masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
November 29, 2014

Early Open Thread: Pitt-Miami

Filed under: Football,Open Thread — Chas @ 9:27 am

Four basketball games in six days. Thanksgiving thrown in. No wonder it’s been a while since there have been any football posts for a while.

Today’s game decides whether the football posts for the rest of the year are only about recruiting, speculation on which assistant coaches will be pursuing other opportunities and picking apart all that went poorly this year. Or whether there gets to be some discussion of one more opponent, whether the extra practices and such are a good thing or just coach/teamspeak, the bowl system and complaints of too many bowl games tossed in as well.

I’m hoping for the broader range of topics, but I’m not overly optimistic.

There’s no sugarcoating the futile history Pitt has had at Miami: last road win versus the Canes was in 1963; 0-11-1 since. To say nothing of the overall horrid history of eight straight losses and sixteen of the last seventeen meetings. The 9-23-1 series history. Let’s just agree that there is not a lot for Pitt to hang its hat on when it comes to saying anything regarding Miami.

Virginia was able to shock Miami last week, but Virginia had something Pitt does not — a defense. Specifically a defense with a very strong D-line that was able to bring lots of pressure on the QB and contain Duke Johnson.

Instead, Pitt has to play smart. They have to do what they haven’t done this year against good teams.

“We have to come to play,” Vinopal said. “I think we can match up well, but it’s going to be depending on what (Pitt) team shows up.”

Pitt’s defense ranked fourth nationally at one point before the schedule toughened and the Panthers allowed 1,050 yards in three games before recovering against a weak Syracuse team Saturday.

“Obviously, you hear from the outside, ‘It was Syracuse. Their offense isn’t good,’ ” Vinopal said.

“But the bottom line is if guys are in their spot, they are in their spot. When guys aren’t in their spot, that’s when teams make plays. If the team shows up that has the guys in the spots they need to be in, we are going to be fine.”

Avoid mistakes, play with intensity for the entire game, and basically embrace every cliche out there.

James Conner is still an unknown for the game. Really no word all week about him. The fact that he does not appear to have practiced much (any?) during the week is not promising.

Game is at 7pm on ESPN2.





UAB went 6-6 and they are shutting the whole program down. They take their football very seriously in Alabaman…

link to cbssports.com

Comment by CNorwoodAZ 11.30.14 @ 4:07 pm

IMHO PC should reach out to Mr Bradley. Wvu has made tremendous defensive strides this year. Far enough removed from Pedro state and excellent recruiter

Comment by DC33 11.30.14 @ 4:12 pm

If we can’t play Ped State, can we at least go somewhere warm?

Comment by Dan 72 11.30.14 @ 4:22 pm

FWIW, Pitt coaches are visiting Shareef Miller this afternoon.

Trouble is that he also is being visited this week by the likes of PSU, Mich St and one or two 0thers.

Comment by wbb 11.30.14 @ 4:26 pm

An excellent win with the usual players standing out. Congratulations to the OL, especially Clements that pushed Miami all over the field.
If Connors was healthy add at least another 10 to 14 points.
Pitt ought to create a “Iron Mike” award and award it to the nastiness and productive player during the year. My vote 2014 “Conner’s”.
The good (but need more) Pitt has areas that we have had excellent players and it appears they are continuing. OL few teams have been so dominate as Pitt. NFL Hall of Famers and one or two NFL recruits a year.
Running backs from Dorsett,Richars, McCoy, and now Connors.
Wide recivers – 70 and 80’s then Fritz, Baldwin, and now Boyd who each had QB’s that force them to levels of physical acrobatics because of their ineptness at their position (Rutherford, Tino, Chad). Like Fritz consider the number of TD’s Boyd would have if he did not have to go to his knees to catch a pass when he is wide open in a zone. Being honest Voylick costs Pitt 2 TDs a game by his weak and inaccurate arm.
If he could put some zip on the ball and hit Boyd in stride, he is uncanny in getting open Pitt would score at least 30 to 40 a game.
Bad part I’ll even take the defensive breakdowns because they played with intensity.
Coaching: At the end of the game when Pitt had the ball hiking the ball at 12 or 15 seconds on the on the snap count gave them 2 minutes, snap at 5 seconds.
Best overall game Pitt played this year hope carry into bowl

Comment by lost in the south 11.30.14 @ 4:27 pm

@upitt
Graduated from Pitt in 76. We should get together after Christmas. Going back to PA the 3rd week in Dec. Wish we could watch the bowl game together but I won’t be back in OK until Jan. 3.

Comment by Oklahomeboy 11.30.14 @ 4:36 pm

Sounds like UAB has money problems and performance has little to do with it. They see the writing on the wall, if you are not part of the big 5 it is going to be a hard road to hoe. Without the big TV money going to be hard to compete.

Comment by gc 11.30.14 @ 4:53 pm

Hamilton is still in the mix. He has just given his Pitt offer reconsideration. Means nothing at this point, other than another scholly opening up again.

Anybody who is good and wants early playing time on our D, Pitt is it! Hopefully Hamilton will get this by LOI signing day.

Comment by Dr. Tom 11.30.14 @ 4:55 pm

I agree with the Iron Mike award. Conner’s performance was beyond the call of duty.

A real Team player.

Comment by gc 11.30.14 @ 4:56 pm

Pelini…. sign extension through 2019.. go 9 and 3… get canned… laugh all the way to the bank…

Comment by 18 melba 11.30.14 @ 5:18 pm

Revis getting some love on CBS.

Who gets into the HOF first, Revis or Fitz?

Comment by gc 11.30.14 @ 5:50 pm

Would love NYC vs WVU or Detroit vs PSU or St Pete vs Cincy lets rekindle some old rivalries

Comment by John 11.30.14 @ 7:08 pm

Another bowl projection:

Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas:

link to collegesportsmadness.com

Comment by RustBeltRus 11.30.14 @ 7:11 pm

Pitt recruit Jordan Whitehead has 34 TD’s this yr. 15 of them 50 yds or more.

Comment by alcofan 11.30.14 @ 7:39 pm

When did they start the Bahamas Bowl? I’ll take that one!

Comment by pittandpsugrad 11.30.14 @ 7:50 pm

interesting story on JD’s replacement in a few years

link to nydailynews.com

Comment by wbb 11.30.14 @ 8:07 pm

Root Sports with the replay, I think we still win.

Comment by gc 11.30.14 @ 8:08 pm

Who’s that wbb Jerry McCullough?

Comment by alcofan 11.30.14 @ 9:08 pm

The Panthers lost a lot of close game that MOST of us feel they should have won. After the North Carolina loss it looked as if the entire season was down the toilet. Since then, the Pitt football team has won the last two games including a game on the road against a team they haven’t beaten in a very, very long time. Now they are bowl eligible, no small accomplishment, considered where they were a few weeks ago. In the minds of prospective recruits, that’s enormous! You can’t worry of what could have been. You look at where you are, and what you can do to get better. At the moment things are on the Up-tick, so they need to concentrate winning the bowl game, securing the recruits they hope to get, and building for next season.

Comment by Justinian 11.30.14 @ 9:53 pm

Thanks for that link WBB. I never heard the part of the story where a cop Orlando was asking for help, gushing blood from a gun shot wound, hit him with a billy club and broke his collarbone. Wow.

Comment by CNorwoodAZ 11.30.14 @ 9:57 pm

yea, that was new to me also

Comment by wbb 11.30.14 @ 10:02 pm

ACC bowl structure is quite complicated. Read below.

link to charlotteobserver.com

Comment by Frank MD 11.30.14 @ 10:10 pm

Pellini available.

Only he and Nick Saban have won 9 games 7 years in a row. Plus he’s from the Youngstown coaching syndicate.

Go get him !

Comment by Emel 11.30.14 @ 10:17 pm

Even Cornhole couldn’t screw up this.

Comment by Emel 11.30.14 @ 10:27 pm

@Frank Md, nice link, I read that somewhere today on the Iphone.

Looks like we can’t go to the Pinstripe Bowl???

Tiers or something.

Disappointing, was looking for Pitt-PSU match up.
Have read they want ND anyhow for NYC.

You can have ND, I know some fans, Uncles and cousins, and they travel to the ND bowl games, I’d say 75% of the time.

Already said they aren’t even considering going anywhere with ND after the debacle against
USC.

Saw Pitt vs. Illinois at the Ford Bowl??? Quick Lane Bowl I guess it’s called.

If I can’t have Pitt-PSU please at least give us a game against another Power 5 conference team.

No Southwestern St or Delaware Urban.

Just not up for that.

Comment by Dan 11.30.14 @ 10:54 pm

Not WVU – they are thugs.

Comment by 17YearsatPitt 11.30.14 @ 10:55 pm

Hey, one thing that may make a couple people feel better.

I know there were a couple people (and I understand their point), that maybe it would have been better for Pitt to lose to initiate and expedite change.

Don’t worry about that one iota.

If, if, big if, if Chryst was or is going to fire House, this game will not change that at all.

Same big if. If Chancellor Gallagher was/is going to do something with Scchhhteve, this will not change a thing.

If Gallagher was/is going to do something after the season, the decision has already been made in his mind awhile back, and a win against Miami and even a bowl game win will not effect that at all.

He saw the yellow seats during the year, especially against Syracuse. He sees are other 16 sports sans hoops been languishing for years.

So, enjoy the win over Miami in S.Florida, won’t change anything that was/is going to happen.

Comment by Dan 11.30.14 @ 11:00 pm

Funny how college football rumors are this time of year. Just saw PC in several websites as potential Nebraska coach! How ironic would that be! Corn Holes’ alma mater and the team that fired his ass! If he went, do you swap coaches? Bo would be loved here! I like Chryst and I’m enjoying the win, just thought it was funny!

Comment by Sweet Caroline 11.30.14 @ 11:08 pm

@Sweet Caroline, isn’t that somethin’?? LOL

Hey, if Chryst could do with the D what he’s done with the O, we could have a decent team.

He still needs to recruit better, and Cornhole’s gotta go!!

But, I’m still enjoying that win for awhile.

Never thought we could beat Miami, in Miami.

Good Pitt team, bad Pitt team, good Miami team, bad Miami team, didn’t think it would be in the
cards no matter what.

Comment by Dan 11.30.14 @ 11:24 pm

@Sweet Caroline, tell Nebraska, only caveat is that they have to take Cornhole back!!!

Fans are funny too, including myself.

My Notre Dame cousins and uncles want Kelly’s ass gone NOW!!!

How about this, my Penn St. sister, neices and nephews are questioning Franklin, and aren’t so sure about him.

They aren’t quite saying fire him, but disappointed, and believe the coaching staff has screwed up Hackenberg.

We’re all a funny lot!!!

Comment by Dan 11.30.14 @ 11:26 pm

I’ll trade you one Cornhole for one Pellini.

and I’ll throw in Matt House & Riverboat Paulie.

Comment by Emel 11.30.14 @ 11:45 pm

I didn’t see Toad Graham on the Nebraska list – hmmm.

Toad’s traveling circus must be happy in Arizona, for now. I wonder what his next dream job is, Florida?

Having fun thinking about a Pelini led Pitt team next year with a new AD – I can dream, can’t I.

Comment by Erie Express 12.01.14 @ 5:10 am

Great win for Pitt. I felt they played their most complete game of the year. I’m Hoping this young team is Learning the level of commitment that is required to play a complete game. Win the bowl carry mo into next year!!!!

Comment by zach 12.01.14 @ 5:43 am

ACC has 12 bowl eligible (including ND) with only 11 slots. We may be left out of ACC bowls and filling another bowl’s slot. It looks like Big 12 will not be able to fill all of their slots. Palm (CBS) has us filling in NO Bowl vs. LA Lafayette. Steele has us filling the Cactus Bowl vs. Washington. Cactus is on Jan. 2nd in Tempe and is most frequently mentioned as the place for the ACC team that falls outside of the ACC bowl tie-ins. Quick Lane vs. Big 10 is where we would go if we go to ACC tie-in. Armed Forces in Ft. Worth is another possibility.

Comment by FG 12.01.14 @ 8:14 am

Toad is probably looking for an SEC or B12 HC job in Texas.

Comment by wbb 12.01.14 @ 8:15 am

Fraud has no relatives in Lincoln. LOL!

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.01.14 @ 9:10 am

Pelini as a DC would be nice. Pitt will have one of the best offenses in the country next year if it plays its cards right. If they can only put together an adequate defense. If they don’t have the guys internally, then hit the JC trail and see if they can find a few guys. Next year is their shot.

Comment by jack 12.01.14 @ 12:03 pm

CHAPEL HILL After the season ended with a disappointing 35-7 loss against N.C. State on Saturday, North Carolina is not considering the thought of declining a bowl bid, athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a text message Sunday.

The question of whether the Tar Heels might consider declining an invitation to a bowl had been raised in recent weeks amid a mediocre season and the NCAA’s continuing investigation into how athletes benefited from no-show paper classes in the African Studies department.

**too funny, Tarhole’s AD is named Bubba **

Comment by Emel 12.01.14 @ 5:43 pm

Huge Win!!!!
Beating Da U is special!

Comment by punxypanther 12.03.14 @ 4:51 pm

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter