Multiple posts will be necessary again to cover all the articles of interest. Just a lot of stuff.
The Pitt players have enjoyed themselves in the week leading up to the Fiesta Bowl. Click on the photo of Del Sardo on media day, talking with the Fiesta Bowl queen and court, then click over to the one of H.B. Blades. I don’t know why these photos crack me up so much. DelSardo’s facial expression and body language is great.
Josh Cummings gives his first person account of the week. He had been to the Fiesta Bowl with Oregon a few years ago. He also drops that his girlfriend is on the Pitt Dance Team. Maybe that helps to explain why Sunshine would happen to drift down the sideline when the dance team was in front of the student section.
Of course, Utah has their own refuge from that Oregon team. Senior Wide Receiver, Paris Warren, was a redshirt freshman at the time. Warren also thinks Pitt should have a bit of a chip on their shoulder.
Sounds like Vince Crochunis was having some fun with the Utah media in talking about Utah’s offense.
Crochunis has offered his insight on any and all subjects this week. Today’s topic: the spread offense that has taken hold in college football, and is mastered by Utah.
“That’s really made it hard for defenses around the country to adjust,” Crochunis said. “I don’t think a good defense has been found yet to stop the spread offense, because it’s a relatively new thing. In a couple of years, probably nobody will use it. It takes time for defenses to evolve.”
Anyone outside of Hawaii still using the chuck and duck run and gun? I don’t think the spread is going to quite go that way, but it will eventually be solved as more teams try to run it. Crochunis also received a nice little puff piece in the Arizona Republic.
A column on Utah Running Back Marty Johnson, who has alcohol issues. I think Starkey is being a little unfair to Johnson, but at the same time the guy has only been sober for less than a year. He hasn’t completely earned the benefit of the doubt as to how firm his resolve is. Unasked, and very important, is the question of whether he has people around him that won’t enable him.
Interesting article regarding the budgets of bowl teams.
Of the 56 teams in postseason games, Utah is 40th in spending, at $5.8 million, according to 2003-04 financial records, the most recent available. When it comes to raising money, the Utes are 46th, with $4.7 million.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is 15th highest in spending, at $11.7 million, and 21st in revenue, with $19.4 million.
The top spending team is Ohio State, at $16.1 million, while Troy State spends the least at $3.1 million. Texas is best when it comes to raising money, with $47.6 million, while Toledo raises the least, at $1.3 million.
A shame there aren’t more details. It might be interesting to see where the money is going and compare it to other programs.
