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September 24, 2012

FUN WITH SUNSERI’S STATS

Filed under: Football,Players — Reed @ 9:17 am

It’s a long time until we next have actual football to talk about given the bye week.  That is good as we need the R&R and the staff can fine tune those stupid penalty mistakes.  In lieu of poignant discussions I thought it would be fun to do something else… look at everybody’s favorite QB and how he’s been doing statistically.

After another productive, and impressive, outing against Gardner-Webb Saturday let’s look at what sort of statistical season and career Tino Sunseri is having so far.

Last game Sunseri completed 18 of 24 attempts for 344 yards with three TDs and no interceptions.  Obviously that was a good outing against a lower quality program.  Cumulatively he’s playing very well (statistically remember) going 80 of 119 (67%) for 1144 yards with eight TDs and two INTs.  This equates to a 166.80 QB rating which puts him 15th in the nation in Passing Efficiency.

Breaking that down further that is 9.6 yards per attempt and 14.3 yards per completion which is also very good.

Here is a little twist when looking at how the NCAA rates QB play nationally.  For “Passing” they use completions per game where Sunseri is an average 45th with 20 per game.  However, they also list “Passing Yards Per Game” in which Sunseri’s good 9.6 yards per attempt jacks him up to 19th nationally with 286 ypg.

OK, pretty good season so far on paper for him.  What does this pace of play project out to as far as historical PITT QBs and their statistical achievements?

Sunseri’s 2012’s 1144 yards so far is on track, at 286 per game, to beat the all-time single season passing yardage record held by Rod Rutherford (2003 with 3679 yards).  That would be 3718 yards projected over 13 games assuming we get to a bowl game.

Passing yards in a season

Name                          Season            Yards

1. Rod Rutherford       2003               3,679

2. Alex Van Pelt         1992               3,163

3. Tyler Palko             2004               3,067

4. Alex Van Pelt         1989               2,881

5. Dan Marino            1981               2,876

6. Tyler Palko             2006               2,871

7. Pete Gonzalez         1997               2,829

8. Alex Van Pelt         1991               2,796

9. Rod Rutherford       2002               2,783

10. Bill Stull               2009               2,633

Looking at total career passing yards his yardage to date (6446) puts him at #6 behind #5 John Congemi (6467) and #4 Rutherford (6724).  He’ll pass both of those guys with the next two games to land at #4 behind #1 Alex Van Pelt (11,267!), #2 Dan Marino (8597)and #3 Tyler Palko (8343).

At his current 286 ypg pace Sunseri would end up with a total career yardage mark of 9020 surpassing both Palko and Marino and listing him at #2 historically.  Yikes!  This is a projection crudely based on simple stats and a 2012 bowl game but still, it is rather eye opening to see what could happen in the record books if he keeps up his current pace.  Factor in that he’s starting three years vice four as Van Pelt and Marino did and it’s more impressive.

Passing yards in a career (as of the start of 2012)

1. Alex Van Pelt         1989-92          11,267

2. Dan Marino            1979-82          8,597

3. Tyler Palko             2002-06          8,343

4. Rod Rutherford       2000-03          6,724

5. John Congemi         1983-86          6,467

6. Tino Sunseri           2009-              5,302 (currently 6446 as of today)

7. Bill Stull                 2005-09          5,252

8. David Priestley       1999-2001      4,533

9. John Ryan               1992-95          4,334

10. Rick Trocano        1977-80          4,219

To put things in a bit more perspective I looked at Sunseri’s numbers and compared then to John Congemi’s as those two are somewhat comparable talents in my eyes.  Here is what I found.

Congemi         550/994     55%      6467 yards        6.4 ypa         11.75 ypc

Sunseri           560/867     65%      6446 yards        7.4 ypa         11.50 ypc

You can see that Sunseri’s 2012 9.6 ypa is a pretty big jump over his historical 7.4.  That translates into a lot more yardage and keeping drives alive.

As far as rushing goes Sunseri has 170 yards so far in his career which, added to his passing yardage, give him 6616 in total yardage surpassing…(drum roll please)…. #5 Tony Dorsett at 6526 total yards.  Damn!  That is too weird but it is interesting that Dorsett is the only non-QB on the list and that Palko tops Marino.  That’s mainly because Marino was a statue back there.

Top Total Offense Careers

Name                     Seasons                      Rushing                   Passing              Total

1. Alex Van Pelt      1988-92                      -119                          11,267                11,148

2. Tyler Palko          2002-06                      86                            8,343                  8,429

3. Dan Marino         1979-82                      -277                         8,597                  8,320

4. Rod Rutherford    2000-03                      885                          6,724                  7,609

5. Tony Dorsett        1973-76                      6,526                       0                        6,526

6. John Congemi      1983-86                      -116                         6,467                  6,351

7. Tino Sunseri        2009-                           170                           5,302                  5.494 (6616)

8. Bill Stull              2005-09                      -188                         5,252                  5,064

9. Rick Trocano       1977-80                      673                          4,219                  4,892

10. David Priestley 1999-2001                   -88                           4,533                  4,445

I find those all those interesting statistics and comparisons.  Not just in regard to Sunseri’s production but to see all the other QBs in context to each other also.  Remember, this article isn’t debating the merits, talents or worth to the team but pure statistical projections alone.  Nobody in their right mind would equate Sunseri with Dan Marino or even Tyler Palko as far as being an effective QB over the life of his career.

Sunseri could easily fall back off of his 280 ypg pace but given Chryst’s offense so far, and the progress it has made over the first four games, Sunseri could also maintain that level.  We’ll see how that plays out.  Hopefully it will get even better as that would lead to more wins this season.  But you have to admit – the record books will change by the end of the 2102 season.





Just curious why the total offense doesn’t include any receiving yardage, or did TD really not make a single catch in 4 years? I realize that it probably doesn’t make a difference in the list though.

Comment by srpst23 09.24.12 @ 9:26 am

“There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”

– Mark Twain

A phrase describing the persuasive power of numbers, particularly the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments.

Comment by Coach Ditka 09.24.12 @ 9:29 am

If Sunseri can play all season like he’s played in the last two games, continue to make throws and continue to win, I’ve got no problem overlooking his first two lackluster years and giving him his due in the record books. If he goes 7-5 and ends up at #2 all time, well then Coach Ditka summed it up pretty well.

Comment by Atlanta Panther 09.24.12 @ 9:36 am

Coach – no one is making an argument here. I stated numerous times that this was strictly a statistical look at his career, with projections. I also clearly stated “Remember, this article isn’t debating the merits, talents or worth to the team but pure statistical projections alone. Nobody in their right mind would equate Sunseri with Dan Marino or even Tyler Palko as far as being an effective QB over the life of his career.”

This was just something to pass the time until the next game and to get us talking about something. But you have to admit those numbers are pretty surprising.

23 – yeah, I wondered that also but this came right out of PITT’s media guide.

Comment by Reed 09.24.12 @ 9:36 am

Great work. Nice to see where all those guys fit in.

Comment by alcofan 09.24.12 @ 9:37 am

Reed don’t be so defensive, just having some fun and basically agreeing with your premise. I am always fascinated how stats and numbers can be used to completely skew reality.

Just imagine hearing in 2009 that Tino would accomplish the following:

finish #2 on Pitts all time passing, finishing higher than Marino and Palko

finish in the top 5 on Pitts all time total offense passing Tony Dorsett

finish his career with a 65% completion rate.

If I told you that in 2009 you would have thought Pitt was probably one of the best teams in the country from 2010 to 2012…obviously not so. But furthermore you would have thought Tino was one of the greatest QBs to ever wear a Pitt uniform and that is disturbing. Amazing what you can do with numbers, charts and graphs.

I am really happy for Tino. I truly hope that VA Tech was a turning point for him. And I truly hope that at the end of his career he has earned the honro of passing up Marino and Dorsett on all time ranking lists.

Comment by Coach Ditka 09.24.12 @ 9:48 am

Just went to the media guide too, It lists that 6,526 for TD in the “Top total offense list” then in a list for “All Purpose Yards” it lists TD with 7,117 yards (or 591 non-rushing yards). I’m guessing that is receiving/return yards. Again, it’ just nitpicking on my part and doesn’t change the list at all, just not sure why Pitt would have the two different totals in the media guide.

These overall numbers just go to show how much football (college especially) has changed over the past 20 years or so. Can anyone imagine what type of numbers Marino would put up in todays game? It just makes it all the more impressive what he accomplished.

Comment by srpst23 09.24.12 @ 9:54 am

Sorry to keep posting/harping on the “Total Offense” listing, but I cannot understand why Pitt wouldn’t count recieving yards. Rod’s overall yardage stats should be higher too, as I know that he caught at least one pass in his career, you know the touchdown catch against PSU at Three Rivers. I am now done ranting about the laziness of the Pitt Media Staff. Thanks

Comment by srpst23 09.24.12 @ 9:58 am

Great article Reed, thought-provoking as always.

I wonder, I am not familiar with the injury histories of AVP and Marino, but would it be very hard to calculate yards per game? That might be a fairer estimate considering the 13 game schedules of today and possible production due to injury.

In fact, one of THE MOST remarkable things about Tino is, knock on wood, his toughness in playing every game. As much as we, and I, criticize him, NO ONE can challenge the kid’s toughness. I know some of that is luck, but it speaks to the ability to put up impressive historical numbers. Not only has Tino been ok, he’s been healthy.

8 regular season games and hopefully a bowl is such a long time to go, the book on Tino is nowhere close to being closed. I hope he can write a few more chapters like the VT game, because the only stat that really matters is W-L!

Comment by TartanPanther 09.24.12 @ 10:28 am

I believe that quote regarding statistics is generally attributed to Benjamin Disraeli, not Mark Twain. Perhaps it is Coach Ditka’s perception of Sunseri’s performance that is skewed rather than what the statistics appear to indicate. Out of the QBs on these lists I liken Sunseri’s style to Congemi as well. Other than Marino and Dorsett, both of whom played more than thirty seasons ago, no great stars or talents on these lists. Something to ponder for the Sunseri bashers.

In the end there is a sad collection of Pitt fans that will never be happy until the next Dan Marino takes the field. Even then they will boo any time that college quarterback makes a bad play. It’s a really sad commentary that any college kid has to live with this kind of scrutiny. Please don’t give me any crap about his scholarship or that it’s the life that he chose. Yes, those folks do buy the tickets and I suppose can therefore do what they want. However those people need to look in the mirror at what they have become. A fully grown, but not particularly mature, adult belittling a twenty two year old about a game.

Comment by Barvo 09.24.12 @ 10:29 am

Barvo, for arguments sake:

“The term was popularised in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the 19th-century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881): “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” However, the phrase is not found in any of Disraeli’s works and the earliest known appearances were years after his death.”

Comment by Coach Ditka 09.24.12 @ 10:35 am

Barvo – I think you are correct that any QB or RB is automatically compared to Dan Marino or Tony Dorsett right off the bat by PITT fans. The positive there is that we had both of those guys in PITT uniforms, the negative is that no one will every truly match up as that was a different era of PITT football.

I think part of the fans’ problems with Sunseri is because he is so maddeningly inconsistent. He never seems to have just a regular average day at the office when he’s on the field. Either he plays very well or does something to ruin any good things he did in a game.

This last Cincy game is a good example – he had a fine outing save for two plays. The problem was both those plays cost us 14 points and would have kept the game very close going into the 4th quarter.

But we go way overboard when discussing him also. I actually read on a message board that Sunseri passed poorly last Saturday because he missed two wide open receivers.

Two misses out of 24 attempts when he also had 18 completions!

It has been ridiculous with the actual hatred some fans have for the guy. I’ve called for him to be benched myself – but never have I though any less of Sunseri as a person because he isn’t the best QB out there.

I also have to laugh just a little at all the PITT fans who are saying our QB woes are over. This is the same thing people were saying back in 2007 when Bostick was recruited and then in 2010 when Sunseri was given the starting job. Really, who can forget “Its Tino Time!”?

Believing that Voytik, Chapman or Kincaid (if he comes to PITT) is the answer is part of the fun of college football and Paul Chryst does seem to be able to get the best out of his QB but one never knows exactly what we’ll get when these kids run out onto the field.

Comment by Reed 09.24.12 @ 10:53 am

The mindset I have watching Tino is when is he going to make a bonehead play, I hope he continues to play efficiently the rest of the season, because I find it neat when Pitt wins.

Comment by Pittastic 09.24.12 @ 11:02 am

Tarten –

Marino – @ 48 games – 179 ypg – 76 TDs (1.6 per game) – 69 INTs (1.43 per game)
Sunseri – @ 30 games – 215 ypg – 36 TDs (.97 per game) – 25 INTs (1.2 per game)…so far
Palko – @ 35 games – 239 ypg – 66 TDs (2.2 per game) – 26 INTs (.74 per game)

Comment by Reed 09.24.12 @ 11:07 am

Wow! I am very surprised! I would have never guessed Marino would have clocked in at under 200 yards a game. I think that also puts into perspective how difficult and impressive it would be to average ~280 yards over a season. Heck, if Tino can do that (and win games along the way) he’ll have earned his spot in the record books. Well I guess that statement was pretty redundant.

Comment by TartanPanther 09.24.12 @ 11:14 am

Tartan, Im wondering how much can be attributed to schedule strength? Pitt played in the weak Big Least during Tino’s time. I also dont think Pitt was playing and D2 opponents back in Marinos day.

Just wondering…

Comment by Coach Ditka 09.24.12 @ 11:19 am

Ultimately QB’s are judged on win and losses and championships, Tino does have a winning record and a bowl win so let the rest of this year really determine his career at Pitt. Maybe even throw in an * he did have to deal with the Fraud after all.

Comment by steve h 09.24.12 @ 11:39 am

Coach,

I wonder the same thing. You look at those lists, and nearly every QB on that list is from the 80s or later. Trocano is the one exception who played most of his career in the late 70s. I think more than anything else, more than the schedule, more than even QB ability, is that the game has simply changed. Offenses are more pass-happy. I think that’s really your bottom line. I don’t want to take anything away from Tino, the per game numbers in particular were eye-opening, they just seem to say to me that we’re talking about two very, very different eras of football here.

I think a fairer comparison, when all is said and done, will be Tino’s Sr. year v Bill Stull’s senior year. I know their playing styles aren’t as similar, but I think they shared such a similar era that the comparison will be a better gauge of what Tino can do. After all, Billy got Pitt their only 10 win season of the past generation. It may seem crazy, but that is the benchmark I go by, and I know Stull was surrounded by NFL talent, but I consider his senior year to be one of the best years by a Pitt QB since Marino.

Comment by TartanPanther 09.24.12 @ 11:46 am

Tino’s play speaks for itself and where he stands historically is less important to me than the won/loss record.
He will pass TD on the career yardage mark, but so what?
He is turning in good career numbers, but remember this…Pitt has been the abyss for many years over the last 30. It isn’t like he is challenging Miami QB’s from the same era.
I prefer to see how his stats match up to the W/L column and so far, I see that he has played poorly in one game, very well in two and was insignificant in another.
He will need to play well for us to beat Syracuse.
I like what I see and I like his demeanor. Those are more important to me at this juncture…the stats will take care of themselves.

Comment by sfpitt 09.24.12 @ 12:09 pm

Reed – great piece. I still go by the eye test, but the stats are the stats.

Coach – not to quibble but Twain thought he was quoting British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. Turns out they were both quoting another British PM, Arthur Balfour.

Comment by Pitt Dad 09.24.12 @ 12:11 pm

Bill Stull really benefited from having a new OC his senior year who devised an offense around his strengths, while minimizing his weaknesses.

I hope Tino gets a similar boost. A new OC is not always a negative for a QB. Even in the NFL, look at Alex Smith’s turnaround at San Fran. when the new regime came in.

Comment by Chuck Morris 09.24.12 @ 12:18 pm

As an aside … how many of Tino’s stats are from “garbage time”? For example, the TD he threw in the Cincy game after the outcome was decided.

Comment by Chuck Morris 09.24.12 @ 12:22 pm

This may be wishful thinking, but do you guys think we’ll be ranked if we win the next two against ‘Cuse and the “Ville?

Comment by Timmeh 09.24.12 @ 12:25 pm

Bill Stull benefitted from having a healthy OL .. until Thomas got injured before the bowl game (Lumpy’s 1st start)

Comment by wbb 09.24.12 @ 12:38 pm

Nix – Thomas – Hauser – Malecki – Pinkston

Comment by wbb 09.24.12 @ 12:42 pm

Timmeh lets not get ahead of ourselves. We seem to be heading in the right direction but at the end of the day this is still a team that lost to YSU at home so they still have a lot to prove.

Comment by Coach Ditka 09.24.12 @ 1:39 pm

Wbb – we can also point to Marino’s OL which was one of the best college football has ever seen.

Chuck Morris: I did some research two years ago regarding the types of play calls Cav called vs Cignetti called in the opponent’s red zone +. Cav almost never called passes within the 30 yard line and ran McCoy 80% of the time – which worked out well.

However, even with Lewis blowing up his FR year, Cignetti called an even mix of runs/passes in that same deep field situation and Stull delivered with that big leap in TD passes.

As to garbage time TDs every QB has that – again these are pure stats not indicative of how well someone actually played quarterback.

Comment by Reed 09.24.12 @ 1:45 pm

I honestly think YSU would give Cincy a run for their money as well

Comment by Timmeh 09.24.12 @ 3:29 pm

Timmeh – I don’t think Pitt is getting ranked unless they win every game until November and then beat Notre Dame in South Bend. Then Pitt will leap into the rankings.

Comment by TartanPanther 09.24.12 @ 3:49 pm

In 2007, Michigan lost to Appalachian St (a DII) school in opener and then got killed by Oregon 32-9 in 2nd game, but whooped ND 38-0 in 3rd game.

They ended with 4 losses (Wisc and oSU) but beat UF (Tebow) in Citrus Bowl

Comment by wbb 09.24.12 @ 4:04 pm

Do they have a statistical analysis that keeps track of the number of times objects are thrown by fans at their TV screens as a direct result of QB play??? Tino would be right there at the top of that catagory, I assure you!

Seriously though, I hope that Sunseri continues to tear it up and that he passes both Palko and Marino in the total career passing yardage record books. That would be a fantastic personal accomplishment for Tino, especially considering all of the negative PR that he has had to slug through to get to where he is today, not to mention all of the coaching turmoil that has occurred during his Pitt career that has had a negative impact on his overall potential.

Comment by Dr. Tom 09.24.12 @ 4:21 pm

Marino wasn’t a great college QB IMO, had all the tools as we later found out, but wasn’t always performing in the games. Lackadaisicle.

Comment by frankarms 09.24.12 @ 4:30 pm

except for R Graham who can play in any offense, I don’t think last year’s offense was a good fit for just about everyone

Comment by wbb 09.24.12 @ 4:32 pm

@frankarms

Marino was phenomenal in his Junior year and finished 4rth in the Heisman Trophy balloting that year, to Marcus Allen of USC.
And had we finished undefeated and #1 that year I believe Danny would have won it.

His senior year was plagued by the fact Jackie Sherrill left after going 33-3 in his last 3 years and a #2 ranking. And the beginning of the decline, the Foge years. While we still made a Major Bowl that year (the Cotton Bowl, when it was still one of the Big 4 Bowls), you could see Pitt slipping. But how do you maintain something that produced Dorsett & Marino in a span of 5 years,a National Championship undefeated season (12-0) and three 11-1 seasons, especially with an unwilling administration.

If you look at Pitt’s history in football, most if not ALL of our declines are administration related and their unwillingness to maintain excellence.

We are the only football team in college history to TURN DOWN a Rose Bowl invitation. As the administration then would not give the players spending money on the trip to Pasadena and this eventually led to our greatest coach (Jock Sutherland) resigning (the previous year’s trip to the Rose Bowl, Sutherland dipped into his own pockets to give the players some spending money). Sutherland’s resignation directly led to 30 years of football decline, albeit with a good year thrown in here and there (like 1956 & 1963). Same thing pretty much happened when Jackie Sherrill was allowed to walk.

As far as the stats, meh
The Gov’t likes to use stats too, to tell us how
low the inflation rate is. Yea right !

Comment by Emel 09.24.12 @ 5:39 pm

Did Marino never miss a start? 48 games with a 12 per year. I was just a young pup bak then but I thought he missed a few with injury and Trocano started for him…

Comment by Bowling Green Panther 09.24.12 @ 5:47 pm

If memory serves me well, Marino did not start all games as a freshman. Trocano started a few that year.

Comment by midwest panther 09.24.12 @ 6:02 pm

@wbb. Pitt was 13 points away from going 10-2 last year (4 losses by a combined 12 points). No QB play against ND, Utah, Cincy, WVU, & SMU(this was a blowout) was the culprit. Rutgers was horrid too, but that was a blowout.

By the way ASU crushed Utah over the weekend 37-7.
That must have been sweet revenge after the Pitt/Utah fiasco last year.

Kelly Taylor ASU QB (6’1 200 lbs Sophomore)
19/26 .. 326 Yards 73 % 12.5 Y/A 3TD’s 0 Picks
216.5 QB rating.

Michael Eubank (Freshman)
4/5 46 yds 80% 9.2 Y/A 0 0
157.3 QB rating

That was against a real D1 team who played in a Bowl Game last year. Both are 1rst year players in the Spread.

Comment by Emel 09.24.12 @ 6:02 pm

@ BG Panther,

I can swear Danny didn’t play one year at Morganhole, due to knee problem. Cause I believe we were at the game. Somehow my memory of some Pitt games during my school years are a bit cloudy.
Can’t imagine why. haha 🙂

Comment by Emel 09.24.12 @ 6:14 pm

I was at that game also and remember it well. Bill Daniels started. Pitt finished with 0 yards passing and won 17-0. Also, Danny could afford to be a statue – his offensive line all ended up all pro at one time or another.

Comment by JLE 09.24.12 @ 6:25 pm

During Marino’s career Pitt was 42 and 6. Would have been better but for having Fazio as his coach during his Senior year. I would say that qualifies as great. I believe that during Sunseri’s career Pitt is 16-14.

Comment by Houston Panther 09.24.12 @ 6:28 pm

Bowling – Marino might have missed a few games, I wasn’t going to search too far to get these numbers. Perhaps Palko did also – so those comments numbers may not be 100% accurate but they are very close.

Comment by Reed 09.24.12 @ 7:23 pm

@Emel & JLE.
Ohio State faculty turned down the Rose Bowl in 1962 on the grounds the football program was too powerful.
I recall the game against WVUlgar when Marino sat out. He injured his shoulder the previous week against South Carolina. But Daniels was long gone by that time. Damned if I know who played QB, but Bryan Thomas from Elyria Catholic ran well.

Comment by SFPitt 09.24.12 @ 8:23 pm

Reed maybe i did not understand you if so i am sorry.
but if you think tino is as good as marino or even
palko.
you are very wrong if tino plays good the rest of the season i will give him his props
but as good as marino no way.

Comment by FRANKCAN 09.24.12 @ 8:48 pm

What other D1 football blog gets into a discussion of who originated a famous quote, Mark Twain or one of two British Prime Ministers? That is one reason I like this blog and respect you guys and gals so much.

Comment by opfim 09.24.12 @ 9:53 pm

Geez Frank – read what I wrote about 100 times… these are just a look at pure statistics, not a comment on how good or bad any of the PITT QBs are.

With that I even wrote in the 2nd to last paragraph:

“Remember, this article isn’t debating the merits, talents or worth to the team but pure statistical projections alone. Nobody in their right mind would equate Sunseri with Dan Marino or even Tyler Palko as far as being an effective QB over the life of his career.”

I think “nobody in their right mind…” explains how I think Sunseri plays in comparison to Palko and Marino.

Comment by Reed 09.25.12 @ 7:36 am

CHRIS DOKISH HAS NATIONAL STATISTICS & PITT RANKINGS ON PANTHER PREY. TINO 9TH IN TOTAL PASSING YARDS/15TH PASSING EFFICIENCY.

Comment by DC33 09.25.12 @ 10:54 am

I did some research on the 1981 game. The QB was Dan Daniels (Bills son) He was 0 for 6 passing. Pitt had 203 yds rushing led by Wayne Dibartola. WVU had 46 yds rushing and Luck had 92 yds passing with 3 interceptions.

Comment by JLE 09.25.12 @ 11:21 am

@JLE
thanks for the research into that game.
Luck still holds a grudge. If Pederson had any gonads, maybe he would send Oliver a stat sheet from that game with audio from the Green Acres theme song with Zsa Zsa calling for “Olivah”.
Hell, I just might do it myself.

Comment by SFPitt 09.25.12 @ 8:13 pm

Rick Trocano is the player that got me interested in Pitt as an 11 year old. Up to then I liked Ohio State because of their Buckeye helmet stickers! I was a bit too young to notice the 1976 team or TD (more into Tonkas). Around 78, starting to get into sports, I saw Pitt play for the first time, Trocano was a dynamo at QB, could run and pass effectively. I was actually bummed when Marino took over for him. Pretty cool that he graciously (at least I recall) moved to safety.

Comment by geeman2001 09.25.12 @ 11:12 pm

I was at Pitt at the time and thought it was classy of Trocano to help the team any way he could.

Comment by JLE 09.26.12 @ 8:07 am

Basically, Sunseri rules.

Comment by Nabil 09.27.12 @ 10:27 am

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