If it weren’t for the fact that I never got a chance to do a post-game post on the Backyard Brawl, I would be done with it. There is just too much going on this week.
The City Game is on Wednesday (7pm on CBS College Sports Channel) at the Civic Arena and I would consider it a toss-up this year. Perhaps even favoring the Stage Magicians at this point as they should be aware that this could be their best chance to snap the losing streak. Plus Pitt has a Friday night home game with New Hampshire.
Saturday is that whole River City Rivalry game that has meaning for the second straight year. This decides the Big East’s BCS bid and whether Pitt finishes as co-Big East champs.
I’m going to skip the media recap, since it is so late.
I think we all know that QB Bill Stull had his worst game of the season. A lot of “bad” Stull and “same-old” Stull. I’m not going with that, but he did pick a lousy time to forget his footwork and not stride forward when throwing. Yes, some of that was because the O-line was really bad for much of the game and struggled to protect. All those stories that went with the theme of Stull’s redemption are not looking so hot today.
It also didn’t help that Dorin Dickerson had two huge drops. They weren’t TD passes, but with the pressure WVU kept bringing, catching those over the middle may have created some doubt on the Mountaineer’s aggressive defense and forced them to drop a linebacker back to not let Dickerson be the outlet. I also can’t help but think that it might have helped get the rest of the offense in gear and not have Stull spend the whole game looking only for Baldwin.
Playing so poorly on the national stage was also likely a killer for Dickerson winning the Mackey award. Especially with Hernandez from Florida having another good game while romping over FSU. I imagine Stull and Dickerson were back in their apartment late Friday night just staring at each other blankly saying, “What the hell just happened?” Over and over.
The O-line looked so ill-prepared in that game. Stunned that West Virginia’s defense would bring pressure up front all night.
On the defense, the secondary definitely missed Aaron Berry. A WVU offense that has specialized in turning the ball over was error free.
Aaron Smith still returning punts? I was left trying to explain that tomy family. My aunt turned to me after the second time he just ran sideways out of bounds, “Is he afraid to get hit?” I could only sigh and nod. I can’t even get mad at Smith any longer. This is what he’s done all season. In game 11 it is on the coaches who keep trotting him out there.
Then there was the inexplicable field goal tries with Dan Hutchins. When he was trotted out there for a 53-yarder, I lost it. I don’t care if there was a 35-mile/hour gust behind him, he doesn’t have that kind of range. It is a known thing. Coach Wannstedt said so before the season and nothing this year has indicated otherwise. Yet, he trotted him out there. If he wants to take that shot, that’s supposed to be where you use Kevin Harper.
There’s some other stuff, but I’m going to let it go. Too much ahead. And Pitt can still make it a hell of a good year.
It is #77 G. Quivers. He played during the Walt Harris years because there is a, “Commitment, Teamwork, Pride,” patch sewn on the jersey.
Does anyone know this player’s first name and his position? I assume he is an offensive linemen due to the way the sleeves are cut and the number. I have googled and found nothing on this player.
I vaguely remember him- as in when you said G. Quivers I knew it was either Gary or Gerry Quivers. If he was a hs senior in 1998 he must not have enrolled at Pitt because he played for Youngstown State in 1999.
this is generally a pretty good resource for finding old rosters. no g. quivers though, which likely confirms ChrisA’s theory…
We have the talent and the ability to execute a victory against Cinci. As good as Pitt has been for the most part this year and as far as the program has come, THIS team has not come far enough to not have a hiccup like the WVU game. Certainly we should have been able to win that game, but we haven’t reached that domination point.
Here’s to the opportunity of a BCS bid and making forward strides. BCS bid is absolutely obtainable and everything is in place. Hail to Pitt.
HTscriptP
Apparently the weather is going to pretty bad. I always hear how bad weather is more challenging for the offenses, but in my recent memory, bad weather always seems to be more difficult for the defenses.
The team that gets the BCS bid, which means they won any and all tiebreakers, is the conference champ. Plain and simple.
No offense to the Huskies, but does anyone but me find it ridiculous that UConn has a Big East co-championship on their resume from 2007, when they were housed by WVU (the other co-champion)?? Or that we share our 04 championship with like 93843 other teams??
It just seems insanely stupid to me.
yeah, that’s usually how it seems to work. the distracted coach puts the beat down on the other team. that’s exactly what happened with rich rod and wvu a couple years ago. that’s also what happened with pitt and ben howland vs. marquette. roy williams when he left kansas for unc had a similar result. oh wait…
HTscriptP
I still think that Hynoski should run the ball 3 -5 times a game to help keep the defense on its heals. This should be done on first downs. Remember how RichRod used his bruising fullback.
Also, how can you not throw to Byham at least 2-3 times a game? Mix it up more. When you throw deep to the big guy in triple coverage someone else must be wide open underneath.
This is the biggest game in years. We need to play to win. Wanny must resist his urge to play conservative. It is time to play with reckless abandon. Put Mason and Fields in to blitz once in a while.
Nice to see our guys performing at the next level – thats what recruits really look at.
link to community.post-gazette.com
Here is an excerpt from one the responses to this blog which I believe provides an interesting perspective:
… the bowls (then and now) are political, the rankings are political .. and the national title remains an ambiguous label. We live in a capitalistic society and have to live with the consequences .. both good and bad.
Nontheless, the fact that despite playing for the BE title this Saturday, Pitt was severely criticized for a close loss at WVU is a definite sign of progress where expectations have been raised .. this is good especially if Pitt is able to compete again and again for the BE title.
Just enjoy the action on the field … that is really it will all ever be about.
i have been email friends and telling anyone within earshot about that travesty.. We ose by 3 to a rival on the road and drop 7 while gateach gets manhandled by uga and barely moves.. BS
FYI- Sec, Lil10 plus one, big 12 and ACC are OVERRATED…..
Look at the top 3 teams… Who did they play OCC? Va tech.. bama played va tech. Tex no one.. fla no one bc sec is soo tough NOT!!!! I guess preception becomes reality if you write and yell it loud enough…..
I cant wait till saturday.. Our young man will show up and earn the bsc big east berth … The bowl game will be brutal becasue stull cant play on the road…
We’re playing for a championship and BCS bid, on the field. That’s all we could have asked for before the season started. Many of us, me included, had this team winning ~ 7 +/- 1 games. In reality, they have exceeded many of our expectations.
Like I have said many times, 10 wins is an impressive mark and something that we could realistically get — via Cincy or via our Meineke Car Car opponent.
Let’s hope we get 11 wins and a $18M paycheck for the university (and Big East).
Hail to Pitt!
short in that area.
So true…..
