Pat Bostick gets a piece in his local paper. Glowing quotes from Coach Wannstedt abound.
Wannstedt said that after meetings with coaches following the season, Bostick has worked extremely hard and done everything the coaching staff has asked of him.
“Since the season was over, I don’t think there is a player at any position on this team who has worked harder to better himself,” Wannstedt said. “He has lost 18 pounds, and has done everything physically to improve himself. But as in all situations, everyone has to go out and prove themselves again.”
Meaning, despite the accolades, he’ll have to battle to keep his starting role. Wannstedt confirmed the quarterback slot will be a wide-open competition this spring.
With Spring Practice just a couple weeks away we’ll get a chance to see how much Bostick’s physical conditioning has changed.
Bostick doesn’t get enough credit for stepping into the starting QB role as a true freshman without having the previous spring to learn the playbook- and it’s not like he was getting all the snaps from day 1. He was handcuffed from the start. This offseason will make a HUGE difference. I think the only thing we know for sure at this point is that the competition is going to be intense.
How the hell was he ranked #4 in the country by Rivals.com?
Good to see he is making the necessary changes!
I say redshirt him, let Cross, Smith, and Stull battle it out.
Bostick played horrrible, he had a very hard time reading defenses and his lack of mobility killed him.
Bostick was very over-rated coming out of high school, I agree he should redshirt but I do not see him in the qb mix for at least two years baring major injury.
I am desperately trying to get a copy of the Pitt-Wvu fball game this past year. I know that some people have copies on dvd or video cassette. I would greatly appreciate it if I could some how get a copy from one of you. I am willing to pay you. If you can possibly help me out, please email me it at “fulltiltmatt@hotmail.com”.
Thanks,
Matt
Let’s make this the last time for a while OK….
DW – hear me!!
Pat Bostic needs to do a full 180 degrees not just losing a few pounds. A red shirt is in order.
With him having an entire offseason to lose 20+ pounds, increase his arm strength, work on footwork and reading defenses, there’s alot of potential there.
So look at the possibilities. Stull hasn’t shown anything promising due to injuries and backing up Palko; Smith was an absolute joke when he played; Cross has experience, but will it be better than Bostick’s?
This is a year in the big east where there won’t be a clear cut favorite. So it’s our opportunity to transition from a mediocre team that fights for bowl eligibility, to a team that fights for a conference championship and BCS bowl.
Spring will dictate which qb can possibly take us there. Quite frankly, I don’t care who it is. I just want a winner.
At this time Bostick just does not have the physical attributes to be a successful starting division 1-qb, give him a few years to develop. Maybe he develops to be the next Dan Marino or maybe he develops into the next Rich Bowden, only time will tell.
He got some valuable experience in some bad situations last year, and now it looks like he has been working his ass off. Now that he knows he might get the starting job again (and he has the most experience out of the bunch), he will be improving. I think he is our man for the next three years, and I’m not too worried about him. He will do well, especially with the talent that will be surrounding him.
This is the same phenomenon that PSU fans were banking on for Morelli prior to last season – and he didn’t have major physical flaws to correct – and it never happened.
Granted we are talking about two different players, and IMO Bostick is head and shoulders above Morelli in the cerebral department, but the fact remains that regardless of WHY he was forced to play so much last season, some of his shortcomings were blatantly obvious.
As I read some fan’s comment about this situation I wonder if a lot of the ‘let Pat remain the starter’ sentiment isn’t due to the fact that he’s such a likable guy, and that some fans appointed him the QB savior of the program coming out of HS – and are sticking with that no matter what. I believe that is unrealistic and does both young Mr. Bostick and PITT a disservice.
To me, it’s not a negative or a punishment for the coaching staff to redshirt someone so that they have a full year to mature both mentally and physically. Of course, that’s provided we are not in the damage control mode that we were last season. No, if in any way we can afford to let Pat Bostick have the time he needs to become the best player he can – then I think he deserves it.
There are few redshirt freshmen in the country who are able to jump into a big time program and make an immediate difference. At least Bostick was able to win games (i.e. Jimmy Clausen)
He had no strength training, no real time with college coaches, and IS 18 YEARS OLD!
Before you throw Bostick under the bus and proclaim Cross as the Messiah to PITT football, please list your credentials and tell us why your opinion is anything more than words on a message board. I think it will provide everybody with a good laugh
Missed the part on the huge cock…do they measure that before or after the 40 yd dash? I’m not sure if you are referring to Pat as a redshirt freshman or not by your statement above but he was a true freshman and was only on campus for a few months before being thrown to the wovles and asked to lead a college football team. There is a big difference in a true freshman and redshirt freshman so we need to ride this out.
Let’s think about this brain-storm of yours a second:
Hypothesis: One who is a “likeable guy” is more likely to remain Starter…
Hey, I mean go for it if you want, but drawing up such a study (or, getting $upport for such research) is like that Beck song, “Lost Cause.”
I’m more willing to believe and fund research supporting any data-analysis that finds the opposite true… So let’s maybe modify your Indy-Dependent variables and gamble on something like this:
One who is a “likable guy†is more likely to… well, you know…
Nice guys finish last …not start, for starters
________________________________________
But then, maybe I’m biased when it comes to Pat because in reference to the comments below, I can’t help but “second the motion.”
I for one will take a wait and see attitude about Bostic. Comment by TMGPanther 03.10.08
Spring will dictate which qb can possibly take us there. Comment by Hail2Pitt 03.10.08
I think…I’m not too worried about him. Comment by Tony 03.10.08
was that a racially biased remark, I wonder?
haha. No kidding, that was funny as sh*t
“IMO that Greg Gross is the most advanced QB on the roster at this time. I would be shocked if isn’t the starter opening day. Comment by joel 03.10.08 @ 8:39 pm “
My fear with Cross is he has a high interception rate.
“As Aaron Gray walked to the bench after Drew Gooden replaced him following a brief second-quarter stint on Tuesday, the rookie center, according to several witnesses, snapped at interim coach Jim Boylan.
‘That’s what I get for working hard?’ Gray said.
A shocked Boylan snapped back and Gray, a second-round pick, played only the final 1:21 of a blowout victory over Memphis the rest of the night.”
Considering what happened last year, I’m sure the coaches are going to make damn sure there are at least 2 QBs that know the entire playbook and are capable of running the offense by the start of camp in August.
I’m just not sure why we’re arguing about this shit. No one here has seen what happened since the end of the year. Hell, they’re all on spring break right now. There is no football being practiced. I’m not sure how any of us can tell who should be playing, sitting, fetching water bottles, etc. Lets wait for the game and see how the QB he picks does, and then commence bitching.
And i’ve never seen a QB regress from his senior year to his freshman year – but look at the tape, he threw MUCH BETTER in HS. He gets back to that, no one here will be complaining.
Gray – WOW, that is REALLY hard to believe, knowing what every other single human being has ever said about him and everything any of us have ever heard or read from him. Then again, Boylan doesn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. Gray led the team in rebounds the other night…in FIFTEEN MINUTES. They actually play pretty well when he’s in. They also play well when Noah is in. Here’s an idea that a lot of people want to see: what happens when you play both at the same time? They’ve only done it for about a minute the entire year. The guys job is to play the rookies and get them better for next year. Instead he’s pissing around with a bunch of turds.
I think Gray has a better chance of being rookie of the year than Boylan being the head coach there next year. Its telling when all your rookies are pissed off – that doesn’t normally happen in the NBA.
BTW – did some people’s god Rutherford ever make it to second string on any team?
Rivals has him listed as having a 8.5″ cock. However, it’s probably more like 8″ according to most scouts. Still very impressive. Hopefully will see some more growth after Buddy Morris strength training.
As for tomorrow, I hope, I really really do hope, that we have awakened and go on a feeding frenzy. It could happen but regardless we are not an easy out.
But, I sure do agree that we all will have to wait and see about our QB situation – and am very much looking forward to seeing how Pat Bostick has improved over the off season.
At least that’s the feeling I get from reading all these posts about PITT’s QB situation on various sites.
As far as ‘nobody really knows’ and ‘let’s wait and see’ – well, of course that’s true. But we are doing what involved fans do – we are talking, debating, speculating and hoping during the off season. I make a concerned effort to always phrase my posts so that it’s claer these are my opinions and not facts or news from inside the PITT football offices. That’s the fun of following football closely.
As for Noah – yeah, the kid is awful shooting from anyhwere but right under the basket – but the bulls are awful at shooting all together, and their best play is to pass off the front of the rim to Noah or Gray. Put them both out there, they could kill some people. They both make their putbacks from what i’ve seen.
Piece of shit wvu tied it at the half with an 11-2 run…junk. I want to see another team hopefully fall off the bubble…F the Cuse too.
in stark contrast, the syr-nova gm was a much closer contest.
If SH pulls out & over MU it’ll be because, for and in large-part, SH played a more disciplined, patient game than did, for ex., the Orange.
Pitt v. L’Ville to me is true toss-up; wouldn’t bet that game.
….well, looks like marq is in and SH out at this pt. (3min. reg.)
wrong post to comment under…
umm…
Also, Cross does not have ideal size but he has a strong arm and can run. There should be some great competition at the qb spot.