Thanks Lee, that helps and interestingly enough, it goes opposite some of what was written. I just wish someone published the stats on a quarter or even by the half split. That’s the sort of thing that tells you a lot more than just the box score, or even drive chart.
The news for today. Josh Cummings was Big East Special Teams Player of the Week. The final paragraph of the press release may make you laugh at the spin, or cry at the reality:
Pittsburgh is 25-10 (.714) over its last 35 games, its winningest stretch in nearly two decades. The Panthers have won 12 of their last 17 road contests (.706) and 14 of their last 18 Big East encounters (.778).
The tight ends were definitely used often and well by the Pitt offense and Palko. Generally, it’s something I favor, because they tend to be better going over the middle and keeping the defense off to allow the running game to have a chance. I have to wonder, though, how much was because the receivers weren’t getting open or just to dump off to avoid the rush.
Statistically, Palko had an amazing game, with 380 passing yards and no interceptions. That makes Coach Harris 6 for 6 with his starting QB having a 300+ yard passing game during his time at Pitt. The fact that the defense allowed 417 yards of total offense makes you wonder. Did they forget to tackle again? Was Nebraska even more inept than we realized? Did they start to believe their brief moment of positive press?
In a bit of a contrast to what Lee said about the team quitting on Harris, Kevin Gorman writes that he doesn’t think the team quit on Harris. The problem is, that Western PA recruits seem to have quit on him and Pitt.
Western Pennsylvania football prospects have spoken loudest by saying nothing. Of Pitt’s eight verbal commitments, only one is from the WPIAL. That player, Burrell offensive tackle John Brown, is a legacy whose father was the hero of the 1982 Sugar Bowl.
There is an overriding belief among top WPIAL prospects that Harris will be gone by December, whether it’s by his choice or that of the administration. That another legacy, Central tight end John Pelusi — the son of a Board of Trustees member — hasn’t committed speaks volumes.
Why choose a lame-duck coach?
The damage done by defections of recruits Anthony Morelli, Andrew Johnson, Johnny Peyton and Alphonso Smith was mostly from a perception standpoint. None were as ready as Darrelle Revis or Darrell Strong, two players who kept their commitments and are playing regularly.
Yet the reneging of the recruits devastated Harris. He was visibly disturbed on signing day, and has either been unable or unwilling to leave it behind him.
As a result, Pitt is having trouble recruiting in its own backyard, which is the lifeblood of the city-based program. WPIAL players are quietly being advised not to commit to a coach who might not be there on signing day.
Unless Harris receives a contract extension or a vote of confidence, the Panthers’ commitments from out-of-state recruits might as well be treated as an afterthought, as well. A new coach isn’t going to take borderline prospects.
Which is why Harris needs to adopt the same circle-the-wagons attitude with recruiting that he has with coaching. It’s time to rebuild the fence around Western Pennsylvania.
I don’t know if the players have quit on Harris or not. I do know that this article is more disturbing for the long term.
The announced attendance was over 35,000, and the stories did nothing to dispel that notion.
