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Pitt Blather

  • Open Thread: Pitt-WVU

    Number of comments: 10
    It’s the Backyard Brawl. I’m watching the game with family. Have the good bourbon. Feeling edgy and excited. Let’s go Pitt! new TWTR.Widget({ version: 2, type: 'profile', rpp: 4, interval: 6000, width: 250, height: 300, theme: { shell: { background: '#333333', [...] [...]
    Posted: November 27, 2009, 5:44pm EST
    by Chas
  • Day of the Brawl

    Number of comments: 10
    It’s here. Hopefully everyone had a good time with family — or at least faked it. Let’s hit the links as I still have plenty of family things to get through so I can sit and watch the game tonight without the wife glaring at me too much for doing nothing [...]
    Posted: November 27, 2009, 9:03am EST
    by Chas
  • Rushed Brawl Link Clearance

    Number of comments: 10
    It’s a getaway Wednesday. Hours of driving from out here in Cleveland to my family in Lebanon, PA. Not at all looking forward to the trip with the kids in the car on a hideous travel day. Already sent my dad an e-mail alerting him to have a big dollop [...]
    Posted: November 25, 2009, 12:21pm EST
    by Chas
  • LiveBlog: Pitt-Texas

    Number of comments: 10
    Hoping for a shocker. Will settle for a performance that encourages. ESPN2 somewhere around the 10 pm spot. If you like to break out the liveblog from the site, Click Here. Otherwise it is below. UPDATE: The epic MAC football battle that is still going on ESPN2 has pushed the start time ot around [...]
    Posted: November 24, 2009, 8:03pm EST
    by Chas
  • Vindication for Wanny & Stull

    Number of comments: 8
    That seems to be a strong theme. Even when they aren’t in the story directly. Vindication. Redemption. Anything else you want to call it. Go figure, since Frank Cignetti’s father was a WVU assistant then had to follow Bobby Bowden when he went to FSU, there might be a little interest [...]
    Posted: November 24, 2009, 2:26pm EST
    by Chas
  • Severely Challenging

    Number of comments: 10
    That’s what tonight’s game will be with Texas. Don’t be fooled by their first half struggles with Iowa. When even the Iowa faithful were stunned by the performance and what the Hawkeyes were doing (though knowing it wouldn’t last). This is a Texas team that is loaded. That doesn’t mean Pitt [...]
    Posted: November 24, 2009, 10:06am EST
    by Chas
  • Server Fail

    Number of comments: 1
    My hosting company had a major server failure overnight. It’s been slow slogging to get it back up. Appears to be on the return. Fingers crossed. [...]
    Posted: November 24, 2009, 9:13am EST
    by Chas
  • LiveBlog: Wichita State-Pitt

    Number of comments: 8
    Okay, so facing MVC opponents can be a scary proposition. Especially when Pitt is in what could reasonably be considered a “neutral-road” game in Kansas City. Live blog below. If you want to break it out from the blog, Click Here Fun starts at 7:30. The game is on ESPN2. Wichita St-Pitt [...]
    Posted: November 23, 2009, 6:15pm EST
    by Chas
  • Dickerson A Mackey Finalist

    Number of comments: 4
    The bye week did not hurt Dorin Dickerson. He has been announced as a finalist for the John Mackey Award for the best tight end in college. The other two finalists were Aaron Hernandez of Florida and Dennis Pitta of BYU. I thought Pitta wouldn’t make it in favor of Dickson at [...]
    Posted: November 23, 2009, 3:40pm EST
    by Chas
  • Backyard Brawling Stuff Begins

    Number of comments: 6
    Meaningful basketball the first half of the week and the Backyard Brawl at the end. Really feels like there just isn’t time for Thanksgiving this year. Unfortunately for me my family doesn’t accept that. While last week was something of a breather with football. Instead discussions on gametime for the final [...]
    Posted: November 23, 2009, 3:11pm EST
    by Chas
  • Hello Kansas City

    Number of comments: 4
    Good thing I’m not a Steeler fan. Otherwise, I would take yesterday as a bad sign. Tonight’s game is 45 years in the making. The two teams met last in 1964 when the Schockers blew out Pitt 109-58 in Philly. I can’t say I’m shocked that Jermaine Dixon is not going to [...]
    Posted: November 23, 2009, 10:44am EST
    by Chas
  • Football Link Clearance

    Number of comments: 10
    Got some links to clear relating to the football side of things. At least they spelled his name right in the story, but a Hartford Courant roundup of Big East stuff leads with a bit on Pitt OC Frank “Signetti.” Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt had three requirements as he searched for an [...]
    Posted: November 20, 2009, 12:09pm EST
    by Chas
  • Taking Care of Patsies

    Number of comments: 5
    It’s another win. It beats losing. It doesn’t get to be listed as a bad loss like say to the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks come March when Pitt will be sweating the bubble watch. Was it an impressive, dominating win? No. Nor should that be expected no matter how short Eastern Kentucky [...]
    Posted: November 20, 2009, 10:40am EST
    by Chas
  • Oh, Yeah, Eastern Kentucky

    Number of comments: 9
    So, yeah there’s a basketball game tonight at 7. Eastern Kentucky comes to town. The Colonels are picked to be a middle-of-the pack team in the Ohio Valley Conference. They won their season opener against West Virginia Wesleyan (D-2) 102-71. They didn’t impress their own coach on defense and they [...]
    Posted: November 19, 2009, 4:44pm EST
    by Chas
  • Of Course He’s Not Claiming A Conspiracy

    Number of comments: 10
    He’s just asking questions. Joe Starkey penned what may be one of the laziest, craptacular, most regurgitated column I’ve read in some time — and yes I am saying it is worse than anything written this year on booing Bill Stull. Let  me put it this way. This column would be derided [...]
    Posted: November 19, 2009, 11:35am EST
    by Chas
  • Cinci-Pitt On for Noon

    Number of comments: 10
    Well a 3d straight night game was probably out of the question. It will be a noon start which sucks for tailgating. That said, no excuses for the place not to be packed. To decide whether Pitt goes BCS bowling or not. The good news for those who can’t attend, is that [...]
    Posted: November 18, 2009, 5:13pm EST
    by Chas
  • Final Link Round-Up from Beating Irish

    Number of comments: 10
    Nothing like a strong national win, to change Bruce Feldman’s opinion (Insider subs). I was skeptical about Pittsburgh. Not anymore. I do think it’s one of the country’s best teams. Dave Wannstedt has built a very solid team in all areas, and the Panthers showed that Saturday night against Notre Dame. [...]
    Posted: November 18, 2009, 1:46pm EST
    by Chas
  • Get Yourself Wannstached

    Number of comments: 5
    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 [...]
    Posted: November 18, 2009, 10:47am EST
    by Chas
  • Enjoy the Rout

    Number of comments: 2
    Binghamton acting head coach Mike Macon is just trying to make sure his team’s psyche isn’t further damaged after the game. “You kind of try to see their psyche going into a game like this,” Macon said. “A lot of guys never played a team like Pitt in their careers. We [...]
    Posted: November 18, 2009, 10:25am EST
    by Chas
  • I’m Feeling Like the Glass Is Half-Full

    Number of comments: 5
    Maybe it is because my old law school roommate was a SUNY Binghamton grad so it makes the win even better from that perspective. Even if it was some 12 years ago. It was a fairly easy 71-46 win for Pitt. The game was never truly in doubt. Not with a [...]
    Posted: November 18, 2009, 12:04am EST
    by Chas
  • Open Thread: Binghamton-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    I’m on DVR delay to watch later. That means I have to enter social media deprivation. I’ll be back after I watch with my thoughts. In the meantime, if you get to watch or go to the game. Please share. [...]
    Posted: November 17, 2009, 5:23pm EST
    by Chas
  • Slightly Tamer Bearcats

    Number of comments: 4
    Years from now, the story of the Binghamton Bearcats will be told as a cautionary campfire tale to scare overly ambitious athletic directors at low-mid-majors and coaches looking to take shortcuts of the potential dangers. From their first NCAA appearance ever and widely expected to win the America East in 2010 [...]
    Posted: November 17, 2009, 1:47pm EST
    by Chas
  • Missing Part of the Story

    Number of comments: 10
    Aaron Berry took a lot of criticism early in the season. The corner was another player who fell far short of expectations in 2008. Considering his doghouse status in the spring, he had little goodwill banked. He also struggled early in the season and then got injured in the UConn [...]
    Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:46am EST
    by Chas
  • Basketball Hodge-Podge

    Number of comments: 10
    I still miss Bloom County. Pitt survived its game with Wofford. Time will tell just how tough Wofford was. Off-hand and without having seen the game, I’d say Woodall and Gibbs shooting a combined 6-22 was a big issue. That said, it still went in as a win. Gary McGhee is not [...]
    Posted: November 16, 2009, 8:21pm EST
    by Chas
  • Dickerson One of Eight Remaining

    Number of comments: 10
    The John Mackey Award for best tight end cut down the list to 8 semi-finalists. Dorin Dickerson is on that list. The Nassau County Sports Commission has announced eight semi-finalists for the 2009 John Mackey Award. Listed alphabetically, they are Dorin Dickerson (SR, Pittsburgh), Ed Dickson (SR, Oregon), Aaron Hernandez (JR, Florida), [...]
    Posted: November 16, 2009, 4:10pm EST
    by Chas
  • Why Yes, We Are Amused

    Number of comments: 10
    Other than a cash cow for ESPN and the author, this is why you wait to write history. Plenty of copies still available from this 2006 epic. The reviews, were awesome especially this one that links to the Ty Willingham specials. You will forgive me if I don’t bother with much of [...]
    Posted: November 16, 2009, 11:19am EST
    by Chas
  • Starting to Catch Up

    Number of comments: 5
    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 [...]
    Posted: November 16, 2009, 10:40am EST
    by Chas
  • LiveBlog: ND-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    Special LiveBlog for those of you unable to get to the game. Yes, I’m at the game, but Lee in Altoona will be running the show tonight. Lee is an original poster to this site back when it started. He’s stuck in Altoona because it was his son’s birthday today and, [...]
    Posted: November 14, 2009, 10:35am EST
    by Chas
  • Notre Dump Link

    Number of comments: 10
    Or is that Link Dump Notre? Notre Link Dump? I feel like I’m leaving something  out. Oh, well. Plenty of stories. No time to hash them. Sort through them yourself. Q&A with Adam Gunn — McKillop wishes he was playing this weekend. Apparently Notre Dame likes to pass. This Jimmah’ Clausen appears [...]
    Posted: November 14, 2009, 12:09am EST
    by Chas
  • Season and Banner Opener

    Number of comments: 10
    Lost (sort of) in the shuffle of the looming biggest football game in years (for this week) and the early signing period for basketball is that the season opener and Elite Eight banner raising is tonight. Pitt tips off against Wofford of the SoCon. After Wofford made school history last season by [...]
    Posted: November 13, 2009, 10:12am EST
    by Chas
  • Score Predictions: Notre Dame-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    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 [...]
    Posted: November 13, 2009, 8:39am EST
    by Chas
  • Now Stagger the Irish

    Number of comments: 10
    For those of you worried that Coach Wannstedt has been almost too perfect the last few weeks with the team and what he said, breathe easy. The struggles to return a punt instead of having Aaron Smith fair catch everything brought out the silly talk. Wannstedt said Pitt’s lack of production [...]
    Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:34am EST
    by Chas
  • Meet the Memes: Full Circle & Opposite Directions

    Number of comments: 10
    I thought I had mentioned this at least in passing sometime during the week, or maybe it was just in some e-mail to friends. From a storyline perspective, the oversaturation would be on the issues of the coaches. Whether it was things coming “full circle” with them meeting once more [...]
    Posted: November 11, 2009, 10:33pm EST
    by Chas
  • A Nice Surprise

    Number of comments: 10
    Getting J.J. Moore was just that. The 3- or 4-star small forward was unexpected. A kid scoring a 93 (Insider subs) by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc (that score is listed as “high-major minus“). I didn’t see that coming. I assumed he was a lock for Louisville, and he was just creating some intrigue [...]
    Posted: November 11, 2009, 8:35pm EST
    by Chas
  • Back to Blue

    Number of comments: 10
    Pittsburgh Mayor Ravenstahl has apparently joined in the whole national recognition for Pitt thing, by declaring Friday “Turn it blue day.” The Panthers, ranked as high as No. 8 in the country, will face the Fighting Irish in front of a soldout crowd and national ABC television audience. Pittsburghers are encouraged [...]
    Posted: November 10, 2009, 4:26pm EST
    by Chas
  • No One Takes ND Lightly

    Number of comments: 10
    I think only the most ridiculously overconfident and/or foolish fan would think Pitt will have no trouble with Notre Dame. As Coach Wannstedt pointed out in his presser, they are still a damn talented team. But, the focus this week with Notre Dame will be to clean up some of the [...]
    Posted: November 10, 2009, 12:47pm EST
    by Chas
  • Another First Since…?

    Number of comments: 10
    The last time Pitt beat Notre Dame in consecutive years? The Mike Gottfried era. Pitt did it in ‘86 and ‘87. Obviously it has been a while. There is always drama surrounding Notre Dame. It is the nature of the program. The attention, money and simply it is what the Domers [...]
    Posted: November 10, 2009, 12:26am EST
    by Chas
  • Smelted Coker

    The fact that we are discussing and analyzing the results of exhibition games against a D-2 opponent is indicative of two things. The first is just how much interest there is in Pitt basketball, but more importantly it shows just how much we don’t know and want to know about [...]
    Posted: November 09, 2009, 5:28pm EST
    by Chas
  • Some Quickies

    Number of comments: 10
    I’m actually happy that GameDay is not coming to Heinz Field this Saturday. There are enough parallels to the 2005 from a storyline perspective to keep piling on. Here’s what confuses me about the Navy-ND game. Doesn’t the Navy win somewhat help Pitt’s computer numbers, at least right now, since they [...]
    Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:00am EST
    by Chas
  • Did What Needed To Be Done

    Number of comments: 10
    Not going to dwell too long on this game. Pitt did what they were supposed to against Syracuse. They started out a little sluggish. Looking very much like a team that had a bye week and had to regain their rhythm. They did, and buried the Orange. Taking them apart on [...]
    Posted: November 09, 2009, 12:15am EST
    by Chas
  • An Exact Score Winner

    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 [...]
    Posted: November 08, 2009, 11:22pm EST
    by Chas
  • Open Thread: Syracuse-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    I know we hate noon starts. The only one that seems to like them is my wife, because it means I don’t stay overnight, and I get back in time to help put the kids to bed. Here’s how to have less of them. Win. Win more and the games get [...]
    Posted: November 07, 2009, 9:08am EST
    by Chas
  • Learn Your B-Ball Player Factoids

    Number of comments: 5
    Granted, Pitt won’t be on national TV as much this year so we may not be bombarded with them. Still, Pitt’s athletic department has put together a “personality profile” for each player. Rather than click on over right away, test your knowledge of this year’s Panthers. Match the Player to the nickname: Ashton [...]
    Posted: November 06, 2009, 4:09pm EST
    by Chas
  • Score Predictions: Syracuse-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    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 [...]
    Posted: November 06, 2009, 11:31am EST
    by Chas
  • How Much Pass? How Much Run?

    Number of comments: 2
    That seems to be the question today in the Pittsburgh papers. They just noticed that Syracuse has been tremendous against the run. Syracuse is first in the Big East and seventh in the nation, allowing 88.9 rushing yards per game, –The Orange limited Penn State’s Evan Royster to a season-low 41 yards [...]
    Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:03am EST
    by Chas
  • Link Dumping on ‘Cuse

    Number of comments: 1
    You know, I can’t believe the whole week has passed without mentioning once my gratitude to Syracuse once more for the coaching change that coincided with Pitt’s. When Coach Wannstedt was putting together his coaching staff, there were two hires that I felt were unqualified homeruns. Greg Gattuso was one. [...]
    Posted: November 05, 2009, 5:38pm EST
    by Chas
  • A Few Basketball Notes

    Number of comments: 3
    A few more things regarding the basketball team. The season-opener is next Friday against Wofford. It will start late, but if you have tickets go early. The start time has been moved to 8:10 from 7 pm, but the athletic department wants people in their seats by 7:45 for a banner raising [...]
    Posted: November 05, 2009, 1:06pm EST
    by Chas
  • The Shading Seems to be Lower

    Number of comments: 5
    I expected Pitt to be ranked in the preseason somewhere in the 7-11 range. There’s just such a bunching in the Big East in the middle. After the projected top-2 teams of Villanova and WVU, you really can make a case for (but mainly against) the next 8 or 9 [...]
    Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:23am EST
    by Chas
  • No Really, Pitt Plays Syracuse on Saturday

    Number of comments: 10
    I’m not sure if ‘Cuse fans are even aware of that any longer. So much off the football field stuff. The basketball team gets humiliated. It’s hard to blame them. This has been crazy. Mike Williams quitting was related to a pending suspension, but not academic as I speculated. It was [...]
    Posted: November 04, 2009, 1:56pm EST
    by Chas
  • Struggling With Slippery Suddenly Not So Bad

    Number of comments: 3
    At least Pitt won. I mean, losing to Le Moyne? That hurts worse than the average loss to a D-2 program which does happen. Michigan State and Ohio State both lost to such a couple years back. The problem for ‘Cuse is that Le Moyne is located right in Syracuse. [...]
    Posted: November 04, 2009, 12:27am EST
    by Chas
  • The Dave Wannstedt Interview You Must Read

    Number of comments: 10
    I don’t say this lightly. There is just so much in this Q&A interview with Tom Dienhart that everyone will take as a key item or focus point. About this season. About Cignetti. About when he came in. The practice facility with the Steelers. About old unis. Playing Penn State. Here. Q: [...]
    Posted: November 03, 2009, 10:48am EST
    by Chas
  • The Drama Is All Orange

    Number of comments: 2
    Man, it is just a weird(er) scene in Syracuse. Mike Williams quitting the team is the raging story. Conspiracy and suspicions abound over the abrupt departure. Williams was recently selected as one of 10 national semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to college football’s most outstanding wide receiver [...]
    Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:44am EST
    by Chas
  • Seriously, Stay Focused

    Number of comments: 10
    It has to be hard. I mean it seems hard to believe Pitt could lose at home to Syracuse. What with all that has abruptly hit the Orange. Pitt opened as a 18.5 - 19 point favorite. The line has already moved to around 20 to 20.5 after this morning. Their best [...]
    Posted: November 02, 2009, 2:06pm EST
    by Chas
  • Not That We Are Looking Ahead, But…

    Number of comments: 6
    The Notre Dame-Pitt game on November 14 will be an ABC Primetime game at 8pm. All excuses for attendance are done. I don’t care about what happened the last time the two teams met for a primetime Saturday night game on ABC. Still, how about taking care of business with Syracuse first? [...]
    Posted: November 02, 2009, 12:35pm EST
    by Chas
  • Expect Jermaine in KC

    Number of comments: 4
    Some good news via Andy Katz’s Twitter. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said Monday that Jermaine Dixon (broken foot) should be healthy enough by the CBE in Kansas City later this month. That means that the x-rays came back as expected and he rehab will be on track. [...]
    Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:15am EST
    by Chas
  • Syracuse: The Differently-Able Program

    Number of comments: 3
    I mean really, this is the best they can spin things at the moment. I’m not saying it isn’t an accurate statement. But someone really needs to rethink that headline. [...]
    Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:06am EST
    by Chas
  • Clearing Last Weeks Links

    Number of comments: 10
    Ah, the bye weekend. Also known as catching up with the mostly non-Pitt activities. The Pitt players may have needed it to get healthy and let the coaches go out recruiting, but it was almost as necessary for the rest of us. Watch WVU make the Big East appear to be [...]
    Posted: November 01, 2009, 10:25pm EST
    by Chas
  • Stull Stories: Redemption and Booing

    Number of comments: 10
    To just simplify all stories regarding Bill Stull for the rest of the year. The theme is redemption. The obligatory aspect is that Stull was booed in the opening game. As Pitt fans, we may be tired of the storyline. We may feel it has been beaten into the ground. We [...]
    Posted: October 30, 2009, 12:13am EDT
    by Chas
  • Not Happening

    Number of comments: 10
    Pitt-Penn State in the Fiesta or any of the BCS Bowls. I hate to even waste a post on it. I’ve read the articles laying out how it could happen. So what? Yes, it would pack the stadium, but that’s only half the equation. It would be little with the TV ratings. [...]
    Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:15am EDT
    by Chas
  • Using Baldwin

    Number of comments: 10
    The USF game was a very good day for Jonathan Baldwin — notwithstanding having the wind knocked out of him for a few minutes. Baldwin (Aliquippa) had six catches for a career-high 144 yards, Dorin Dickerson (West Allegheny) had five catches for 58 yards, and each had a touchdown as the [...]
    Posted: October 28, 2009, 3:02pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Relying on the Backcourt

    Number of comments: 10
    Just looking at the experience of the individual players, it should be obvious that the backcourt will be expected to do a lot more than simply work the ball inside for the post players. Gibbs, Wanamaker, Dixon (when he returns), Brown (when he returns) and the new guy Adams are [...]
    Posted: October 28, 2009, 9:45am EDT
    by Chas
  • Tonight’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage

    Number of comments: 10
    Tonight is the Blue-Gold scrimmage for the basketball team. Pitt Head Coach Jamie Dixon uses the scrimmage to simulate a typical game day schedule. The 14-player team will be split into two squads. Pitt will play two 16-minute halves with normal media timeouts and a five-minute halftime break. Assistant AD Greg Hotchkiss [...]
    Posted: October 27, 2009, 5:18pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Semi Honors

    Number of comments: 4
    It’s how you know we have gone past the mid-point in college football. No, not the BCS standings. The myriad of awards keep putting out their mid-season or semi-finalist lists. Anything to remind people that there are other college football awards besides the Heisman. Bill Stull has made the list of [...]
    Posted: October 27, 2009, 10:14am EDT
    by Chas
  • Recruiting Pitt Players

    Number of comments: 3
    A nice interview with Pitt asssitant coach Brandin Knight (still feels weird to type and read that even though he finished playing at Pitt some six years ago) about recruiting Pitt players. “I think where we do a good job in recruiting is we recruit guys who we like and not [...]
    Posted: October 27, 2009, 8:01am EDT
    by Chas
  • ‘Cuse-Pitt: Mostly National But Early

    Number of comments: 10
    Okay, folks it is another noon game for Pitt after the bye week. When Pitt hosts Syracuse, the game will be at noon but for the scattered alum the game is getting shown on ESPNU on November 7. [...]
    Posted: October 26, 2009, 1:22pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Bummed Out Bulls

    Number of comments: 7
    I’m sure most of you have seen the quote from USF Coach Jim Leavitt that accurately described what happened to the Bulls. “They just whooped us,” South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said in describing the Panthers’ 41-14 destruction of his team before a homecoming crowd of 50,019 at Heinz Field. There would [...]
    Posted: October 26, 2009, 1:02pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Holy Crap, Dave Wannstedt Can Coach

    Number of comments: 10
    Not sure how the world can handle this. The conventional wisdom in football is that Coach Wannstedt is at best a mediocre coach. That he is simply the latest in a line of ex-NFL coaches in college that operates in that 5-8 wins per year group (Gailey, Groh, Sherman, Callahan, [...]
    Posted: October 26, 2009, 9:44am EDT
    by Chas
  • Well, That Was Fun

    Number of comments: 1
    So, while I was in Pittsburgh enjoying a dominating win by Pitt my wife had to take our son to the pediatric emergency room as he is apparently battling pneumonia. He seems to be responding real well to the medicine, so there is no great danger. It did mean I [...]
    Posted: October 26, 2009, 1:07am EDT
    by Chas
  • Once More Into the Links

    Number of comments: 10
    The Manning Award Watchlist expanded by ten more QBs. Bill Stull is one of them. He has no real shot, but it’s an honor to be among the 48 QBs on the list. There isn’t a cut-down until November 20 or so. There are 12 players on Pitt’s roster from Florida. [...]
    Posted: October 23, 2009, 11:59am EDT
    by Chas
  • If You Can’t Make the Game

    Number of comments: 8
    Here’s a list of stations around the country that are showing the game. [...]
    Posted: October 23, 2009, 11:15am EDT
    by Chas
  • It’s Hard To Break Programming

    Number of comments: 10
    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.” [...]
    Posted: October 23, 2009, 10:59am EDT
    by Chas
  • Dion, Dion, Dion

    Number of comments: 3
    It’s been a pretty good week for Dion Lewis. The Big East Offensive Player of the Week has gotten a lot of attention, as he is 82 yards from 1000 yards after only 7 games. The storyline after a trip to Rutgers was how all the other schools missed him. Everyone [...]
    Posted: October 23, 2009, 9:52am EDT
    by Chas
  • T-Shirt for Score: USF-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    Just a warning to all potential winners. Only size large t-shirts remain. The noon start was annoying, but really didn’t bother me until I looked at how the Big East put the time slots together for Saturday. The WVU-UConn game is on ESPNU at noon. Same as the USF-Pitt game which [...]
    Posted: October 22, 2009, 6:03pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Tearing Through USF Stories

    Number of comments: 10
    Back to focusing on Pitt football. Didn’t intend to make it all about b-ball yesterday, but Cleveland  Beer Week has been great. Met the regional sales manager for one distributor who turned out to be a Pitt guy. If you are near Lot 7C look for the Flying Dog tailgate this [...]
    Posted: October 22, 2009, 11:26am EDT
    by Chas
  • Expect Overachievement

    Number of comments: 10
    It’s a testament to the success of the program and faith in Coach Dixon that there is a lot of optimism and enthusiasm for the upcoming season. This despite losing 2 NBA level talents along with 2 other seniors now playing overseas. This despite the football team performing well for [...]
    Posted: October 21, 2009, 3:08pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Don’t Expect Much From Big East Media Day

    Number of comments: 10
    With only Coach Jamie Dixon and senior Jermaine Dixon at the Big East basketball media day, there won’t be a lot of stories making the national rounds regarding Pitt coming out of today. In most preseason publications, Pitt has been picked to finish anywhere from sixth to 11th in the Big [...]
    Posted: October 21, 2009, 10:34am EDT
    by Chas
  • Coach-Term Memory

    Number of comments: 10
    I love how coaches, who can go on endlessly about a particular play or player from 5, 10, 15, 25 years ago in the minutest details suddenly don’t know a damn bit about their own team’s recent history. Another reason for that is that Pitt began the 2006 season 6-1 and [...]
    Posted: October 20, 2009, 12:24pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Trying to Reign In the Negativity

    Number of comments: 10
    I should be positive. I really should. Pitt cracked the top-20. It’s a good thing. Dion Lewis, unsurprisingly, was the Big East Offensive Player of the Week and is that much closer to being a lock for Newcomer of the Year in the conference. Dorin Dickerson went from not being on the [...]
    Posted: October 20, 2009, 12:48am EDT
    by Chas
  • Blowing Through Rutgers Recap

    Number of comments: 10
    Much like Dion Lewis popping it outside for a big gain after Rutgers overcommitted/blitzed inside I’m just going to try and get through this quickly. Eye of the Panther has a large chunk covered. Especially from the Pittsburgh media side of things. It was a good win for Pitt. They broke a [...]
    Posted: October 19, 2009, 1:53pm EDT
    by Chas
  • A Good Year To Get Full Court

    Number of comments: 1
    The Big East released the full schedule, which means all the Big East team skeds are final. Including Pitt’s. As this is a rebuilding year for Pitt, the national TV coverage dips a bit. The Panthers are “only” on national TV 11.5 times (I’m not sure if the CBS Sports channel [...]
    Posted: September 10, 2009, 1:49pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Getting A Future Safety

    Number of comments: 9
    Actually something of a good get in terms of potential and need in terms of depth. Eric Williams is a consensus 3-star recruit. Rivals.com lists him as the #23 recruit in PA. He’s a wide receiver and safety and there is no question that he was wanted by Pitt to [...]
    Posted: September 09, 2009, 9:19am EDT
    by Chas
  • Shuffling Off to Buffalo

    Number of comments: 10
    I know. I know. Weak. Cliched. Trite. And all of that. It’s just that since this isn’t an NFL, NHL or MAC blog, how often will there be road trips to Buffalo for the team? It’s not much of a series or history. The two teams met for the first time [...]
    Posted: September 09, 2009, 12:24am EDT
    by Chas
  • The Pellet Sized YSU-Pitt Recap

    Number of comments: 10
    Really not much to say about it. Dion Lewis was the stud. It may have been against 1-AA competition, but it was impressive with gaudy numbers of 129 yards and 3 TDs. A great debut for the freshman. The offensive line had no problem with run blocking. Pass protection, however, was a [...]
    Posted: September 08, 2009, 1:24pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Boo! Boo! Whatever

    Number of comments: 10
    I am stunned that this is taking any semblance of an issue. I really am. Yes Bill Stull was booed. He was booed early. He was booed late. He was not, however, booed incessantly or mercilessly. Do I agree with the booing? Eh. In general I don’t have a problem with [...]
    Posted: September 07, 2009, 5:30pm EDT
    by Chas
  • It’s A Win and Little Else

    Number of comments: 10
    It’s hard to take a lot away from Pitt’s 38-3 win over YSU. Pitt did what it was supposed to. They won in an ultimately lopsided way. They were never in danger against a clearly inferior team. I’m not knocking anything. It’s just that I still don’t know what this team [...]
    Posted: September 05, 2009, 11:33pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Open Thread: YSU-Pitt

    Number of comments: 10
    By the time you read this I’ll have been in Pittsburgh for a while. At this point, I’ve probably been drinking a bit and just enjoying a beutiful day in Lot 23. Comment are open, but keep it relatively clean. I’ll be tweeting most of the day, and I’ve put a widget [...]
    Posted: September 05, 2009, 10:35am EDT
    by Chas
  • Everything Begins Tonight

    Number of comments: 10
    True, no Pitt football tonight. Not even a Big East team playing (unless you count 1-AA Villanova playing Temple in the Mayor’s Cup). Still, meaningful football starts tonight. No scrimmages. No NFL exhibition games. Real college football, and some good games to boot. As for Saturday, the Penguins are going to [...]
    Posted: September 03, 2009, 10:21am EDT
    by Chas
  • Media Notes

    Number of comments: 5
    Bummer for Pitt football coverage. This is my final day as the Pittsburgh Trib’s Pitt football beat writer, as I’ve been offered an opportunity to move into a new role within the sports department that includes writing a weekly column. The new Pitt football beat writer is John Grupp, who has done [...]
    Posted: September 02, 2009, 9:48pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Dan Mason Has Some Expectations

    Number of comments: 10
    You know, if Coach Wannstedt doesn’t give Mason a decent amount of playing time after this, there’s a problem. It took him about six weeks into the 2007 season before he acknowledged that, yeah, that (running back LeSean) McCoy kid is pretty good. That’s why his praise of freshman middle linebacker Dan [...]
    Posted: September 02, 2009, 11:17am EDT
    by Chas
  • Pitt Is Super Cereal About YSU

    Number of comments: 8
    Don’t let those pieces of information about YSU being in 1-AA and not scoring a touchdown lull you into a false sense of confidence about this game. Pitt is taking this seriously. Manbearpig is a threat. As is YSU. “They are very similar to West Virginia and they’ve got a wide receiver [...]
    Posted: September 02, 2009, 10:28am EDT
    by Chas
  • Terrifying Phrase: Flow of the Game

    Number of comments: 6
    It’s back to school week here. Needless to say, getting readjusted to things is a process. As Paul Zeise noted, one of the things from the Coach Wannstedt press conference was how much Wannstedt stressed that the players behind the starters on the 2-deep would get a shot. I wanted to [...]
    Posted: September 01, 2009, 10:53pm EDT
    by Chas
  • The Opening Depth Chart

    Number of comments: 10
    Okay, not many surprises on the depth chart for the YSU game (PDF, pg. 3). Joe Thomas gets the nod over Chris Jacobson at Left Guard. By all accounts this was an even thing, with neither clearly above the other. In the end, Thomas’ experience seems to have given him the [...]
    Posted: August 31, 2009, 11:52pm EDT
    by Chas
  • Personal Stories

    Number of comments: 10
    A collection of individual pieces to get out of the tabs. Jonathan Baldwin is expecting big things from himself. As are the fans and coaching staff. Especially now that they are more confident in his route running. “He wants to be a great player,” Pitt receivers coach Bryan Bossard said. “The first [...]
    Posted: August 31, 2009, 10:35am EDT
    by Chas
  • Just Get Through the Week

    It can’t be helped. Week opponent from 1-AA or not, I’m ready for the start of the season. Getting up before the sun rises, driving into the sunrise, meeting in the South Side with friends not seen since the season ended, loading and consolidating the food, drink, chairs, table into a [...]
    Posted: August 31, 2009, 8:51am EDT
    by Chas
  • The Coutndown to Game Day Is On

    Number of comments: 10
    I know that there have been various countdown clocks to the start of college football season and specifically Pitt. Must admit that I have had a hard time getting too jazzed up when the first opponent is 1-AA Youngstown. Even a MAC bottom feeder would be better since they are [...]
    Posted: August 30, 2009, 11:57am EDT
    by Chas
  • From Academic Excellence to Academic Casualty

    Number of comments: 4
    Oh, Gilbert. Why? Do you not understand the expectations upon you? You were to be the latest at Pitt to make a stunning leap from your sophomore to junior year. Like Sam Young before you and Aaron Gray before him. It was all lined up for you. Moving to the [...]
    Posted: August 29, 2009, 10:01am EDT
    by Chas
  • Up Front, Secondary, Transfers and Returns

    Number of comments: 10
    Depth up-front. It’s there. At least defensively. Defensive line coach Greg Gattuso, who coached tight ends that first year, remembers those early days of the Wannstedt era and is almost giddy about the wealth of talent he has to work with now. “I think our depth was challenged a little bit this [...]
    Posted: August 28, 2009, 9:21am EDT
    by Chas
  • B-Ball Recruiting and Big East Look

    Number of comments: 6
    Actually have some things to get out regarding basketball. ESPN.com has their ESPNU top-100 list for 2010 compiled, Isiah Epps checks in at #93. A little lower than I expected. Cashmere Wright didn’t make the list, but only for now. He was on the final cutdown list and still could make [...]
    Posted: August 27, 2009, 4:33pm EDT
    by Chas
  • The End of Training Camp

    Number of comments: 10
    The last practice was yesterday. Tonight is FanFest at Heinz Field. Unlike previous years there won’t be any practice to watch. All the other bells and whistles — autographs, music, cheerleaders, live media interviews, kids’ stuff — barely a half-speed practice. “Tomorrow we have FanFest so we’ll get down to the [...]
    Posted: August 27, 2009, 9:42am EDT
    by Chas
  • Position Swtiching

    Number of comments: 10
    It’s all stories about players finding new places on the team. Tony Tucker appears to be gone from Pitt for whatever personal reasons. The offer to come back is apparently open, but it seems unlikely that his spot on the two-deep will be there. The departure of Tucker, though, opened the door [...]
    Posted: August 26, 2009, 2:28pm EDT
    by Chas

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