For those who question PN's recruiting

[pittdan77]

Yes and no. It really depends on the player. If he flat out "shuts it down" schools will stop offering most times. If he doesn't completely shut it down, teams will continue to offer.
Cam Bright was an example of a kid who would have kept getting offers if had not shut it down completely.
I am not saying George is a four star who would be getting offers from Bama, OSU, etc.
But, he is definitely a guy who would be picking up offers from other P5 schools by now.

Not disagreeing with that. He's a middling 3-star based on his composite so you'd think there would be more interest. Might be possible that nobody knows what to do with him so they haven't bothered trying to figure it out or he's set on a position nobody else sees him playing.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Oh. Well, if you say so, it must be okay.

Kind of how I feel about your doom and gloom prognosis on the o line situation. I guess we will just have to wait and see who is right.

 

[DiehardPanther]

And the results on the field reflect recruiting: Mediocre. Not good enough to compete for anything serious.

If Pitt can't consistently recruit 4* players then we as fans should collectively agree they will never, ever compete for a national championship and realign our goals and what will constitute successful seasons.

Top 25 in basketball and football would be a realistic goal that Pitt fans should be happy with. We actually achieved that when Dixon and Wanny were here at one point, but that wasn’t good enough for some people.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Top 25 in basketball and football would be a realistic goal that Pitt fans should be happy with. We actually achieved that when Dixon and Wanny were here at one point, but that wasn’t good enough for some people.

If the wanna era is our high point, we need to find another program to root for.

 

[pittbb80]

Top 25 in basketball and football would be a realistic goal that Pitt fans should be happy with. We actually achieved that when Dixon and Wanny were here at one point, but that wasn’t good enough for some people.

Agree. I think for the FB program a reasonable expectation is to finish in the top 25 60 to 70% of the time, make the top 10 once every 5-10 years.

The thing is the program has been mismanaged for so long that it takes time to build that consistency. Thats why its so important to stick with a guy like Duzz who seems to have some good qualities and has had some success so far. Yes hes not perfect and last year was definitely a set back but its unlikley that Pitt will hire another guy who is a sure fire success. Any hire that pitt makes or a program like Pitt will be just as much of a risk as Duzz was. I'll admit that I was jumping off the Duzz bandwagon after the UNC loss but its clear to me that he is definitely building this program back up slowly. If they can finish with 3 our of 4 wins and have another good year next year, I think you'll see the recruiting start to respond as well.

 

[DiehardPanther]

If the wanna era is our high point, we need to find another program to root for.

If you don’t think Top 25 is good enough, then you have unrealistic expectations.

 

[Ski11585]

Top 25 in basketball and football would be a realistic goal that Pitt fans should be happy with. We actually achieved that when Dixon and Wanny were here at one point, but that wasn’t good enough for some people.

Agreed. Having both programs finish in the top 25 would be a great achievement.

I've long said on here that I think Pitt's chances of winning a NC are much higher in basketball than football, simply because of the nature of recruiting and the game. I just think the gap between the elites and Pitt for football is too wide to make up the ground.

 

[pittbb80]

If you don’t think Top 25 is good enough, then you have unrealistic expectations.

I dont think its impossible for Pitt to achieve more than that but name one program that has transformed the program from levels where Pitt is to a blue blood level over a relatively short period of time and sustained it.

 

[pittbb80]

Agreed. Having both programs finish in the top 25 would be a great achievement.

I've long said on here that I think Pitt's chances of winning a NC are much higher in basketball than football, simply because of the nature of recruiting and the game. I just think the gap between the elites and Pitt for football is too wide to make up the ground.

thats why Im in favor of expanding the playoffs in FB to a minimum of 8 and preferably 16. it gives programs like Pitt a chance to get int he playoffs more frequently which then offers the opportunity to pull off some upsets and once in a while win it all. You are right under the current format, its a much longer shot for a program like Pitt to even get into the playoffs.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

If you don’t think Top 25 is good enough, then you have unrealistic expectations.

08 and 09 were good, 05 and 06 were garbage. His team quit on him in 2010. If that’s your high mark, you and I will agree to disagree.

 

[McKee Place]

Maybe championships are too high an expectation, but it's unavoidable that at least the possibility for them is ABSOLUTELY the expectation in this region, because of what other sports have gotten them used to.

And if there is no hope for some kind of championship, nothing short of regular PS and ND games will capture more than flies.

I don't know how financially burdensome or a drag on recruiting that is. I suspect not as much as some may think, in this era where money comes from conference affiliation and network contracts. And all but just a very select few programs, college and high school, showing signs of attendance erosion. High school players these days should not be so overly put off by inconsistent crowds, because their own teams likely are experiencing the same.

But it is a brutal cycle for Pitt, probably more than rural schools with captive audiences. It makes seasons like this one critical, when the team performs above expectations and actually has something on the line in the final games. And important to get the job done in these games, or at least one of them, to bring a banner of some sort home.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

I don't think a program at Pitt's "level" in football has won a national title since 1990 or 1991 (Colorado, Washington, and Georgia Tech.) Since then it's basically been all SEC programs and a few other blue bloods (Clemson is the new wealth.) It's just not set up like basketball where a Butler can go to a national title because they have a good coach and a couple of pro players. As fans I think we need to find enjoyment in beating our rivals and competing for the ACC.

 

[Ski11585]

If the wanna era is our high point, we need to find another program to root for.

I don't think he's talking about the Wanny era per se. I think he's saying (correctly) that the best Pitt can hope for is to finish in the top 25 with some consistency.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I don't think he's talking about the Wanny era per se. I think he's saying (correctly) that the best Pitt can hope for is to finish in the top 25 with some consistency.

Maybe we agree more thsn I think then. I’d love to be a consistent 7-8 win program who can make a run for the coastal crown once or twice a decade. That would be great in my book.

We are never going to make a playoff if it remains like it is now. I’m fine with that. The way college footbsll is, 95% of teams have zero chance of competing for a NC.

 

[Chescat]

Kind of how I feel about your doom and gloom prognosis on the o line situation. I guess we will just have to wait and see who is right.

I agree, and will gladly wait and see" as you suggest. I didn't think that this year's O Line
could possibly be good, especially with only an ex walk on and an out of position player
returning. Hell, we even had to convert a DLineman, and the others were subs and a
transfer. What was the weakness of the team is now now one of its strengths. I don't
claim to know O Line techniques, nuances, etc....but what Borberley did with these
guys who weren't much coming out of h.s. is amazing to me.

 

[pittdan77]

Kind of how I feel about your doom and gloom prognosis on the o line situation. I guess we will just have to wait and see who is right.

Expresses concern about a position group that needs an annual transfer to fill in the gaps..."YOU'RE JUST DOOM AND GLOOM!!!!!"

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Expresses concern about a position group that needs an annual transfer to fill in the gaps..."YOU'RE JUST DOOM AND GLOOM!!!!!"

Lol, touché. Just between you and I, come late spring, I too will be worried about our tackles.

I just don’t want to use it as a cop out for lack of progress and development on our passing game. When I read some of these posts, that’s what it comes off as and I think KP and our wrs should be held accountable. maybe I’m reading it wrong.

 

[pittdan77]

Lol, touché. Just between you and I, come late spring, I too will be worried about our tackles.

I just don’t want to use it as a cop out for lack of progress and development on our passing game. When I read some of these posts, that’s what it comes off as and I think KP and our wrs should be held accountable. maybe I’m reading it wrong.

The run opened up the pass. But they haven't exactly faced the best DL's in the Coastal or ACC in general. And that's good enough. It worked out this year.

There really isn't anyone at #2 right now that you could get excited about as prospects. They were all either undersized (height or weight) or big projects/position switches. That doesn't assure failure, of course, but it's not inspiring. You hope guys like Zubovic or Drake step up sooner because they were a little more highly sought after. But there are a lot of unknowns and you'll need Morrissey to stay healthy if you want to keep any kind of "veteran" leadership on the field.