As we all know, there is very little Pitt talk on local sports radio. However, if you're like me, the only time you listen to local sports radio is when you're in the car. Since there's only so much Penguins talk I can stand, I've decided to listen to the Pantherlair podcast (which you can get from the Triblive site, not sure if you can stream it from your phone from this site) during my drive home. Chris does a great job and has insight on the team few people do.
On yesterday's show, he had a really good conversation with RB Coach Andre Powell. Powell is also going to be the Special Teams coach and seems to be somewhat of a Special Teams guru. I've never heard a coach so excited and confident to coach special teams. Chris gave a telling stat. In the last 10 seasons, we've only had 6 KR or PR TD's and 4 of them came in the 05 and 06 seasons. Powell also talked about the RB's and how they're going to try to get Connor involved more in the passing game among other things.
Also, he said the Spring Game was originally supposed to be on the Friday night at Pine-Richland? WTF? I'm glad its at Highmark but how does Friday night in a suburban HS beat Saturday afternoon in the city? I thought we learned our lesson from Bethel Park. Due to weather, Pitt decided to make a change thinking Saturday would be better and P-R was booked for Saturday. Though, I'm wondering/hoping that the P-R plans were made under Chryst and Narduzzi came in and said "no way, we're playing at a HS, what's our other options," because Highmark is the absolute perfect venue for a Spring Game. Its so obvious.
He also said that the Pitt staff created a picture of that Central CB with him in a Pitt uniform with the city in the background with the saying "Never forget where you came from." That recruit, I guess, put it up as his profile pic on Twitter. Although its obnoxious, I think Franklin's "dominate the state" and his sales pitch of "lets create a PA All-Star team" is actually very smart. He's playing on the whole "state pride" thing which Pennsylvanians seem to lack. Unlike other states, Pennsylvanians don't necessarily see themselves as such. You're either a Pittsburgher or from "Philly." When was the last time somebody asked you where your from and you said "Pennsylvania?" Point is, and I said this a few months ago, this staff has to take the Franklin approach of really playing the Pittsburgh angle. Maybe even going so far as to hiring a PR firm to develop a local marketing strategy for these recruits. I'd put together a cheesy recruiting video where former Pitt players and local Pgh legends (Crosby, Lemieux, Big Ben, etc) all talk about what its like to play for PITTSBURGH. Maybe end the video by saying, "We're not Ohio, we're not State College, we're Pittsburgh and Pitt is it!!!
On yesterday's show, he had a really good conversation with RB Coach Andre Powell. Powell is also going to be the Special Teams coach and seems to be somewhat of a Special Teams guru. I've never heard a coach so excited and confident to coach special teams. Chris gave a telling stat. In the last 10 seasons, we've only had 6 KR or PR TD's and 4 of them came in the 05 and 06 seasons. Powell also talked about the RB's and how they're going to try to get Connor involved more in the passing game among other things.
Also, he said the Spring Game was originally supposed to be on the Friday night at Pine-Richland? WTF? I'm glad its at Highmark but how does Friday night in a suburban HS beat Saturday afternoon in the city? I thought we learned our lesson from Bethel Park. Due to weather, Pitt decided to make a change thinking Saturday would be better and P-R was booked for Saturday. Though, I'm wondering/hoping that the P-R plans were made under Chryst and Narduzzi came in and said "no way, we're playing at a HS, what's our other options," because Highmark is the absolute perfect venue for a Spring Game. Its so obvious.
He also said that the Pitt staff created a picture of that Central CB with him in a Pitt uniform with the city in the background with the saying "Never forget where you came from." That recruit, I guess, put it up as his profile pic on Twitter. Although its obnoxious, I think Franklin's "dominate the state" and his sales pitch of "lets create a PA All-Star team" is actually very smart. He's playing on the whole "state pride" thing which Pennsylvanians seem to lack. Unlike other states, Pennsylvanians don't necessarily see themselves as such. You're either a Pittsburgher or from "Philly." When was the last time somebody asked you where your from and you said "Pennsylvania?" Point is, and I said this a few months ago, this staff has to take the Franklin approach of really playing the Pittsburgh angle. Maybe even going so far as to hiring a PR firm to develop a local marketing strategy for these recruits. I'd put together a cheesy recruiting video where former Pitt players and local Pgh legends (Crosby, Lemieux, Big Ben, etc) all talk about what its like to play for PITTSBURGH. Maybe end the video by saying, "We're not Ohio, we're not State College, we're Pittsburgh and Pitt is it!!!
