Losing this game steps on any progress or high ground we as Pitt fans have going into the Spring & Summer. We cannot continue to rag on the Big 10, we drop out of the Top 25, the way we played was depressing & uninspired.
We all know deep down the ACC was by far the better conference than the Big10 & every bit as good as any conference out there yet we as Pitt let down when we needed to step up biggest.
All year long we were good w/ the ball, very few flubs, missed handoffs, unforced errors, etc. yet we looked so unorganized in this game. These kids were not as sharp & that comes from the OC being out the door yet still thinking he could half ass it.
The seniors did not come out hungry they almost seemed like they expected to win by just showing up. While we are the better football team this is yet another example of what Saban stresses at Bama, you take no opponent, ever for granted, you come out hungry & want to plant your opponent into the ground on each & every play.
We just cannot seem to keep that hunger, chip on the shoulder, fear of losing to the point where we are always on point for each time we go into a game.
And if everyone in the program is not on the same page this is what happens...in hindsite Coach Duzz should have told Matt we will not need your services for the Bowl game.
I've said it before & I'll say it again...Coach Saban's greatest strength is not his players talent(although it is good) it is his ability that everyone in his program from the equipment manager, to strength coach to Asst, coaches on down the line fear him if they do not carry intensity on each & every thing they do.... old players from Pitt who I know say Jackie instilled the same thing back in the day at Pitt. Even the star players like Marino, Green, Covert, Meisner, whoever walked on eggshells when Jackie was present & even when he was not around, where football was concerned.
When Foge took over that intensity & fear that made them on edge & hungry disappeared & fun & games replaced it & then far less standards were the achieved because the players no longer carried that edge & intensity.
When a team, coach or individual player loses focus then things become sloppy & then gametime becomes sloppy.
Our offense was clearly out of focus against NW.
H2 PITT !!!
