Okay. So it looks like there is just a little bit of turmoil at the moment.
Rushel Shell, who would be Pitt’s marquee running back in its inaugural season in the ACC, is considering transferring to another school and is meeting Wednesday with coach Paul Chryst, a source close to the team told the Tribune-Review.
Another source said Shell, a rising sophomore who was one of Pitt’s most prized recruits in many years, has not asked for his transfer papers. Shell and his mother Toni Zuccaro did not return telephone calls to the Tribune-Review. A university spokesman declined comment.
Yeah. It looks like that is going to happen. Not sure what happened to all the desire to be close to his daughters and all that stuff. Maybe it still is a factor. Maybe he changed his mind about that.
As to the why. Well…
This all started when Shell had multiple disagreements with Head Coach Paul Chryst and his staff. Shell has said that apparently Chryst and his staff possibly have been talking about the players behind their backs. It all seems like things escalated very quickly and came out of no where, but it looks looks like Shell might just be as good as gone.
We were contacted by some of our Inside Pitt sources yesterday night about the news. Shell did not practice yesterday supposedly because of an “Excused absence” but in actuality Shell came to the UPMC facility and asked for his transfer papers, then proceeded to get on the Pitt players shuttle bus and go back to his dorm. Later that night, Shell addressed some of his teammates regarding his situation. As of last night Shell is set to transfer to a school in either California or Arizona.
Another source we spoke to last night, spoke to Shell’s family and said that Arizona State could possibly be the program to land Shell.
Ummmm. I don’t see Shell going to Arizona State. Not with the scorched earth policy of Todd Graham. Pitt has to release Shell, and there is no way I see them saying, :”Yeah, sure. Go join Fraud.”
We’ve all heard the rumors and reports going back to his high school days. That Shell hated putting in the practice. That he was averse to the weightroom. That even as a freshman at Pitt, he got into Chryst’s doghouse because of his (lack of) effort in practice.
Maybe that was part of it. Maybe when Devin Street was talking about passion and effort, he was taking a subtle shot at Shell.
Street was pretty honest after practice when talking about the passion and excitement level on this team Specifically, he spoke about recognizing that the little things Pitt does this spring will have ramifications on the field next fall.
“No, I don’t think there is enough,” Street said. “And that’s what we have to get to. There’s a passion about coming out here and playing, but there’s not a passion about doing everything right. I feel like guys love football, but we have to be willing to do all the right things, because all the right things will lead us to great things. It’s not just the big things; it’s the little things. It’s the film study, it’s going to class, it’s the little things that he’s telling us to do that we have to start buying into to come together and be a complete team.”
Maybe Shell changes his mind. It seems unlikely, and I’m not holding my breath. But at the same time, I’m not going to go full-on flamethrower on the kid when there isn’t enough info yet. Disappointed. Frustrated. But, going to wait.
Oh, and if that wasn’t enough. Deaysean Rippy is apparently also looking to transfer. To West Virginia no less. When Rippy chose Pitt in 2012, it was down to Pitt or WVU. He would be another loss. Not as obvious as Shell, but Rippy was a 4-star recruit. He was expected to be a help at linebacker. If not in contention to start.
The one thing that Rippy and Shell have in common is that they had a history in high school of people questioning their desire. Their motor and effort.
I don’t know if that is what is happening. That Chryst is weeding out players that don’t want to practice hard to earn the playing time. Regardless of their talent and potential.
That’s a nice narrative. I wouldn’t mind believing it. But, again, it is a little too soon to jump to that sort of conclusion.
If there’s any truth to the whole “Coaches talking about players behind their backs” as a major reason for Shell leaving, well I guess I’m just stunned. What the hell does a player think coaches talk about? Of course they’re going to be discussing these guys, it’s their friggin jobs!
The program is more important than a few individuals. You hate to see highly touted talent leave, but at the end of day, you need and want kids that want to be there.
sets of rules. Hope he stays and conforms to team rules
otherwise good luck in finding a school/coach who will
Employ a double standard.
Shells immaturity is self-evident. The talking about players behind their backs reason, don’t float with me. He may be a good to someday great RB but the junior don’t call the shots and as was said leaving someone with his state of mind on the team will ultimately be detrimental…
Maurice Clarett
Some teenagers don’t get that at the ripe old age of 18 or 19 just yet. Some never do.
All I know is the ones that get it early and invest in the concept usually turn out to be the successful ones in anything that they set their sites on as adults. Showing up and putting in the time makes all the difference in the world between success and failure.
Transfering = quitting in many instances. Different venue same rules of engagement. Hello, its called LIFE!
But I believe in HCPC. Think Shell is young and probably about to make one of the biggest mistakes of life. Losing a year of playing when your a starter just makes no sense when you could be headed somewhere. Next thing you know you hurt a knee and youre 2 years removed from the game. Ask Tom Savage how much can go wrong with a transfer.
Good job, Pitt fans!
As for Shell, I agree that we don’t know nearly enough to make a judgement on reasons or causes. But the warning signs certainly point to certain conclusions.
I have wondered at Street’s and Chryst’s comments about attitude and heart and dedication and wondered who the problems were.
If I had to choose between talent and heart, I’d choose heart every time. It certainly helps when you have some players with both.
If Shell does leave, I wish him the best. For the sake of his family, he needs to give 100% whether it is in a Pitt uniform or not.
you can block were they transfer to you dont have to let them out there loi
so if it is me i say no AZ SCHOOL.
the football team even if the coach is wrong you cant admit it.
so for the better of the whole team he has to toe the line or leave but not to a az school.
Marcus Dupree was a man of vastly greater talent than Rushel. He left Oklahoma and they have done well since.
I am sure if Mr. Shell decides to leave that Pitt will be fine.
HCPC has a history of developing 1,000 yard rushers. Sometimes several in a year. He will do it again with they guys who want to play.
As more light is shone on this situation, I’m actually beginning to feel sorry for Shell. Looks like he is just about ready to make one of the worst decisions of his young life. Misguided at best, down right self centered and stupid at worst.
@ Pitt Dad, you took the words right out of my mouth, “spare tire”? I was kind of thinking “pudgy” myself. This is the steamroller running back that is going to make us forget who Ray Graham was this season? Something definitely is starting to smell in Denmark, and it ain’t Chryst’s coaching staff.
I say this because Harris would not release Getsy and he had to pay his tuition his first year at Akron before going on scholarship. (Kind of ironic that JD Brookhart ended up as the Zips coach and eventually brought Walt in for his last year.)
vb (tr)
1. to make dirty; soil
2. to reduce the brightness or lustre of
3. to sully (often in the phrase besmirch (a person’s) name)
grew QB the way outhers grew corn
here is a small list
johnny unitas
joe namath
dan marino
jim kelly
charlie batch
george blanda
babe parilli
terry hanratty
tom clements
joe montana
jonny lujack
dave havern
chuck fusina
john hufnagel
mac bulger
alex van pelt
tyler palko
bruce gradkowski
fred mazurek
tom yewcic
gus frerotte
i am sure i left some off but you get the idea
Aristotle
Some things haven’t changed in the last 2,500 years.
Stay tuned to “The Pitt and the Restless” Never a dull moment even though we are five months away from the first game. WAIT, that’s it! Pederson concocted this whole plan to generate free publicity for Pitt. He has a team of writers leaking this dialogue to “WPIAL Insider” to keep the buzz going about the upcoming season. Then when Shell stays everyone is happy again and the buzz grows.
Maybe this will sell the upper bowl sideline seats. A couple more stories this summer to generate more ticket sales and the whole stadium will be sold out. This man is brilliant! And to think some here on this blog malign him.
Be sure to tune in next week, same time, same drama.
Shell was suspended once, was lazy in high school, and is now wavering on his commitment to Pitt.
Au revoir, mon ami.
This is a big fator why Pitt cannot compete with the big boys.
BTW, you omitted Pryor who is high on several all-time oSU lists, and won back-to-back BCS Bowl MVPs
You can sit a year. We’ve wasted a year on you that we could have spent on someone else.
Want to miss class, here’s the door.
Sit out a year.
BTW, OSU made a huge mistake with Pryor. You can make a good argument it cost them a national title shot.
Leave boys….Pitt doesn’t need you.
Tony D
Curtis Martin
Lesean McCoy
Dion Lewis
Craig iron head Heyward
Billy West
Ray Graham
Once again, I’m sure I missed a lot here but if shell doesn’t want to be a part of rb university then I don’t know what to tell him!
It sucks but we will be fine. We should have the best o-line we’ve had in years and Bennett isn’t that bad.
To be honest I have more concerns with the D and House in his first year as the DC than I have with Bennett as our starting RB.
Joined the military and had basically the same “don’t care much” attitude until I met and married my wife. Going from that to being a husband and a father changed my attitude toward life literally overnight. Which is why I can both understand these kid’s attitudes and condemn them at the same time.
Football aside, I hope that Paul Chryst sat down with Shell and laid out the law as it pertains to staying in the PITT football program. It isn’t enough to be talented, one has to be dedicated also.
