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Dior Johnson today

Am I the only person that noticed just how animated he was in todays game? Fist pumping, barking at the refs, cheering his guys on from the bench and firing up the crowd. There is a 12 minute video on youtube showcasing todays highlight against UNC.

There is plenty to talk about in regards to todays game. Im sure DT will have a post soon enough about the win. But its worth noting that, while some people think Johnson has 2 steps out the door and ready to run out of Pittsburgh as fast as he can, he seemed just as energized if not more than the actual players in the game or the people in the crowd. He obviously cares and was clearly fired up for todays game and was not sulking in the least by being on the bench.

It was noticeable. That is a sign, a small one, but a sign of a decent teammate that cares (lets not bring up the court case here)

Outlook On Finishing in the Top 25 - Analysis

Below is the last AP Top 25 along with their current record and whether they won or lost their bowl game (Results in BOLD letters). Pitt could squeeze in. What would help would be Miss, St losing to Illinois and LSU Beating Purdue.

Teams ranked On Dec 4th:
15. Oregon (10-3) WON
16. LSU (9-4) TBD Need to beat Purdue
17. Oregon St. (10-3) WON
18. UCLA (9-4) LOST
19. Notre Dame (9-4) WON
20. South Carolina (8-5) LOST
21. Texas (8-5) LOST
22. UTSA (11-2) LOST
23. Troy (11-2) WON
24. Miss. St (8-4) TBD – Need them to lose against Illinois
25. NC State (8-5) LOST


Others Receiving Votes in Order - Highest to Lowest:
North Carolina (9-5) LOST
UCF (9-5) LOST – Got drubbed by Duke 30-13
Cincinnati (9-4) LOST – Beat No Ranked Teams
Ole Miss (8-5) LOST – Lost last 4 games
Fresno State (10-4) WON – Beat unranked Wash St in bowl game
Purdue (8-5) TBD - Need them to lose against LSU
South Alabama (10-3) LOST – Lost to UCLA & Western Kentucky
Illinois (8-4) TBD – Need them to beat Miss St.
Boise State (10-4) WON – Beat No Ranked Teams
Pittsburgh (9-4) WON – Won last 5 games
Minnesota (9-4) WON – Beat No Ranked Teams
James Madison (8-3) DNP – Beat Nobody

Additional:
Duke (9-4) WON – Lost to Pitt

Pitt's last kickoff

It is a minor point, but I didn't hear anyone question UCLA's decision to fair catch the kick with 4 seconds left. Why not try the lateral scramble play? It has to be a better option than running 1 play from the 22. Even if you get a PI call, it is only 15 yards. Then you run a play from the 37. Another PI gets you to the 48. Another PI gets you to the 33. Then a 50-yard field goal try. That is 3 PI calls to get to a 50-yard field goal attempt.

D.Thompson-Robinson and life lessons

One could not help but notice a life lesson in the win over UCLA yesterday. D.Thompson-Robinson threw a real nice TD pass early, then proceeded to rub it in by head butting the Pitt DB. By the end of the game he had been intercepted three times and had to leave with an injury in the 4th quarter. There is a lesson here. Do cocky, brash stuff like that on more often than not all you do is make a horse's ass out of youself. Learn well, kiddies. Kind of one of those eternal truths.

Capel D-league Strategy

That's all I could think yesterday against UNC. Our players were clearly men playing with yungins. I mean 7 players 22 and up. Basically a D-league roster if you think about it

I am not knocking Capel or Pitt in comparing roster and team to D-league. Whether intentional or not, the maturity of our players, coming from all over with one last chance to reach the next level, beat a team of highly recruited talented players. Very smart.
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