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April 9, 2015

Back For More

Filed under: Admin — Chas @ 9:18 am

Prediction of unintended consequences. This new Morgantown ordinance will result in more broken doors and windows as drunken hoopies are forced to drag ratty couches from outside their houses rather than off their porches.

Sorry, took something of a surprise mental health break.

When Pitt’s basketball season came to its end, I found myself unable to do any writing. It wasn’t writer’s block, or that I didn’t have anything to say — lord knows, it is never that. I was just drained.

I figured I would start back to writing the next day.   Then it became another day. I’d be fine after the weekend. Well, not quite yet. Excuses based on the offline world activities were allowed to perpetuate other days of not writing. Next thing I knew, I hadn’t written anything of note for more than a while.Between the disappointing football and basketball seasons. Coupled with the change (once more) in football coaches. Along with the AD getting deposed. Well there has been a fair amount of chaos and negativity. And I found myself worn down by it all.

Looking, reviewing all the comments. Going through all the games. The hyperbolic reactions to every thing. It felt like there as a lot of negativity — bordering on insanity at times.

I’m not complaining (well, maybe a little). I chose to do this, and 98% of the time I love it. But that 2%… It just takes a toll.

I like to think of myself as a cynic and fairly realistic. And for the most part that is true. But the truth is, I couldn’t be doing this site for over ten years without a large reservoir of optimism and hopefulness. To do it otherwise would be nothing but anger and rage. Basically talk radio.

I have never spoken to Reed or Justin about this sort of thing, but from the way they write they also appear to come at Pitt Athletics from that same perspective of the possibilities. Without bile and disgust at things when the actions on the field and court don’t go they way we hope.  Not rose-colored glasses, but realistic optimism I suppose.

And I still feel that way. But the energy to express all of it needed a chance to return.

Thank you Reed — especially Reed — and Justin for taking control of the spring football practices, recruiting stuff and such. Time to once more get back to the fun.





Chas, good to have you back. I have always thought that many of us use your site as a coping mechanism. Where else can you go to talk to like minded Pitt Fans about the bitter anguish that seems to be a reoccurring phenomenon of Pitt sports. Thank you so much for this forum.

Your wanting to get away is probably a more sensible coping mechanism than those of us that have been trying to make sense of the crash and burn that took place with both teams this year.

Well, spring is the time of renewal, let’s hope there is a good one for Pitt Fans.

Comment by gc 04.09.15 @ 9:35 am

IMO, there has been a small handful of extremely negative posters who have ‘dominated the airwaves’ here pertaining to our current BB coach. There is also the usual amount of kool-aiders with the opposite viewpoint.

I may be wrong but I think the majority here share my opinion that while the downward trend is disturbing and needs to be fixed, firing JD should not be on the table. This is not to say he is beyond criticism .. it’s just not a viable option in the near term.

There is a good base of talented underclassmen coupled with some promising commits, and my expectations are higher for the next two seasons. But if the downward trend continues, then ….

Comment by wbb 04.09.15 @ 9:36 am

wbb, I’m with you on that one. IMO, that downward trend was caused by recruiting misses, primarily Birch, Adams, and the big men that followed. Also that Robinson did not get better and the enigma that is Newkirk.

Jamie needs a pipeline full of guys that develop over three or four years. There was a break in the pipeline that resulted in the downturn.

If Jamie can find a couple of big men and a guy like Heron comes, he will get back on track. If not, it will be time for a change.

Comment by gc 04.09.15 @ 9:50 am

I think that was the point Dokish was making, that Pitt and Wisky are similar in that, they cannot reload in one year like Basketball’s Royalty. The must build a team over time and get lucky with a guy like Kaminsky or Sam Young, who get really good as seniors.

Those that think we can get a coach that can recruit like Calipari, Pitino, Boeheim or Williams are sadly mistaken. The only one that I remember developing a program from scratch was Calhoun.

Comment by gc 04.09.15 @ 10:01 am

@@@@@@

Hoping for dramatically upgraded personnel at the center
position. A shot blocker/rebounder would improve our shot
selection, provide points, and improve our defense.

Comment by JR 04.09.15 @ 10:03 am

Not an ardent basketball fan, but casual observing shows that Dixon’s success usually correlates pretty will to skill at the center position. You could probably say that about most teams though…

Comment by Atlanta Panther 04.09.15 @ 10:38 am

Atl Panther, note we had a #1 seed with McGhee at center who, in fairness, was a good defender and rebounder. We lost to both eventual participants in NCAA title game in the final second.

Comment by wbb 04.09.15 @ 10:48 am

lol Chas.

Insanity is a byproduct of being a Pitt alumnus or fan, if you follow the athletic program.

Comment by Emel 04.09.15 @ 11:26 am

The Pitt malcontents are always calling for somebody’s head on a stake. those who bitched and moaned constantly about our AD and his incompetence finally got their wish. YOU’RE FIRED as Trump would say!

Now what? Next man up for those whiners,,,,,Fire Dixon!!! And the beat goes on.

Comment by Dr. Tom 04.09.15 @ 12:50 pm

Good to have you back Chas. I was hoping you might have escaped the loony bin that is Pitt athletic fandom, but just as BF Skinner discovered, irregular conditioning creates the strongest behavior. For us Pitt fans, the success followed swiftly by failure, then chased by success has conditioned us to always look for the next success, no matter how long the failure lasts.

Comment by Caw Miller 04.09.15 @ 1:56 pm

One may not be a PITT fan without optimism and hopefulness. Welcome back to the fold Chas.

Comment by longsufferingpittfan 04.09.15 @ 2:39 pm

Dr. Tom – SOPF (Same Old Pitt Fans) –

Comment by markp 04.09.15 @ 5:05 pm

Negativity? Who? LOL. In all fairness, I just post and I need to get away from the site for a week or two at a time when the haters are really out. I hope you enjoyed the break.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 04.09.15 @ 5:41 pm

Chas…good to have you back. My business drove me to near insanity. Now retired, I look back in those moments and wonder why I just didn’t take time off. You made a good choice.

Sorry to be part of theDixon negativity, but I’ve totally lost faith in his limited coaching and recruiting ability. He’s never had any accountability ….so there’s that.

See you at the Spring Game where I predict a crowd of 6000+

Comment by Dan 72 04.09.15 @ 9:15 pm

Doc – So you loved Smug Steve? That is BS. Oh and Dixon has been bad for 5 years but Smug loved him and let him win 13 games against Dogshit oppenents to get to 20 easily.

Comment by Upittbaseball 04.10.15 @ 6:12 am

Glad Upitt was able to correct that love fest….

Chas Glad you’ve righted the ship.

Comment by 9-2,8-4,11-1,11-1,11-1 04.10.15 @ 7:20 am

9-2, Good One! Made me laugh. I miss football. Let’s win at least 8 games and build on that. We can do that.

Comment by Upittbaseball 04.10.15 @ 9:34 am

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