I meant it when I said I was scrambling to get things done before the game. Sick kids and wife only makes it more difficult. But, mostly there.
I just don’t trust that I’ll be able to go the entire game without having to pause along the way for some family issue. So, it’s an open thread. I’ll check in, and will be on Twitter tonight, at @chasrich27.
Let’s go Pitt!
Syracuse just crushing both our lines…7-0 all orange
C’mon Pitt -get your shit together!
Utterly disgusted here.
Pitt came out not ready to play. It’s as simple as that.
At run blocking
D-Line is also getting no push.
Never expected this terrible effort from Pitt? It’s all you should expect. The last two games were abberitions.
You know that
Somebody
Please
Give
Matt
Rotheram
Some
Help
Donald
I really need a NCAA rule book. That officials call on the fumbled kick off seemed awfully strange to me. Oh well, no harm no foul.
Again, Harper making it interesting.
I expect to see a large dose of Shell in the 2nd half. Graham is still was too hesitant to go north-south when he’s given the ball.
We’ll see a few deep passes also this half – we didn’t try it once in the first half. I wouldn’t be surprised if we go long right in our 1st possession.
3rd and 1: run inside
great play calling
Cuse just isn’t giving that up.
However, every pass goes for like 12 yards. Maybe we should do that? Maybe…
just keep gettin in there
Unbelievable.
The better team – Marginally – but better. Hail to f%^#^ing Pitt.
What game were you watching? Tino was outstanding… The offensive line was offensive
http://www.pittblather.com/2012/09/30/its-the-waiting-that-kills-you/
It might be time to sit Graham down for a game.
You can’t put that loss on Sunseri. The blame goes to the OL and the coaching staff.
14 to 13 is about a small a stumble as you can get.
Fortunately, I was also right about VATech.
And I am right about next week against Louisville.
So please try to refrain from taking the plunge off the cliff if you can help it.
1) fumble by TE for TD
2) missed FG
3) leaving left guard 78 on the field
4) Sunseri under throwing a sure TD to a wide open TE who must adjust and come back for the ball
5) Sunseri intentional grounding when we are on the 15 and in fg range
6) Sunseri takes sake without reading the blitz
Look, don’t tell me how many yards Sunseri threw for tonight when he collapsed when it mattered. Great (or even good) QBs lead teir team to wins. The kid simply isn’t a winner. It is too painful to continue to tolerate. When you know a player simply is below average it is deflating. You always feel like you are going into a fight with one less weapon than TE other guy.
How does a 5th senior, 25 year old player take a penalty for “grounding” the ball when the team is in Field Goal range and is ONLY DOWN 1 STICKING POINT.
Tino apologists, screw you. This guy has no football smarts at all, and very little talent.
And he’s 25 fricking years old. So literally he’s a man playing with boys.
Also missed a wide open Shanahan for an easy TD.
There was NOBODY within 20 yards of the guy, he still couldn’t get it to him for a TD.
This is Syracuse not Alabama
Did you, me, and all 800 people watching this game know they were going to run the ball?
Safetys playing 12 yards off the ball?
Obviously YOU are the true genius.
Still waiting to See Tino bring home that first come from behind victory. He just HAD to get that intentional grounding penalty. Too bad, he’s tough and he played well for most of the game.
Lets spare the Tino bashing on this one. There’s a lot of blame to go around on this one. The O line got owned on the run game tonight.
Tino is one stupid football player.
Carswell and Bennett pussed out catching the ball.
Syracuse sucks.
But we are worse.
Time to bench our 5th year senior with the football IQ of a gnat.
Aw stop it now. Only a fool fails to realize the situation and only a bigger fool makes it worse.
Total team collapse. You tell the defense the 7 points they gave up was a collapse.
No wonder Pitt sucks when it matters most. Our fans are fools if they think we are anything but someone else’s next bug football moment.
That about sums up what should be put in the PITT record books. Not the meaningless yardage accumulated between the 30 yard lines.
The Offensive Line is what it is. They’re not the most talented group of athletes in the world.
Realise anything we get out of them this year is totally due to the schemes employed by the coaching staff.
The game plan obviously was to run the ball. The OL was not up to to the task.
Coaching is responsible for some bad play call. Mostly deep handoffs when there was no reason to believe the OL would be able to make the blocks.
But don’t rush to Sunseri’s defense let alone give him any certain credit.
The fact is he did not make the plays necessary to win. In fact, his grounding call in Syracuse territory with time winding down probably cost Pitt the game if any one play did.
But of course it was not just one play. It never is.
A real D1 QB, with an arm and some football savy can win you a game when your running game isn’t up to snuff. Or one that has some escapability.
This guy has none of the above. And it took 3 coaches in 3 years and NO JUNIOR COLLEGE transfers in that WHOLE TIME PERIOD, to insure we got 3 full years of just pure anguish.
Tino’s stats:
25-33 for 319. Plus a drop by Bennett and a drop by Carswell. That’s six missed passes on Sunseri. At least four misses were throw aways. Which he’s been criticized for not doing in the past.
Carswell’s fumble led directly to a score. If any one player cost Pitt this game it was him.
I really didn’t understand the insistence on running up the middle when it seemed that they were having success throwing everywhere and running on the outside. Why no screens in the second half when Syracuse started regularly blitzing?
I thought the defense played well after the first Syracuse series.
It ain’t about the stats.
They only gave up 7 points, 1 touchdown on the very first fricking drive.
So PITT had a FULL 3 QUARTERS TO COME BACK FROM 1 STICKING DRIVE AND WERE ONLY DOWN 14-7 ONLY A FEW MINUTES INTO THE 2ND QUARTER.
If you can’t score 17 points on a crappy team like Syracuse, you deserve to lose. Northwestern scored 42, USC scored 42.
HELL STONY BROOK SCORED 17 POINTS ON SYRACUSE.
LMAO. THE STONY BROOK SEAWOLVES SCORED MORE POINTS THAN THE SUNSERI LED PITT PANTHERS against
Cuse.
THAT SAYS IT ALL !
I agree that Graham’s east west running hurt us tonight and the O line contributed.
Defense did a great job. 7 points on first drive and that was it. D coordinator has come a long.
Hard to win with average players. Need to head south for recruiting and better players. WE NEED A BIG TIME QB!!!!
Here’s hoping Dorian Johnson understands that he can make an immediate impact!
This team will beat UL and finish season 6-6 and 1 win out of a bowl as SU will take the last BE bowl.
This was the “stumble” game on thr road to a solid season.
Take it to the bank.
The Pitt team on the field tonight would have annihilated YSU… and probably beaten Cincy.
Syracuse was ripe for a win and tonight was their night… barely.
This is nothing more but reality.
i should not have belived in pitt they allways let us dowm i was a fool we might be 5 and 7 if that.
i am so sick of this shit and a the coach did not show me mutch.
fuck this i am so sick of the same old story
new coach same shit every year.
OL just completely blows and a coaching staff who can’t make adjustments and who seems not concerned they haven’t recruited any OL above a 2-star. This is the 90′s all over again. Just wait.
I don’t care if he passed for 400 yards.
Yardage stats don’t mean squat. He again couldn’t make a play when we needed one. Is that is his MOD.
Points on the board is what counts. Maybe some people don’t realize that (sheesh). The only thing that counted was that we scored 13 points, with numerous trips into Syracuse territory resulting in no points.
He passed for over 2500 yards last with a 65% completion ratio. He stunk ! 11 Total TD passes in a Spread Offense for one year is a total joke. Geno Smith threw 8 in one game and the Baylor QB threw 5. Texas Tech QB’s regularly throw for 4-6 TD passes a game over the last decade. Any decent team in the Spread does, like Tulsa , Nevada. If some of you guys actually watched some of these teams out west who run the spread, you would have known last year, he stunk. ON any of those teams he would have been riding the pine. Why, cause he can’t make the throws, he has no football savvy.
He should be our 3rd string safety, not our starting QB. Never should have been !
i am so sick of this bull shit.
You can just as easily call this loss Sunserian as
Wannstedtian.
It’s just one frustrating program to follow.
We must all be gluttons for punishment, mental anguish or……….alumni. lol 
It is not surprising that Pitt saw too much Syracuse run blitzing. Tino is not smart enough to handle that pressure and the Pitt coaches were wise enough not to let him try because he is so limited. I do think our LB’s were exposed again as well as our Left Tackle. So one of my questions is this. If we know the DE is going to speed rush on 3rd and long, why isn’t he chipped? When you watch this game again, notice how number 1 whiffed on several chip blocks.
Positives = JPHoltz. That is a man. If he remains injury free, I see 3 and done. Awesome. TJ Clemmings – played hard, played angry. Nice!
Negatives – you all are hitting them. No playmakers when needed! Simple solution. Bring on lois ville.
when you are a fifth year QB you dont do bone head things like that he sucks EMel is right.
and this season is over are panthers and the coachs have fucked us agein and i am sick and drunk and wishing for basketball.
I just kinda already knew what to expect when I saw 14-0 on the internet scoreboard. Wish we would have rented a DVD instead, this team just usually louses up the weekends the last 2 + seasons.
PC better hire a good recruiter or we’re going to have a lot of lost weekends in the ACC. VT non-withstanding, that must have been some sort of ACC welcome gift a year early. Maybe they didn’t want a 1-11 team coming into the ACC. That would really look bad, wouldn’t it, if one of your new teams comes into the league off a 1-11 season.
A Big Oy Vey !!
Veritas et Virtus !
HTP !
GRP !
TMG !
Like most Pitt fans and alum’s, I’m numb.
Dead on brother.
Think about it from an outsiders perspective.
You are well within the 20 down by 1 with under 5 minutes to go. An ideal situation.
The qb takes an intentional grounding penalty… then you wind up getting knocked out of field goal range. Who else really loses this game? Seriously?
Do not let off the hook the biggest culprits:
– The porous O-line, especially at LT
– The horrible decision of Graham to run backwards out of FG position
– The several mistakes of Carswell.
Getting off to a good start vs L’Ville (and in every other game) will be crucial. I really think this team can win every game the rest of the way (definitely not saying it will) if they get out on top early.
11 a.m. saturday would’ve felt a lot better coming off a win, but I’m still looking forward to a little liquid breakfast either way.
Offensive line was dominated, the offensive adjustments were few and far between and Sunseri was sacked, pressured and hit all night.
This loss was due to our inability to control the offensive line of scrimmage and poor game coaching on the offensive side of the ball.
To anser your question, the script remains the same.
As my brother in Cali says “Pitt has the reputation of a team that plays just well enough to lose”.
As Devin Street said after the game.
“It’s the same thing all the time”. Sure, other places have more talent (not Syracuse), but Pitt almost always underachieves.
Ray Graham, Ray Graham, Rushel Shell, Field Goal. Now, under 3 minutes left. Defense, go out and stop them like you did the entire game.
This is not brain surgery. First year HC learned a lesson.
Drew Carswell unfortunately dropped a ball after making a great catch. Unfortunately it got into his head and he played miserably the rest of the way.
With no running game, Tino picked up many third downs and kept us in the game. Street was outstanding, Saddler and Shanahan played well.
Graham could’nt break one, and I am not sure why no Rushel, either he is in the doghouse or he is hurt. In any case this offense needs him, the other two can’t make their own holes.
Aaron Donald and the d-line were studs and kept us in the game, as did Tags and the corners. They didn’t score but one offensive touchdown and one lucky fumble recovery.
OK Sunseri has not lead a drive to win a game but it is not all on him. Ray tried to do too much, lost yards and Carswell dropped the final one that might have set up a winning field goal.
I didn’t see Todd Thomas, either he didn’t play or had little impact.
Don’t forget, this team beat WVU soundly last year. If Nassib doesn’t throw the interception this was a blow out.
Keep the Faith, Better times are coming,Hail to Pitt.
In a close game it’s the little things that usually turn the game. Coming out of the locker room scratching our asses did not help when Cuse seized the mo +14 pts. Carswell’s fumble etc. But for Pitt it will always be Tino! I believe “he”
and good Cuse D athletes caused the O line to have a bad game. Put any other QB in and the safeties will drop back as well as the LB’s taking a ton of heat off the O Line.
Sorry for the broken record but Pitt must make a change at QB to have any chance to beat a good team.
To get away from 3 intentional grounding calls, where only one was officially called, you need a new QB. The good news is that Paul Chryst needed to see Tino mess that up. Perhaps the lightbulb comes on now and the change is made.
Alot of folks on here think Pitt should have run three times and kicked a game winning field goal. One problem, our field goal kicker is just not that good so far this year. Sorry folks. Each of you would have complained the opposite way had we run three times and missed the field goal. Your reasoning would be….he was just like Wanny with the same result. I applaud Chryst for trying to score 7. That is the right call, especially with how we kick.
Our LB’s were non-existant. Huge holes and that is why the secondary led in tackles. I don’t play what ifs as far as scenario’s are concerned. What I do know is that EVERY play effects the rest of the game from that point forward with respect to outcomes. I like where Pitt is heading. If you can’t support the team, the door is over there.
- Agree with barreman, some of you folks need to chill out. Yes it’s a game they should have won but they didn’t get it done in the end but nothing to get crazy about.
- Tino is throwing with more authority and his overall play is improving.
- The D had a great game, only gave up 7 points and held SU well below their season averages. Would it have been nice for them to get another 3 and out with 4 minutes left, sure, but it also would have been great if they had pick-6′s for every throw SU tried or caused a fumble on every run but that’s not realistic. They gave them a legitmate chance to win so they did their jobs.
- I thought the WR’s had a great game also making some big time catches over the middle (Tino’s perfered throwing area).
- Holtz should be the starting TE and needs to become a focual point of the passing game. The kid is big, fast and he can lay the lumber on those DB’s. If he can make those LB’s have to worry about him getting catches over the middle consistently that might help keep them from crashing so hard on Pitt’s runs.
- The loss falls on the OL this week and that really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who’s followed the team. We all knew they were going to be questionable going into the season and so expecting them to dominate every week isn’t realistic. This week they didn’t open many holes for the run game and did a fair job in pass protection.
- They also missed Shell for this game. A big RB pounding it up there might have been more productive than Ray G and his trying to slash around out there.
the play calling was driving me crazy as Syracuse was being so aggressive on D yet we not could complete a screen pass or run stretch plays or draws to offset? the WR screens were nice but mix it up. How many times can we run f.. graham up the middle last night for no gain. Get creative PC.
And despite the defense playing well, Huxtable has these lapses where he is not aggressive in situations where he should be – our CB’s gave way too much cushion all night and safeties did not help in run game. We have good athletes at CB so if you want play man to man, play press coverage and get more aggressive with the LB’s and safeties.
Key plays are made often in obvious passing downs under heavy pressure, and well, we’ve got three years of tape showing us the results.
You nailed it. Tino had a respectable game against a poor SU team. For that he gets the deserved complement. What he lacks is the little things that makes QB’s good. That would be exactly what you described 1) don’t lock onto a receiver and don’t do it immediately 2) Anticipate the defensive scheme and pick up the blitz 3) Don’t lose your lunch when pressure (i.e. don’t make bonehead plays when you are pressured)
The latter three he has consistently failed at during his career at PITT.
The game was in his hands (literally) and he let it slip through his proverbial fingers. When the game is on the line big time players produce and other fail. For all the good things that Tino did last night (when he wasnt pressured) he ultimately collapsed under pressure. The throwing the ball into the ground was a preview of going to the well one too many times. He was grounding the ball and wasn’t getting caught. Eventually he got caught and at a time when it really mattered. We (PITT) paid the price for a habit that had been going on all game.
Tino isnt the only reason we lost (No. 78 on O line, TE fumbles, place kicker misses kick) but he ultimately had the ball in his hands when it mattered and he collapsed. What the fans are frustrated with is that it is reflective of his career. Unfortunately we are asking Tino to do something that he simply can not do… lead this team to a win when the game is on the line.
I like Chryst a lot. I think that he will be fine. He is good for this program. He has huge challenges and unlike his predecessor he will not pack up and run from the challenge.
Challenges by ranking
1) find a QB with the “it” factor who knows how to win and has high football IQ
2) find O lineman who arent just big but have good feet (78 has no feet- too slow)
3) Get a RB who can carry the load for 4 Q’s (I believe that Shell is that answer)
4) Hold players and coaches accountable for their performance and create a competitive environment where every week each player and coach fights for their job
We are on track and it will take time. I really hope that Chad V is getting come good teaching in the film room to learn from Tino’s mistakes. Don’t waste the RS by playing Chad V. We don’t need him. Let Tino finish out the season no matter how painful it is to watch.
Tino unfortunately has become as maligned to burgher as Neil ODonnel. The QB position can bring you glory and praise or you can become the goat. That is why it isnt a position for everyone.
Keep calm
Hail to Pitt
Les Miles and Steve Spurrier (who both have won a sh#tload of games), and others including Brian Kelly, have not shown any qualms about replacing QBs when they aren’t getting enough wins or making key plays…so why is that not good enough for Pitt? Of course you’d like to stick with an effective starter all year, but smart teams adjust. I really think Trey Anderson should be given an honest shot at meaningful playing time — and not stuck in the last minutes of the third quarter after the wheels have come off. This kid looks very instinctive to me and also a pretty good athlete and gamer — I really think he could be good, but he needs an entire half to work with to show his stuff…now that his hand has apparently heeled. It’s really ashame he was hurt last year as that was a prime opening to challenge for the job.
Tino may not have won the game last night but he sure wasn’t the reason they lost…he was running for his life most of the night…actually Tino played pretty damn well under the circumstances (and you really don’t know how much it kills me to say that)…
The O-line was horrid…the running game was non-existent…Drew Carswell should be picking pine splinters from his butt…as much as I love Ray, he is not 100% and it shows…he is dancing more than cutting…need to see more of Shell and Bennett…the receivers and defense played well enough to win
I am a glass half full guy and see a lot to look forward to in the future and I think Chryst is the right guy for the job…i just think that this going to be one of those seasons where they are going to lose games they should win and win games they should lose…so keep the liquor cabinet well stocked…
That said, I think that they are going to beat Louisville next week…
Hail To Pitt!
I can’t remember the last time UNC was competitive with VT, so the Hokies must really suck this year. WAit…..of course they do. we beat them. What was I thinking. My bad. If our pathetic QB can pass on VT, they are going to get shredded in the ACC. Although UNC has almost 200 yards rushing thru almost 3 quarters. So after Shell’s performance against one of the worst D2 teams, was he that good against VT or is VT just that soft on D. UNC is now up to 38 points on VT, and have NEVER beat them since VT joined the ACC.
I just realized when I woke up today,
the man some still love to villify, that being the guy who bled Blue & Gold, the man who led PITT to it’s best 3 year record since the Dan Marino years and ONLY 10 win season since fricking 1982, the man with all the NFL connections, who could recruit like nobody at PITT since Jackie Sherrill. The man, the stache, the legend,
That being Dave Wannstedt.
NEVER LOST to FRICKING SYRACUSE !
Wanny? Really, Wanny? NEVER LOST to FRICKING SYRACUSE? (well how about MAC powerhouses Bowling Green and Ohio University?)
Here are the Wanny loses that are embarrassing.
1) Ohio University (2005)
2) S. Florida (2006
3) Rutger for three straight years (2006,07,08)
4) Navy (2007)
5) Bowling Green (2008)
6) Who can forget the Oregon St bowl game 0-3 performance.
Wanny was terrible and should have been fired. He underachieved every year with only one decent season of 10-3 out of his five years.
Then when he got fired after having 5 years he whined like an entitled child who thought he had a lifetime job as coach at his alma mater.
That means it will have been 3 full years since Tom Savage has taken a snap in
a real football game, when Sept of 2013 comes.
What if, what if… he’s not up to the challenge.
Three years is a long time for someone, anyone not to play and then try a comeback.
What if, what if….he gets hurt after the not playing in a real game for 3 years. After all he got hurt several times at Rutgers and missed games. You see Savage has this annoying habit of stepping into throws to make the pass and taking the hit. (I’ll give you a pass on that, since we haven’t seen that since 2009 at Pitt) Big Ben has that annoying habit as well, as do all NFL QB’s.
Wouldn’t the wise thing to do, would be to play someone other than Sunseri for the above 2 scenarios. We’re not going to win the Bigeast title, (what’s new). Are we going to risk next season and a BIG WHAT IF (that being Tom Savage) on the tradeoff of maybe going 7-5 this year(and that’s a big stretch) and returning to the BBVA Bumf*ck Bowl in a 90% empty stadium with Sal & Roxy cheering on their boy.
Really !
The comment was Wanny, NEVER LOST TO FRICKING SYRACUSE !
And besides 10-3 in 2009, we were 9-4 the previous year and 8-5 the following year.
AGAIN THOSE WERE THE 3 BEST YEARS AT PITT SINCE 1981-1984. WHAT IN THE F*CK DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND.
Penn State just lost to Ohio U in Creepy Valley.
(worse than losing in Athens like we did and we didn’t get dominated in the game, Palko just threw it)
Losing to Navy is not a disgrace.
Rutgers won 10 or 11 games one of those years
Walt Harris lost to USF when they were in Year 1 of D1 or close to it.
And yes they stunk in the Sun Bowl, but that was the best bowl we have gotten to, since the Fiesta Fiasco. So credit is due for getting to that Bowl.
While losing to BGSU is not good, they have beaten several Big 10 teams in the last decade as well. And they’ve had a couple good teams, where even they had a better QB than Pitt. Hey, that’s seems to be a recurrent theme at Pitt. Everyone seems to have a better QB than Pitt these days.
Even Maine & Youngstown State.
The statement Wanny was terrible, is not logical.
Since he produced the best 3 year stretch at PITT since 1981-1984. Going 27-12 from 2008-2010.
And finishing ranked Number 15 in 2009, is the highest Pitt was ranked at season’s end since 1983. And that was Dan Marino’s senior season.
Some people have so much hate for Wanny, that they can’t think logicaly or rational !
And that proves how badly PITT is run in the Athletic Dept. For just like some of these Gov’t agencies, there seems to be NO ACCOUNTABILITY.
How does ANYONE keep their job with the mess that was created by Stevie Cornhole. That only happens in Gov’t Agencies or if you’re connected with the right people in the Corporate World.
PITT is a corporation in a sense, so the latter obviously applies. The fact that he was even allowed to return to PITT, after skipping out on us and then almost destroying the undestroyable, (that being Nebraska football) certainly speaks to the latter as well. He has some bosum buddies at PITT and he can do whatever(like make PITT a national laughing stock) and have NO Accountability.
Poor DW obviously didn’t completely understand this or he wouldn’t have been as shocked as he was when he was asked to step down.
Mick Loin and Tino are comparable, with the nod going to mick because he actually is smart under pressure so far. He was also a walk-on.Pitt is on the right track.
I agree that Pederson has to go. No coach should have to work with him. Great things ahead for coach Chryst!
UNC rushed for 339 yards. Kind of makes what Graham & Shell did look average. One of Carolina’s RB’s rushed for 260 yards. I guess he was harder to tackle than Shell was for VT’s defense (if you can call it a defense). VT is now 3-3, with only beating a bad Georgia Tech team in OT, Austin Peay & Bowling Green.
So we can now officially say our big win over them (and we got lucky there, as VT was still ranked at that point, and won’t be the rest of 2012) isn’t very credible now. Sure it was nice to win, but in the grand scheme of things, it means nothing. Actually for the program going forward, it might have been better to lose big to VT and then let Anderson, Voytik, whoever, I don’t care who, play the entire game against Gardner Webb. Anderson certainly could have led PITT to a win in that game as well.
And certainly for the future of the program and most of our sanity, going forward with the future of PITT football, into a new conference and whatnot. Tino time should be over. Playing for the present with him is not looking forward and is a disservice to the team, the fan base and the alumni.
You have to have HOPE ! God knows, this fan base and these alumni need some HOPE !
I can take grounding in FG range and not reading blitzes & not being able to make a big play, and not being able to escape the rush, from a guy with no experience, a freshman or a soph.
Not a 5th year senior who’s 25 yrs old. Who we’ve seen the aforementioned things over & over & then over again in the last 3 years.
Come on Chryst, GIVE US SOME HOPE !!
I know exactly what you mean bro. Having been thru this crap since 1984. The only reason I still follow this team is the fact that I went to PITT when we were nationally relevant (1976-1981). There seems to be some sort of hidden, covert forces (don’t know how to describe it) working against PITT football, even to an extent against PITT basketball, as we quite can’t get to the next level in hoops and are in even in jeopardy of falling back a level. This season is huge for PITT basketball going forward !
I mean how else can you explain what has happened to PITT football over the last 30 years, while still producing quality NFL players and even ALL-Pro’s and for god sake NFL Hall of Famers. If you tried to screw things up that bad, you couldn’t. And what has happened over the last 2 years at PITT is utterly absurd, inexplicable.
And the beat goes on.
“A quarterback has to be AWARE of the weak-side cornerback…”
Stouffer went on to say that Tino seemed totally UNAWARE that either a blitz was coming or of the cornerback bearing down on him.
Where have we heard this before?
You got some inside info bro ?
Let’s hear it ….please…with sugar on top. lol
Truly Amazing such a storied program such as PITT went thru over 20 years playing in the Big East conference and never won an outright title.
Interesting to note, Bill Snyder (the Professor) came out of retirement after his successor ran Kansas State into the ground and once again has K State in the Top 10. Now here’s a guy(age 73 btw) that can coach who hardly gets any media attention at all. And this is what he inherited when he first took over as HC.
Prior to Snyder’s first season in 1989, Sports Illustrated published an article about Kansas State football entitled “Futility U,” which labeled the school “America’s most hapless team.”
K-State had a 37 % winning percentage when he took over. Since then he has had a 66% winning %.
Snyder still can’t recruit with the big boys of Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc. What he does is consistently win by bringing in good JUCO players and coaching up what he can recruit, which is never a Top 30 class.
I suggest people at PITT look at his model, since this coach isn’t going to be able to recruit Top 30 classes consistently, if at all. That opportunity of taking advantage of Ped State’s problems went out the door when DW was dumped.
Oh what could have been !
The Professor has also produced many disciples, Bob Stoops at Oklahoma being one of them, who Snyder just beat last week in Norman.
His story and what he did and does at K State actually gives you a little hope that PITT might someday find that right guy again. A Jock Sutherland, a Johnny Majors, a Jackie Sherril or how about another Pop Warner. Funny thing is PITT forced 3 of those 4 coaching legends OUT !
So then again maybe there is no hope !
And I put last night on the offensive coaching staff not on anyone else.
was in the the old franklin club 2 pitt men were at the bar had on there pitt gear .
i could here them bitching from my table both were saying what a bone head tino is how a 3 year starter should not do shit like that.
they said they were sick of the shit sick of the coaching and all the crap .
on the way out i stoped and said to them that i fell there pain and said i fell the same way my self.
the younger of the 2 said his dad is so mad he wont go to another game or watch on tv .
all i could say was i under stand and i left
And before anyone says he got us an events center, he didn’t. That was an alumnus who gifted it to his university. Before anyone says he got us into the ACC, he didn’t. School academic history did it all and thank God for academics. We surely weren’t granted admission to the ACC based on our overall sport teams. How’s the baseball, lacrosse, women’s bball, volleyball,rowing, track and football teams doing?
My goodness, he really must go. A complete failure for many years running. When will the Board drop the hammer? What an embarrasment
Unfortunately, that’s the one thing that hasn’t changed despite everything Chryst has managed to do in improving the play at quarterback.
The end of the half against Cincy and the end of the game against Cuse were both instances Chryst and his staff had the team in a position to score critical points that could have changed the outcome.
And please do not tell me Wanny would have been capable of the same. Too many people on this Blog know how ridiculous that sounds.
The reality is Chryst is having to play the hand he’s been dealt and one of the cards is a “12.”
That’s what it was. Nothing less, nothing more.
I think Chryst really believes Tino gives him the best chance but eventually he’ll even have enough of Tino being Tino.
could be wrong, but before the season I said Myers would start early in the season to be followed by Anderson. However, that was before Myers left and Anderson got plagued with a return of tendinitis in his wrist.
While I haven’t been a big believer in Voytik I did and still believe it’s rediculous to worry about saving his redshirt.
A lot will depend on how well the Offensive Line and the run game can rebound.
BTW – wasn’t Pederson given a 5 year contract when he came back from Nebraska? .. well he was rehired on Nov. 30, 1997 .. now unless they’ve pulled a ‘Pirates’ and extended him without announcing it …. well you fill in the rest …
Guys who hate a true freshman who is thrown to the wolves his freshman year… not to mention the fact that his tendonitis in his wrist made it impossible to throw a forty yard pass with any authority.
TheHoopZebra… have you ever had tendonitis? Have you ever thrown a football?
They all have top 4 and 5 star athletes.
Obvious you say????
Ha, there are people on here, that have argued that getting good 2 and 3 star athletes and coaching them up, is just as well.
I always knew that was nonsense, watching all of these teams, confirms it even further.
Yes, you can get a nice player occaisionally from a 2 or 3 star, and he develops over his career, into a standout player, and I think most of us love that.
Yes, you can have a couple of those on your team, that is fantastic.
YOU CANNOT MAKE YOUR TEAM OUT OF THEM!!!
You can have a few of those bulldogs, to go with your other gazelles, horses and bears.
Some newer people will say, “no shit Dan”.
I’m tellin’ ya, there are some that will argue that coaching them up is more important.
If Pitt is ever going to be a top 20 team again, the recruiting is going to have to take a dramatic turn upwards.
This is not an indictment of Coach C.. I think he has recruited half decently for his first year.
In the future though, he will need to get big time kids in here.
I’ll tell ya what though. I’ll take my offense of 2 (5 stars), 5 (4 stars) and 4 (3stars) against your defense of
2 and 3 stars anyday of the week.
I’m watching South Carolina’s defense and thinking “good Lord, everyone of these players is a stallion, and knows what they’re doing”.
I guess with barrage of games, with every team I’m watching tonight, I’m sitting back, and thinking about what I watched last night.
Two completely different products.
ridiculous
However, looking at the majority of the top 15 or 20 teams in college football, I’m sure, that most, are dominated by 3′s 4′s and 5′s, year in, and year out.
There are exceptions to everything, generally speaking, more often than not, I think you’ll find, the teams with the top recruiting classes year in and year out, have the top programs also.
They kinda go hand in hand!
I would like to suggest, that as a group, we Pitt fans, did something terrible in our previous lives, and have been sent to this out post, as some sort of demented payment for our previous sins.
I’ll get back to you as I gather more data.
I’m not gonna strain myself and go back either.
What I’m gathering from a few of the latest,
we’re talking about a new coach and a new system, after 5 games???
Is that correct??? WOW!!!
Purdue, Virginia, Illinois and Auburn run the spread……
Seen any of them play lately???
The infor on the 4 teams listed above, if from a google search of spread teams in college football. I clicked on the first one that came up. It was an ESPN list. I did not see that it was from 2009.
On another topic, why would that come up first?? A 3 year old article??
Too tired, but, I’m sure, any list of the colleges that use the spread, will have a litany of teams who use it, and stink.
Even using that list from 2009, half the teams stunk. Some we’re ok, and a few really good.
What’s that really say??
I get Oregon and WVU, yes they are teriffic.
So are Alabama and USC.
We need better players no matter the “o” or “d”.
I’m sure it’s gone up. Let’s say, over half.
I think there are around 123 div 1 teams playing now. Yes, I still call the Div 1, and always will.
Ok, let’s say, 60 of them, or as you say, in vogue, let’s say 70 of them run it….whatever…
How come these teams aren’t all as good as Oregon and West Virginia. Ok, they’re good.
That leaves a hell of a lot of other teams out there, running the spread, that absolutely stink.
Fact is … base on the amount of yellow seats, many Pitt fans don’t accept mediocrity
Point of fact, I don’t see you that often at all.
Goodnight!! See ya wbb.
Sort of like Stevie Cornhole and Nordy. haha
Just win the game and quit embarrassing the University.
Or, well we have a new QB this year, who hasn’t played in 3 years. As in… like we really miss Sir Tino. Ok that excuse, you gotta admit should be pretty humorous.
Of course the new QB excuse routine can also be used the following year, let’s see that would be 2014.
Ok then, that takes us into 2015. By then though, the defense having to be rebuilt excuse can be used. Wow we can really score points now, unfortunately the other teams always score just a little more.
Ok then 2016, might be our year. The new QB will be maybe a Junior or Soph, Foster will be a returning All-American WR, this team rocks. Mark your calenders, our next trip to the BBVA Gyroscope Bowl will be in 2016(in honor of Pitt’s arrival into the ACC, the BBVA Gyroscope Bowl has been added to the ACC Bowl Lineup). So get your tickets early, as you know they’ll be hard to get.
Hail to PITT !!
Maybe the bigger revenue associated with the ACC, will mean a better commitment to FB that the Pitt Admin has provided over the past several years… but I’ll believe it when I see it
http://www.panthersprey.blogspot.com/2012/10/syracuse-14-pittsburgh-13.html
However, there were some who predicted this.
A possible loss to Syracuse and a rapid return to the gloom and doom in place of the euphoria following the VaTech win.
And of course the euphoria will once again return following Pitt’s next big win.
Hilarious.
He makes bad decisions because he is constantly under pressure, no matter who Pitt plays at QB this year they are going to have problems because of the oline period.
It looks like WVU got it right when they hired their headcoach and I have to say PSU looks like they might have the right guy but I have to say I am extremely disappointed in Chryst, for being such an offensive guru they are extremely slow to make adjustments as the game goes on.
When he was at Wisconsin he was up in the press box calling plays, maybe he is having a hard time adjusting to being on the feild but if they lose to Louisville no one is going to show up for the remaining games.
If they beat Louisville then hope returns and the bandwagon is full but I can’t see this team doing better than 6-6 because they have a poor oline and VT isn’t a good team and that is their signature win so far.
XOXOX from Austin…
P.S. ACC just a year away
My understanding is that Chryst is allowing Rudolph to do most of the playcalling. Sure he is having his input, but who would question that Chryst would likely do a better job himself.
Obviously the O-Line leaves a lot to be desired. But the game-changers against both Cincy and Cuse were simply a result of Tino being Tino.
No pressure can be used as an excuse for Tino’s grounding penalty deep in Cuse territory. It was a panic move – similar to his throw over the goal post against Cincy.
The grounding penalty was followed by a weakside corner blitz that Kelly Stouffer, the game commentor, repeatedly criticized Tino for not identifying before the snap or even as the cornerback was bearing down. Nothing new here.
In regards to WVU and PSU, both new coaches at have benefited from inheriting better quarterbacks. McGloin and Smith are both better than Tino… obviousbly for Smith far better.
O’Brien’s biggest move as HC was committing to McGloin. Last year and before McGloin was statistically better than any other quarterback on the PSU roster. Only Paterno seemed committed to giving the young QBs he recruited repeated opportunities which meant taking McGloin out of the game.
McGloin and Smith are also both proven winners… i.e. quarterbacks that make plays late in games to pull out wins.
And this leads to the big question concerning Chryst at this juncture of the season.
How many more games is he willing to risk losing by remaining totally committed to Tino?
At some point, another blown opportunity with the game on the line… and you would think Chryst would see the writing on the wall.
I don’t know about all of you, but yesterday was a depressing day. In addition to PSU, WVU and others winning, even the mediocre teams NCST et al played well. Pitt is simply not even in the top 50 as a team and then there is the matter of the Uniforms. Other teams have fabulous dress and home unis. Pitt’s look like hand me downs! What a mess this program has been for the last 32 years.
Actually, Pitt is in no way uniques from any other fan base, or fan blog, actually, in any sport.
When a team loses, negative posts come out. When a team wins, euphoric hopes pervade.
Just the way it is, with all fans everywhere.
I can forgive Tino for his late game crappers if the rest of the game was spectacular, but it’s not. He doesn’t score the football and finish. Good between 25′s, poor everywhere else. Don’t blame the OL as they seem to do well enough between the 25′s. When the person who touches the ball on every snap, panics, don’t blame the ol.
No tradition either. Did anyone witness OSU getting their student sections involved in warm up drills immediately prior to kick-off. It is a gesture by the players and coaches to connect to the kids! Gets them worked up in a frenzy.
Okay, you all guessed it. I don’t like Steve P and he has not served the university well. Take a 1/2 hour and pull the bios from every school in the top 20 and compare. HE IS THE PROBLEM. $850k to try to get Holgorsen!! Idiot!
Were it not for basketball, our athletic department would still be stuck in the 1960′s. We are one of three teams over the last 30 years to have at least 3 losses in football.
Pederson is a fool. Fired by Nebraska for damn near ruining the brand and setting the entire program back 60 years, they gladly paid him his 2 million severance and kicked him out.
Then he returns to Pitt and all other candidates are screwed because he steps to the front of the line. That is on Nordy.
No need to re post the Pederson goals he stated shortly after assuming command part 2, but none of them have come to fruition. None. Who on earth gets to keep such a high level job without accomplishing their goals? Pederson is the obvious answer and we are taken for fools.
Haygood, Graham, Ricardo Montebalm at FIU were his choices. Callahan before them at Nebraska. WTF???
Football is THE REVENUE machine in college athletics. It damn well better make money or Title IX obligations will drive you to the basement.
Duke, Kansas, UNC, UCLA….all hoop legends still take a backseat to football. And who does Pitt have? Empty yellow seat Steve. Don’t blame Pitt fans for empty seats. Do you blame yourself when you refuse to return to a restaurant that served lousy food combined with lousy service? Of course not!
Pederson must go and if he doesn’t, Pitt fans will have their answer. Mediocrity? Don’t get your hopes up. Would you donate to Pitt based on Pederson or your love of Pitt? Pitt will always have loyal fans who will always be taken advantage of…but they will never achieve up to their level of talent if lead by Pederson.
I love Pitt enough to stop sending money. My rationale is much like the foundation community of a few years back when dealing with the Pittsburgh city schools..they held money back as they sensed an attitude of entitlement. Pitt athletics is undisciplined and unresponsive to failure.
That starts at the top. I fear the worst. PC is a very good coach….he will be offered better jobs in 3-4 years. If Pitt lives coach to coach…well, the last 30 years will continue in our own version of Groundhogs Day.
Fire the fool Pederson if you expect to be taken seriously.
I’m frustrated as hell, but what did you expect for this year? 10-2?? Come on. Let’s everyone get to the game Saturday and get loud and watch Pitt kick some ass.
17 against a D2 school
10 against Cincy (7 of those were mercy points)
35 against Va. Tech (gave up a ACC record (for them) 48 points to an average UNC team who has already lost to Wake Forest)
13 against Syracuse
For a Grand Total of…(drum roll) 75 points
Divided by 4 games (for our alumni who had to use a calculator or cell phone to divide with)
Equals 18.75 ppg
Going to throw out the 7 mercy points at the end of the Cincy game. New Total = 68 points
Again divide by 4 games = 17 ppg
We could go even farther and readjust based on the several gift TD’s that VT handed us, I think they fumbled once on their 10 yd line and threw a pick in their territory. So even the 35 points we scored against them is somewhat jaded.
But we’ll go with 17 ppg. We have two 6’4″ or taller WR’s with over 2 years experience. We have a senior TE who has good hands. We have a decent smaller senior slot receiver. We have a very good RB in the backfield who can turn a little into a lot, if you just get him the ball going forward.
And based on some of the bloggers who sometimes show up (most recently after the Huge win against Gardner Webb), we have a great QB. You know over 300 yards passing two weeks in a row now, and all that yardage and accuracy.
So what gives, why can’t this team score points.
They go from 30 to 30 pretty good. Oh yea, I forgot teams give you something between the 30′s, they tend to tighten up their defense and quit giving you the dinks and the dunks they gave you between the 30′s. Suddenly the WR’s aren’t so wide open. Suddenly they blitz you. But wait, we have a 5th year senior qb. Surely he can read a blitz by now, it is after all, only his 31rst start.
Hey but wait, my apologies. Everything is fine we’ll be good. Let’s go Pitt !
I actually didn’t mind the all white look, it would look better with a white helmet with Pitt script in blue outlined in gold.
They could still wear the gold helmets at home.
This version of the color scheme, etc, block PITT looked best when Shady was playing. They had more gold inserts in both the road and home jerseys. Plus PITT on the front.
Maybe they’ll look better when we get a new QB, haha
If they don’t want to go all white again, why not goldish/yellow bottoms. On the order of the Steelers road uniforms (which I like) and Georgia Tech’s road uniforms, UCLA’s and ND’s. The white with navy blue is not a good look, imo. It’s Akronlike. Is that a word? lol In other words they’re something you’d expect to see in the MAC.
Who exactly makes the decision on the uniforms anyway? I don’t know, so I’ll blame it on Stevie Cornhole. He was the genius that after a 80 years of calling PITT PITT, he says: nah, I have a better idea. Let’s schuck 80 years of tradition and history and start calling PITT… Pittsburgh.
And just for good measure, because I’m smarter than all you yinzers, let’s put a Groundhog/Beaver like thing on the helmet.
You stupid yinzers you, don’t you know you live in Pittsburgh, not PITT.
P.S. Mr Peterson was a very sucessful Erie Insurance Agent who contribute boo coo bucks to PITT. Henceforth it’s the Peterson Events Center, NOT the Pederson Events Centers. Cause if it would have been named after Stevie, it would be called the Cornhole Center for underperforming Athletic Directors. ha
My criticisms of Pederson have nothing to do with this years team in particular and I certainly have not stopped going to games.
BUT, I am going to take a long look at Pederson’s record as a football AD at both Pitt and Nebraska and I am betting that it ain’t good.
As ice is to Eskimo’s, so to is football to the budget of any big time athletic department and football had better be able to cut the mustard and pay the bills.
How many bills exactly are paid by the empty seats at heinz Field?
My verdict on Pederson is that he is guilty of gross incompetence.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/acc-football-remains-awful/2012/10/07/4192bb38-103a-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story_1.html
That being said, in the future we are going to be fine; this group of upper classmen need to move on and we need to do what many of us thought we were doing all along and rebuild with players that fit the mold of what Chryst will do. I don’t think we are going to see any more miserable losses like the ones we saw this year, but it still might be a rocky next 2 years. I love Pitt, but I can’t watch the product that they are putting on the field on Saturday nor do i like the fact that i get enjoyment everytime Tino is hit and find myself cringing when he gets up and comment about how tough he is. THat is not the fan I want to be, so instead I am going to hibernate until next season and hope that we don’t embarrass ourselves anymore and start anew next year.
Now Chryst ?
We have hired the same type of coach since 1982, isn’t Pitt football the definition of insanity when you do the same thing over and over with the same results?
This program needs an enema from the top down, Chryst is going to have a hard time selling recruits because of his personality and the enviroment of Pitt football.
I’m tired waiting
1) Tell me what program is consistently good sharing a city with a propular NFL team?
2) The commitment from the Pitt admin has been sporadic at best when supporting the FB program … this has never been more evident when Wanny was fired and the paltry salary offer that Steve was offering potential candidiates which wasn’t even in the neighborhood of attracting CUSA coaches.
3) the Western PA high school recruiting market continues to fade … heck, PA has more HS students than Ohio but Ohio puts out many more D1 prosepcts ever year (note that I am using OH as a comparison and not FL, TX, LA, AL, SC, etc)
4) Pitt’s enrollment is competitive with MAC schools not B10 or SEC schools (minor excuse) but Pitt fans (overall) are not as committed – Panther FB is just not that important (heck, Morgantown just had another ugly riot after their win vs Texas — which I agree is stupid but it shows just how they live and breathe the Eeers there)
HAIL TO PITT!
Louisville will stop the run at all costs and let Tino pass away. Pitt must adjust or lose.
Ohio State third-string quarterback Cardale Jones made his feelings about attending classes clear Friday on Twitter.
“Why should we have to go to class if we came here to play FOOTBALL, we ain’t come to play SCHOOL classes are POINTLESS,” he wrote.
The tweet and Jones’ entire account have been deleted, but multiple media outlets captured Jones’ words before they vanished.
Big Ten Blog
ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett write about all things Big Ten in the conference blog.
• Blog network: College Football Nation
What’s your reaction going to be? Back on board, Chryst still stinks, etc.
Just curious.
Hopefully, the backup QB’s will get some playing time but not in a starting role. That said, I don’t see us winning more than six games this season.
Chryst is a fine coach. Given Pitt’s track record with head coaches, we should be lucky to get a coach willing to come here from a successful football program. Our problem will be keeping him. Remember 1976?
That being said I think we really should be pissed at smiley and push the administration all we can to get him out. I know some of you who come on here have leverage and could push for this. I don’t like seeing anyone losing their job, but at the same time money is being lost as well as local support. We all want for the best and I don’t think the best was considered until he left for ASU. I really think Chryst is the right guy, but don’t think our head athletic guy will give me the backing he needs. Keep in mind smiley as you my or my not know was pressured in hiring Chryst from the administration.
As far as today’s presser, what do you think he’d say (we didn’t have them prepared play? They through new stuff st us?)? They were ready to play, especially the D,they didn’t execute well, and given the lack of seniors on this team this will happen from time to time.Wait until next year!
When I was at Pitt there were starting football players in our engineering classes showing up just like everyone.
It was 7-5 pre-season, I’m going to flip that to 5-7. And that might be a stretch. Temple could be a loss too now, as they just beat USF and played Ped State tough.
Whatever momentum we had following the big win over a now 3-3 Va Tech and then the glorified scrimmage (GW) that actually had some people excited (really) is now lost. If we don’t right the ship this week, this could get real ugly.
The Buffalo game is not a gimme (they just scored 31 against Ohio, losing in Athens 31-38) and we all know our past failures against UConn(and this game is in Stohrs). Those are two other W’s I had penciled in.
If those two games becomes L’s, that would make us 3-9. With the remaining one Win against USF.
Since that game is the last game of the year in Florida, this might be our bowl trip this year.
Tampa/St.Pete in December!
Oy Vey ( I was hoping for Miami in December/Jan, not Tampa/St. Pete, as some suggested The Orange Bowl as a destination.)
I do agree on the very next play, you would think he would see the guy coming in time .. but once again, it seems for the 50th time in the past yeaqr and a half, a rusher is totally unchecked.
I’m starting to think that Chryst sahould replace Tino for humanitarian purposes
Pitt and Sunseri are the worst, I’m keeping my eyes sheltered for the rest of the football season, that being said I’ll still watch, but certainly not attend a game.
I’ll go with my 2nd home team, Go Gamecocks.
But he did throw it, it just wasn’t around anybody.
The KILLER on the Intentional Grounding is the loss of the 15 yards AND THE LOSS OF DOWN.
Basically the worst thing that could have happened ……..happened ! (other than a pick)
Didn’t see anyone in the media mention this.
Ok you’re down 13-14 and you only need a FG to take the lead. You know you have a QB that has a very difficult time converting TD’s in the RedZone. Redzone requires the QB to make a play occasionally. As the offense is compressed into a smaller area, the defense tightens ever more so on your WR’s and you’re more likely to get blitzed as the opposing DC wants to take you OUT of FG RANGE, with a sack.
And it’s not like Syracuse wasn’t having success rushing the passer with 5 sacks and more pressures up to that point. So you as HC & OC have to be expecting the blitz, as should the QB (but we’ll give him a pass, as everyone in the media does).
So game reset, you’re at the Syracuse 17, 1rst & 10 with about 6 minutes left. You as a college HC do what ? (and this is AFTER a TV timeout)
You call 2 passing plays in a row resulting taking your team OUT of FG range. Game Over !
Wouldn’t the prudent thing to have done at the 17 yd. line with over 6 minutes left and all the aforementioned things above, call for a running play and then another running play and then another running play.
You either get the 1rst down, all the while the clock is running down, or if you don’t get the 1rst down you kick the chip shot FG.
More bad things can happen to you when you pass, and it did.
1) The QB can be intercepted
2) O-Line can be called for holding and since PITT was having pass protection problems the whole game, the likelihood of this happening was greater.
3) The QB can be sacked, taking you COMPLETELY OUT of FG range or make it a lot longer attempt, which for Harper, anything over 40 yds is 50/50 at best.
***Also by calling a pass play on 1rst down and let’s say you do get sacked, that then means you HAVE TO PASS ON 2ND & 3RD DOWN now, to try to just get closer for the FG. And if it’s now 2nd & 20, that longer pass is alot more riskier to try and pick up the 1rst down. So calling a pass play on 1rst & 10 from the 17 is not the smart thing to do. (especially from coaches with so much experience)
4) The QB can be called for Intentional Grounding
(somebody mentioned he could have been called twice previously in the game for IG, therefore the
refs would not overlook a 3rd time, especially when it so obvious)
So I know, if Wanny was still here, they would have all been screaming for Cignetti’s head and DW’s, with a boneheaded pass call on 1rst & 10 on the Syracuse 17, ONLY needing a FG to take the lead.
I like the aggressive play calling… In college you have to go for TD’s. Plus, have you seen how inconsistent our kicker has been.
This simply isn’t a good team and there are going to be breakdowns. My only concern is still the recruiting. Not so much on offense because it seems like Chryst can “system” recruit. Defense needs some athletes though.
athletes, i bet they all do. the difference is the threshold. i once dated a female recruiter for yale who bemoaned the lowering of standards for athletes.
Ok, well you can still pickup the 1rst down running the ball, and then it’s 1rst & Goal at the Syracuse 7 yard line or better.
So PC is saying in his presser that he was going to put the game into the hands of Tino. lol
Cause there was too much time on the clock.
If that is what he said, that is very funny.
And if he said that, I am starting to have some doubts.
Has he not watched any of the last 2 years plus worth of game film of Tino.
Also with the way the defense had been playing up to that point, there was no indication that Syracuse could have scored at all, after we took the lead, 16-14, as they hadn’t crossed Pitt’s 42 yard since the very first drive of the game.
If Chryst really said that, I’m shocked.
Harper would have been kicking a FG, in what would have amounted to a Extra Point. Where he’s shakey is over 35-40 yds. Which is where he would have been kicking from after the Intentional Grounding had Tino not been sacked on the next play.
You don’t get aggressive, down 1 point, you play to take the lead. And then you make the other team beat you, by them making plays and alot of them.
And you certainly don’t play aggressive with a QB who can’t make plays and is known to freeze under pressure. You take the points and the lead.
I never called for Wanny’s head, until the 5th and 6th year.
Yep, poor coaching down there, but, I can’t call for Chryst’s head. For me, every coach gets 2 to 3 years to see what they can do, especially with their own recruits.
So, not calling for his head, but, still able to say about those calls, WTF???
I say that, about those calls, because of our qb situation and shaky “O” line. Yes, if we had Big Ben or Tom Brady, you do whatever you want, whenever you want, I myself, was saying out loud, “don’t blow the field goal”.
don’t laugh……again, just from what happens every Saturday……………
I wouldn’t be suprised if Pitt beat Louisville.
No, I have no reason, just because that’s the way it is!!!!!!! LOL
Seriously, wouldn’t suprise me at all. Then, it wouldn’t suprise me if we lost to Buffalo the following week!! LOL
Dan – I’m right on board with you regarding Wanny. I defended him for years but he never adapted and I became increasingly frustrated. I bought in with Graham and I still believe it would have eventually been successful. I understand why we went back to a “pro-style” coach because of that (still not my first choice but I get it) … I’m just glad Chryst has a college mentality.
Quick. Give me the name of WVU’s president. Now name their AD.
Nordy is not immune to egomania, if not to the degree of Gee at OSU. Pederson is doing Nordy’s work…but he is doing it poorly. Both are accountable and both are failing.
i still cant find any reason to belive in them any more.
i want to but i cant see a silver lineing any more and the fact that chas or reed have not posted i think they fell the same.
I was having a discussion today with a co-worker, and I suggested that, Dunkin Donuts donuts are only so-so.
Their coffee is fantastic.
For a national chain though, they have very little variety to choose from.
I also stated, their “munchkins” are always to “wet”. I actually know the reason for this, they don’t let the balls cool before they ice them, and it melts right into the donut.
Now, this is where I need help. I said, there used to be a chain, same colors pretty much, called Mister Donut. He did donuts right, and his munchins were much better.
People at work said, “no, you’re thinking of Dunkin years ago, then they left, now they’re back.”
I know I’m right, they even had a jingle “hey, Mister that’s a donut, hey Mister, that’s a Mister Donut donut”!!!
I could google it and find out for sure, but, I’m pretty sure on my own, and figured some on here could back me up.
Now, isn’t that better talk than what we’ve been discussing.
Anyone have a favorite donut place, bakery, etc. etc.
I used to pick a guy up from work in Elliott, Sheraden area, was only a donut shop period.
Could smell them coming up out of the West End when I got close. We’d stop sometimes, donuts were literally still hot, not just warm, hot.
Forget it’s name. Wasn’t a bakery, donuts only.
Have to disagree. As a head coach, you have to have a feel for the way things are going in each game. In this one, the defense was playing a better game than the offense.
I’m not criticizing a new head coach for the mistake. I think Chryst will be a good one. What scares me though is the Todd Graham approach to making a mistake. Say you blewit (next year) and move on.
I should say, at least the one in the S.Hills does it this way. I’ll often stop to get some to take to work, three, four times in a row now, always soggy and wet.
It’s almost time to go in and talk to the king donut maker and let him know what’s going on in his own store!! LOL
BTW – you gotta love his Three Stooges/getting up early on a Saturday comment about the 11 AM start.
But as we continue to look back at Syracuse, interesting to hear Chryst address the decision to throw at the 17 late in the game.
On one hand, you have Chryrst saying that the reason not to play it safe and go for the field goal was that there was too much time for Syracuse to pass its way downfield for a score.
Had some problem with this at first glance. The reason is that you’ve got to believe the defense was in a position to hold Syracues from scoring. Defense was the best thing Pitt had going for it in the game.
On the other hand, what was Chryst really doing. He was asking the offense to make a play. He was also trusting Tino with the game on the line… just like at the end of the half against Cincy.
Two decent arguments here but Chryst cannot be faulted for simply trying to execute a pass play from the 17 if you believe in your play call.
You also don’t count on your quarterback failing to read an obvious blitz from the weakside corner on the next play and completing shattering your strategy to win the game.
By the way, in his interview yesterday Shanahan was clear in affirming that the pass play on the sack was a right call that had him wide open in the endzone for the TD had the team executed the play as drawn up.
Bottom line, tough call whether to play for the field goal.
One thing is for certain… Wannstedt would have.
But nice to see a Pitt being coached by someone with some savvy and guts. In the long run, that wins a lot more games than it loses.
Watch out for the day when Chryst has a quarterback that can be counted on to make plays to win tight games.
Maybe Savage, maybe Voytik or even Anderson.
For sure we know Chryst thinks Chapman.
On to Louisville.
There were Mister Donut shops all over the area at one time and they competed with Dunkin Donuts. In fact I think some of them changed to Donut Connection and I think one of those is still on Rte. 8.
For the best donuts, Orams in Beaver Falls cannot be beat. I will be there at 6am this Sat. to get a doz. of their Cin. rolls for out tailgate.
This is better than talking about Tino!
Was worried you and Chas might have taken Syracuse a little too hard.
It was only a stumble. Nothing more.
If Pitt can keep it’s coaches for four or five years, it will be a leader in the ACC. Being a Pitt and GA Tech alum I could go on for hours about Tech’s problems. Today Tech fired its defensive coordinator. I don’t see Pitt doing anything that drastic, yet. HTP!
One thing you can’t do, is go backwards and take yourself out of field goal range.
The coach, the call, the qb, someone missing a block, whatever, that series was a debacle and inexcusable.
You may not play for the field goal, but you make sure you don’t give it away at all cost!
Personally, I liked the initial play call. When that went to hell, it changed the next play calls obviously.
I like talking about donuts much better than losses.
