In one of the many jobs I have had in my life, I worked as a bank teller for Union National/Integra/National City/PNC Bank for a few years at Pitt and a little beyond. I would float from branch to branch filling in for sick or vacationing tellers. Eventually it timed out where a branch I was working out in Penn Hills got held-up.
It was the first and only time I’ve had a handgun stuck in my face. It happened quickly. I didn’t even look into the eyes of the masked robber. I just stared straight at the handgun — very aware how easily I could die at that moment — and then gave him the money. All the other details of that day and the robbery have fallen away after nearly 20 years. But I will never forget looking straight into the barrel of the weapon.
So everything about this situation sucks.
A former teammate of Pitt football player Jason Pinkston is being questioned in connection with an armed robbery that took place at Mr. Pinkston’s Oakland home Monday night, police said.
Police listed 22-year-old Aaron Smith, a former linebacker, as a suspect in the case, in which two men burst into Mr. Pinskton’s house, located on Welsford Street, and stole $200 from a friend who was sitting in the living room.
Mr. Pinkston told police that he was hanging out with Mr. Smith, his pet pitbull and three others in the living room when Mr. Smith told him his cousins were coming over. Mr. Smith then said he was taking his dog out and left.
Police said Mr. Pinkston got up and went into another room in the house when there was a knock on the front door. A friend who was sitting in the living room answered the door to two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The men forced him into the living room and ordered him to sit down on the couch. They then held a gun to the man’s head and demanded money. He gave them $200 in cash.
Mr. Pinkston heard what was happening and jumped out a front window with another friend. He called 9-1-1 to report the robbery at at around 9:50 p.m., police said.
After the two men left, the friend found Mr. Smith sitting in the stairwell of the home and told police he did not know how Mr. Smith managed to get back inside during the robbery.
Well, it doesn’t top former Duquesne and Seton Hall player, Robert Mitchell’s spree last March, so there’s that. It’s important to note that while Smith is a potential suspect in the case, he is not charged with anything yet. At the same time, it sure doesn’t look particularly good.
Smith never played for Pitt this year, as he was declared inactive due to an unspecified injury. It was widely expected that despite having one more year of eligibility (he was a redshirt junior), his time on Pitt football was done. Despite his high athletic potential and what would appear to be fantastic bloodlines he never matched expectations:
…Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Fabulous 22″…Pittsburgh Tribune-Review “Terrific 25″…Pittsburgh Tribune-Review All-Class AAAA…Harrisburg Patriot-News “Platinum 33″…PrepStar All-American…Max Emfinger All-American…selected to play in the Max Emfinger All-American Bowl Classic…selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic…rated one of the top 15 prospects in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com…Rivals.com also rated him the No. 22 “athlete” nationally…rated one of the nation’s top 50 receiver prospects by Scout.com…rated one of the top 70 prospects in the East Region by Scout.com…played under Coach Terry Smith…also a baseball and track and field letterman…East Suburban Orthopedic Achievement Award.
…has extensive football family ties…father played at West Virginia (1983-87)…uncle (Terry Smith, his high school coach) played at Penn State (1987-91) and was a Washington Redskins draft pick…is a cousin of former Pitt cornerbacks Darrelle Revis (2004-06) and Bernard “Josh” Lay (2002-05)…Revis is now a Pro Bowl cornerback for the New York Jets and was the franchise’s No. 1 draft pick in 2007…Lay was a draft selection of the New Orleans Saints…cousin Justin King is a third-year cornerback for the St. Louis Rams and played with Aaron at Gateway before matriculating to Penn State (2005-07)…another cousin, Chuck Fisher, played for West Virginia (1995-98) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1999-2000)…
Bad scene, man. Bad scene.
I find the academic pursuits of Miami University’s football players to be of interest. The bios of many of their players are reminiscent of Pitt decades ago. Perhaps it is indicative of their being a “half-rung” below Pitt on the “football power level”. The academic pursuits of the football players on a team a full rung lower (e.g. Lehigh) are even more dramatic.
Like Chas, I have also (unfortunately) experienced having a gun placed at my head, in my case a sawed off shotgun during a car jacking. Although it was almost 20 years ago, I still shudder when I think about the moment that the thought first entered my head that I might not make it. Needless to say, it is not something that you easily forget.
That was a much pleasant memory than my second Pitt memory … the ’69 Pitt-Psu game won by PSU 63-7 … where little 5’8 Dave Havern was being chased all day by big bully DTs All-Americans, Steve Smear & Mike Reid.
He and his grandson Nate’s story is fantastic… raised the boy by himself with a large helping hand from neighbor’s and co-workers. Nate is now on the ’49ers and graduated on time from PITT. In full disclosure I made friends with Ron three years ago and can’t think of a finer man I know.
See Pat Bostick for a great sports story also – highly ranked and throw in to the fire as a true freshman – played his heart out and, while never living up to his reputed potential on the field – he has stuck it out as a back-up QB, mentor to other players on the team and a coach-in-progress even as a student on the sidelines. Not only did he get his undergrad degree in three years he’s about to complete his Masters at PITT this year.
Adan Gunn came back from being a career second string LB and a broken neck – also overcoming a rather stupid (and funny truth be told) very minor arrest to be our starting MLB and All-BE performer in his fifth season…
Chase Clowser, a career big body backup on the OL has gone onto a career in Federal Law Enforcement.
There are just a few from the past years and there are other wonderful stories of dedication and hard work to either overcome adversity or to make the best of the educational opportunities PITT holds… The problem is that the local media doesn’t keep looking for those stories as much as they run with the negative ones.
But, even though I’ve had long discussions about what happened off the field at PITT this season – I truly recognize that the vast majority of the players are damned good kids… and yes, surely Dave Wannstedt had a big hand in molding these young men while he was responsible for them during their time at PITT.
There’s an early Christmas present for you…
The shooter put the pistol on the bar, looked at me and said “What did you just see?” and I said “Not one damn thing”.
Nolan Richardson coached the Arkansas basketball team for 17 years. He won an NCAA championship one year, and was runner-up the following year and went to the Final Four three times. Richardson is the only head coach to win a Junior College National Championship, the NIT, plus the NCAA Tournament. A most successful coach.
In the 17 years as Arkansas’ coach, not one of his players graduated. My guess is that there may be some on this board who would make that trade with the devil: “Gimmee a championship team. I have no concerns about character and academics”.
The coaching change at Pitt has been made. Although I was not in favor of the change, I wish the new guy well. From what I am reading, he sees the big picture and intends to address the big picture.
I sure hope Smith was not involved in the hold-up, but even so it seems we need a new sheriff in town. How long do you think DH or ML’s antics would play in Pittsburgh? Many would say who cares, college sports are corrupt anyway and you can’t compete without looking the other way at best or getting your hands dirty at worst.
We live in a town where doing it right does matter. Look at the Steelers and Penquin. Sure every once in a while someone goes off the reservation, but they usually pay for it. Image does matter. Maybe WVU does not have to worry about image, there are far fewer news media available and they are the number 1 party school in America.
Pitt wants to run a clean program and limit controversy. If Haywood can do it they will have the last laugh. Either way they won’t have compromised their values.
By the way, I heard Dante Taylor interviewed, a sophomore and already a credit to his coach and University. It can be done the right way. Give Haywood a chance.
Pitt Football has rarely been better than mediocre since Jackie Sherrill left. We really have nothing to lose.
I’m sorry I’m so hung up on that. But what is the appeal here for a stud recruit that has options other than Pitt? I wish Mr. Haywood and my university all the best. But that knowledge combined with his new (in only one sense of the word) OC has me pissed already.
I think you grossly underestimate the impact this will have – and I guarantee you recruit’s parents will be drooling over it.
Frank – I get that you are in complete angst over the recruiting situation, but don’t you think we need more facts before we indict the new coaching staff for “dropping the ball”. I’m probably going to regret getting drawn into this, but if you understand the rules regarding contact right now, how can you possibly have enough information to make the statements you are making? How do you know Haywood didn’t try to call? Remember, even if the kid doesn’t answer, he can’t call back for another week.
You are taking part of one side of a story and posting about it as if it was 100% true. I guess none of us are obligated to be fair to the new coach, but frankly, that isn’t very fair.
How true that is I don’t know and it really doesn’t matter – there are interviews with 2011 recruits where the have stated that they talked with Haywood and decided to honor their verbal – so he is calling kids.
I agree with the above post by Pantherman – a lot of this is borrowing trouble where there is none.
But really, IMO the bottom line with Haywood will be in the coming months, the Spring Camp and then Training Camp and onto the 2011 season. Getting or not getting some kids who wouldn’t see the field until 2013 under Wannstedt anyway is the least of my worries at this point.
