“[Graham] could recruit commitment even if [he] couldn’t understand it” — 85mf
While waiting for the Chryst presser yesterday, a Twitter discussion broke out about how the Pitt recruiting class was handling all of this.
One of the remarkable things about this insanity of the past week plus, is that the rather quality recruiting class Pitt put together — stayed together. The players may have been recruited by Graham and many of the “mercenaries,” but they have hung tight with Pitt. Even before the decision on the next head coach was made, they were stating strong support to still come to Pitt.
This, of course, is in stark contrast to last year. When as soon as Wannstedt was fired, many of the recruits started looking elsewhere and reopening recruitment. Many factors in last year’s issues. One, Wannstedt was fired, so Pitt was the bad guy to the recruits. In their view, Pitt broke the commitment to the coaches — and by extension to them. The other was that many of those assistants who were cleared out of Pitt quickly landed elsewhere — especially in New Jersey. That made it easy for several to just switch commitments — especially since they had already been recruited by Rutgers and others in the East.
By contrast, all the departing coaches this year, headed for points in Arizona. Very, very different.
Chris Peak of PantherLair, also noted that the top recruits in Pitt’s class — Shell, Voytik, and other key recruits — after the initial shock, decided that they were sticking with Pitt. But more importantly, they stayed in touch with the other recruits in the class to keep it together (Insider subs).
[Chris] Davis and his twin brother Demitrious (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown-Fitch) committed to Pitt during the summer and, like many of Pitt’s 19 commitments, the two remain committed. Included in that group are ESPNU 150 running back Rushel Shell and four-star quarterback Chad Voytik and four-star offensive tackle Adam Bisnowaty.
“We sat down with Rushel Shell and Chad Voytik and Adam Bisnowaty from the class,” Chris Davis Sr., the twins’ father, said, “and we’re gonna stay 100 percent committed. We’re gonna keep this class together and see who comes in.”
At the very least, they prevailed upon them to mostly wait and see who was hired. There were some exceptions, but even then they hedged.
The Chryst hiring, has been met with strongly positive reviews. Guys reaffirming their commitment.
“I’ve been with Pitt all year,” Geter said via text message. “Not changing now.”
Last week, Geter spoke with a handful of Pitt commitments, including ESPNU 150 running back Rushel Shell, and all committed to sticking with the Panthers.
Geter does not know much about Chryst but is “dying to meet him.”
“Maybe he’s going to bring some excitement to the team,” Geter said. “[I have a] good feeling about him!”
Geter, a Western Pennsylvania product, committed to nearby Pitt in June. His teammate Deaysean Rippy, a four-star linebacker, is undecided but considering Pitt.
The recruits are happy, which is big.
So, from that respect the Paul Chryst is off to a strong start
Hopefully Chryst and Co. will finish strong with a few more linemen and linebackers.
What’s the word on Mason, are his nerves healing?
Also has Murphy been doing his homework and will he stay next year? He could really help the pass rush.
Any word on the transfers and how they look in practice.
Optimism Rules! Let’s go Pitt!
I’ll be at the BBVA bowl game and hope Pitt starts the new year on the winning track. HTP!
Kyle Dodson, big 4 star OT from Ohio, gave Wisc. a verbal this summer. If Bostad moves here there could be a chance Pitt could snake a top recruit. Really make up for losing out on Tavon Rooks.
GRASS IS GREENER, BABY!
is looking at montana OC jonathan smith to coach the QBs at pitt.
Nontheless, I like many others here really enjoy your posts (wish I could say that for mine) .. and want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas.
I second the notion of wanting to move back to PA. My wife and I are both from western PA and plan to move back in the next couple of years due to family and weather. It is darn hot here in the summer and late spring and early fall. At least I will not have to worry about getting season tickets when I move back.
great article on the future of Pitt recruiting on panthersprey
but i was not a graham apologist i know you did not say i was.
but i want to go on record that i said if graham
did not win 9 games that he sucked and if any one looks up old posts i would offten say that he should get no slack no slack
i will admit i backed off near end of season becuse people were beating me down becuse of my stance. but i all ways said no slack for TG
Wbb HAVE A GOOD X MAS AND MY GOD KEEP YOU SAFE.
Feel bad for Brock DiCicco though.
Laugh if you will but I already bought my tickets to the Bowl Game. Looks like more fun now.
Fraud Graham is NOT typical of Texas. He is hated in the Houston area for the way he treated Rice-big talk, lies then snuck out of town after one year to Tulsa.
I think the most important forthcoming news over the next week or so, is not the recruiting, but the staff that Chryst is putting together. Maybe next week we will be hearing about who will be joining him here.
have had no one say if they like him or not.
or i should say he is being looked at bye our coach.
FWIW, Leftwich is still OL coach here thru the bowl, and Graham already hired another OL coach, thus, he is available. Obviously, Chryst would like to bring the UW line coach who has a great reputation … but there is no guarantee that he will come … same for TE/recruting coordinator Rudolph (Belle Vernon native) and Partridge (former Pitt coach) .. all would be welcome additions.
Adam Pankey one of our 3 OT recruits is going to visit WVU in jan.
may be our new coach dident call or text him you know how kids are they hurt easy. or may be he liked TG who knows
hate to lose a kid that big 6 foot 4 300 pounds
The good news is that Paul Chryst will have open slots to fill with kids he wants to have on the roster. He already has eight scholarships open, more or less, and that may grow a bit. My hope is that if a kid is dead serious about taking off he do it as soon as he can so that gives PC more time to maneuver.
I have a feeling though the fence sitters may be sway to stay once they & thier parents have a sit-down with Chryst.
I do know that PITT has already stated that they will honor every scholarship offered and accepted by a committed recruit. That is the right and proper thing to do regardless if he doesn’t necessarily fit Chryst’s plans. To not do so would not only be unethical but would burn bridges we don’t have to burn.
I’ve a feeling that when the dust settles and Chryst can get up to speed with recruiting targets we’ll be more than satisfied with his first class.
FRANKCAN – the transfers we have coming in are already on the roster and have either been playing or have been practicing while sitting out the required one year period. Some of those transfers may take off I think. EJ Banks and Cullen Christen both had PITT in thier final top three so I think they will be happy to stay, plus they are very good players and can compete for playing time right off the bat.
Ray Vinopal who has no ties and came here only for Graham may not feel the same way. Anderson, who came in late in may look around and see his meal ticket gone and want to get playing time elsewhere.
Zach Brown is in his last season. He’s in PITT’s Grad School already so perhaps he stays at PITT in a Grad Ass’t role under PC and finishes his Masters. That would be great as he’s a top shelf young man.
Anyone have any news on Coach Patterson? The fact that he is still here means he might consider staying or …..He’s packing up Toddy’s stuff and have it shipped to Tempe.
I’m hoping he gets a look from Chryst and stays as I think our D this year was way better than any of us thought it would be.
Who knows maybe he’s ready to part ways with Graham and make a GOOD name for himself.
i lived in the south to hot and to many bugs
i lived in southwest down there were TG just went it was 122 degrees i still hve the tea shirt that said i lived thru 122.
i also went thru 2 hercanes one in alabama andone in florida.
it is brown and dusty in az no rivers no green trees no hills and no one in az talks to there man or lady next door walls between each house 7 foot high and the trafic 4 time as bad as pittsburgh in summer you go from air cond house to air con car you dont go out in summer unless your nuts you know what they say you can allways put more clothes on but once you are bare you are bare, and pittsburg was votrd the best place to live 8 out of 10 years icould go on and on but i wont.
NYC an easy drive away for a long weekend anytime you want.
Tons of beaches up and down the coast for vacations anytime you want.
Mountains close if you want.
Nations capital and Inner Harbor easy drives for long weekends anytime you want.
Yep, Pittsburgh is very provincial, I’ll give you that, and one of the main reasons I love Pittsburgh.
Not to mention 3 major sports teams, Pitt, artsy-fartsy if thats your thing, and a major tech region.
Yeti, it’s your opinion, and I respect that, I really do.
I’ll tell ya though, you couldn’t pay me enough money to raise my children in Florida, California or New York City. Great places to visit.
Psssst, don’t tell anyone, I like it that our traffic isn’t that heavy compared to other metro cities!!!!
I am definitely on board with the Chryst hire. It appears like a move in the right direction. It’s good to see that the recruits see it that way too.
