In the most timely news to hit the street and anger Pitt football fans our young DE Rori Blair made a monumental mistake when he chose to smoke reefer and treat the parkway like he was in the Hot Metal Bridge 500 race qualifying rounds. From The P-G this morning:
State police wrote in a criminal complaint that a trooper working near the Fort Pitt Bridge clocked Blair, 20, of Upper St. Clair, driving at 117 mph in a 55-mph zone March 15. That trooper pulled the car over in a left lane on Fifth Avenue in Oakland and “detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from his breath and about his person as he spoke along with blood shot glassy eyes,” police wrote.
Police took Blair to UPMC Mercy for a blood test, which came back positive for cannabinoids, police said. They charged Blair via summons Monday with driving under the influence, driving at an unsafe speed and other violations.
For some reason this was just made public this morning even though Blair’s incident happened back on March 15th. Blair self-reported this to Narduzzi as soon as it happened.
Apparently Coach Narduzzi feels that this type of behavior doesn’t warrant a suspension.
But Blair, Narduzzi said, won’t be suspended.
“Rori came in and told me about it, a moment where someone lost his mind a little bit and made a bad decision,” Narduzzi said. “The good thing is I’ve known about it for a long time. Something where I’ve let the process go, really not going to speak any more about it.
“He’s had some things he’s had to do (punishment) in the meantime, and we will kind of leave it at that. There has been some punishment, and there will probably be more. It’s a family issue and we will deal with it internally.”
There isn’t lot to say about this except that Pitt isn’t taking failures of non-NCAA mandated drug test as seriously as they have in the past. I don’t get it at all. If ever there is a cause for clearly delineated punishment for criminal actions by a player this is it in my opinion. Obviously Narduzzi and co. feel differently.
Smoking weed and driving in excess of 100 MPH is as dangerous as anything a car operator can do behind the wheel… and that is the reality of Blair’s situation.
Pitt can’t use the old “For Breaking Team Rules” as a reason for discipline here as has been used by our coaches in the past when student privacy laws prohibited stating the real reasons for a player’s suspension. In the past Pitt had followed what the NCAA guidelines were if a player failed the mandated grug tests which is an immediate suspension and a loss of a year’s eligibility.
Apparently winning games may be more important than making sure these types of incidents don’t happen. So much for using one incident and a punishment to warn and teach others that the behavior is unacceptable.
The other puzzling news that emanated from the Pitt facilities today is that WR Tyler Boyd had already been suspended from ‘team activities’ for a month as discipline for his own DUI charges he incurred in June . Jerry DiPaola addresses this in his Trib-Review article of this morning
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said Tuesday that All-ACC wide receiver Tyler Boyd was suspended from all team activities for a month after his DUI arrest in June, but he rejoined his teammates last week. That doesn’t mean, however, he is immune from further punishment.
“There are still choices I have to make as far as what we’ll do,” Narduzzi said. “It will be a family issue. We will deal with it internally.
This news really started to bother me as I read it until I thought that it might not be a coincidence that Boyd’s month of suspension was probably levied at that time to specifically keep him from being allowed, as we was expected, at the 2015 ACC Football Kickoff Media Days that are going on. I agree if this was the case because a player in Boyd’s position, with his arrest, should absolutely not be representing Pitt’s football team at this highly media blitzed gathering of all the ACC teams, coaches and administrators.
Also, and this is what I hope Narduzzi had in mind also, it keeps Tyler Boyd from being on the hot seat for any reporter who wants to grill him about his recent arrest. That is a protective stance and what a good HC should do for his players when things are tough.
But, and this is a huge point, it is imperative that that recent suspension can’t be the extent to Boyd’s discipline from the University and its Athletic Department. A month long suspension from ‘team activities’ is in essence nothing at all given the June-July time period it took place in. Pitt, or any other NCAA school can’t hold ‘football team’ activities outside of Spring and Fall camps until the season starts anyway.
All that film room work and the kids getting together on their own to run through the gamebook and practice passing plays aren’t NCAA defined team activities because they are (wink, wink) completely voluntary on the player’s part. The football coaches can’t be present when there is a football in view so basically anything that didn’t involved actual ‘football’ work Boyd could still take part in.
Narduzzi did state in his disclaimer that “There are still choices I have to make as far as what we’ll do,” Narduzzi said. “It will be a family issue. We will deal with it internally…” but that is open ended as hell. By ‘internally’ does that mean that whatever happens with Boyd next isn’t made public? That would be a huge mistake on his part I believe.
Pitt and Narduzzi must show that negative and dangerous actions such as these two player chose to take can’t and won’t be tolerated. That means the public has to see that PITT has taken things seriously and that both Boyd and Rori Blair will face strong negative consequences. It’s my opinion that it should be an in-game suspension at least.
This is, for me anyway, disheartening to see that Narduzzi is not considering a suspension for Blair. Through inference it looks like Boyd may not miss any playing time either as his indiscretion was not as dangerous as Blair’s was. Yes, Blair has been through a lot in his young life so far but his decision to do what he did is truly inexcusable under any circumstances.
Pitt has to stop these incidents now before it rolls up into something we can’t afford as a football program and as a well-respected university. If it takes drastic measures then take them. A new head coach, especially a first year one, can’t afford for his players to act any way they want to without the fear of the hammer dropping on their football life.
This feels wrong to me but as in anything else we’ll see more info trickle out and see more decisions being made by the Pitt principals involved. However we just had a great run of almost a full three years without many of these incidents happening and when they did administrative was taken as soon as possible and was strong enough to let the players and the public know Pitt was treating discipline as an extremely important of the football program.
Playing football under a full scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh isn’t a right as some fans tend to think it is but a privilege granted to that student-athlete by the university and at the pleasure of the school and its disciplinary arm. There should be no doubt about where a player stands in relationship to that.
While I agree the defense is the big question mark, we have hired a highly touted defensive coach. We lost a lot of close games last year. If Narduzzi can’t improve the defense enough to win a couple of those close ones, he will lose a lot of momentum and good will.
The only team that blew us away last year was GT, but we donated a record tying number of fumbles.
I really think we should win 8 games and if we don’t, I think it is on Narduzzi.
But because we are Pitt 6-6 sounds about right.
The “Public Assuaging” + “Message Sending” Punishments to ‘Please The Masses’ = Making a Kid Confused / Angry / Resentful and teaching them nothing
The “Internal”, Totally “In-House / Family” Approach = Articulating clearly how the Person’s actions affected other people, his Affiliated Family / Organization, but also communicating how she / he is hurting their own future prospects and ambitions.
Need a ‘Lil of both — because we “Fans and Supporters” will never know what exactly happens in the S.S. Complex —–
Honestly, who knows how Fiercely and Harshly Pat Narduzzi Dug-Into Rori Blair back in March (after barely any time on the job whatsoever and having zero idea who any of these kids are as people) —- and who knows if the coaches “Put the fear of G*D” into Tyler Boyd and scared him ‘straight’ —
The only thing ‘Outsiders’ will see is the “Official”, “Public-Flogging” punishments.
Great Greek hot dog shops in New Castle area and there are a few Brighton Hot Dogs shops in Beaver Valley (I assume the original one in New Brighton is still open.)
There used to be a place on Liberty Ave downtown that I think used to be called Chicago, and it had the best Chicago style hot dog around.
I had a Cesar’s chicken salad wrap for lunch.
For quantity you can’t beat Costco, a huge dog and endless drink for $1.50.
A long time ago there was a place in East Liberty.
All this DUI stuff gets me to my pet peeve. I think cell phones and distracted drivers are worse problem than drunks. People are driving so badly and have no clue how poorly they drive. There are more accidents and fatalities due to cell phone use than drunks, did you know this!! All you salesman who get on the road and don’t want to loose a day any talk are just as bad!!
The problem isn’t solved by hands free either, concentration and reaction times are just as bad for either and equate to legally drunk !
Sorry, just lost my mind, but just consider that and get some perspective!
If I tried that now, I would end up in the ER.
There are huge misconceptions about the military among civilians in the US, one of which is that discipline is harsh and, apparently from your comment, unjust. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact it is very much along the lines of a head football coach’s authority but with us it is the Commanding Officer, the Officer in Charge or sometimes the sailor’s Department Head who has the final say… unless you are looking at capital crimes like treason or murder or crimes that may lead to imprisonment.
Also, in my 33 years experience the measures dealt out are in the majority lighter than what local law enforcement and the judicial system would do. The difference is what I stated above – any discipline given is based solely on facts and the CO’s leeway which is almost always very fair… and yes, sometimes in the military charges get dropped if possible also.
What I have been saying all along since Boyd had his DUI is that his actions need to be formally addressed and with that the HC needs to remain consistent in his approach. In other words treat each kid the same but treat their infractions differently based on what they are. It is actually very simple.
I was in this position many times and I can honestly look back and say that I never came down harder on any sailor that warranted and always tried to make sure that 1) the punishment fit the ‘crime’ and 2) there was a long-term positive outcome. The latter meaning that the sailor’s career wasn’t affected negatively if I could find a way to do that, and I almost always did.
BTW – It isn’t me who is screaming for two or four game suspensions, that is a bunch of other commenters on here. What I said was that IMO an in-game suspension, however short, should be awarded. Even a half, a quarter or just not starting is something that I think shows the things are being taken seriously. Personally I’d probably award a one-game suspension to each player. I absolutely don’t want Pitt to drop the hammer hard on these kids unless all the principals involved feel that is what should happen.
I also think that these nebulous suspensions from some undefined ‘team’ activity, when no real team activities were going on, is strange in the least. But it is Pitt’s right to maintain the player’s privacy in this matter, although that has its drawbacks also.
Finally, yes, I had probably more indiscretions and lawbreaking than most guys you know or who are on this blog. I’ll be the first to say I was a bad kid when in my teens. However, I also never once complained when I got caught and punished. I did some small jail times, was on five years probation from age 16-21, was kicked out of two HSs and Pitt and fired from more than one job.
I didn’t expect leniency when I f*cked up and I sure as hell didn’t bitch like a little girl when I didn’t get that leniency either. But with that shaky start I also came to understand and learned that bad behavior must be accounted for and that is exactly what I truly believe Pitt must make the kids understand and learn from their mistakes.
Sourced locally, supports your local businesses, supports your local farmers. Good stuff all around.
If by some chance we win the games we’re supposed to, then beginning Oct 29, the home schedule becomes attractive (NC, ND, Lville & Miami) and have a chance to put up decent attendance numbers. That good only help recruiting.
Huh? What? LOL You here all week??
If he doesn’t handle it then we’ll know at some point in time as the inmates will run the asylum, just may not know until he is gone.
I for one do not need to know what the punishment is. Never got into that, someone else’s business. Just need to know it was handled, and the team knows it was handled and there are limits.
Like I said, we will know soon enough what type of program he is running.
One final thought, justice and punishment varies on situations. Rich can afford the lawyers and often get off, but what was learned?? Depends on the individual, some continue to feel that’s their birthright, some learn. Same with atheletes, some learn some crash and burn. Hope they feel a squeeze and wise up. You can punish some people harshly and they will never change, others, well they get it. Really hard to know what buttons work, not the same for everyone that’s for sure. Guess that’s why they pay him the big bucks!
Ritters would clean out your system for days! Plus the waitresses were so snide and rude you lost any self pity for not getting laid!
“There isn’t lot to say about this except that Pitt isn’t taking failures of non-NCAA mandated drug test as seriously as they have in the past. I don’t get it at all. If ever there is a cause for clearly delineated punishment for criminal actions by a player this is it in my opinion. Obviously Narduzzi and co. feel differently.”
“Apparently winning games may be more important than making sure these types of incidents don’t happen. So much for using one incident and a punishment to warn and teach others that the behavior is unacceptable”
“This is, for me anyway, disheartening to see that Narduzzi is not considering a suspension for Blair. Through inference it looks like Boyd may not miss any playing time either as his indiscretion was not as dangerous as Blair’s was. Yes, Blair has been through a lot in his young life so far but his decision to do what he did is truly inexcusable under any circumstances.
Pitt has to stop these incidents now before it rolls up into something we can’t afford as a football program and as a well-respected university. If it takes drastic measures then take them. A new head coach, especially a first year one, can’t afford for his players to act any way they want to without the fear of the hammer dropping on their football life.
This feels wrong to me but as in anything else we’ll see more info trickle out and see more decisions being made by the Pitt principals involved. However we just had a great run of almost a full three years without many of these incidents happening and when they did administrative was taken as soon as possible and was strong enough to let the players and the public know Pitt was treating discipline as an extremely important of the football program.”
—————————————–
Also, fact is that HCPC petitioned for giving a 2nd chance to Travon Chapman but was rejected by Nordy .. who at the same time retired the jersey of an ex-Pitt great who was also accused of assault against the mother of his child.
Even Nordy picks and chooses apparently!
What I wrote above is this:
“Get informed, find out and know all the facts ands extraneous circumstances if there is any (investigate); address the situation with the principal actor (player) face to face, levy punishment, if it is determined to be, fairly and equally in accordance to YOUR institution’s rules, standards and policies and then use the incident and the aftermath to educate the principal actor and his peers.”
I think you read “educate the principal actor and his peers” to mean ‘set an example’ and that isn’t the meaning at all. Educate means treating the the kid fairly and addressing the team to explain what was expected, what could happen if those expectations are not met and explaining any mitigating circumstances.
Isn’t that what team meetings are for?
But that whole process I wrote above is what the precedent should be. Each case brought to the staff/admin’s attention should be executed in the same manner – not necessarily with the same results.
There can’t be ‘cookie cutter’ discipline in any walk of life. That breeds resentment across the board and especially in the members who would be on the receiving end of that etched in stone discipline. But on the other hand overt ‘depth chart justice’ pisses off the rest of the roster because it wouldn’t apply to them.
Again, I think a suspension of some game time would be fair in these cases but I’m not the HC – just the guy critiquing the HC.
You were probably getting passed. Everyone drives entirely too fast… When I commuted on the Parkway North before moving into the city, routinely, traffic was moving 80+.
I passed a cop one morning at such a speed. He pulled me over around Wexford, just to bust my balls. Said something stupid along the lines of, ‘When someone passes me doing 85, they’re usually trying to get my attention’..
No ticket was issued.. How could he, he was doing 83.
117 is excessive though. Doing it stoned is ridiculous.
The ultimate road warrior, the triple threat DDD!! Distracted Drunk Driver!
And it doesn’t help that while Pitt has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, the PG runs a fluff piece like this in todays paper:
“Penn State’s Hackenberg spent part of summer coaching young athletes”
I think I’m going to puke.
The concern with setting a precedent of not applying adequate discipline when it is necessary to do so can lead to the same type of behavior being repeated due to the apparent lack of consequences for such behaviors.
Just saying, don’t expect a disciplined team if your HC DOESN’T administer discipline himself when it is warranted.
Some football stuff up soon.
I’m hanging my hat on Nard Dog being the best – I’m hoping no one compares in the very near future.
TT – thanks for the memories and here’s hoping Nard Dog starts some new (great) memories for us Pitt fans.
HTP!
Interestingly, there is a 2018 OL prospect out of Marion Local that is tipping the scales at 6’5″ 275 pounds and very athletic. Same school as Bertke. Please don’t start with the -2A conference. If the kid has measurables, we should be on him.
Trump is holding back very little. Went to the border today and showed som balls.
My sister is a Penn State grad and a huge Hillary Clinton supporter – really!?
Regarding Hargrove – he reminds me somewhat of James Conner when he was being recruited – low # of offers, high motor, good character and size, late bloomer. That worked out great for Pitt and Mr. Conner. Hargrove is a DE (none currently signed and a position of need) with offers from Rutgers of the Big 10 and Cincinnati. We as fans need to trust HCPN’s offers until he gets a chance to coach his first season – I believe Pitt is a tough sell for these coaches, but they aren’t complaining.
Pitt has not been very attractive to recruits because of previous regime(s) – poor marketing, average seasonal records, many coaching changes, etc. This current regime needs to get this team on the field and win by putting 4 all out qtrs together each week. HCPN needs to show these players how to put their boots on the opponents throat and finish their games strong – no let ups!
Welcome back Upitt – it’s good to read your insight again – by the way, regarding the hammy tear – I played through that injury three times in my younger days. Once you tear it, you are prone to that injury over and over again. I think I tweeked it golfing the other day – LOL.
There are other Republicans, far more qualified and vote-worthy, that I as a lifelong Democrat could vote for.
Trump’s rhetoric has started some important conversations but let’s leave it at that.
Boyd, from what i here 1st quarter susp in first game.
