Apparently Todd Thomas will meet directly with Coach Chryst to discuss terms of his surrender return.
Thomas, who was planning to meet with Chryst on Thursday, is scheduled to graduate from Pitt in December with a degree in administration of justice.
Coach Chryst said after Thursday’s practice that he had no news despite reports of Thomas returning.
Thomas’ old high school basketball coach has been working hard on both getting through to Thomas
“I tried to tell him life isn’t always fair, and there are some things you have to deal with as a man,” Biega said. “Everybody is happier today. For him to walk away from a program he has invested so much into didn’t make sense.”
And trying to make his case in the media. I’d have to say he’s done a good job.
“It doesn’t take much to push his buttons, and they’ve been pushed,” Biega said. “He’s ready to go.
“I just told him to be himself, be the guy they recruited and do it at 500 miles an hour. That’s all he ever does.”
Despite the melodrama of the past few days, Biega praised Thomas’ character dating to his time at Beaver Falls.
“He fought through all the injuries, stayed loyal to the school through the coaching changes, was due to graduate, hasn’t gotten into one ounce of trouble,” Biega said.
“This is just another step on his journey, and I hope he continues his path.”
He is right. Thomas had to do prep school to qualify for Pitt. He’s on track to graduate a semester early. He’s had two ACL tears — playing through one of them. The worst thing that can be said about Thomas in his time at Pitt, is that it seems like he is capable of doing more.
This is not a Rushel Shell situation where Shell quit. Transferred and then changed his mind months later. At worst it is like in the spring when Shell and Deaysean Rippy were thinking about leaving. In both cases it was clear that Chryst gave them some time to decide before fully cutting them loose.
Thomas had a bad reaction. A clear overreaction. No disputing that. Whether he felt disrespected or mistreated, it doesn’t matter. He made a mistake, and it looks as though he is willing to own it.
I can’t help but think back to a training camp years past when Pat Bostick abruptly departed the team as a freshman. He had his own issues to work out first, but was allowed to return.
Thomas will still have to face his teammates. He will have win back their trust. Same with the coaches. He will have to earn his spot. He should have the chance.
…. it is shaped and guided by the owner of the blog. I suggest the owner monitor the interactions and just f$#%’n vaporize the bad actors that show up and act bad consistently… its obvious and the criteria is the opinion of the blog owner, period… no one will notice their blocked… and if I don’t like the choice of the blog owner then I go somewhere else…
yeah, and its not for us commentators to set criteria or pick who is in or out… Chas, just do the deed dude…
2. If the libertarian route be taken… ok, that’s cool… but then folks have to stop bitch’n about the prick… or please….
…. just ignore him/them!!!
Chas/justin start with a good post.. then the moron makes the predictable stupid comment and people react to him… now he is the center of attention and acts out… and people react again!…. the stream turns off into stupid land.
F$%^ him…. ignore him… or Chas… just get’r done…
the notion that pathological people are killing Pitt blogs around town because no one takes control is too sad…
… I guess kinda like the Pitt team before Sheriff Chryst started laying down the law???
or you if you dont like what he says dont read him.
and DAN you know better how many times have you and i been attack bye closed minds.
so stop DR TOM BEHAVE ALL OF YOU BEHAVE peace brothers peace let PITT DAN 83 SPEAK .
no fighting.
besides he keeps things from being boring
and some times when it becomes drivel i stir the
pot myself just to wake you all up so peace disagree with out name calling.
Hail to Pitt!
Hail to Pitt!
Is everyone here just overlooking, whether by mistake or on purpose, what Devin Street was quoted as saying right after that practice?
“Redshirt senior Devin Street said he was sad to see Thomas go, but reiterated that team unity was more important than any one player.
“You know what? That’s part of it,” Street said. “I can’t do anything about it. Some guys got to go. He wasn’t on board, so I can’t do anything about it. I can just control the controllables and rally the guys who want to be here.”
Chryst inherited a roster split pretty clearly between the Wannstedt recruits and the players who were recruited by Graham over the last 2011 and 2012 recruiting seasons. Don’t twist this – I am not saying that all the DW recruits are guys with an attitude that needs to change, not at all. But it is completely normal to see factions appear after a change of leadership and that is what we have seen over the last two years. It happens all the time in industry and when their is a change of command in the military.
Clearly some of the remaining DW recruits either didn’t fully accept the change and/or just didn’t want to be on the roster any longer. We have had a lot of that since DW was fired and to an extent the turnover doesn’t surprised me a bit. That is what happens when the program is in disarray at the top spot.
Everyone thinks that Thomas decision to leave was a knee jerk reaction and it some ways I agree. But a player who is “all in” with a new coach and a different management and leadership style doesn’t do what Thomas did… that had to be just an inch under the surface for something as minor as practicing with the second team on the first day of practice is.
On a separate note the problem with Dan83 is that you get 90% unmitigated bullshit and then you get that 10% of spot on observation that make it worth reading his comments. He was 100% correct about Shell’s attitude in HS and even before Shell put on a PITT helmet he said Shell wouldn’t last at PITT and that was proven to be true. My problem with him is that he posts continually saying the same thing over and over again and really can’t seem to find anything positive to say about this new staff at all.
That in itself in total unrealistic. Take the blinders off Dan83 and really think about the issues before you post the first thing that pops into your head.
Consider:
– Just 2 years ago at this site, most on this site were totally enamored with the new high-octane offense and especially the man who brought it here
– Just 3 years ago at this tme, most on this site were enamored by the coach who finally seemed to built a real program, coming off a double-digit win season and putting together a legit Top 15 recruiting class.
– Just 4 years ago at this time, most were calling for the replacement of the incumbent QB, coming off a dreadful bowl performance, to be replaced by an untested (RS) freshman QB
I take no issue with supporting the current coach and giving him a chance to prove himself. However, to blindly support him and not to take in account what appear to be some faults. For example, it may be entirely plausible that he to improve his player handling skills, it may well be a work in progress.
The trouble with Dan83 is that he always seems to be negative and to take joy in cutting up the program. I believe the best way to handle him is to just ignore him.
I read over on Cardiac Hill that McKensie’s recent visit down to VT made an impression and now that school is on the top of his list. It is a beautiful campus and they do get it going down there for game day, no disputes about that. It is a good ACC road trip destination for those of you in Pittsburgh being an easy drive down interstates all the way through some very pretty country. Blacksburg however is in the middle of nowhere, so book your reservations as soon as the schedule comes out or else you’ll find yourself staying in Roanoke an hour away due to the lack of motel accommadations on game weekends.
I guess that we’ll just have to go down there amd beat them Hokies once again to swing the momentum back to Pitt as his favorite pick again. I have no idea why we seem to own the Hokies. On paper, we should have lost the last 4 games against them, but what do I always say????
the crux of the matter is “kill joy”…. joy in being a Pitt fan talking,,, debating,,,, about Pitt.
when that is happening those responsible for the community need to assert control of their community… I’m still just a visitor… folks have been here for years…
so either
– eye in the sky hit “delete”
– or folks here total “ignore” the kill joy…
as for why I drink koolaid right now:
Its the first real season of a new era…
its training camp….
everyone is winning a superbowl, world series, stanley cup, national championship. etc…. in training camp/spring training etc…
if we can enjoy the moment now when will we??
Good points on Thomas as this couldnt be an isolated moment… something has been brewing at least in his head.
All this stuff,… and just how hard it has been for Chryst to fully impose his authority… makes the Heyward hire understandable.
he was the wrong guy, over his head… but now it seems I can see what they wanted a hard ass coach.
PC’s approach should be much better. … everyone should have watched that video link I think Emel put up at Chryst and Whisky and the player comments…. very insightful.
have a good weekend… to everyone….
He was of course right about Shell being a prima donna. However, despite the fact that Shell was being recruited by the likes of Bama and OSU, Joe D insisted that Shell’s talent was overblown and he would be a disappointment ‘on the field.’ He kept harping about the fact that Shell wouldn’t attend any of these national camps where he would be measured against other blue chips.
C’mon Todd, suck it up, say your sorry and get back to work.
Like most here, I am unabashed passionate Pitt Fan, and always want our teams to do better.
Whether you like/dislike Chryst doesn’t matter, in my opinion if you are a Pitt fan, you should be rooting for him to do well.
If you are rooting for him to fail to prove your negative opinion of him, I’m not sure you are a Pitt Fan.
I guess that is ok, maybe there should be a site for Pitt haters, it might be very active.
I am for free speech, so let JoeD exercise his.
he is allways fair plus this site would be boring as hell is we all thought and said the same thing
let dan 83 speak if you dont like what he says dont read it
Isn’t it something that 2 guys who had to persevere injuries for much of their Pitt careers have all of the sudden become trouble in their 5th year of the program?
One point that I believe needs to be made is this … I know everyone naturally is on the side of the coach when problems arise, and I am that way to a certain extent. But I look back to some of the decisions the coach has made, especially taking over 2 months through the critical part of the recruiting season, only to promote an inexperienced coach from within … I tend to believe this guy well need to hone is management skills some.
There are several examples, especially in Pitt history, where a successful coordinator doesn’t become a really good HC. Of course, that remains to be seen with PC, but by no means should he be above criticism.
should be removed from this site.
i one thought you were a kid and said a kid should not be on here.
but i did not ask any one to remove you or him .
and if you will remmber outher then thinking you were a kid and saying so it was you who lost it and got wild and ctazy and and i just responded.
i most times dont read you becuse i find you to be like pittDAN83 only you go the outher way then he does.
so even thou most times i dont like what you say i would never try to stop you i just dont most times read what you say.
if you remmber i said i would not read you and
would not read me we would for most part ignore
each outher.
while we dont all ways see eye to eye we do on most things and you say what i think but i cant say it as well as you.
in as name calling that is to me not name calling
there is no evil intent with thoes statements but may be i am wrong.
with thoes i am trying to make apoint not hurt some
one
While I have been a supporter of Chryst, I am wondering what the heck is taking so long. I know he is very deliberate as evidenced by he DC decision and he has a lot of work to do. I guess I appreciate that both sides are quiet which shows a great deal of maturity on Thomas’ side. Again, what the heck, even the most casual observer can see that Thomas is one of the MVP’s on the team, and needs to be in camp, asap, if things can get worked out.
I hope Chryst is not so inflexible that he hurts himself and the team on this one. I would rather have Thomas freelancing and making tackles rather than the slow guys we have had that can’t get to the play. Maybe we need some pride swallowed on both sides.
gc, think you may have nailed it with your last paragraph above
You take a couple days to see if this is truly the direction TT wants to go, as in returning to the team.
Not to toot my horn, but I’ve recruited loads of ppl of the last few decades and then had to manage them. Which is sort of like what a football or basketball coach does, as opposed to most mgrs in companies aren’t involved in the recruitment process of the employers.
If someone become a problem, but was a talented individual, we basically gave them a week off to thing thinks over. Make sure they wanted to return, but of course their return was based on our(my) rules and stipulations, not theirs.
If you remember this is what DW did with Bostick, he told him to go home and think things thru with your parents. And he was gone for over a week or more. But came back under DW’s stipulations and proceeded to play a very important role on Pitt’s team that year as a true freshman. 13-9 anybody.
So PC imo is playing this exactly right, you just don’t let him quit one day, and then two days later say…..oh goody you’re back.
Let’s make sure both individuals and the team btw are comfortable with the idea. And everyone is on the same page, before proceeding to The Return.
P.S. If they’re even is one
Need some more coffee, too many Bookers & even tried some Rye Whiskey(Bulleit) last nite. And the Bulleit was very good btw. 95 proof but very smooth.
Wanted to add, let’s give the guy a chance (seems to be a popular slogan thee days), let him fully implement his program and then proceed to either jump off a cliff or praise him to no end.
I got a feeling it’s either going to be very very good or …….very very…..well you know…the cliff part.
HTP !
1. delete or ignore either is fine with me…
… sometimes these threads go waay off and everyone feeds the pathology and let that person become the center of the thread… critique Pitt is fine… it is the ‘kill joy’ vibe at times that has people leave.
2. I am here because I am a Pitt fan interested in substantive facts, insights, and insider skinny on Pitt. This is the best place for it…. most of the time…
3. Thomas situation is curious that it is dragging out… I do think PC should have made a call on this by Friday unless he told Thomas some things he needs to hear from Thomas and Thomas has not brought himself to say them/do them.
4. Emel’s Youtube video of Chryst and players from 2011? talking about him is must watch material…
says it all.
This is going to be straight-edge, disciplined, ‘intelligent’ football culture… just listen to Wilson (QB from Seattle?) Talk… the players on that youtube video… listen to Street here now…. just the type of kid they are.
That is a Chryst player… Whisky, stanford, etc…. places that want a brand of high academics and good football have same profiles.
my observation…
These coaches, early on in particular, are going to be picking demeanor over athleticism to get this culture set in stone… and to play disciplined, team first football.
… that is good enough to get 7 wins and bowl games… and at point… they can move the program to the next level and then go get their fair share of 4 stars, etc.
Thus my prediction that the RB from Washington county (Mckensie???) will not be a Pitt. He is not that type of player they want right now… no matter how talented he is.
my point above, and this is just my observation, is that this staff is operating on a strategy that a team built on discipline, toughness, intelligence… and enough athleticism… is good enough to create a 7 win program (2014)…
… once the program is solid in culture and systems, … and is winning respectably… then go get 4 stars and athletes… but the ones you want, not just ones everyone states are ‘4 star’.
just watching this thing unfold that is how I analysis it… I am not advocating for it, but I am not put off by it… it’s all about how it goes this year on the field.
This is his first year with his team really… so more than 6 wins is a real reach. 6 wins, no embarrassments, beat who we should, one upset, show we belong on the field every game… I can live with that for 2013…
i have allready said that have a good day.
If true, forget about Todd returning to Pitt.
That may explain why he didn’t return yet.
When Beaver Falls lost at Heinz, she was on the field giving physical and verbal abuse to BF HC for not using Todd appropriately per PG article.
I can’t find the PG article.
But, after championship game at Heinz field.
She rushed onto the field, past security and physically and verbally abused the Beaver Falls Head Coach for his game plan and not utilizing Todd more.
So, I wouldn’t put it past her in what she will say to Chryst.
What I am saying is that as a manager for 30 years if I lost 15 men from my staff my bosses would be asking be some serious questions not the employees that left. Why, because I would be damaging the name of the company and its ability to recruit talented replacements and the costs both emotionally and fiscally would be dramatic.
When they hired Chryst I was estatic
When thet hired Graham on the first day I said I did not like his sandlot still of football he he ccould never recruit enough athelthes from our recuiting area to play sissy ball. Plus I pointed out his record at Tulsa was based on the recruits of the previous coach and even then he was no messiah winning a bit over 60%.
Chryst I saw as bringing back football that reflects our past and our tradition through the steelers.
However I was dissapointed last year that as a sideline coach he was inept as Graham giving games away with inane decisions.
Now what appears to be a unforseen character trait that maybe manifest in his unwillingness to be open with the press and his players; insecurity breedong arrogance and inflexibility.
Overreacking about a 19 year old who never transferred who would have mad Pitt competitve in the ACC and will be plaing on Sundays. Bennett is no substitue.
Todd making him crawl on his knees without any promise of return.
We have no insight as to why Myers, Tood, Schell, and the others fleed. Any progam would want them
We will never know this is what seems to have happen in both the basketball and footabll programs.
From the surface it appears after the Dixon fiasco over the last 2 years that our coaching staffs (Adams did not leave just for the money he was serious about his comittment but Dixon mislead him as he did Taylor) are run by men who not unlike most CEO’s and top managers have a fixed vision on suceeding and do not tolerate or will considering adjusting to differing tempermants of young men and if they can not whitle square peg regardless of ability and value to the team into a round hole then their is only one way the highway.
I also remember a short time after that, I was talking to a high school buddy of mine who has been a long time teacher at Beaver Falls. Knowing that he was coming to Pitt, I asked about what kind of kid he was, and the reply was pretty similar to what gc said in his post on the comments from his AAU coach … that he was a very good kid and the coaches loved him.
just can’t imagine what has gone wrong … especially after Todd’s comments after practice on Tuesday … all of a sudden there was a 180 between those post-practice comments and he not showing up on Wednesday
Now the programs seems in the same sense of decay regardless of the reason (the staff is so oblique that it is like the FBI/CIA).
Losing Schell and now Thomas two of the top five players on the team because of reasons based only on rumors and innuando.
Is the kool-aid weeding out the “bad kids” and then getting it together. Three losing seasons is not going to attract top players.
I was a big supporter of Chyrst but here we are again spending 90% of our time disputing his deicisions. More kool-aid. I stopped drinking sugar.
Every issue has to be handled independently, Chryst said this. This is not the same as Shell. There was no run up that we know of to this one.
One day Thomas seemed ok with winning his job back, the next day he was leaving, the next day he was coming back. Since then a gag order seems to be in place.
It does seem odd that a redshirt junior would bring his mom to a meeting, but everyone is different and it is nice to see he has a close relationship with his mother. Although the source of that tidbit is “suspect” so who knows.
I know the coach must be the boss, but I don’t think Chryst should get a pass if he can’t work this one out. I do agree with Old Pitt Grad that good managers have to manage their way through difficulties. Up till now I think it has been “Good Housekeeping” and that Shell had issues and had to go, but I have not heard or read anything about Thomas to indicate that he is a bad guy. Far from it, in fact Chryst was pretty positive in speaking about him.
It sounds like Thomas has thin skin, probably got bad advice and things escalated in his mind and he made a rash decision. It is time for Chryst to be the man, the manager, the problem solver. I think Thomas is the wrong guy to make make an example of. It’s time to kiss and make up.
Unless of course there is more to this that we don’t know about.
I don’t get much of the criticism of Chryst’s decisions. It was Shells decision to leave, it was PC’s to not welcome him back, which was pretty popular around here.
Again it was Thomas’s decision to leave, we are waiting for Chryst’s next decision.
Although there are some similarities between running a business and coaching a sports team, the only true analogy is there is more than one way to do it.
Food for thought: Why is Human Resources the first department to go when belt tightening?
I will be disappointed if Chryst does not take Thomas back, and will question that personnel decision more than any other PC has made.
Despite a comment earlier today (or yesterday) that Thomas is not an NFL talent, I think he could be. If he wants to return, gotta find a way to make it happen.
know more if things are looking up or sliding down
we will soon know.
gc – I don’t know what you mean by “work this one out”? Do you want Chryst to get down on one knee and beg a kid who quit on his teammates to return? Chryst has kept the door open wide for Thomas to reconsider and return but it is Thomas himself who (should) have the last word here. If we are talking about a leadership and management issue as stated in the posts above then you all must know that the longer the rest of the team is out their busting their asses and competing for starting positions then the closer the door is to being shut completely. Does anyone on here think that other jobs in the two deep aren’t being seriously looked at also? There is competition for other players also. It isn’t written in stone that just because you started one year means you can cop an attitude and not give 100% in the next season’s training camp.
It is true that Todd Thomas hasn’t been the problem child that Shell was. But I’ll say that that comparison deosn’t really mean all that much in this case. Each player has different skills, talents and personalities. That will lead each player to come to different decisions regarding his college football career. Thomas’s decision to leave the team might have been a knee jerk decision but every day he wakes up and then goes to sleep in the nighttime means that he’s made ANOTHER decision to play football elsewhere.
This is no longer a rash decision on his part but he’s had more than enough time to weight his options and apparently he has chosen his path. There is nothing more Chryst should do than agree to meet with him and discuss it, which has happened, and then Chryst should set a deadline for a firm ‘go/no go’ decision from Thomas.
PITT fans are way to quick to place the blame for terrible decisions by some players on Chryst rather than on the player themselves. This is all on Thomas’s shoulders and Chryst truly has to draw a line and turn his efforts and energy to the other players on the roster – he has a full season of football to get them ready for.
Don’t throw us all under the bus as blaming PC for foolish or selfish or whatever players doing dumb things.
Hell, I had to take on idiot Mueller and idiot Miller on radio when that’s what they did.
I suspect most Pitt fans see this for what it is.
Didn’t Norman Bates have a domineering mother?
Too bad for TT.
Making a mistake is one thing, having your Mom perpetuate it is horrible to the nth degree.
HR goes because it is not seen as revenue producing.
TT will never wear a Pitt uniform again, but he will repeat the phrase “paper or plastic” in his sleep.
Lets move on…
know more if things are looking up or sliding down
we will soon know.
Comment by FRANKCAN 08.10.13 @ 8:53 pm”
How so? We all know Florida State is one of two teams picked to win the ACC. Given the distractions this team has had to endure, I’ll be happy if they beat the point spread.
When I was in the Army there was a saying reminding us of dedication and effort: “would you jump into a foxhole with someone like (in this case) Thomas?” We all have our opinion…
However, he should be able to lay out a scenario that saves face and allows Thomas to come back and fight for his position. You say he has done this and now it is up to Thomas. Again, do you have inside information or are you making an assumption.
Mike Caprara et al are good players, but they won’t have the impact of Thomas on the field.
Everything I have read or heard about Thomas has been positive. The kid has fought back from two ACL surgeries. He has made it through multiple coaching changes and has been loyal to Pitt.
Loyalty is a two way street.
I have been in support of all of Chryst’s decisions. I just hope he is doing what he can to resolve this issue in a positive way for all concerned.
Ohio State’s Urban Meyer told me on the podcast Wednesday that when he began his head coaching career, he didn’t think twice about tossing a player off the team for breaking his rules. As Meyer matured, and as he understood his players’ backgrounds, he began to give out more second chances. It had something to do with raising his own children. But in the wake of problems at Florida, and perhaps because of Aaron Hernandez, “I’m a little more guarded now than I’ve ever been,” Meyer said. “It’s almost addictive. You say, ‘I can help this one! This one! This one!’ But I am more guarded.”
That’s pretty neat!
