Not much happening. Hell, it still isn’t clear if Dave Wannstedt will coach the BBVA Bowl game yet.

If you wonder why new Coach Mike Haywood is being excessively cautious about contacting Pitt recruits during the dead period, maybe this article can help explain things.

College football coaches now run the risk of being suspended by the NCAA for one or more games if they commit a secondary recruiting violation, such as exceeding phone-call limits or sending a text message to a recruit.

The move is part of an effort to implement enhanced penalties for recruiting violations. It was proposed by the American Football Coaches Association and approved in mid-September by the NCAA Division I and II Committees on Infractions. The membership was informed but no public announcement made. The penalties apply to both Division I subdivisions and Division II.

A package of enhanced penalties for basketball, including a similar suspension element, was passed in October.

Michigan State’s Tom Izzo can confirm that suspension part. And since Pitt just had to report some very minor secondary violations, the program is probably being extra cautious.

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Merry Post-Christmas. Been down at the in-laws and it’s enough of a rural area that the local Starbucks was actually closed on Christmas Day. Caught me off-guard as I figured on at least having the early morning to glom on the wifi.

Obviously Pitt won before Christmas, knocking off American to give Coach Dixon his 200th win. Pitt’s offense was meh, but the defense did a good job on all but Vlad Molodveanu who had 23 of American’s 46 points. It has to be noted that Moldoveanu has done this in just about every game this season according to the announcers. Just going off in the second half, and hitting shots regardless of the defense. That’s what he did against Pitt.

Dante Taylor was aggressive on the boards, going after rebounds. He’s really embraced going for rebounds. Realizing it is the key to staying on the court and being a part of the offense. The scary was that the big guys  (McGhee and Taylor)  continue to be a purely random adventure at the FT line. This time 2-8. Coupled with Zanna and Robinson also being 50-60% FT shooters on most nights, and I wouldn’t be completely surprised to see a 4-guard lineup out there late in some games if Pitt is clinging to a lead.

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