Let’s see, Coach Todd Graham has been doing the rubber-chicken circuit this spring. Going to alumni club events and selling the program.

“Coach Graham’s speech was one of the best talks I have heard from a Pitt coach in several years,” said Mon Valley Panthers Club President Dr. Randy Rodriguez. “It wasn’t a ‘rah-rah speech.’ It was from the heart. He was very sincere. He’s a great motivator.

“When he said he wants to graduate 100 percent of his players, that tells you something about the guy. He cares.”

I can’t honestly be certain if the coverage and some attention paid to these events in media is because of a new coach and little other news. Or if there is some energy not seen in a few years. I remember similar excitement during the first spring/summer of Dave Wannstedt hitting the rubber chicken circuit. Either way, positive attention is welcome.

In still waiting for an actual commit, a local recruit still has Pitt at the top of his list as his offers start coming.

Coles is a 6-foot-2 1/2, 173-pound junior receiver-defensive back. Colleges are recruiting him as a receiver and he has a few scholarship offers.

“I’d say right now I like Pitt the most,” Coles said.

Pitt’s new coaching staff has offered Coles a scholarship. Akron also has offered and Wisconsin offered recently. Clairton football coach Tom Nola said Purdue is coming to Clairton next week and seems close to offering.

Coles just won the Class AA 100- and 200-meter dashes at the WPIAL track and field. A little bit of speed to go with the size.

Glenville State held an alumni golf outing this past weekend. Pitt assistant Tony Gibson was there along with his old boss, DickRod. Gibson said nothing bad about his former place of employment, but made it clear he’s a coach not a former WVU coach.

“In this profession, what you have to do is you gotta work and you gotta try to keep growing as a coach,” Gibson said. “It wasn’t the hatred that I had. I lived in Western Pennsylvania with my mother until 7th or 8th great. I’ve watched Pitt, West Virginia, Penn State and Ohio State, kind of the local flavor and rooted for everybody.”

Gibson and the rest of the Pitt Panthers are set to visit Morgantown in November for the next installment of the Backyard Brawl. For years, he witnessed the brawl from the Mountaineers sideline. Now, he will be coming out of the opposite tunnel, spending time in the visitors locker room at Mountaineer Field, and coach the game from the opposite sideline.

“It is going to be interesting in November when we get to come back to Morgantown,” Gibson said. “I’m going to have extra security for that game I think. I know the fans there are great and especially when you add in the rivalry of Pitt and West Virginia and all of that stuff. So, it is going to be an exciting game, but it is going to be weird to be on that other sideline.”