You have to do this don’t you. I know, you have been the most maligned QB at Pitt since Matt Lytle. I know you probably don’t have the greatest memories of Pitt and the fans. I can’t even blame you for that.

I also know you love your family. And they come first. Have to respect that. But why? Why? Why be the tone deaf, clueless asshole?

College football is back! Can't wait to see @vsunseri3 and My Dads Seminoles do there things! #RollTide3 #FearTheSpear #Famiglia

— Tino Sunseri (@sunseri12) August 31, 2013

I suppose he is who he is. But really, given the history on twitter. Keep it to yourself.

Between closed practices for the final preparation of FSU-Pitt and actual football all weekend, there probably won’t be a lot of real news this long weekend. Plenty of anticipation. Hype. Excitement. Lots of other things. But not news. Well, I mean barring something really stupid and frustrating happening off the field. Because that never happens.

Anyways, FSU’s running back depth took a very minor hit as their #3 RB, Mario Pender, was declared academically ineligible for the year. The redshirt freshman is that because this is second time that has occurred. That’s right. He redshirted last year because of academic issues. A year later, he’s still academically ineligible. A 4-star RB that can’t seem to focus on the classroom. Geez. Imagine that.

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Headed into the FSU game, I gave six ways Pitt could win and five reasons FSU should win. Now that the game is only four days away, here are four key questions that will be answered on Monday that will heavily determine if Pitt can pull off the upset. (more…)

Football! Actual games! Not youtube videos of highlights from practices. No dismal NFL exhibition games dressed up as the real things. Glorious, live, HDTV broadcast football! Don’t even care that it isn’t Pitt playing tonight. Just to be able to sit on my couch and watch a real football game for the first time in over six months. I’m a little excited for this.

So no attempt at cohesive post weaving right now. Just the links.

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After yesterday’s topic regarding how Pitt could win, let’s take a look at why FSU is a 10 point favorite. There are plenty of reasons, unfortunately, and Pitt is justifiably a 10 point underdog. FSU is talented, experienced, and overall appears to simply be better than Pitt at most positions. (more…)

The fascination is generally with the offense. I’d say more this year so with so many changes to the starters and especially with the novelty (some might say, relief) at someone other than Tino Sunseri under center this year. I know I’ll be returning to that side of the ball soon enough. That said, the reality is the success of this team — especially early in the season — hinges with the defense. Another reason that I really question using Jason Hendricks, K’Wuan Williams and Lafayette Pitts in the return game.

Would it shock anyone that Coach Paul Chryst does not share those concerns?

“We know every time a guy is out there, there’s a risk for injury, but I don’t have any concerns,” Chryst said.

Pitts averaged 24.3 yards per kickoff return last season, including a 64-yarder against Gardner-Webb. Hendricks and Williams have never returned kicks for Pitt.

For the record, if this blows up in his face, it won’t be second guessing or hindsight to criticize the decision.

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I’m going to do two columns on this subject, one today and one tomorrow since the game is 6 days away (5 days tomorrow).  Thus, tomorrow’s column will be “Five Reasons FSU Should Beat Pitt.” Even the optimist in me can’t deny that FSU is a heavy favorite (1o points according to Vegas). But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways Pitt can win this game. (more…)

I honestly don’t know, and don’t think anyone will know until Pitt’s offense takes the field on Monday Night.

Here’s Coach Paul Chryst’s comments on Isaac Bennett.

“He did some stuff yesterday in practice. He obviously missed quite a bit of time, so it’s too early to tell if he’ll be ready. But he was able to go through some things yesterday. We’ll see how he comes back today.”

Now, James Conner.

“He practiced some yesterday, so we’ll see where he’s at during practice today.”

These are the closed practices, so what that means is unknown. They could have just stretched with the team and done light jogging on the side. Or they could have been in there doing contact drills.

The point is, he essentially said the same thing for both. And said the same nothing about both.

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I would like to hope this is not as bad as it looks, but it probably is.

Officers arrested Jovani Chappel, 25, about 1:30 p.m. after police spotted him sitting on the front porch of a home in the 5000 block of Lytle Street in Hazelwood, Pittsburgh police major crimes unit Lt. Kevin Kraus said.

Police went to the PNC Bank branch in the 4300 block of Murray Avenue in Greenfield about 10:40 a.m.

Lt. Kraus said a masked robber threatened the tellers with a gun, although it was not immediately clear if the tellers actually spotted one.

The robber hopped over the counter and took cash from several of the tellers’ drawers and then got into a car and drove away, police said.

A witness noted the license plate and gave it to police, who tracked it to Mr. Chappel’s girlfriend’s home in the 5100 block of Blair Street, Lt. Kraus said.

Members of the SWAT team surrounded the house and searched it and a few other homes in the area this morning, only to discover that Mr. Chappel was not there.

Officers found him sitting on the front porch of a home about two block away, on Lytle Street, about 1:30 p.m. It was not immediately clear what connection, if any, he had to that home.

Lt. Kraus said police were taking Mr. Chappel to the bureau’s North Side headquarters for questioning this afternoon and expect to charge him with robbery.

I’m setting the bar low, but I guess I would have thought anyone who graduated from Pitt would have been smart enough not to drive a getaway car with easily identifiable and traceable plates. Guess not.

Coach Paul Chryst has the press conference for Pitt-FSU today. It’s at noon and being streamed live. I may be watching and commenting. [Editor Note: Correction, it appears to be a premium feature so no live watching unless it’s being aired on ROOT.]

Okay, the game notes for Pitt-FSU are out (PDF). On page three you can find the first 2-deep.

I’m not going to try and reprint the whole thing, because fixing the formatting would take too long.

So let’s just hit the surprises/highlights/etc.

Artie Rowell is listed as the starting Center. There is no OR. Considering Roberts still struggled in training camp with the snap exchange, this can’t be a total shocker.

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Welp, a couple days off for the Pitt players. Fan Fest on Sunday. Now back to work for a week to get ready for Florida State.

Hope lots of people attended FanFest. I debated loading the family for a day trip to the ‘Burgh, but instead used this last weekend of no football or basketball in a final manic fit of yardwork and brewing. All so there is nothing interfering with the weekends from here on out.

I’m a touch bitter I won’t make it to the opening game. The reality is harsh.  Pitt-FSU wouldn’t start until 8pm, so get there early to see friends and a little tailgate before heading to the pressbox. Assuming the game finishes sometime around 11. Post-game presser and stuff until around midnight. Perhaps try to post something. Drive back home (roughly 3 hours). Maybe sleep an hour or two before starting the day, getting the kids up and to school. Then to work. I just can’t see pulling that off without falling asleep at the wheel somewhere. I’m just going to have to settle for watching at home this time.

Okay, on to the stories.

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Sam Werner of the Post-Gazette has published his projected 2013 PITT depth chart and it is as follows:

OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK
Tom Savage, RS Sr.
Chad Voytik, RS Fr.
Trey Anderson, Jr.

RUNNING BACK
Isaac Bennett, Jr.
James Conner, Fr.
Malcolm Crockett, RS So. OR
Rachid Ibrahim, Fr.

WIDE RECEIVER
Devin Street, RS Sr.
Ed Tinker, RS Sr.
Chris Wuestner, RS Fr.

WIDE RECEIVER
Tyler Boyd, Fr.
Kevin Weatherspoon, RS Jr.

TIGHT END
JP Holtz, So.
Scott Orndoff, Fr.

H-BACK
Manasseh Garner, RS Jr.
Jaymar Parrish, Fr.

LEFT TACKLE
Adam Bisnowaty, RS Fr.
Juantez Hollins, RS Sr.

LEFT GUARD
Cory King, RS Sr.
Ryan Schlieper, RS Sr.

CENTER
Gabe Roberts, RS Fr. OR
Artie Rowell, RS So.

RIGHT GUARD
Matt Rotheram, RS Jr.
Carson Baker, Fr.

RIGHT TACKLE
TJ Clemmings, RS Jr.
Dorian Johnson, Fr.

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Pitt officials have announced that Tra’Von Chapman has been dismissed from the program. In essence: he’s gone, never coming back. We can debate endlessly over this decision, but the call came all the way from the top: Chancellor Nordenberg. (more…)

I know, I know. College football starts in less than a week. In nine days Pitt’s season begins. But yesterday was a rather busy day for basketball stuff so it’s time to put it out there along with some other things in the tabs.

In player news, Rutgers transfer Derrick Randall got NCAA clearance for immediate eligibility at Pitt. This was considered a mere formality since other Rutgers transfershad already been granted immediate eligibility.

“It obviously gives us a big body, an experienced guy,” Dixon said. “We thought he could be a really valuable addition, especially after losing a guy in March.”

With center Steven Adams in NBA, Pitt planned to use power forward Talib Zanna, a 6-9 senior, in the post. Randall, a center or power forward, averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds as a sophomore.

“He didn’t put up big numbers, but I think he has some strength,” Dixon said. “He could be very good defensively, and he could be a very good rebounder. It gives us flexibility. It gives us the possibility of having five big guys and the versatility to go small or big.”

Randall is 6-8, 250 pounds. No one is expecting him to be a huge difference maker, but a good role player. He gives Pitt some needed depth inside for the next two years. Randall is a low-risk, moderate-reward pick-up.

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I had a chance to drive up and watch the PITT practice this morning. The practice session lasted from 10:15 until 12:30 with a one hour scrimmage to start off. Here are some observations:

1.  If you were keeping score the offense bettered the defense this morning. Neither side was that great or that bad but the offense moved the ball in the air (Savage) and on the ground (Conner).  A word about our true FR RB James Conner -damned impressive in every way.

If you look at him out there he looks almost slender given the stories about him being a bruising back. But he’s tall at a legit 6’2″ and he carries that 235 lbs well.  He was ripping off positive yardage regularly with some big 15-20 yarders thrown in.  The thing with Conner is that he can get inside and move the pile but also get through the interior LOS because he hits the holes so quickly.  Then when you don’t expect it he cuts outside and out runs the linebackers, drops his shoulder and levels the DB.  He did this time and again today.

Actually that ‘dropping the shoulder’ backfired a bit today as after one hit he lay on the ground with what looked at first like a separated shoulder.  The coaching staff went into severe shock at the sight of it.  Not to panic as he was up with an ice pack taped on and stayed on the sidelines for the rest of practice.  I’m starting to think that PITT fans will forget about Shell in a hurry if this kid plays anywhere near the level in games as he has in practice – he’s the real deal  and might be RB1 before the season ends.

Jaymar Parrish opens eyes with his play at FB also.  He’s built like one and blocks like one.  That will be an interesting position to watch with a starting FB returning.

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