Butler-Pitt is set for 7:10 pm on Saturday, March 19.
Adjust your life accordingly.
March 17, 2011
There are drumbeats along the Monongahela, albeit hearsay I’ll remind readers, saying that four transfers “depending on what happens during the spring practices” might happen. The gist of this is that two TEs and two QBs might be thinking there are greener pastures elsewhere given that Coach Graham is instituting a new system on offense. Hell, with just the tempo at which they are practicing I’m surprised players aren’t walking away in droves – it would kill 99% of us PITT fans.
So, let the speculation begin!! One fact that floats to memory is that Todd Graham mentioned a while back that Chris Mike had been moved from FB to TE. Perhaps the HC sees the TE position more like an H-Back as opposed to the traditional TEs we are used to. Another thing to keep an eye on as the practices are reported. But those are the two offensive positions that will be impacted the most by the new system.
We probably all expected transfers to happen given the turmoil of the December – January personnel moves and the different approach to football that Todd Graham has brought into the program. We also had to be aware that it is a fact that the pro-style system the players were recruited to play in no longer exists for the most part. Wannstedt was able to sell to recruits and their families the number of players he put into NFL camps each year, which may not be the case so much any longer.
I think it is safe to say that all of us PITT fans hope this isn’t true and it may not be, but if it is… so be it. Life rears its ugly head sometimes and these players certainly have a right to choose whatever college football career path they want. Personally, I hate it when a kid transfers away from the University of Pittsburgh because, aside from football, I think they are missing out on what could be a wonderful educational opportunity in a vibrant city… but that’s just me. However, these players do have high aspirations of continuing on in professional football after college and it is natural for a young man to chase that dream.
That said, sometimes what a kid feels in the beginning of a change isn’t necessarily what he’ll feel after he gets accustomed to it. This may well be chatter from some players who just don’t know what the immediate future holds so they are anxious about it.
On another note – the 2011 PITT Football Spring Prospectus has hit the street. It is a large download and already events are making some info outdated, but it holds a ton of interesting stuff about the program.
Okay. I can’t liveblog today. The game tips right when I have to pick up my daughter. Just comment away here. Right now, I’ve switched to the ODU-Butler game.
Let’s see, the local ties of UNC Ashville. A headcoach from Edgewood, who chose NC State over Pitt in the 60s.
Biedenbach, who still has family in Pittsburgh, had narrowed his college choices to N.C. State and Pitt.
But when N.C. State’s Everett Case — the legendary coach Dixon just passed for most wins in the first eight seasons — and assistant Press Maravich came calling, Biedenbach headed for Raleigh, N.C., to become a two-time, all-ACC selection.
“I considered Pitt strong,” he said. “I liked the ACC, and at that time Pitt was averaging about 500 fans a game. I love Pittsburgh. I’m a big Steelers fan. (N.C. State grad) Bill Cowher and I are good friends.”
500 fans/game? Yeesh. Makes the turnouts during the worst of the Willard era seem packed.
Just a final reminder to sign up and play the PittBlather Bracket game.
Fabulous Cheap Leftover Prizes for the winner.
As some filler before todays practice, let’s look at what PITT has going on in the most important position on the field. Obviously we’ll see numerous position battles at other spots, maybe even most of them on offense and defense before the dust settles – but QB is always the position which holds the fan’s interest the most. Here at PITT we hold one past player up as The Benchmark for the position; Dan Marino. Understandable as he did great things for us and led us to what was the most recent run of success we have had since cars have been built with automatic transmissions. Ever since then we PITT fans have wanted a kid under center who can thread the needle with power on his throws and make quick-trigger decisions that always turn out well… at least that is our memories of Marino, right?
Well, the truth is that Dan Marino’s college reputation was built largely on the backs of one of the most talented teams, top to bottom and year in and year out over his four years at PITT, that college football has seen. This is almost always how legends are made. Not to take away from Dan the Man – he was a great QB, but he also had a ton of help.
Too bad we don’t have that now. What we have now is the great unknown as a team due to pretty drastic changes from one head coach to another. If we could point to, let’s say, 17 of 22 positions and say we have solid returning kids there then it would be easier for us to accept that our returning QB would also hold onto the starter’s job. That may not be the case in 2011.
