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February 15, 2011

Gone to Texas

Filed under: Coaches,Football,Graham,Media,Recruiting — Chas @ 1:03 pm

It still holds up, for violent fun.

Spring football practice kicks off in about a month. Coach Todd Graham is starting the media rounds anew. As Mendy Nestor in the Pitt Athletic department was kind enough to let us know this morning.

Coach Graham is meeting with the media today. Every time I listen to him talk I get fired up.

She also attached a camera-phone shot of the meeting.

So, we know a rash of stories on Coach Graham and Pitt football will be in the pipeline.

Whoops. I didn’t even finish this post, and Zeise has posted something about the meeting.

Today several members of the media got our first real sit down interview opportunity with Todd Graham. It lasted more than an hour and he really hit on a lot of different topics.

Here are some quick observations and then I’ll have more later when I can sit down and try and go through the tape (it is literally about 70 minutes or so).

** Graham is passionate and genuine. He believes what he is saying and he cares about his players. He talked a lot about building trust and relationship, he talked about building character and integrity among his players and he made it very clear that expectations are very high.

** Graham is detailed oriented and will expect the same from his players. He talked at length about “doing the little things right every time” like, for instance, players must always have their shirts tucked in when in the weight room.

Tucked in shirts in the weight room? Picturing members of the O- and D-line that way. Not good images.

Back to an article last week about Coach Graham looking to recruit all over the map — but especially Texas.

Under Graham, whose staff includes six assistants with Texas ties, the recruiting target broadened. Perhaps the most interesting hire is quarterbacks coach Todd Dodge, who led Southlake Carroll High to four Texas Class 5A state championships and a 79-1 record in his final five seasons. He also spent three-plus seasons as head coach at North Texas before being dismissed in October.

“With the ‘Todd and Todd Show,’ we can get the quality kids out of there,” said Tony Gibson, Pitt’s recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach. “We don’t want to get the seventh- and eighth-best players. We want to try to compete and get the best.”

Said Vital: “If you have those two guys sitting in a living room of a kid, that is going to make a tremendous difference.”

Receivers coach Mike Norvell grew up in Texas and spent the past four years on Graham’s staff at Tulsa. He calls Texas high school football “an incredible thing,” with stadium capacities approaching 30,000.

“I have a bunch of relationships in the state,” Norvell said, noting that the addition of TCU to the Big East in 2012 makes recruiting that area especially vital. Spreading Pitt’s recruiting net is important, but Gibson, who used to live in Uniontown, emphasized that the focus must remain in Pennsylvania.

It will be interesting to see. Especially in time.

When Wannstedt came into the job, there was a lot of talk and some early success in grabbing kids out of Florida. Then the focus completely shifted away from Florida to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland — driving distances. Harris became focused, for a few reasons, in trying to mine Ohio.

Every coach has ideas about the type of player and where to recruit them. With a focus on Texas, I’m guessing this means one of the other stipulations to Graham’s contract was an increased budget for recruiting.





link to post-gazette.com

Could this mean a preference for a Texas QB? I do think the QB competition will be wide open.

FWIW, I have a friend who knows a starter for Pitt very well. The starter says that the team, to a man, are in Coach Graham’s corner and really like him.

He said that he didn’t have much exposure to Haywood but he didn’t think Haywood would ever nearly as liked as Graham

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 1:09 pm

Pitt will only get leftovers in Texas. If Graham thinks he can out recruit the Horns and Sooners, he’s delusional, but there is plenty of good 3 star talent in the state that can be mined. Adding another Texas school to the Big East like Houston will further help recruiting here in the LoneStar. However, I really wish we’d recruit better in Ohio. I’d think we’d stand a better chance with those kids and parents than places further south like TX and FL.

Comment by TX Panther 02.15.11 @ 1:12 pm

TX Panther, FWIW, Pitt’s best players for most of the last decade were Florida leftovers.

A Bryant, H Blades, G Lee, C Sessions, C Harriott, G Musatakas, G Romeus, J Sheard … to name only a few

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 1:26 pm

I am excited also when I hear Graham speak about the upcoming season. I only hope I am just as excited in late November….

I think we will without question see a much more disciplined and focused team as compared to the wanny era, hopefully it translates into some wins.

Comment by Coach Ditka 02.15.11 @ 1:36 pm

Plenty of 4 and 5 star kids to go around in Texas. You’re right, we’re not going to beat out Texas or OU, but there is so much talent its not even an issue. And maybe you steal a kid every few years who was targeted by those 2 schools.

Comment by TJ 02.15.11 @ 1:40 pm

Looks like Bostick has decided to forfeit his fifth year and focus on grad school – a wise move. Get on with your lifes work.

Also, Kolby Gray is being moved back from safety to QB. Looks like Tino should start filling out his transfer papers or find another position.

Comment by Coach Ditka 02.15.11 @ 1:43 pm

I’ll be very surprised if Bostick isn’t a grad assistant somewhere … maybe at Pitt. Zeise has often said that he is definite coaching material

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 1:54 pm

What he said, according to players the weight room reigmen is now truly a regimen.

Comment by steve 02.15.11 @ 2:12 pm

I’m fine with Texas or Florida leftovers but they won’t be 4 and 5 star players. Pitt has a better chance of landing 4 stars from PA, OH and NJ. Let’s just hope our recruiting continues to focus on backyard kids first.

Comment by TX Panther 02.15.11 @ 2:26 pm

Ditka, i didnt know u worked in the administation department, kolby grey is not moving back to QB and why would Bostick forgo his senior year that would mean hge would have to give up his scholarship right? Yea i heard that dan mason is moving to fullback and shannahan is moving to saftey.

Comment by POLE 02.15.11 @ 2:48 pm

presumedly, Tony Gibson is very familiar with Western PA, having covered it for several years while at WVU

Not sure about Eastern PA and NJ, though

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 2:50 pm

POLE look at this

link to post-gazette.com

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 2:51 pm

Hey POLE…it was reported on both radio sports talk shows this afternoon…

Comment by Marco 02.15.11 @ 2:52 pm

Ditka, i was just kidding I dont believe it Zeise is a loser i was being facetious.

Comment by POLE 02.15.11 @ 2:52 pm

Ok i am sorry better check my facts first. I just got my ACL reconstructed today feeling under the weather.

Comment by POLE 02.15.11 @ 2:54 pm

Watching the Experts on ESPNU dont get why everyone is so high on TEXAS B Ball ? Anyone have any thoughts on that?

Comment by POLE 02.15.11 @ 2:55 pm

Excuse my immodesty, but I was impressed with Kolby Gray’s video when he was recruited by Pitt last year as a “shot-gun” Q.B. The kid has speed. I was not surprised that he was moved to safety last season and scored a touchdown against Cincinnati on a blocked punt by Nate Nix in the Panther’s 28-10 romp. Glad the Texas lad is now in the offensive mix. Hats off to Pat Bostick, a class act who chose to focus on grad school. Pitt owes a great deal to that future coach for his play especially against West Virginia and Notre Dame. Now the Panthers have Sunseri,Myers, Gray and Gonzales in the quarterback competition. Q,B, coach Todd Dodge must be licking his lips. One oif those lads will star in the forseeable future. Hail to Pitt. Rev. George from Columbus

Comment by Rev. George Mehaffey 02.15.11 @ 3:01 pm

Slightly off topic but does anyone know when the remainder of the football schedule will be released?

Comment by Yeti 02.15.11 @ 3:21 pm

That’s some good news and bad news on the QB front.
Kolby Gray back to QB (interesting to note he’s from Texas) and Pat Bostick has had enough of backing up a guy with less talent than him and has decided to concentrate on grad school. Good luck to him since he was so mishandled by the previous regime.

Which equates to less experienced competition for Tinny. And I’m not to thrilled about that.
Having Tinny as QB is going to take some of the luster of the new high energy, high octane offense we’ve been hearing about. IMHO

Here’s hoping that Myer’s or Gonzalez or Gray are the real deal. (or at least one of them)

Comment by melvinbennett 02.15.11 @ 3:37 pm

My bad I missed a key.

Having Tinny as QB is going to take some of the luster off the new high energy, high octane offense we’ve been hearing about. IMHO

Comment by melvinbennett 02.15.11 @ 3:39 pm

I always get a little feeling of being sold a used car from the guy, but I’m warming up to Graham. BTW, I was never able to confirm something I had heard: is it true that Pitt agreed to match Jamie Dixon’s salary to what Graham is presumably receiving: $2M ?

Comment by backacrosstheriver 02.15.11 @ 3:41 pm

@POLE…….didn’t ESPN and Texas just ink an exclusive television deal to broadcast Texas sports.
There’s your answer if that is correct.

Always follow the $$$$.

Comment by melvinbennett 02.15.11 @ 3:44 pm

melvinb, appears to me that Bostick would have announced a long time ago that he was leaving if he was dissatisfied … but instead, for all we know, it may well have been suggested by the ‘new regime’ that he foregoes his senior year .. a much more likely scenario considering the timing of this decision.

Again, as been the custom of this blog … take a shot at the ‘old regime’ even when it is not even warranted.

Just remember .. while it is very likely that a ‘college’ coach will be more productive for this program and things are looking up … we really won’t know for sure until a couple of years from now.

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 4:35 pm

Wbb, I think it’s wrong to assume that the new regime would suggest that…I think any coaching staff would love to have a senior backup to step in in case of injury (and not wanting to burn a redshirt). I just think Bostick realized that football clearly wasn’t in his future, and wanted to concentrate on grad school like he said–an equally valid reason.

Melvinbennet…I hope you’re not right about ESPN, though you could be. I know that ESPN really does try to separate their TV broadcasting from their journalistic integrity (i.e., not telling their reporters where/when the LeBron announcement was until they figured it out for themselves). I think it’s just that Texas is undefeated in the Big 12, and they have a huge fan base, so they’re getting a little more publicity.

Comment by merlin 02.15.11 @ 4:56 pm

@wbb
I don’t think I was taking a shot at the old regime.
It’s a fact that Bostick was mishandled by the old regime. If we have to rehash that, he was thrown to the wolves his true freshmen year, after he missed 99% of training camp. The fact they had nobody else to play QB except a true freshman who had missed 99% of training camp shows just how mishandled the whole thing was. But hey who am I to attack defenders of the old regime. It is was it is. (in this case was)

Comment by melvinbennett 02.15.11 @ 5:07 pm

There is no reason to think or believe that Bostick was nudged out by the present coaches. Pitt is under its limit with scholarships this year, so there was no need to force him out for his final year of eligibility. As others have said, a smart, veteran QB who has been a complete team player would be welcome on any team simply for his presence.

We know he has his undergrad degree and is working towards finishing his graduate degree. He’s obviously very bright to do it in this kind of compressed time-frame. So it seems this is one of those increasingly rare instances to take the news at face value.

Comment by Chas 02.15.11 @ 5:15 pm

On a recruiting note, with 2011 in the books I think Coach Graham did a great job putting together a class in such short time. But with 2012 looming he will be expected to bring in some big-time high profile guys but one guy I would like to see him extend an offer to from the state he just left Oklahoma, is Jesse Vester from Stillwater High I graduated from there in 2010 and though our school isn’t know for producing big-time college talent and I’ll be the first to admit we kinda blow. Jesse is a beast he has been the best football player in the Stillwater school system since he was in 8th grade, seriously. I feel like he’s definatly a guy we could land as it doesn’t really look like he’ll get a bunch of offers, but I strongly believe he can play at a major D-1 level. Here’s some highlights from his Junior year link to youtube.com the kid has great ball skills, is very fast, has a good head on his shoulders, and will be willing to put in the work to succeed at the next level. I’ve been searching for Coach Graham’s e-mail to send him this highlight video to see what he thinks. And for full disclosure I promise I am in no way related to Jesse, and have spoke with him few times, mainly telling him how badass he is because he’s really the only reason we won any games my senior year. The rest of our team is garbage and it doesn’t look like we’ll be putting any other guys into the D-1 ranks anytime soon but Jesse is certainly worthy.

Comment by Nick 02.15.11 @ 5:20 pm

This should really be on the previous bball thread but to answer the question about the ESPN Experts show…

What was said was that Texas is playing the best basketball right now. You can’t really argue with that. It’s a weekly poll, so they’re simply saying that right now Texas should be #1. Katz said that even though he’d vote them #1 in the next poll, it doesn’t mean he’d pick them to win it all.

Pitt is playing without Gibbs, so there are clearly some offensive questions until we see how he comes back. That’s why they’re not getting the love right now. However, I think Katz all but said he felt Pitt would get the overall #1 seed – far more important than the polls ranking – if they continued to win in conference play.

Comment by TampaT 02.15.11 @ 5:57 pm

Better watch what you wish for at QB. I remember everyone crying for Tino time. Tino isn’t all that bad. I imagine there will be at least two QBs playing in the first two games. Then a selection will be made.

Comment by notrocketscience 02.15.11 @ 6:11 pm

Nick,

I know it sounds really stupid, but if you donate a dime to Pitt football you cannot discuss it with this kid, or his family, in any way. NCAA rules. I have known Brandon Nosovitch’s (PA football athlete of the year) parents for five years, but if his mom asks me how my kid likes Pitt, as she usually does, I’m not even sure what I can and can’t say anymore. Gotta love the NCAA.

Comment by Pwmcdupitt 02.15.11 @ 6:19 pm

Folks – I’m friends with Pat Bostick, Sr and had a long phone conversation with him in the beginning of Jan about Pat Jr’s decision. It was contemplated even before the coaching changeover and is based solely on Pat’s desire to concentrate on his Masters and possible a PhD from PITT, and on some very nice position offers by the PITT administration… who were very appreciative of what he did for, and meant to, the program

Expect to see him around the program in some capacity.

But this has been in the works for some time with him and wasn’t predicated in any way on the new staff or new offensive systems. As a matter of fact Coach Graham tried very hard to convince both Pat Jr and Pat Sr to change his mind and stay on roster.

Comment by Reed 02.15.11 @ 6:32 pm

Pwmcdupitt,
I hear what you’re saying about the NCAA its all do as I say not as I do bullshit. And it doesn’t appear as if that will change anytime soon. Like with the Terrelle Pryor situation they don’t suspend him for the game where they stand to lose money but it’s alright to take half of his senior year. And possibly tarnish his future NFL prospects. Thats all fine and dandy because it doesn’t affect their bottom line. Anyway I DO NOT donate any money to the University of Pittsburgh mainly because I’m a poor college kid myself, haha, and don’t maintain contact with Jesse. I just remember watching him play and know he would be an excellent fit in Coach Graham’s scheme, and since Coach Graham is familiar with the Oklahoma football scene it just seems like a good match. The main reason I made that post was to see if anyone knew what Coach Graham’s e-mail address is so I could forward him that highlight tape.

Comment by Nick 02.15.11 @ 6:45 pm

Jessie Custer FTW.

Nice one, Chas!

Comment by Shawn 02.15.11 @ 6:56 pm

Great info, Reed and Chas. Thanks.

Something else you might be interested in: Coach Haywood introduced himself to the players by yelling at them. Coach Graham was cordial and respectful and fielded their questions.

Comment by steve 02.15.11 @ 7:01 pm

Uh oh, Coach Graham wants 5 & 6 AM workouts. No player will ever want to play for him! He will never get recruits!! WE ARE ALL DOOMED!!!

Sorry, couldn’t resist the sarcasm. Go Coach Graham. He says all the right things in my book.

Comment by Bowling Green Panther 02.15.11 @ 7:44 pm

Please note that all I said is that it makes much more sense that Bostick’s decision was not based on frustration with a previous coaching staff that is no longer here, but instead for a person who already has his degree and who happesn to be a slow-footed, dropback QB .. the total antithesis of what Graham’s offense calls for.

As I had previouly mentioned, he is a much more likely candidate for a grad asistantship … or I guess another admin post as Reed indicates.

Comment by wbb 02.15.11 @ 7:47 pm

Phil Seymour = Mike Haywood

Comment by steve 02.15.11 @ 8:49 pm

I think i would like to se KOLBY GREY on the defence.

Comment by POLE 02.15.11 @ 9:46 pm

Bowling Green – That is about the only difference between Haywood’s approach to the player’s discipline issue and Graham’s… as stated here:

“Graham said he will expect players to look him in the eye during meetings, come prepared to take notes, sit without slouching, wear hats properly, tuck in their shirts and take off their earrings and bandanas inside the practice facility.

Graham said he wore an earring in college, but his ban represents “a physical symbol that this isn’t about you, it’s about team.”

He has met no resistance to the ban, but if a top recruit questioned him, “I guess he is going to go somewhere else. If your earring is that important to you, then you probably won’t fit.”

Throw in a 5:00 am “Boot Camp” for the players and read this article by Zeise in the P-G and you’ll understand.

link to post-gazette.com

If all this sounds familiar, and it should given that we read just about the same things back in late December when Haywood was hired, it is because this approach was a strong condition of employment by the University Administration.

PITT fans don’t want to believe it but a hugely contributing factor in DW’s firing was the breakdown of discipline, and his effective leadership, on the team last season, including his wildly inconsistent application of holding players accountable.

Comment by Reed 02.16.11 @ 3:51 am

POLE,

BTW – the PITT administration offered Pat Bostick a full ride student scholarship for next year, which he accepted.

Comment by Reed 02.16.11 @ 3:57 am

There’s a open spot in the secondary for Tino now.

Comment by Pittastic 02.16.11 @ 6:47 am

Maybe Bostick is a future AD, and not a coach

Comment by wbb 02.16.11 @ 7:22 am

I would have assumed all along that Pat was not forced out and left on his own. It would be pretty classless for a new coach to come in and say “Hey we need you to leave since I didn’t recruit you”. I think its pretty customary for a new coach to honor any scholarships that were given before he arrived just as it is with new recruits that were offered scholarships by the outgoing coach. By all accounts Pat is a very smart guy but was never the most talented guy on the field. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for stepping in the way he did a few years ago and we will always be grateful for the WVU 13-9. It sounds like he is studying his way out of the football field but perhaps he could be a graduate assistant coach while he finishes his degree…

Comment by Coach Ditka 02.16.11 @ 7:32 am

I agree that is a good thing to do.

Comment by POLE 02.16.11 @ 8:19 am

About Pat Bostic, there were many games where he should have been put in, when the quaterback play warrented, and we still had a chance to win. Bostic did a good job against Notre Dame and West Virginia. I don’t blame him a bit. If he has no chance of playing, why put in all the time and effort when he needs to concentrate on his studies. The time demands of playing Division I football are intense and I’ve been told by former players that it’s really difficult now, with those time demands, to graduate in four years. When you’ve been part of a program, it’s not an easy decision to for-go your last season of elegilibity.

Comment by Justinian 02.16.11 @ 8:43 am

Coach D – Well, I agree in principal, but there are numerous cases where a new coach will do just that with a 5th year senior and in that situation I don’t think it’s a harsh thing to do. Yes, give all the players who hadn’t had a full four years to get their degree a chance – but a 5th year guy should understand that he’s expendable in a regime change.

I believe in this case it was more of Coach Graham wanting Pat Bostick to be there for some very solid reasons – a knowledgeable and capable backup QB if needed and a great role model in both his actions on and off the field and in that Bostick is very well liked by his teammates.

Comment by Reed 02.16.11 @ 8:45 am

Is this guy a troll, or do we just ban him outright?

Comment by merlin 02.16.11 @ 10:58 am

No! Tino will not play cb. If he wants to play QB for Graham he had better learn to throw the long ball correctly, read defenses, learn the new o system. Just because he was wanny’s starter does not mean he is the front runner.

As for the other three: Gonzales needs so much work. His descion making/technique/forcing the ball/discipline in HS works against him. He in my mind has the biggest hill to climb to be the starter.

Myers, just as Gonzo, needs to work on technique. But unlike Gonzo, Myers displays good decsion making, accuracy and is consitant. He will have to work hard. If he learns graham’s o, he definately has a chance to be the man.

Gray was never given a chance by wanny. Kind of understand that since he played in a spread o in hs. He only started two years but had around 5,000 yds pasing and 1,500 yds rushing. During those 2 years he had 40 tds/8 ints. He has just as good of chance as anyone, and playing in a spread in hs is a plus.

My money is on either myers or gray.

Comment by Kenny 02.16.11 @ 11:04 am

GRAY blew his shoulder out thats why he wasnt given the choice…..

Comment by POLE 02.16.11 @ 11:41 am

*Chance

Comment by POLE 02.16.11 @ 11:41 am

@ Nick, just to show you that not everyone is ignoring your request, here is Graham’s e-mail address
tgraham@athletics.pitt.edu
BTW my vote is for Myers for QB. His high school videos shows me that he has a cannon for an arm!

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.16.11 @ 3:02 pm

Blew his shoulder out but moved to safety where he got to play last year. He had no choice anyways because there were 3 qbs in front of him (Stull, Tino, Bostick). He being a spread qb did not fit into wanny’s o philosophy. Yes Wanny has always been such a great evaluator of qbs (pros/college).

Comment by Kenny 02.16.11 @ 3:05 pm

Reed, I totally agree with you on this. Discipline did play a big role in the changes made and from everything I’ve read it didn’t side like Haywood was encouraged by the ADMIN to keep many Wanny coaches. Maybe even discouraged.

It is an interesting psychology note to see the different reactions to Haywood & Graham. Both carry the same message as to discipline and work and routine, etc. But both deliver it a different way. You can never overstate the value of demeanor, ethusiaism and personality.

Comment by Bowling Green Panther 02.16.11 @ 4:41 pm

Thank-you Dr. Tom glad to see it didn’t totally fall on deaf ears, lol. And I’m with you on Myers getting a hard look at QB like you said he’s got an NFL arm and could really spread the field for our team, but I’m not as much of a Tino-hater as some and think he would do very well in this system. Should be an interesting and exciting spring, HAIL TO PITT!!!

Comment by Nick 02.16.11 @ 7:17 pm

Dr Tom, from what you know, or heard, is the qb in Coach Grahams “O” gonna have to be able to move?? Does he do a lot of bootlegs etc. etc. If so, can Myers also move a bit???

Comment by Dan 02.17.11 @ 4:28 pm

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