I was invited to a very nice Home that looked over Pittsburgh on Mount Washington yesterday. There were a number of Lawyers and Judges from Western Pennsylvania and what a delightful place to see the Fireworks after the Pirate Game.
There I talked to three Lawyers one that represented a Penn State Branch Campus and knows the Paterno's closely and another that is a Big WVU Booster and a Lawyer close to PITT had interesting insights on PSU, WVU and PITT!
Penn State:
Apparently he knows the Paternos' and Jay Paterno in particular. He stated Jay is a very very nice person and does not have to worry about anything as far as money. He revealed that the Paterno's are far richer than most know. He estimated around $42 Million in Net Worth! Apparently, they owned a great deal in Tasty Cakes before it went south and made a hefty profit, Nike Shoe Contracts, plus other business interests the Paternos were in with some other people, and of course the buyouts and retirements. They can well afford the cost of the Lawsuits they waging against Penn State and NCAA. So Sue, will be leaving quite a sum to all children and relations. He also said, Jay was offered the Juniata College Coaching job but was not interested and does not think his Lawsuit will go anywhere on not being given offers to Coach in FBS. He added, Paterno's other son is a total idiot and left it at that, without another word.
Additionally, he mentioned Penn State "Season Tickets" has taken a big dip not just over the Sanctions but due to the Step Program and they are only at 60% of what it once was prior to that Program. They are hurting on that aspect. I countered the Attendance has gone from 96,000 to 101,000 but he came back saying they are still way down on Season Tickets Sales and one reason why they will have to Schedule tougher games to bringing the Fans. I hope a PSU Poster with some knowledge on the Penn State Step Season Ticket Sales confirms, augments, or provide more details, on this subject! The good point is they need Pitt to sell more Season Tickets!
He said, Franklin demanding to play a lighter OOC claiming the Big Ten Schedule was so tough is laughable. they feels they will add Pitt to the Schedule for that reason alone to Power Conference as an OOC Team. He confirmed what a few informed Posters have posted here, that Franklin insists on light weight schedules to build up his win total, and that will grow old at Penn State, but Paterno did that too, in his early career? He added, Franklin recruiting is out of sight but he may not equal the quality of players like Coach Pat is noted to produce in the NFL and that remain to be seen. One guy said, even with Franklin's recruiting in the clouds so is Ohio State, Michigan, and MSU too, and they are all better coaches than Franklin on Game Day. They look for Franklin's DC Shoop to leave soon too. They all said there are there is many problems under the covers at Penn State and WVU that is being dealt with quietly, and PITT is in a way better position to take advantage of rebuilding its Athletics that they need to do too!
PITT:
He said, he loves Coach Pat Narduzzi and feels as many that knowing Defenses. He will get great recruits out of Ohio but has a challenge against Franklin. He also feels Coach Pat & Staff will come to challenge Franklin and is a better coach but Penn State recruits are just of higher caliber. Yet, Coach Pat is known how to make his recruits and players just better p[layers into winning Teams. The Recruits and Players just love and adore and can't wait to practice to learn to play for him. So long as Coach Pat is able to hire a great OC like Harris, Chryst, and like Chaney PITT should be very good. He agreed that Chryst will get a boost from Alvarez at Wisky but on his own is another Foge, a better Coordinator than a Complete Head Coach and won't last at Wisky. One guy talked about knowing Bo Ryan too and said, he will be missed at Wisky. The Lawyers and Judges all talked about how glad everyone is over Gallagher being hired, and Pederson being fired. Not one good word was said about Pederson and I was silent just listening about him. Barnes is so lucky because it is hard not to succeed Pederson. They said, Gallagher's background on Commerce Department Innovations is going to payoff big time for PITT way better than the Old Guard Hires Retreads of PSU & WVU! In any event, teh PITT Players cannot wait to play for Coach Pat & Staff and all are happy he is at Pitt!
WVU
There was a discussion on WVU that took a heated tone and I just laid back and watch. The PITT & PSU guys said, WVU is a corrupt Program that does not care about the Players going to classes and Holgrosen is overrated and overhead with a bad Staff. They talked about that is why Oliver Luck wanted out and brought in Bradley to clean up the Program, but he was out as soon as Luck left! Of course the WVU Booster said they did not know what they were talking about, but all agreed, Oliver Luck is at the NCAA to save it from the Power Conferences from making a For Profit League or help with that transition, but they were all vague on what will happen as most of us. They added, once Texas comebacks under Charlie Strong, Holgrosen won't be there that long against Briles, Patterson, Synder, Stoops, and Strong. They confirmed that the Big-12 is very vulnerable to being erased as Conference. They also said, the ACC will always be behind the SEC and B1G. They agreed that WVU, PSU, PITT, and CUSE should be playing each other all the time, and to avoid each other is just stupid! They feel once Coach Pat establishes his imprint on Pitt Program, it will be WVU having trouble recruiting against PSU & PITT in PA, OH, and region!
This is just what I heard from many sources and I cannot confirm the details and not gospel but just some gossip from others that work around all three schools and programs. Just sharing it with the Board.
