Amen! Majors coached 5 years at Iowa State and had one winning season before coming to Pitt...
Narduzzi is the Best HC Since Sherrill
- Thread starter Piranha
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Amen! Majors coached 5 years at Iowa State and had one winning season before coming to Pitt...
I remember well, good to see others do too! I was a Golden Panther and all were happy when Cas told all of us and we told others, Jackie is coming back, not one spoke up against it, it was accepted and when Jackie returned Pitt took a higher step to excellence even better than 1976!
This is when Penn State Hate of Pitt started and then spread among all other schools ha seen until the Penn State Scandal removed the secrecy, silence, and swagger and now all the Truths are out there that can't be refuted anymore.
Jackie was a Bear Bryant Clone and maybe with higher charisma, the Players loved him just like these Players respect, listen, and admire Pat Narduzzi!
Jackie had some setbacks too after taking over, but just made the Players better and better, like Narduzzi does every week. No one was seeing it all the time, but it was tweaking the little things on each player becoming better better over time.
I think beating NC will take exactly what the negative posters hate on this board, and that is running right at them and controlling clock. They have a VERY good offensive line, I cant see this going well for our defense. Tribicky has not thown an INT yet this year, so just from a statistical point, he should this game throw at least one.
I was actually slightly pissed off we werent running more clock off at OSU. We would punt with 15 seconds left on the play clock, and just seemed not interested in running clock. The pitch to Conner at the end, I think the play works more often than not and we get a first down, but we need a QB that can see they were stacked to that short side and had the D to cover and he should have called a TO right there, or god forbid, audible (I know that doesnt happen anymore in football unless your Big Ben). I think we need to be more focused on shortening this game and trying to cause some turnovers for the sole purpose of having some positions on D that we wont give a TD.
I was actually slightly pissed off we werent running more clock off at OSU. We would punt with 15 seconds left on the play clock, and just seemed not interested in running clock. The pitch to Conner at the end, I think the play works more often than not and we get a first down, but we need a QB that can see they were stacked to that short side and had the D to cover and he should have called a TO right there, or god forbid, audible (I know that doesnt happen anymore in football unless your Big Ben). I think we need to be more focused on shortening this game and trying to cause some turnovers for the sole purpose of having some positions on D that we wont give a TD.
Yes, Gottfried had a little better record at Pitt. For that reason, I can see why some could argue he is the third best in the group. I would have no problem with that kind of thinking. On the other hand, Chryst's was 10-3 in Wisconsin last year and is 3-0 now. He lead his team to victory over a pretty good LSU team. For those reason, I felt he deserved the bump to the third spot. But then, (as you and some others may argue) he certainly didn't take us to the next level. Again, I can't defend him with that part of the argument.
To be honest, it really doesn't matter. After all, these are the Pitt coaches of the past. All that really matters is what the coach of the present is doing. Right?
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Gottfried was a decent coach, short lived because the administration cut him off at the knees...with limited resources, he was pretty good.
WTF? Nebraska beat Oregon, Wisconsin beat LSU Week 1 at Lambeau with no offense. They also struggled with Georgia...STATE...were down with 11:30 left. Chryst will earn his stripes the next 5 games...at MSU, at Mich, v OSU, at Iowa, v Neb. If he comes out of that stretch 3-2, I'll give him his due.
"Teh Teh, post: 1591887, member: 2146"]I think beating NC will take exactly what the negative posters hate on this board, and that is running right at them and controlling clock. They have a VERY good offensive line, I cant see this going well for our defense. Tribicky has not thown an INT yet this year, so just from a statistical point, he should this game throw at least one.
Very astute prediction and I think they will use RB Hood as a Slot Wideout drop off like Barkely was used and got a quick TD to start the comeback that almost won it for PSU. Hood can get 5 TDs just like Barkley plus the UNC QB has been playing great and with Switzer line up at Wideout anything can happen on flip, trick, and shovel pass plays as well. It really comes down to pressure by Pitt DL and our LBs making sure tackles again. Coach Pat & Staff have admitted not being on the Communication, Execution, and Technique level. Until I see that happening Pitt is at a disadvantage as you see too?
I was actually slightly pissed off we werent running more clock off at OSU. We would punt with 15 seconds left on the play clock, and just seemed not interested in running clock. The pitch to Conner at the end, I think the play works more often than not and we get a first down, but we need a QB that can see they were stacked to that short side and had the D to cover and he should have called a TO right there, or god forbid, audible (I know that doesn't happen anymore in football unless your Big Ben).
I am more optimistic here and believe UNC knows it cannot get behind this time because Pitt does have a New No Quit Attitude and far tougher play unlike under Chryrst. It has to do what they did last year. Get the lead or stay with Pitt. I really don't see UNC Front 7 capable of stopping Pitt Running Game and it is time to see QB Peterman play better with his Wideouts and Tight End and Whitehead has to be used in 6 to10 Plays not just 1 or 2?
I think we need to be more focused on shortening this game and trying to cause some turnovers for the sole purpose of having some positions on D that we wont give a TD.
Agree, but if Pitt can just score its 42, 38 or 34 points it can win too based upon its Ball Control back and forth, but giving up Big Playes early like OKSU or giving them later like in PSU one has or both has to change????
The other factors:
Coaching:
Coaching and here Fedora ran rings around Mumbles Special Team Stumbles Chryst's. This has not happen under Coach Pat and Pitt has Henderson that can turn it around. Additionally, Pitt has OC Canada that is quite familiar with Fedora and has beaten him and given Fedora tough games. It is also Coach Pat & Staff second year but Fedora is a Great Coach that won big at Southern Miss and has UNC heading to Top 25 Status ahead of Pitt right now being a longer Head Coach.
Refs:
The ACC Refs have been weak in not calling calls on other teams holding White head and others on prior Plays and especially Special Teams. The ACC refs are some of worst in the business form what i see, and not just in Pitt games, but others as well when being used in OOC & Bowl Games.
Execution Attitude:
The UNC Players have better confidence in playing at home and over Pitt Players. Pitt Players keep saying they Owe UNC but saying it ain't doing it??? Until it gets done UNC has the Swagger Advantage. Coach Pat knows that too and has called it out among his Players. Pitt has been beaten by just 4 to 5 Plays every game the last few years, and by just 2 to 3 Players. Yet, Dumbo Chryst caused 2 of those losses!
Whitehead:
Maybe Whitehead is having a Sophomore Setback like happens to many Freshmen, Barkley is having the same experience right now. The opposing Players now know about both of them and prepare better for them no more surprises. Mike Gundy saw it and made sure he got beat last week. Whitehead is also being expected to be a leader more than just playing his game by Narduzzi. this takes more adjustment and expect mistakes happen while trying to execute everything on Defense.
Moreover, playing him less on offense is a mistake in big scoring games that need quick and big scores? If Pitt can't defend just yet, then Pitt must out score them? Just like Pitt did against PSU Franklin that was dumbfounded in the first Quarter. But then like Mike Gundy did back to Coach Narduzzi lst week in the first Quarter?
Whitehead may be able to make a bigger difference on Offense right now as he learns being the Spearhead on Defense Leadership that has yet to happen?
Coach Pat & Staff has a tall order against UNC's Coach Fedora & Staff, and Fedora is at Home, and has beaten Top 25 Ranked Teams & Coaches, at Southern miss and UNC too, it is time for Coach Pat & Staff to stand up to that and outshine UNC's coaching too?
Very tough task but can happen will it, I don't know, I still favor Pitt by TD or Two but Coaching Execution is just as important as Players Execution too? Until we see it against a Top 25 program or near one like OKSU and UNC it is up to Coach Pat & Staff and Pitt Players out executing UNC all game long, not just in spats and jacks, but playing consistent all game long!
Very astute prediction and I think they will use RB Hood as a Slot Wideout drop off like Barkely was used and got a quick TD to start the comeback that almost won it for PSU. Hood can get 5 TDs just like Barkley plus the UNC QB has been playing great and with Switzer line up at Wideout anything can happen on flip, trick, and shovel pass plays as well. It really comes down to pressure by Pitt DL and our LBs making sure tackles again. Coach Pat & Staff have admitted not being on the Communication, Execution, and Technique level. Until I see that happening Pitt is at a disadvantage as you see too?
I was actually slightly pissed off we werent running more clock off at OSU. We would punt with 15 seconds left on the play clock, and just seemed not interested in running clock. The pitch to Conner at the end, I think the play works more often than not and we get a first down, but we need a QB that can see they were stacked to that short side and had the D to cover and he should have called a TO right there, or god forbid, audible (I know that doesn't happen anymore in football unless your Big Ben).
I am more optimistic here and believe UNC knows it cannot get behind this time because Pitt does have a New No Quit Attitude and far tougher play unlike under Chryrst. It has to do what they did last year. Get the lead or stay with Pitt. I really don't see UNC Front 7 capable of stopping Pitt Running Game and it is time to see QB Peterman play better with his Wideouts and Tight End and Whitehead has to be used in 6 to10 Plays not just 1 or 2?
I think we need to be more focused on shortening this game and trying to cause some turnovers for the sole purpose of having some positions on D that we wont give a TD.
Agree, but if Pitt can just score its 42, 38 or 34 points it can win too based upon its Ball Control back and forth, but giving up Big Playes early like OKSU or giving them later like in PSU one has or both has to change????
The other factors:
Coaching:
Coaching and here Fedora ran rings around Mumbles Special Team Stumbles Chryst's. This has not happen under Coach Pat and Pitt has Henderson that can turn it around. Additionally, Pitt has OC Canada that is quite familiar with Fedora and has beaten him and given Fedora tough games. It is also Coach Pat & Staff second year but Fedora is a Great Coach that won big at Southern Miss and has UNC heading to Top 25 Status ahead of Pitt right now being a longer Head Coach.
Refs:
The ACC Refs have been weak in not calling calls on other teams holding White head and others on prior Plays and especially Special Teams. The ACC refs are some of worst in the business form what i see, and not just in Pitt games, but others as well when being used in OOC & Bowl Games.
Execution Attitude:
The UNC Players have better confidence in playing at home and over Pitt Players. Pitt Players keep saying they Owe UNC but saying it ain't doing it??? Until it gets done UNC has the Swagger Advantage. Coach Pat knows that too and has called it out among his Players. Pitt has been beaten by just 4 to 5 Plays every game the last few years, and by just 2 to 3 Players. Yet, Dumbo Chryst caused 2 of those losses!
Whitehead:
Maybe Whitehead is having a Sophomore Setback like happens to many Freshmen, Barkley is having the same experience right now. The opposing Players now know about both of them and prepare better for them no more surprises. Mike Gundy saw it and made sure he got beat last week. Whitehead is also being expected to be a leader more than just playing his game by Narduzzi. this takes more adjustment and expect mistakes happen while trying to execute everything on Defense.
Moreover, playing him less on offense is a mistake in big scoring games that need quick and big scores? If Pitt can't defend just yet, then Pitt must out score them? Just like Pitt did against PSU Franklin that was dumbfounded in the first Quarter. But then like Mike Gundy did back to Coach Narduzzi lst week in the first Quarter?
Whitehead may be able to make a bigger difference on Offense right now as he learns being the Spearhead on Defense Leadership that has yet to happen?
Coach Pat & Staff has a tall order against UNC's Coach Fedora & Staff, and Fedora is at Home, and has beaten Top 25 Ranked Teams & Coaches, at Southern miss and UNC too, it is time for Coach Pat & Staff to stand up to that and outshine UNC's coaching too?
Very tough task but can happen will it, I don't know, I still favor Pitt by TD or Two but Coaching Execution is just as important as Players Execution too? Until we see it against a Top 25 program or near one like OKSU and UNC it is up to Coach Pat & Staff and Pitt Players out executing UNC all game long, not just in spats and jacks, but playing consistent all game long!
I think we need to quit playing up the win over PSU...they have a horrible team. By season's end PSU will be lucky to have won 6 games - the win early in the season isn't going to be much to brag about.
I think ranking Pitt coaches is like ranking star students in detention... but here it goes.
1.) Narduzzi... for the sole purpose of hope and how he acts? Too early for #1, but competition isnt there.
2.)Wannstedt, only because I felt he knew what we needed to be elite. Recruited hard, and really wanted renovations to the football facilities. Pitt wasnt behind him, in essence he wanted to do what Narduzzi actually did. How much is Narduzzi will/force vs. administration understanding what is needed? I fee Narduzzi most likely (guessing here) put together a far more compelling story and presentation to garner the spending and Wanny was probably 'Hey, we need better facilities now dumbasses'. Game day coaching... not his strong suit, lots of issues with Dave, but just think if he had the resources Narduzzi has now, we would be looking at an exceptional team.
3.) Gottfried - I dont know, just liked the guy. left on a 7-3 year, was trending up, and brought Pitt back from the couple bad years of Foge.
4.) Harris - Great passing mind, little else to offer as 'THE MAN'. Liked Harris alot, rooted for the guy, but if you are just going by head coaching chops he is below). Turned Pitt around to mediocrity, which was a feat at that time.
5.) Chryst - See Harris... only with a worse record and far more mediocrity.
6.) Foge - Great guy, gread positional coach... too nice, wasnt a good recruiter, team fell fast.
7.)JM2 - Give him the nod solely for coming back after the Hackett disaster. Make no mistake, I think this tenure sucked, and truly was a down point.
8.) Graham - F*cktard on every level, only 8th due to the next one
9) Hackett - THE REASON Pitt went from a good team to f'n horrendous. Not only not a good recruiter, but actually detrimental. Thought Pitt should be Harvard on the field. Just a clueless person. Met him several times, and there was no one home in that head.
1.) Narduzzi... for the sole purpose of hope and how he acts? Too early for #1, but competition isnt there.
2.)Wannstedt, only because I felt he knew what we needed to be elite. Recruited hard, and really wanted renovations to the football facilities. Pitt wasnt behind him, in essence he wanted to do what Narduzzi actually did. How much is Narduzzi will/force vs. administration understanding what is needed? I fee Narduzzi most likely (guessing here) put together a far more compelling story and presentation to garner the spending and Wanny was probably 'Hey, we need better facilities now dumbasses'. Game day coaching... not his strong suit, lots of issues with Dave, but just think if he had the resources Narduzzi has now, we would be looking at an exceptional team.
3.) Gottfried - I dont know, just liked the guy. left on a 7-3 year, was trending up, and brought Pitt back from the couple bad years of Foge.
4.) Harris - Great passing mind, little else to offer as 'THE MAN'. Liked Harris alot, rooted for the guy, but if you are just going by head coaching chops he is below). Turned Pitt around to mediocrity, which was a feat at that time.
5.) Chryst - See Harris... only with a worse record and far more mediocrity.
6.) Foge - Great guy, gread positional coach... too nice, wasnt a good recruiter, team fell fast.
7.)JM2 - Give him the nod solely for coming back after the Hackett disaster. Make no mistake, I think this tenure sucked, and truly was a down point.
8.) Graham - F*cktard on every level, only 8th due to the next one
9) Hackett - THE REASON Pitt went from a good team to f'n horrendous. Not only not a good recruiter, but actually detrimental. Thought Pitt should be Harvard on the field. Just a clueless person. Met him several times, and there was no one home in that head.
Set your standard at taking ANYBODY that Louisville, WVU or Penn State would take! Hell, take whoever UNLV would take. just win baby. It's not cheating, it's LEGAL to take anybody with the absolute minimum NCAA qualifying grades and test scores, BE SMART and JUST DO IT. JUST WIN BABY!
Considering that Foge took over a team that had gone 33-3 over the previous 3 seasons, was loaded with top end talent and essentially drove the bus into a ditch....Foge was a GREAT DC and not well suited to be a HC.
I stand corrected. I think I wrote that before I had my coffee. Another undefeated Red and White team that beat a pretty good team this year.
Anyway, I agree that we need to see how he does against the teams you've mentioned before we know for sure if he is getting better as a HC.
And Gottfried took over a team that was 25-18-3 and turned them into a 26-17-2 team. So what we have shown is that Fazio wasn't nearly as good as Sherrill and that Gottfried was essentially the same as Fazio. He didn't make us any worse, but he also didn't really make us any better either. If someone is going to do rankings like this, logically if they have Gottfried as say number three then Fazio should be number four. If they have Fazio as number seven then Gottfried ought to be number six. Because as Pitt's head coach they were essentially the same.
"Teh Teh, post: 1592010, member: 2146"]I think ranking Pitt coaches is like ranking star students in detention... but here it goes.
1.) Narduzzi... for the sole purpose of hope and how he acts? Too early for #1, but competition isnt there.
Well, the changes in attitudes, half-time adjustments, stable coaching staff, little to none off field problems, so far and having players that knew 2 to 4 coaches saying he is far better is something not seen in the others coaches since Sherril. Agree, it is incomplete in only his 16th game as head Cocch but forecasting looks better from the past 30 years.
2.)Wannstedt, only because I felt he knew what we needed to be elite. Recruited hard, and really wanted renovations to the football facilities. Pitt wasnt behind him, in essence he wanted to do what Narduzzi actually did. How much is Narduzzi will/force vs. administration understanding what is needed? I fee Narduzzi most likely (guessing here) put together a far more compelling story and presentation to garner the spending and Wanny was probably 'Hey, we need better facilities now dumbasses'. Game day coaching... not his strong suit, lots of issues with Dave, but just think if he had the resources Narduzzi has now, we would be looking at an exceptional team.
Nodenberg gave it his best shot after Harris, and Wannstedt wanted the job and did it by improving things at Pitt, until Pederson returned, and the objective changed to ACC Invitation, and Nordy chose Pederson over Wannstedt!
3.) Gottfried - I dont know, just liked the guy. left on a 7-3 year, was trending up, and brought Pitt back from the couple bad years of Foge.
The Chancellor's decided to delegate FB to the AD and no longer was involved as required, pretty much just wanted to retire, and new Chancellor did not care either! The Program was ship-less, aimless, and Lack institutional Control run by egos of talkers not doers with no direction and none of them leaders.
4.) Harris - Great passing mind, little else to offer as 'THE MAN'. Liked Harris alot, rooted for the guy, but if you are just going by head coaching chops he is below). Turned Pitt around to mediocrity, which was a feat at that time.
Spot on and had zero charisma but smart QB Mind much like Chryst. Actually, burned out with lack of resources to compete on coaching, recruiting, and program levels and turbulent time of the aftermaths of the ACC Expansion Raid! Had to go!
5.) Chryst - See Harris... only with a worse record and far more mediocrity.
Could not get a Head Coaching Job until Pederson's couldn't attract any Coach until Barry Alvarez bailed Pederson out, Chryst was a Wisconsin Head Coaching Intern on Pitt's Dime and lost 2 to 3 Games on Special Teams leaving Pitt 19-20, alone and ended up back at Wisconsin where he is still being Tutored by Barry Alvarez that helps Chryst by telling him who will be hired like a Special team Coach Chryst once thought he was at Pitt. When Barry is gone so will be Chryst!
6.) Foge - Great guy, gread positional coach... too nice, wasnt a good recruiter, team fell fast.
A Great DC never could handle much above that as HC!Jackie told some Golden Panthers, Pitt will hire Foge and he will "F" It Up and he did, but Jackie left A&M and MS the same way too! Bozo Bozik thought he would be Pitt's Paterno! In hindsight, both left both Programs with bigger problems and started the demise too. Foge in 1984 and Paterno in 2004 when he should have been fired or retired?
7.)JM2 - Give him the nod solely for coming back after the Hackett disaster. Make no mistake, I think this tenure sucked, and truly was a down point.
Made his Bones by selecting Great Assistants but once he went back to UTenn found he could not compete as well in SEC and return because Pitt had no place to go by then? Ended up .500%
8.) Graham - F*cktard on every level, only 8th due to the next one
Pure opportunists willing to say anything and at anytime to anyone? ASU AD fired after him, but did a service to Pitt by abandoning Pederson the way he did, but did a disservice to his Players the way he did it too? I Like that GraHAM refused to become Anecdote to Pederson Poison at Pitt that killed careers of Wannstedt, Haywood, Solich, Callahan, and Chryst too! Gallagher did find that Anecdote in hiring Dr. Judl that proved the job Pederson was doing could be done by anyone and far better?
9) Hackett - THE REASON Pitt went from a good team to f'n horrendous. Not only not a good recruiter, but actually detrimental. Thought Pitt should be Harvard on the field. Just a clueless person. Met him several times, and there was no one home in that head.
USC Alumni puke when his name is mentioned too, Former AD Pat Haden getting the same treatment after Sarkasian and Helton too! Just like Stanford did with Burnt Out Walt Harris, that Walsh became forlorn after that pick too.
1.) Narduzzi... for the sole purpose of hope and how he acts? Too early for #1, but competition isnt there.
Well, the changes in attitudes, half-time adjustments, stable coaching staff, little to none off field problems, so far and having players that knew 2 to 4 coaches saying he is far better is something not seen in the others coaches since Sherril. Agree, it is incomplete in only his 16th game as head Cocch but forecasting looks better from the past 30 years.
2.)Wannstedt, only because I felt he knew what we needed to be elite. Recruited hard, and really wanted renovations to the football facilities. Pitt wasnt behind him, in essence he wanted to do what Narduzzi actually did. How much is Narduzzi will/force vs. administration understanding what is needed? I fee Narduzzi most likely (guessing here) put together a far more compelling story and presentation to garner the spending and Wanny was probably 'Hey, we need better facilities now dumbasses'. Game day coaching... not his strong suit, lots of issues with Dave, but just think if he had the resources Narduzzi has now, we would be looking at an exceptional team.
Nodenberg gave it his best shot after Harris, and Wannstedt wanted the job and did it by improving things at Pitt, until Pederson returned, and the objective changed to ACC Invitation, and Nordy chose Pederson over Wannstedt!
3.) Gottfried - I dont know, just liked the guy. left on a 7-3 year, was trending up, and brought Pitt back from the couple bad years of Foge.
The Chancellor's decided to delegate FB to the AD and no longer was involved as required, pretty much just wanted to retire, and new Chancellor did not care either! The Program was ship-less, aimless, and Lack institutional Control run by egos of talkers not doers with no direction and none of them leaders.
4.) Harris - Great passing mind, little else to offer as 'THE MAN'. Liked Harris alot, rooted for the guy, but if you are just going by head coaching chops he is below). Turned Pitt around to mediocrity, which was a feat at that time.
Spot on and had zero charisma but smart QB Mind much like Chryst. Actually, burned out with lack of resources to compete on coaching, recruiting, and program levels and turbulent time of the aftermaths of the ACC Expansion Raid! Had to go!
5.) Chryst - See Harris... only with a worse record and far more mediocrity.
Could not get a Head Coaching Job until Pederson's couldn't attract any Coach until Barry Alvarez bailed Pederson out, Chryst was a Wisconsin Head Coaching Intern on Pitt's Dime and lost 2 to 3 Games on Special Teams leaving Pitt 19-20, alone and ended up back at Wisconsin where he is still being Tutored by Barry Alvarez that helps Chryst by telling him who will be hired like a Special team Coach Chryst once thought he was at Pitt. When Barry is gone so will be Chryst!
6.) Foge - Great guy, gread positional coach... too nice, wasnt a good recruiter, team fell fast.
A Great DC never could handle much above that as HC!Jackie told some Golden Panthers, Pitt will hire Foge and he will "F" It Up and he did, but Jackie left A&M and MS the same way too! Bozo Bozik thought he would be Pitt's Paterno! In hindsight, both left both Programs with bigger problems and started the demise too. Foge in 1984 and Paterno in 2004 when he should have been fired or retired?
7.)JM2 - Give him the nod solely for coming back after the Hackett disaster. Make no mistake, I think this tenure sucked, and truly was a down point.
Made his Bones by selecting Great Assistants but once he went back to UTenn found he could not compete as well in SEC and return because Pitt had no place to go by then? Ended up .500%
8.) Graham - F*cktard on every level, only 8th due to the next one
Pure opportunists willing to say anything and at anytime to anyone? ASU AD fired after him, but did a service to Pitt by abandoning Pederson the way he did, but did a disservice to his Players the way he did it too? I Like that GraHAM refused to become Anecdote to Pederson Poison at Pitt that killed careers of Wannstedt, Haywood, Solich, Callahan, and Chryst too! Gallagher did find that Anecdote in hiring Dr. Judl that proved the job Pederson was doing could be done by anyone and far better?
9) Hackett - THE REASON Pitt went from a good team to f'n horrendous. Not only not a good recruiter, but actually detrimental. Thought Pitt should be Harvard on the field. Just a clueless person. Met him several times, and there was no one home in that head.
USC Alumni puke when his name is mentioned too, Former AD Pat Haden getting the same treatment after Sarkasian and Helton too! Just like Stanford did with Burnt Out Walt Harris, that Walsh became forlorn after that pick too.
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Agreed. Pretty sad that Graham is actually ahead of others though. I would say maybe put Foge ahead of him, but he vastly underachieved with teams that were thought to be championship contenders. Wanny and Walt could go either way too, but I think Narduzzi is already ahead of both.
Jackie Sherrill did not achieve "the signature road win" until a 26-17 victory at Washington in 1979, his third year. Pitt finished 11-1.
Prior to that, Pitt lost all the big ones -- ND and Penn State in 1977, at ND and at Penn State in 1978... and there was a disappointing tie at Florida and losses to Navy and UNC in there, too. And Pitt was embarrassed by NC State in a Tangerine Bowl. The game is much different now, but it is going to take Narduzzi another year, at least, to get the pieces in place. You don't flip a switch at a program like Pitt. The talent is not there.
By the same token, coach could learn a lesson about playing to win, vs playing not to lose.
Prior to that, Pitt lost all the big ones -- ND and Penn State in 1977, at ND and at Penn State in 1978... and there was a disappointing tie at Florida and losses to Navy and UNC in there, too. And Pitt was embarrassed by NC State in a Tangerine Bowl. The game is much different now, but it is going to take Narduzzi another year, at least, to get the pieces in place. You don't flip a switch at a program like Pitt. The talent is not there.
By the same token, coach could learn a lesson about playing to win, vs playing not to lose.
Under Foge, the bar dropped abruptly and continued to drop. Teams that hadn't beaten Pitt in years began to hang losses on the Panthers -- WVU, Temple, BC.
That '82 team was better than Pitt fans will admit. They beat 4 ranked teams - @FSU, @Illinois, WVU, UNC. How many ranked teams did the '81 Pitt team beat? 2. They beat a ranked FSU team in Tallahassee - something the supposed greatest Pitt team of all time couldn't do.
They took the best team money could buy to the wire in the Cotton Bowl - a week after a player fell to his death in a dorm accident!!
And anyone can look back at the recruiting class of '80 and '81. Jackie made some terrible decisions... and never recruited a QB to succeed Marino. Regardless who was coaching in 1984 - that was a 6-win team talent-wise at most (considering the tough schedule).
I love Narduzzis style. Gets it done, facilities, relationships, knows how to get good coaches, and the aggressive defense is great to see even with horrible corners
Sure it did. It dropped enough so that the guy who replaced him essentially replicated his results and is somehow thought to be the much better coach. It is completely, utterly illogical, but some people just can't let the idea go.
And let's not pretend that teams like WVU, Temple and BC didn't beat Pitt under Gottfried as well. Gottfried's teams lost to West Virginia once and tied them once in a game that would have been a win if not for Gottfried not understanding when to go for two and when to not go for two. They lost to Temple twice. They lost to BC twice in three games. So 5-5-1 in 11 games against those teams. Oddly enough, essentially identical to Fazio's 4-4-1 record against those same teams.
In fact if you want to know what Gottfried's problem was, look no further than those games. The 86 team was good enough to beat West Virginia and Notre Dame and lose to Temple, at home no less, in the game in between. The 87 team also beat West Virginia and Notre Dame and yet lost to Boston College, at home no less, in the game in between. That team also lost to Temple, at home no less, the week before West Virginia, so over a four week span that was lose to Temple at home, a win on the road over West Virginia, a loss to BC at home, and then a win over Notre Dame. The 87 team beat Ohio State and Penn State and yet still lost to Boston College again. Gottfried's problem was that he had no problem at all getting his team up for the big games, but he was completely clueless when Pitt was playing teams that they should have easily beaten.
People seem to forget things over time. Gottfried in 1988 after a win against the nits and sitting at 6-3, promptly crapped the bed and lost the last 2 and not make a bowl (After Ed Bozik said in the locker room after the PSU win "I promise you we will be in a bowl this season"). I think his first season was 5-5-1. So that is two mediocre seasons out of 4. Even his "magic" year in 1987 was very Wanny-esque in that it produced only 8 wins and a blow out loss in the bowls. All this with more talent than is there today. Also he changed offenses 4 times in his 4 years. Started run & shoot, then ball control, then option, then pro-style with Hackett.
So to rank the coaches post Sherrill, it would have to be:
1) Walt - brought Pitt back from the dead. Just couldn't get over that hump and finish above Miami or WVU in the Big East.
2) Wanny - did produce the only 10 win season since Sherrill, but played in a watered down Big East and let Cincy pass him up. If he has superior talent at every position, he won't mess things up (a la foge), but really most coaches will win with superior talent.
3) Graham - nice win against USF, but head scratchers against Iowa and WVU.
4) Gottfried - see rational above
5) Chryst - Watch the 2014 season again anyone pining for moose
6) Foge - would be last if not for Hackett & Majors 2. No one did less with more than Foge. Although he had idiots in the admin, I still think if you gave Wannstedt the 82 team he would win it all.
7) Hackett - a complete train wreck, total program killer
8) Majors 2 - someone posted earlier in the week the WVU opener in 1996 and showed Zeroe taking it to the house on his 1st collegiate carry from about 70 yards. Watch that play it is a microcosm of the Majors 2 era
Incomplete: Narduzzi. Still too early to tell, but looking like he is in the Wanny mode in that he needs talented players to win and "coaching up" is not an option
The 84 team featured Bill Fralic and Chris Doleman, a returning QB in John Congemi who was very good. Freshman RB's Charles Gladman & Ironhead Heyward. Plus plenty of talent on D.
And with the most prolific QB in football history, the 82 team scored 13 points in the final two games.
Honestly, there have been some dumb posts on the lair today, but this one may take the cake.
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