I won’t even pretend to write that I saw that coming.
I made the weak jokes about putting members of the 2001-03 coaching staff and team on the sideline for this game, but to see to this happen is utterly befuddling. (If anyone has pictures of Walt Harris or players from those squads on the sidelines, please share.)
The quandary this puts me in is that I watched the first half of the game on DVR delay because of a surprise project at work. I caught up by halftime. I panicked after halftime when VT returned the punt for TD (by a former Pitt commit no less). I paused the game and found excuses to do some dinner prep that could have waited until after the game. And sure enough, Pitt stayed in control to win this game.
So, now what? Intellectually I say that I have nothing to do with the on the field activity. Emotionally, I just don’t want to eff with this. Okay, it doesn’t hurt that my wife is calling in an overrule to say I have to miss next week to visit inlaws
Heading into this game, I said Tino Sunseri needed to have a USF-in-20111 game. And he did. He was outstanding. Does it erase everything before? Of course not. But the few errors he did make in this game can’t be claimed as damning.
Basically, Sunseri could have gotten a 300 yard game if Paul Chryst wanted him to. Just as he could have had let Ray Graham have a 1oo yard game. Neither did, but that was individual goals. I’m rather certain both are happy to give those numbers up to get the win. Especially against a top #15 team. about the team goals.
The defense, though, finally showed up. Huge game for them. The D-line got some pressure up front without blitzing, and the secondary reallymade strides.
Still digesting. Debating about whether to sober up. More later.
Huge win for Pitt.
link to pittsburgh.rivals.com
1) ENERGY from the players! Kids were playing their butts off and never gave up
2) BELIEF from the players and coaches that they could win! This team has lacked real confidence for a few years now. Yesterday they punched Vtech in the mouth and kept going at them with the belief that they would win
3) FINISHING from the players and coaches. When VTech attempted to make a run at PITT (and we all held our breath after the INT late in the game) the team stood their ground and refused to lose. Coaches didn’t let one get away (Wanny and Fraud).
4) YOUTH -Freshman are making real contributions that AFFECT the game. It is one thing to look good and it is another thing to affect the game.
Overall my belief is that in a few year we may be looking back at this game as the moment that PITT regained its identity. PITT stills has a big name here in the south and yesterday the win was all over the news here in ACC country.
HTP
2 Shell is the real deal
3 Ray is not 100% but an inspiration to all of us
4 Kudos to the defense and o-line
5 Shannahan is a stud
6 Let’s get to 2-2 and kick butt in the BE
Say what you want about tino, but he’s one of the ballsiest kids ive ever seen in a pitt uniform. he’s taken a kordell-like assault of criticism and blame and he’s never acted with anything but class & guts….even as the fans & coaches have turned on him despite 3 coaching staffs determining that he’s the best option. maybe they made that determination because he’s the only one that has the guts to be able to weather one of the worst storms of any program in the country (2nd worst…thanks joe pa).
tino might come out next week and look terrible, but when you hear those boo-birds you wont be hearing them out of section 130 row bb. in 5 years, whether we overcome this coaching carousal or not, people will be thankful that we had a qb tuff enough handle this bullshit with dignity and class that pitt fans can be proud of.
PITT has sentimental support by many people in the South. PITT for some reason is one of those teams that non-PITT people love to cheer for. Not sure why but the grass roots support has always been there from non-PITT people around the country. I was at an event earlier in the week and a guy came up to me and told me a story. He is a Gtech alum who grew up in N.J. (Lives in Atlanta). He told me that when he was a kid that two teams were ALWAYS on TV (PITT and Penn State). PITT media coverage over the decades has created a positive image.
This AM one of my co-workers (born an raised in rural georgia, educated in the south) came up to me and said I can’t wait to see PITT at Bobby Dodd (Gtech stadium). So the support is there. We are tougher on PITT than most outsiders.
The general feeling here in Atlanta from ACC fans is that PITT is a very positive addition to the ACC and they don’t expect to run over us in football. In basketball there is a deference to us with our recent success.
Sorry for not quite answering your question.
Most people here in Atlanta (ACC fans and SEC fans) realize that PITT is going for transition. Vtech is a legitimate team in most ACC and SEC eyes so PITT win will go far.
Remember that the winner of the Vtech or Gtech games each year is usually the winner of the coastal division of the ACC each year. PITT’s win is being view as a legitimate win and not a fluke. The manner in which PITT won the game essentially answers that question for everyone. There are games that are viewed as flukes (YSU over PITT, James Madison over Vtech, App St over Michigan) and this one isnt.
Again, PITT fans are a lot tougher on PITT than outsiders are on PITT. Most outsiders have positive feeling for PITT. ESPN will tell you that based on their viewership during PITT games.
“PITT mauled Virginia Tech”
“As first wins go, this is a doozy. As first wins between future division rivals go, it’s a shot across the bow.”
I have been one of the largest supporters of our new coach and although i am not christening him as the next chas noll yet, one need only look at Wisconsin again this week to feel the impact of change. Only 16 points for that squad and they were lucky to win.
The defense played with passion. I agree their qb did not particularly play great, but one of the reasons in my opinion was that we hit him hard when he scrambled and he beacame gun shy. I think the early hit by LB Williams on the sideline was a statement that our guys were going to hit him all day! Kick em when your up, kick em when your down, kick em when your up, kick em all around.
Now, our players need to build on the confidence and not get cocky. It was not a perfect game yesterday, but a very good one. Build on it. Focus harder this week! Kudos to Shell, Street, Sunseri, Shanahan, Graham and the OL. Fullback too!
I mean over the last 30-40 years, Pitt is usually never a dud for ratings for the tv people.
Don’t know why. Now, in our own stadium and traveling to bowl games???? LOL
Maybe some nostalgia from people for Dorsett, Green, Marino??
Pitt was always on.
It starts with the backs. When Shell and Graham are running hard, it takes the pressure off Tito and he can relax and be a decent QB.
I’ve spent a lot of time in that area, been to a few games, and I have a lot of respect for the VT program and their followers. Good people in general, I hope they bounce back and have a great season.
Buuut… HAIL TO PITT!!
If you win, Pittsburghers will show up.
What a thrill … Biggest win I’ve seen at Heinz Field since the 2003 game against the Hokies.
His response when questioned about his offense deflating against Mizzou?
“I’ll be real honest, man. I had my hands full with the special teams and defense,” Graham said about the play-calling. “One of the things you got to do is you’ve got to let people do their job. (Norvell) did pretty good his first two weeks. He’ll do great in his career here. We’ll look at it and evaluate it obviously. I’m not going to nitpick what he does.”
The guys is a real tool. We are so fortunate for him to have left and Chryst to now be in charge. As they say… “count your blessing” PITT fans.
They were discussing PSU and Pitt as against that backdrop.
I will say about Graham what I say about PSU which is what Grant said about R.E. Lee.
Stop worrying about him and start worrying about what we do. Then and only then will you achieve greatness.
Or, as we would say back in the day, WTF are you worried about him for?
Smiley did Pitt a great disfavor by bringing him here in the first place.
Nevertheless, I am thrilled to have Chryst here>
OL: dorian johnson and jaryd-jones smith
DL: kenton gibbs, justin moody, and aaron hush
LB: al-rasheed benton
WR: robert foster
This of course is subject to change depending on how pitt continues to develope this year
But we are not worrying about him, we are not fretting.
We’re simply wishing that his true self be finally exposed and he be given his just deserts.
Chris Peak of rivals said signing class of 22-24..
that means Chryst will be asking 4-6 players to leave the program. By all counts, he only has 18 scholarships to offer.
I had quite a few comments concerning my Pitt gear that I was wearing. All positive, about how Pitt came out of nowhere to smack Va Tech upside the head. One guy in particular at the halfway house at the course made me laugh when he asked me “what did those boys eat for breakfast on Saturday, I could use some of that whatever it was”?
Great day to be a Pitt fan.
Maybe this past Saturday will be a turning point of greater focus and maturity for the remainder of his season/career, but don’t take it to the bank just yet. Let’s see him do it more than two games a year and then we’ll be rollin’.
Add, “he is still inside my head” to your list of grievances against Graham.
That means he wins.
Look forward to reading your suggestions….don’t hold your breath waiting for the athletic department to adopt any.
After all, they are the professionals. All those empty yellow seats over the last 10 plus years are merely an illusion. Pedersons priority when he returned triumphantly from Nebraska was to increase attendance.
Me? I’m just a paying customer and do what I am told to
do.
