** Wow. What a rough week. There's a saying that bad news comes in threes, and the Pitt Hoops program certainly got a trifecta over the past few days.
** I sure hope bad news doesn't come in fours. I don't know if we can take anymore!
** Still, I was inspired to offer some thoughts tonight because of one post among the dozens and dozens lamenting the decommitment of Heron, Durand's dismissal, or Thorne choice's elsewhere. This particular poster said something to the affect of: "the wheels have officially come off." While I understand the thoughts of this poster, and share in the disappointment we are all feeling right now, I don't think this is quite the accurate depiction of the metaphor.
** I don't think the wheels have come off. I think the problem is that we are struggling in our efforts to get gas.
** I also still think we have a pretty darn capable Driver. After all these years, it's pretty clear that he knows how to drive pretty well. Sure, many folks have taken issue with how he may be using the brakes and gas pedal too often, instead of just letting the car go. Some even don't like how he congratulates fellow drivers after races. Still, I think it's a mistake to seriously doubt his driving skills.
** There are those who have questioned our Driver's skills from the start. They have proven to be wrong over and over again, despite their thoughts that what's happening now has proven them as ultimately right.
** For so many of his races, our Driver has had his car among the leaders coming into the final turn. It's actually been quite impressive considering all the other cars in the race. The problem, of course, is that he hasn't had what it takes to make a big final the run at finish line. Yes, he's often finished well into in the money. But not the biggest money.
** I suppose it's more than fair to say the Driver hasn't shown that he has what it takes to go full throttle in the last few paces. Or, like I've said, maybe the problem all along has been gas.
** It's hard to think that any Hoops program in the Big East or ACC doesn't have a big enough engine. But for quite a while, we've been coming around the final turn on regular gas. Sometimes we've even used "plus" gas. But generally speaking, we haven't taken high octane to the race.
** And our efforts to secure high octane fuel, especially as of late, have been frustrating. The common thought is that a program with an engine as big as ours that should be having less trouble with this. But we are.
** Maybe the problem is that we aren't prepared to pay the price needed for high octane gas. Or maybe we've too willingly let other drivers run us off the road on the way to the pump. Perhaps we don't like haggling with the high octane fuel attendant. Finally, it's even possible our Driver just don't know exactly what to do to turn on that pump. It's probably a little of all of this.
** But even without the high octane, in past years our Driver has gone into the race with his own fuel mixture. It's actually been a pretty good mixture that he's driven quite efficiently. Much more efficiently than most drivers, really.
** In the last couple of years, he's even filled the tank to full with regular gas, to learn later that he doesn't like the mixture. So instead of getting the most from gas he does have, he's been jettisoning some of his full tank in attempts to get new gas.
** Our Driver has also struggled lately with fuel leaks. Every driver has them, and for the early part of his career, our Driver has had fewer than most. But is hasn't been an easy trip to the gas station to fill the leaks. That's an issue.
** But the reality is that whether it's been a leak, or gas he's let out on his own, the Driver is scrambling around trying to find the right pump to fill the void. That's certainly not the recipe for success that he followed in many of his earlier races. Usually, he's used his tank for all that it's worth.
** In today's race world, so much more than ever before, the race fans know where all the best gas is. And it's tough to watch our Driver pull up to some of the better pumps, only to come away empty. Heck, we even just had some fuel in our own backyard ready to go, until the station closed and moved elsewhere.
** Maybe the problem with our Driver is his "Pitt" Crew. After all, isn't it their job to help fuel the car for the race? At the least, shouldn't they directing the Driver to the better gas stations, and in some cases, help him turn on the pump. The answer to this question is a resounding yes! But only the Driver really knows how good the Pitt Crew is (or isn't). If they aren't doing the job, only the Driver can be blamed for not making a change.
** Here's the thing though. For next year's race, we've actually got a fair amount of decent gas. And our Driver has shown that he can run a pretty good race with fuel that's been in the tank for a while. I still think we can do pretty well in next year's race. Maybe even better for the race after that too.
** If anything, I'm a little more worried about the refueling needed when the six gallons of current "junior fuel" are burned out in a couple of years.
** But as I said earlier, this Pitt Hoops Fan doesn't think the wheels are off the car. I don't believe a Driver as good as ours can ever really let that be the completely the case. But I certainly can understand why other race fans are worried this is the case. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have at least a few doubts myself. Even the very best drivers sometimes lose their edge.
** Simply stated, our Driver has been too good, for too long to give up on him yet. He's dealt with adversity before, and he's succeeded. He's almost always found a way to make a good showing in the next race. For now, that's where I'll put my money.
** But if the current gas doesn't make for a good race next year, and 12 months from now we are having this same conversations about fuel, and much more importantly race results, I too will have more serious concerns.
** I don't know if our Driver's Racing Team is having any doubts. But they have far too much invested in the Driver to consider a change at the moment. I don't have a problem with the investment either. The Driver earned it. He's had much more success than some of his racing fans probably understand.
** But we'll certainly have to see if the Driver will continue to earn it. This fuel problem is real. And it's not really just the problem with getting high octane fuel, but really, truly settling on just what kind of fuel is needed for a good race. Maybe high octane isn't the what makes his car run most efficiently. Especially if it's hard for him to obtain it. But this fuel problem means that our Driver who used to finish in the top 15 of races is now finishing more than a noticeable amount below that.
** So after this really rough week, I'll readily once again throw my personal support in front of our Driver. But if we are to think he's ever going to get us to the finish line, he's going to need to stop scrambling around so close to the next race to secure the gas needed from the right stations or the proper pumps .
This post was edited on 4/19 1:52 AM by DT_PITT
** I sure hope bad news doesn't come in fours. I don't know if we can take anymore!
** Still, I was inspired to offer some thoughts tonight because of one post among the dozens and dozens lamenting the decommitment of Heron, Durand's dismissal, or Thorne choice's elsewhere. This particular poster said something to the affect of: "the wheels have officially come off." While I understand the thoughts of this poster, and share in the disappointment we are all feeling right now, I don't think this is quite the accurate depiction of the metaphor.
** I don't think the wheels have come off. I think the problem is that we are struggling in our efforts to get gas.
** I also still think we have a pretty darn capable Driver. After all these years, it's pretty clear that he knows how to drive pretty well. Sure, many folks have taken issue with how he may be using the brakes and gas pedal too often, instead of just letting the car go. Some even don't like how he congratulates fellow drivers after races. Still, I think it's a mistake to seriously doubt his driving skills.
** There are those who have questioned our Driver's skills from the start. They have proven to be wrong over and over again, despite their thoughts that what's happening now has proven them as ultimately right.
** For so many of his races, our Driver has had his car among the leaders coming into the final turn. It's actually been quite impressive considering all the other cars in the race. The problem, of course, is that he hasn't had what it takes to make a big final the run at finish line. Yes, he's often finished well into in the money. But not the biggest money.
** I suppose it's more than fair to say the Driver hasn't shown that he has what it takes to go full throttle in the last few paces. Or, like I've said, maybe the problem all along has been gas.
** It's hard to think that any Hoops program in the Big East or ACC doesn't have a big enough engine. But for quite a while, we've been coming around the final turn on regular gas. Sometimes we've even used "plus" gas. But generally speaking, we haven't taken high octane to the race.
** And our efforts to secure high octane fuel, especially as of late, have been frustrating. The common thought is that a program with an engine as big as ours that should be having less trouble with this. But we are.
** Maybe the problem is that we aren't prepared to pay the price needed for high octane gas. Or maybe we've too willingly let other drivers run us off the road on the way to the pump. Perhaps we don't like haggling with the high octane fuel attendant. Finally, it's even possible our Driver just don't know exactly what to do to turn on that pump. It's probably a little of all of this.
** But even without the high octane, in past years our Driver has gone into the race with his own fuel mixture. It's actually been a pretty good mixture that he's driven quite efficiently. Much more efficiently than most drivers, really.
** In the last couple of years, he's even filled the tank to full with regular gas, to learn later that he doesn't like the mixture. So instead of getting the most from gas he does have, he's been jettisoning some of his full tank in attempts to get new gas.
** Our Driver has also struggled lately with fuel leaks. Every driver has them, and for the early part of his career, our Driver has had fewer than most. But is hasn't been an easy trip to the gas station to fill the leaks. That's an issue.
** But the reality is that whether it's been a leak, or gas he's let out on his own, the Driver is scrambling around trying to find the right pump to fill the void. That's certainly not the recipe for success that he followed in many of his earlier races. Usually, he's used his tank for all that it's worth.
** In today's race world, so much more than ever before, the race fans know where all the best gas is. And it's tough to watch our Driver pull up to some of the better pumps, only to come away empty. Heck, we even just had some fuel in our own backyard ready to go, until the station closed and moved elsewhere.
** Maybe the problem with our Driver is his "Pitt" Crew. After all, isn't it their job to help fuel the car for the race? At the least, shouldn't they directing the Driver to the better gas stations, and in some cases, help him turn on the pump. The answer to this question is a resounding yes! But only the Driver really knows how good the Pitt Crew is (or isn't). If they aren't doing the job, only the Driver can be blamed for not making a change.
** Here's the thing though. For next year's race, we've actually got a fair amount of decent gas. And our Driver has shown that he can run a pretty good race with fuel that's been in the tank for a while. I still think we can do pretty well in next year's race. Maybe even better for the race after that too.
** If anything, I'm a little more worried about the refueling needed when the six gallons of current "junior fuel" are burned out in a couple of years.
** But as I said earlier, this Pitt Hoops Fan doesn't think the wheels are off the car. I don't believe a Driver as good as ours can ever really let that be the completely the case. But I certainly can understand why other race fans are worried this is the case. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have at least a few doubts myself. Even the very best drivers sometimes lose their edge.
** Simply stated, our Driver has been too good, for too long to give up on him yet. He's dealt with adversity before, and he's succeeded. He's almost always found a way to make a good showing in the next race. For now, that's where I'll put my money.
** But if the current gas doesn't make for a good race next year, and 12 months from now we are having this same conversations about fuel, and much more importantly race results, I too will have more serious concerns.
** I don't know if our Driver's Racing Team is having any doubts. But they have far too much invested in the Driver to consider a change at the moment. I don't have a problem with the investment either. The Driver earned it. He's had much more success than some of his racing fans probably understand.
** But we'll certainly have to see if the Driver will continue to earn it. This fuel problem is real. And it's not really just the problem with getting high octane fuel, but really, truly settling on just what kind of fuel is needed for a good race. Maybe high octane isn't the what makes his car run most efficiently. Especially if it's hard for him to obtain it. But this fuel problem means that our Driver who used to finish in the top 15 of races is now finishing more than a noticeable amount below that.
** So after this really rough week, I'll readily once again throw my personal support in front of our Driver. But if we are to think he's ever going to get us to the finish line, he's going to need to stop scrambling around so close to the next race to secure the gas needed from the right stations or the proper pumps .
This post was edited on 4/19 1:52 AM by DT_PITT
