Morning, everyone. The deep freeze may be coming to an end but a third day of no school for the kids further disrupts life.
Amidst the hoopla for the last BCS Championship game, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) released their Freshman All-American Team.
Tyler Boyd made the squad, so one more accolade for him and this Pitt squad.
After the Maryland-Pitt game, I flipped over to the BCS Championship and checked out the Film Room, thing that ESPNnews had running. Mainly because Paul Chryst was part of it. I got hooked because it was pretty interesting.
I saw some complaints that Chryst wasn’t as dynamic and active as Texas A&M’s Sumlin and BC’s Addazio, but that shouldn’t have surprised anyone. And I mean anyone. Not only are both more personable in their press conferences and interviews, they had a lot more time to prepare. As in a couple of weeks at least. Chryst was a last minute switch over the weekend. It was supposed to be Charlie Strong, but after he left Louisville for Texas he also bailed on the gig. Naturally the already taciturn Chryst isn’t going to just, um, blather too much.
As for any complaints that he missed out on a chance to be recruiting kids through the TV. No.
The actual ratings were miniscule (though, it got plenty of Twitter buzz). I’m not buying that high school recruits for 2015 and beyond were watching this game with coaching commentary going. The best it did with recruiting for Sumlin and Addazio is it reinforces to the recruits they already have, that that is their coach. Maybe, gives them a little more juice to make their pitch to kids — though, it is unlikely Sumlin needs it. Primarily, it sets up Sumlin and Addazio for TV studio or analyst work after they are done coaching (or fired).
It gives all three programs some extra exposure which is good. Chryst may not have been smooth, but he clearly looked to be in his element. Just talking about football and the game. He had no glaring screw-ups. He didn’t pick his nose on TV or scratch inappropriately.
I’d rather have him doing that, and getting some more exposure for Pitt than not doing the gig.
Maybe a good thing for Pitt
While academic standards aren’t exactly high at these ‘schools’, their standards are still higher than most of their football & basketball rosters would meet.
Maybe like a drug test we could test reading skills before an after a game. LOL
Here’s a case where the colleges could dictate their terms instead of being led around by the nose by the TV Networks.
Getting 4.5 points
IMHO, that would be completely fair.
Guaranteed 5 year scholarships? What if they don’t play, or pan out or even care to practice after 1 year ?
Why do we have to change the academic standards for new applicants at all ?
Do we for any other applicants, because they’re a virtuoso pianist or a girl that can twirl the baton ? Of course not.
And like I said before, if a school get’s caught cheating, they get the DEath Penalty.
No punishment for flunking out
Make them take regular classes with no help.
It would take about 3 year, but the teams would look drastically different.
The NFL can start a minor league.
As stated above we will watch the college teams play even after the teams are filled with players that can do college academic work.
Are high school field yard marks still 36 inches like on the college field. I only ask because Chris routinely kicked off into the endzone in HS, is the HS field just SHORTER????
I don’t have a sleeper that I consider a sure ringer lined up in this class yet. Emotionally, I’m pulling for either Quintin Dintino or Rori Blair to roar onto the field come fall and make an impact simply because both are way under the radar because of their previous medical issues that have retarded their development in HS due to reduced playing time.
Especially Blair. He had a congenital vascular defect in his brain that kills most of those who are unfortunate enough to be cursed with the problem but not Rori Blair. He strokes out, is completely incapacitated and comes back in a couple years to be playing BCS level football for Pitt this year. Freakin AMAZING!
He would be a perfect Cinderella story if he could produce results while at Pitt.
The Pirate hat (Black, Gold “P”) showing support for gangs goes back to the 60’s/70’s in Chicago.
The Blackstone Rangers after a lot of well deserved bad media attention, tried to change there image and become a “community action group” & change their name to the Black P-Stone Rangers. The “P” stood for PEACE. They adopted the Pirate hat as an identifier.
Didn’t work. Leaders & members ended up in jail.
Shane Roy 6’5 220 DE from Cincy
Pat Amare 6’2 180 CB from Philly
Winston is forced to play NCAA football. He’s not allowed to go into the NFL right now is he? The NFL uses college football as a minor league system without having to pay anything or take any risk.
There is tons of money in college sports right now and everyone from coaches to bowl oragnizers to the NCAA are making millions on millions. Everyone accept the actual reason why people watch.
BTW I have on very good authority that the all hires by Chryst are his decision and have absolutely nothing to do with money.
For surprise frosh of 2014, I’ll go with Amara – there will be opportunites in the secondary, maybe he gets a shot. For long term, I think James Folston could surprise. He needs to bulk up, but his dad was a pro, his bro plays for ND, and he’s very quick to the ball.
Emel, rarely disagree with you but I hated the Buccos pillbox caps. I am partial to the mustard yellow caps with the black “P” of the early 70’s. I must have a thing for mustard-colored uni’s…
Shane Roy 6’5 220 DE from Cincy
Pat Amare 6’2 180 CB from Philly
Comment by wbb 01.08.14 @ 3:39 pm
………
From what Amara has been tweeting, Cal and an unnamed SEC school are giving late offers recently..seems he really impressed at the HS bowl-whatever it was. Seems like he has a good work ethic and really wants to be at Pitt..(pretty much the model of PC’s recruiting tactic)
I also think he’ll play next year.
And ofcourse Roy at DE..need bodies on the ends for sure.
Good call wbb
He’s got some jets!
Just heard the end of a conversation on The Fan, they had been talking about it.
@ Frankcan, well that’s where Herndon belongs, the ESPN recruiting sight has him listed by position on the Offensive Line.
Mike Young ?@ShowtimeDeuce 7h
I’m better than I ever was but treated as if I never was
Mike Young ?@ShowtimeDeuce 18h
Never been told not to shoot the ball til I got here #SMH
If true, I’m surprised he is unhappy. He seems like a team player.
Be a little surprised if he doesn’t redshirt.
The new S&C coach is a promotion from within. It looks like that is Chryst’s style. I always found that it was a good way to manage when possible.
When you promote from within it makes everyone work harder. It also shows loyalty which is always to be valued.
i dont go to espn very much i think rival has better info,
I’ll bet the Papa John’s pizza dude had something to do with this…
I thought Pitt controlled the twitter and actually had rules against the athletes using twitter? If they don’t, they should. Nothing kills a locker room faster than uncontrolled social media. Underclassmen should not be able to tweat, twerp, twang until they are juniors. No my facespace either.
He may have had a really bad time at practice yesterday and let his emotions get the best of him. I wouldn’t make a mountain out of a molehill … just yet
Maybe I am just sayin, or maybe I am just hopin…Would be great for a change of heart. Time will tell.
Perhaps the best solution is to change the discussion to a subject that better suits you.
Oh, I see Chas may have done that for you
I was disappointed that he chose Bama but I never held it against him for choosing arguably the best FB program
Pittsburgh Pirates: Colors – Black/Gold for Latin Kings; Bloods – Initial “P”; for Pirus (Bloods)