Welp.
Durand Johnson was suspended for the past season for an unspecified violation of a university policy, though Pitt coaches were hoping he’d return for his senior season.
But that is not going to happen. Jamie Dixon announced today Johnson is no longer a member of the program and he will help the senior guard transfer somewhere to play his final season.
“It is time to move on,” Dixon said. “It is time to look for another guy to look for the opportunity to step up. We were aware of this [Johnson not being reinstated and moving on would be the likely outcome] recently.
“We are now going to help Durand in any way that we can find a good situation to finish his college career. I can’t obviously speak to the specifics of the situation but it should be said that we have had no other issues with Durand.”
That was kept well under wraps.
If you want to read between the lines see the obvious, it would suggest that whatever the reason for his suspension by the University, he had not met the terms of it. So why didn’t he transfer right away?
Two reasons — neither of which involve the Hawaii trip which seems to still piss a number of people off. The first, would be that his academics may not have been in a position where he could transfer mid year.
The second, being that he now has the academics in order (probably) — which is still good for Pitt and the Academic Progress Report — and will graduate this May. He has a year of eligibility, making him a graduate transfer and eligible right away. Something that would be better than a mid-year transfer, since he can play the entire season.
I’m kind of blown away at how Coach Jamie Dixon doesn’t exactly overpraise Johnson on his way out the door.
“But let’s not forget, it he didn’t play last year and really hasn’t played much in the last two years so we are talking about a guy who hasn’t played in a game since January 2014. We had a lot of guys step up and get experience this year and they will continue to work over the summer.”
Usually you expect brevity and stopping at the whole, “we wish him well.” Of course, Dixon may be slightly aware that this is also for Pitt fans who have been known to take a doomsday slightly pessimistic view on any news that isn’t pure gold.
Dixon said the loss of Johnson, which frees up a scholarship for next season, means he will have to get on the road and recruit another guard or wing along with at least one center to replace Tyrone Haughton, who announced he was transferring last month.
He said finding players who can contribute next year may have been a challenge this late in the recruiting process in years past, but this is a new age of recruiting and there are plenty of transfer players available.
According to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com, in fact, there are already 450 Division I players who have announced they will transfer and that number figures to grow to about 600, so summer recruiting is definitely not uncommon.
“Recruiting is now a year-round event,” Dixon said. “This is a new age, the game has changed, there are late signings now, all of these transfers, we will be fine, we will be able to find some players and we have a good group coming back.”
Others may not feel so optimistic, I’m sure.
Then there is the fact that Durand Johnson may have exasperated many beyond belief behind the scenes.
Again.Welp.
With Durand Johnson’s departure, the entire 2011 recruiting class is officially gone. Hard to believe that was considered one of Pitt’s best recruiting class. Big misses by Pitt’s coaching staff and the recruiting evaluators. Khem Birch never came close to matching the raw potential everyone — including all the hanger-ons whispering in his ear — saw. Malcolm Gilbert had lots of potential, but had no drive and transferred to obscurity at Fairfield. No one thinks higher of John Johnson, then, well, John Johnson. Even Durand Johnson, for all his athleticism and potential. He never showed consistency that is needed.
No predictions except the obvious: it is going to be a very unsettled spring and summer.
So that would explain why I never watched ND’s.
If it was even on a PGH channel.
Most people 55 and younger don’t have a clue how dreaded polio was. And remember, just a decade before Salk’s discovery, it took the life of the US President.
Can remember, they would talk, then show highlights by quarter.
I can remember the voice “now, we move to later in the 2nd quarter”.
Pitt used to have a nice half hour (I think) show on Sun am too. I looked forward to it as a teenager.
The Jackie Sherrill Show. Was there a Johnny Majors show?? Vague if there was one.
He married my Mom’s cousin.
Darryl Favro from Elizabeth, Pa.. Used to have the Favro’s furniture stores.
YES, her name was Darryl Sherrill!!!!!!!!!!!!
Met him a few times as a teenager at some weddings and baptisms etc. etc.
Actually have a baseball with, of all things,
autograph’s of Willie Stargell and Jackie Sherrill on the same baseball!!!
LOL
I don’t think Dixon was willing to promise much playing time to DJ. Instead, Dixon is planning to play those with more years of eligibility remaining, and thus more upside.
I see this as a decision much like Dixon’s decision to let Cassin Diggs go after the 2007-2008 season. McGhee was about as good, but had more upside, as he eventually proved.
I don;t think he cared though!
Yes it started with the Johnny Majors Show and continued with the Jackie Sherrill Show.
What was also great about those shows besides showing all the highlites of Pitt wins in those great years, was the background music they used during the highlites, that the coaches spoke over.
They always used music of The Crusaders. So I always equate the last great era in Pitt football with The Crusaders albums of the 70’s and early 80’s. Which were also great.
I would imagine since he is a big Jazz guy.
