If you wish to be angsty about the offense, go right ahead. There wasn’t much at all. To large degree, though, that is not surprising.

The play calling was always going to be safe and vanilla for this game. Two of the likely starting offensive linemen did not play. One due to minor injury and the other because he isn’t on campus yet.

We expected the defense to be ahead of the offense, and by all appearances has better talent. But if you went, were you really there for the football?

I’m not cynical about it. It’s simply that there is only so much you can take away from a spring game.

Beyond what Pitt itself let us see in packaged summaries, and the coaches say about each practice, there is a very limited amount of knowledge as to how things are truly progressing. The practices for all intents are closed to the media. Their reports over the spring have been based on the press releases, Coach Pat Narduzzi’s post-practice press conferences, and limited press pool interviews with certain coaches and players.

There are now expectations for certain players. Certain units. And certain players. But, we only know for sure about so much. It doesn’t take away (at least for me) the optimism and hope I have for the upcoming season. It just means that I still have plenty of questions that really couldn’t be answered by Saturday; and I didn’t care to worry about them.

It was a beautiful day. Sunnier and warmer then expected. No rain ever hit.

The great weather created a solid turnout as the official attendance was a bit over 8000. And people were definitely there to tailgate. It’s anecdotal, but I definitely believe there were a lot more people in the lots early on Saturday. Giving it somewhat of a gameday feel.

My son and I (along with a friend of his) had a great day. Came down to Heinz Field. Met up with some of my friends and their family.  Went down on the field after the game for autographs. Then dragged the kids all over Oakland and a bit of Squirrel Hill for fun, food  and more then a little nostalgia for me (Pizza from Aiello’s and ice cream from Dave and Andy’s).

Did I make two eleven year-olds hike up Cardiac Hill with me? Yes, yes I did. Did we wander the campus and through the Cathedral? Of course.

The fact that it was a warm day, and there was the Bigelow Bash happening to make the campus more vibrant and active on this day had Oakland buzzing more then usual. All the open grassy areas — around the Cathedral, Soldiers and Sailors, Flagstaff Hill — were alive with students just hanging around and having fun. It looked almost like the campus from any time. Well other then a lot of those portable nylon hammocks being strung up everywhere there were a couple trees within reach. That seems fairly recent