Before there was “Pitting” or “The Pitting” if you want to be formal about it, there was “Sparty, No!” The, um, battle cry for Michigan State football across the country.
…starting a seven-year period of frustration and the “Sparty, No!” meme. Under Bobby Williams and John L. Smith, the Spartans put a lot of individual talent on the field, dropped hints of excellent play, and went 38-45. From 2002-06, they went 4-14 in games decided by one possession. Nobody snatched disappointment from the jaws of hope as frequently as early-aughts Sparty.
Familiar themes. Familiar performances.
Well, as the extensive Michigan State preview indicated, the meme should be dead and buried under Mark Dantonio.
Like most teams, Dantonio’s Spartans have gone through ups and downs based on which way the close-game winds have blown; they went 6-12 in one-possession games from 2007-09, then went 8-1 in 2010-11 before settling into a nice 7-6 groove since. But after going 22-17 in his first three years, Dantonio’s gone 53-14 since, and that’s including a 7-6 campaign in 2012.
It’s not. “Sparty, No” still makes appearances, but the frequency is way down. That is part of what Pat Narduzzi faces in a few month. Beyond all the recruiting and coaching. Beyond the games. Not simply selling the fans.
It is changing the perceptions. Changing the culture that the biggest opponent for Pitt football is itself. That it will trip over its own shoelace. That moment when, just when you think Pitt is finally getting it right and going to move forward — whether on a drive, getting a stop, the game as a whole, the season, recruting, etc. — Pitt will find a way to screw it up in the most painful way possible.
With Narduzzi, he has been there. There is the hope that a coach who was there for all of that sort of negative fatalism, and helped a program change that.
One of the silly offseason controversies has been “satellite football camps.” Pioneered by the Big Ten, schools have been leveraging their name recognition to hold “skill camps” in Southern states. Like the football camps that are held on-campus, they are more about recruiting than teaching. Getting face time with players you want to pick your school. Meeting the families. Making connections.
Naturally the SEC has been a bit ticked off at the activity. Leading to hilarious complaints from Nick Saban at Alabama regarding an unlevel playing field. Or even better, “threats” from the SEC if the practice isn’t banned, the they will start holding camps in Mid-western states.
The SEC and ACC have restrictions on camps to being no further than fifty miles from the main campus of the school. They might revoke that, as there is little likelihood of the rule being changed by the NCAA or a Power 5 agreement.
I’m not sure that will happen, though. The last thing several SEC and ACC schools want is even more camps in their state. And you can be sure that within their own conference other schools would look at holding camps in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida — just in the ACC.
BC blogger Bill is one who obviously would like to see satellite camps being a possibility. He makes an interesting argument how it could work for BC with its Jesuit ties to connect with small colleges in fertile recruiting areas to serve as the host school for BC.
I’m not sure how well it would work for Pitt in the South, given Pitt’s name recognition and “brand” may not be the strongest there. It would be a good possibility of working, for say, New Jersey, Maryland or even Virginia.
APR for football has slightly improved.
If we aren’t 2-2 bt the fifth game all hell will break loose.
Geat read, thanks.
Bury SOP next to him.
First though there’s that little matter of proving SOP is actually gone.
Now, will there after 5 years on the job here after their 1st 5 there? We can only hope…
I need a Pat Signal in my life!!
There will be a few disappointments in HCPN’s first season, and it is hard to imagine that (disappointment) being in either of the opening two games.
Not playing Pedo State is one. Let’s hope that the disappointments stop right there.
HTP! and never forget Houston…
Thanks to psu’s chief pedophile, every person in PA whose work, volunteer or otherwise, brings them in contact with kids is now required to obtain a background check to weed out potential abusers, but our clueless legislature is about to honor the enabler in chief by naming a bridge in his honor. Pardon me while I puke.
LMAO!
Good one
H2P
Todd Graham (sucking-up pride) — dude’s a winner, and he’s won big immediately since he got to ASU. Beating and competing with USC, Oregon, etc. Just got to the “PItt Party” and realized he didn’t really want to be there lol. Southwestern-Boy through-and-through, and Pittsburgh was not for him….Tino Sunseri didn’t help, and his “Public Frustration” was frankly, ‘whinily ridiculed’ even though it was 100% justified (wonder what type of fans were complaining, hummm? lol)
Paul Chryst — sweet guy, zero confidence, and extremely small personality. Created a “Character” atmosphere that was the POlar-Opposite of Wannstedt’s — but Chryst set the bar so-low, had zero ambition, and that was contagious too.
Pat Narduzzi = Genuine but also A lil’ Brash (good combo lol) — communicates what he wants and expects with zero B.S., and the man wants it all. He wants zero-tallies in the loss column and “Playoff-Champions” on the Heinz Rafters, and he’s not afraid to say it. That’s contagious to the players, who were in an ice-fridge with Chryst, are now “thawing out” with Narduzzi’s fire……let’s be real, before Narduzzi truly ‘Turns-up-the-Heat’ come Fall Camp and This gets Real!
Football will get there before Basketball. Ceiling much higher with football at the moment.
Even Paul Chryst who moves at a snail’s pace compared to Narduzzi has picked up five commitments for next year.
Go figure…
I wouldn’t worry about only 3 recruits thus far. Sure it would be nice to see more but its how you finish in the end and I know its not be lack of effort. Nard Dog’s targets are also more elite than those 2-star MAC players Chryst was going after.
From what I’ve seen with them hitting the recruiting trails, their fire and energy, I feel certain this crew will end up with some players.
What would really make it take off, would be an 8 or 9 win season and a decent bowl, things would really start to cook.
I thought that since Paul C. was a “coach’s kid,” he would have seen it all and been a good “game day” coach. I was wrong.
Coach Duzz is also a “coach’s kid.” I guess only time will tell on him. Course if he needs help on a decision, all he has to do is post his question on the Blather…
Go Pitt.
Same with Graham. His personality conflicted with the AD immediately. The AD had no gumption and Graham had a lot of it. A complete mismatch of personalities. Using the wife as the excuse and using the city as an excuse was just an excuse to get away from the AD…and by default, Pitt. You can’t have high octane as a coach and mix it with no octane as an AD.
Now, it looks like we have a high energy AD with a high energy coach. Personalities seem to mirror each other and for the first time in a long time, the head coach, the AD and the Chancellor all appear to be pulling in the same direction. Imagine that!
Suzie McConnell is much the same way. I see her being very successful with our girls for sure. Hopefully she can consistently get into the dance.
The odd men out right now are Jamie Dixon and Joe Jordano. Jamie needs to adopt the new attitudes of the previously mentioned or he will be on a short leash, real quick. Jordano too, is on shaky ground in my opinion. I can see an ex-bucco or someone of the lineage getting hired for baseball if things don’t change quickly there.
The frisbee team is safe!
From Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters”
When you’re weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I’m on your side. When times get rough
And friends just can’t be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
The Pedo State faithful were able to vote Corbett out of office – let’s not let this bridge get named after Paterno (for the victims sake).
I’m calling three reps from my area today –
Narduzzi will make some also. As long as he is aggressive I won’t care.
Chryst hiring House was his biggest mistake. I have to believe he was restricted by a low salary pool when he was hiring.
I know many who don’t follow FB who are miffed by this bridge naming effort.
Obviously the scandal is no longer hurting their recruiting, the page has been turned. Franklin kicking Narduzzi’s butt so far.
Somewhat concerned with no Pat Signals after the weekend camp. Need to get momentum back.
So you would have the JoePa Bridge, which honors someone who was part responsible for the most regrettable incident in college sports, in the same locale as the power station that was responsible for the most regrettable incident nuclear incident in US history … not to mention the city a few miles to the north of the bridge where IMO the most regrettable state government is located.
H2P
Just had to post this very hidden-gem of an interview with Scott Barnes and his lovely “Better-Half”, who was a Track and Field Star at Fresno State where they met. And unlike S.P., Scott Barnes was a legitimate athlete, a solid starting D-1 Baskteball player at Fresno State where he not only played in NCAA tournies, but he even went against Karl Malone (of course he didn’t stand a chance against a future all time NBA great lol, but still). —- Scott Barnes has all the resources and logistics already here at Pitt — my goodness, a “Sleeping Giant”!!
This man will get Pitt Support and Connection through-the-stratosphere (his hire already brought me out of “Apathetic Dormancy”, much to ‘Dr. Tom’s’ chagrin!! Haha) . Get to know him, it’s hard not to be excited with Barnes at the ‘helm’ of Pitt Athletics!
H2P
Something to the effect when asked about going
against Malone.
“oh, I took him to the cooker…..you don’t have tape of the game do you?” lol
However, Franklin cleaned up his first class and I don’t think he had the established ties Narduzzi does because MSU recruited this area.
I think he will come through in the end….lots of time gents. No need to worry at this point.
Six days, but who’s counting.
@notrocket – interesting take on approving Narduzzi’s decisioning so long as he is aggressive. Chryst made a couple of 4th and 2’s early in his coaching career, which did not work out well. He was being aggressive and I appreciated that he went for it! I am a proponent of going for it on 4th and 2 or less, so long as time place and circumstance dictate it and are measured appropriately.
I’m sure Chryst appreciates that you appreciated his going for it. Lol
Jerry DiPaola wrote two “Locker Room Reports” (or whatever he calls them) that I pasted on earlier threads. I don’t know now how to go back and get them from the Trib site. Sorry. Both were of value.
PP-G, of course, has had nothing
H2P
This is another reason locals should thoughtfully consider all options. Not one of these local kids would go to Penn State if it weren’t for football. They wouldn’t go to UWV either. In my opinion, many would go to Pitt. I wonder if Narduzzi will continue in that vein?
if his team wins early on in the season… and plays the way people expect them to play… then we see the wave of the “412crew” come on board.
lose ugly and lose to the wrong teams… it all goes up in smoke and that is what this time has been.
Poof… worse than Wanny’s terrible, terrible miscalculation to pump up the Notre Dame game to start his regime when he had a poor team.
The biggest problem I have with this site is the penchant for many to blame all of Pitt’s ills on only one person. It seems that we have a have a fall guy for every occasion … and yet, when that fall guys leaves, there still is mediocrity! Go figure.
… then to not even be competitive. Sucked.
Set the tenor for his entire tenure…. disappointment…
Wbb, the only one person responible for our losses is Sunseri… everyone knows that.
There is no reason why even an average staff can’t produce another .500 season with what HCPC left in the Pitt cupboard. Considering the hype that this new staff is generating prior to demonstrating their coaching prowess during their inaugural season. So when the whistle actually blows come YSU in September this team better be focused to win a couple more football games than they did last year or the momentum Narduzzi has been working so hard to generate will fizzle like a Alka Seltzer in a glass of ginger ale, not good.
Now that doesn’t mean Narduzzi will strike out with all of the guys that he is recruiting but neither does he hit the home run with the 412Crew that he envisions coming on board in his dream recruiting cue that IS POSSIBLE if Pitt decides to realize their potential this year finally and put up a 8 to 9 win regular season, finally.
If that happens, Pitt will be on the road to the next level, and Narduzzi gets some real serious attention from the contenders for the ACC Championship. Narduzzi Is not asking for any excuses, he himself is setting the bar pretty high for himself, his staff and his team. And I ask, why not, champions constantly test themselves and demand excellence. If you are buying what Narduzzi is selling, then the minimum acceptable regular season record this season is 7-5, a winning effort. Anything less than that and the shine will be tarnished on this staff’s armor. And that will also directly impact those highly regarded recruits who just may decide to go elsewhere than Pitt.
If we win 6 games this year. Then we win 6 games in PN’s second year, the recruits will not be as forgiving after that second year. That is what I’m trying to say.
The changes at the top with Chancellor Gallagher making athletics a high priority, hiring a dynamic AD in Scott Barnes a real mover/shaker, then considering the vision that Coach Narduzzi is presenting to the Panther Faithful, there is a genuine opportunity to cash in BIG with this current 2016 recruiting class. The WPIAL stock looks even brighter in 2017.
So what I’m trying to impress on you is that the time is right now! Not next year after Narduzzi gets a pass in his first year as a head coach. That destroys the magic of momentum that could turn this Pitt Football program around in a flash! If Pitt is able to win 8 or 9 games this season you are going to see a very rare occurance.
There is going to be a deluge of elite recruits who will then see Pitt led by Narduzzi and Co. As their opportunity to be a part of an amazing turn around program. One which they can be major contributors in with early playing time. Then the momentum becomes exponentially larger as the the Mo builds. I’ve seen it happen once before and all the ingredients are falling into place for the sleeping giant that is Pitt Football to awaken once more. But it is absolutely essential in this process for Pitt and Narduzzi to win right now, no excuses.
If that occurs his bravado earns respect by the accomplishments of his team. That’s the catalyst necessary for this chain reaction to initiate. I’m not talking about Narduzzi bringing in a good recruiting class in 2017 after and average start with a 6-6 1st year record.
I’m talking about him bringing in a great 2016 recruiting class after bringing home a winning 8-4 or 9-3 inaugural season, then beating penn state in 2016, and maybe playing in the ACC Championship at season’s end and scoring an epic 2017 recruiting class.
I’m telling you. The vibe is there, the hype is palpable, win right now and Pitt football is truly back big time in just a couple years. I’ve seen it happen to this program when we started from absolute bottom feeder status. It could happen again but no excuses, we got to win NOW!
With you completely on the changes at the very top. Gallagher > Nordy and Barnes > Smiley.
Still hurts to think about the games Pitt “should have won” last season and didn’t. No need to enumerate, but not positioning the ball in the center of the field for the “winning” FG still bugs the heck out of me…
Go Pitt.