Starting this off from the jump - this isn’t a fire Narduzzi post. Far from it. But he’s brought himself under the microscope as to whether or not he can prioritize running a program over all else.
There’s a lot of blame to go around for the start to this season. The QB is top of that list, the OL is up there, play calling might top it all, but ultimately as with any organization the ultimate success and failure lands on its leader and Narduzzi’s loyalty has been the trait above all else that has ended Pitt’s season in mid-September and might just spark the beginning of the end of his time here at Pitt if he doesn’t get it under control.
Many of us knew this year would be a significant transition year and while we allowed ourselves in the dog days of August to be convinced that everything would come together with the plug and play pieces and fresh players would spark a 8+ win season, I feel most knew at some point that bowl eligibility could be something we actually had to fight for. The reason to point this out - if we were losing on talent alone but fighting, trying different things, different personnel, using the best of what we have and still losing, it sucks but you can live with it at the end of the day. Don’t think many of us would get on Narduzzi and co. as hard if that was the case. It happens. Heck Bama is scraping by USF and getting out talented by Texas at Bryant-Denny. They look pedestrian but Saban isn’t letting that get in the way of doing what he can to win football games. 3 QBs in 3 games, they still don’t really have an answer, but they’re trying their best to find one. That’s the difference here - Narduzzi seemingly doesn’t care to find an answer. He didn’t use his words, but he told Pitt players, fans, and spectators across the nation that he rather stick to his guys than win football games. Loyalty to a fault, starting with Cignetti, Phil, and trickling down throughout the roster (guys like David Green, Nate Temple, etc).
Narduzzi went full defend mode over the off-season with Cignetti as the two of them, plus many players, scapegoated Slovis at every turn (he is awful, there is no denying that, but even he was able to lead a road win in SEC territory). He was out of the building, no reason to be loyal, and Slovis became the tool to convince the team and general public that it wasn’t in fact Cignetti who was the issue. That is put to rest now. Cignetti is a bottom 10 coordinator in the FBS, plain and simple. Promises of deep balls, a revamped offense, etc were clearly propaganda to deflect any blame for last years utter disaster of an offense away from Cignetti. Fast forward a year and it’s even worse, with Cignetti having hand selected his guy, and the product is the worst Pitt fans have seen in at minimum a decade. Not to mention this guy is 0/2 in QB recruiting and when God willing he leaves after this season, that aspect is an issue in and of itself. Narduzzi isn’t a fire coordinator midseason coach, but the ultimate test of whether he cares about Pitt or cares about his circle of friends will come this off-season.
Similar to his commitment to Cignetti no matter what, there’s a list of other coaches and players who have zero business in a Power 5 football program that seemingly have unlimited free passes. Borbley. Salem. Phil. Powell. The list goes on and on while it’s understandable that coaches won’t be a merry go round midseason, the QB commitment is the one that is inexplicable. The play has been laughably bad, it’s visible to everyone in the locker room, including Phil. The crazy part is Duzz is committing career suicide falling on a sword for a kid who’s been in the program for 8 months, burned Pitt out of HS, and “came home” because who the hell else is going to take him? For this kid to be the reason the program goes from ACC Champions to bottom feeders in 2 years is something is fans might look back on in 4-5 years with a new coach and think how did Pat let this be the anchor that sunk the ship. One that was really sailing as nicely as any Pitt ship in 30 years.
So what now? Narduzzi has his hands full. Aside from the changes needed to be made, is the “only the ACC matters” rhetoric really enough to keep the team engaged? Especially the talented guys on defense or offensive skill positions who either are leaving for the league or mulling over the transfer portal. The roster isn’t bad. It’s not what it has been, but again, we sort of knew that. Maybe we catch lightning in a bottle somewhere and rattle off ACC wins. I think that’s less likely and the remainder of the year will be less about wins and losses but about judging Narduzzi’s ability to be a CEO. Does he care more about the program or about “his guys”? The answer to that question will determine a ton this year and project how the program and fans are positioned moving forward. Let’s see where his priorities lie.
There’s a lot of blame to go around for the start to this season. The QB is top of that list, the OL is up there, play calling might top it all, but ultimately as with any organization the ultimate success and failure lands on its leader and Narduzzi’s loyalty has been the trait above all else that has ended Pitt’s season in mid-September and might just spark the beginning of the end of his time here at Pitt if he doesn’t get it under control.
Many of us knew this year would be a significant transition year and while we allowed ourselves in the dog days of August to be convinced that everything would come together with the plug and play pieces and fresh players would spark a 8+ win season, I feel most knew at some point that bowl eligibility could be something we actually had to fight for. The reason to point this out - if we were losing on talent alone but fighting, trying different things, different personnel, using the best of what we have and still losing, it sucks but you can live with it at the end of the day. Don’t think many of us would get on Narduzzi and co. as hard if that was the case. It happens. Heck Bama is scraping by USF and getting out talented by Texas at Bryant-Denny. They look pedestrian but Saban isn’t letting that get in the way of doing what he can to win football games. 3 QBs in 3 games, they still don’t really have an answer, but they’re trying their best to find one. That’s the difference here - Narduzzi seemingly doesn’t care to find an answer. He didn’t use his words, but he told Pitt players, fans, and spectators across the nation that he rather stick to his guys than win football games. Loyalty to a fault, starting with Cignetti, Phil, and trickling down throughout the roster (guys like David Green, Nate Temple, etc).
Narduzzi went full defend mode over the off-season with Cignetti as the two of them, plus many players, scapegoated Slovis at every turn (he is awful, there is no denying that, but even he was able to lead a road win in SEC territory). He was out of the building, no reason to be loyal, and Slovis became the tool to convince the team and general public that it wasn’t in fact Cignetti who was the issue. That is put to rest now. Cignetti is a bottom 10 coordinator in the FBS, plain and simple. Promises of deep balls, a revamped offense, etc were clearly propaganda to deflect any blame for last years utter disaster of an offense away from Cignetti. Fast forward a year and it’s even worse, with Cignetti having hand selected his guy, and the product is the worst Pitt fans have seen in at minimum a decade. Not to mention this guy is 0/2 in QB recruiting and when God willing he leaves after this season, that aspect is an issue in and of itself. Narduzzi isn’t a fire coordinator midseason coach, but the ultimate test of whether he cares about Pitt or cares about his circle of friends will come this off-season.
Similar to his commitment to Cignetti no matter what, there’s a list of other coaches and players who have zero business in a Power 5 football program that seemingly have unlimited free passes. Borbley. Salem. Phil. Powell. The list goes on and on while it’s understandable that coaches won’t be a merry go round midseason, the QB commitment is the one that is inexplicable. The play has been laughably bad, it’s visible to everyone in the locker room, including Phil. The crazy part is Duzz is committing career suicide falling on a sword for a kid who’s been in the program for 8 months, burned Pitt out of HS, and “came home” because who the hell else is going to take him? For this kid to be the reason the program goes from ACC Champions to bottom feeders in 2 years is something is fans might look back on in 4-5 years with a new coach and think how did Pat let this be the anchor that sunk the ship. One that was really sailing as nicely as any Pitt ship in 30 years.
So what now? Narduzzi has his hands full. Aside from the changes needed to be made, is the “only the ACC matters” rhetoric really enough to keep the team engaged? Especially the talented guys on defense or offensive skill positions who either are leaving for the league or mulling over the transfer portal. The roster isn’t bad. It’s not what it has been, but again, we sort of knew that. Maybe we catch lightning in a bottle somewhere and rattle off ACC wins. I think that’s less likely and the remainder of the year will be less about wins and losses but about judging Narduzzi’s ability to be a CEO. Does he care more about the program or about “his guys”? The answer to that question will determine a ton this year and project how the program and fans are positioned moving forward. Let’s see where his priorities lie.
