Also per Andy Katz, this annoying piece of info.

Pitt wants to play a high major at Madison Square Garden in December. But no one is biting.

Looks like the Memphis rumor has fallen through.

I guess that’s the problem when you’ve had the success Pitt has had at MSG in recent years. Everyone knows and is in no hurry to go there for a loss. Even with the exposure on ESPN and recruiting in NYC area.

Seriously? Again? What more info could they possibly need (Insider subs).

Pitt was supposed to hear this week from the NCAA about whether Mike Cook would receive a sixth season of eligibility. But the NCAA asked for more information, and Pitt has still not gotten a decision. Cook tore his ACL against Duke on Dec. 20.

I did check the date on Andy Katz’s blog post on this. It is for today, so it isn’t a rerun from info of last month. This is getting beyond stupid. The other problem with the continued delays is that it screws up the system if they do turn Cook down.

The NCAA system allows for appeals and requests for reconsideration. If the NCAA takes this long to make the first decision, there will be no practical chance to make an appeal and have a decision made before the school year starts. More than just making it very difficult for Pitt to set a roster, they are keeping Mike Cook’s life on hold with this. He’s in limbo with moving on to the rest of his life.

QB Bill Stull headlines this national list of players coming back from injury this fall.

“Last year, you’re standing and watching an offense that you were in, that should have you out there,” Pitt quarterback Bill Stull said by telephone. “I can’t wait. I’ve been looking forward to this season for a whole year.”

Stull started last year’s opener against Eastern Michigan before ripping up his thumb on a third-quarter handoff. He watched freshmen understudies Pat Bostick and Kevan Smith complete a 5-7 fall, disappointing even after a season-ending upset of then-No. 2 West Virginia.

But Stull, a redshirt junior, beat incumbent starter Bostick for the No. 1 job this spring, leading a platoon of Panthers back from sickbay. Receiver Derek Kinder, back from a torn ACL (the only college football initials worse than “BCS”), figures to rank as Stull’s top target. And defensive tackle Gus Mustakas has rebounded from a knee tear, too, and might start along Pitt’s front.

All that’s left for the threesome, and all the guys returning from injury, is proving their worth come September. And don’t sleep on what a guy can do after missing a chunk of last year.

It will be closely watched how well those three plus Chris Jacobson and Dan Matha. To say nothing of Pinkston and whether Mick Williams can stay healthy. Yeesh. Heck, we have to see if Coach Wannstedt’s knee can hold up this year.

A couple stories that are connected by ties with Pitt. The ties of family and history.

Bret Gunn, the stepbrother of linebacker Adam Gunn, wants to come to Pitt. He plays both Safety and Running Back. Given his speed — he’s a top track guy — I’m sure Coach Wannstedt would love to see him at safety. What the younger Gunn has to do if he wants to go to Pitt — or anywhere — is get to work on the grades.

According to Scout.com, several colleges are showing interest in Gunn, including Buffalo, Connecticut, Florida State, Ohio State, North Carolina, Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia. But the speedy, 5-foot-11, 165-pounder has no scholarship offers yet.

“At this rate, (the colleges) are going to stop looking at him,” Ed Gunn said. “If he doesn’t pass summer school, he could miss the early part of the season.”

Ed Gunn wanted to share his son’s situation, much like Tonie Clemons, the mother of former Valley receiver/defensive back Toney Clemons, did.

…

“Bret and I had a long conversation about (grades),” Kiski Area first-year coach Harvey Smith said. “I tried to explain to him where he stands and the opportunity before him. He needs to do what he needs to do.”

Bret Gunn has made strides at improving much in his life. His family life is much more stable, but he still has to make his choices.

Recent Pitt verbal, Juantez Hollins had another story last week. I realize Aliquippa has produced some of the best Pitt players. Still, the whole meme gets a bit tiresome and perhaps a bit of a burden for players.

While Hollins concedes he needs to become much stronger, his play, as well as the interest he received from colleges, has been fueled by his quickness.

“They like the way I move, and they love my footwork,” Hollins said.

Agility has been just as important to Hollins as size, some of which has likely been sharpened by his experience playing for Marvin Emerson and the Quips basketball team.

“That’s probably his best attribute, his ability to run,” Zmijanic said. “There are a lot of big guys out there, but that’s what separates him from the others.”

What didn’t separate Hollins from many of the Aliquippa standouts who preceded him was his commitment to Pitt. Aliquippa has sent several high-profile players to the school — particularly in recent years — and Hollins said he liked the fact he will be reuniting with former Aliquippa players Brandon Lindsey and Jonathan Baldwin.

Said Zmijanic: “I just think most of our kids are homebodies and don’t want to travel too far. They feel real comfortable with the people [at Pitt]. Plus, with all the guys that have been there before, they feel comfortable.”

The familiarity and ties to present and past players helps. It just seems that sometimes the Aliquippa lineage is a little overplayed. Not to mention undue pressur on the kids.

That Hollins already has good footwork and agility is most promising. The strength will come. Especially when Buddy Morris gets a hold of him.