Bit of hyperbole, but this has been quite the holiday weekend.
Friday, Pitt upsets Miami.
Saturday, Pitt basketball beats Lehigh and even showed that it is taking some steps to becoming a team.
Sunday. Oh, Sunday. The coaching carousel went beyond tilt-a-whirl. It went Michael Bay explosions crazy. The damn thing spun off its axis and went ripping through the whole amusement park.
It was the effing Silver Streak ripping through Chicago (for those of you old enough to remember this one).
Arizona State kicked things off for us with the firing of Fraud Graham. A move, long morally justified, but a little weird when you factor in the $12 million buyout (reportedly without an offset clause). They better be damn sure they can get…
…Kevin Sumlin. The long rumored firing at Texas A&M finally happened. And if you want a good buyout, Sumlin may have Graham’s beat. Simply because his buyout of over $10 million is due — in it’s entirety — within sixty days of being fired. Oh, he may take that job in Tempe. But for tax purposes, he isn’t moving in 2018 (no state income tax in Texas).
That means Texas A&M is going all-in on landing Jimbo Fisher from Florida State. A move that makes no sense on paper. Other then the fact that the Aggies are reportedly offering $7.5 million per year, and FSU’s administration has gotten a little sick of the annual renegotiation with Fisher.
But all of that was merely a warm-up act for Tennessee.
Greg Schiano is going to get paid for never actually becoming the Volunteers next coach. Their AD is almost certainly going to get fired over this. And now, no one has any idea who would be willing to take the head coaching job at Tennessee after this.*
My god was it amazing. There is no way to summarize the madness. Nothing I write that could do it justice.
The worst things you’ve thought or written about Pitt coaching searches. Past, present and arguably future. Cannot match the reality of what Tennessee did to itself. This will be the floor by which every other debacle of a coaching search and hire will be measured. And they will all fall short.
It was an open revolt by fans, boosters and carnival barkers. State political figures inserted themselves into this debacle. At least three books will be written about this day in Tennessee.
(*Graham. Tennessee is going to end up hiring Todd Graham to some ridiculous contract because of their desperation and him just being Todd Graham. Insert usual joke about having family there/dream job.)
The crowd was loud, passionate and standing the entire 4th qtr from what I witnessed.
The BB team looked better vs Lehigh, who by the way came into the game rank 301st in rebounding with Pitt at 310. Pitt had 3 offensive rebounds – ugh!
And the psu enabler scandal keeps on giving – thank you Tennessee and Greg Schiano. If you remember when KS was hired, AD Barnes chose to ignore the roar and displeasure of the fan base. I don’t remember Pitt students marching in protest –
Graham to Tennessee is a great fit – or maybe Barnes snags the Fraudster for the Oregon State job. Either way, it presents us with good theater.
I hope your week continues as your weekend was…
That scandal poisoned the waters in a large circle as it should have. Every single member of those Paterno coaching staffs knew what was happening.
Here is a good breakfast read –
H2P!
My brother – a Pitt FB diehard – lives in Knoxville and has never forgiven the Vols for how they handled the departure of Johnny Mjors in favor of Fulmer. He’s really enjoying this.
Now let’s have a full year of these kinds of “shock the world” performances….starting with recruiting.
The season is what it was. Strengthen recruiting !!!!
It would more than likely be a buzz-kill. The extra practice is the only advantage to a bowl game.
Panthers over High Point tonight. 85-65.
I hope he lands a good HCing job. My feeling is he should wait until the Memphis opening happens – their HC will probably land a P5 job. I want him to stay away from UCF – lol.
Sometimes its more about fit than money. But he got offered big bucks at an SEC program. Tough to pass up. Moreover, he knew most of his playmakers on O were gone.
But I think if he would have stayed at Pitt for another 2 years, he’d be a head coach somewhere. The LSU head coach is an ass and moron.
Sloppy team – the rebound edge disappeared in the last 5 minutes along with the 10 point lead.
Effort is not showing consistently. The coach rarely calls a TO to slow the oppositions MO. I think he can’t stand watching and wants to get the games over quickly so he can get his next paycheck.
Pitt being beaten again on the offensive glass, continuing to allow poor shooting teams to remain in games.
Why?
Oregon State: In what appears to be a trial balloon, the concept of hiring Dennis Erickson was floated today for Oregon State. DHR International (search firm that recommended KS at Pitt) is running this search. Erickson, 70, last served as a head coach in 2011 at Arizona State and last coached in 2016 as running backs coach at Utah. Erickson served as head coach at Oregon State from 1999 – 2002 winning 31 games in four seasons.
Let’s hope Matt Canada doesn’t jump from LSU to psu to fill the vacant OC position. Wouldn’t that be Lyke getting kicked in the gonads?
M Carr has a sweet shot but a TO machine. At least 3 times last night, I said “no, don’t throw that” … and indeed, his pass was easily picked offed and turned into points for High Point
The bad:
22 TURNOVERS!!!! Most were just lazy/careless passes. The turnovers, and resulting player substitutions, caused Pitt to go scoreless for about a 5 minute stretch, while only scoring 6 points, the final 10 minutes of the first half. They squandered an 11 point lead.
Boykins does not look comfortable.Pitt brought in as a shooter who can’t shoot.
Peace averaged a foul per minute played.
Pitt went four guards and Luther for a long stretch in the second half.
The good:
Peace averaged a rebound per minute played. And got credit for a steal that he did not realize he caused.
Rebounding improved, even when Pitt went small.
Pitt’s overall defense looked much better. They were better helping on dribble drives.
Assisted on 64% of baskets.
Shot very well from 2, 3 and FTs.
After showing some trouble guarding dribble drives, Kham Davis really stepped up in the second half, getting key rebounds and a steal.
Including last night, Pitt is facing 3 teams, in four, that press and work to get turnovers. Duquesne and WVU are likely going to be tough games to watch.
Being a Pitt fan I found the whole drama hilarious. Vols fans think they should be playing for SEC championships and National Championships as well. When they hire coaches like Jones, Dooley and Kiffen in recent years you cannot expect championships. The program is in a mess and that is OK with me.
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