Here we are in week six, coming up on the halfway point of the 2011 season. There are still a lot of questions surrounding this team and while some fans may think they have been answered, that is surely debatable.
To recap: We beat our two creampuffs, Buffalo and Maine to start out the season in rather easy fashion. Both teams scored 4th quarter points against us and in both games the offense got off to a pretty sluggish start in the 1st half. It isn’t a reach to say that PITT underachieved in those games based on the pre-season hype surrounding the new offense being installed by Todd Graham. Buffalo: 35-16 & Maine: 35-29 wins.
In our third game against Iowa we started out like gangbusters with our offense showing some real cohesiveness by scoring 24 points, against a decent BCS team, through the 3rd quarter. That’s when the wheels fell off both offensively and defensively. Iowa passed their way back into the game and took a 27-24 lead. In a complete turnaround our offense couldn’t get a single first down and was shutout over the last 12 minutes of play. 31-27 loss.
At home against Notre Dame we reverted back to stumbling around on offense, scoring six points by the half and six more in the 3rd quarter and … you guessed it… skunking the 4th quarter with no points. Our defense came to play finally and we held ND to 15 points, certainly enough to win had our offense not stunk out the joint. 15-12 loss.
Last week we opened Big East play and had, by far, our best game of the season against 14th ranked USF. The offense finally played as advertised with Ray Graham getting his second 200+ rushing game and Tino Sunseri playing QB as it should be played in this system. Sunseri hit the medium passes well and, more importantly, exercised his option to run based on his pre and post snap reads. That opened up more lanes for Graham as the game went on. The offense was a good thing to watch and a great thing to have shown on national TV.
Our defense played very well against USF also, limiting them to 17 points with, in a change of pace, zero points in the second half. We ran the No-Huddle to effect, averaged 18 seconds between placement to snap over 91 offensive plays, and thus completely wore down the opponent’s defense, allowing us to roll up 24 points over the last two quarters of play. That offense finally operated as is drawn up.
So, are we at a turning point here halfway through the season? We have shown no consistency whatsoever on a weekly basis and, save the USF game, even on a half or quarterly basis in the individual games. It really has been a “best of times, worst of times” type year so far.
This week we play another BE opponent when we travel to Rutgers. While RU has a decent 3-1 record they have huge glaring weaknesses, most notably their rushing offense which, at 177th in the NCAA, has had games where they have rushed for +1 and +5 yards. I had to look at that twice. Their defense is pretty stout thought in only giving up 17 ppg. RU scores at just about the same clip as PITT at 31 ppg.
It is obvious that we need a win here to go up to 2-0 in BE play. But more importantly for PITT fans, and in turn the local and national media, we need to carry over the strong play we saw last Thursday. If we do it goes a long way in easing the minds who are still not completely sold on Graham’s offense and convincing those who are holding back on declaring the defense capable of winning games by themselves.
That is understandable as the two close games we’ve had against good opponents went the other way – where we couldn’t hold a lead and our offense didn’t answer the call when we were behind.
Which will we see on Saturday? The good PITT team who won so convincingly against USF or the team that played in fits and starts against our first four opponents?
Now as the game progressed in the 4th quarter, the fast pace also certainly played a role (no doubt) which along with their physical and mental breakdown contributed to their breakdown.
it was Iowa 31, Pitt 27. It still pains me to even type it.
Going up to Rutgers for the 3:30 start. Don’t think this will be an easy game but expect us to prevail. Vegas line opened at Pitt -9.5 and is down to Pitt -6.5 today.
The Rutgers defense will bring pressure, they will biltz, they will test the O line. Tino DO NOT hold the ball, DO NOT take sacks. This team lives and dies by the level of the QB play. This game is here for the taking. We can only lose this game, Rutgers can’t win it on their own.
Come on Tino, give us another great game by getting the tempo down to a science, remember, one two three throw!
Their D really shut down the Orange O, had it not been for a fumble recovered for a TD RU wins in regulation.
Overall, the game was a snorefest. We were commenting that the fans that had tuned in to see the OSU/MSU game must be going nuts knowing they are stuck with this game while missing a good Big 10 match-up. I was not impressed with either team. I know a lot can change in one week in college football but if Pitt can play well enough on O to score a few TD’s, and don’t give up any free points via turnovers, we should win.
GO PITT!
It was 7-0 MSU at halftime, 10-0 until the final minutes of the game when OSU finally scored.
That could hardly have been better than a game that went into 2 OT’s. Remember the Little 11 is the most boring conference playing football. An ACC QB is tearing them a new hole. haha
TG wants that ball gone on three, not four.
Just sayin.
Welcome back Dr. Tom (are you ready to join the Tino fan club yet?) lol
Have to weigh in on the previous attendance conversation. One thing Pitt needs to do is to indoctrinate their students the way they do at PSU. It is practically a religion. I was up there last year for an executive program and they even took the time to sell us on how great they are and how everyone is Penn State Proud, We are Penn State etc. I took a few shots at JoePa and that cooled them down a little.
I don’t know how much has changed at Pitt but when I was there for Carl Depasqua and Dave Hart the student body didn’t even know there was a football team. There was no school spirit. This is something that the University needs to drive home starting with the Freshman class. They are not going to a game as alums if they never attend as freshman. Give all freshmen free season tickets. Flunk them if they don’t attend and come to class hoarse on Monday.
Let’s Go Pitt.
I’d stated that I’d be back when we started winning again. Tino was soooo impressive last Thursday. I’m hoping that the light has come on for him, I really do.
We dearly need a QB that “gets it” regarding Graham’s offensive tempo. I only worry that Tino will get back to his bad habits again when pressured on Saturday.
As TX Panther eluded to, one two do SOMETHING, anything, just do it fast!
I think the problem may be that the tickets are so cheap in the first place, coupled with the fact that the team hasn’t been a powerhouse in any current Pitt students’ lifetime. Season tickets for students are $25; in other words, students are losing under $5 if they miss one game since there are 8 in one season. The fans will come when we win, plain and simple.
I hear you gc. If there was an easy fix, it would have happened by now. It’s a combination of several factors. But, forums such as this allow fans and alum to stay in touch and talk Pitt, and I think that’s a positive step in developing and continuing school spirit.
Next time that all you old timers are at a game, show those frosh how passionate Pitt fans can be. Don’t sit on your hands but get up, yell and cheer. Invite students to your tailgate. Come out rain or shine, and stay for the entire game. Students are like children…they follow the lead of adults. So Pitt alum, we must first take the lead.
HTP!
I’m rooting for him but have been burned too often to jump on the bandwagon after one good game vs four crap ones. Should be a good test and always a pleasure beating Schiano. HTP.
I know, we don’t believe it either.
Comment by MariettaMike 10.04.11 @ 7:17 am
Have to contradict that MIke, FSU is ALWAYS sold out (82,000), as is UNC(63,000) and NC State(58,000) is usually sold out as well (98% to capacity) Clemson is 80,000 as well. Va Tech is up to 66,000. You did mention those two. UVA usually sells out at 61,500 when they play Va Tech, UNC or Maryland or FSU or Miami. Duke & Wake Forest have small stadiums, however they have very small undergrad enrollments, I believe Wake is only around 4,000 undergrads but they play to almost 100% capacity at their stadium. And Duke hasn’t been relevant in football for decades and they only have around 6,000 undergrads. So that makes sense for those two.
Four (4) ACC teams were in the Top 30 of ALL FCS schools in 2010. For comparison sake, there were Zero from the BigEast in the Top 30.
BTW the AVERAGE NCAA FBS Football Attendance in 2010 was: (drum roll)
45,912
According to official NCAA statistics for 2010
PITT averaged……
52,165.
That makes us ABOVE AVERAGE ! See how this works.
Aren’t statistics great !
Comment by EMel 10.04.11 @ 7:10 pm
I know, we don’t believe it either.
Comment by Stfan 10.04.11 @ 6:47 pm
Those Newsweek stats are probably correct, they don’t take into account the drinking of Moonshine,
White Lightning or whatever else the hillbillies call it. And most media surveyors are too afraid to go into the back woods and hollows of WVA. You know, they’ve all seen ‘Deliverance’. lol
Why did I say crap. We usually always shit the bed when we’re the favorites.
They better have a game plan for Mohamed Sanu, this guy is playing better than Michael Floyd. But hey Patterson, please don’t have Gruber COVER THE FRICKING TE. GOT IT!
Who’s going to play for RU, Dodd or Nova? See anything about that?
That would be a real bitch if Nova plays and beats us. After him de-committing from Pitt. If he does play we better blitz bigtime.
For the umpteenth time, that is the maor issue for Pitt
Comment by gc 10.04.11 @ 5:23 pm
Actually gc, I’ve petitioned the NCAA to remove all record of Pitt having a football team in those years. Do you mind, since you were there then? It would have a great effect on our overall winning percentage.
The NCAA might be surprised to hear there was a football team at Pitt in that era. It would be interesting to post the attendance from 68-72. Lucky for me I was in grad school when the great Tony D. came to campus.
We usually lose the games when Heinz is sold out.
Start winning some of those games and people will come back. Winning cures most everything. And we’ve had large periods of futility which had to have an effect on building a huge alumni/fan base.
I know some will say, well what about in the late 70’s or early 80’s, we didn’t sell out all games.
Again you have to remember, before that revival in Pitt football in 1973, Pitt had exactly one winning season from 1961 to 1972. And that team the 1963 team was 9-1 and ranked #3 and got royally screwed. The Infamous No Bowl team.
The other years were downright awful, some of the worst years of Pitt football ever. I don’t imagine many of them for 11 years even went to PITT football games and for the ones that did, it had to leave a bad taste in their mouths.
We had two bowl teams in the 1950’s, but the 1940’s were awful.
Pitt hasn’t been a consistent winner since the 1930’s, when college football in Pittsburgh was king. If you read that Time Magazine article I linked last week, it said 76,000 screaming PITT fans were at PITT Stadium for the titanic struggle between 30’s powers PITT & Fordham.
See gents, we were all just born in the wrong era.
haha
One of you geniuses with a science degree, get to work and build us a Time Machine. lol
We had the unfortunate timing of reviving PITT football 1973-1980, as being in the same time frame as Pittsburgh went hog wild with the longtime loser Steelers, suddenly becoming an NFL juggernaut and winning four SB’s in six years.
As well as overall the NFL went crazy in the 70’s as a result of Monday Night football and Pittsburgh sort of showed other cities, how to cheer and started all these player fan armies.
Our 1976 National Championship seemed to get lost in the shuffle of
Franco’s Italian Army, Gerela’s Gorillas, Jack Ham’s Dobre Shunka and Stillermania.
Plus in the 1970’s the Pirates were always in division contention or in the playoffs or World Series up until the early 80’s. And those September & October games that were so important, were in direct competition with PITT games.
So considering all that and the above post, it’s amazing we drew as well as we did.
As they say, timing is EVERYTHING.
Well as most college stadiums ARE on campus, that was a plus. And PITT sold out lots of games in that era, just not ALL of them. I think my previous posts addressed that.
Also PITT was predominately a commuter school for all of that era, and we all know some of those kids you saw in class, you never saw on campus.
They went back to the suburbs and never participated in many Campus activities. PITT has many more students living on campus and the surrounding area these days.
Went to classes by 8am, at work by 1pm till 9pm.
Mon thru Thurs and Saturdays. You never would have seen me on campus for my last two years, except on Fri or Sat nights at the bars.
Disagree a bit with a few posters. The turnout was not fantastic back then, still the only sell outs were PSU, ND and WVU, but, as anyone who went to the games in the 70’s and 80’s, i.e. Dorsett and Marino……….
The games other than the three mentioned above still usually had 35-55k people. And, at that time, if the attendance was 42k, there were 42k people there.
Both sides of bowl would be full, one endzone would be about 50-75% full, with the other, scattered humans here and there.
I’m not saying it was crazy better, by no means, but the disgusting display against USF would have never happened.
What did they announce, 50k something. Lucky if there were 20-25k warm bodies there.
At the stadium, the sides would have been at least full and they would have had a legitimate 40k at least.
That’s nothing to brag about, but attendance was better.
Now, notice, I said “attendance”, meaning people who showed up at the games.
They may have sold 50k to the USF game, but, again, I think we all saw how many were there. Easy to do with the yellow seats.
I went on, ad nauseum, as I’m doing now, the other day, so, I’ll stop a little short.
Ideally, a nice, modern, all the amenities 45k stadium on campus. No room, no money, we’ve all heard it all. There was no room for the Consol Center either.
Anyhow, if not feasible, then, they need to tarp the top sections totally off, except the first 10 rows or so if Heinz Field. Also tarp off the upper deck of the end zone. Dark blue, if I hit the lottery I’m buyin’.
Final point, need to quit trying to figure out how to get 65 or 70k to the games, they’ve been trying that for 40 years.
There is a good solid core of fans, as passionate as any out there, look at this board, but, we really are a 40-50k attendance school.
We are never gonna have 65k for Maine or Florida Atlantic. Not gonna happen.
It’s ok, it’s not a bad thing, the fans that show up are as passionate as any Alabama fans, we just have 40k or so, not 100,000k.
Reasons over and over, pro city, aging population, city losing over half the population, and on and on, can argue the points forever.
By the way, Duke, Wake, and BC have 40ish stadiums.
And, I’ll agree with Marietta Mike from yesterday I think. I’m gonna take his side on fitting right in with the ACC. Florida State may be sold out, but, I’ve seen Doak Cambell missing quite a few, during the past 10 so-so years, and the same with UNC, and NC St., if they’re not winning, the stadiums upper decks are near empty.
Not disagreeing with the other fella really, if they’re playing well, ya, they might fill em up for a rival. But, if Pitt’s playing well, and playing a rival, we get some people there too.
Hopefully playing well, moving to the ACC will give us a little spike anyhow.
So much for keeping it short.
They raised the exit fees, so, that is very good, but, just in case anyone at either of those schools were still tossing around that idea, that will be the nail in the coffin.
Florida doesn’t want FSU, and VA. won’t let Va.Tech go, but, just for anyone still kicking it around, that will be it.
I saw some talk, if Mizzou goes, the Big East could lose TCU, WVU, Louisville and Cincy, for the Big12, to go back to 12.
Who knows what they’ll do.
Also, don’t sleep on the Big 10 and Missouri. That is a big state, research university the Big 10 would like, but, only if they get ND.
The Big 10 would love Missouri to be the 14th team after ND became the 13th.
ND still not budging, so, Missouri to the SEC seems a little more believable, but, you have to believe, the fellas at the Big 10 are taking notice, that Missouri is about to call it’s shot for the next 40 years or so.
Not gonna happen, but, I’ve said that about a lot of moves I’ve been wrong about. ha ha
that’s because those pesky revenoor men don’t count moonshine
Coming into this season I was expecting to see K’Waun Williams dominate. I read a lot about his pre-season and I’ve heard TG say some good things about him in some of the pressers during the season as well….but I just haven’t seen it thusfar. He’s only a Soph. and I am still very excited about him…but it’s seemed like he’s struggled to me. He may have been the only player that I thought struggled against SF. He took some bad angles and missed a bunch of tackles. Anybody else seeing this?
2nd, I’m expecting a tougher game this Saturday because we are playing a much better defense who can match our physicality.
3rd, I believe Pitt is indeed a pretty good team that is just subject to inconsistencey since the new systems are still works-in-progress. We will go from from 2 steps forward and 1 back, to 3 steps forward an 1 back, to 4 forward an 1 back, etc