We interrupt the collective angst for this:
RT @mwhiteburgh: Beaver Falls hoops coach Doug Biega said things have been worked out and Todd Thomas will be back w #Pitt football team.
— Sam Werner (@SWernerPG) August 8, 2013
Added bonus, we appear to have gone 24+ hours without anyone quitting or being suspended in Pitt football. Unicorns and rainbows for everyone!
UPDATE: It’s never simple. It’s never easy.
Here’s a little more.
Todd Thomas will soon be back with the Pitt football team, according to his high school basketball coach.
Thomas, former football-basketball standout at Beaver Falls High School, quit the Pitt football team Wednesday, unhappy about playing second-team linebacker. But Beaver Falls basketball coach Doug Biega said today things have been worked out with coach Paul Chryst and Thomas will be rejoining the team.
Biega has been talking with Thomas the past few days about the situation.
But when Coach Chryst was asked about Thomas after practice…
#Pitt coach Paul Chryst declined comment on reports that Todd Thomas is returning. Said he would comment if something had changed.
— Chris Peak (@PantherLair) August 8, 2013
Stop messing with us. We are in a delicate state right now.
Here’s the video. At the very end. I’m going to go with Chryst doing his best to not answer until all things are fully settled.
He was accused of abuse by one of his players at ASU, and was fired for interfering in the investigation. Ironically, he was found not to be liable in the abuse suit
Thomas’ situation was not comparable to Shell’s at all. This was out of character for TT to whimp out over this minor adversity. He was poised for a great season coming back from his knee injury now at 100%. What happened perhaps is that he was unprepared for the coach challenging him to aspire to his full potential and I bet Coach threw into that mix that he wanted Thomas, as a starting upperclassman, to provide some leadership to the younger players off the field as well. He might just kind of felt overwelmed at the time, only he knows for sure.
In any case, I would be extremely surprised if Coach Chryst didn’t welcome him back with open arms, however, with the full understanding that his requirements still remain on the docket to be fulfilled by TT.
As I said yesterday, the loss of TT would have negatively affected the team more than Shell’s defection, so I’m overjoyed that TT has had a change of heart. This is a very good player at a key position that we’re thin at to start with. Hopefully this entire issue will provide him with the motivation needed to play inspired football for us this season. Aspire to be great an watch the magic happen.
Hail to Pitt. Now lets get down to business.
Although it is a love/hate relationship for many, it has a major impact on the University. Bigger than any athletic program could ever have. Students come to Pitt because it excels in the health professions.
Not to mention that they built the practice facilities which Pitt Football shares with the Steelers, which is an unbelievably positive thing in this city.
Old Pitt Grad, if you have not been to Oakland since the 60’s, you would not recognize the place.
I graduated in 2008. From the time I started at Pitt to the time I left, student quality increased dramatically. I would’ve been laughed at by admissions counselors.
1) All of those players either committed to previous coaching staffs or, in the case of about 4 of them) were primarily recruited by Graham’s staff but eventually committed to Pitt under Chryst.
2) Secondly, with the exception of Thomas (?), Shell and E. Williams, I don’t believe any of those players were expected to be in the 2 deep roster this year.
I would never argue that any coach or person is perfect and I see a lot of areas in which PC & staff can improve. But to me this attrition of players seems a lot more like of a combination of cancers, lazy players, other system players, non-contributing players, etc.
And just to annoy the select negative nellies, I really expect Pitt to lose to FSU by at least 14 but that will in no way change my view of the upcoming season or Chryst. I’ll wait at least 8-10 games before that.
And I welcome back Thomas as well and hope he works to prove he is a 1st teamer.
Hail to Pitt!
Reed, the Rev. George asked me to advise you that God does not appreciate it when people swear to Him!
Nordenberg is not aproblem. To run just a top medical school is a major feat. The Chancellor of Rutgers is just finding this out as they take over the NJ schools of Med and Dentistry.
Nordenberg has done very well. Remember Pittsburgh is in the rust belt and has lost, what?, half its population.
I love Pitt too. It is my school. It gave me an education, opened my eyes to many new things, and provided financial aid when we really needed it.
I like things perfect, and that is all I’m asking of Pitt.
… yeah I hear you! it’s tough sometimes…
I can’t believe I actually read a supposed “Pitt fan” on this blog stating he wants Pitt to lose to FSU… to teach optimistic fans a lesson…
L My F#$%n AO…..
Go to Steelers training camp and start giving people s$%^ for being “koolaid” drinkers and unreasonably optimistic… and see what happens to your a$$…
HAHAHAHA….