We’ll take a lead for some of the discussions of the last week or so and discuss the Pitt QB situation, both present, future and some past. I said in a comment “Its been a long time since Pitt had a star QB” and it truly has – certainly none in the last decade and that’s an eternity in college ball when rosters and starting lineups changes regularly.
Top 10 QB Commitments Since 2010
2016: Thomas MacVittie: Only 1 interception in 211 attempts his SR HS season
2015: Ben DiNucci: Redshirted this season as a freshman; Alex Hornibrook: Verbally committed to Pitt, signed with Wisconsin
2014: Adam Bertke: Redshirt freshman, never played, transferred out; Wade Freebeck: Verbally committed to Pitt, signed with Vanderbilt
2013: Tra’Von Chapman: Attended spring drills, dismissed after criminal charges, backup at Akron
2012: Chad Voytik: Started in 2014, lost starting job and transferred to Arkansas State
2011: Trey Anderson: Didn’t join team until second week of fall camp, graduated from Pitt as a career backup
2010: Anthony Gonzalez: Played a few snaps at quarterback, two-year starter at linebacker; Mark Myers: Transferred as a rsJR to John Carroll College
Man – that transfer record is brutal especially when there weren’t any star QBs in front of all those kids who transferred out before they had a chance to show what they could do after a couple year in the program.
HCs never want to play true freshman QBs unless 1) they absolutely have to by injury, as with our case in 2007 or 2) those QBs are really highly rated and experienced. It is, way more often than not, detrimental to that player’s progression. Most college QBs take the reins in their 3rd year or so – after they have a redshirt season and another season running the scout team for practices.
That last point is often overlooked by fans as to the positive impact it has in a young QBs career. The bottom line is that in the latter part of fall camp on through the last regular season game mostly only two QBs, the starter and his back-up, are getting the snap repetitions needed to prepare the game plan for the weekly matches.
So if a team has four or five QBs on the roster (we’ll have five come fall camp) it is that 3rd QB who most probably will be running the scout team’s offense. That keeps the kid infront of the staff’s eyes, keeps his huddle presence and passing sharp and moving forward and sets him up to move up as the season turns over.
For instance, rsFR Ben Dinucci was Pitt’s Scout Team QB last season. He did all the work necessary to show opponent’s offenses to the starting defensive team.
That new job meant scouting opposing quarterbacks and trying to mimic them in practice. Some weeks, he was Georgia Tech’s Justin Thomas, operating the Yellow Jackets’ triple-option offense. Other times, he was acting as Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer, a 6-foot-4 running threat with a strong arm.
“It’s been tough, but, at the same time, I think a lot of the stuff has been able to help me,” DiNucci said. “Watching film on quarterbacks, trying to pick up on little things they do well, and kind of adapting that to my own game.”
DiNucci said his two favorite quarterbacks to play this year were Kizer and North Carolina’s Marquise Williams, both mobile quarterbacks.
“They’re good in the pocket, too, so they were good guys to kind of learn from,” DiNucci said.
Like most freshmen, DiNucci said the biggest adjustment to college football was the speed of the game. As the Panthers’ fourth-string quarterback, he never came close to seeing game action this year, but even just watching on the sideline told him that this would be a step up from what he saw in the WPIAL.
The best thing for newcomer FR Thomas MacVittie to do, in my opinion, is to redshirt in 2016 and play QB on the Scout team if Canada and Narduzzi feel like he’s the best option as a starter in 2017… which he may well be.
He’s a strong armed young man who played in one of high school football powerhouses in Cincinnati’s Moeller. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what he will do for our Panthers – in future seasons, and getting him those scout team practice reps would really help with that.
The point is that MacVitte, with his only one year starting in HS, is not ready to play football at this level in college. Personally I don’t get the hype and over-heavy expectations that fans are putting on MacVitte at this point. In all respects he’s been rated by the recruiting sites as an average HS QB and we have seen how placing unrealistic expectations on a player like MacVittie has turned out for us before… think Mark Myers for one.
Here are the across the board recruiting site’s take on him.
| Sites | Stars | QB Nat’l | State Overall |
| Rivals | 3 | NR | NR |
| Scouts | 3 | 42 | |
| ESPN | 3 | 29 | 24 |
| 24/7 | 3 | 18 / 434 overall | 15 |
His formal offers are not from Power Five schools save Pitt and some of that is due to his early commitment in March of this last recruiting season. But his only offers were from Miami of Ohio, Ohio, Cincinnati, Toledo and Pitt. With a late desperation phone call from LSU’s Les Miles two days before LOI signing day.
I will say this about recruit’s early commitments – if good college programs’ staffs want a player they will keep up with formal offers regardless of the kid’s previous verbal to a school or not. Gone are the days where head coaches honored that verbal bond between the recruit and his intended school and would then back off from that recruit. Oh no – its a serious free for all up until the kid faxes in his signature on the LOI if that recruit is truly highly valued. We didn’t see that with MacVitte save that one late call to test the waters.
We see that stealing of recruits happen a lot. Pitt unfortunately has been on the short end of that stick all too many times as noticed above with Alex Hornibrook, who will see playing time at Wisconsin as a rsFR, and Wade Freebeck. But in our favor we pulled in George Hill on a de-commitment this year so this type of thing happens regularly in college these days. Which makes me wonder why those other formal offers didn’t keep coming for MacVitte.
Does all this mean he’s not a good QB or college prospect…not at all! What it shows to me is that he’s a regular QB recruit who will almost certainly need at least one year under his belt in college to be able to go into a game as a starting QB, even in relief, and thrive. We Pitt fans hang onto the “lightning in a bottle” theory (or wishful thinking) and it almost never happens the way we want it to when we do that.
Especially at the QB position a first year flash success is few and very far between. I am wondering if the staff is feeling that way also – that they are keeping their fingers crossed that Peterman will remain standing and producing all year. Either that or they are ignoring the need for a viable back-up because not too many people are sold on Stocker as the next guy up. Forget about Ben DiNucci, he’s not in the cards – Adam Bertke would have gotten playing time before him.
I’ve been scratching my head that we haven’t heard any talk of a transfer upperclassman QB project going on. If there was ever a time we need it it is now – much like we desperately needed Peterman (or anyone) to come in prior to last season. Pitt made that happen and it worked out extremely well. It could be in the works I suppose – I hope so – but I haven’t heard anything and the media hasn’t talked about it at all.
The way it is shaping up now is that either the staff is going to roll the dice with Manny Stocker if needed or they are going to burn MacVittie’s redshirt and either way that signals a desperation act to me.
The Pitt Players made their annual good-works visit to Haiti not long ago.
And Pitt senior linebacker Mike Caprara said he can’t wait to go back. Next time, he’s bringing along his mom, sister and a couple of aunts.
“There’s Christmas, there’s Easter and there’s Haiti for me,” said Caprara, who recently returned from his fourth trip in four years to the third-world island nation. “I think of it as a holiday.”
Caprara, a Woodland Hills graduate, is one of more than 80 Pitt student-athletes who over the past five years have visited Haiti, which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic. They teach, bond and often offer financial assistance to the natives.
The trips are organized and directed through Pitt’s Coalition of Christian Outreach and usually are led by campus minister Mark Steffey and his colleague, Kelly Cooke.
Matt Cavanaugh has been put up for the College Hall of Fame. I can’t honestly say that he’s a worthy candidate for that honor. He was the QB for some of our championship run in 1976, MVP of the Championship game actually, but other than that he was pretty much an average QB. He’s not even in Pitt’s Top Ten Passing Yards listing. He’s #16 , and compare that to Pat Bostick at #15 and it puts things in perspective.
| PASSING YARDS | |
| Name | Yards |
| Alex Van Pelt | 11267 |
| Dan Marino | 8597 |
| Tino Sunseri | 8590 |
| Tyler Palko | 8343 |
| Rod Rutherford | 6724 |
| John Congemi | 6467 |
| Rick Trocano | 5368 |
| Bill Stull | 5252 |
| John Ryan | 4337 |
| David Priestley | 4262 |
Wow – look who’s #3 only seven yards behind Marino!
To close: Here is a great video of our promising Offensive Line taking some time together and shooting some hoops:
His one year stats at Pitt is also nothing to write home about especially when considering he had 2 future NFL WRs to throw to. You take away his stats versus New Mexico and Duke, and you will find a lot of mediocrity.
What QB problem?????
On defense we have a mix of experience and some young talent, with hopefully a pass rush from both sides. We will find out if the D Tackles and linebackers are good enough to stop the run.
The most interesting thing on D is which underclassmen will get on the field early and how much of an impact will they have?
P.S. Joe Namath’s quarterback rating his senior year was 130.00…it was different era
Ran into a Pitt insider who told me Nate is the “real deal” and they will score points this year..also expects Mr. Weah to step up to the plate in ’16..maybe we get a wide-revciever threat this year which was missing all last year..make-em defend the whole damn field….
Let’s see if the Pens win the Cup, the Buccos make the World Series. Super Steelers win #7 and the Panthers at the top of the ACC Coastal-does that make the Burgh the “City of Champions” again?
Big B, they were talking about what a great time this is for Pittsburgh Sports on one of the talk shows.
Pittsburgh is also hosting the US Open in two weeks. They even mentioned Adams in the NBA.
Let’s hope Pitt holds up its end of things a little better this year.
Could the Panthers, football and basketball join the club this year?
(From previous thread) To answer your question, I do feel better about the football program than I have. I also totally agree about Narduzzi being a fit here and maybe seeing this thing out. Except,( this is the damn pessimist in me) the one area of support he will never get is from the fan base. I hope I’m wrong here, and winning would help, but Pitt just doesn’t have the fan base to be a big time program.
Kids today want to play in front of a packed house. There just isn’t enough interest in Pitt football to provide that. I can’t tell you how many times I headed to a game amped up to be let down by a bunch of yellow seats. I can imagine how deflating it is to the players to run out of the tunnel to a half empty stadium. Sure 30 plus years of mediocrity doesn’t help. But even when Pitt was truly it, they struggled to draw. It took a perfect storm for us to have the run we did from 76-82. Can that happen again? Maybe, but unlikely. Don’t forget the talent in the WPIAL back then was insane.
I do think the ACC was a nice landing spot for Pitt. Minus Florida St and Clemson, there are mostly programs very similar to Pitt. I do think Pitt can compete regularly in the Coastal and be a perennial top 25 program. But as much as it kills me, I don’t ever see Pitt being a national power again.
You put a lot of good info. up there, and in the process I think you answered your own question. People are high on MacVittie because everything is relative, and look at that list of QB recruits you put up there! So yeah, relatively speaking, some people (myself included) are pretty excited. But in addition, there are some other interesting tidbits: like his size and arm strength, the fact that he threw only 1 interception in 211 attempts at a big program, and quite frankly, the likelihood that he flew under the radar BECAUSE he only started for one year. So there is some interesting background imho. The stars & offers here is less important as a result; we’ve recruited some highly rated HS qbs in the past that have been rated incorrectly.
I do agree though that, given his lack of experience, I’d love to see him redshirt for a year.
Have you seen what the atmosphere is like for a game in Death Valley? It’s insane, 80,000+ packed house, all in orange, screaming their heads off. You need that to be able to stay at the top. The revenue and recruits that type of atmosphere creates is immeasurable. Pitt just doesn’t have that.
Oh and BC and WVU both northern schools had good seasons. I’m sure Herman will extend Jordano and his 100K salary 10 years. Even though L’Ville just paid its baseball coach 1.25M. Comical.
1976… YPA 9.5… QBR 160.5
1977… YPA 9.9… QBR 161.7
Granted the number of passes, TDs and TDs/Int was not impressive.
But the others suggest a Quarterback who was able to deliver when called upon.
He was also a Natural Leader in the Huddle.
Speaking of Death Valley, anyone know how to get tickets to the Pitt game if you’re not a Pitt season ticket holder?
Matt C was the best QB at Pitt he was a winner and yes if he doesn’t get hurt a possible repeat as national champs, also Rick Trocano was a winner to, he lost out to Marino but came back to play when Marino was injured. Stats are nice but the only stat that matters is winning.
UPitt would you be available for 1.25 million or is that a pay cut?
I don’t think any recruit from highly vaunted Moeller HS flies under anyone’s radar – especially not the Big 10 teams like OSU, Michigan, MSU, etc… who get players from them all the time. If they wanted MacVittie they would have gone after him.
Here’s something about Schneider – you can’t look at his first year stats and project the future at all with him as he was on a horrid 0-12 UCF team last season. Much like Peterman’s time at UT when he didn’t do well there things change drastically sometimes with a transfer.
Schneider’s going to have three full years with us and may well be the guy when the dust settles. He’s 3*s across the board and had some Power 5 conference offers… he’s no slouch.
I agree that Cavanaugh was good for Pitt but really, I could have done as well with that team behind me… not really, but let’s remember he’s up for the College Hall of Fame guys! Entry to that should be reserved for those who were truly above and beyond their peers.
In ’76 Pitt had an even 3500 yards rushing and a defense that had 28 INTs. for even more lopsidedness – we ran for 290 yards per game and gave up 114 ypg with only .7 TDs per game against us.
That was a lopsided season and while we had some tough games it was all Dorsett and the defense that won the championship for us. 1977 is all speculation.
Again, IMO another QB could have started – Haygood for example – and done as well or better than Cavanaugh.
BTW – that person BigB talked to, over drinks I’m sure, is as knowledgeable as it gets with this year’s offense. We will see mucho long ball completions to our new WR2 Jester Weah (sometime after the 3rd game) – you heard it from BigB first on here…
This will be the inaugural game between the two schools. The Cowboys make a return trip to Pittsburgh on Sept. 16, 2017.
The Panthers already have three games earmarked for national telecasts this season. In addition to the Oklahoma State contest, Pitt’s home games with Penn State (Sept. 10, ABC or ESPN) and Virginia Tech (Oct. 27, ESPN) will also be nationally televised.
Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2016 Pitt football season are now on sale. Call the Pitt Ticket Office at (800) 643-PITT (7488) or log on to PittsburghPanthers.com. For the latest Pitt football news, follow the Panthers on Twitter and Instagram.
The 2016 Pitt football schedule with announced television arrangements and start times:
Sept. 3: Villanova (ESPN3), 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 10: Penn State (ABC or ESPN), Noon
Sept. 17: at Oklahoma State (ESPN), 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 24: at North Carolina*, TBA
Oct. 1: Marshall, TBA
Oct. 8: Georgia Tech* (Homecoming), TBA
Oct. 15: at Virginia*, TBA
Oct. 27 (Thurs.): Virginia Tech* (ESPN), 7 p.m.
Nov. 5: at Miami*, TBA
Nov. 12: at Clemson*, TBA
Nov. 19: Duke*, TBA
Nov. 26: Syracuse*, TBA
Dec. 3: Dr Pepper ACC Championship Game#, 7:45 p.m. (ESPN) or 8 p.m. (ABC)
*ACC game
#Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
Due to television, TBA kickoff times will be announced at a later date.
Pitt football, maybe a division champion. Pitt bball, eighth place in ACC.
Cavanaugh gave Pitt enough of a Passing Game the other Teams had to account for it. Kept the Defense “honest” as my Grandfather used to say.
He made an immediate difference when he finally starting getting the Snaps.
Without Cavanaugh, his ability to both throw and run… no National Championship.
– was the 1976 Sugar Bowl and 1977 Gator Bowl MVPs
– was a 1977 All-American as voted by the American Football Coaches Assoc (AFCA)
– played 14 years in the NFL
Until that is corrected, Pitt will never be able to compete for the national limelight.
He did bobble and drop an easy TD in the End Zone.
He’s going to have to find a way to immediately get over his anxiety or whatever it is that’s keeping him from catching the Ball and win the confidence of Peterman and the Coaches to have any chance of staying on the field.
What interesting to me, when you look at the stats of Alex Van Pelt and John Congemi is; their best years were their first years (stats wise). And team record wise as well. Tiny never got any better either, imo. He went up and down stat wise, granted he had to run the Spread the one year. But he never really got any better or much better from one year to the other.
So we have a history of recruiting kids who seem to peak at Age 18-19. Since they all had different coaches, we can’t blame the coaching, can we.
As far as McVittie starting his freshman year, again Van Pelt had his best season as a freshman, as did John Congemi, so who knows.
If he plays well in summer camp, throw him in there against Villanova and see what happens.
Also Matt Cavenaugh was the 2nd best NFL QB Pitt has produced so far. The book is still out on Savage. Right now Van Pelt would be #3.
The Football gods have not been to kind to Pitt.
🙁
Stud.
Since in Van Pelt’s years, Pitt was pass happy, as they were in Sunseri’s years. Not so much in Matt Cavanaugh’s years. Plus Matt only started a fraction of the games that Van Pelt and Sunseri started. Cavanaugh was injured a good portion of 1976 and missed 3.5 games in 1977.
So comparing these QB’s based on Total Passing Yards is not a good comparison at all.
So let’s look at QB Rating to get a better comparison. Or at least a fairer one.
Cavanaugh’s Career QBR = 154.4
Van Pelt’s ” QBR = 126.8
Marino’s ” QBR = 127.7
Sunseri’s ” QBR = 137.9
Congemi’s ” QBR = 117.5
Palko ” QBR = 140.8
Rutherford QBR = 137.9
Cavanaugh was certainly #1 of Pitt QB’s in QBR.
Cavanaugh’s Career YPA = 9.3
Van Pelt’s ” YPA = 7.5
Marino’s ” YPA = 7.1
Sunseri’s ” YPA = 7.5
Congemi’s ” YPA = 6.5
Palko’s ” YPA = 7.8
Rutherford’s YPA = 8.0
Again Matt Cavanaugh #1 of Pitt QB’s in Career YPA
So these facts taken into account with the fact he was MVP of the National Championship Sugar Bowl Game of 1977 and MVP of the Gator Bowl the next season, does equate to Matt being in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Sorry Reed, but you’re dead wrong on this one.
In 1977 Matt was #1 passer in the NCAA Division 1, in Passing Efficiency at 161.7
After being #2 in 1976 in Passing Efficiency at a remarkably same 161.7.
Matt was also #1 in the entire NCAA in YPA in 1977 and #2 in YPA in 1976 among ALL college QB’s. #4 in TD passes in 1977.
link to sports-reference.com
Matt Cavanaugh was truly a great college QB.
Always thought he got stiffed at New England Patriots as a 2nd Round pick having to play behind Steve Grogan.
This is a long and rather dry press release, but it’s important for Pitt athletics and worth reading. A big first step.
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh has partnered with Populous, an international design firm specializing in sports architecture, to devise a comprehensive athletics facilities master plan to address both the short-term and long-tern needs of the athletic department administrative units and varsity programs.
“While undergoing our internal strategic planning it became quite clear that our facilities and infrastructure are a paramount resource in fulfilling our vision to inspire pride and build champions – in academics, in athletics and in life,” said athletic director Scott Barnes. “Populous is an industry leader and the ideal choice to partner with as we look to provide the best possible accommodations and atmosphere for our student-athletes, staff and fans. We are extremely excited about the direction we are heading as a department and university.”
Populous has generated collegiate master plans for a wide range of institutions including Alabama, Arizona State, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Northwestern, Ohio State, Virginia and Washington. In addition to its focus in the world of collegiate athletics, the firm has designed more than 2,000 sports venues around the globe including the main stadium for the 2012 Olympic Games in London; Yankee Stadium; Heinz Field; CONSOL Energy Center and numerous facility master plans.
The Pitt athletics master planning process will begin immediately and will span approximately nine months. Key project phases will include in-person discovery sessions with athletic department staff, coaches and student-athletes; facility and needs assessments; and content development. Among the key priorities within the plan is the potential construction of an athletics-specific student services building that will include office space, an academic support center and a full-service student-athlete training table facility.
Populous will work in concert with Nashville-based graphic design company Advent as the University of Pittsburgh continues its three-phased transition back to the Pitt script logo. New facility branding efforts are currently underway for the 2016-17 season.
The planning process comes on the heels of several projects already nearing completion, including a contracted feasibility study for the potential construction of outdoor track and tennis facilities; renovation of the locker room facility in Trees Pool and the construction of a new team room adjacent to the pool deck; renovations to the entrance of the football facility at the UPMC South Side Complex as well as renovations to the hydrotherapy area; and renovations to the Petersen Events Center, including a new basketball floor, new LED ribbon displays and revamped entrance to the practice facility.
“Addressing our facility needs is a key component in developing a roadmap for the future of Pitt Athletics,” added Barnes. “Enhancing and improving our facilities will enable our student-athletes, coaches, staff and outside constituents to continue to take great pride in being a part of the University of Pittsburgh family.”
“Effective athletic master planning can have a positive impact on the recruiting of student-athletes, a fan’s gameday experiences and everything in between,” said Jeff Funovits, the principal campus planner with Populous. “As a Pittsburgh native, I’m very excited to be working with the university on this project that will support the near and long-term success of the Panthers’ athletic programs.”
About Populous
Populous was founded in 1983 on the premise of vision and innovation and has since grown into the world’s leading design firm dedicated exclusively to creating sports facilities that could help shape lasting memories for players, fans and communities. The firm has completed more than 2,000 projects around the globe, worked with nearly every major professional sports team in North America and completed work on more than 130 colleges and universities. Populous has designed some of the most recognizable sports facilities in the world – all of which, in some way, have defined the experience of modern sport. Its portfolio includes such icons as Camden Yards in Baltimore; Yankee Stadium in New York; the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games main stadium; Nanjing Sports Park in China; ANZ Stadium in Australia; Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona; the University of Minnesota football stadium and event planning for the Super Bowl and Major League Baseball All Star Game.
With an eye to the future, Populous continues to look at ways technology can change sport; how social media can change fan interactions and how brands are interwoven along the way. An unrivaled knowledge, both technical and visionary, is once again helping set the stage for the next generation of fans.
Today, Populous is recognized as the nation’s leading architectural firm in the planning, design and renovation of collegiate athletic facilities. Its team of planners, landscape architects, programmers and architects work with clients to create places that provide memorable collegiate experiences. These facilities, integrated within the campus’ open space, have become important components in a university’s livelihood. A competitive athletic program enhances a university’s image, while providing additional revenues to strengthen the academic experience.
1 Chris Peak, Yesterday at 5:57 PM
Oh, and does this mean the Carrick 5th graders may lose the midfield paint job?
It appears that the new ACC money will be fun to play with for Barney and his minions.
I’m looking forward to a “parade” of Pat signals in June. First up…
Richt is a good coach, but not great. There is a reason he is no longer at Georgia. Georgia is a much better job.
H2P
Emel – if we are playing fun with stats then how do you discount Sunseri so easily? His stats (stats mind you) stack up with some of the best Pitt QBs we have had…
QB GP ATT Comp % YDS TD INT YPG Rat
TS 44 1141 736 64.5% 8590 49 23 195.2 137.8
MC 22 175 95 54.2% 1534 16 10 69.7 146.6
Cav was a good QB. But again is he really HoF good considering the supporting cast he had? Marino had the same type quality but put up much bigger production and the ‘times’ weren’t that different between ’76-77 and ’81-83.
Most of the facility stuff was already planned, and is already being worked on, before this architectural/design contract was let. I’m not sure what the purpose of this actually is.
