Well, we are one game short of the end of the regular season. I think we are nearly unanimous in our belief that Narduzzi is a hell of a good coach. He has changed everything about how the program functions, how the players approach the game, raised their confidence, raised the perception of the program, and gotten high end recruits very interested in playing for Pitt.
And he has been here less than a year, his first as a head coach. Obviously, he was ready to take over a program from day one, even though he had no prior HC experience.
Pitt will be reaching for new heights with better players, as Narduzzi gets his players on the roster. He will get his share of high end recruits, but I also think we see some of his 3-star guys turn into high end performers in college. But its impressive that he has elevated the play and mindset of the current players immediately. This is the sign of a guy who can flat out coach.
Harbaugh has done the same at Michigan. Meyer had an immediate year one impact at OSU. Both had better players to work with than what Narduzzi had this year at Pitt, but the point is, all of these coaches got more out of what they had than the prior coach did.
As for Franklin, his apologists (there are a few left on this board and among the PSU faithful, although there are fewer and fewer) point to his recruits and say that he will win with them in a few years. Well, he should of course. But he has not elevated his current team in two full years. His defense has played well, but his offense has regressed, often looking confused and inept. The OL lacks talent, but Harbaugh would've gotten much, much more out of this cast of players. No question about it. PSU should be more competitive with his recruits, but that assumes he can develop their skills and turn them into good players. And even then, OSU, UM, and MSU will still have the better coaches.
And he has been here less than a year, his first as a head coach. Obviously, he was ready to take over a program from day one, even though he had no prior HC experience.
Pitt will be reaching for new heights with better players, as Narduzzi gets his players on the roster. He will get his share of high end recruits, but I also think we see some of his 3-star guys turn into high end performers in college. But its impressive that he has elevated the play and mindset of the current players immediately. This is the sign of a guy who can flat out coach.
Harbaugh has done the same at Michigan. Meyer had an immediate year one impact at OSU. Both had better players to work with than what Narduzzi had this year at Pitt, but the point is, all of these coaches got more out of what they had than the prior coach did.
As for Franklin, his apologists (there are a few left on this board and among the PSU faithful, although there are fewer and fewer) point to his recruits and say that he will win with them in a few years. Well, he should of course. But he has not elevated his current team in two full years. His defense has played well, but his offense has regressed, often looking confused and inept. The OL lacks talent, but Harbaugh would've gotten much, much more out of this cast of players. No question about it. PSU should be more competitive with his recruits, but that assumes he can develop their skills and turn them into good players. And even then, OSU, UM, and MSU will still have the better coaches.
