We need a new thread as the last one was getting confusing between basketball, football and bar hopping… or was that the one before the last? At any rate we fans are kicking it with hundreds of comments regarding the changes in PITT football over the last month.
So, of all the issues that have been addressed by Narduzzi and staff what do you think is most important and what do you think will have the most actual impact once the regular season’s games start? Do you feel we are in a better place (duh!)? Do you see these changes resulting in immediate impact on the field or are we a season or two away from a nice w/L record?
Which one singular thing has Narduzzi done to make you feel better about the future of PITT football?
Looking forward to your thoughts… and discussing any and all issues you want to talk about.
P/S: I’ll be at the PITT LOI Day festivities on Feb 4th. The gate opens at 5:00 pm and the show starts at 6:00 pm. I’ll be the very tall guy with longer brown hair and earring and a moustache (in honor of my idol, Dave Wannstedt). Hope to see you guys there and we can lose all our money at the casino afterward…
P/SS: Since the movie American Sniper came out everyone I meet seems to have been in the Special Forces as a sniper. I swear to God, three guys said that to me in different places yesterday – two in Vietnam and one in Iraq.
But he’s from Texas, so he must be good!
He seems to recognize the importance of Pitt traditions, yet his use of social media demonstrates an understanding of how things are done in 2015.
He assembled what appears to be a very qualified and capable staff, with a focus on recruiting. He has recruited positions of need. It’s like he reads The Blather or something!
We’ll see in 7 months how this all translates to on-field success. Pitt still has some talent holes in defense, so I’m trying to temper my expectations. But from everything I’ve seen so far, Narduzzi may in fact be capable of fixing it quicker than I expected. Honestly, just don’t lose to Akron and YSU. That would be an awesome start!
I wish that I could be there. Just too far away and (in theory) I work that day.
Here is what I see as the big difference that the Duzz brings. I grew up in a very WASPish family. Strong work ethic. We all knew our jobs and did them. Conversations at dinner were rather limited. No arguing. Sort of Ozzie and Harriet.
I had many friends who were Italians. When I went to their houses, it was like a different world. Noisy. People arguing. Lots of emotions. Like a night at the Corleones.
I think that Paul Chryst (who I liked) brought to Pitt an atmosphere like my family’s. Let’s get the job done. If something gets screwed up, we will do it better next time.
I am guessing that the Duzz is going to bring much more emotion, excitement, tension, sometimes conflict. The practices and the locker room and the sidelines during games. Just like the players at MSU looked to him to come down to the field in the second half and get them focused, pumped, pissed and ready to kick ass.
I can’t wait to read your comments from practices.
H2Passion
I mis-read the postcard.
Getting big time coaching assistants is most impressive and thrilling part of the changeover.
Chryst brought in a good class of student athletes during his tenure which have now matured into a leadership roll, now Narduzzi is in charge taking the program where? Who knows after just one month?
But it is undeniable he has injected an energy into this program that I haven’t experienced for a very long time, in his 1st month of being Pitt’s HC. Motivating a stable full of young studs is a gift that some have, some don’t. I liked Chryst but I always felt that Chryst expected his charges to be both self motivated and self disciplined. That is a lot to be asking from a bunch of18-22 year old in a college environment. However our team has stayed out of the police blotters over the last couple of seasons, which I’m all for!
Now on to the Nard Dig regime. Can he walk that thin red line between producing a winner by whipping his team up into a frenzy that produces a competitive winner at the same time keeping tight enough reins on his charges that they remain responsible human beings? Once again, we’ll see.
Many questions remain to be answered over the next few months. I sure hope Nard Dog has the magical formula that spells success for Pitt’s football program during his tenure. I’ve been waiting a very long time for our return to glory. I’m feeling it for Narduzzi’s 1st month, just don’t $hit the bed during our 1st two games this season and I’ll be loving it come mid September.
Hail to Pitt!
I expect a big step up on the defensive side of the ball. A new scheme and a more intense coaching staff should mean better results on game day. Remember the old saw “Defense wins championships”. Although I’m not expecting the Coastal trophy this year, but maybe in 2016.
If we take Chryst’s 6-6 records as baseline, we should add 1 or 2 wins for a much better defense, 1 win for better in-game coaching decisions (clock mgt, etc), 1 win for the young players having more experience, and being bigger, stronger. So a 9 or 10 win season.
The 2 things that have me jacked concern how Duzz put his staff together. That is quite possibly the most long-lasting effect on our program.
1.) Everyone hired HAD to be a top notch recruiter. This, in conjunction with a travel plan (a Blitzkrieg to cover 1\2 the country) that would make the most ardent salesman dizzy.
2.) Hiring a talented, experienced offensive staff. One that can pretty much handle the O without taking up a lot of HCPN’s time and talent. At the same time, hiring a defensive staff – young and talented to be sure- but at the same time, a staff HCPN can tech and mold to his liking.
Years ago, I came back to Pittsburgh for a day (1st time since ’70),and had lunch at Frankie Gustines’ (I think that is/was the place). On the walls were several pics of Pitt FB. The one that caught my eye had John Majors I team run I g on the field. I don’t remember all the coaches in that pic, but there was Jimmy Johnson and Jackie Sherrill (please correct me if I’m wrong – a mind is a terrible thing to waste!). Holy crap – those are two icons on college FB.
I feel very sure that 25 or 30 years from now, some 2015 Pitt grad will have a similar revisit, and see a pic of today’s coaches, and think, “Holy crap, no wonder those Pitt teams kicked a$$ …. Look at all the HOF coaches we had back then!” (I can dream, can’t I?)
You gotta HITT to play T PITT!
Exactly! Here’s hoping we see like results – even if not a championship!
Also the emphasis on recruiting and the passion the entire staff seems to be showing for recruiting.
Can’t wait for spring ball to start and hear what the coaches think about their new team…
Go Pitt.
