Yes, it’s true. T.J. Porter and McKenzie Mathews were practicing with the team today.

On having T.J. Porter and McKenzie Mathews back at practice:

They were great to have. In fact, they both made some plays today. It was encouraging. Like anything, I realize that things like that happen. They happen every year. It happened in the NFL. You just do the best you can, and there’s always that fine line where you want to make sure you keep as many players as you can, but you sure as heck can’t compromise anything from a team standpoint. And this has nothing to do with football. These are just personal things with young kids. That’s all part of it.

T.J. had a nice play today for a touchdown. Mack had a couple nice rushes. How much they would contribute, it’s early yet. Right now we’re just trying to get everybody as much work as we can.

These things happen, and while it needs to be covered and discussed. Perspective needs to be kept. Nice to see Coach Wannstedt agrees with me. They are still kids.

The press conference transcript also notes that the freshmen who came and took some summer classes to get a head start did very well. H.B. Blades gets some attention for his ongoing work ethic.

Tomorrow will be another scrimmage, though QBs will of course be off-limits.

I really don’t want to bother writing much about Joe Pa, and Penn St., but what the hell. I can’t let this Joe Paterno press conference quote from today go past without preserving it from disappearing down a memory hole.

…Akron is awfully clever. The guy who is the head coach at Akron was on Pitt’s staff when they embarrassed us out there. It wasn’t even close. As I said, the quarterback is awfully good. There are a lot of quarterbacks around the country and I think we are playing against all of the good ones.

And yet, he would rather keep the embarrassment from the last game then renew the series.

Shocking.

We’ll find out later today as to whether McKenzie Mathews went to practice today. There are a lot of indications that he will.
Thanks to Matt of Orange 44 for the additional info on McKenzie Mathews.Webb of the Syracuse Post-Standard has some more. Mathews got in touch with his HS coach, who was contacted by Webb.

Casamento said Mathews plans to be at practice today with the Panthers after having lunch with Pittsburgh assistant coach David Walker. Casamento said Mathews has not been home to Syracuse and has remained in Pittsburgh, though he added Mathews may “come home and talk to his mom and me. That’s all I’m going to say. That’s all I know.”

He said Mathews’s absence does not necessarily mean he has contemplated a transfer and that being homesick is part of the college experience for many college freshmen.

“I said are you OK? He said ‘yeah.’ I told him I loved him just know you can call me any time. He said ‘thank you’ and said he’d call me after practice,” Casamento said.

I was told by someone close to the situation that a representative of Mathews had approached another Big East school about transferring. I sent off a query to the Big East seeking further explanation of the league’s no-transfer rule and whether it contained loopholes (such as attending junior college before transferring). A league official said a response would be available on Tuesday.

The Big East transfer rule isn’t clearly known, even by the beat writers and league office. Who do they think they are with these unclear vague rules? The NCAA.

Nate Byham, the stud freshman TE for Pitt has already caught the coaches attention and is pushing for playing time.

Tight ends coach Brian Angelichio said, “Nate has certainly made a lot of strides and has had an impact even though we are only a short way into the preseason. His work ethic — he is relentless — and his willingness to learn are what sets him apart. It is still early, but he has had a great start.”

Byham still needs to get bigger — he has gained 15 pounds since he arrived at Pitt and would like to gain about 15 more — but his size doesn’t hinder his blocking. Angelichio said Byham’s quick first step is a big asset in his blocking.

His role, at least initially, will be mostly as a receiving tight end.

Byham said he feels good about his first week of camp, but he has so much more to learn that he isn’t worried about where he fits in on the depth chart. He said he is pleased with how the tight ends are used in the Panthers’ West Coast offense.

“Being here has really exceeded all of my even most optimistic expectations,” Byham said. “We have a great coaching staff and our offense is a pro-style offense, so hopefully, if I learn what I am supposed to learn, some day I hopefully can make it to the next level. That’s one reason I came here because I trust this coaching staff and I know they’ll help me achieve all of my goals.”

With all the questions and criticisms for OC Matt Cavanaugh, one that can’t be made is his utilization of talented Tight Ends. Buches is the oldest and the best blocking TE. Strong has such potential with his size and strength that you wonder about how he will be used. (Idle rumination alert!) I can’t help but think John Pelusi, who is still a month or two away from coming back from his knee injury, may end up being redshirted. I think it could be more likely with Pitt not able to land Devlin from Mt. Lebanon.

The way everyone raves about Byham, and if he develops the way he’s expected, he could go pro after his junior year. Redshirting Pelusi might be good insurance.
There’s also a brief chat with WR prospect Toney Clemons. He gives no real clues as to where he will be heading. He seems to enjoy the attention and won’t decide until after his visits and the football seasons (HS and college) end.

With 4 Pitt players on the SF 49ers roster, and all starters to boot, they do get something of a rooting interest from me.

Right now there’s a lot of attention on Antonio Bryant, who despite not actually causing any problems in Cleveland for 2 years, is still considered something of a junior T.O. because of the jersey toss incident in the face of Bill Parcells. That seems to be the theme in discussing him.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Antonio Bryant and head coach Mike Nolan approach their relationship with honesty. Both recognize that Bryant’s intensity is likely to be displayed in unprofessional ways and disrupt team chemistry.

“It’s not an easy thing for us or for him,” Nolan said of Bryant’s competitiveness. “But it’s a good thing.”

Bryant once fired a sweaty jersey into the disapproving mug of Cowboys coach Bill Parcells. Bryant was traded to the Browns soon after that. After a year-and-a-half in Cleveland, the Browns had little interested in re-signing him, despite Bryant’s 1,009 yards receiving season last season.

Nolan has issued proclamations about accountability and zero tolerance for dissension, but he signed the admitted malcontent anyway. Bryant has a four-year, $15 million deal with $6 million in guaranteed money.

Bryant showed up at 49ers camp in Santa Clara wearing No. 81, the same jersey that once belonged to the crown prince of sporting infamy, Terrell Owens.

Of course by the end of the column it’s noted that Trent Dilfer of the “flawless reputation” completely encouraged the ‘Niners to sign him.

The reality of the situation is that the 49ers needed Bryant. They had no other receivers who can be a game breaker for their 2005 1st round QB, Alex Smith. So far things look very good between the two.
Then there is Kevan Barlow, going into a big year as far as expectations and whether he will be with the team next year.

“You’re in the ‘Burgh?'” Barlow asked via cell phone during my recent tour of Pittsburgh’s Garfield district. “Oh man, you’ve got to go up the hill now and see the real bad stuff. Turn right on Atlantic and go a block to where the projects are. Then go over to Fort Pitt Park and see where my uncle was shot and killed.

“I’ll call you back in an hour to make sure you made it out of there safe.”

Yes, he called back. He did so in between practices at 49ers training camp, checking not only if I survived, but if a new appreciation was born for his rags-to-riches story.

“Growing up in that environment, it was a tough neighborhood. A lot of guys in the NFL go through the same stuff,” Barlow said last week during a sit-down interview outside the 49ers locker room. “In my neighborhood we had Bloods and Crips. I’ve seen some of my best friends murdered.”

There was Darrell, shot dead in a confrontation with police. And Dorion, his best friend on the Peabody High School football team who fell victim to a drive-by shooting just for wearing a red polo shirt to Wendy’s. Worst of all was uncle Sidney, just 35 when, Barlow says, “a dude on dope” shot him to death at a 1999 Thanksgiving Day football game at Fort Pitt Field.

Barlow, like many athletes, has overcome challenges, that’s for sure. Can he do it yet again? Not the rough childhood part, but the beating-the-odds part. Can he stiff-arm his doubters, stay in the starting lineup and produce the truly big season that’s escaped him to this point?

He swears he still has the drive to succeed, that the 49ers’ recent failures haven’t dragged him into an abyss of despair.

That had better be the case, for this is probably his make-or-break year, to prove he’s a starting-caliber running back worthy of the five-year, $20 million contract that has three pricey seasons remaining on it.

“Every year I come back motivated and I’m still optimistic, still hungry, still wanting to be successful. That’s something God gives you,” Barlow, 27, said. “I still feel I can be the best at what I do. When I lose that, then you’ve got something to worry about.

“But I still feel I can go out there and be one of the best backs in the league. Guys like Larry Johnson and Clinton Portis, I feel I can do everything they do. I just haven’t been in the position or had the opportunity to be successful like them.”

Barlow is being pushed by Frank Gore, drafted out of Miami in 2005.

Still waiting for profiles on Punter Andy Lee and Cornerback Shawntae Spencer.

The Offensive Line is working hard to be cohesive and not be the weak link on the team this year.

“We’re going to be more successful than last year,” said junior right tackle Mike McGlynn, who reported to camp in the best shape of his career. “That’s not a stretch. Who am I kidding? We didn’t have a good last year. This year, we’re going to work to be a unit and have a successful year.”

It isn’t just talk. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt addressed the run offense and run defense as two main areas of concern before training camp, and the Panthers have shown that the offense is well ahead of the defense during 11-on-11 drills.

The experience of the group is a primary reason for the improvement. Senior right guard John Simonitis is entering his fourth year as a starter and McGlynn his third, while Villani and sophomore left guard C.J. Davis now have a full season behind them. The only question is at left tackle, where sophomore John Bachman is battling junior-college transfer Jeff Otah for the starting job.

There’s enough stability that freshman Joe Thomas, who has earned rave reviews from coaches in camp, will make the two deep but not be forced into starting duties.

The story almost makes me optimistic about the O-line. Cynicsm and the past few years, however, has me thinking about reserving judgment for a few games.

Part of the reason for the hesitancy is that the O-line is only going up against Pitt’s D-line. Not exactly a stiff test at this point. Still a major concern.

The Panthers worked that offensive play extensively, and the offensive line controlled the defense more times than not with redshirt sophomore Brandon Mason, sophomore LaRod Stephens-Howling, redshirt freshman Shane Brooks and freshman Kevin Collier running wild.

“The offensive line did a great job, and it all starts up front with them,” Mason said. “They came out and punched the defense in the mouth, and that’s how it all starts. They gave us some good blocks, but we have a lot of talent in the backfield that can go out and do our thing.”

Wannstedt wasn’t pleased with the overall intensity level, but he was happy that the running game showed some improvement.

“I thought we ran the ball better today for the first time and made some strides there, but we have a lot of work to do with our run defense,” Wannstedt said. “That’s an area where, if we’re going to be an improved team, we need to obviously run the ball better and we need to stop the run better. We’re working a lot of people in there to get the right mix.”

Mix, blend, puree. Whatever. The D-line is going to need to be better very soon. Less than 3 weeks to opening night.

The situation with T.J. Porter is somewhat filled out this morning.

Pitt’s freshman class may have taken another big hit yesterday as receiver T.J. Porter did not show up for the afternoon practice and is considering leaving school. This comes one day after freshman defensive end McKenzie Mathews left the team and returned to his home in Syracuse, N.Y.

What makes the decisions puzzling is that both players were having excellent camps and were on their way toward making it onto the two-deep.

In Porter’s case, there is a good chance he can earn a starting spot or be the third receiver.

There is some understandable confusion about why two players who were in Pittsburgh all summer for voluntary workouts and conditioning. Who are performing very well in the first week of training camp, fully looking like they will at a minimum make the two-deep depth chart. Why would they, now start pining for home to the point where they might leave and set back their hopes and dreams a couple years (be it making it to the NFL or just getting a college education).

The easiest, simplest and probably best answer is that they are kids. They may be very physically gifted and talented kids, but the key thing is they are kids. With Porter, at least, he has shown some sensitivity to being overwhelmed by things. It’s part of why he ducked out of a signing day ceremony at his high school before quietly signing the following day.

Coach Wannstedt is doing the right thing by staying in touch but giving the kids a chance to catch their breath, talk to family and think.

What isn’t completely explained is what happened to back-up QB Bill Stull. One day he’s having a fine camp, looking real good. Now he has his finger in a splint and not taking snaps for at least a week. No word on what digit or hand.

Freshman WR Aaron Smith could be heading for a redshirt with a seperated left shoulder. Especially if it needs surgery or extensive rehab.

The highlights from camp, seem to have a majority coming from the offense.

You know, I love having the transcripts of the press conferences with the coaches. It’s easier and quicker than trying to watch or listen to some video (which isn’t up yet for today). The problem, is there seems to need some sort of sub-titles or something to fill in the gap (you mean beat writers or something?). Yesterday it was McKenzie Mathews, that required waiting until the beat writers filled in the gaps. Today its something with T.J. Porter and an injury with Bill Stull from today’s scrimmage and practice.

On T.J. Porter:

He’s been excused for personal reasons. Hopefully, he’ll be here tomorrow. He was out here this morning, and we talked and he said he needed a little bit of time so we’re going to give it to him and we’ll have some discussions with him tonight. But I expect him here tomorrow.

…

On Bill Stull:

Hopefully [he’ll be ready to take snaps] in another week. I don’t know. No, he will not scrimmage this week, I can tell you that.

Your guess is as good as mine. Hopefully we’ll know more tomorrow.
What I did get from the press conference transcript is that Kevan Smith is ahead of Dexter Davidson at the QB position among the freshmen. Smith is working with the second team while Stull recovers from whatever it is.

On Kevan Smith’s progress:

Very pleased. I probably haven’t mentioned his name [enough]. We’ve talked about [Nate] Byham. We’ve talked about [Aaron] Berry. [Kevin] Collier’s done some good things. Joe Thomas. [John] Malecki’s had two good days. I kind of sense him coming along a little bit. Probably the two freshmen that were the unsung, quiet guys that really flashed are Ty Tkach and Kevan Smith. Because of Billy Stull’s situation, Kevan Smith has taken all the second team work, and he’s really done a commendable job.

Really not much else from the transcript.

Aaron Berry gets love from his local paper.

Aaron Berry might not be the most impressive physical specimen, but when the freshman cornerback from Bishop McDevitt gets on the football field he is lavished with praise.

Just ask University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt. Even though he has only practiced with the Panthers for a week, and the workouts have been with other freshmen and young players, Berry has turned heads.

“Aaron Berry, he’s off to a fast start,” Wannstedt said. “He’s a player. And we’ve got Reggie Carter. KC [Kennard Cox] did some good things. Jovani Chappel, he’s like a little pit bull out here, so we have some serious competition for that other cornerback spot out there.”

One of the reasons Berry came to Pitt was his chance to get out and play early.

“The freshmen, we’re definitely getting more reps, so it’s been great,” Berry said. “When you’re a freshman, for most guys, they’re at the bottom of the depth chart. But this gives us a chance to work on things and not worry too much about that. We’re all together, and this helps us learn a lot more than usual.”

Even if Berry doesn’t contribute in the base defense this season, special teams are a possibility. The majority of his recruiting class should make an impact of some sort this season. They have to for Pitt to be successful.

“I wanted to play early, and this was the school where I could do that,” Berry said.

“And Coach Rhoads, he’s definitely one of the best DB coaches and defensive coordinators in the country. He puts a DB in the [NFL] league like every year. So, it was definitely the place for me to go to school.”

Now, I am not the biggest fan of Defensive Coordinator Paul Rhoads, but I will say he is a very good Defensive Backs coach.

LaRod Stephens-Howling gets a nice piece from Smizik.

Still, when you think of Pittsburgh football, you think of running backs who could move the pile, not dart around it.

Which maybe is why so many people have a difficult time with the fact that Pitt’s starting running back this season in all likelihood will be LaRod Stephens-Howling, who stands 5 feet 7 and, after gaining 15 pounds, weighs 175. The thought of such a specimen being an every-down back on the NCAA Division I-A level is hard for people to grasp.

It’s possible, even the Pitt coaching staff is having a problem with this concept. Certainly, when Stephens-Howling was recruited out of Johnstown High, it wasn’t to fill such a role. Players of his size are mostly seen as little more than gimmicks, someone who can catch a pass out of the backfield, run a reverse or a sweep and return kicks.

But to pound the line down after down, well, that’s for the big boys.

Except that the memory of Dorsett, arguably the most exciting athlete in Pittsburgh history, is too fresh to dismiss a player based on size. As a 19-year-old freshman in 1973, just months removed from Hopewell High School, Dorsett weighed about 160 pounds and ran for 1,686 yards. The most amazing aspect of that accomplishment is that he did it behind a line that returned intact from a 1-10 team the season before.

This is not to suggest Stephens-Howling is the second coming of Dorsett or even remotely comparable. It is to suggest, though, that body mass is not the key ingredient to successfully running the football. There’s more to the art than brute force. Quickness, the ability to accelerate and vision are at least as important as size.

Personally I always feel comparisons to transcendent sports figures are completely unfair and do more harm than good — and Dorsett is a transcendent figure in Pitt football. They create ridiculous expectatoins and resentment from others who inexplicably blame the player for getting the comparison.

I’m a fan of Stephens because I think it is very rare and hard to find a single back anymore in college. I prefer seeing a couple backs sharing the load, staying fresh and if this is going to be a run-first offense really being able to keep the defense off-balance with different running styles. He’s got a style that is more elusive and frustrating for a defense. He forces them to stay in position and react. Trying to be aggressive against Stephens when he is running can give him the opening for a quick burst.

Finally, if you have faith or trust in the bloodlines of athletes, then Pitt is in better shape then you may realize.

Forgive the Panthers if they express a nonchalant attitude toward their pro football surroundings, as 16 players have relatives who are current or former NFL players. Pitt has a cadre of Panthers who are hoping their success on Saturdays will translate into paydays on Sundays.

“It’s in your bloodlines,” said Pitt sophomore fullback Conredge Collins, whose father, Tony, played for the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. “If you’ve got football and NFL that’s in your bloodline, the majority of the time you can go to that level, too. (When) you’ve got people that come from the NFL, you know what it takes.”

Collins is one of three Panthers whose fathers played in the NFL, joining senior linebacker H.B. Blades and redshirt freshman receiver Oderick Turner.

The others have cousins or uncles with NFL history.

McKenzie Mathews is apparently having a little trouble adjusting to college and being away from home.

Heralded freshman defensive end McKenzie Mathews has left the Pitt football team, but the coaches are hopeful they can convince him to return. If he does not return, it would be a tough loss for the Panthers’ defensive line, not just for this year but also for the future.

“He’s been excused for personal reasons,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “I’m really not going to get into it any more than that right now because I’m still optimistic. We’ve had conversations, his brother was down today and we’ve had several conversations with his mom. I think he just needs little bit of time, and we’ll see where that goes.”

Mathews is one of the highest-rated defensive linemen the Panthers signed and was one of Wannstedt’s most-coveted recruits. Pitt ultimately won a recruiting battle for Mathews, beating out Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame.

Coaches raved about Mathews ability after the first three days of practice, and he was likely on his way to landing a spot on the two-deep at defensive end, but he did not practice the past two days. Mathews, from Syracuse, N.Y., is still at Pitt, but he told some of his teammates earlier this week that he was homesick.

From that, it would seem his family seems to think he will get over it with a little time. Hopefully he will be okay soon. If he were to decide to transfer closer to home — say Syracuse — there is no way Pitt would release him. He’d have to sit out the year without a doubt.

The running game looked strong, as multiple backs made big plays. Brandon Mason and Shane Brooks both had very good days. Oderick Turner seems to be ahead of the pack to be either starting with Kinder or being the 3rd WR on the depth chart. There was also an opening drill to fire up the team.

In their first practice in pads, the Panthers circled around their biggest recruits – literally and figuratively – for an abbreviated Oklahoma drill.

It featured 6-foot-7, 340-pound left tackle Jeff Otah against 6-5, 315-pound defensive tackle Jason Pinkston.

“We wanted to get it off on the right foot, and we did,” Wannstedt said. “That type of energy and excitement is what it’s all about.”

Pinkston won the battle of the bulge, getting underneath Otah’s pads and knocking him backwards.

“Pinkston actually probably got the better (of Otah), but the way he finished practice, he must have used up all his energy on that one play,” Wannstedt said. “I wish he would have saved a little for the inside run.”

That problem on the D-line means that the linebackers will be looking to help more.

The Panthers’ problems against the run started up front with an inexperienced defensive line, but Session admits the linebackers didn’t make enough plays, either. That is something he and his teammates are determined to correct.

“When you can’t stop the run, you feel helpless,” Session said. “An offense can do what they want to you. But we feel like this year we have the best linebacking corps in the nation, and it is our job to shut that run game down. You come off a 5-6 record, you’ve got so much to prove to the world. … Us being run on is a thing of the past.”

…

The Panthers have had a shortage of gamebreakers on defense, but Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt believes Session will change that this year. Session always has been viewed as a player with great potential, but it wasn’t until late last season that he began to realize it.

Coaches expect Blades to play at a higher level than he has in the past because the other linebackers around him are better. Wannstedt would like to see Blades’ tackle totals cut because he carried too much of the load last season, when he had 121 tackles.

“The thing about Clint is he really understands it now — you can’t just run around the field and look to hit everyone wearing a different color uniform,” Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said.

By the end of training camp, you can expect to be sick of hearing about Pitt’s issues with running the ball and stopping the run. Unfortunately, those are the most glaring issues and biggest questions.

Today is the first 2-a-day and a controlled scrimmage.

Today was practice in pads. Something that college coaches never complain that they do not get enough during training camp. Coach Wannstedt didn’t have a lot to say in the press conference. At least in the transcript.

On the first day in full pads:

Not bad. Always good and bad. I thought that we ran the ball better today for our first time and made some strides there. We have a lot of work to do with our run defense. Right now that’s an area that if we’re going to be an improved team, we need to obviously run the ball better and stop the run. I was not pleased with that today. We’re working a lot of different people to still try to get the right mix. I’m not sure who that is right now. We’ll have a little bit of a scrimmage tomorrow, a controlled scrimmage. We’ll actually have three controlled scrimmages between now and next Saturday. That’s kind of a timetable to be able to put players in situations enough where it’s full speed and we will be able to evaluate exactly where they’re at and where we’re at.

On the running backs:

I was pleased with all of them. LaRod (Stephens-Howling) has been outstanding, Brandon Mason had a very good day today, Shane Brooks had a very good day, Kevin Collier had a good day. So I’m pleased with the running backs. Brandon is bigger and I think he’s in a lot better shape. He’s actually slimmed down a little bit, he did a very good job in the weight room. He’s stronger.

On the heels of the whole talking about the D-line potentially improving this season, reading that the Pitt running game looked good against them is, well, terrifying? Disturbing? Unnerving? Putting me in a fetal position on the floor?

Joe DelSardo is hurt. Oderick Turner made some good plays at receiver. Nate Byham stepped in with the second team in place of Darrell Strong and really caught Coach Wannstedt’s eye. Something is going on with McKenzie Mathews on a personal level.

Still catching up with all the material while still feigning sociability with the wife’s brother’s family. So, I’m going to go through this quickly since most of this has probably been read by everyone at this point.

The raw feed transcript of Coach Wannstedt talking after practice on Friday.

On canceling the Saturday morning practice:

There has been a schedule change for tomorrow. I’m obviously very pleased with how much work we got done with our football team these last couple days. Tomorrow we’re going to come out in the morning and do a walk through, some weight room work, then get the team together and practice in the afternoon. There are several reasons for this. The first one being we’re getting a little bit low in numbers. Nothing major but we have a half a dozen guys that are banged up and for us to come out and be productive, it’s important that we have enough depth to be able to do that.

The receivers are down a couple with Dorin Dickerson and Aaron Smith both fighting injuries. The receivers as has been repeatedly noted, have tremendous potential but are so raw.

The defensive line is and will be an ongoing question for the season. It’s training camp, so optimism abounds.

Now, there is plenty of chatter about the defensive line at the Panthers’ South Side training camp, and, for a change, it mostly is positive. The one negative is that most of the players who are talked about are freshmen whose full impact likely won’t be felt for a year or two.

Rebuilding the line was one of second-year coach Dave Wannstedt’s recruiting priorities, and it shows in the number of incoming defensive linemen. Co-defensive line coaches Charlie Partridge and Greg Gattuso believe the sky is the limit for this group as well as for redshirts like tackle Mick Williams.

The three big names among the freshmen are Jason Pinkston, John Malecki and McKenzie Mathews, but Partridge said two others, Jared Martin and Tyler Tkach, are in the mix as well. And coaches have been raving about Greg Romeus, who has only played two years of organized football but might have the most natural athletic ability.

Mick Williams has been making some noticeable plays in practice so far. Clint Session went a little crazy in practice and Shane Brooks showed some big strength carrying the ball and Shane Murray. Revis had a very good practice. So did Marcel Pestano.

The first Q&A of the training camp is out. Lots of goodies to read.

The first week of camp is nearly complete. Although the Panthers have yet to go in full pads, I can make some observations about the team and some of the players. As most of you know, Dave Wannstedt split the squad into two groups with half practicing in the morning and the other half, primarily the freshmen, practicing in the afternoon. The result has been two distinctly different practices: The first is more crisp and efficient and the other is more choppy and has a lot less flow to it because the freshmen are just trying to learn the plays.

…

The key for everyone to remember, however, is most of the talent on the team is young and that means there is no way to be certain how they will respond when the lights go on. I think the offensive line in will be better than people think and the defensive line will compete, but the team’s fate lies mostly with the younger players and how quickly they develop.

I have a hard time believing this team is capable of winning more than seven or eight games. Still, that would be a nice step forward and there is an excellent foundation being built for the future.

I would caution anyone from putting unrealistic expectations on any of the freshmen because they are just that — freshmen — and they have a long way to go. A few of them will help this year, but this class won’t ultimately be ready to really make an impact for a year or two.

As a beat writer, he is almost protective of the new kids.

Right now it’s a lot of speculation.

Once again, a big thanks to Keith for keeping the posts going while I was in rehab away. I’m still trying to get back up to speed and read everything I missed. To try to add some thoughts and more info on the Curtis Martin post. There were a bunch of Curtis Martin stories back in January 2005 when the Steelers and Jets were meeting in the playoffs. He was very honest in the interview talking about his whole attitude about football and playing when it came to college. It was a way out.

“My mom didn’t want me out on the streets,” Martin recalled. “Too many of us were getting killed. I feel like I could have been dead so many times. I feel so blessed and grateful that [bad] things never panned out for me.”

Hackett and assistant Sal Sunseri wooed Martin, sold his mother on a Pitt education, landed the prize recruit. “I listened to them and the whole time I’m thinking in my mind, ‘They don’t know, I don’t even care.’ I was horrible in college. I didn’t want to play. I just didn’t want to look stupid [frittering away] the scholarship.”

Reading between the lines, I think it also lends a little insight into why he was so loyal to Parcells, why he followed him from the Patriots to the Jets. Parcells was a coach that reached Martin and made him realize so much more of his potential. Not to mention made him that much more aware of how his football career could give him the chance to pursue his other interests as well.
The points made in the comments about Majors helping his career are also accurate. That 251 yards he rushed against versus Texas in ’94 is 8th all-time for Pitt rushers in a game.

Finally, Martin seemed to be just part of a string of injury-crossed rushers for Pitt. Adam “Sky” Walker, Curvin “Swervin'” Richards, Martin and Billy West all had what looked to be great potential careers derailed by injuries. In fact, Martin’s injury in 1994 was what paved the way for West that season (1358 yards). Richards bolted early for the draft after some minor injuries and some family issues needing the money.

I married into a family of late sleepers. I am the only adult awake in a house with 4 kids (3 under the age of 5) running wild. Send help.

Mark May is in South Bend for the College Football Hall of Fame ceremony and golf tournament. Today he gets inducted.

All but one day at Pitt was spent on the offensive line.

“When (head coach) Jackie Sherrill recruited me, he promised me I could play defense,” May said. “My first day as a freshman, I was on defense. One day. The next day, they switched me to the offensive line. At least he lived up to his promise.”

He talked a little about how and when he got his start in TV.

“My college years were so great because of the opportunities to bond with my teammates,” May said. “Pittsburgh was a special (school) in a special city. The people there cared about you. I was able to learn so much from the alums.”

It was also the place where he got his start in television. He got to know a sports director at the ABC affiliate. He convinced May to get involved in television before he graduated. When May was chosen by the Redskins, that sports director convinced the head of sports at the ABC station in Washington to hire May.

That training was followed by post-football jobs with TNT and CBS before finally landing at ESPN about five years ago.

Pitt fans would appear to be the exception among college football blogdom (writers and readers) in liking May on ESPN’s College Football studio show. Much the way ND partisans are the exception towards seeing Lou Holtz there.

The Arizona Cardinals, technically one of the oldest NFL franchises, have decided they need their own “Ring of Honor.” During today’s exhibition game against the Steelers, the late, great Marshall Goldberg will be one seven players and Bidwell, Sr. placed in the ring during halftime (PDF).

All fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Cardinals Stadium lanyard/ticketholder.

Ooooh. Well, there are the cheerleaders at least.