Trying to take advantage of a nice day on a weekend.

Starkey says Pitt should have gone back to the old colors and script Pitt.

That said, Long didn’t go nearly far enough.

A truly bold move would have been to return to the old light-blue-and-mustard colors with the scripted “Pitt” on the helmets.

Imagine the reaction at Heinz Field if the official unveiling of those uniforms occurred as Dave Wannstedt and his team charged through the tunnel Sept. 3 before their season-opener against Notre Dame. The place would have shaken like it never shook before.

Long said that going all the way old school was not seriously considered and that only a vocal minority wanted to see it happen.

Well, the minority was right.

See, I think the “majority” is just in the athletic department. The so-called minority, is really a majority who would like to have the original and more unique colors back. At the time of the color change, it must have seemed like a good idea. Part of that trend of the 90s to make everything darker and tougher in color schemes. Now, though, it just looks boring and like everyone else’s unis.

I think there needs to be some pressure brought at least once a year for a retro uniform game.

Today’s blue-gold scrimmage (which is either over or wrapping up at this point) was going to be much more of drills and practice than actual lining up and hitting.

An article about tackling and hitting by the linebackers. A nice gem of an admission from Clint Session.

The down side is, a player can be so determined to shake loose someone’s teeth, he simply forgets how to tackle. Session admits, more than once, he has drawn a bead on his target, only to see the guy zig and zag out of harm’s way.

And don’t think we don’t notice the whiff.

Pitt and Clear Channel Communications have a new 5 year radio deal.

Pitt football and men’s basketball will continue to be simulcast on FM NewsTalk 104.7 (WPGB-FM) and Fox Sports Radio 970 (WBGG-AM). Additionally, each game of the women’s basketball season will be carried on Fox Sports Radio 970, marking the first time ever Pitt womenÂ’s hoops has had its own commercial station.

Panther fans can again expect to hear an outstanding array of ancillary programming that focuses on Pitt football and basketball. New head football coach Dave Wannstedt will have a weekly show during the season on Fox Sports Radio 970, originating from the Pittsburgh Steak Company. Men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon will also continue to have a weekly in-season show airing on WBGG-AM and tentatively scheduled to be held at Lot 17.

In addition to the flagship stations, Pitt football and basketball will be heard on an expanding radio network under the direction of ISP Sports. In addition to Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Panthers’ network will expand into West Virginia and Maryland for 2005-06.

Sweet, maybe a couple radio stations further north in Ohio might start carrying some of the games.

Sorry, still trying to get a balance, and today just had too much.

Quickly, another puff piece on Bokor. Mostly the same angle from previous pieces, but with the addition of his friendship with a Penn State player.

Chris McKillop also got a puff piece. Earlier piece here.

In practice news, Blades seems to be adjusting well in the middle of the D-line. Revis is in the lead to return punts. Finding the #3 WR is still a work in progress.

Tomorrow’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage — go and be the first on your block to be wearing the new Pitt logo — will be just that. A scrimmage.

For those fans expecting game-like conditions during the annual Blue-Gold intrasquad scrimmage Saturday at 1 p.m. at Gateway High School’s Antimarino Stadium in Monroeville, think again.

The culmination of 15 days of spring workouts, spread out over about a five-week span, will be just like another practice session for first-year coach Dave Wannstedt that includes a full-contact scrimmage with the first-, second- and third-team players squaring off.

“This won’t be the typical divide the staff in half and divide the team and play a game,” Wannstedt said. “We’re going to go out there and work. We have a lot of work to do, and we need every day to maximize the time to make sure that we get everything covered that we need to get done.”

And since it’s at a high school, no getting liquored up before hand. It’s for the children.

The game times for the ESPN televised games have been set.

Paul Zeise has it today. Before he even gets to the Q&A, he gives an overview of what he has seen from all sides of the ball. Lots of good stuff. I will excerpt one thing.

Q: Why doesn’t Pitt schedule an odd number of games with Penn State and let Penn State have the first home game in the series so that Penn State will get an extra game in the series and it will in turn give Pitt a leg up when it comes time to renegotiate the contract? …

ZEISE: Oh, boy. I’m going to say this in bold caps so that there is no more misgivings about what Pitt will do with Penn State – PITT IS NOT GOING TO ACCEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN A 1-FOR-1 HOME-AND-HOME WITH PENN STATE. Period, end of discussion. Nor should they. Pitt’s program does not need Penn State to survive, in fact, much to the dismay of the Penn Staters – Pitt’s program has thrived ever since they stopped playing Penn State. It is a disgrace that these two teams do not play every year. But Pitt is not a desperate program. They have a big enough stadium that the game would make financial sense for any big-name team coming to Pittsburgh. If Pitt played Penn State, it would be a nationally televised game. There is no reason these two teams can’t play every year. But Pitt should not and will not play the game unless it is treated as Penn State’s equal. Penn State is not superior to Pitt and therefore should not receive any special treatment. What will be interesting will be the spin coming out of Penn State now that there is a 12-game schedule allowed starting in 2006. There is no excuse now – especially since Penn State’s original excuse was going to be that the Big Ten is just going to add a ninth conference game. From what I am told, that is not likely to happen, meaning Penn State will have four non-conference games to fill each year.

That doesn’t mean Pitt and Penn State aren’t talking (probably about playing after Paterno is gone), they are talking to a bunch of teams, but Penn St. won’t happen until it is the right way.

I know this is a shock, but there was a lot of press devoted to going back to Pitt and the new logo. For those who couldn’t catch the press conference earlier, you can now watch it on your computer (windows media), maybe. I was having some trouble getting it to open. It should also show Tyler Palko and H.B. Blades modeling the new football unis, so you can get a better idea of how they look (still don’t like the panels on the sides of the jersey).

The logo seems to have been embraced by Pitt fans. It was unveiled at a news conference yesterday morning, and by early afternoon, the athletic department’s Web-site traffic was way up with people looking to purchase the new merchandise.
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The helmets have the new “Pitt” logo on them instead of a Panther head, and the word “Panthers” is written in block letters across the front of the uniforms. There is also a gold side panel that blends into the pants and the jersey numbers are easier to read.

Palko, a West Allegheny High School graduate, said he’s pleased the university has gone back to its tradition and glory years.

“We’re really excited about it, even though it is not that big of a change,” Palko said. “It is nice to play for Pitt and not the University of Pittsburgh, especially for someone like me because this has always been Pitt to me. It is good to go back to the old days, especially with [assistant] coach [Matt] Cavanaugh and [head] coach Wannstedt being back here and having that tradition.”

All teams’ uniforms will be changed to reflect the new logo, but that process will take at least a year to complete because of the way uniform contracts are written.

So, it might be a few months before we the unveiling of the basketball unis. The blue and gold inkblot that is the panther head, will remain on the outer left thigh of the pants and the right sleeve.

One pleased alum was new football coach Dave Wannstedt, whose team will sport new jerseys and helmets. The block “PITT” will appears on both sides of the helmets, and the word “PANTHERS” will replace “PITTSBURGH” on the fronts of the jerseys.

The Panthers had “Pitt” on their helmets from 1973-96 in a script lettering. The block-style “Pitt” has much earlier origins, dating back as early as the Jock Sutherland coaching era of the 1920s.

“It’s tradition, and that’s what we’re all about here,” Wannstedt said. “I mean, that’s what separates us from the majority of teams in our conference and a lot of the teams that we play, is that we have a great football tradition – and ‘P-I-T-T’ has always been a major part of that.”

But remember, Rutgers did play that first football game.

Looks like the secondary logo, the panther tooth, is consigned to the dustbin of history, along with the “claw marks” on the panels of the basketball unis in the 90s. Somewhere in the office I have the little patch of the tooth they handed out at a game a few years ago.

To further undo what Pederson did, Long said Pitt will follow up by contacting various media outlets, particularly in broadcasting, to let them know it’s OK again to say Pitt and that the new block Pitt should be flashed on the screen as the sanctioned logo for the school.

Look for those changes in time for the NFL draft next weekend.

Shame the only player expected to need the new graphic will be Rob Petitti.

In Penn State country, well about what you’d expect.

Pitt’s back.

The University of Pittsburgh, the school that’s viewed by half of Happy Valley as an archrival and half as an afterthought, has changed its logo for its 19 sports teams, consequently letting us know it is once again acceptable to use the moniker that never really left the Pittsburgh campus or Penn State’s.

The new block-letter, navy blue and gold “Pitt” logo is similar to the script-letter logo that was used from 1973 to 1996. The following year, then-athletic director Steve Pederson decided the university’s image needed to be taken more seriously, and declared that all references to the university (by employees, at least) would be the University of Pittsburgh, at the same time changing the team colors from blue and yellow to navy and gold.

Which was even more of a joke than the often-crude slogans that the rivals of Pitt (isn’t it fun to say?) often imparted. Students at the University of Pittsburgh referred to their teams as “Pitt.” Athletes on those teams said they played for Pitt.
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Fans in Pennsylvania and beyond are curious to see what new coach Dave Wannstedt can do with the newly old-school Pitt. Maybe the former Miami Dolphin boss will even have an idea of how to resurrect another tradition — a November matchup with Penn State.

Well, yeah, but it involves a pasture and putting a nearly 80 year-old man out there.

The student rally last night, was apparently a big hit. I’m still hoping for some first hand reports, but this will do for now.

Last night was not the official start of the 2005 season, but it was a great kickoff for the Wannstedt era. More than 1,000 students were on hand for last night’s spring football pep rally set up by the Panther Pitt and the Student Government Board’s Traditions Committee with the help of Pitt athletics.

People lined up outside more than an hour before the doors opened at 7:30, and when the doors did open, the 500 free T-shirts were gone within 15 minutes.

The turnout was impressive when compared with Notre Dame’s spring pep rally held for new head coach Charlie Weis, which featured fewer than 300 students.
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Pitt fans will have another chance to rally together before the season. Wannstedt mentioned during his speech that he wants to do another student function during training camp.

He is extremely excited for the upcoming season and called out to students last night.

“You’ve got our commitment,” he shouted onstage. “You must do your part.”

He pointed out to all the players who were scattered amongst the crowd, saying that students and athletes must work together to succeed.

“If we’re going to be a complete program, a great program,” Wannstedt said, “it involves not just the coach, not just the players, but the student body and everybody.”

If Pitt can draw 1,000 students during training camp (and before classes start), then we will know just how juiced the campus is for the season.

Lee said just about everything that needed saying about the logo, the colors and the football unis.

I’m not unhappy. I think the script coming back was a pipe dream. This is not terribly dissimilar to what used to be on the basketball uniforms. (I really have to make time to put that little project together)

Paul Zeise at the P-G had a quick story (hat tip to Chris for the e-mail).

Pitt athletic director Jeff Long, who was hired in May 2003, said he began thinking about changing the logo back shortly after he arrived.

“Even when de-emphasized, the Pitt moniker never left the consciousness of our fans,” Long said. “The stimulus for this change actually came from the very first press conference when I was introduced as the director of athletics. The first question was “are we Pitt, or are we Pittsburgh” and my reaction was “we’re both.” I didn’t realize at that time that the athletic department had pretty much banished the Pitt logo from our athletic gear.

“But as I looked around the university, the university had not abandoned the Pitt logo and it was synonymous with the University of Pittsburgh. The other thing that I found was that our Pitt alumni and fans had never put aside the Pitt logo. They proudly refer to themselves as Pitt alumni and Pitt fans.”

And that’s just it. We are Pitt. That rationale from Pedersen about it being used derogatorily at the time was never bought. So what. We never cared. It wasn’t deroatory to us. Those who would try to use it that way, were about as original as the jokes about sheep and Hoopies (but not as funny).

Final thing. If any of our readers are going to the Pete tonight for the fan thing. Shoot me an e-mail report, and I’ll put it up as a post. I’m curious about the student reaction to the new logo, how Wanny does and just the general atmosphere.

Well, first off — if you haven’t already — take a moment and look at the pictures of our team’s new football uniforms. Study them, and then come on back to PSB.

Let’s start with the colors. As you all know by now, I prefer the old royal blue and mustard yellow to this new navy blue and “Vegas Gold” crap. But I’ve resigned myself to the fact that maybe I’m just getting old, and either way, the new colors are here to stay. Fine enough. Our colors are navy blue and Vegas Gold.
SO @#%*@#! STICK WITH THEM, ALREADY! As was first pointed out by Jaime, the blue in the word “PITT” on the helmet blatantly doesn’t match either the blue of the face mask or the blue of the jersey/pants. It makes things look sloppy before we can even talk about anything else. I always thought that the biggest reason why UCLA looks so terrible is because the blue of their helmet script doesn’t even come CLOSE to the blue of their jerseys.

Speaking of script, yeah, I would have preferred the classic script “Pitt” on the helmets instead of this new block “PITT” (and I don’t give a @#*% what Jock Sutherland used to wear, THIS IS NEW). But that being said, I’m so happy to be Pitt once again that I’ll take it. At least when I wear a “PITT” hat around State College, the stupid hicks will be able to figure out that I’m a fan of the school and not just the “Pittsburgh” community in general.

Now on to the jerseys. Unlike Jaime, I don’t have a problem with them removing the word “Pittsburgh” from the jerseys and replacing it with “Panthers.” Given that the helmet says “PITT,” anything else might seem a little redundant (and once again, we’re Pitt dammit — not Pittsburgh). And the new numbers don’t bother me too much either. The old, rough-edged, allegedly “steel-hewn” numbers were just plain hard-to-read for those of us who have never seen a working steel mill to begin with.

As you can see on the post below, my first comment on the new unis was thus a sigh of relief. Yeah, the blue doesn’t match, but at least we’re Pitt again. And then Jaime pointed out something I had missed… something so painful that perhaps my subconscious was trying to hide it from me when I first glanced at the pictures…

…yeah, the limp-wristed Denver Broncos body stripes on the jersey and pants. Over the past few years, I’ve had a field day making fun of teams that gave up their classic looks for that arena league crap. What, didn’t Miami have enough success in their old solid orange jerseys? Temple, Indiana, and (for the most part) Maryland and Utah always sucked anyways. Oregon’s uniforms were a national joke before the body stripes were added. But West Virginia!? Surely, somebody down in the coal patches had more pride in the classic post-1980 Mountaineers look than that!

But now, we’re no better than the jumping-on-the-latest-fad Hurricanes and Mountaineers — like an awkward teenager trying to act cool at his first South Oakland keg party. At least our body stripes continue out underneath the sleeves, instead of curving in towards the center of the chest. That, in particular, looks like it belongs on a figure skater’s uniform. At least we’ll always have that over the Canes and the Hoopies.

So mostly because of the body stripes, I do not like the new unis. Thanks to Pitt, I’m starting to distrust all uniform changes. Why can’t somebody just pick a look and stick with it? Ohio State hasn’t changed its look since 1968, Michigan hasn’t changed its since 1969, and both are among the top five merchandise sellers. Come to think of it, I haven’t changed my overweight slob look since about 1996.

Hail to more conservative uniform changes next year. And make no mistake, Lion fan, your unis still suck worse.

First off, as soon as ANYBODY gets ANY official word on what, exactly, the new football uniforms look like, please post it here immediately. Chas, you have my cell phone number. As the self-appointed fashion critic of PSB, I’m deeply concerned. As fans of a team that USED to have the coolest uniforms in college football, but somehow game them up for a corporatized copy of Notre Dame with a rabid doberman pinscher on the helmet, we ALL should be concerned (not to digress, but anybody who hasn’t surfed through the Helmet Project yet really should).

Of course, as an old-school Pitt fan, I’m rooting for a return to the classic Pitt uniforms, but we all know that this won’t happen. Anybody who’s walked around campus lately knows that the University has already invested too much in that navy blue and “Vegas Gold” crap (and once again, if you actually have to dream up a name for one of your colors, you’re already in trouble… see Oregon’s “Thunder Green” and “Lightening”). So I suspect that Jaime’s proposed helmet will be pretty close to what we’ll actually see today. And it will be an improvement for sure.

But I’ll still be dreaming of the old unis. And I’m not alone. When my wife and I stopped by the Pitt Shop on the way to the Cathedral of Learning two weeks ago (my little Nittany Lion thinks it’s the coolest building ever, and hey, she’s right), they seemed to have as many of the classic pre-1996 Pitt helmets for sale as they had the new ones.

But in any case, hail to the new unis not sucking… please…

That’s the big thing of the day, isn’t it? The new logo and football unis at 11 am (anyone know if Fox Sports is doing it live?), and of course Wannstedt meets the students tonight.

That’s the theme to tomorrow night’s meet and greet with new head football coach Dave Wannstedt at the Petersen Events Center, which will also feature the unveiling of the new Panther logo to students — an updated version of the old Pitt script.

The official announcement and unveiling is scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the UPMC Sports Complex in South Side.

The Panther Pitt, football’s version of the Oakland Zoo, has, with cooperation with Pitt athletics, set up an evening with Wannstedt for students.

Wannstedt is scheduled to speak to the students and then walk around to greet the students personally, much like Jamie Dixon did in his meet and greet.
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There will be free T-shirts featuring the newly released Panther logo for the first 500 students. Free Panther rally towels will be handed out as well.

A raffle will determine who wins a new Pitt helmet, with the new logo, autographed by Wannstedt. The raffle prizes also include season tickets and other Pitt apparel.

Season tickets will be on sale at the event to keep students from having to pay the $5 online handling fee that is applied to students. Plus, it’s a chance to jump ahead of the game.

[Emphasis added.] Hmm. Looks like they are really ready to roll on the new logo. Think the Pitt website will get an immediate relaunch today? Reader, and occasional correspondent, Jamie has his guess for the appearance.

Otherwise a mostly quiet story day. The Pittsburgh papers combine for only one story. Offensive Line Coach Paul Dunn gets his puff piece today. The angle is restoring the line to its glory days when Dunn was a player at Pitt.

Dunn, 44, arrived with the ‘P’ for Pitt practically plastered on his forehead. One of his greatest inspirations — aside from his father, Ronald — was the late and legendary Pitt line coach, Joe Moore.

“I’m a firm believer in tradition,” Dunn said. “You have to remind young people of the great tradition at this institution. If I can relay a story or two that can help these kids understand that this is a special place, it’s all worthwhile.”

By all accounts, Dunn isn’t shy about relaying such stories.

“He tries to sneak one in every day,” said tackle Charles Spencer.

Unfortunately, Dunn would not relent when pressed for some off-the-field stories from his senior year in 1982, when he lived with quarterback Dan Marino and tackle Jimbo Covert in a Shadyside apartment, at the corner of Fifth and Shady Avenues.

“Those are probably buried forever,” Dunn said, laughing. “Danny and Jimbo kind of graduated a little bit after that (to NFL stardom). I look back and say, ‘Wow, that might have been the nicest place I ever lived.’ “

Given the rumors that helped drop Marino’s draft stock, I’m guessing there were some good times.

Coach Dave Wannstedt gets another profile piece. This time in the Philadelphia Inquirer. This piece does a lot of comparisons to former Head Coach Walt Harris.

Harris, frequently described as aloof toward alumni, administration and the team’s defensive players, never was a popular figure in this football-mad part of the state. Wannstedt, on the other hand, has been a public-relations coup for a university – and city – that cherishes its own.

“We lived what the students are going through,” said new offensive line coach Paul Dunn, a roommate of quarterback Dan Marino’s when they attended Pitt. “From an alumni standpoint, people understand that we walked the same footsteps that the youngsters are going to walk.”

Harris seemed to have little time for socializing. Wannstedt, on the other hand, was seen last week in the middle of spring workouts, shaking hands with high school coaches and school administrators who were at the practice facility.

“Dave has a way about him,” said former Pitt all-American offensive tackle Bill Fralic, the team’s radio color analyst last season. “He is reaching out and touching the community, particularly high school coaches.”

Although he has the reputation of a defensive specialist, Wannstedt is involved in every aspect of the program.

“It’s different having a true head coach,” said linebacker Brian Bennett, a graduate of Holy Cross High in Delran who is competing for a starting spot. “He goes to every meeting for every position and oversees everything. The other coach was pretty much an offensive guy.”

I’m not big on bashing Harris after he’s gone. It just seems unfair and unnecessary, especially with what Coach Wannstedt brings. It’s going to happen, though, and if Pitt does well this year it will likely increase. It will also mean the inevitable “Harris happy for team’s success” story during the season.

Final story is a puff piece on the punter and kicker — Adam Graessle and Josh Cummings.

They’re more like Laurel and Hardy than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but Josh Cummings and Adam Graessle definitely are two of a kind for the University of Pittsburgh football team.

And if last year’s performances are an indication, Cummings and Graessle will be a pair of aces this season.

Cummings, a place-kicker from California, and Graessle, a punter and kickoff specialist from Ohio, are reigning first-team All-Big East Conference performers with even higher expectations this fall.

The article mentions the number of blocked punts but indicates the fault was more with the blocking then the amount of time taken by Graessle. I know Pat disagreed with that during the season.

That seems to be the general consensus. I’ve been saying that for quite a while, but in light of Krauser’s official declaration, and the fact that he must actually get invited to Chicago to even have a chance:

Krauser acknowledged he’s got a lot of work to do as the draft approaches. Asked what he needs to work on the most, he said without hesitation: “Everything.”

NBA scouts, prohibited from discussing underclassmen publicly, nonetheless have projected Krauser no higher than a second-round draft pick.

“He will be considered for Chicago, but it all depends on the guys they want to see,” said Ryan Blake, assistant director of NBA scouting. “There will be a number of college senior points and international guys there.”

It will be deep in PGs.

Krauser dreams of the 1st, but is realistic enough to know that if he would get picked in the 2nd round he’d probably take it.

[NBA vice president Stu] Jackson and other NBA scouts have told Krauser that he must work his way into being a second-round selection.

“The second round could be good enough,” Krauser said. “But at the same time, if I come back and me and my teammates have a good season, then I could come out in the first round next year. That would be a no-brainer.”

So naturally, there are columns on the decision. Again, everyone thinks he will return.

For now, he’s enamored with the NBA, and his thoughts are mostly of pre-draft camps and testing his mettle against other would-be professionals and where the game he has a passion to play might take him. Dreaming that dream has helped get Krauser this far in the first place, and there’s nothing wrong with exploring all possibilities toward making it come true.

But if Krauser is realistic he’ll understand in advance of June 21, the date by which he must withdrawal his name from consideration to maintain his eligibility, that now is not the time.

Some hedge a little more.

“Can’t and quit aren’t in my vocabulary,” Krauser said. “I prefer to believe I can and I will.”

Maybe you’re willing to bet against Krauser.

Not me.

Krauser showed too much at Pitt, even before he came to Pitt. He was set to play at Hofstra but couldn’t qualify academically. Even after prep school, he had to sit out his first year at Pitt as a partial qualifier.

That sort of academic path gets a kid labeled “stupid.” Do you know how heavy that burden is? Krauser shrugged it off. He didn’t just make it at Pitt after being told by so many that he wouldn’t last in college. He said he’s on schedule to graduate this spring with a degree in legal studies and even mentioned law school as a possibility after basketball.

That’s a long way from stupid.

Having been through law school, let me just say, “Stupid is not that far.”

Cheer and dance competition report, but sadly, no pictures.

With the football and basketball seasons both over, Pitt’s cheer squad and dance team got their chances to compete last weekend.

The cheer squad finished 10th in the National Cheer Association College Championships, and the dance team finished 16th in the National Dance Association College Championships, both held April 7 to 8.
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The finals for both competitions are held outside just off the beach at the Band Shell stage. They will be televised Saturday, April 23 at 2 p.m. on CBS.

Not sure if this will just be an experiment, motivation tool or the major overhaul.

Wannstedt said H.B. Blades — who started at strongside linebacker last year, led the team in tackles and earned first-team All-Big East honors — is being moved to middle linebacker to compete for a starting job there.

Reserve middle linebacker Derron Thomas, who has impressed coaches this spring and was pushing for a starting job in the middle, has been moved to strongside linebacker and could be the starter there.

And on the weak side, Brian Bennett has moved slightly ahead of J.J. Horne for the starting job, although Wannstedt said the two will continue to split time.

That means Clint Session, the starter at middle linebacker last season, could be headed to the second team, although the changes are on a trial basis. Session has blazing speed and is a superior athlete who can deliver big hits, but he has had a tendency to overrun plays and miss tackles.

Blades is not as athletic as Session, but is a more complete player, has better fundamentals and is a better tackler. Earlier this spring, linebackers coach Curtis Bray hinted the change could be coming when he talked about the need for more consistent tackling at middle linebacker.

“We’re constantly evaluating personnel,” Wannstedt said yesterday. “H.B. is furthest along of all the linebackers. The good thing about our scheme is that the positions are interchangeable.”

If the changes hold, the Panthers’ starting linebackers would be Bennett (weak), Blades (middle) and Thomas (strong), with Horne and Session as the primary backups. But Wannstedt stressed that the moves might not be permanent and said he just wants to get a look at Blades in the middle.

I’m thinking this might be more about creating flexibility. Making sure the players are more familiar and comfortable on other places on the line, and able to play elsewhere if the situation or injuries demand it. Mostly, though, I think this is about motivation.

I don’t think you seriously move Blades out of the position where he clearly excels and has potential to get better. I think this is about getting Session to wake up and not just look for the hit. To not just rely on his athleticism, but think and actually tackle.

Just to put a knot in everyone’s stomach at practice, Palko took a hit.

If one episode could symbolize the rugged tenor of spring practice, it occurred Tuesday afternoon when redshirt sophomore Chris McKillop roared around right end, knocked quarterback Tyler Palko to the grass and sent new coach Dave Wannstedt into a rage.

This was one hit Wannstedt didn’t want to see.

First off, quarterbacks are off limits for anything but tags. Secondly, Palko — who hates the fact that he is barred from contact — is the team’s star player.
Palko initially appeared to be injured. Wannstedt lit into the hyper-aggressive McKillop, who has quickly worked his way up to first-team defensive end.

“What are you doing!” the coach yelled. “What are you doing! Chris, I can’t believe that! Was that a tag? What are you doing!”

The storm passed quickly. Palko was fine.

From all accounts, Wannstedt hadn’t roared like that all spring. But make no mistake, his commanding presence makes for a radical departure from his mild-mannered predecessor, Walt Harris.

As kicker Josh Cummings put it, “Coach Wannstedt is a much more efficient and enthusiastic speaker.”

In some sadder, but not unexpected news, Princell Brockenbrough is done playing WR at Pitt. I thought his chances were slim when the Cal WR was unable to get a 6th year of eligibility. Turns out the Brockenbrough never applied because his doctors said he should never play football again because of his perpetually injured left knee. Brockenbrough has earned his degree and will be returning home to Richmond, VA. Good luck.

In some other stories, Coach Wannstedt is the subject of a long article in the Rocky Mountain News. There’s the usual stuff about relating to his coming home and another pro coach going to college. But, overall it is a good piece.

“His Pittsburgh background is very important in that part of the world,” former Alabama coach and ESPN analyst Bill Curry said when Pittsburgh hired Wannstedt. “In some places, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, but there it does. . . .

“People there have a religious devotion to football, and it’s important to have (a local coach) with a high pedigree. And Dave has it.”

I think Wannstedt is a good hire, and I had initial doubts, but I think Curry absolutely nails it. It isn’t so much that he went to Pitt that matters. It’s that he’s from the ‘Burgh to most people.

On the recruiting side, it looks like Pitt and Wannstedt made an impression on another Junior a week ago.

Churchville-Chili’s Kevin Collier has become a hot commodity.

The University of Pittsburgh has offered the All-Greater Rochester running back a football scholarship, and while he sounds thrilled with the idea of playing for new Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt, Collier plans on making five official visits to Division I suitors before making a decision.

Boston College, Connecticut, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, Syracuse and Wisconsin also are “highly interested,” in the 5-foot-10, 190-pound junior, according to his coach, Paul Dick. Collier rushed for 1,724 yards and scored 20 touchdowns last fall. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry without fumbling the ball all season.

“This feels good,” Collier said of the interest shown by recruiters. “It lets me know I have a future in front of me if I play my cards right. I know (the recruiting process) will have its ups and downs, but right now I’m excited.”

That’s how Dick described the sentiment of Pitt’s coaching staff during Collier’s April 2 visit at the Panthers’ “Elite Bluechip Recruit Day.” Collier was one of 31 players invited to tour the campus and football facilities, Dick said. Collier’s parents, Kevin Sr. and Angela, also were there.

“Wannstedt grabbed us and put us on a separate bus with him,” Dick said. “He sat with Kevin just about the rest of the day, really courted him. (Pitt) has come out and really let him know they want him.”
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He also visited SU this month during its recent “Junior Recruit Day,” but Pitt “seemed like home,” Collier said.

Irondequoit native David Walker called Syracuse, his alma mater, home for the past 10 years. But after the off-season coaching change at SU, Walker joined Pitt in January. He met Collier at a clinic in Rochester last year, Dick said, but it was Collier’s appearance on a highlight videotape of top players that has launched his status as a big-time recruit. The video, which Dick said included 38 clips of Collier runs, was produced by the National Recruiting Center.

5 months to go. 5 months to go. 5 months to go.

New logo will be revealed tomorrow.

The university will reveal in a news conference Thursday that it is going back to a spelled-out “Pitt” logo, although it is not expected to be the scripted “Pitt” that was used from 1970 to Aug. 4, 1997, before being replaced by a Panther logo. Team colors are not expected to change from dark blue and gold. The football team will be outfitted with new uniforms, which also will be unveiled Thursday.

A previous article had said that you can expect the colors to remain unchanged (damn). Essentially it is expected that it will just be the present style with which “Pittsburgh” is printed on the front of the football unis, just chopped off at “Pitt.” The “iron bar” logo Pitt will be phased out. I have no idea whether the panther tooth will survive.

Okay, Krauser has made his declaration (hat tip to Steve)

University of Pittsburgh junior guard Carl Krauser announced Tuesday morning that he will make himself available for the 2005 NBA Draft. Due to NCAA rules, Krauser will retain the option to withdraw from the draft and return for his senior season at Pittsburgh since he will not sign with an agent. The NBA Draft Early Entry withdrawal deadline is on June 21, 2005, one full week before the NBA Draft (June 28).

“With Carl scheduled to graduate this year, he wants to see where he stands with NBA Draft possibilities,” Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon said. “He has expressed a desire not to retain an agent and have the opportunity to return to the University of Pittsburgh next year. We support him in his goals while he finishes up requirements for graduation.”

Krauser is doing everything he should do. Krauser will come back if he doesn’t think he is going to get a chance in the NBA.

Krauser hopes to get an invitation to the NBA pre-draft camp June 7-10 at Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute, a session that often proves important to a player’s fate in the draft.

“I’m going to leave my options open,” Krauser said. “I’m going to try to get into the Chicago camp and see what happens.”

If Krauser is not invited to the camp or does poorly, he can withdraw by June 21 and retain his college eligibility. He said he wants to play only in the NBA, and has little interest in playing in a developmental league or in Europe.

Those last two will likely be last resorts, after next season. I’m sure Brandin Knight has told him all he wants to know about the NBDL.

One of our readers, who went with the original handle of “Anonymous” tipped us off to the Meet Coach Wannstedt meeting for the students. Here’s the official press release from Pitt. Thursday in the Pete lobby, at 8 pm.

For those of us not students or outside the Pittsburgh area — so we couldn’t sight him hanging out on the South Side (Pat and Shawn) — he will be interviewed on the virtually unwatchable ESPN2 morning show “Cold Pizza” at 8:40 am.

One other story to mention. Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads gets a piece on not being bitter or leaving Pitt after (somehow) nearly getting the head coaching job.

Working with Wannstedt is an opportunity that truly excites Rhoads, even though it will be much different than working under Harris.

The biggest adjustment for Rhoads is that Wannstedt is a defensive coach and is hands-on with the defense. Harris was an offensive coach who served as offensive coordinator and spent very little time on the defense.

Wannstedt has put his touch on the defense, but the changes are mostly subtle. Rhoads said he has enjoyed having another defensive mind to pick for ideas. He said he isn’t territorial about the defense.

Sure there’s no problems. That should be one of the more intriguing sub-plots this season. I figure if the defense rebounds, Rhoads bolts at the first opportunity.

To the absolute surprise of no one, Carl Krauser is expected to make himself eligible for the NBA draft today. Krauser has until June 21 to decide to return to Pitt, provided he doesn’t hire an agent and does graduate in the spring.

Krauser might not be eligible next season even if he doesn’t turn pro. Krauser entered Pitt as a partial qualifier, so he must graduate this year to be eligible for the 2005-06 season. Neither Krauser nor the school have said if he is on schedule to graduate.

Krauser also has another option: He can declare himself eligible for the draft without hiring an agent and then, after judging the NBA’s interest in him, choose to return to Pitt by withdrawing his name.

Pitt originally planned to make Krauser available to reporters Monday night to make his announcement, but then postponed the interviews until Tuesday.

Oh, and today is also the team banquet. Nice timing.

I’m going to assume for the moment that Krauser will graduate on time. This has been expected, and honestly it is a smart thing for Krauser. There’s no reason not to at least find out how he matches up with other point guards at the pre-draft camps and what his chances are to get drafted. I honestly don’t think he will be on most team’s list for either round. The draft is going to be deep with point guards.