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Reading other pitt fan boards

My god are there some dumb people out there. I read some of these other boards and holy 💩 are pitt fans just flat out dumb. I swear even the worst ones in the lair are Mensah candidates compared to people on the free boards and Facebook. People out there openly ranting against a412 and the new ad hire. Just clueless. I truly hate the majority of our fan base.

6-0 & Other Dribbles ...

** In Jeff Capel’s first six seasons at the helm of the Hoops program, only once has he started a season 6-0.

** For the record, that 6-0 start occurred during his first season when unfortunately, the Panthers finished 8-19 the rest of the way.

** This even included a 2-2 start in the ACC that year, followed by a 1-13 league finish.

** Nonetheless, it’s been a bit too typical to expect some slow starts from Capel’s crew.

** And even if you don’t necessarily want to term all of his results as slow starts, it’s certainly most accurate to proclaim that he’s had his share of head scratching, if not downright infuriating, losses in the early going.

** Sure, we all know that the Panthers were able to overcome the dreadful 1-3 start two seasons ago to eventually find themselves in the NCAA Tournament.

** But last year’s loss to a surely inferior Missouri squad may have indeed been the difference between dancing and lamenting.

** I’ve already proclaimed that I think this can be a pretty exciting season. A top 25 season. A Sweet 16 season even.

** For the our Panthers to have this kind of season, it starts by starting 6-0. No excuses this time.

** In that first six, we can’t afford a slip up against a foe such as Murray State, and we have to take care of business against the hated Hoopies.

** Finally, in our trip to Sulphur Springs, I think it’s also key to to tackle the Tigers in the opener

** That’s 6-0.

** That’s the kind of start which will get the fanbase, not to mention the College Basketball world, appropriately paying attention.

** After all, on this wonderful Panther evening, Pitt fans should certainly understand the power of a 6-0 start. If nothing else, a start like this makes it feel as if anything is possible.

** After 6-0, I believe we can settle for a stumble against the Badgers, Buckeyes, or the Bulldogs and still stand as tall. One stumble that is. Two not so much.

** I confess that talking about 6-0 and 10-1 starts really only serves to build Panther Hooper Hype. The better conversation is a realistic assessment whether or not we can get there.

** Amsel’s broken hand puts a little dabble of doubt on the dream.

** Regardless, compared to our last two campaigns, I also believe this team goes into the season already knowing who they are instead of who they want to be.

** Two years ago, the team needed to rid itself of the influence of John Hugley before they could began their trek of truly being the best team they could be. And once that happened and the threes started flying, the wins started piling.

** Last year, once Jaland Lowe got his freshmen legs under him, so did the Panthers. Of course, we also know this didn’t happen until perhaps just a little too late.

** For our Panthers to start 6-0 and 10-1, no such transformations seem necessary. In fact, we likely only need our players to be the ones we already know they are.

** From there, my hope is the eventual emergence of Delalic becomes the turbo charger enabling a later jump from good to great in those final 20 regular season games.

** But let’s close this night with a huge congratulations to the Panther team who is already 6-0. I’m so pleased and proud of what we’ve been able to enjoy on the gridiron thus far. It’s been a blast.

** I’m also hopeful that today’s 17-15 result might even inspire a retort from @17-15, which if I recall correctly, is an homage to a result of the past.

** Congratulations also to Sam Clancy, my very first ever Panther Hoops hero.

** And even with losses by our #1 men’s soccer and #1 women’s volleyball team, the only good way to sign off this evening is with a proud HTP!

Undefeated hypothetical

Bored on a Sunday night and looking at the AP poll. How many games would Pitt have to win to be #1?

I think the answer would be all of them. I don't think a 12-0 Pitt would be above an 11-1 Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, or Tennessee.

Winning the ACC wouldn't be enough. Pitt would probably go into the playoffs as the 2 or 3 seed.

There won't be more rankings until the season is over.

Upcoming Defenses

Our opponents in the second half of the season are pretty good, but I wanted to take a closer look at the defenses we’ll be playing. I think the quality of defense vs. our young OC/QB is a major matchup to watch the rest of the way.

When looking at yards per play allowed, Syracuse is one of the worst in the country (109th), allowing 6.3 yards per play. Thats a defense I think we should be able to exploit.

Similarly, Virginia (6ypp, 96th), Louisville (6 ypp, 94th), and Boston College (5.7 ypp, 78th), aren’t terribly impressive.

The defenses (and opponents) that worry me the most are Clemson (5.2 ypp, 51st) and SMU (5.3 ypp, 57th). But even those defenses seem gettable with the right game plan.

I try not to dig too deep with stats in college football. In this instance, we know our offense can move the ball. But we also recently saw them get shut down by a quality defense (Cal only allows 4.9 yards per play, good enough for 29th in the country). Defenses who regularly allow easy yardage are ripe for the picking for Kade Bell, it seems.

PS - For reference, Pitt’s defense is No. 16 in the country at 4.6 ypp. I think our ability to stop other offenses is going to be a bigger factor than whether we can move the ball and score.

Thinking about impact of new AD

I know the hiring of Allen Greene has been discussed quite a bit on the board, but I was thinking about the impact he will make at Pitt, for the program and its reputation nationally. I do not know anything about Greene, except what I have read in the past few days. It sounds like his experience at a program as significant as Tennessee will certainly impact Pitt's program, and sounds as if he is well versed in NIL and what we will need to do to keep competitive in that area going forward.
Something else that struck me, as he has experience at several programs, and it sounds as if he has a really great reputation around the P4 and beyond, is can he be more valuable at positioning Pitt for the upcoming changes to the P4, or Super League, or whatever is going to happen in the next 5 years. I think there were different thoughts on what Heather Lyke could do for Pitt in the changing landscape of college football, and it was clear her reputation was eroding at the end of her tenure, but I am somewhat optimistic that Greene could have greater impact on Pitt's future in the college football landscape and whatever becomes of the P4 and playoff system, that I feel a little bit better about the future for Pitt.
Again, that is my gut, based on nothing more than what I have read and heard about the guy. Maybe I am hopelessly optimistic, but I didn't feel this way 6 months ago. I guess we just need to wait and see, and let the guy get in the job and see what he can do, but I am more bullish on Pitt's future than I was before.

The Morning Pitt: 10/21/2024 - Monday thoughts after a busy weekend

With an athletic director hired, two big volleyball games, a new ranking for Pitt football and more, it was a busy weekend - even though there was no football game. We're covering all the developments from the weekend on today's Morning Pitt.

OT: Messi and the farmers league

I can’t believe MLS regular season is over. I thought it just started (I don’t follow it). But wow did he dominate this rag tag league. Who knew?

2026 World Cup

Didnt know some of this stuff was out. USMNT is staying out west. They are in Group D with their 3 group stage games in LA, Seattle, and LA. You would have thought they could have mixed in Santa Clara for some variety but what'evs. Looks like I'll have to base myself in SoCal. I'm sure that wont be expensive. Actually, maybe its better for me to base in Seattle and go to some of those Vancouver games too and then just fly down for the LA USMNT games.

The US will get a 3rd place team if they win their group and they SHOULD win their group since the 12 seeded teams will be the US, Mexico, Canada, and the Top 9. Of course, right now Italy is 10, Colombia 13, Uruguay 14, and Germany 16 so if they get drawn with a team like that, they wont win the group and have to the a 2nd place team from Group G in Arlington. Its Santa Clara then Seattle in the knockout round if they win the group.

The schedule is a bit quirky because theu are keeping teams in either an East, Central, or West region. Because of that, Mexico will play 2 group games in Mexico City, 1 in Guadalajara, and 0 in Monterrey. If they win their Group, their R32 and R16 games would also be in Mexico City. Similar deal for Canada. 1st game in Toronto. 2nd and 3rd in Vancouver. If they win their group, their 1st 2 knockout round games are also in Vancouver. I'm no expert on Canadian culture but Toronto seems more "Canadian" to me than Vancouver. Not to mention Toronto is easier to get to for most Canadiens. Kinda sucks they are stuck on the Pacific Ocean when Toronto is their soccer capital.

If Mexico and Canada both finish 2nd in their groups, they'd play in the Round of 32 in LA.
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