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August 31, 2011

Graham Knows Fans

Filed under: Coaches,Football,Graham — Chas @ 10:52 am

Coach Graham loves his hyperbole.

We’re going to put it in the left lane and put the hammer down. The way we take the field, call the plays, execute the plays, are all high tempo. Guys are going to play Pitt football with a lot of passion, very physical, and flying around. Fans will hear, see, and feel Pitt football.

He also knows how fans can react.

He is hopeful the Panthers get out of the gates fast Saturday against Buffalo and pleases the crowd, but he knows there is no guarantee that will happen.

His first game at Tulsa showed him how fast things can go wrong.

“The first snap of the game, we snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head, and they picked it up and ran it back 65 yards for a touchdown,” Graham said, with a laugh. “A guy stood up in the stands and said ‘High octane my … ,’ “

Considering that Turnley will be under center for the first game there could be a bit of deja vu.

The other part in that story is something that should have happened at Pitt for years.

Pitt’s new standard defense is a 3-4, but the Panthers will show different looks, presnap movement and use zone blitzes to try to create sacks and turnovers.

It is a defense similar to the one used by the Steelers.

Pitt defensive coordinator Keith Patterson had several opportunities in the offseason to sit down with Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and learn more about the intricacies of the defense.

LeBeau, of course, is considered the guru of the zone blitz, and Patterson said after talking to him he realized how much LeBeau knows and how much he had to learn.

“I’d have been crazy not to sit down with him, and he has been very gracious with his time,” Patterson said.

Patterson said he has an entire notebook of notes from his visits with LeBeau, and he checks them often.

He said that the thing that impressed him the most about LeBeau’s zone pressures is that his defense can pull them off while being one of the best in the NFL at stopping the run.

Whether it was simply because Pitt ran a 4-3 defense under Wannstedt or something else, Pitt never seemed to take advantage of sharing all of these facilities with the Steelers. There was lip service paid to the advantages and being able to talk to Steelers coaches, but there never seemed to be any follow-through.

Coach Graham also talked a bit about creating the high expectations.

Graham embraces high standards and lofty expectations like they are part of his family.

“When you are expected to win, you have a pretty good chance to do some great things,” he said. “If no one expects you to win, no pressure. I like that (pressure). I thrive on it. We’ll see, but I have a lot of confidence in our guys.”

If it wasn’t painfully obvious about how different he is from Coach Wannstedt in his attitude, that kind of clinches it.

At least he’s also told the players not to get too far ahead of things.

Graham tempers his praise with almost daily warnings to players to be disciplined and avoid turnovers and penalties.

“We haven’t done anything,” he said. “We haven’t played a game, haven’t made a first down. All we have done at this point is practice.”

In less than 80 hours that changes.





LET’S GO PITT!!

Comment by Pat McPoland 08.31.11 @ 11:26 am

It is only Wednesday….Saturday cant get here soon enough….Good Luck PITT…Have a great season….time to shock the world!

Comment by drgags 08.31.11 @ 11:36 am

As many loyal Pitt fans have already expressed on previous blog posts on Pitt Blather, “talk is cheap”. Don’t get me wrong, I’m lovin what I’m hearing from TG. I just don’t want it to resemble the scene created by the Ahole who picks a fight with the wrong dude and who starts off dancing around spouting smack talk right before he gets decked by a well placed fist to his noodle. OK Todd time to back it up, I think he’ll do fine though. After the dust settles from the ND game we’ll know where we stand. Hoefully we’ll still have all of our teeth and our noses won’t be too bloodied.

Comment by Dr. Tom 08.31.11 @ 11:51 am

I just hope the fans turn out to see the dawn of the new era of Pitt football. I will be there with all four of my daughters (yes they have been indoctrinated to passionately follow Pitt sports AND hate PSU).
I would have never guessed that my girls would know who sings Sweet Caroline…much less know all the words too. If that doesn’t bring a smile to your face nothing will.

HAIL TO PITT!

Comment by Outlaw 08.31.11 @ 12:14 pm

Outlaw, don’t be hatein, take some pity on PSU don’t you realize they already Suck? Yea, we know, you r Penn State and you still Suck!

Comment by Dr. Tom 08.31.11 @ 12:29 pm

A friend of mine ( who named his dog Nittany nuff said) once said that how could anyone who ever saw Penn State would not think it was the best place in the world. I countered with I can introduce you to many from OSU, Michigan and even some Hoopies that feel the same about their school. I then reminded him that although he is a PSU grad he needed to go to Pitt( Law School) to get Job. For the first time in his life he had no comeback.

Hail to Pitt!!!!

Comment by giveitarest 08.31.11 @ 12:43 pm

My two young kids are Long Horn fans since the Texas propaganda is a well oiled machine and will only get better with their own network. I have tried to make them Pitt fans, but the task is challenging since they rarely get to see them on TV and when they do Pitt shits the bed. I can’t find Pitt merchandise in the stores so when I visit the Burg I’ll buy them something but they’d rather it be a ‘Stiller’ thing and I attribute that to their winning ways unlike Pitt’s mediocre ways. However, the one thing they know about Penn State is that they have an old man as coach that has been known to poop his pants. They find that funny. Here’s hoping to make Pitt fans out of my kids. They at least know Penn State smells.

Comment by TX Panther 08.31.11 @ 12:51 pm

No more than a minute ago, I just heard the following quote from Todd Graham aired on 93.7 The Fan “This is by far the best talent I ever inherited”

Thus, if nothing else, he is not shying away from the high expectations and one would have to believe that he will be very disappointed if Pitt doesn’t get double-digit wins. With 8 home games, several starters returning and a weak BE, it certainly appears to be feasible.

He named several players (something like 6 or 7) as captains including Tino, Shanahan and Tags (all juniors.)

link to pittsburghlive.com

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 12:52 pm

I was blown away how receptive Patterson was to LeBeau. I’m excited to see the defense play this year and more thrilled to know it will have some Steelers flavor to it. Can’t wait. Do you think Wannstache’s ego got in the way from picking one of the greatest defensive minds?

Comment by Justin 08.31.11 @ 1:00 pm

J Holley (Jr) and seniors M Caregein, A Reed and C Jacobsen are also captains. It appears to represent each area of the team: OL, DL, DB, WR, etc.

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 1:04 pm

I we dont want this on this post but info for you that i wont talk abought unless you all start talking abought it but USA today just posted A&M have just told BIG 12 that they are leaveing will be going bye june. so now the cards start to fall.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 1:07 pm

the following is an excerpt from the Trib in the news realease about Pitt namimg its captains:

“Graham said there also is a “unity council,” which is similar to co-captains.

They are Lucas Nix, Jordan Gibbs and Ray Graham on offense, and Chas Alecxih, Max Gruder, Jason Hendricks and Brandon Lindsey on defense”

How come this doesn’t surprise me in the least?

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 1:49 pm

Hopefully this unity council helps players stay out of trouble once the season begins. We could have used something like that last year.

And, yes the conference landscape is about to be changed once more. Does the Big 12 select BYU as a replacement for A&M and try to attract other schools to remain viable? Does the SEC target Missouri as it’s 14th team or would it be Va Tech or NC State? Do any of the conferences go straight to 16 members? Will the Big East fall apart or remarkably grow stronger by benefiting from the inevitable chaos? Will the Domers remain independent? Where will Pitt end up? Only time will tell but it will be an interesting and wild ride. I’m not worried for Pitt.

Comment by TX Panther 08.31.11 @ 2:02 pm

Traveling from new jersey to attend the opener. Can’t wait for the debut of HIgh Octane Football.

Comment by Scott 78 08.31.11 @ 2:04 pm

You haven’t heard? I was named Captain of Pitt fans residing in Joisey.

Hail to Me!

Comment by steve 08.31.11 @ 2:08 pm

I just named my Unity Council for the game…a Spaten Optimator draft, large turkey burger w/onions and swiss, and me.

Comment by Matt N. 08.31.11 @ 2:25 pm

TX Panther, Jabal Sheard threw a guy thru a glass door but still was named captain by the players some time later

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 2:30 pm

Turkey burger…much too healthy for a Pitt purist. (grin)

Comment by steve 08.31.11 @ 2:31 pm

Said i would not do this but was just watching espn and joe shad said not these exact words PITT AND ONE OUTHER SCHOOL MOST LIKLEY THE BIGGEST TARGET OF BIG 12. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I WASGETING A DRINK AND HAD TO RUN BACK INTO ROOM.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 3:44 pm

Note that a column in Yahoo Sports which broke the story about T A&M going to the SEC now says that the SEC would like TCU for its 14th team. The SEC sees big $$ in Texas and would like nothing more than to have Houstion presence and a DFW presence.

Thius may present a bigger problem to the BE than any of the other scenarios.

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 3:52 pm

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 3:54 pm

A&M already has more alumni living in DFW and Houston than TCU and Houston combined. So, by getting TCU and Houston to join, they will capture the DFW and Houston markets? That’s like saying Nova will bring the Philly market. TCU is a small, private school with a fan base that comes nothing close to what A&M provided the Big 12. A&M has appeal across the entire state and not just Fort Worth. For all I care, TCU can be the Long Horn’s bitch.

Comment by TX Panther 08.31.11 @ 4:10 pm

Re-post due to lengthy blog response:

OK guys, you got most of the questions right, but they were ONLY for DRW. haha

Here are the correct answers again:

1) Name the bars & restaurants that were side by side on Forbes Ave, in the early 1970?s (which is when you said you went to Pitt) from the corner of South Bouquet to the direction of
the Cathedral Of Learning?

From Bouquet: in Order, The Original Hot Dog (beer was available for consumption in lots of flavors), CJ Barney’s The Wooden Keg, Frankie Gustine’s (this became Hemingways in the 80?s)

2) What were the 3 nicknames of the 3 Dorm Towers?

The Towers were built in 1963, their nicknames were, Tower A = Ajax, Tower B = Babo Tower C = Comet (although alot of people called Tower B, Balboa)

3) What was the name of the Movie theater that was on Pitt’s campus?

I’m shocked no-one got this. The King’s Court
(sidenote: the Rocky Horror Picture Show played there like for a decade in the 1980-1990 period)
Here’s a pic for your entertainment:
link to cinematreasures.org

4) What was the name of the two 24 hour per day restaurants on Pitt’s campus?

Key to this question was they had to be on Campus.
1) The Big O 2) The White Tower
Ritter’s Diner, while certainly an entertaining place to go late night, was off Campus on Baum Blvd. Sorry to those of you who might have been too drunk or stoned to have noticed you were ‘off’ campus.

DRW… your grade = Fail
Comment by melvinbennett 08.31.11 @ 2:21 pm

Comment by melvinbennett 08.31.11 @ 4:10 pm

melvinbennett did you ever see the melvin bennett that played for pitt play bb at pit or in high school he could really rebound the bb.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 4:34 pm

yes FRANKCAN,

I believe I mentioned yesterday MB has been Pitt’s ONLY ‘one and done’ player in Pitt history.

Played one year at PITT and then got drafted by the 1rst Round by the ABA and he was gone. He played at Peabody HS.
Had he stayed at Pitt he would have shattered all kinds of records.

Comment by melvinbennett 08.31.11 @ 4:54 pm

Anyway,…time for Happy Hour, later gents!

Comment by melvinbennett 08.31.11 @ 4:55 pm

you are rght he was great.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 5:11 pm

I saw melvin play he was 6 foot 7 and could sky played center like like sam clancy did and ate taller centers for lunch thoes were good days.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 5:21 pm

melvinbennett – thanks for the memories…lost many a day in those bars..hey – it wasn’t on campus but don’t forget the Luna.
Ritters was home away from home…a great cure for a hangover! The rude waitress’s were a bonus.

Comment by Dan 72 08.31.11 @ 5:26 pm

From Paul Zeise via Orangebloods and Chip Brown:

“Two sources told me today Pittsburgh continues to move up as a Big 12 target, and may even be moving into the lead. Pitt AD Steve Pederson is sending out signals the Panthers are content in the Big East.

But Pittsburgh would bring football and basketball tradition to the Big 12 as well as a large television market in the northeast. Considering Pitt makes about $8 million per year currently in TV revenue, the Panthers would probably love the upgrade in pay in the Big 12 (to between $17 million and $20 million) starting next year – as long as the Big 12 is still together at that point.”

Read more: link to postgazette.com

Comment by TX Panther 08.31.11 @ 5:43 pm

I don’t think anyone can fathom how excited I am for Saturday. As a lifelong Pitt fan and current student, I have waited for the day when there was a true buzz around the program. Also, the 6 PM start should cause the student section to be a little more…lively. Hail to Pitt.

Comment by PatMac 08.31.11 @ 6:43 pm

Pederson should see how far up he can get the price you know 20 million or 25 million before he says no . just saying you dont say no till you see what all you can get . besides he should tell them maybe not no than he can go to bb schools and say they have to add teams for football . if not going you know get them the bb schools to agree on something pitt and the football schools want before saying no. that makes sence dont just say no . push your power when you have what say you all melven DR TOM dan help me out here i am right yes no?

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 6:47 pm

pederson should fliret with them say someting like can i bring WVUalong will you give us both 20 million than go to bb schools and tell them to add 3 football schools or else get them to agree to that . dont just say no up front than you have nothing to bargain with am i wrong here come on let me know some one has to be on line dan DR TOM melvin TAMPAT.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 7:11 pm

Go to site orange bloods read there post on big 12 and SEC they say the shit will hit the fan maybe not this week but it is comeing in a few weeks or a little longer may be super leages maybe no more big 12 maybe no more big east maybe a changed ACC . who knows but every thing depends on who SEC takes as team 14 or who goes ordoes not go to big 12. Or if v tec goes to SEC they are talking now v tec and sec and big 12 is talking to PITT were the F is every body.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 7:44 pm

the B12 is more unstable than the BE, and both conferences have been in contact with each other. Barring an invite tothe SEC to either Missouri or TCU, I expect the BE to absorb MO, Ks and KSU .. and then the BE FB to split from the BB only members. The BE BB commish will be curent one, while the B12 commish will take over the FB. There will be two divisions:

East: Syr, Rut, UConn, USF, Pitt, WVU
West: Cincy, Lville, Kan, KSU, Mo & KSU

(if by some chance this comes to be .. just remember where you read it first)

Comment by wbb 08.31.11 @ 8:18 pm

Wbb just read this from CBS Mike Vukovcan Pitt not so interested in big 12 but if SEC would call PITT would be interested.

Comment by FRANKCAN 08.31.11 @ 8:38 pm

The Big 16 would only be attractive if the existing Big 12 added the following 7 schools assuming no further defections – Pitt, WVU, Rutgers, Syracuse, Louisville, BYU and TCU. I would prefer that over a new Big East or revamped ACC. No football school in the ACC can match Texas and Oklahoma consistently year in and out and you need anchor teams for stability. Plus, this would be a decent basketball conference with the likes of Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Okie State, Missouri, and Baylor. See what kind of TV money comes with this conference package. I don’t think Pitt could pass up $25-30 million per team. Moreover, you preserve most of the historical rivalries with the Eastern schools.

Comment by TX Panther 08.31.11 @ 8:48 pm

Melvin,

Don’t forget Wolftharth’s Pub in the 70s.

Hail to PITT!
-al-

Comment by Oregon_Panther 09.01.11 @ 1:41 am

Hey I love all you guys…..yes we have our differences,….BUT WE ALL ALL PITT PANTHERS !

NEVER FORGET THAT !!!!!

HAIL TO PITT ! WE ARE THE BEST !
Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 1:08 am

Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 2:38 am

BTW,,,,I’d like to thank Chas for creating this forum for all of us to keep in touch, discuss Pitt sports and reminisce about the past.

Thanks Chas, you are the best !
Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 1:19 am

Repost on the latest football blog

Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 2:42 am

another repost guys (bear with me)

@Tampa T

I know if you were on Centre Ave., and went to the Luna you have to had known Wes.

And I bet you went to Mitchell’s and Haddon Hall !

The Good Times !
Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 1:23 am

@BigGuy,

I remember the after hours club, it was across the street from the Howard Johnson’s or maybe Holiday Inn on Forbes, it was on the 2nd floor. The name escapes me at the moment, but I was there, I remember it and you are on the money.
Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 1:48 a

Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 2:47 am

@ oregon panther

I do remember hoisting more than a few at Wolfarth’s. There was also a great bakery called Wolfarth’s over on Penn Ave. in East Liberty and I actually met the owner’s son down in here in Charlotte. Guess what. He owns his own bar. haha

Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 2:50 am

PITT shouldn’t devalue itself by going to the BIG 12. How do you have a conference without an even playing field. Texas A&M is only the first to go. Don’t know how the others allowed Texas to setup their own network.

Comment by Pittastic 09.01.11 @ 9:53 am

thanks for the stroll down memory lane. I got all the bars correct, Melvin, but forgot about the White Tower. lived on N. Craig and reguarly hit Rudy’s, Chief’s, the Luna and Hadden Hall. 15-25 cent drafts at Rudy’s, my home base (mid-70’s). HTP.

Comment by Bossdaws 09.01.11 @ 9:56 am

Oh! Hadden Hall.. $1 pitchers, the guys didn’t use mugs, as the pitchers were plastic and had great handles!

Comment by CompLit 09.01.11 @ 9:56 am

It’s official. Morgantown has made couch burning a felony. Thy say the typical perpetrator is a white male between 18 and 22, usually intoxicated. This from the fine upstanding university that thinks selling beer in the stadium is a good way to curtail such behavior.

Comment by longsufferingpittfan 09.01.11 @ 10:22 am

ThaT’s right Thursdays were $1 Pitchers at Haddon Hall. That’s today……let’s go. haha

Wonder if the Luna EVER repaired their ceiling?
Wonder if the Luna is even still there?

Comment by melvinbennett 09.01.11 @ 2:31 pm

I got thrown out of Haddon Hall, literally, back in the day. I walked in and sat at the bar next to a drunk girl and started talking to her – next thing I know she has her hand on my thigh. Two big guys, one her boyfriend, ran over, picked me up and tossed me in the bushes.

I walked around the block, went back in 30 minutes later and sat at the other end of the bar. I got a pitcher of beer and one of the guys comes over and apologizes to me because his girlfriend was ‘trying to make him jealous’.

I said “Another pitcher of beer will make it right…”

Comment by Reed 09.01.11 @ 4:56 pm

Hey melvin you answered only the questions about the bars and movie threaters around the university indicating your slant on higher education. You answered none of the sports questions so I quess you are not as informed with Oitts sports history as you are with the bars in Oakland. This can not dispell someone like you concerning your accusations about my attending Pitt frankly your welcome to your opinion but to about my families connecting to Pitt, I went to school at Pitt I was the first in my family to go to college except for my uncle who is now 94 and married by fathers sister he got his engineering and law degree at Pitt. I got my B.A. at Pitt and my M.A. at Kent State. My two neices and one nephew have their Master’s degrees from Pitt and my other two nephews one has his nuclear engineering degree from Pitt the other is work on his P.h.d. in German History at the university. This is my last email. I regret getting involved but I enjoyed the blog so much. However I thought the quality of discourse would be more civil than personal attacks from an insecure strange stranger.

Comment by DRW 09.01.11 @ 5:09 pm

the after hours place down by the old Holiday Inn was called Little Vegas in the 80s

Comment by hugh green 09.02.11 @ 12:19 pm

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