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February 3, 2015

Day Before NLI Day Drama

Filed under: Football,Recruiting — Chas @ 2:21 pm

Okay, let’s get it out of the way. Pitt appears to have had a second member of the 2015 signing class flip to PSU. Last week it was TE Nick Bowers, today LB Kevin Givens. Penn State  has closed strong. In addition to flipping 2 verbals, they beat out Pitt for Shareef Miller and John Petrishen.

It’s frustrating, and it adds an extra level of annoyance because of to where they flipped. And if it happens next year, I might muster some real anger. Not this year. Not after a coaching change.

At the end of the day, this is not atypical after a coaching change. It’s flux. Guys who seemed sure and stable to commit have to rethink things. New coaches that have come in and may be able to make most of the players feel good about things, but it won’t be that way for all of them. It’s why coaches for other teams will still “touch base” and check in on players even after they commit. You never know.

We were well aware that James Franklin and his staff were strong recruiters. It wasn’t like they were going to roll over at Pitt’s efforts. Pat Narduzzi and the rest of the Pitt coaching staff are energetic recruiters and came out with brashness and aggression. It fired up Pitt fans, and was something that was needed. It’s also  touched a nerve as both sides are positioning themselves as much for the next two cycles as to finishing this one.

I’m not trying to minimize the loss of Givens. He had good potential, and any loss of a defensive player feels like a bigger loss, given the questions for next year. Still, at the end of the day, he was not expected to step in and start next year. He was a project. Someone that was hardly a sure thing.

At the same time — and this is why the coaching chaos has been such a problem and the only reason there was angst over losing a 19-19 coach after 3 years — is that it plays hell with recruiting, depth, developing and building. Programs can’t keep going through coaches and changes in philosophies and recruiting targets so frequently. (See, also, Reed’s post summarizing the Zeise interview)

Pitt has made some nice pick-ups in the time since the advent of the Pat signal. It remains to be seen if they outweigh or merely balance out the losses. I’m optimistic enough to think they will end up outweighing.

On that note, the late pick-up of a graduate transfer QB from Tennessee is good news.

Quarterback Nathan Peterman, who played the past three seasons at the University of Tennessee, will transfer to Pitt, begin taking classes in May and join the football team, a source familiar with the situation said Sunday.

Peterman graduated from Tennessee and is immediately eligible to play. He spent the past weekend with Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff during an official campus visit.

A Pitt spokesman declined comment.

While at Tennessee, Peterman forged a relationship with Pitt offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, who held the same position there in 2012.

Peterman has a total of 43 passing attempts. He’s played… sparingly over the past two years. He is not coming in as a Tom Savage. He’s coming in to provide some depth at QB behind Chad Voytik, and perhaps compete/push Voytik in the spring.





gc..never read a Jackie Collins novel.

Did they actually make sense, cause nothing the judge in either this case or the Vandy case makes sense.

And nor does good old Judge Seemus sending porn in emails to the AG’s office.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 8:18 pm

Dr Tom…exactly what I was trying to say o’ Great Orator!!!

Comment by BigB 02.03.15 @ 8:19 pm

The last time we played PSU in 2000 we won 12-0 and that knocked them out of a bowl as they finished 5-7.

link to en.wikipedia.org

Comment by Frank MD 02.03.15 @ 8:21 pm

this tweet from PG PSU beat write seems to paint a different picture of Pitt recruiting being negative and liars.

Audrey Snyder @audsnyder4

Altoona HS coach John Franco on DE Kevin Givens’ flip to #PSU: “If Penn State was not in the picture he would’ve just loved Pitt.”

Comment by wbb 02.03.15 @ 8:21 pm

Wonder if Seamus is a Pedo State fan ?

We do know this about him. A former Philly Cop (Sgt) who went to nightschool at LaSalle. Them Temple Law.

and……..

In 2008 he retired as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He is also a 33° Mason.

As Col Klink said;

Veeeeery….intereeeeesting.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 8:25 pm

If you got 2 hours to kill watch 1977 Pitt-PennState game on YouTube..sorry I dont know how to attach links.. In the snow at Pitt stadium..get your battery charged..your juices flowin..because..They are Coming to Our City..like the Big n Rich song..a few of us were there

Comment by BigB 02.03.15 @ 8:31 pm

Emel..Penn State is coming and we will meet the enemy on the battlefield..fasten your chinstrap soldier!!!

Comment by BigB 02.03.15 @ 8:35 pm

@ emel, I am not sure if I read one either, but I know her genre is sex, scandal, power and violence.

Comment by gc 02.03.15 @ 8:38 pm

BigB, I was there for that one too, maybe the coldest I have ever been. Horizontal snow hitting you in the face.

Comment by gc 02.03.15 @ 8:39 pm

We were sitting pretty high up right below Pennsylvania Hall, wind hitting us right in the face. Wives left before half-time, took the bus home. I left with about 10 minutes to go and missed a lot of the excitement. Didn’t care too much at the time, thought I had frostbite.

Comment by gc 02.03.15 @ 8:46 pm

The Pedos are very afraid of sharing the spotlight with Pitt. Pitt is a different religion to them. The cult doesn’t like free thinkers. State Penn knows their days are numbered when the Pat signal shines. It means they won’t be able to dominate. Pathetic arrogant cry babies they are. The Nitters can all burn in Hell.

Comment by TX Panther 02.03.15 @ 8:51 pm

Here’s how BigB

1) left click on address in address window on top, so that it is highlited in blue.

2) then right click to get drop down box, left click on ‘copy’.

3) then come here and right click and then left click on ‘paste’ in drop down box

and wallah…link will appear in comment box.

Link away ! ha

P.S. If pedo state is coming, the local boy’s clubs must be forewarned. (if they still have boy’s clubs) (if not then the boy’s scouts and cub scouts and webelos).

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 8:53 pm

there was a report last week that NCAA is investigating 20 schools for academic fraud. Wonder if this is one of them

link to triblive.com

Comment by wbb 02.03.15 @ 8:55 pm

well said Tex !

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 8:55 pm

Saw the whole game first time ever on the visitors side..and walked back to shadyside afterwards..oh to be young again..good note folks..drivin from Carolina to Pa early tomorrow to spend a few days with me mom..

Comment by BigB 02.03.15 @ 8:57 pm

Thanks Emel

Comment by BigB 02.03.15 @ 8:59 pm

Regardless of whether James from State College is a great recruiter or not, the fact is that he has a recruiting advantage of 100,000 fans at the games and a big, sprawling campus that will probably appeal to more kids than an urban campus – all things being equal.

But, I question his coaching ability. I have a hunch Narduzzi’s staff will out-coach that crew, and this may become clear pretty quickly. Wanny was not a great gameday coach, by any means. But, he was able to assemble a #16 class according to Paul Zeise in the other article. If he could do that, I have no doubt a better coaching staff can certainly duplicate that level of success.

So, while the coach who may have some skeletons in his Vandy past will probably achieve Top 20 classes each year, there is no reason Pitt can’t compete with them. I expect Penn St to snag the majority of top PA recruits, but there is no reason Pitt won’t have more success in Ohio, Florida, even Texas as we’ve already seen. Losing a few kids to Penn St a month after a coach is hired is no reason to go weak in the knees. I say if you liked Narduzzi yesterday, you’ll like him even more at this time next year. And, you’ll absolutely love after Pitt kicks Penn State’s butt in ’16.

Comment by Jim 02.03.15 @ 9:00 pm

The Pedo lovers over at the Trib ragsheet.

just posted this at 8:20 on the front page of that rag.

“2nd recruit in 10 days changes commitment from Pitt to Penn State ”

I’m sure they didn’t post on the home page that Aaron Donald of Pitt was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:01 pm

Will you be coming to the LOI day event tomorrow since you’re coming to PA,BigB?

Comment by PittPT 02.03.15 @ 9:02 pm

Whitehead has supposedly told sources he will fax his commitment first thing in the morning. That would be a good thing. He ain’t jumping to WVU.

Comment by Jim 02.03.15 @ 9:02 pm

I went to State College 3 times to see us play. 79, 80 and 88. We won them all. Two of my best friends {from PSU} got us rooms.

Comment by Frank MD 02.03.15 @ 9:04 pm

I can see this doing nothing but ‘firing up’ a guy like Nardog even more.

He and guys like Peterson, Sims, Sherman, Powell, Harley, Hill, etc…are going to tear Franklinstein a new asshole next year, which is already beginning this year.

Which is why Franklinstein worked so hard to flip these two kids who were recruited by Paulie and the Cheeseheads. Doubt the Pedo’s would have even offered these two had Paulie still been here.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:08 pm

Aren’t the zombies always bellowing about never wanting any kids that Pitt wanted/signed ?

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:11 pm

Just back from watching Pitt commit Dane Jackson go for about 40 points and 100% from the free throw line. Very explosive player.

Comment by alcofan 02.03.15 @ 9:18 pm

BTW, that game vs Penn St in ’16 would be the perfect time to being back the mustard & blue script.

Comment by Jim 02.03.15 @ 9:22 pm

Those zombies could learn a little bit of humility. They can admit their CULTure helped protect a pedophile. They can recognize their GRAND Experiment was a failure. They can believe what they want but the TRUTH is that they will NEVER be anything more than tOSU and Michigan’s little bitch.

Comment by TX Panther 02.03.15 @ 9:24 pm

Emel, you just presented a paradox concerning your previous post that has an introspective deep thinker like myself perplexed on how exactly one would successfully accomplish just a surgical feat.

That reference to which I refer? How exactly do you “tear a new a$$hole” within an original a$$hole that you’ve just identified as requiring a new one torn in for? Quite perplexing.

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.03.15 @ 9:30 pm

Tex
Maryland’s bitch too. They lost to them last year and BUttgers almost beat them too, if not for Nova throwing 5 picks.

Pedo State is a joke in football. Only the memories people have of them being relevant from long ago, which are reinforced by the local ragsheets across the state, staffed with either Pedo alumni or edited by them….keep the illusion going.

One outright conf title in 24 years.

What a joke ! Zombie on Pedo State !

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:32 pm

PittPT ..will be on the road all day

Comment by BigB 02.03.15 @ 9:32 pm

You figure it out Doc.

You’re the doc right ?

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:33 pm

Pedo State hasn’t been ranked at the end of the season in the Top 25 since 2009.

Same as us.

At least we produced some NFL stars in the interim.

They suck, we don’t buy the media created illusion.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:39 pm

link to ydr.com

This is the tripe I have to read every day in Central Pa.

Comment by isnore99 02.03.15 @ 9:40 pm

link to yorkdispatch.com

Yepper, York’s second paper is loud and clear about PSU’s recruiting victory!

I am surrounded by Nitters….the faster 2016 comes the better….if Franklin isin’t in a Nashville jail from his Vandy nonsense I hope we crush his Nittany Pussy Cats.

Comment by isnore99 02.03.15 @ 9:47 pm

Too bad there is not a ‘comments’ section, below that Pedo State propaganda piece.

For all his braggadocious, Pitt not Franklinstein got the #1 player in the state. (3rd time in last 4 years)

link to sports.yahoo.com

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:51 pm

York has 2 papers. Didn’t realize there were that many people left in York, who hadn’t moved South.

Who knew !

Pitt needs to buy these 2 local bankrupt ragsheets and cleanse them of the Pedo State influence.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:57 pm

They’re always siding with the Highmark thieves as well and constantly take potshots at UPMC.

Enough is enough !

Just buy them and fire the pedo’s.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 9:59 pm

From what Ive read Givens wanted to go to PSU the whole time, so why was he a Pitt committ in the first place and why did Franklin want him in the end.

1. Franklin couldn’t get the recruit he really wanted and settled for Givens just to fillout his class.

2. He took Givens just to make a statement about who is the best recruiter in the state.

If either one is true that’s poor recruiting for the college and for the player. For Givens sake I hope he knows what he is getting into but I guess if PSU is where he always wanted to be I don’t see how that’s a loss for Pitt.

Comment by Steve h 02.03.15 @ 10:07 pm

32 yrs. ydr enough don’t read it, other than when my daughter played bb and at the Bryce Jordan twice,sorry that narduzzi looks human but until we win when regularly, no chance ,ignore bodani that’s his job, as said before myers harabaugh, dantonio, will be their end, not us.

Comment by paul shannon 02.03.15 @ 10:09 pm

Emel, York is now a Baltimore suburb full of Ravens and Nitter fans. Soon to be voted worst place to live on the planet.

Comment by Steve h 02.03.15 @ 10:13 pm

lmao Steve h.

MikePitt pointed out on previous thread.

Given’s other offers were from this distinguished list of football powers:

Temple & Western Michigan.

He was a 2 star recruit, after which he committed to Pitt he was boosted to 3 star.

No big loss. Just opens up another scholie for someone much better.

Don’t bend over for the soap bar,,,,kiddo.

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 10:18 pm

Moved to Yorky Dorky from Noo Yawk because my grand children are in the area.

Beautiful area, great golf. mostly lousy restaurants, politics to the right of Atilla the Hun (Limbaugh is a liberal) and tons of folks who commute to Charm City (Ballimer).

I wear my Pitt stuff just to PISS the local yokels
off. One interesting note, however, I know many people who have very bright kids and Pitt is a major choice over PSU. A neighbor’s daughter is in the Pitt Honors program in engineering with a 3.75GPA.

The few upscale areas of York are Pitt/Ivy League/F&M/Bucknell, etc. The vast majority of York , the unwashed, love PSU. If you go into a Walmart PSU clothing is the uniform of the day (no kidding).

So, to end this too long post I bring all of this up because a high school kid in Central Pa for the most part knows only one thing….PSU is the greatest place on earth!

Comment by isnore99 02.03.15 @ 10:40 pm

lol isnore.

Sounds like fun…pissing off the yokel psu morons.

Wish I could join you for some of that !

Pedo State… the Walmart of Pennsylvania Universities.

I like that !

Comment by Emel 02.03.15 @ 10:52 pm

DR Tom

“I leave the nitters with this question , “who won the last game that we played against each other”?”

And when you have just thrown in the half court buzzer beater never never walk back out just to show you can do it every time.

Comment by 9-2,8-4,11-1,11-1,11-1 02.03.15 @ 11:00 pm

I add my vote to those who say screw PSU on the game schedule like they tried to do to us. There are enough other good D1 teams to schedule without them.They only rescheduled Pitt when JoPa was gone which is what Beano Cook predicted years ago.I add that they, like WV, only changed their tune when they thought it would benefit Them to schedule Pitt.They always put a few teams on their early schedule to beat that are legitimate D1 opponents(Temple ,CFU, Cuse and now Pitt) Hopefully they bite off more than they can handle with Pitt.Here is to a roaring start tomorrow and great wrap on”D” players for this year.

Comment by Pitt 60 02.03.15 @ 11:22 pm

Do you guys really think you can overcome 4 years of poor coaching/recruiting and years of joepa screwing with a new 2-4 week old coaching staff?

Just as Emel says, forget about losing the two flippers to PSU. Franklin just wanted us to see how long his thing is. These guys were marginal rated at best.

Wait to next year, our recruiters are just as pretty as theirs. We will get our share.

Comment by Old Pitt Grad 02.03.15 @ 11:39 pm

Probably get better Pedo State coverage in Pittsburgh than the farmers do in Centre County.

link to pbs.twimg.com

Comment by Mailman 02.03.15 @ 11:43 pm

Um, no need to throw Givens under the bus for his ranking. This kid was a very early commit and didn’t go to any camps to get exposure. Watch his SENIOR tape then tell me what you think. He is every bit as good as Shawn Curtis.

Comment by pd 02.04.15 @ 12:18 am

Like many have said, Givens always wanted to go to PSU. He just didn’t have an offer. Franklin is so worried about Pitt that he decided to offer Givens so that he could say how he flipped a player and owns the state. Just shows his insecurity.

I’d choose a 3-star from Florida like Shawn Curtis over a 3-star from PA every time.

Comment by Wardapalooza 02.04.15 @ 6:55 am

well, we aren’t getting either … so back to the drawing board

Comment by wbb 02.04.15 @ 8:12 am

Emel – I saw the link in a post on the Rivalss.com subscription message board and clicked on it. Why – think it was sent to me in the dead of the night?

Ward – stirring up the “3s* from FL is better than 3*s from PA” again I see.:) Personally, while I don’t like losing recruits to PSU at all, I can understand the draw the school and football program has there with recruits – who have amazingly short memories and self-center ideas. Hard enough to believe but even when PSU gets major NCAA sanctions against them they just keep rolling along.

That competition we have with them in recruiting is always going to be a bit one-sided I think… all PSU has to do is be PSU while PITT seems to have to have some extraordinary years to land the higher rated recruits on a continuing basis.

What I think the recruits don’t take into account is that even though we don’t have the W/L record PSU has historically, we pretty much put as many if not more players in the NFL and our kids have been winning major awards lately.

I guess I’d rather see a recruit there then at an ACC school we’d have to play in the future.

Comment by Reed 02.04.15 @ 8:52 am

I have no idea Reed….didn’t you say you were in Naval Intelligence or something. ha

Comment by Emel 02.04.15 @ 1:38 pm

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