/sigh

There is never such a thing as a simple or quick project when it involves plumbing, knocking down drywall and installing drywall.

After going well over budget, extremely well over the planned time, it is still a non-functional bathroom. The plumber comes tomorrow to install the new valves for the shower and to add cut-off valves for the bath/shower (have to love older homes that somehow thought that cut-off valves were an option of excess.

I’ve lost track of the number of extra trips to Home Depot, Lowe’s and the Ace down the street.

For the first time in my relationship/marriage the wife actually made me shave. I wasn’t bothering while working, and had a playoff-beard thing going where I wasn’t going to bother shaving until we had a working bathroom/shower.  She didn’t like it and observed that it wasn’t exactly speeding up the process.

Needless to say I don’t even know what I have missed since Tuesday.

No embeddable video, but here’s a link to the story on Coach Jamie Dixon’s program with the Pitt basketball players to help middle-school kids. Mentoring and giving them a better understanding about the basics in just being a better person.

No snark this time. Cool program.

I went back and looked over my post on how it seems that the QB competition is over before it started. I certainly don’ t make the claim that Bostick should be the starter over Sunseri, or vice versa. I think most fans aren’t absolutely certain one way or another. That’s why it seems so surprising and confusing that it seems that Sunseri has the job this quickly.

That is how I look at it. Obviously I don’t know as much as the coaches. I don’t see the kids in practice. The amount of work Tino Sunseri saw last year hardly provides much to go on. Pat Bostick redshirted last year, so there is little to know about how far he actually has come. I took the coaches statements at face value that the competition was open and that no decision was made — and I think most people did.

Apparently I had a burst of naivete in that respect. So in less than a week after practices got underway — and even statements that the competition was absolutely open despite evidence suggesting otherwise — to have that be otherwise. Well, I can understand frustration and annoyance at Coach Wannstedt. Hate feeling like you can’t even believe the things your own coach is saying.

I really don’t buy the Western Pennsylvania conspiracy stuff. Nor do I buy the whole ties to Sunseri the elder. Putting all of it on Coach Wannstedt is not fair and seems to be a bit of a way to avoid pinning any of the decision on popular assistant coach Frank Cignetti.

Yes, Wannstedt is in charge and the final decision is his. I don’t think he’d ignore his coaches and what happens in practice just because of geographic or family ties.

P-G beat writer Paul Zeise concedes that it is now Sunseri’s job, but offers this caution.

Tino is the No. 1 quarterback because he is physically more gifted than Pat Bostick and has far more upside. But that isn’t any different than the way things were last year during training camp – he threw the best ball, could make all the passes, had the strongest arm and quickest release of any quarterback in camp. But when push came to shove, he couldn’t seperate himself from the other two so the coaches opted for the experience and grit of Stull and well, that worked out obviously. So while he is clearly on track to be the starter, when they put him in position to win or lose the job against a live pass rush, blitzes and changing defenses in the fall — will he be able to win it this year or will the coaches be in the position to opt for experience again? I’m thinking he’ll get it done but until it happens, you just never know.

That much I’m not buying unless there is an injury. Sunseri has the job now. He will have the job in the fall. Say this for Coach Wannstedt and even what we have seen from OC Cignetti. Once they commit to a QB, it takes something much more cataclysmic before they make the change.

Sunseri struggling in live practices in the fall will not cost him the job. At that point, the script becomes he has the chemistry with the starters and he will come around. Plus there just won’t be time at that point.

Thanks to Luke who is running the show and setting the rules this year. Take it away, Luke:

Welcome to the PITT Blather 2010 Bracket Pool

1st place nabs the winner:

“Baldwin for Heisman” t-shirt (spring practice also starts this week);

a “talking” Pitt bottle opener;

A $25 gift card TBD (Ed. note, if anyone knows where on the Pitt team store you can purchase gift cards it would help rather than defaulting to something like Dick’s.)

There is no prize for 2nd place.

The scoring system will be a little different. The total points for the round will be multiplied by the seed you pick to win. For example, if you took a 3 seed to beat a 14 seed, you would get 3 points, as opposed to getting 14 if the 14 seed won.

The full rundown on scoring can be found here. I just thought it was an interesting twist from the normal pool that you’re probably in.

1 Bracket per person.

The Pitt Blather Bracket.

Use the password: pittblather (all lowercase)

Thanks to Luke for setting this up and good luck.

At the end of last night’s liveblog, there was the frustrated angst of how Pitt had played itself out of a 3 and even a 4 seed. I’m not buying it given the field and how weak it really is after the first couple of lines. If Pitt gets bumped to the four line, it will have more to do with geography, the number of Big East teams in the field and a sense of interchangeability between a lot of teams.

Still, if you are so inclined to worry, here are the teams you should be cheering to win today:

• San Diego State (over New Mexico)
• Northwestern (over Purdue)
• Kansas State (over Baylor)
• Minnesota (over Michigan State)
• Ole Miss (over Tennessee)
• St. Bonaventure (over Temple)
• Georgia (over Vanderbilt)
• Georgia Tech (over Maryland)

Something a little more lighter. Former Pitt walk-on basketball player and presently Director of Business Operations in the Pitt Athletic Director, Marcus Bowman, is getting married. He and his fiance are trying to win the “Ultimate Wedding” prize at Crate and Barrel (h/t David).

Help him out and make sure it is a Blue and Gold affair.

Sorry about late to post anything. I was running late on the Saturday viewing guide.

You will excuse me if I don’t get too worked up over anything published first and only on FootballScoop.com. They are willing to publish just about any rumor. The fact that a newspaper blog is going with the report only tells me how afraid newspapers are of being scooped and bypassed now.

Former Akron head football coach J.D. Brookhart, who was fired after the season, has spoken to Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone about one of the Orange staff vacancies, according to FootballScoop.com. The web site reported yesterday that Marrone had also spoken to Akron quarterbacks coach Walt Harris and hoped to talk with former SU running back David Walker. The curious connection or coicidence here is that Harris is a former Pitt head coach; Brookhart is a former Pitt assistant and Walker is currently on the Pitt staff coaching the running backs.

So here’s what amuses me. Syracuse needs a new offensive coordinator, receivers coach and running back coach. Yesterday the rumor surfaced about Marrone wanting to talk to Dave Walker and that he may have spoken to Walt Harris.

I’ve made no secret how highly I think of Dave Walker, and any rumors of his departure bug me. So a couple of Syracuse bloggers and I exchanged tweets over this sudden interest in Pitt related coaches leading to this from me:

@HoyaSuxa @NunesMagician Here’s the deal. You can have Harris and we’ll even toss in ex-Akron coach Brookhart, but we keep Walker.

Now the next day a rumor site says that Brookhart and Marrone talked. Hmm.

I’m not saying someone passed along Brookhart as a fake tip for their own amusement. But, um, it has happened before.

I have to admit to being a bit disappointed by all the “chicken little” reactions to Pitt basketball so far. There seems to be a disconnect between the realism before the season that this was going to be a rebuilding year and a team that would be a NCAA bubble/NIT team to seeing it actually happen. Players not as good or as experienced as Young, Fields and Blair. Struggling to execute on offense, shaky defense, lots of turnovers.

Things not seen from Pitt basketball in a while. Leading to frustration and anger. Angst over how the talent level could possibly dip or coaches could possibly miss on evaluations. Frankly, just plain silliness.

Pitt has the longest streak of making the NCAA in the Big East. A conference that includes teams that perennial top-ranked programs with top coaches.  Few are the programs that don’t suffer a down year. Whether it’s a dip in talent, injuries, inexperience, lack of chemistry and/or any combination. Regardless of the recruiting and coach. Florida, Ohio State, Syracuse, UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, UCLA, Illinois and Washington are just some recent or present examples.

After last season ended and DeJuan Blair declared, the expectations of this team doing well were not based on Nasir Robinson, Gary McGhee, Travon Woodall and Brad Wanamaker. Those were supposed to be the supporting players. Like Keith Benjamin, Antonio Graves, Levon Kendall and so on. Guys who were not stars but role players and part of the system. Players who had the time to learn and know their roles. They provided energy and sparks at times. They were not the stars but they were vital to the team.

The hope was that Gilbert Brown was going to be the latest Pitt junior to make the “leap” to centerpiece of the team. That Dante Taylor would be at worst DeJuan Blair-light. That Jermaine Dixon would provide the strong defense and leadership. That Ashton Gibbs would continue to be the 3-point assassin to make teams pay.

Well, that has not worked that way. Gilbert Brown has been suspended, and who knows for sure how well he’ll play when he comes back (and if he can avoid being injured for the 245th time). Jermaine Dixon has been hurt all season and is only now trying to play his way back into shape. Dante Taylor is a freshman playing a new position — and while talented — looks that way frequently. Gibbs has been forced to do a lot more than simply spot-up and fire.

As for the supporting players. Well they have had to do a lot more than expected and many would want. This seems to be the source of much of the frustration. Seeing guys who should be supporting or role players have to be almost central to the team exposes more of their flaws, rawness and how far they still have to go. Which in turn fuels fan frustration and hyperbolic statements as to their ability and skills (more specifically, their lack thereof). With more than a little vitriol and annoyance focused on Nasir Robinson and Brad Wanamaker.

I understand the frustration with both — to varying degrees. I like Wanamaker, except for the fact that he perpetually looks out of control. Even when he isn’t. I think it hurts him with the officials who hesitate to give him calls because it appears that he is barreling around and into people — almost like the antithesis to Duke players that flop upon being a light breeze striking them.

With Robinson, well, I touched on him before. That inability to finish just kills. In that, he has shown no growth from last year in spots to this year as a starter.

To me the biggest factor this year is that there is no focal point for the team on the court. Whether a guy on offense or a true leader at the point. You look at the guys on the team, and they are all really good teammates. Guys that want the team to succeed. Who will work hard. They say the right things. Put their egos aside. Every cliche like that, and would have us speaking glowingly of them — if they were winning.

Unfortunately, this team has been struggling and this team needs some sort of alpha dog on the team. Wanamaker, Gibbs, Woodall  or Jermaine Dixon. Almost by virtue of their experience and position played on the team. One of them has assert some control out there.

One final thing this season should have made clear to everyone. Coach Jamie Dixon did not reject the overtures of Arizona and USC in the spring because he felt he was coming back to a special team this year.

Free t-shirt time.

After an accidental week off for the Brawl, it’s the regular season finale. This has been fun. I’ll have to look into doing something like this for next year.

Reminder, only size Large remains.

Predict the final score of the Cinci- Pitt game and get a free “Baldwin for Heisman” t-shirt. Courtesy of PittsburghSteelRocks.com.

There is a variance of +/- 3 points from the actual score if no one hits the exact numbers.

The House Rock Built are violating all sorts of Domer stereotypes of entitled, too-full-of-themselves, humorless, bandwagon fans that feel everyone is against ND and it is all because of jealousy. They are actually taking their imploding season with, you know, humor.

I will not hold that against them, since they are producing fine muppetry.

A great weekend. The only downside are those reminders of age catching up to me. Loved the atmosphere. Not having to be on the road at 7 am on a Saturday. Tailgating all day. Being able to go out afterwards. Not driving back the same day. But…

Ending up crashing on a friend’s couch sometime after 2 am and waking up with a sore back and a bad night of sleep before driving home was a definite downside. I was dragging and off all of yesterday and still feel like I’m trying to put things back together today.

The Pitt Shop down on Forbes Ave may not have the best selection or prices, but they are a lot smarter than the official athletic department store in the Pete. They not only open on Sundays, they open at 9am. When you are an out-of-towner, this is a nice thing to be able swing over to campus before leaving. They were doing brisk business, but no where near as packed as the places can be on a Saturday (which is part of why I don’t go over on Saturday). An instance where the University is being smarter than the Athletic Department.

As for this week’s winner, it isn’t easy. No one hit the exact score of 27-22, but a lot of close ones.

Brian was  a total of 3 points away at 28-24. Same with m24romano with 28-20.

Justin closed at 27-20 to be off by 2. Also 2 points away was CSK at 28-21. As was Matt42 with 27-24.

Two guys, though, picked within 1 point.

Jared S. was within 1 point at 27-23 and Cool Hand Nuke was on the other side at 27-21. On the toin coss, Cool Hand Nuke prevailed.

Free t-shirt time.

Apologies to Dobber, I was a little late on getting your shirt from the Syracuse score-win out to you. Missed on Tuesday, and Wednesday was Veterans Day. It went out yesterday.

Reminder, only size Large remains.

Predict the final score of the Notre Dame- Pitt game and get a free “Baldwin for Heisman” t-shirt. Courtesy of PittsburghSteelRocks.com.

There is a variance of +/- 3 points from the actual score if no one hits the exact numbers.

Bruce Feldman at ESPN.com has picked ND to win 35-31. Brian Bennett the ESPN.com beat guy has Pitt winning 35-33. Stewart Mandel of SI.com goes with ND 36-30.

I will also be giving one away while tailgating in Lot 23. I’ll be wearing the Pitt sweatshirt, so I will stand right out.

Well, a lot of people really were close on this final score. 1, 2, 3 points away from it. Six predictions right around the final score. But there was one person to get it exactly right and take home the t-shirt this week.

Dobber hit it exactly right. He gets the free t-shirt this week.

Free t-shirt time.

It’s back. After a bye week and no winner from the USF game.

Reminder, only size Large remains.

Predict the final score of the Syracuse-Pitt game and get a free “Baldwin for Heisman” t-shirt. Courtesy of PittsburghSteelRocks.com.

There is a variance of +/- 3 points from the actual score if no one hits the exact numbers.

Added bonus this week for those going to the game. I’ll be giving one away while tailgating in Lot 23. All you have to do is find me. I’ll be wearing the Pitt sweatshirt.

I find it funny, amusing and sad.

There are people who still have trouble with Bill Stull as the starter.

Q: Bill Stull is having an excellent year statistically, but do you really think he is the best quarterback on the team? My main objection is that he is not a “playmaker.” I have always felt that the best chance of winning a game is to have a quarterback who is a playmaker.

ZEISE: Bill Stull is indeed the best option for this team at quarterback right now. He’s put that to rest long ago and frankly this isn’t even a worthy discussion at this point. Pitt will go as far as he takes them and in terms of playmakers, I don’t agree. He’s made some big-time throws in recent weeks and Friday against Rutgers he made a few under a lot of pressure. Stull for some reason isn’t the most beloved player on this team among fans, but my goodness, the Panthers are 15-5 with him as a starter. I’m not saying he’s an NFL quarterback — or that he’s even a great player — but to say he is just along for the for ride is inaccurate because he’s made a lot of plays and frankly, a couple of games he’s been the difference between winning and losing. He also proved against Connecticut that he could indeed bring the Panthers back if they got behind and that was a question people had about him.

I have to admit to staring at that link all week. First, it is really hard to argue with success, and by nearly every metric Stull has been a success this season. I’ve been among the doubters as to how successful Pitt’s offense could be over the first few games, but he has done the job. The main problem I have with it, though, is — well, who on the roster would have fit the role of “playmaker” QB? You can’t just declare that he shouldn’t be the guy because he isn’t dynamic enough without a clear alternative that fits that bill.

There is no evidence that Sunseri would be that guy other than his success in high school and nice reports on how he did in the training camp. I like Bostick, but I can’t call him a “playmaker.”

I don’t know if people still hold the Sun Bowl and his performances in the last 3 games of 2008 against him. The natural distrust of the starting QB. The way Stull was guaranteed the job, despite not really outplaying the other QBs in camp. There just should be a point where you have to let it go.

Stull is the starter. He’s been very good this season. He has stayed within the system and has made a lot more throws than he’s missed. Unless there is an injury he should be the starter. Not because he has experience. Not because Coach Wannstedt says so. Because he has been very good in the job.

Speaking of not letting go.

So I’ve got this guy who emails every time Pitt loses a game. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear it was Lou Holtz in disguise.

Here’s what it looks like: Wannstedt ruined the Bears, he ruined the Dolphins, and he’ll ruin Pitt, too.

And whaddya know, Wanny has won 16 of his last 21 games at Pitt, and only a 28-21 loss to Cincinnati last year kept the Panthers from winning their first ever outright conference title. In previous years, Saturday’s game against USF would have been a classic Pitt stumble.

Not now – not after Wannstedt has his players and philosophy set; not after he made one of the best hires of the offseason by bringing in Frank Cignetti to run the offense and turn wayward QB Billy Stull into one of the nation’s most productive passers (Stull, 2008: 9 TD, 10 INT; Stull, 2009: 14 TD, 3 INT).

Maybe, you know, the guy in Columbus can learn a little something from the guy in Pittsburgh who will, according to my email friend, one day ruin the Panthers.

At least he hasn’t had to hear from the guy in a month.

I won’t defend his time at Miami or Chicago. They were unmitigated disasters that not only messed up the teams for years, but the fanbases there still regard him with disgust while the sportswriters continue to use him as an easy punchline.

Now, understand. I have a continuing ambivalence regarding Coach Wannstedt. I just don’t know if he can be as successful as he thinks on a consistent basis. I think some of his ingrained inflexibility especially with offense is a fatal flaw that may keep him from ever realizing the goals he has set out for the program and we fans want.

That said, the key is that I while I don’t know about the level of success he will achieve at Pitt, there is no metric by which you can say he will or has ruined Pitt. He has underachieved for a few years. He has had headscratching losses (and probably will have more). He frustrates at times.

He has not shown anything, however, to suggest that he will or has ruined Pitt in the four plus years as head coach. Recruiting has improved. Relations with alumni is better. Media relations are stronger. Interest in the program has picked up again.

The police blotter has been relatively clean. No hints of impropriety in the program. Academics have been solid. Things that were in place before Coach Wannstedt and have continued.

At some point, you have to actually have more to go on than gut and past screw-ups.