I don’t know if it’s a lack of understanding, not looking into/verifying things, stupidity or laziness; but I get very annoyed by simple errors in factual backgrounds.

Another piece on Darrell Strong looking to have a break-out year at Tight End.

Strong arrived at Pitt two years ago amid plenty of hype and high expectations. Yet, he has made more position changes than touchdown catches.

As a senior at Plantation High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Strong threw 17 TD passes. Former Pitt coach Walt Harris recruited Strong as a quarterback, then switched him to receiver midway through his freshman year.

Intrigued by Strong’s powerful build (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) and sure hands, coach Dave Wannstedt moved him to tight end last year. Strong certainly looked the part, but it was not a smooth transition.

Once again, Strong came out of high school wanting to play QB. He was being recruited by most schools as a Tight End. The reason he came to Pitt was because he was promised an opportunity to play QB. He was not recruited as a QB. In fact, before training camp even ended, Strong was moved to Tight End — in 2004. He got moved to WR later that year because he was such an athlete that they wanted him on the field to catch the ball and WR worked since blocking wasn’t really an issue. It was always expected that he would be moved back to TE as he learned to block.

Of course, that’s minor stuff. This story really got my attention and my annoyance level up.

The Pittsburgh experience is one Jennings says he doesn’t regret. But he knew by the time the Panthers closed their season at West Virginia last November that he was ready to leave.

There were philosophical differences between Jennings and the Pitt coaching staff. They wanted him to be a fullback, not surprising considering he weighs 250 pounds. It’s cut bulk, though; his body fat is around 10 percent. He expects to play at between 235 and 245 pounds next season.

Jennings is convinced he is the sort of back who can pound up the gut for tough yardage yet still get to the outside and break off long runs.

There was never any talk of moving Jennings to FB. Not with Conredge Collins at that position. As we all recall, his transfer was about family reasons — and there is a conspicuous absence of any mention of his father.

I don’t know where that other stuff came from.

Manhattan is taking its time, but seems to want to go with someone’s assistant.

UConn assistant Tom Moore is continuing to talk with Manhattan about the head coaching job left vacant by Bobby Gonzalez, recently named coach at Seton Hall. Sources said Moore is one of the front-runners along with Pitt assistant Barry Rohrssen and DePaul assistant Gary DeCesare.

This approach has worked for them, plus it is definitely a good way to keep salary costs down.

Well, at least one national sports writer took in the Blue-Gold game and liked what he saw from the defense (Insider Subs.).

QB Tyler Palko looked pretty sharp. He’s always been a good scrambler, but he also showed a lot of zip on a few deep outs. The Panthers, who only had one other scholarship QB playing in the game, had to be pleased that highly-regarded quarterback prospect Pat Bostick from Lancaster, Pa., attended the game with his father.

Led by H.B. Blades and Clint Sessions, a pair of thick, heavy-hitting linebackers who are probably 5-foot-10 (not 6-0) each, the Panthers might have the shortest front seven in college football. But with the emergence of converted safety Tommie Campbell, a legit 4.3 guy playing OLB, they might have the best linebacking crew in the Big East. All three guys can fly.

Pitt doesn’t have the kind of linemen you would expect from a tradition-rich school in such a fertile spot for producing road-grader types.

WR Oderick Turner, son of former Giant Odessa Turner, made two great catches and should be a big factor in the passing game as the Panthers search for playmakers.

Blue-chipper Dorin Dickerson was at the game and might strong-arm his way into the backfield as a tailback at some point in ’06. Right now, Pitt is counting on LaRod Stephens-Howling, a fast 5-6, 175-pounder to share the load with incoming freshman Kevin Collier.

Dickerson, a thick 6-2, 215-pounder with a huge reputation, is slated to start out at wide receiver, but don’t be shocked if he gets some carries, too. For a school that produced Tony Dorsett and Curtis Martin, it’s been a long time since the Panthers had a star tailback. Kevan Barlow was good, but I’ll say Martin back in the early ’90s was the last big-time back they had.

Seems to really like the speed despite the lack of size on the D-line (of course he’s a Miami grad, so that makes some sense).

He also plugs Lidia’s as one of the best places to get a good Italian meal (that ESPN.com expense account must be generous).

As for the tape delayed showing of the Blue-Gold Scrimmage, FSN has expanded the time allocated from an hour to 90 minutes. It airs this Saturday from 12:30 pm to 2, and then again on Friday April 28, 1-2:30 pm.

For those of us outside the Fox Sports Pittsburgh market (or lacking the sports package that includes it on Satellite), if you have Fox College Sports Atlantic, the game is supposed to air on Monday, April 24 around 8:30 pm. It is still listed as an hour long program so it might air starting at 8 or go longer. Check local listings.

Still no word on where or when Tyler Smith will sign his letter of intent to play basketball. According to a beat writer on the Memphis scene, it looks like John Calipari and the Tigers are looking elsewhere.

Q: Will the Tigers sign anyone late who can help next season?

A: Probably not. At one point, Tyler Smith was an option, but now it appears he’s headed elsewhere, perhaps Pittsburgh. As always, there could be a walk-on, and Calipari acknowledged Saturday via cell phone while recruiting at an AAU Tournament in Fayetteville, Ark., that he is considering taking a transfer (Oklahoma State freshman Roderick Flemings is a possibility, though at this point only a possibility).

That leaves Pitt, Iowa and Kentucky as the schools vying for Smith.

The longer Smith takes, though, the more likely that his choices will be narrowed for him. Coaches and teams don’t want to be stuck waiting too long on one kid that they lose out on others. Coach Dixon and Pitt could be moving in that direction.

University of Pittsburgh Head Basketball Coach Jamie Dixon is looking to fill his final 2006 scholarship. He, along with his staff, is currently hosting one of the top 2006 centers in the nation: 6-foot-11 inch Hamady N’diaye from Stoneridge Preparatory School in Tarzana, CA. The PantherDigest.com spoke with his coach today.

“Hamady flew into Pittsburgh on Sunday and he is set to return on Tuesday,” stated Stoneridge Preparatory School Head Basketball Coach Mike Mahoney. “He has visited Rutgers and Miami (FL). Pittsburgh will be his last visit before his final decision.”

Pitt, Rutgers or Miami are his top choices. And his decision is coming very soon. Like most HS Center prospects, he is raw but with lots of potential because of his size alone.

Coach Mahoney was quick to point out that N’diaye was equally impressive off the court. “It’s worth noting that Hamady is a great kid. He’s a high character type kid from a well educated family. He’s a solid student that won’t give you any problems off the basketball court.”

“I have five kids players heading to division one schools. We’re going to hold a huge press conference next week. Hamady will announce his decision at that time.”

If that time table holds true, Smith could be out. Pitt might prefer not to be risk being empty-handed with an unused scholarship.

N’Diaye is considered the 18th best Center prospect in the country according to Scout.com. Rivals.com lists him as the 9th best Center and 55th best prospect overall. Of course N’diaye apparently hasn’t been formally offered a scholarship by Pitt at this point.