Big East Media Day, the start of camp. Too much coming too fast to take my time getting to links piling up in my tabs. So I’m just going to pass along the links and let you do all the work.
Starting with remaining Terrell Chestnut stories.
Chestnut had a hard time deciding between Pitt and Rutgers, but ultimately felt more comfortable at Pitt.
He is looking forward to playing defensive back full-time when he gets to college — whether it is cornerback or safety.
While Chestnut appears more comfortable at cornerback, he said he’s willing to make a change if necessary. That, of course, bodes well for Chestnut, considering Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt routinely suggests some recruits switch positions in an effort to maximize their potential.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to play — and win,” said Chestnut, who has 17 career interceptions, including four in 2009.
Solid local paper article on Chestnut and his commitment. He is just happy to have made the decision to try and enjoy his senior year.
“I went out there and felt it was the best place for me,” Chestnut said. “I want to major in pre-med, too, and (Pitt) is one of the best pre-med schools in the country.”
“Right now, though, (making a decision) is a big relief. It’s just a lot of stress off my back.”
While still on recruiting, Mike Farrell of Rivals.com has a piece on New Jersey vs. Pennsylvania in recruiting talent this year. Not too concerned about which state comes out on top, only that. Only that 9 of the top players from both states are Pitt verbals.
New (to me) site Big East Gridiron has a look at Pitt’s offense and defense for the upcoming season. The site has some solid pieces providing good overviews on all the teams.
NBC Sports preseason rankings have Pitt at #14.
Overview: Pittsburgh is due to break the door down in the Big East Conference — after twice losing late-season games against Cincinnati that cost the Panthers their shot. The Panthers can ride Lewis and a rugged defense to their first BCS bid since the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
P-G Pitt fooball beat writer Paul Zeise followed Coach Wannstedt, Greg Romeus, Dion Lewis and key Pitt media folk up to Bristol for ESPN day. Key moment of the day.
One interesting exchange came between Fowler and Romeus on the set of “College Football Live” when Fowler asked the senior from Coral Springs, Fla., about his attendance at a controversial party thrown in Florida by 49ers running back Frank Gore. The NCAA is investigating the possible contact some sports agents at the party may have had with college football players. Pitt fully investigated the matter and determined — via ATM receipts and plane tickets — that Romeus was in Pittsburgh the day of the party.
“Um, actually I wasn’t at that party; I was in Pittsburgh that day,” Romeus said.
Fowler redirected the conversation to agents in general and both players tiptoed around the subject.
“That was the perfect answer and he handled that situation beautifully” Wannstedt said.
As I said last week, as long as this is the truth — and evidence clearly says yes — then all is well. Romeus has now put it publicly out there that he was not down in Florida. Not at that party.
/sigh of relief after worrying that Pitt could be without both starting DE’s for the opening of the season.
One of the things Coach Wannstedt did while in ESPNland was take part in a livechat. You’ll have to scroll down a bit to actually get to when he arrived to answer questions. Or you can read skip to the highlights.
Multi-media time. Podcasts galore. One with Dave Wannstedt. Coach Wannstedt’s appearances on Mike & Mike in the Morning and Scott Van Pelt’s show.
And here is the appearance on College Football Live.
