For some reason, knowing that Pitt lost its last two games by only 4 points will remain a bitter pill in the offseason. Especially when you consider that it also came down to special teams screwing up and a defense that couldn’t make the stops when needed. The team just didn’t finish.
Disappointment isn’t the right word to describe the way I feel about how the season finished. Frustration probably is the better choice. There is an undercurrent not of anger so much as annoyance — or some setting lower than outright anger. It wasn’t that the team underachieved from preseason expectations as much as it underachieved from what it showed it could do. Zeise sums most of it up.
…expectations always change as the facts change. And given that, let me rephrase my statement and see if you think you can come up with any other way to describe it than disappointing – what if I told you before the season that all of these things would go right for Pitt……
- Bill Stull would have by far the best season a quarterback has had at Pitt since Tyler Palko in 2004.
- Dion Lewis will be better than LeSean McCoy was, at least production wise.
- Dorin Dickerson would turn into Shannon Sharpe.
- Dan Hutchins would turn into a very reliable kicker from 40 yards and in.
- The entire starting offensive line would be healthy and start every game together.
- Matt Grothe would blow out his knee and thus USF was a much less dangerous team plus N.C. State, Buffalo and Notre Dame would all stink, Rutgers would be very mediocre (and awful on offense), West Virginia would be ordinary AND you’d have a 21-point lead at home against Cincinnati.
I’m sure some will argue that this is moving the goal posts, but we don’t jump from preseason expectations (i.e., guessing) to the end of the season without enduring or enjoying the games.
The offense surpassed expectations. Special teams disappointed — especially in November and the beginning of December. Defense really, really struggled with stopping the pass — which was somewhat expected but not this badly and when it counted the d-line couldn’t get the pressure up front to help.
Of special note in Zeise’s post is this.
It is almost certain that defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, as has long been suspected, will head back closer to his home in Texas. But even though he is a good coach, if he does leave, it is not a big blow because defensive line coach Greg Gattuso has been groomed for the job the past three years and would almost certainly be promoted into the job as Dave Wannstedt is a big fan of keeping the momentum going and believes continuity is a big part of that. If Bennett goes, perhaps linebackers coach Joe Tumpkin could follow him as Bennett brought him here but that is purely rumor mill kind of stuff and not a given.
The Bennett stuff has been very quiet, news-wise all season. It strikes me as one of those things the beat writers and those around the program knew as an open secret but (1) didn’t want to create a distracting story out of respect for Bennett who stayed after last year when he could have gone back to K-State, and (2) no one has any hard feelings about him doing it to be with his family.
Gattuso makes sense on all the reasons mentioned, but also because finding or mining for a good DC this offseason may be a lot tougher. Other programs looking for a new DC include FSU, Florida, Georgia and ND. All with a lot of money to toss around. I would expect that WVU could be looking for a new DC because Casteel has a good shot at being a target for one of those programs.
I think most Pitt fans, while dismayed by the missed extra point, hardly lost their head at Andrew Janocko. The holder who fumbled the snap. It wasn’t like he dropped it in perfect conditions. Plus at that point I think a lot of Pitt fans knew that even if it hadn’t happened if the defense couldn’t stop Cinci in the final minute-and-a-half, then it would have at best prolonged what would have felt like an inevitable Cinci win in OT. A couple sympathy pieces on him were very nice and interesting (and expected), though.
1) although in 5 previous kicks (including 3 by Gilyard) Cincy never returned past the 30, Wanny was severely panned for the 6th return.
2) people rapped the game strategy of scoing too quickly with a minute and a half left … but in a tied game whenthe defense still has 2 TOs left, a “7” point lead quite frankly was the logical choice … say as opposed to kicking to Cincy with a minute left and only a 3 point lead.
3) Pitt’s strategy was to exploit its strenght (run) against Cincy’s weakness while Cincy’s strategy was to exploit its strength (pass) vs Pitt’s weakness, and all that separated them was an extra point.
I contend that is much more about execution than about coaching strategy.
Cincy’s a really good team, and they needed a little bit of the old horse show up their ass that day to win.
Here’s the thing with Wannstache. He came with a reputation from the NFL. Now when Pitt loses a game (believe it or not, every team loses sometimes, most more than once) you’ll have the people who laid in wait for something to go wrong so they could pop out and scream “AHA!!! KNEW IT!!! TYPICAL WANNY!!!!”
It’s vastly unfair.
Criticizing them for scoring too fast is ridiculous. It is unheard of for a guy to get a 1st down and take knee to save time off the clock. The ONLY time I saw it ever happen in that situation was Jones-Drew this past year in the NFL. How can you blame Wannstedt for that? Oh nooooooo… he scored a TD to take a lead with under 2 minutes left! WHAT A SHITTY COACH!!!! FIRE HIM!!
I mean c’mon, there’s not much you can do there but score whether Cincy gave it to them or not.
I could see if Wanny demanded that Stull gun 3 incomplete passes into the end zone in that situation and failed. Them you demand the man’s head! But when you run, you’re trying to eat up clock and hopefully score. It’s the right thing to do. They only passed on that drive when it was completely necessary. Even if Kelly did tell his defense to do the old “ole!” on Lewis, there’s nothing the ‘stache can do about that.
I blame Wanny when it’s necessary, I’m not big on being an apologist for anyone. But I don’t just blindly blame everyone’s favorite whipping boy when something doesn’t go our way.
(The first 3 years where Wanny stupidly tried to sue Walt Harris’s weak-ass players to play a style of football they obviously weren’t built to play, now THAT was stupid.)
I don’t know about that, Wally. I was there and was feeling pretty confident.
People forget that there is another team on the field. Cincy just played much better than Pitt in the second half. I’m not so sure that the analysis is much more complicated than Tony Pike and his receivers are better than Pitt’s secondary.
And I have watched the replay of Pitt’s final TD a half dozen times .. and am not convinced at all that Cincy let it happen.
Here you decide link to youtube.com
and look at the reaction of the Cincy defensder in the end zone
BTW, ESPN is now reporting that Brian Kelly has accepted the Notre Dame job.
But I’m in the “2009 exceeded my expectations” camp. I’m in “I was way less of an alcoholic in 2009 than I was in 2007” camp. I thought it was ridonkulous that Pitt was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big East. That they came within about 30 seconds of actually doing so? I tip my hat to the kids on this team, and especially to Stull, who I had pegged as the weakest link.
I think there’s a lot to be said about loyalty and knowing Wanny has no interest for ANYONE but Pitt. He. Loves. This. School. No doubt it’s been stressful, but keep in mind that it is moving forward. Let’s keep the faith for once and show some solidarity.
On a side note, why do all things Notre Dame have to carry some stretched six degrees of seperation? link to sports.espn.go.com “Kelly has long admired Notre Dame, which seemed to be the perfect fit for an Irish Catholic coach raised in the Boston area.” He’s from Boston??? Oh my God! He’d be f@#$in’ PERFECT!!! How many times have we heard, ‘oh, I’m a Notre Dame fan because my cousin new a kid around the block who went to Notre Dame”.
Good for Cinci to take him away from the Sugar Bowl btw.
HTscriptP
We lost at WV because Stull played poorly. He redeemed himself against Cincy. We lost to Cincy because no one could tackle Gilyard and because Pike is for real. Not because Wanny can’t coach.
Big players make big plays in big games. Marino to Brown, Dorsett for 303 against ND. McKillop vs. WVU. We needed one more big play on the last drive. We didn’t get it. They did.
I’ve been to a lot of disappointing Pitt games. 42-14 was the worst. This was the best loss I ever attended. There were big plays all day long. Everyone there had a great time except for the last minute.
While we are all disappointed, Dave has built a program and we are competitive and getting better each year.
As long as he keeps recruiting bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, we will continue to get better.
Since we are all depressed here is an article to relive the 97 season:
Question: if Texas is not given that second back, and Cincy sneaks into the title game, Does Kelly go to ND?
My guess is yes, but he would stay to coach the bowl.
and it is true Wanny didn’t lose the game for Pitt……lot’s of mistakes in the game that he didn’t control…however he didn’t win it for Pitt either..and I think once Baldwin got a first down at the 13 he could have won it for Pitt with a little thinking. It would had been fairly easy at that time to run the clock to zero kick a FG and game over….though a little different scenerio they did take a knee on 3rd down in the UConn game on the 1 yard line instead of scoring a TD and leaving time for UConn. Idea is exactly the same….the clock is just as important as points at that time..and considering they were playing one of the best offenses in the country and had already given up 38 points it should of been in his head to run the clock down. Hey they scored the TD…it didn’t work…sure say it is hindsite..but all the writing was on the wall that Cinn would be able to get a TD with that much time..wasn’t like they scored TD on a fluke play or that defense was pitching a shutout up to that point.
The 97 game I referenced was a last second big time play to send us to a bowl game – an important part in the resurgence of the pitt football program.
You are right, I probably do look at it as glass half empty. Thats what happens after years and years of let downs and disappointments when you are so emotionally invested in a team – thats what makes sports so great! The wins are incredible and the losses hurt – if they didnt whats the point in watching?
Think back to the Steelers of the 70’s, yes they were great but in almost every one of their Super Bowls they got some miracle plays or big breaks. Great Teams seem to have that confidence that when they take the field something great is going to happen, some way we are going to win. These DW teams seem to have the feel of “I hope we dont F this one up”. Teams with that air of confidence and swagger are the winners – Yankees, Patriots, The 70’s Steelers, Florida Gators, etc…..just my 2 cents
It is an attitude that breeds confidence or can also breed fear and negativity. With Wanny we all seem to be sitting back and waiting for the f*ck up. With other coaches (and these are very special coaches) like a Kelly you just sit there knowing something special is going to happen. I really like DW but he doesnt have that “it” factor.
Everyone I was sitting around at the cinci game just looked at each other scared when we noticed there was a 1:30 on the clock with 2 TO’s. Do you think anyone for cinci was scared knowing that Pitt had 33 seconds only needing a field goal?
2) if Sal comes in as DC, does that ensure that Tino beats out Bostick (and Kolby)?
3) I have little criticism for Wanny and the coaching staff for the Cincy game. I thought the team was well prepared and gave great effort throughout. Every close game you lose has its what-ifs, but overall no big complaints … except
the winning TD play …. it seems to me that when protecting a 6 point lead with a less than a minute left, that the primary defensive strategy is to keep the receivers in front of them … and they did that on the 1st 3 plays of the drive, although Cincy did move it over 30 yds. Still, I did not understand putting Chappel in press coverage with no safety help, since all other Cincy receivers were lined up on the other side. Again, great players make great plays … and Cincy made just one more than we did … but that one more play still haunts me.
Although I will admit I have no idea what happened with special teams from last year to this year (besides, of course, Tags).
As long as they don’t rehire Bob ‘Swinging Gate’ Ligashesky after Tomlin cans him in January.
The ND Kelly announcement and Big Eleven expansion confirmation in the same week? Coincident? I. think. not.
Seriously though, it will be interesting to see who the Big 11 expands to. I would never expect changes on our end, but I would certainly imagine Pitt AT LEAST is mentioned in the talk since there is stability and tradition. Not to mention Dixon and Pitt would help immensely with the BB side of the conference. Also, me thinks the ‘Penn State needing a natural rival’ argument may have more merit than some care to believe.
HTscriptP
Interesting article. He thinks its a move to try and get Notre Dame in since their program has been at a low point in recent year.
Also: “Staying in the Big East, there has also been some talk of Pitt or West Virginia. This is primarily because of geography and that they’ve been pretty good in football. However, Pitt is seen as an “urban” school which doesn’t fit the Big Ten’s paradigm, and West Virginia is a little too “trailer park” in the eyes of the Big Ten. I hasten to add that I don’t think that personally but the Big Ten seems to have that view.”
WVU is only followed by toothless rubes and would never garner interest from the Big11 marketeers for their backwoods ratings…
…13-9
HTscriptP
I hope they pursue Notre Dame and hope Notre Damn joins. I’d love to see them go. We’d probably have to write them off the football schedule forever, but I can live with that. From a basketball perspective, I offer a collective “who cares”. You do have to wonder how long NBC is going to be willing to write them big checks every year. Honestly, they might as well wipe their asses with the money; at least they get a tangible benefit and a funny story. The BE could replace them in BB with Memphis, and get a football team to boot.
If it were offered to Pitt… I might take it. I look at it this way: As pathetic as the Big 10 was this year, they will always have the respect of the media and the polls. Their bowl contingency is better, and their TV package is probably way better too. Hell, they have their own channel on my FiOS network.. and it’s not that bad. Shameless self-promotiion, yes, but it beats what we get now. And lets be honest – they do produce some outstanding football teams from time to time. From a another revenue perspective, you have to think about game attendance; Big Ten fans travel. The prospect of increasing attendance that dramatically can’t be ignored. Sure, there might be more Ohio State/Michigan/PSU/Michigan State fans in the stands than Pitt fans, but they represent paying customers that bring business not just to the stadium but to the surrounding community as well.
Basketball wise, I think its somewhat of a wash. Yes, the Big East has been stronger recently, but IIRC, there have been quite a few good teams out of Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, and even Illinois. It’s not UCONN/Syracuse/Louisville/etc… but its still competitive. The biggest problem would be recruiting; if Dixon could still get the kids, I would feel pretty good about Pitt’s chances of competing for the Big 10 hoops title on a regular basis.
On a decidedly selfish note, I would personally relish to opportunity to play Michigan, OSU, PSU and a couple others on a regular basis. I get tired of Louisville, Rutgers, and company from a football perspective. Maybe it injects some new enthusiasm for Pitt football… or maybe Pitt fans remain perpetually apathetic 🙂 🙂 🙂
Downside: Big East football probably doesn’t survive. Or it does, but with additional casualties that cause it to languish. If Pitt leaves the BE, I would expect WVU to lobby the ACC hard. If they would go, the credibility of the league is in serious jeopardy. Candidly, I could give a crap.
Will it ever happen? I doubt it. I think Notre Dame will eventually pull their heads out of their pious poop chutes and align. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but unless they get into the National Championship picture in a big way soon, it almost has to happen. It would happen sooner if BE basketball would stop pandering to them – that could be the final incentive.
See, that was fun 🙂
On the B-ball side, Pitt again struggling with a lousy Kent State team. If Kent could shoot at all they would be up by 12. Taylor needs to wake up. He is the most unimpressive McDonalds AA I have ever seen. Nasir Robinson needs to either immediately shoot the ball when he gets it, or pass it back outside. Even if he is a terrible shooter, at least we will get a shot, and not a turnover. Most disturbing sign is that the team REALLY struggled when Wannamaker was out, which shows how really bad this team is right now. We need to pray that Jermaine Dixon stays healthy all year. Clearly a difference when he is on the court. Still puzzled as to why Miller and Richardson are getting so little time. Our only hope is that those guys develop, so we can have a little muscle, and that is not going to happen on the bench.
HTscriptP
The only offer I would consider, if I were Pitt, would be from the ACC. And I am not even sure about that – football wise it is a marginal step up, but more tradition from top to bottom perhaps. But for the BE raid, the ACC would be terrible, and as it is, they are so-so even with BC, UM and VT. ACC basketball is not on par with the BE (top to bottom), but overall, there would be some appeal, and geographic connection. A style closer to the BE. WVU would have to come as well.
No doubt our basketball would suffer since our current recruiting base from DC up thru NYC/NJ provides very fewplayers who seem to be inerested in the midwest .. note that the B10 did very little yo upgrade PSU’s program
North
—–
Syracuse
Rutgers
Penn State
BC
UCONN
Temple (or VU)
South
——
Pitt
WVU
Louisville
Memphis
South Florida
Cincinasty
