keep going to the pass and kept VT on their heels.
All those recruits at the game today got a hell of a show. HAIL TO PITT!!!
That felt like watching a Pitt Panther Super Bowl highlights!
Hail!
Good time for a win………….!!
Fellas, looks like we finally got ourselves a Ball Coach!
I was there. Pitt played physical football from start to finish.
The backers must have collectively looked in the mirror and said, this shit ends now! There play was excellent. Some hidden gems: 1. Tino’s touch TD pass to Street and Street’s sweet adjustment to the other shoulder. 2. Shanahan getting rocked on the punt return and then coming back with the TD to seal the deal. 3. Graham running on instinct again. 4. Oline power. 5. Coaching…game plan and in game adjustments… The D never gave up a drive and hit hard.
Not so hidden teaching moments: 1. Penalties, especially motion ones. 2. Harper. Anyone who saw him heading to the locker room at half had to feel for the guy…I know I did AND I was mad as hell at him. 3. D backs not certain of schemes—I know we had many picks, but the VT QB throws off his back foot and his passes sail on him. We had some gifts.
4. I have to throw in the punt return —but I’ll say this too– sometimes players from other teams make great plays-they was one of them.
Knowing how good I feel this morning, I can only imagine how psyched all of them feel after their dominating victory over a ranked team like VT.
Now it is our job as fans to come out for the next game in force to help keep up that momentum! We’re not good enough to overlook anybody, even Gardner-Webb. Pitt’s mantra in that regard for the remainder of the season should be, “remember YSU”.
Great day to be a Pitt fan. HAIL TO PITT????
What a change, Tino getting some love.
* with a 21-3 lead at half-time, I felt good……….as long as Mardy Gilyard didn’t start the 2nd half returning kickoffs.
* hats of to Tino. I have been as big of a critic as anyone, and I still don’t think he has the tools to be an above average FBS QB, but you have to give the kid credit. He made lemonade from lemons yesterday.
* I think eventually Lafayette Pitts has the tools to turn into a shut-down corner
* Permitting that Rushel Shell stays out of trouble, there is no doubt he can be one of the top running backs in the country. What a weapon to have the next 2-3 years in the ACC.
* HARPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1) i think chryst and his staff are finally getting their feet under them. Remember this was only his 3rd game as a hc.
2) the coaches had this team 100% prepared. They knew exactly what vt would do on both sides of the ball.
3) the play calling and in game adjustments were superb. One adjustment that hadnt been made in previous games that annoyed me was that teams were nickel and diming pitt down the field, yet the corners stayed 10 yards off the los. Yesterday, vt started to do such and the corners immediately started pressing and shut down those screens and short outs.
4) rushel shell is an animal. He lowers the boom. And he had 3 or 4 runs that, in a year, hed break for a td.
5) tino is a very effective game manager when the other players do their job. The recievers ran crisp routes and the o line blocked effectively… What resulted? 35 points and tino making plays.
6) the defensive line and linebackers played how i thought they would before the season. Devin cook, who started his first game played very well and has a bright future. Hes long and rangy. Only a rs frosh
Now, pitt has problems. They still lack depth at ol and linebacker, but the main reasons i think this will be a building block are because i think chryst and company now, like i said have their feet under them. They know what it takes now and his comfort and demeanor and work ethic clearly trickled down to the players. I think the staff finally knows what certain players are capable of and how to use them. And i think chrysts even keel will keep these players from having an epic letdown on saturday. Im certainly not overlooking gw and syracuse, but pitt could potentially go into a home game.. On a saturday afternoon.. Against what should be a top 15 ranked louisville team.. With 3 consecutive wins. This season is not over so lets support this team to the fullest. There were almost 100 recruits at this game and the way pitt won was the absolute best thing that could happen
http://pittsburgh.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1409932
1) ENERGY from the players! Kids were playing their butts off and never gave up
2) BELIEF from the players and coaches that they could win! This team has lacked real confidence for a few years now. Yesterday they punched Vtech in the mouth and kept going at them with the belief that they would win
3) FINISHING from the players and coaches. When VTech attempted to make a run at PITT (and we all held our breath after the INT late in the game) the team stood their ground and refused to lose. Coaches didn’t let one get away (Wanny and Fraud).
4) YOUTH -Freshman are making real contributions that AFFECT the game. It is one thing to look good and it is another thing to affect the game.
Overall my belief is that in a few year we may be looking back at this game as the moment that PITT regained its identity. PITT stills has a big name here in the south and yesterday the win was all over the news here in ACC country.
HTP
2 Shell is the real deal
3 Ray is not 100% but an inspiration to all of us
4 Kudos to the defense and o-line
5 Shannahan is a stud
6 Let’s get to 2-2 and kick butt in the BE
Say what you want about tino, but he’s one of the ballsiest kids ive ever seen in a pitt uniform. he’s taken a kordell-like assault of criticism and blame and he’s never acted with anything but class & guts….even as the fans & coaches have turned on him despite 3 coaching staffs determining that he’s the best option. maybe they made that determination because he’s the only one that has the guts to be able to weather one of the worst storms of any program in the country (2nd worst…thanks joe pa).
tino might come out next week and look terrible, but when you hear those boo-birds you wont be hearing them out of section 130 row bb. in 5 years, whether we overcome this coaching carousal or not, people will be thankful that we had a qb tuff enough handle this bullshit with dignity and class that pitt fans can be proud of.
PITT has sentimental support by many people in the South. PITT for some reason is one of those teams that non-PITT people love to cheer for. Not sure why but the grass roots support has always been there from non-PITT people around the country. I was at an event earlier in the week and a guy came up to me and told me a story. He is a Gtech alum who grew up in N.J. (Lives in Atlanta). He told me that when he was a kid that two teams were ALWAYS on TV (PITT and Penn State). PITT media coverage over the decades has created a positive image.
This AM one of my co-workers (born an raised in rural georgia, educated in the south) came up to me and said I can’t wait to see PITT at Bobby Dodd (Gtech stadium). So the support is there. We are tougher on PITT than most outsiders.
The general feeling here in Atlanta from ACC fans is that PITT is a very positive addition to the ACC and they don’t expect to run over us in football. In basketball there is a deference to us with our recent success.
Sorry for not quite answering your question.
Most people here in Atlanta (ACC fans and SEC fans) realize that PITT is going for transition. Vtech is a legitimate team in most ACC and SEC eyes so PITT win will go far.
Remember that the winner of the Vtech or Gtech games each year is usually the winner of the coastal division of the ACC each year. PITT’s win is being view as a legitimate win and not a fluke. The manner in which PITT won the game essentially answers that question for everyone. There are games that are viewed as flukes (YSU over PITT, James Madison over Vtech, App St over Michigan) and this one isnt.
Again, PITT fans are a lot tougher on PITT than outsiders are on PITT. Most outsiders have positive feeling for PITT. ESPN will tell you that based on their viewership during PITT games.
“PITT mauled Virginia Tech”
“As first wins go, this is a doozy. As first wins between future division rivals go, it’s a shot across the bow.”
I have been one of the largest supporters of our new coach and although i am not christening him as the next chas noll yet, one need only look at Wisconsin again this week to feel the impact of change. Only 16 points for that squad and they were lucky to win.
The defense played with passion. I agree their qb did not particularly play great, but one of the reasons in my opinion was that we hit him hard when he scrambled and he beacame gun shy. I think the early hit by LB Williams on the sideline was a statement that our guys were going to hit him all day! Kick em when your up, kick em when your down, kick em when your up, kick em all around.
Now, our players need to build on the confidence and not get cocky. It was not a perfect game yesterday, but a very good one. Build on it. Focus harder this week! Kudos to Shell, Street, Sunseri, Shanahan, Graham and the OL. Fullback too!
I mean over the last 30-40 years, Pitt is usually never a dud for ratings for the tv people.
Don’t know why. Now, in our own stadium and traveling to bowl games???? LOL
Maybe some nostalgia from people for Dorsett, Green, Marino??
Pitt was always on.
It starts with the backs. When Shell and Graham are running hard, it takes the pressure off Tito and he can relax and be a decent QB.
I’ve spent a lot of time in that area, been to a few games, and I have a lot of respect for the VT program and their followers. Good people in general, I hope they bounce back and have a great season.
Buuut… HAIL TO PITT!!
If you win, Pittsburghers will show up.
What a thrill … Biggest win I’ve seen at Heinz Field since the 2003 game against the Hokies.
His response when questioned about his offense deflating against Mizzou?
“I’ll be real honest, man. I had my hands full with the special teams and defense,” Graham said about the play-calling. “One of the things you got to do is you’ve got to let people do their job. (Norvell) did pretty good his first two weeks. He’ll do great in his career here. We’ll look at it and evaluate it obviously. I’m not going to nitpick what he does.”
The guys is a real tool. We are so fortunate for him to have left and Chryst to now be in charge. As they say… “count your blessing” PITT fans.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/2241/gardner-webb-runnin'-bulldogs
http://gardner-webb.edu/faces-of-gardner-webb/flossie-bonner/index.html
They were discussing PSU and Pitt as against that backdrop.
I will say about Graham what I say about PSU which is what Grant said about R.E. Lee.
Stop worrying about him and start worrying about what we do. Then and only then will you achieve greatness.
Or, as we would say back in the day, WTF are you worried about him for?
Smiley did Pitt a great disfavor by bringing him here in the first place.
Nevertheless, I am thrilled to have Chryst here>
OL: dorian johnson and jaryd-jones smith
DL: kenton gibbs, justin moody, and aaron hush
LB: al-rasheed benton
WR: robert foster
This of course is subject to change depending on how pitt continues to develope this year
But we are not worrying about him, we are not fretting.
We’re simply wishing that his true self be finally exposed and he be given his just deserts.
Chris Peak of rivals said signing class of 22-24..
that means Chryst will be asking 4-6 players to leave the program. By all counts, he only has 18 scholarships to offer.
I had quite a few comments concerning my Pitt gear that I was wearing. All positive, about how Pitt came out of nowhere to smack Va Tech upside the head. One guy in particular at the halfway house at the course made me laugh when he asked me “what did those boys eat for breakfast on Saturday, I could use some of that whatever it was”?
Great day to be a Pitt fan.
Maybe this past Saturday will be a turning point of greater focus and maturity for the remainder of his season/career, but don’t take it to the bank just yet. Let’s see him do it more than two games a year and then we’ll be rollin’.
Add, “he is still inside my head” to your list of grievances against Graham.
That means he wins.
Look forward to reading your suggestions….don’t hold your breath waiting for the athletic department to adopt any.
After all, they are the professionals. All those empty yellow seats over the last 10 plus years are merely an illusion. Pedersons priority when he returned triumphantly from Nebraska was to increase attendance.
Me? I’m just a paying customer and do what I am told to
do.
