Not quite the miserable M*A*S*H unit of last year’s UConn game — and for the season — but geez. Bad things out of the Temple game.
Pitt coach Paul Chryst announced Monday that three players — linebackers Dan Mason and Manny Williams and offensive lineman Ryan Schlieper — would miss the rest of the season with injuries.
Manny Williams got hurt in the Louisville game. An ACL injury that has kept him out of the last few games. He has been trying to rehab, but it isn’t getting that much better so he is opting for the season-ending surgery.
Dan Mason. Yow. Just yow.
Mason returned earlier this season after missing two years with a knee injury, but lacerated his liver making a tackle late in the Temple game. Chryst said he is healing normally, and was optimistic that he could return for spring practice next year.
This just isn’t fair.
After everything Mason has been overcoming to play at this point, to have that happen. Damn.
Then there is Schlieper. He is having surgery on his foot from the injury suffered in the Temple game. So, Pitt’s paper thin O-line is that much thinner just before a trip to South Bend to play the now resurgent Irish and their very, very good defense.
The pride of Lebanon High, Arthur Doakes will start at right guard in place of Schlieper. Go Cedars!
As for the linebackers. Well, there’s always a chance Shane Gordon returns from his high ankle sprain. If not, then the linebackers are just as thin.
Mason, who recorded 21 tackles in two starts this season, was replaced at middle linebacker in the Temple game by Joe Trebitz, a redshirt senior who has never made a career start. This week’s official depth chart lists redshirt junior Shane Gordon as the first-team middle linebacker, but he has not played since suffering a high ankle sprain against Louisville on Oct. 13.
So. So little depth in these units going into the season. Downright scary, now.
The loss of these players presents some untimely challenges just as the team is starting to put it together in advance of the trip to South Bend.
Mason’s loss is especially disheartening. His return made it clear just how average the inside linebacker play has been this year and how big of an impact a playmaker in the middle can have on the entire defense.
That man is an inspiration to everyone on and off the field.
And such a freak injury, after how he rehabbed himself into being able to run again, let alone play football.
Some guys have no luck or just bad luck and others live charmed lives. Never getting hurt, missing a game or hardly a play.
Well get well soon Mr. Mason and Ryan Schlieper of my old HS, North Allegheny. Go Tigers !
Manny I believe is a 5th yr senior so good luck to that young man !
And while I’d love to see K State play for the NC, I don’t think that will happen, as K State – Alabama NC game won’t have gads of appeal.
But a ND – Alabama NC game would be a ratings bonanza. And ND has the easiest of the 3, schedule wise with only 1 ranked team, USC left to play, as they have us, BC & Wake Forest.
The ACC would love to have ND back in annual discussion of National Championship as nobody in the ACC has lived up to any pre-season hype annually, namely Florida State and Va Tech (not so much this year but in previous years).
So I would be shocked if we win this Sat.
After all with all this conference shuffling going on, this is just a business now.
They must have been pretty good if we got over 500 yards of total offense and close to 200 yds on the ground.
May God keep you all Safe !
Watch the perfectly timed and executed screen to Graham to see just how well the line played.
Turnley especially was impressive on that play looking pretty athletic as he got out in front to throw a block downfield at a DB.
It made sense to me and is making me even more excited about the upcoming season.
I have never been known for my optimistic Pitt outlook but consider this at ND. Pitt has trouble with fast, quick teams. ND is not either. Pitt matches up okay lb fo lb on both lines. Pitt has a passing attack that will exploit the one ND weakness, their secondary…and a running game to keep them honest. I never missed a single ND/Pitt game when Dorsett ran all over them. Think our combo of Graham and Shell will do the same.
ND will be flat coming off the spotlight in Okla.
Speaking of which, while ND was much the better team on the field, OK gave up way too early on the run and an average ND secondary was able to sit on the passing routes.
Our defense will have to get off the field on 3rd down, but I think we will give ND fits on Saturday.
Either,
1. Pitt beats Notre Dame
or
2. If Pitt loses, Notre Dame runs the table, goes 12-0, and gets left out of national championship game.
I’m only human. The ND blowhards I have to deal with. Love em’ dearly, but, when it comes to ND, a blow hardy har har to them.
Funny, since they’ve stunk, been mediocre or basically non-relevant the last 20 years, never a peep. Now, suddenly, everyone is supposed to love Notre Dame.
And, they act like last year was Lou Holtz’s National Championship, and skip right over the mediocrity.
Come on Pitt……one effin’ time!!!! One effin’ time!!!!!!!!!!!
Gotta say, Tino has played well this year.
Yes, he still doesn’t hear the rush, and does a couple bonehead moves, but, he has played well.
Those couple early fiasco’s were on the defense.
Just call it like I see it, I think the coaches have helped him tremendously.
I’ve done my share of Tino bashing over the past couple years, this year, can’t do it.
Frankly, he’s played extremely well. IMHO.
or i should say this year and last that is what i ment.
there are 4 teams that we beat on recruiting
1 miami
2 boston
3 wake forest
4 virginia tec
but all the outher ACC teams are as good as us and 4 are better this is based on number of stars
there recruits and ours have.
we may have to step up the recruiting when we are in the ACC or in the years to come will find our selves in the middle of the pack.
I like Art Doakes on the line and he needs to be challenged by Coach Chryst to make a name for himself on Saturday by dominating his opponent on every play. Pitt has nothing to lose on Saturday. I also expect Brian Kelly to keep going for it on 4th down because he thinks he is better than his opponent. Pitt needs to stand up and be counted. LEt’s go Pitt!!
duke has 1 player 5 star 4 who are 4 star
NCS has 5 player who are 4 star
NC HAS 2 who are 5 star and 4 who are 4 stars
something like that in last 2 years
i mean we are as good as most on recruting just not better
am not saying we will be bad just saying that the teams who are on top in the ACC seam to sign mostley 4 and 5 stars so in the furture need more 4 stars less 3 stars if we want to be on top .
We’ve had a top 5, 10, 20 team the last 12 years most of the time.
We have by some accounts, the number one recruit in the country with Adams, by all accounts top 3 or 4.
A top 10 guard or so. Both playing this year.
We have trust in Howland/Dixon. Hard to question them, they did it on the court.
We’re a national power. Can you even believe we can say that?? Pitt basketball is a national power???
Just to prove it, look at last year, and it was a big story, everyone saying “what happened to Pitt this year?” on ESPN, CBS hoops shows.
Going to the ACC is going to help Jamie immensely.
I loved the Big East, we all did, for hoops that is.
The truth is the truth. With us, Syracuse, ND and WVU gone, the BE is now 2nd tier with the A10.
I’m not saying we’ll get all the kids from NYC or Pa, Jersey, etc. etc., but look at it from the kids standpoint.
They want to play in the marquee conference. If they want to stay north, it’s gonna be between us and Syracuse.
They’re not gonna go to UCONN, ST. J’s, G-Town or Villanova. (yes, occaisionally one might, generally speaking).
Some said, Pitt may lose NYC recruiting going to the ACC, I look at it totally opposite.
The kids want to play with Pitt, Syracuse, Duke, UNC, Maryland, Ga. Tech.
Top hoops in the country by far, and I think our recruiting can do nothing but skyrocket.
We gonna be ok FRANKO!!!!!!!!!!
Manti T’eo is a stud linebacker. He will be the difference this week.
ND. No need to repeat gc….Manti T’eo is a stud. Kelly will go for it on every down.
But Pitt has good players too. Neutralize their strengths…lateral speed and sheer talent by slowing down the game; play filed position and do not turn the ball over.
if we can stay in the game thru 3 quarters, we have a shot. If not, we don’t. If we lose, we do it in the first 3 quarters.
hell i have had worse thunder stoems all i got was study rain and not a very hard rain no wind
hope you were all as lucky.
i whish they would get it right they had my wife all upset over nothing.
But we know, nothing is impossible. Or is it anything is possible?
Like the Perfect Storm, this will have to be the Perfect Game by Pitt to pull out the win.
Excellent test of just how brilliant of a Mastermind Chryst can be at this stage.
One thing we do know is that great playmakers rise to the occasion.
Ray Graham is one who comes to mind. Another is Jarred Holley.
On a more macabre note, people have even blown out their rectum and sigmoid colon while waterskiing,,,a waterskiing enema.
So yes, children, be careful out there. And always wear a helmet on a bike. One of my classmates in med school died from a bike mishap.
How Mason was injuried making a tackle from behind like that I find hard to believe. This is really a freakish injury under those conditions. Just bad, bad misfortune. The good news is that he will not require surgery, because a bleeding liver can quickly lead to death if it is not self limiting as apparently this injury was.
Hopefully Dan will make an uncomplicated full recovery and will be back at it come Spring ball. That would be a good thing since this type of injury has the potential to be life threatening.
Frankly, without him I don’t see how anything good happens at ND. I will be there in person hoping to be proven wrong and see an upset with my own eyes, but can’t see how it happens.
Tino has never (and until he does for the first time) can never lead a team to a win when the pressure is on. Did he play well so far this year, absolutely yes. Has he been the type of player to lead the Panthers to a win when the game is tight and the pressure is on, absolutely not (see Syracuse debacle for most recent example). Pitt is not going to jump out to any 10-14 point leads against ND which is the only time Tino seems to be comfortable and not succumb to pressure.
All the best to all the players who were injured, and to Dan Mason, God speed in your recovery. You will be missed enormously, but hopefully only until next year.
Football is an emotionally charged, momentum driven sport. It may sound corny but “win one for Mason” might get this team to put it all out there against ND, because I totally agree BTW with the above two posts. How Mason has come back to perform at this level is unheard of and pretty unbelievable. Now it sucks that he is denied his playing time due to this new injury, very frustrating for him I’m sure. Can it be used as a motivator for the rest of the team is the question.
Dan would make an excellent LB coach I believe when he is done playing, which I hope is after a long NFL career.
Perhaps he could play again this year if we make it to a late season bowl game. Since I have never heard of this type of football injury in the 44 + years I’ve been watching games. I have no clue how long a liver takes to recover from being lacerated (and they didn’t mention how large the laceration is) without surgery. Maybe he has a fast-healing liver, who knows.
A speedy recovery to you Mr. Mason !
The Men Who Made America is the name of the show.
But the under current of the drama is RIVALRY. How that dynamic forces greatness from within.
We need a rival folks.
Me. I choose Stanford nationally and PSU locally.
But we need someone or something to push us.
Mason is the rare guy who pushes from within. Watching him play after his injury was watching someone who was experiencing pure joy.
Dan stays with this program forever. NEVER let him get away.
You build programs with heart and sweat and determination. Get a core group of people like Dan and set your sights on your rivals.
I am not as interested in the final score on Saturday as I am in the way we play. Challenge ND. Hit them at every legal opportunity. Make them bleed. Make them hurt. We are virtually untouchable. We have been beaten, scorned and unlucky. WTF can Notre Dame do to us that hasn’t been done? Not an effin thing.
Time to kick some ass.
I am with steve1. Win it for #40!
Brian Kelly always told his teams that Pitt was soft and they would crumble if pressured and hit consistently.Pitt needs to Mason up and jar ND all game. AS I see it, that is the only way we win. kick em when they’re up, kick em when they’re down, kick em when they’re up, kick em all around!
Get the T-Shirts rolling!
Who will execute better?
Who will play with more intensity?
Who will play error free?
Who wants it more?
By game’s end, these questions will be answered. YSU had a great victory over a Pitt team that thought that they could just mail it in for the win against a FSC foe. Not so fast my friend. We got socked in the mouth and that defeat should be a bitter reminder to respect your opponent no matter who they are.
This week WE are YSU. Do we bring it? Notre Dame has played games close all season. No one is giving Pitt a serious upset consideration, Vegas line Pitt +17. No one thought Pitt could beat Va Tech either. Notre Dame is beatable. We have beaten them, in their house, recently, for some fantastic victories. Pitt’s goal, at the end of this game, should be that for every Notre Dame player to feel as if for the previous 60 minutes that they have been “Facin Mason”.
Shock the world Pitt. REMEMBER 13-9. Win one for Mason. Hail to Pitt.
Just. Watch.