While the 2016 basketball season is underway and through the football off season I’ll try to chip in with some historical Pitt football stories once a week, or more if I can, via audio podcasts on The Blather…. hence “BlatherCasts”. Most will be read from already published books, articles in magazines and yearbooks and old newspapers’ coverage of the football program, team, personnel and the University itself.
Pitt Man and author Sam Sciullo Jr., has written four excellent books on Pitt athletics. His most well know work was in putting together the University of Pittsburgh Football Vault: The History of the Panthers (“The Pitt Vault”) which is a great fun look at just what the title describes.
He also has written Tales from the Pitt Panthers, my favorite of his, which is a compendium of anecdotes about the football and basketball programs. I truly love how this book is being described in the linked Goodreads page… it starts:
“The Pitt Panthers or the Pittsburgh Panthers? Even their name evokes an argument, a touch of controversy. For anyone who has followed the football and basketball fortunes of the University of Pittsburgh, however, controversy is just one of many facets of Pitt’s programs throughout the institution’s very long history.”
Man, ain’t that the truth and it has just multiplied over the time since the book was published in 2004. Hey, had he waited 10 years he would have been able to include Wannstedt, Graham and Chryst!
This book also has an excellent introduction written by the late great Beano Cook.
Speaking of Beano Cook, and for the younger Pitt fans who may not know who he is or may have never met him, read below is his forward to the book. Beano was Pitt’s Sports Information Director from 1956 until 1966 and held that post that Mr. E. J. Borghetti holds now. Not only was Cook a subject matter expert on all things associated with Pitt and our athletics, he had a wicked sense of humor and a cast iron liver.
So, using this and other publications for enjoyment and discussion, here goes…
Beano Cook’s Forward – Interesting to note this was done in 2004 before all the Wannstedt-Graham-Chryst turmoil. One fact that should jump out to us fans… in the past Pitt was very close to dumping D1 Football altogether.
Six Passes, No Completions, One Victory – Danny Daniels; debut subbing for an injured Dan Marino against the dreaded arch-rival Hoopies. Goes to show even ugly QB play can help win a ball game.
Southern Hospitality – The beginning of the Majors/Dorsett legends at Pitt. It just kept getting better from there on until the national championship game win in Jan of 1977. Of course, as most Pitt HCs do, Johnny Majors bolted soon afterward.
Hope you enjoyed these. As I said above I’ll try to mix up different Pitt football eras so that we older fans can remember our youths, our younger fans can learn something they may not know, and all of us can understand just how important Pitt football has been to the school, it’s fans and to college football as a whole.
(Tales from the PITT Panthers by Sam Sciullo Jr., ISBN: I-58261-198-X, www.sportspublishing LLC.com)
Enjoyed listening to your readings. Great memories of Pitt.
Go Pitt.
Thank God Marino didn’t get hurt more often…
I took some time to read a couple hundred of the comments following that article and was really surprised at the substantial number of anti-Franklin criticisms. It was an enjoyable read!!
“We’re just over two weeks away from national signing day, so over the coming days we’ll start taking a look at the class Pat Narduzzi is expected to sign on Feb. 3. We’ll look at the players Pitt has committed, as well as any top prospects still on the board for the Panthers.
Before we get started, a quick note on scholarship numbers. Pitt currently has 67 scholarships allocated to returning players for 2016 (that includes Ejuan Price, who is very likely to return for a sixth year, per sources within the program). The Panthers currently have 19 players verbally committed for next season (plus transfer TE Chris Clark), and could take a few more. Right now, if every player verbally committed to Pitt signed, the Panthers would be at 87, two over the NCAA’s limit of 85.
Pitt will likely add at least one or two more players to the fold before signing day, so that pushes the number even higher. This is all a roundabout way of saying that there will likely be some more attrition from the ranks of the upperclassmen before we get to training camp next year.”
““We are thrilled that the game continues to contribute so much to the regional economy,” Beck said. “Even with Navy participating in the game and a significant number of local attendees, our 2015 impact nearly matches the $17 million result from last year.”
Beck credits the Pitt fanbase for helping generate so much revenue.
“[The revenue generated] can be attributed in large measure to the outstanding job Pitt did in mobilizing its fanbase,” Beck said.
Pitt Athletic Director Scott Barnes tweeted out prior to the game that Pitt had sold out all three allotments of tickets — two of which the Military Bowl granted Pitt after the school sold out each preceding one — which totaled more than 8,000, and expected even more fans to travel to Annapolis.
Using the Event Impact Calculator on the website for Destination Marketing Association International, AAACCVB determined that the Military Bowl attendees accounted for $4.1 million in lodging, $3.3 million in retail, $3.3 million in recreation, $3.1 million in food and beverage and $2.6 million in transportation between Dec. 26 and 28.”
Of course you can be sure Barnes et al will point back at this when the bowl committees are starting to finalize plans for the 2016 post-season.
Hmmm, which ones do you think could go?
Personally the only guy I’m all that worried about making it to LOI Day is MacVitte… although I believe all the recruits we have now will sign.
“Pitt’s first of 3 official visit weekends begins today. Pat Narduzzi and his assistants will be hosting 9 players.
The weekend will consist of visiting places on campus, hanging out at Dave and Buster’s and going to the Pitt/Boston College game on Saturday.
List of Pitt’s Official Visitors:
–Therran Coleman
–Ruben Flowers
–Thomas MacVittie
–Maurice Ffrench
–Bryce Hargrove
–Chase Pine
–Rashad Wheeler
–Elias Reynolds
–Tyrone Hill
… and here is a recruit, M J McGriff of Florida, who popped up out of nowhere. Hopefully, if OC Canada does get this kid, we’ll see some slot receiver action… something I think has been missing in our offense for years.
Here is his SR year in HS ball. (Have to sit through the commercial).
1) trying to sign as many top prospects as possible even at the expense of letting go some from your current roster
2) trying to flip commits from other schools while at the same time, trying to hold on to your own verbals
I just read a story where UM HC Harbaugh actually attended high school with a PSU commit who is one of the top kickers.
WE just flipped a couple Rutgers commits a few weeks back, while last year, PSU flipped a couple of ours in the last week.
MacVittie seems to be still a loyal Pitt pledge, but believe me, I assure you the caching staff will let out a big sigh of relief if and when they see that signed LOI come over the fax
The shine is long gone from this hire and after Pitt takes care of business on September 10, the villagers will be surrounding Franklin with touches burning a pitchforks drawn. Gone by the end of next season is my prediction.
The next hire will be a former PSU player.
Dare I say Munchak?
We could really use a transfer like Gary Burley next year. Had forgotten about him when I listed great Pitt defensive interior linemen.
Harbaugh actually asked the kid if they could have a sleepover at the kids house. “Breakfast with Harbaugh” Crazy but great recruiting.
We need a great turnout and game today to show the recruits some Pitt Spirit.
Meaning? I have no f’in idea but a lot of time on my hands.
In addition to being a Pitt legend, Beano was very instrumental in the development of college football coverage in ESPN’s early years. He provided a historical perspective throughout much of the 80s and 90s … preceding the likes of Lou Holtz and Lee Corso.