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October 18, 2010

Moving On From Syracuse

Filed under: Football,Opponent(s) — Chas @ 3:06 pm

Still lots of questions about this Pitt team. The dismantling of Syracuse was necessary and the kind of thing Pitt was expected to do against a team like the Orange before the season started. Limited time and with basketball stuff and Rutgers looming, I’m blowing through the post-mortem stuff quickly.

Not sure if it was really redemption for the team and players, so much a s a series of wake-up calls. Mike Cruz did not start the game at TE, and he responded. Brock DeCicco did start and played well with the opportunity. Tristan Roberts and Greg Williams finally played good games — Williams seemed to get his jump start from having to come in after Shane Gordon got the start. Cam Saddler seemed to find some confidence and finally busted a nice run on a punt return.

The severe injury to Rutgers Eric LeGrand and the volume of helmet-to-helmet hits in the NFL this weekend reminds us all about the danger of the sport and concussions. Kolby Gray also sustained a concussion during special teams play in the second half.

Tino Sunseri played a pretty good game, when he was keeping his passes short to medium in length. He really lacks touch and accuracy on the deep ball. Something that — at least to my untrained eye — has to do with throwing off the back foot when he tries to go deep. Don’t know if that is just bad footwork, or if he does it because he wants to put more arc on the ball and lets himself go backwards before releasing.

Devin Street was the initial star with the “knife” slant to make sure Pitt’s offense started strong. His stride is so long he didn’t even look like he was moving that quickly. Of course, Syracuse’s secondary did not look fast so that may have helped.

Obviously, Syracuse got reminded that it’s 4-1 start was not built on the strongest foundations. Troy NIAM looks at it from a ‘Cuse perspective and makes a disturbing comparison of Wannstedt to one of their former coaches — no not Greg Robinson.





The Troy NIAM post is pretty entertaining. Thanks for the link, Chas.

Won’t reveal the ‘Cuse coach comparison, so I don’t spoil the fun of the read. But once I read it, I could understand the connection. Let’s hope for a better ending to the story there.

Comment by TampaT 10.18.10 @ 3:46 pm

It’s ridiculous there we don’t have a game time for homecoming, or do we?

Comment by Justin 10.18.10 @ 7:52 pm

noon.

Comment by Omar 10.18.10 @ 8:10 pm

I was happy with the Wanny hire, now, totally disappointed after 6 years. However, that does not mean, that I am not totally cheering for the Panthers to have a big win this weekend, c’mon ‘Stache, I want you to prove me wrong!!! Hail to Pitt!!!

Comment by Dan 10.18.10 @ 8:15 pm

Here’s what: a lot of nits, neers, Ru’s and SU’s and others are very disappointed with DW hire because he’s killing them in the recruiting wars and making good progress while they are not. For PITT fans, this is good and getting better – good as it’s been since near 3 decades ago.

As far a Niam’s article, I actually think Smizik got it right at link to communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com and I am not always his greatest fan. He points out some great hypocracies coming from those who claim to be PITT fans.

Its amazing how many idiots come on PITT sites like this pretending to be PITT fans and all they do is run PITT down. Not just DW but JD too. Who needs these self-proclaimed ‘fans’? They all think they know more about coaching than anyone on PITT’s staffs. Call ’em Yinzers or whatever, but if these whiners and complainers were that great at coaching they would be coaching, not coming over to bash PITT coaches. Good coaches don’t denegrate themselves running down other coaches.

Comment by IronManEE68 10.18.10 @ 9:55 pm

Ironman, who are you speaking of?? Certainly you’re not talking about die hard Pitt fans on here, that are sometimes critical of the coaching staff, and the horrible start we’ve had, right?? A lot of us don’t wear blue and gold colored glasses, and tell it like it is. Are there really people coming on here pretending to be Pitt fans????

Comment by DAN 10.19.10 @ 8:30 am

If criticism of Wanny and his staff qualifies as being an idiot or not a true Pitt Fan, then a good many of us are guilty as charged. Pitt outmanned and overwhelmed a vastly inferior Syracuse team which is what they are supposed to do. That is DW’s philosophy of how to win games and it was executed perfectly. Should do the same this weekend and as a Pitt Fan of 41 years, I hope they do. Is it gloom and doom or whining to point out that severakl years ago a very underated Rutgers Team came into Heinz field and just destroyed Pitt’s secondary with passing.
A heated discussion is the reason we have blogs.

Comment by Dan 72 10.19.10 @ 8:38 am

Agree, Dan 72. But it works both ways.

People who try to focus on the positives also should not be called “apologists, cheerleaders, only looking through blue and gold colored glasses, etc.” either. (I’m not picking on any one person here. Many have used those terms over the years.) As IronManEE68 did correctly point out, that’s happened with discussions about Jamie too, not just Wanny. Blindling saying “he’s our coach so we should love him no matter what” is one thing, but saying “he has his faults but does some things well” is not the same viewpoint by any means.

It’s not that someone’s either right or wrong. It’s simply that one’s perspective is different. And, it’s the dichotomy of those perspectives that makes the discussions here great – and fun.

Comment by TampaT 10.19.10 @ 9:43 am

Tampa, your posts are always excellent, and you mix both sides in well. I was just trying to find out, was he talking about people coming on here just to “f” with all of us, or, was he taking a pot shot at some Pitt fans that have been critical. Dan72, always great posts also. I myself have been critical quite a bit, but, I’ve never said anything bad about DW personally, nor have I picked on one single player. I know I haven’t singled out any player, including even Tino, because my argument has remained consistent of the general look of fog, and ineptness. Maybe they corrected that this past weekend. We will see. Yes, there are a couple bashers, and a couple people who would cheer and smile at 0-12, but, I think most of us lie somewhere in the middle just hoping Pitt will be a winning program.

Comment by DAN 10.19.10 @ 9:52 am

“…most of us lie somewhere in the middle just hoping Pitt will be a winning program.”

Exactly, DAN.

Comment by TampaT 10.19.10 @ 10:01 am

Dans, I would agree that “idiots” is not the best description of posters who in their hearts want nothing but success for the Panthers and DW too. But some of the post-ND rants made me wonder if we shouldn’t be scanning the Clemente Bridge for potential jumpers. (and I do not put your posts, which are sometimes emotional but always insightful, in this category).
This blog is a great site for sharing info and opinions and sometimes heated discussions. But sometimes a little less heat and a little more tight would be a plus.
Lets root for the Panthers to make a run thru the BE schedule and get to a BCS bowl, one game at a time.

Comment by Dock71 10.19.10 @ 10:07 am

Thoughts and prayers to LeGrand and his family and friends. Zeise wrote a very nice article putting things in perspective. Also, very respectful for Wanny to start the press conference with a nice message to LeGrand and the Rutgers family.

Comment by JAM 05 Pitt 10.19.10 @ 10:44 am

Correction: meant to say “light”, not “tight”. sorry.

Comment by Dock71 10.19.10 @ 11:15 am

The frustration that many of us have should not be looked at as ingnorant rants from uninformed and disengaged fans. We all want Pitt to succeed at the highest level and desire the most sustainable “brand” of football that puts people in the seats, brings revenue to the school, and succeeds at a >9 win per year clip and consistently winning the Big East (with an occassional NC opportunity every 10 years or so). To satisfy our needs, we have to face the facts of our program over the last ten years with Wanny and really see where we are and how far we have come. Many of us agree we have improved in many areas, but the other areas need to be addressed through change in scheme, coaching, players, etc…. What the change is can be debated…and that’s why we rant….

The reality of Pitt Football is this…

1) We are bigger, stronger and faster than we have ever been under Wanny; and we continue to put more players on the field on Sundays that contribute to NFL teams. Noone debates his recruiting skills and ability to get players on the field on Sundays.

2) Statistically speaking, we are linearly trending upwards in terms of win totals over the last 10 years; the problem is, so are our regional equivalents PSU, Rutgers, Cincy, WVU and OSU..and they are doing it at much higher paces & levels. Only ND has stayed flat and Michigan is regressing. I’d be happy to e-mail the spreadsheet for anyone interested. We ARE getting better, just not as fast as our regional counterparts.

3) We play in the weakest BCS football conference, and whenever we have a chance to change that public opinion we fail miserably in the court of public opinion over the past 10 years (see BG opener, Walt’s Toldeo game, ND opener for Wanny, Nebraska 2X, MSU 2X, Miami, ND vs. Kelly, NC state, Virginia, UTAH 2X, etc. etc. etc.) Like it or not, we do our conference a terrible disservice by constantly underperforming whent the lights are on us… CFB is perception until a playoff is institued, and we have to face facts.

4) Although we play in the weakest BCS conference, we only have one championship in the last ten years (none under Wanny); unless you go to a BCS and win your conference, you’re really not bringing in the revenue needed to make exponential leaps for the university;

5) In a pro town, it is imperative to win at home to generate a contant positive vibe for the “lukewarm” fan. Non protowns have less distractions and have huge a huge student base to fill the seats. The reality is– there are other options in our town, and you have to be known as a positive experience to compete in our pro town. A positive experience is not how Slippery Steve defines it with all of the kids rides and tailgate game crap, but how the lukewarm/disengaged defines it….WINNING and WIN in a consistent and exciting fashion. Pitt wins consistently at home in dominant and exciting fashion, and the seats will be filled. Pitt wins at home and they are playing night games not noon games, they win at home and it’s a tough ticket to get. Sad truth, but it is. What do we do at home when the lights are finally on…play a boring brand of football, win ugly, or usually flat out lose. It kills us and we all know it.

So, to sum up…

1) We have the players to win at a high level
2) We have been getting better; but slower than our regional counterparts
2) We play in a winnable conference
3) We could improve our conference perception if we consistently won OOC games
4) We can secure good revenue with BCS trips
5) We can secure more revenue w/ a better brand of football that wins at home and fills seats

Comment by Pauly P 10.19.10 @ 11:18 am

A nice piece of writing by Mr. Zeise in reference to the Rutgers DT. I was stunned to learn that Kolby Gray suffered a concussion on special teams Saturday last. What is the severity of the injury? Are the new and improved helmets not doing what they are supposed to do? Are the officials lax on calling serious penalties. but seem quite adept in flagging violations of a celebrative nature? Those of us who appreciate good football “Good football” know the object of the GAME is not to HURT AN OPPONENT” but to put points on the scoreboard. Yours for a safer, saner and more entertaining contest. Rev. George

Comment by Rev. George Mehaffey 10.19.10 @ 11:41 am

amen

Comment by DeVanzo 10.19.10 @ 11:42 am

Kolby Gray got owned on a blind side crack back block on the play that he got his concussion. It didn’t look like there was any helmet contact in the block at all. This was simply a case of getting his clock cleaned when he was unprepared to take the devastating hit that he was being set up for. That concussion was caused by the brain bouncing around in the skull, not by an inadequate helmet. It wasn’t an illegal hit just kind of a cheap shot. It reminded me a lot of the cheap hit that Tags took at Buffalo that tore up his knee. The Syracuse guy just took his shot a little higher up on the body.

Comment by Dr Tom 10.19.10 @ 11:58 am

Yes, I agree Pauly. I forgot about a lot of those losses. No one is being mean either, we have not done well, we have done horrible against the other BCS conferences, just a fact. Ya, we beat Notre Dame several times, and the Iowa game was a nice win, would be interesting to see our record the past 10 years (not just picking on the Stache) against the 5 other BCS conferences. We’ve got to win some of those games to be taken seriously!!! By the way, and I’m not being a jerk, I really, truly, can’t remember, what did we do a few years back against A&M, 0-2, or 1-1. Did we beat them down there??? They’ve all mashed together, gettin’ old!!

Comment by DAN 10.19.10 @ 1:01 pm

Yes Dan we beat Texas A&M in College Station 37-26, behind Rod Rutherford in ’03. For the record over the last 10 years PITT’s non-conference wins (other than rent-a-wins) include:
Penn State, NC State, Oregon State, Notre Dame 3X,
USF (pre-BigEast), Virginia, Iowa, Navy 2X & North Carolina.

It appears to me that we’re around .500 or slightly above it over the last 10 years when playing ‘with the lights on’. So it’s not like we’re losing every game, not even close.

Just seems to be a lot of negative people that enjoy tearing Pitt and whoever is coaching them apart. Are these Pitt people? Maybe some are and some aren’t. Yes, I’d like to see Pitt win every game, is that realistic. Ask Ohio State & Alabama and how about Florida, 3 losses in a row. You want perfection from Pitt, I suggest you build a time machine and visit 1976 or for a longer stay, visit the Jock Sutherland era when Pitt was pretty much making an annual trek to the Rose Bowl and had 79 shutouts in 14 years. Is Pitt improving over the last 3 years, yes they are. Are good recruits coming to Pitt, yes they are. One thing I’d change, get rid of the black socks with the white uniforms, go all white socks.
Is that nitpicking, for sure but just sayin.
Is the ‘Big O’ still open on Bouquet & Forbes?

Comment by VirgilSollozzo 10.19.10 @ 2:42 pm

What frustrates me most about Wanny — and I’m guessing some others — is that he knows how to win with a balanced offensive attack, as he showed at ‘Cuse. He finally admitted that when a team sells out versus the run, you have to beat them through the air, which Pitt did beautifully last weekend…and made Sunseri look very good. But he always waits until people are screaming for his scalp until he does it…and about 2-3 losses each year that could have been wins with more reasonable play calling.

I doubt anyone would get seriously ticked if we got beat by Floria, ‘bama, USC of the past 4-5 years, but getting beat by Cincy, WVU, and ND because you refuse to make adjustments just cranks people off. WVU may be better than us this year, but ND clearly was not…and in my view, Miami probably wasn’t either — we just played right into their hands.

Comment by Matt N. 10.19.10 @ 2:56 pm

As far as I know, Wanny isn’t calling the plays, Cig is. They tried to pass more against ND and after Tino’s hot start, he then cooled off significantly until the 4rth Q. So why blame the conservative play calling (when that happens) on Wanny when he isn’t calling the plays? ND, I remind people routed BC @ BC the week before the Pitt game and had undefeated #9 Michigan State beat @ Lansing until the outrageous fake fg and controversial touchdown by MSU in Overtime and they lost by 4 points to a pretty good Michigan team. Beating ND three times in a row (which Pitt was trying to do) in not an easy accomplishment. Don’t know of many teams (if any) that have done it. Pitt more than likely did it the 1930’s since Pitt was beating ND with such regularity back then, ND took Pitt OFF it’s schedule for awhile. (until Pitt de-emphasized football and Jock Sutherland resigned). The first incarnation of Diaper Joe I suppose.

Comment by VirgilSollozzo 10.19.10 @ 3:53 pm

That would be, beating Notre Dame, three times in a row AT Notre Dame.

Comment by VirgilSollozzo 10.19.10 @ 4:03 pm

the buck stops w/ wanny on play calling virgil. end of story. he’s the HEAD coach.

Comment by wilk 10.19.10 @ 4:06 pm

Rev. I don’t think there is any proof that the new concussion helmets actually prevent more concussions. It is a highly debated subject because the better the protection we give the players the more violent the game becomes and the more those pads are used as weapons. Some argue that this may actually cause more concussions. I don’t think many believe a helmet will ever be made that can truly “prevent” a concussion so it makes you wonder what the best way to protect players is. I don’t think there really is a clear solution.

Comment by Henry Hynoceros 10.19.10 @ 4:27 pm

I forgot about Oregon State in the infamous Sunb Bowl…

Comment by Pauly P 10.19.10 @ 8:48 pm

We also beat Oregon State in the Insight Bowl in Phoenix at the Bank One Ballpark (the Bob). I and two Bobs and three lovely ladies attended after a great week in Scottsdale.
The BigEast needs to get the Insight Bowl back in the BigEast Bowl lineup.

Comment by VirgilSollozzo 10.20.10 @ 1:29 am

Pitt opened as an 8/8.5 point favorite and now they’re sitting at 12.5/13, so the money is moving their way. Shades of 2008.

CRITICAL for Wanny to have the players and coaches ready for another strong start and go-for-the-throat finish.

Hail to PITT! Romp Rutgers!

Comment by TampaT 10.20.10 @ 8:43 am

Yes, Virgil, soon as you posted that score, I remembered the game. Virgil, there may be some, but, myself included, I think most are just passionate fans. I can’t believe anyone would waste their time coming on here just to tear Pitt down. My own example, have calmed down, looking for positives, but, I have to tell you, they don’t beat Rutgers and Louisville and UCONN, i’m gonna be very disappointed. If, we have improved over 6 years, there should be no excuse against these teams. Enough for now, looking for a big win against Rutgers!!! P.S. “Come on consigliere, if I wanted you dead, you’d be dead allready, now, get in the car Tom!” lol!!!

Comment by DAN 10.20.10 @ 10:01 am

Thank you Henry H, for your logical rationale of the helmet problem. And PROBLEM it is. I venture to add I guess the only “solution is to make them as safe as we can. The opportunity to really address the question lies with the officials. Will they or will they not bkow their whistles. As for the so called “pros” fines will not make much of an impact, but suspensions will. The object of the game, as I understand it, is not to “hurt”, but to outscore your opponent. Rev. George

Comment by Rev. George Mehaffey 10.20.10 @ 11:16 am

then play flag football…football is meant for contact and big hits…if you want high scoring games, go watch the arena league…
I dont like watching people getting hurt, but its part of the game, every player knows that going into the game…more people will get hurt if they let up and the RB plows right threw them…

Comment by mike 10.20.10 @ 12:14 pm

The only real “solution” for head injuries is to removed the protective gear altogether. You don’t see rugby players tackling head-first at full speed for exactly this reason and rugby doesn’t have the same concussion/spinal injury problem that football does.

Comment by maguro 10.20.10 @ 12:25 pm

“Pitt outmanned and overwhelmed a vastly inferior Syracuse team”

Dan 72, the guys who make a good living analyzing football teams first said that Syracuse was one point better than Pitt. Then under reconsideration, they said that Pitt was one point better than Syracuse, i.e. the teams were about equal in ability. (I know, point spreads, in theory, are determined in a manner to balance the betting between the two teams but …) As per Smizik’s article, no credit is given to Pitt. The win had nothing to do with the caliber of Pitt’s coaching. Pitt just matched up against a grossly inferior team.

Comment by BigGuy 10.20.10 @ 1:07 pm

Virg,

As per Wilk’s comment, do you honestly believe Wanny has no direct influence on Cig — that’s pretty delusional. Also, Michigan and BC are not good teams this year…they’re ‘sort of good but not really’ teams. And beating ND these days, while still highly enjoyable, ain’t what it used to be…kind of like if Pitt beat Penn State this year…a far cry from the 1980s-90s, much less the roaring twenties of Jock Sutherland. I bleed blue and gold as well, but averaging 7 wins a year and never beating the best teams on your schedule — after 6 years — doesn’t float my boat. Yes, its great to pound the ‘cuse and even better Rutgers, but kinda ‘so what’? Let’s step up in weight class where we should be. Of course I want them to win every game and do well, but I call’s ’em likes I seez ’em.

Comment by Matt N. 10.20.10 @ 2:01 pm

This might be a stretch, but I’m guessing Cig’s play calling earlier was due to the QB’s inexperience and/or limitations and not Wanny’s philosophy. As last year with a more experienced QB, Cig had no problem ‘opening up the play book’ and Pitt averaged considerably over 30 ppg. As far as BC, while they aren’t great, ND beat them in Beantown in more impressive fashion than Florida State did in Tallahassee. And in my book, beating ND regardless is always a highlite on Pitt’s resume. Why you ask, ND has that lure, the mystic, the better recruits, the Vatican and Touchdown Jesus. Call me delusional.

Comment by VirgilSollozzo 10.21.10 @ 12:39 am

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