Pitt News seems to have made a regular feature of what former Pitt football players are doing in the NFL.

Scouts, Inc./ESPN.com has been going around the country looking at recruits in each state. They spent 2 articles on Pennsylvania for offense and defense (Insider Subs.). Unsurprisingly, Pitt commits were featured very prominently throughout the articles. This is what they had to say about recruiting this season.

Pennsylvania is a major recruiting ground for programs in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest. A state of this size, with its history and tradition of turning out great players, is always going to be on recruiters’ radars. Although they must fight off competition from all over the country, Penn State and Pittsburgh have done a good job of keeping many of Pennsylvania’s brightest stars at home.

The 2006 recruiting class has gotten off to a fast start for the Pitt Panthers. Of the 17 early commitments, coach Dave Wannstedt and his staff have landed 13 from Pennsylvania. Two of those 13 are ESPN 150 members Nate Byham and Dorin Dickerson. Two other commitments include defensive tackle Jason Pinkston and linebacker Justin Hargrove, both of whom attend Baldwin High in Pittsburgh, Wannstedt’s alma mater. Other instate Pitt commits include teammates corner Aaron Smith and linebacker Dan Loheyde from Gateway High in Monroeville, defensive tackles Scott Corson (Johnston, Greater Johnston) and John Malecki (Murrysville, Franklin Regional), defensive end Ty Tkach (Slatington, Northern Lehigh), Greg Webster (Pittsburgh, Woodland Hills) and Nate Nix (Clairton, Thomas Jefferson), quarterback Kevan Smith and guard Eric Rodemoyer. So far, the Pitt staff has done a nice job of protecting its turf.

The other major program in Pennsylvania has just two instate commitments so far. Penn State has commitments from defensive tackles Tom McEowen (Langhorne, Neshaminy) and Abe Koroma (Hershey, Milton Hershey).

The out of state school that has really done well in Pennsylvania this year, is Notre Dame.

Paul Lukas, of UniWatch fame, deals with the fall-out from the hideous Nike creations worn by Florida and VT. And it gets worse, judging by these coming try-outs from Miami and Oregon. (PSB is not responsible for any damage to a viewer’s retina for clicking on those examples, nor to any damage to one’s personal aesthetic sensibility.)

Money quote:

This not only waters down and cheapens the individual schools’ visual identities but also perpetuates Nike’s patently bogus notion that its own brand is more important than the teams’ brands. Memo to Phil Knight: The swoosh draws its legitimacy from the teams that wear it, not the other way around.

Having said all of that, I’d still like to see what Nike would do if given half a chance to Penn State.

Wow. Totally unrelated to Pitt, but this is fantastic. Chicago Tribune Metro Columnist Eric Zorn uses his blog to do a Jay Mariotti retrospective on his writings of the White Sox for the past year. If you’ve caught his schtick on Around the Horn, this is must read stuff. Suffice to say, terms Lexis-Nexis search, Google cache, and any sort of searchable database of newspaper articles are not the best thing for columnists like Mariotti.

Well, the Pitt News has grades for the football team after 8 games. Here’s the quick summary:

Offensive Line: C-
Quarterbacks: B+
Receiving Corps: C+
Running backs: B+
Defensive Line: B-
Secondary: A-
Linebackers: A
Special Teams: D+
Coaching: C

There seems to be a bit of grade inflation here. I’ll agree with O-Line, Secondary, Special teams, and Receivers.

Quarterbacking, I’d have to drop to a B or perhaps a B-. Simply asking where would this team be without Palko, is not sufficient for that high of a grade. Yes, he is adjusting to a new system, but he had some absolute clunker games (Ohio and most of Nebraska come to mind) with less than stellar games (Cinci). If Palko is the best player, then higher performance is expected.

Running Backs is a B-. There hasn’t been sufficient consistency, in part due to injuries and the change in systems, but there is still a long way to go to meet the potential especially in Jennings and Stephens-Howling. Not to mention using Conredge Collins now that his redshirt is burned.

D-line is a solid C. Not very good against the run and no pass rush.

Linebackers I’ll go with an A-. Blades elevates the group, but not to a perfect score. He does seem to be doing it by himself.

Coaching is a C-. While being 4-4 seems to beg a straight C, looking at the schedule includes an inexcusable loss to Ohio and an almost, but not quite excusable loss to Rutgers. Maybe 8-0 was unrealistic at this point, but 6-2 or at a minimum 5-3 would have been average.

Louisville, has also found itself dealing with disappointment.

The best the Cards can achieve is 9-2 — or, more precisely, 10-2. Nothing less than four more victories plus success in something as grand as the Gator Bowl can erase the sting of losses to South Florida and West Virginia.

The Cards have been good, just not as good as advertised. Or as good as last season. A check of NCAA team stats reveals this squad is down 40 yards per game on offense while giving up nearly an extra 40.

That has translated into a defense giving up an extra touchdown per game, slipping from 24th to 68th in the national rankings. That’s one reason U of L remains outside the Bowl Championship Series Top 25. Five of the six BCS computer rankings have the Cards no better than No. 28.

Louisville wins out, but Dr. Bo will withhold a bowl prediction until he sees if the Cards are playing in a real game (Gator) or holiday filler.

I’d suggest that the drop-off in rankings was due to the BE, but considering that 2 of the 3 BE teams they have played are fellow C-USA refugees, that is unlikely. Clearly, they too are not as good as expected.

Still, it’s not like their offense is in the crapper, and Coach Wannstedt has acknowledged that Pitt can’t afford to spot them points like Pitt has been prone to do.

“Everybody knows how good they are as a football team and how well they play at home,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We can’t fall behind by 10 and expect to come back against this team.”

Wannstedt, whose team will tangle with Louisville Thursday (7:30 p.m., ESPN), is referring to the gaudy numbers Louisville posts on a regular basis. In their last three home games the Cardinals have scored 63 (against Oregon State), 61 (Florida Atlantic) and 59 (North Carolina) points. Not surprisingly, they are 3-0 at home.

Overall, Louisville is averaging 46.9 points, good for second place in the nation. Their offense is producing 499.9 total yards per game, a mark that is eighth nationally.

Pitt is a huge underdog in the game. The line started at 18 1/2 and is now at 20 1/2.

“I didn’t even know we were that big of an underdog,” Pitt defensive end Chris McKillop said. “I try not to look at those things. I look at them like any team, although Louisville’s a great team, but we can’t make them more. … But now that I know that we’re a big underdog, it bothers me.

Now, use it to help motivate you and the rest.

Looks like the only player likely to miss the game for Pitt is Defensive Tackle Thomas Smith, while Sophomore RB Brandon Mason may try to receive a medical redshirt. I think the redshirt is 50-50 since he did get some playing time before the injury.

Like Louisville needs more help on the offense, but RB Kolby Smith returns to back-up Michael Bush.

Fellow running back Michael Bush, second in the nation in touchdowns with 18, has averaged almost 25 carries per game and run for nine touchdowns in the last three games. Bush has told Smith every day since he was injured that he needed Smith back.

“All he was saying was, ‘I need you back. I need you back to help me carry some of this weight,'” Smith said.

Smith couldn’t describe the frustration of being stuck on the sideline, watching his team lose, while Bush ground out 37 carries, he said.

“I just felt like, in some situations, I could’ve been the back to help Mike out because he had so many carries,” Smith said.

He averaged nine carries per game for 6.3 yards per carry in the four games before the injury.

The added risk is that Smith is also a threat to catch the ball.

“We adjusted quite a bit,” Petrino said. “We used a lot more of our two-tight-end sets and motion, a lot more one-back, three-wide receiver sets. It was hard to get used to initially, because we ask Kolby to do so many things — not just running the football but things in protection and the passing game. So we missed that a little bit.”

More than just handing Smith the ball or throwing to him, however, the threat of Smith running with or catching it out of the backfield is a major weapon.

And to think, Bush came to Louisville with hopes of being a quarterback.

Hey, the 2005-06 Pitt Basketball Media Guide is out and ready for downloading, from 8 sections (PDF). Since this is the 100th year for Pitt basketball, the cover eschews individual players and instead goes for the nostalgia touch — old jerseys, and trophies adorn the cover.

Today also marks the release to bookstores of Pitt: 100 Years of Pitt Basketball, “the definitive history of basketball at the University of Pittsburgh.”

Hey, the 2005-06 Pitt Basketball Media Guide is out and ready for downloading, from 8 sections (PDF). Since this is the 100th year for Pitt basketball, the cover eschews individual players and instead goes for the nostalgia touch — old jerseys, and trophies adorn the cover.

Today also marks the release to bookstores of Pitt: 100 Years of Pitt Basketball, “the definitive history of basketball at the University of Pittsburgh.”

Despite Louisville’s team setbacks, Senior Defensive End Elvis Dumervil has not been the problem. He leads a ferocious pass rush and looks to break the NCAA Div1-A record for sacks in a season. For some reason, while not too into post-sack celebrations, he has announced plans to do so against Pitt.

Palko just smiled when asked about Dumervil’s comments.

“He can dance all he wants,” Palko said. “He’s leading the country in sacks, so he can do the Irish jig with (Cincinnati Bengals receiver) Chad Johnson if he wants to.

“I really don’t get into personal battles like that. He says what he wants to say, and we’ll leave it at that.”

Will Pitt’s defense respond to Dumervil’s antics?

“We don’t have any dances,” linebacker H.B. Blades said with a sly grin. “But I heard Dumervil has one so … I’m sure we’ll come up with something nice.”

Now, I don’t begrudge a celebration, either and I’m with Palko. What I don’t get is why he thinks that sacking Palko is a special achievement. Pitt has given up the most sacks in the Big East, other than being on ESPN on Thursday, it’s not exactly a special achievement to sack Palko.

Still, it has managed to give bulletin board material to the O-line.

Dumervil’s next victim, err, opponent is Pitt left tackle Charles Spencer, who for the second consecutive game has heard a lot about the player that is lining up opposite of him. The Panthers (4-4, 3-1 Big East) play at Louisville (5-2, 1-2) Thursday in a key conference matchup.

And much like the week leading up to the Panthers’ previous game when he was continually asked about Syracuse defensive end James Wyche, Spencer was a man of few words in his response.

“He’s a very good defensive end,” Spencer said. “He stays moving, he’s a hard worker. I admire the way he works and overall he is a very good defensive end. But just like in the previous weeks, I’ve been getting it all week about the other team’s defensive ends.”

Wyche was good, but Dumervil is a potential 1st round NFL draft pick. He’s received comparisons to the Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney including from Coach Wannstedt.

“He does have some of the same qualities as Dwight, whom I’m really familiar with,” said Wannstedt, whose Panthers play at Louisville on Thursday. “The speed is the No. 1 thing. But there are a lot of guys who have played this game and are fast and don’t make plays.

“The thing Dumervil does, you can see him rush the passer, you can see him strip the ball, you can see him make an interception on a screen play — I believe that was against North Carolina. The guy is a complete football player. He’s not a one-dimensional, run up the field and try to rush the passer guy. That’s what impresses me about him.”

If Pitt can keep Louisville to 3 or less sacks, then Pitt has a great chance (not to mention because it likely means Pitt isn’t dropping back to throw as much, suggesting a lead).

Well, as expected, with the press and teleconferences yesterday coupled with a short week means a flurry of activity.

One of the main themes for this week’s game is the idea of “salvaging” the season for both teams. Expect it in a lot of stories from here on out and to be a major meme during the telecast. Both teams had the high expectations, as has been repeated ad nauseum to this point. Both, to different degrees have crashed and burned for a bit and are now in a final stretch run to at a minimum gains some respectability and have “something to build on” for next year. By now, we’re all familiar with the media cliches, and the fact that storylines and memes not only get recycled but turned into conventional wisdom/truth whether actually true or not.

So, this is at least a refreshing start to an article, rather than what was expected or what could have been — what still can be.

For the Pitt Panthers, there is no looking back.

It is now a three-game season and the stakes are clear — win all three, win the Big East Conference and likely earn a second consecutive trip to a Bowl Championship Series game. Win two and it is off to a minor bowl. Anything less and it is home for the holidays for the first time since 1999.

The new season begins Thursday when the Panthers (4-4, 3-1 Big East) invade Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and play Big East-newcomer Louisville (5-2, 1-2) in a nationally televised prime-time game. The Panthers are 20-point underdogs and generally are given little chance to beat the Cardinals, who are especially tough at home. That is why Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt believes it is best if his players focus on this game instead of the remaining three.

All together now: “You just have to take them one game at a time, one half at a time, one quarter at a time, one series at a time, one play at a time…”

“That’s been really our focus — how can we get better?”

Wannstedt said that in order for the Panthers to beat the Cardinals, it will require them to play their best game of the season. He said the Panthers can’t afford to make the mistakes they’ve made in recent weeks and can’t afford to let their guard down for even one play.

“What do we have to do this week to get it done?” Wannstedt said. “We have to play better than we’ve played, go out there and not turn the ball over, go out there and not give anything up in the punting and kicking game. It is going to take that type of effort. If we want to beat Louisville down there, we’re going to have to play 60 minutes of high-level football. We know that and everybody knows that.”

Yup.

Now for the more standard fare.

Two months ago, most folks expected the Pitt-Louisville game to be a battle for Big East supremacy. Instead, the stakes Thursday night are different.

Pride and survival.

“This is a game that probably a lot of people looked forward to before the season started,” Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm said. “But it might not be as huge to them now.”
…
Thursday’s game still has a lot going for it. It’s a showdown of the defending Big East champs against the league’s highly touted newcomer. A prime-time kickoff. A sellout crowd. A national television audience.

“Regardless of whether it’s as hyped-up as it was at the beginning of the season, it’s still a big game,” Panthers defensive end Chris McKillop said.

Pitt and Louisville were off last weekend, so both times have had extra time to prepare and rest up from nagging injuries. However, the Cardinals have one extra edge — home field. The Panthers have not yet won on the road this season.

“This would be a nice one to start with,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We know that we’re still alive and we kind of control our destiny. I still believe you want to play your best football the last week of the season.

“We’re focused on what we’ve got to do and not where (Louisville) is at or where we’re at.”

This game is actually Louisville’s Big East home opener. So there should still be some attempts by the Cardinal’s Athletic Department and the Big East to further hype it before the game. Louisville also has a 10 game home winning streak.

Well, as expected, with the press and teleconferences yesterday coupled with a short week means a flurry of activity.

One of the main themes for this week’s game is the idea of “salvaging” the season for both teams. Expect it in a lot of stories from here on out and to be a major meme during the telecast. Both teams had the high expectations, as has been repeated ad nauseum to this point. Both, to different degrees have crashed and burned for a bit and are now in a final stretch run to at a minimum gains some respectability and have “something to build on” for next year. By now, we’re all familiar with the media cliches, and the fact that storylines and memes not only get recycled but turned into conventional wisdom/truth whether actually true or not.

So, this is at least a refreshing start to an article, rather than what was expected or what could have been — what still can be.

For the Pitt Panthers, there is no looking back.

It is now a three-game season and the stakes are clear — win all three, win the Big East Conference and likely earn a second consecutive trip to a Bowl Championship Series game. Win two and it is off to a minor bowl. Anything less and it is home for the holidays for the first time since 1999.

The new season begins Thursday when the Panthers (4-4, 3-1 Big East) invade Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and play Big East-newcomer Louisville (5-2, 1-2) in a nationally televised prime-time game. The Panthers are 20-point underdogs and generally are given little chance to beat the Cardinals, who are especially tough at home. That is why Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt believes it is best if his players focus on this game instead of the remaining three.

All together now: “You just have to take them one game at a time, one half at a time, one quarter at a time, one series at a time, one play at a time…”

“That’s been really our focus — how can we get better?”

Wannstedt said that in order for the Panthers to beat the Cardinals, it will require them to play their best game of the season. He said the Panthers can’t afford to make the mistakes they’ve made in recent weeks and can’t afford to let their guard down for even one play.

“What do we have to do this week to get it done?” Wannstedt said. “We have to play better than we’ve played, go out there and not turn the ball over, go out there and not give anything up in the punting and kicking game. It is going to take that type of effort. If we want to beat Louisville down there, we’re going to have to play 60 minutes of high-level football. We know that and everybody knows that.”

Yup.

Now for the more standard fare.

Two months ago, most folks expected the Pitt-Louisville game to be a battle for Big East supremacy. Instead, the stakes Thursday night are different.

Pride and survival.

“This is a game that probably a lot of people looked forward to before the season started,” Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm said. “But it might not be as huge to them now.”
…
Thursday’s game still has a lot going for it. It’s a showdown of the defending Big East champs against the league’s highly touted newcomer. A prime-time kickoff. A sellout crowd. A national television audience.

“Regardless of whether it’s as hyped-up as it was at the beginning of the season, it’s still a big game,” Panthers defensive end Chris McKillop said.

Pitt and Louisville were off last weekend, so both times have had extra time to prepare and rest up from nagging injuries. However, the Cardinals have one extra edge — home field. The Panthers have not yet won on the road this season.

“This would be a nice one to start with,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We know that we’re still alive and we kind of control our destiny. I still believe you want to play your best football the last week of the season.

“We’re focused on what we’ve got to do and not where (Louisville) is at or where we’re at.”

This game is actually Louisville’s Big East home opener. So there should still be some attempts by the Cardinal’s Athletic Department and the Big East to further hype it before the game. Louisville also has a 10 game home winning streak.