Sure the basketball side has been more active this summer. With recruiting and lots of ridiculously early prognostications about top-5, -8 or -10 rankings. Football, though, actually kicks off the first Pitt game in just over 40 days. So, why the silence from the media?
Other than the occasional, look for these teams to be much better this year stories (insider subs).
From Brett in Chicago: I know you’ve been touting Notre Dame to win a lot more games because of its easier schedule as much as the team is getting older (which sounds a bit like a cop-out to me), but I won’t give you a hard time for that. What other mediocre programs are you going to go on record and tout?
Bruce Feldman: I do expect ND to win at least eight games this season, and I also believe Pittsburgh and Ole Miss will make big jumps forward in the win column. The Panthers get a lot of their key players who were injured back, and they have matured along both lines. Ole Miss gets a huge boost from QB Jevan Snead, the Rebels have a terrific D-line, and their young receivers have kept improving.
That’s easy to explain, Media Days have yet to occur. No coach interviews. No player interviews. No media guides. Let’s face it, all the pre-pre-polls have already been issued, revised, rehashed and drilled into the ground. How many ways can the same stories be spun?
Well, the Big East Media Day is set for July 29. Pitt will be bringing Scott McKillop and LeSean McCoy for the event. I’m more amused at the way the Big East treats Louisville and Cinci.
Cinci Coach Kelly gets left out. Krags ends up listed as Cinci’s coach, and Louisville appears to be bringing 3 players to media day for the future video interviews.
Well, there is one Pitt-related football story. This feature piece on LeSean McCoy.
“We knew he’d be good,” says Walker. “I didn’t think he’d been this good this soon. Really, from day one, he stepped in and showed he could compete at this level.”
McCoy says his mentors include his brother, LeRon McCoy, a third-year NFL receiver with the Houston Texans. “He’s coached me through everything. He’s been there. He knows the ropes.”
McCoy says Dorsett has counseled him that doing “all the little things right” makes a great player. “He’s a great guy … full of advice,” McCoy says.
McCoy’s development will also depend on his supporting cast.
Stull and Kinder are expected back. Pitt’s incoming recruits include 6-5 wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin of Aliquippa, Pa.
“We’re going to open up the offense so much,” McCoy says.
Wannstedt says this season’s game plans will reflect McCoy’s development. “He’s been in the system for a year. … Now you tweak another run or two, you add a couple of more passes to him,” Wannstedt says. “Maybe you can get him the ball in different ways.”
McCoy welcomes that: “You always want the ball. Not selfishly, but you want to help the team so much you’ll do anything.”
The story also recounts a bit of his recruiting including the famous checking his name off at the Pitt-Georgetown basketball game.
