Brian Davis debut vs BC 1985
- Thread starter pierre93
- Start date
Temporary setback, but Gottfried had it rocking again!!
Then, Pitt!
No he didn't. Not much different than Wanny, Walt, etc. Actually maybe worse given that he had more talent.
The talent was what I was referring to.
Spindler and the Goose most notably.
It was about to rock, IMO, heading into 1990 if nothing was messed with. A QB was finally in place and local talent on the horizon to recruit. Gottfried also had good Ohio ties and the state was about to produce some serious talent that decade.
The mere thought of thinking what could have been is ill advised due to two words: Pitt administration.
Me too. Looked forward to the Street & Smith magazine coming out every summer. So my comments:
1) Foge was a terrible hire. But I think even if you teleported prime Nick Saban results wouldn't have been much different with the absolute incompetence of the administration, Ed Bozik in particular. The decision to go all in with Big East basketball and stay independent in football haunts us to this day. Not keeping up with maintenance at Pitt Stadium. the list goes on and on.
2) But as you said, a half way decent coach would have at least run the table in 1982 despite Bozik and company. Supposedly George Welch, the Navy coach at the time, really wanted the job. He went to Virginia and had a great career there. The botton would have eventually still fallen out, but it might not have been so severe.
3) The running back talent, what can you say. AB Brown doesn't even sniff the field here and transfers to become a star at WVU. Poor Brian Davis. Imagine if he played now when you don't have to pretend to be a student. Plus I heard at the time he perhaps enjoyed the party lifestyle a little too much. Couple that with losing interest in football and it is a classic what could have been. But someone mentioned in this post, he's leading a comfortable life and appears to be quite content so kudos to him.
4) QB, I'm pretty sure it was Sherrill who turned down Kosar. His biggest mistake recruiting here. I think Foge tried but by that time it was too late. Didn't Jelic have a Pitt connection and he didn't count as a scholarship? I remember at the time Rich Bowen was supposed to be the heir apparent. Bigger bust than Bostick. As I said, Sherrill going with Bowen instead of Kosar was one that haunted them for a long time.
5) yep, early 80's, Pitt stadium was rocking. Yinzers starting to buy in with all the success, and local stars like Marino, Flynn, Collins, etc. I remember there was a sellout against Temple in 1982 (the NFL was on strike so that helped things). But with the Steelers starting to decline post dynasty, this was the time to make a move and capture more fans. Of course that didn't happen, and by 1984 could barely draw 40k in the opener against BYU.
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meh, Gottfried would have produced more 8-4 seasons. He surely would have done better than the 3-8 campaign in 1990 from Hackett, but not that much. Surprisingly, Hackett still landed some of the top locals; Sean Gilbert being the biggest one. Not sure if Tumulty was Hackett or Majors. I doubt they land Arrington, would have really had to turn things around and been on a better trajectory, which would not have happened with Bozik, Jaynes, Briscoe, J Dennis, etc.
I would have taken an 8-win average that entire decade in a heartbeat over the 3 we endured. Not sure 8 was even possible with the idiots in charge and even bigger idiots taking over as you mentioned.
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The talent Pitt had on the DL 1986-1991 was incredible and criminal based on results. Spindler, Goose, Grossman, Gilbert, Hamilton, Carnel Smith, Tony Woods......
that 87 team had everything but a qb. disgusting OL, great defense, heisman candidate RB, just zero qb. unreal.
I was at that game and never forget Davis’s run couldn’t believe what I saw. They had a talented roster and the one thing Foge could do was recruit not only locally but hit Jersey hard. Thing was Foge was a terrible head coach. Was a good DC but that was it. When Sherrill left Bozo I mean Bozik never did a national search for a top head coach it was easier and cheaper to hire Foge. The beginning of the end of Pitt being a top program.
Another problem was there was no assistant head coach good enough and who scared the players like Sherrill did. I think Joe Moore was the assistant head coach, but he was better focusing on the OL. Those players just walked all over the staff from 1982-85.
Pitt also didn’t exercise the $2 million buyout for Sherrill, which A&M would’ve paid. Money to put into the program to help Foge, but Wes and the BoT didn’t care.
