I don’t have an excuse. Posting, even in speculation, about why Pat Bostick went home was just wrong, regardless of my intent.

Of course, that isn’t really good enough. I owe an explanation of how I got to that point.

When I saw the articles and the statement from Coach Wannstedt about Pat Bostick leaving for a while, I focused on the last sentence:

“No timetable has been set for his return. we are leaving that judgment to Pat and intend to do everything we can to be supportive of him and his family.”

I took that to mean it was a legitimate family/personal issue.

I was also curious as to what it was. I went to the Lancaster newspaper to see if there was anything happening and saw the article. Being from the Lebanon area (about 15 miles away), I know Lititz does not have a particularly large population and a simple white pages search yielded a single “Bostick.” The two things mean nothing. It did make me wonder and worry some more.

Worry enough, that I went to the message boards to see if there was anything else out there. I started reading the worry and speculation that Bostick was leaving the program for whatever reason. Oh, woe unto Pitt. Why do these things keep happening to “us?” And I got pissed.

Pissed that other Pitt fans were flying off the handle and apparently ready to turn on the kid without another thought. Pissed at an overreaction. Pissed because I thought I knew better.

The smart thing would have been to just walk away from the keyboard for a while. Cool down. Do something else.

Instead I stupidly added my own speculation. I did it because in that space of time, I presumed myself to be some sort of superior fan. I made one of the biggest mistake a fan can do — see himself as some sort of representative of the team and/or “true fans.” Some sort of protector of the interests of the team and players. That’s when fans do the stupid crap that gives fandom a bad name. It’s not being biased that gets fans in trouble. It’s when the fans think they are part of the team or representing them directly.

I knew shortly after I posted it, that I shouldn’t have. I knew better, and I still screwed up. Regardless of my intent, I was wrong. I’m not going to delete or edit out what I wrote. Scrubbing a post doesn’t change it, and I have to own my mistake. All I’m going to do is add a link to this post.

I’m sorry. I’m sorry to Pat Bostick and Bostick family for publishing my own speculation about what is a private and personal issue. I’m sorry to Pitt and Pitt Athletic Department for pretending to be some sort of rep. And I’m sorry to everyone who reads this for crossing the line.

The PittBlather site has been up and posting for a year today. Disturbingly, that means a little obligatory self-congratulations and reflection. It seems to be a blogospheric thing where you point out the anniversary of not getting sick of continually posting and updating your blog. I am a bit of a traditionalist.

It’s safe to say this has been a 12 month period of tremendous upheaval and change on so many levels for me. From the new site, becoming an editor/blogger for FanHouse at AOL, a house fire, Dennis joining the ‘Blather, new son, heart issues for the infant, frightening veneer of credibility being attached to me, some new opportunities and possibilities that appear to be opening up for me.

There’s a reason I don’t like to get reflective. There’s been a lot of s**t the last year and I honestly hadn’t thought much about all of it in one period until I started writing this. Yeesh.

So much of the good has happened because of this blog. It really is stunning. I owe everyone who comments or just reads a great deal. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it, even if this has been a labor of love.

One of the big things I’m very happy about is still not needing a registration system for comments. That’s something I just don’t like having to do on other sites, and hated the idea of having to do it here. Thankfully between the spam filters, and the fact that the overwhelming majority of you don’t put me in a position where I have to consider it, the commenting system remains in place. Only 3 bans in the 12 month period is completely in the tolerable area.

The blog since the move to its own site last August has steadily increased in popularity. For the year, the site has averaged over 1,000 unique visitors a day. Most encouraging is that the past two months — some of the deadest times for college sports has seen the 2nd and 4th most hits this year. To actually see more hits in the summer than during the seasons is something (or it could just be reflective of how disappointed and depressed everyone was over the football team). When the blog first started, it was a shock when the hit count went over 100 for the day.

Here’s hoping for a football and basketball season that actually exceed expectations. Thanks once more to everyone.

Haven’t been home much the past week or two. Went down to Atlanta last week for the USA Volleyball Junior Olympics. Getting recruited by colleges for sports (although smaller [D-III] schools in my own personal case) is quite an experience. Today I just got back from Penn State (gasp!) for another volleyball trip. I spent enough time in Happy Valley to last me until I die. Talk about always looking for something to do, you talk about State College. No wonder they can attract 105,000 a few Saturdays every year for a football game.

Thankfully I didn’t miss anything too important, but we’re beginning to see the light at the end of the offseason tunnel. There are some points that need to be mentioned though.

Firstly, on tonight’s Sportscenter they did a segment on college football. The question: “Which team will have true freshmen making an impact?” The answer: your Pittsburgh Panthers. Most notably the fact that Pat Bostick could be our starting QB and that Dave Wannstedt feels comfortable starting a freshman in the Big East, even more so than he did starting a rookie in his NFL coaching days. Add in McCoy and a handful of others and we’re going to have a solid number of freshmen seeing action.

Wannstedt might have a player leaving him scholarship behind. Rumor has it that tight end Kyle Hubbard wants released from his scholarship and Wanny will allow it. Hubbard is a 3 star recruit from Lakewood, OH.

More football — the Washington Redskins signed H.B. Blades, their 4th 6th round pick. He’ll be set to go for training camp which begin next week. Football season is quickly approaching…

And if you want some very detailed coverage of some summer league hoops, read the comments posted by Stuart here.

Hey, everyone. I know I’ve actually gone a few days without posting. Weird, I know.

The family thing has been a little intense going into the weekend. My 11-week son had to have an aortic angio valvularplasty to open up a constricted pathway to the aortic valve in the heart today. Things went very well, thankfully, but he is spending the night at the hospital. The wife is staying with him. I get to try to reign in the 5-year old while on minimal sleep.

Things should be returning to normal once they come home tomorrow.

Happy 4th everyone.

I’m moving across town, meaning less computer/blogging time until everything is complete (hopefully soon), and it makes the drive to Heinz Field only about 10 minutes longer. I don’t think this was ever considered as part of the new house:

They’re offered by York Heating and Air Conditioning and come in a variety of NCAA teams. Seriously, they’ll put a logo on anything if it squeezes some cash out of people. Better make sure you order your Furman Paladins air conditioner before they run out.

Apparently Pitt gear is on sale for a Father’s day promotion. If you order stuff online, and add the promotion code “DAD” in the spot at checkout, you get 20% knocked off the total purchase. That isn’t half bad.

The deal runs until June 16.

I’ve been inspired.

We should do the whole Chad Johnson checklist thing for Paul Rhoads. We could have all the Big East running backs and put a check for all the backs that rack up 200 yards rushing against Paul Rhoads’ defense. Should be a ton of checks.

That was left by commenter Adam.

Since I only have Microsoft Paint on my computer (boo!) I’m asking for the help of the Pitt Blather community. If someone makes one that I can post here, I’d be fully appreciative. I’m thinking in the area of 400-500 by 400-500 pixels (or somewhere close) would work well. Send your submission to dennis.pittblather@gmail.com. There’s no special prize but full credit will be given.

Be creative, make it look nice, and we could have some fun with this.

Don’t think I forgot about our Pitt Blather bracket poll. With Florida winning last night’s National Championship game (ughhh…would’ve rather seen the Buckeyes win), our final results have become…well, they’ve become finalized.

This year’s winner is Jamie H. Woo!

Second place goes to JoePa’s Assassin, who is also up for the “bracket name of the year” award.

And rounding out the top five (actually it’s six) are Send it In Jerome, steeltrace, PITT fan (now that’s a clever name!), and Lee in State College.

Congrats to Jamie H. and the rest of our top five. I wish I had some sort of prize for you.

I’m out of here for Spring Break, back next Monday in time for the Pirates’ home opener. Hopefully by the time I’m back, Billy Donovan and John Beilien (but especially Donovan) make their decisions so I won’t need to hear any more about it.

Sorry to have dropped off for a couple days. I spent New Years Day watching and liveblogging bowl games. 14 hours, 21 posts and 5 bowl games. A true test of stamina, and discovering just how much babble I am capable of generating in one day.

The good news, content on this site is about to increase with some new/familiar help. Dennis who has been doing a fine job going solo at PittHoopsBlog will now be posting at Pitt Blather. I am very happy to have him aboard and more discussion is always a good thing.

Lots of errands to do ahead of a really long weekend. The grocery and liquor stores will be so busy over the weekend, that there would be no way to just pop out for anything needed. So, everything that a 4-year old, a pregnant wife and I could need were taken care of today — so I won’t have to bother later.
It is expected that I will be hunkered down in front of the TV and the computer for most of the waking hours. Lots of college basketball and football the next few days to cover here and at AOL Fanhouse. It’s tough to be paid to write about sports in front of my TV, but I endure.

The Sun Bowl just showed flashbacks to the 1975 Sun Bowl Pitt won 33-19 over Kansas. Guess if Pitt can’t go to a bowl, that’s the best we’re going to get.