Now the on-the field problems. Kicker David Abdul and return-man/3rd Wide Receiver Terrell Allen will be out for the season still recovering from injuries. Abdul broke his leg in February, in a car accident when he fell asleep while driving. It appears that his kicking career is in serious jeopardy. Allen had wrist surgery after he tore ligaments in his left wrist during spring practice. He is taking a medical redshirt.

Both hurt the team. I think Allen’s may be the worse of the two. He excelled at returning kicks and punts. He showed great explosiveness and helped keep Pitt in the second half of the Continental Tire Bowl by giving Pitt good field position. Personally, I expected him to push Brockenbrough and Lee for a starting WR job this season.

Abdul’s loss is mitigated by JUCO All-American transfer Josh Cummings. Still, despite his horrible kicking last year, Abdul was expected to compete for the job.

This article is almost a week old, and I held off on posting about it because I was hoping there would be an explanation.

Pitt football coach Walt Harris was a no-show for the Big 33 Media Conference on Friday afternoon.

Harris was scheduled to speak at the 30-minute press conference, which also included Penn State coach Joe Paterno, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and former Penn State linebacker and Detroit Lions president Matt Millen.
…
“We have no word yet,” Big 33 media representative Greg Hoffman said. “We’ve tried everything and we’ve got nothing right now.”

Harris did attend last night’s Big 33 Honors Banquet at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.

Like I said, I have no idea why he missed. Whether it was because of a misunderstanding, miscommunication, a recruiting visit that went long, I don’t know. I e-mailed the reporter a few days ago, but he never responded.

This is probably a minor thing at most, but it strikes me as embarrassing. That the head coach of Pitt would miss the press conference for the Big 33 game is unbelievable.