The nice thing about doing this blog and it being a labor of love. I don’t really have to do deadlines. Oh, I can impose them on myself. But — as in the case last night — I could bag some late write-up and just head to a bar with some friends and have a celebratory drink. So thanks Justin for taking it upon yourself to cover for me.
There’s plenty to digest about this game, but I’m going to focus on the other aspect. How much Pitt and the fans needed this win. Not just beating ND, but the way it happened.
Obviously there is that revenge factor from last year. From the calls that happened to go ND’s way to the calls that weren’t even made. But the fact is, last year Pitt could not hold on to that game. A trend that had continued from previous years and into this year — UConn, Iowa, WVU, Louisville, Navy had similar scripts.
Pitt never led in this game until under 10 minutes left in the 4th quarter. The Panthers never fell more than a TD behind, but could only tie. And when Pitt suddenly took the lead, the fear was real. How was Pitt going to blow this one? How could Pitt’s defense not give up the big mistake to let ND tie it? How will Pitt’s offense implode this time? How will the playcalling be inexplicable? We know the script. We’ve seen this movie and all the sequels.
Cyncism, sarcasm and bitterness are armor against the blows of disappointment. And I was there making sure I had them on display.
Yet instead of screw-ups and tragicomedy everything came together on this night. Special teams were solid. The defense made stops. The offense chewed clock and played with purpose beyond trying to will the clock to zero. The coaches kept things together.
It was Notre Dame that had to abandon the run in the fourth quarter (3 carries, 1 yard). Notre Dame was the one playing scared. Hoping for the refs to bail them out rather than making plays. It was Notre Dame, not Pitt, that had a collective sense of, “Oh, shit.”
Pitt hasn’t won a game where it trailed or was tied in the 4th quarter since the 2009 Meineke Bowl. That’s part of what makes this game so big and such a huge win.
This wasn’t Pitt coming out and shocking ND with pure dominance from start to finish. Or came out blazing and frantically hung on to the win. This wasn’t some inexplicable event where it just went Pitt’s way with blind luck. This was a tough game that Pitt did more. Made more plays. And finished the game.
This win is the biggest for Chryst so far. It is also the most important. As big and shocking as the VT win was last year, this one has the chance to be much more meaningful.
Let’s not understate the importance of the VT win. Pitt was 0-2 going into that game. A really bad 0-2. VT was ranked in the top-15 at that point. Pitt ran roughshod over them and exposed the Hokies. VT never really recovered that season — and it diminished the significance of the game to some extent. Yet, that was an early game. A game that not only lost luster, but looked like something of a fluke insofar as how Pitt played a near complete game.
This game wasn’t perfect by Pitt. For huge parts of the game it seemed like the offense or defense would go in the tank right after the other squad did something good. Pitt was only 3-13 on 3d downs. Four three-and-outs. Right after Pitt put together a 13 play TD drive, the defense gave up an 80-yard TD pass on the first play.
This was completely the kind of game Pitt doesn’t simply lose. It blows. They didn’t. They made adjustments. They played better in the second half. All the things we have been waiting to see.
The players needed this. They needed a payoff. The fans needed this. The frustration was so strong. For the time being, a huge weight feels lifted from this team.
After the game Coach Paul Chryst did his press conference and mostly stuck to his monotone and coach speak. Playing down the significance beyond just being a win. At least until the end when he ended the press conference with a “Peace, out!”
H2P Stick it to the Tarheels
If you have a computer. Which includes any smart phone. They have a “Watch ESPN” app. Picture is excellent. Small, but very good if you want to catch the game.
I’ll be there this Sat., but a TV with internet on it would be ideal with all the games, not just Pitt am I talking about, just about every game you could imagine is on ESPN 3 is it isn’t on somewhere else. Would be nice on the tube.
Haven’t made that leap yet, the old dinosaur still belting out a great picture.
Dan – I watched the replay last night also – only had 2 issues: 1) how many times could they remind us how banged up ND’s defense is? Yoi! 2) You could barely hear the crowd, even in the 4th when it was loud. Did they have the field mics muffled?
I thought the defensive secondary must have been coached to just hit the ball and knock it out of the receiver’s hands, rather than trying to out jump the taller receivers. In the past the defenders were in good position, but just didn’t use good technique when the ball arrived.
Temple 38
Michigan 30
Purdue 31
Michigan State 17
Oklahoma 21
ASU 37
USC 14
Airforce 45
Navy 38
13 plays, 69 yards, 6:18 off the clock
– 8 rushing plays(not counting Savages scramble), 34 yards, 4.25 per carry
– 5 passing plays (interference play doesn’t count in the stats)
clock 10:05
Tom Savage rush for 6 yards to the UP37.
James Conner rush for 5 yards to the UP42, 1ST DOWN UP
James Conner rush for 7 yards to the UP49 (SHEMBO).
Tom Savage pass complete to Scott Orndoff for 4 yards to the ND47, 1ST DOWN UP
Isaac Bennett rush for 6 yards to the ND41
Isaac Bennett rush for 3 yards to the ND38 (NIX).
Jaymar Parrish rush for 2 yards to the ND36, 1ST DOWN UP
Tom Savage pass incomplete to Devin Street (SHUMATE), QB hurry
Isaac Bennett rush for 5 yards to the ND31
Tom Savage pass incomplete to Tyler Boyd
Tom Savage pass incomplete to Devin Street, PENALTY ND pass interference, 1ST DOWN UP
James Conner rush for 4 yards to the
Tom Savage pass complete to Tyler Boyd for 10 yards to the ND2, 1ST DOWN UP.
James Conner rush for 2 yards to the ND0, TOUCHDOWN
clock 03:47
Threw a couple deep ones and connected on one against ND.
Kid is playing really well and deserves a lot of credit in leading PITT to it’s first come from behind win since the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte.
Been a long time !!!
Anyone else want to chime in on that !
If I could have reached through the screen and grabbed Cavanaugh’s headset… Fade patterns in high winds. I was convinced Stull would never recover from that.
I hope they continue with that this weekend.
And yet we found ourselves playing UCinn the next year for the de facto BE title…
And at no point is there a mention of anything Pitt did to WIN THE GAME!
H2P!!!
Quarterback Bill Stull was 7-for-24 for 52 yards with one interception
No wonder I was screaming for Pat Bostick the whole 2nd half.
One of my big beefs about DW was his total allegence to WPIAL QB’s. This was clearly a game where a QB change could have ‘kick started’ the offense. Which was deader than a doorknob.
Had we won this game being #18 ranked pre-game we would have finished in the Top 15 final ranking, 2 years in a row.
Wouldn’t have mattered anyway since Cornhole was plotting to get rid of DW anyway.
PittDad, thanks for the link to bleacherreport.
The comments sounded like us after the Navy Game, only much more whiny and entitled. Really fun to read. Like you said, glad they “gave” us the game.
Savage and the O-line is so much better when they have “the Hammer” working again.
Let’s Hammer the Tarheels!
Don’t think there are any All Americans in that bunch, but should be adequate.
Aaron Donald for Heisman
I know, that when I click on anything to actually watch ESPN3 at my work computer, it asks me to pick my cable company, then for the password. (the same one I use to pay the verizon bill online.) Then it comes on immediately.
Picture is really good on computer, but sitting at a desk at home, just isn’t condusive to enjoying the game.
Would love to get a new tv with internet capabilities, but I’ve been watching my pennies, not to mention the picture is still excellent.
I’m waiting for it to blow up, to force me to do something.
The PITT – Boise State basketball game is on ESPN3 but is subject to blackout (from Florida to Maine). Usually when blacked out the game is being carried on a regional network(s). In my area(Upstate Carolina), the game is being carried on FSN which I believe stands for Fox Sports Net. It may be on other regional sports cable stations.
I checked the ACC site theaccc.com and it showed PITT-Boise State as being carried on RSN (Regional Sports Network) but when I clicked on it,nothing came up,
Now they need to realize this for UNC. You cant show up and expect a W. The idea of playing every down and every position executing flawlessly goes game to game to off-season prep and on to the next season. It breeds excellence.
Really speaking, we should be able to win out this season…they need to learn to follow through.
Hail to Pitt.
I said earlier that coming out of camp I wouldn’t have thought we’d see a five game stretch where Savage would throw only one INT. With six TDs and a 63% completion rate that is just about all anyone can ask for out of a QB. Good for him.
gc – regarding the DL. I think that is one unit where it is perhaps the hardest to predict future success of the players coming out of HS. Donald was pretty highly ranked as a 3* & 4* kid but we have seen many time that solid 3* DL play very good football in college.
If we win UNC and and Miami then our only home loss at home this year would be FSU. Winning at home is how you turn things around. I hope we can do it and build on that momentum.
It was ridiculous but the best part was when they left early after the 4rth down incomplete.
H2P!!!
