In attendance on Sat: Sherrill, Majors, Ditka, Marino, TD, Fralic & Covert

[CrazyPaco]

Marino to serve as honorary captain.

Don't remember Sherrill ever coming back for a game before.

http://pittnews.com/65006/sports/ma...-captain-saturday-other-pitt-icons-to-attend/

 

[ratking17]

Every time we do this, we absolutely poop the bed. Time to change that and recharge the alumni. Narduzzi can change the culture in a big way with a win

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

Agree, I cringe every time they do this.

 

[Parkview57]

Thought Majors would be heading out north of Chicago for the big game.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Come to think of it, when was the last time Ditka was back?

This may be the greatest gathering since they closed Pitt Stadium.

 

[ratking17]

FSU, Miami are two games where we did this. I can't recall though since 99 that all of these guys have been here. Regardless, not only do we usually lose, we lose embarrassingly bad. Conversely it only takes one time to make a huge difference for former alumni and future recruits

 

[pittizit]

Here comes the blowout and national TV embarrassment

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Come to think of it, when was the last time Ditka was back?

This may be the greatest gathering since they closed Pitt Stadium.

He was definitely there for wanny's first game, we talked to him going into the stadium .

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

I think Ditka was back in 05 ND Wannstedt.

 

[pitt-girl]

Does this mean no Larry Fitz? I love this group, but some new names sprinkled in would resonate more with the recruits IMHO.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Nothing is meaningful unless they get Jim Traficant back.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

We might be a better team if three of those guys suited-up.

 

[PITTsburghFAN]

Nothing is meaningful unless they get Jim Traficant back.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This. This is genius.

 

[npl1127]

Getting Traficant to the game is going to take a miracle.

 

[NTOP]

Marino to serve as honorary captain.

Don't remember Sherrill ever coming back for a game before.

http://pittnews.com/65006/sports/ma...-captain-saturday-other-pitt-icons-to-attend/

I was around to see all those guys....great times. But isn't it time to stop mooning over 30-40 year old glory??
Let's look forward.

 

[hailtopitt25]

Does this mean no Larry Fitz? I love this group, but some new names sprinkled in would resonate more with the recruits IMHO.

Semi-agree. Its the middle of the NFL season so hard for players to get to games. At the same time Ditka is on ESPN weekly and Marino on CBS. Kids know who these guys are.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Nothing is meaningful unless they get Jim Traficant back.

I think he's been beamed up.

 

[rc79]

Interestingly, Marino never played against the Irish. I think the Jack only coached against them once while at Pitt.

There was an unusual 4 year break in the series back then.

 

[rc79]

Every time we do this, we absolutely poop the bed. Time to change that and recharge the alumni. Narduzzi can change the culture in a big way with a win

When that may have happened it had nothing to do with the guys on the sideline. They just do it for big opponents that are better than us mostly. Which will be the case this week.

Maybe we should bring them back for VPI?

 

[New York Panther]

Marino to serve as honorary captain.

Don't remember Sherrill ever coming back for a game before.

http://pittnews.com/65006/sports/ma...-captain-saturday-other-pitt-icons-to-attend/

I read that Dorsett will be there, too.

 

[Mean Street]

Interestingly, Marino never played against the Irish. I think the Jack only coached against them once while at Pitt.

There was an unusual 4 year break in the series back then.

Not true. He played them (and lost in 82 while ranked #1)

 

[crharris8892]

I think he's been beamed up.

Yes, the mothership called him home. All that was returned was the hair.

 

[crharris8892]

Not true. He played them (and lost in 82 while ranked #1)

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I miss the days of the large flat wide shoulder pads and neck rolls.

 

[rpost3]

Uh oh bet the house on Notre Dame lol. Anyone else thinking of that Miami game a few years ago? [EDIT TO ADD: APPARENTLY YES] National TV, all the big name alums visiting...and ...ugh. I can't pinpoint the amount of buffoonery in that game other than Romeus' re-injury, which everyone saw coming b/c he was clearly hobbling out there.

Come to think of it, I think that game was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back with me. I think it was after that when I quit making a point to watch every game in real time, and when I did it was with the expectation of failure which really dulled the pain. I went from having hope and yelling at the TV to having no hope and laughing at the shitshow while wondering just how bad it had to get for Pitt to realize they needed to make a lot of changes.

Sorry to bring all that up lol.

Panthers don't have much business winning this game without James Conner. The pressure of national TV and playing in front of what is basically an elite group of football gods whose names they're tasked with living up to has historically brought out the worst in Pitt's players. A good showing will only reinforce my belief that Pitt hired the right coach.

 

[rpost3]

When that may have happened it had nothing to do with the guys on the sideline. They just do it for big opponents that are better than us mostly. Which will be the case this week.

Maybe we should bring them back for VPI?

Smart point. I think we're just always ready to think 'uh oh, here we go again' until a new trend appears where it doesn't happen as much.

 

[runshadyrun]

Time for a Narduzzi statement game. A new attitude is at hand!!

 

[Panther Holla]

Didn't we honor Hugh Green on the opening night vs. WVU when Amos Zero-way took the opening snap for a Mountie TD? That one didn't turn out too well, either.

Let's bring back ND's Willie Fry and let Matt Cavanaugh smack his hand with a hammer....

 

[Panther Holla]

Interestingly, Marino never played against the Irish. I think the Jack only coached against them once while at Pitt.

There was an unusual 4 year break in the series back then.

Sherrill's Panthers lost to ND in 1977 (19-9 opener on Nat'l TV at Pitt) and 1978 (26-17 in South Bend).

 

[Pittx9]

Everyone is saying that we lose all these games when all the old players come back. Well, we have. But we also have not had Pat Narduzzi. I think this guy is going to be electric on the sidelines this week. We've lost these games because we didn't look like we wanted to play. I guarantee anybody who lines up for a Pat Narduzzi team wants to play.

 

[The Loaded Italian]

Obviously none of the NFL current Pitt greats cant be at the game... since... you know... they are in the NFL playing! (For the one that said Fitz should be there).

But, this is awesome. And for the freaking pessimist out there... good god, get a grip. Losing a game the last time we did this has ZERO bearing on what will happen this time. It is GOOD for the program, it is GREAT for recruiting... it has generated a huge audience and attendance. Pitt could get blown out only because ND is a better team overall... but I think we will hang and pull on out! I am most worried about our lines. For as great at everyone claimed Paul Chryst was at OL .. the line looks pedestrian, and the DL has always been an issue... we need to win those trenches and get turnovers!

 

[pitt-girl]

Obviously none of the NFL current Pitt greats cant be at the game... since... you know... they are in the NFL playing! (For the one that said Fitz should be there).

But, this is awesome. And for the freaking pessimist out there... good god, get a grip. Losing a game the last time we did this has ZERO bearing on what will happen this time. It is GOOD for the program, it is GREAT for recruiting... it has generated a huge audience and attendance. Pitt could get blown out only because ND is a better team overall... but I think we will hang and pull on out! I am most worried about our lines. For as great at everyone claimed Paul Chryst was at OL .. the line looks pedestrian, and the DL has always been an issue... we need to win those trenches and get turnovers!

Just fyi - Arizona has a bye this weekend, so that's probably why his name was brought up.

 

[The Loaded Italian]

Ahhhhh OK, didnt see that. But he was just here a few weeks ago, so obviously Coach is reaching out to him. Thanks for the info.

 

[wbrpanther]

Not true. He played them (and lost in 82 while ranked #1)

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There was no need to ruin my day by posting that. Julius Dawkins fumble was the big bang in the fall from grace of Pitt Football. That moment was the high water mark. Allen effing Pinkett.

 

[Panther Holla]

There was no need to ruin my day by posting that. Julius Dawkins fumble was the big bang in the fall from grace of Pitt Football. That moment was the high water mark. Allen effing Pinkett.

For years I traced Pitt's fall and decline to a bleak November afternoon at Pitt Stadium the previous season.... BUT, you are correct about the '82 ND game as Pitt's zenith. The Panthers had ascended to #1 and had their destiny in their hands until that loss set them tumbling into the football wilderness.

Gerry. Faust. Ugh.

Win or lose tomorrow I think Pitt is finding its way back from obscurity.

 

[Teh Teh]

Can't wait to see this game I'll be there