Now that Narduzzi has been around for a bit, what are you seeing

[kjb32812]

from him and his crew that you are excited about? What types of things have stuck out to you in terms of improvements over past regimes? Anything in particular that you have a seen as a negative or a step backwards? I know this was a big get for you guys and just interested in your opinions.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

from him and his crew that you are excited about? What types of things have stuck out to you in terms of improvements over past regimes? Anything in particular that you have a seen as a negative or a step backwards? I know this was a big get for you guys and just interested in your opinions.

Well............he has added more pasta based dishes and got rid of the Grilled Cheese Platter to the training table. Also, the kids are no longer required to drink a gallon of whole milk a day. Oh....and now all the coaches are allowed to unwind at local establishments instead of the Munhall Moose Lodge. And they took down that weird sign in the Head Coach's Office that used to read "Kenosha Is For Lovers".

 

[Pitt is #1]

He and his staff definitely understand the value of social media and promotion. Unlike Graham it's not self promotion...but they are promoting Pitt. We'll see once the season starts how well they coach. He has definitely raised the level of excitement surrounding Pitt football.

 

[ratking17]

He excludes "neat" "neato" and "yessum" from his vocabulary

 

[DruidTM]

I like that he understands a Panther ( or Cougar or Mountain Lion..all the same)...does not look like the Lion King....

 

[Lion8286]

1. Pat Signal sounds better than Paul Signal
2. More PPV fights

 

[oldpanther]

from him and his crew that you are excited about? What types of things have stuck out to you in terms of improvements over past regimes? Anything in particular that you have a seen as a negative or a step backwards? I know this was a big get for you guys and just interested in your opinions.

Pasta and meatballs favorite dish and he could care less about 107,000 weak minded peds in the stands. I stand corrected, 107,001, I forgot to add the Paterno cutout.

 

[MajorMajors]

Coach Duzz definitely brings more energy and enthusiasm to the job. Everyone of his coaches is an impressive speaker - we'll find out about their ability to coach, but they all seem to be good communicators.

They appear to be a resourceful staff - getting the transfer DE from Tenn was big because Pitt really needs help at the DE spot. I like the emphasis on QBs - getting Peterman from Tenn was a pretty nice coup considering that we otherwise would have only had a raw, redshirt frosh as the backup. Plus, the MacVittie kid looks like a nice recruit.

Coach Duzz, being a defensive guy, brought in a respected and proven OC in Jim Chaney and handed him the keys to the offense. This was definitely smart and in stark contrast to the puzzling move that offensive-guy Chryst made in turning the defense over to a novice DC.

Concerning a negative - only worry is can Pitt keep the level of offensive-line recruiting and play that Coach Chryst and Coach Hueber were building...

Go Pitt.

 

[OriginalEther]

Hard to really say until the games are played.
The promotions and bells and whistles are fun to talk about, but that will only last if the team does well.

For now, his staff selection looks promising.
I defended his predecessor, but there were times were he and his resultant staff left our heads scratching.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

from him and his crew that you are excited about? What types of things have stuck out to you in terms of improvements over past regimes? Anything in particular that you have a seen as a negative or a step backwards? I know this was a big get for you guys and just interested in your opinions.

KGB, from your perspective what is your view ?

 

[kjb32812]

KGB, from your perspective what is your view ?

@Pitt-Chains I didn't really follow your prior coaches very closely and I would say the same is true regarding Narduzzi. It does appear that he and his staff are more visible on social media. If he did host kids for the fight, I actually think that was brilliant.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in his first go round as a HC.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

@Pitt-Chains I didn't really follow your prior coaches very closely and I would say the same is true regarding Narduzzi. It does appear that he and his staff are more visible on social media. If he did host kids for the fight, I actually think that was brilliant.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in his first go round as a HC.

kjb, I agree in your comments, the buzz is good and as you know, have to win.

 

[PittPat3]

But what about the most important thing - do the assistants have hot wives?

 

[PSUPALY]

But what about the most important thing - do the assistants have hot wives?

good call. and....can Duzz do the Carlton dance?

 

[raleighpanther]

Kjb, you may not be aware of this, but in addition to getting an upgrade at HC, Pitt has a new chancellor committed to football, one who fired the detested AD of many years, hired a great new one last week, and is putting new ACC money into the program.
Having Narduzzi essentially running the defense is a massive upgrade over the prior staff. Our former DC had no business getting or keeping that job.
From what we hear Narduzzi is making practices much more competitive than the last regime. Guys moved up and down the depth chart throughout spring ball, based on their performance.

 

[kjb32812]

Kjb, you may not be aware of this, but in addition to getting an upgrade at HC, Pitt has a new chancellor committed to football, one who fired the detested AD of many years, hired a great new one last week, and is putting new ACC money into the program.
Having Narduzzi essentially running the defense is a massive upgrade over the prior staff. Our former DC had no business getting or keeping that job.
From what we hear Narduzzi is making practices much more competitive than the last regime. Guys moved up and down the depth chart throughout spring ball, based on their performance.

Nice. I did know about your AD. The new one has to be an improvement.

I know you don't have the room but PITT really needs a stadium on campus.

 

[pitt-girl]

Nice. I did know about your AD. The new one has to be an improvement.

I know you don't have the room but PITT really needs a stadium on campus.

Yikes. Please don't bring that up. Pitt does not NEED an on campus stadium. Would it be nice? Of course, but attendance is predicated on winning, period. There are plenty of "on campus" football stadiums across the country that are not much closer than Heinz Field and Oakland. The new chancellor on the record said this was a non-starter, and it is.

 

[kjb32812]

Yikes. Please don't bring that up. Pitt does not NEED an on campus stadium. Would it be nice? Of course, but attendance is predicated on winning, period. There are plenty of "on campus" football stadiums across the country that are not much closer than Heinz Field and Oakland. The new chancellor on the record said this was a non-starter, and it is.

You would now better than me. I agree that winning cures all ills.

 

[beiglepanther]

I like when he calls in to State College radio stations as Pat from Pittsburgh....

 

[Pittski]

from him and his crew that you are excited about? What types of things have stuck out to you in terms of improvements over past regimes? Anything in particular that you have a seen as a negative or a step backwards? I know this was a big get for you guys and just interested in your opinions.

Hi KJB,

The primary difference is an energy and focus around the program. HCPN is like a shark, he never stops moving and always with purpose. He's a much better communicator than Chrsyt and seems to be very well recieved by fans, players and recruits.

It's very early still and this season will tell us a lot. It's no secret that our program has been stuck in the low gears and I think HCPN and this new admin are just what we've needed to impart the changes that Pitt fans have been wanting. This seasons defensive improvements as well as greater strides in the passing game will be indicitive of such changes. The biggest characteristic will be Pitt's ability (or last years lack of ability) to put games away. We just couldn't finish teams last year and hopefully that will be something we see more of in 2015. The kids sure seem to believe that's going to be the case.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

from him and his crew that you are excited about? What types of things have stuck out to you in terms of improvements over past regimes? Anything in particular that you have a seen as a negative or a step backwards? I know this was a big get for you guys and just interested in your opinions.

I am going on record he will do well at Pitt and stay at Pitt for a long time. I think Coach Pat was waiting for AD Barnes selection and appointment to advance his own positions and contributions to reviving and making stable the Pitt Football Program consistent with Chancellor Gallagher Vision and AD Barnes Implementation.

Coach Pat's Staff:
I like that Coach Pat chose a Staff right away, but New Staffs usually go through a few changes sometimes within 2 to 3 years. Yet, this alone was in contrast to how Chryst took a laid back approach and his good old time in replacing Staffers that often hurt recruiting. Now we shall see how Coach Pat is a CEO in making sure his Staff does its job Unit by Unit? This will take time in 2015, in my opinion.

Coach Pat Protecting Secrecy:
Coach Pat is on record that no one is going to know more about his Players, Team, and Systems and is actually following what most successful coaches do in creating winning Teams. Wannstedt, Graham, and Chryst were quite open and brought forth outside comments rather invited or intended to avoid distractions, and often caused distractions, as far as I am concern. Comments are going to be made anyway but great coaches like Bear, Noll, Alvarez, and Sherrill and even Paterno let their results do the talking, and did not allow such comments to impact on them or their Teams. This is a good sign as far as I am concern.

Recruiting Exposure:
I would like to see Coach Pat go out more and go on Radio Stations and talk up his Coaching, Staff, and Players. Again, this may happen soon now that AD Barnes is on board and re-organizing the Athletic Department. We shall see?

Contributors & Supporters:
It is very important that Coach Pat with AD Barnes now reach out and not just try and bring back a core of New Money Contributors but bring back the ones that have soured on the Nordenberg-Pederson Second Tenure that really turned off many prior supporters and especially former player alumni and sponsors. Coach Pat should develop his own plan to do this and have AD Barnes and Chancellor Gallagher play a big part as well. The Poison of Pederson is still in the Pitt System and needs a complete blood transfusion to bring together Pitt Contributors again, and cannot just rely on winning. True Support needs to be established and be a cooperative effort from money, to recruiting, to Media relations, to development of what can bring support for the Pitt Program.

Coach Pat & Coach Dantonio:
I see that Coach Pat is just like MSU's Coach Dantonio in so many way. Both have a quiet determination of being very confident on how recruit, turn the recruits they do attract to become better players, and then in turn develops great 10+ Winning Teams. The way they did it together at MSU was not go directly up against Michigan and Ohio State, they just went out and taught the players they did have, and then let their coaching do their talking. The key question for me right now is how much was Coach Narduzzi part of Coach Dantonio success at MSU. It is the same type of relationship to observe as when Johnny Majors brought Jackie Sherrill with him to Pitt. Yet, it will take time to see not just this year but next year. All I know is Sherrill was better than Majors and certainly way better than Fazio. I will be very happy if Coach Pat is just equal to Coach Dantonio. Dantonio & his Staff that included being very dependent on Coach Pat, just went out, and ignored the Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State bigger Football Programs as far as recruiting, money making, attendance, summer camps, and traditions hard to overcome yet alone equal. Yet, like Barry Alvarez did it at Wisconsin and to a lesser extent how Kirk Ferentz and Jerry Kill at Minnesota just flat out coached the heck out of their recruits, players, and flat out gave great games and beat other Teams and Coaches. It did not happen overnight but it did happen. This is how you rebuild a Football Program that once had a great Traditional Past of Excellence but fell behind some others Bigger Resources Programs now ahead of them like OSU, UM, NU, and PSU. MSU had some great coaches like Nick Saban but he left, and MSU took awhile to attract Dantonio. Schools looking to rebuild Football Programs always have trouble holding on to Good Coaches that want to stay there and win there. KSU, TCU & Baylor did it now competing and in some cases beating UTexas, OU, and OKSU now in rebuilding mode much like Wisky's Alvarez, Iowa Ferentz, and MSU Dantonio doing better than Michigan, Nebraska and Penn State right now. Urban Meyers and OSU still dominate the Big Ten right now and that will be hard to overcome for the rest of the Big Ten. Now up to Coach Pat to do it at Pitt in the ACC, but we shall see?

Coach Pat Versus Coach Jimmy:
Right now Coach Jimmy Franklin clearly is attracting Top 15 Recruiting Classes and not just in 2014 but doing great in 2015 too. Coach Pat just like Coach Dantonio has the same challenge in rebuilding MSU into a 10+ Winning Game Program without Top 15 Classes, 3000 Summer Recruits, Bigger Rosters, Attendance, and Money Making but he did it. Now it is Michigan, Nebraska, and Penn State rebuilding and reacting to MSU and of course OSU too? Yet, MSU did it by great coaching overcoming bigger and better 4 and 5 star recruits and that is the same challenge Coach Pat & Staff has to do at Pitt. There is no question Coach Jimmy at Penn State has more talent, bigger role rosters, and resources and same for Holgrosen at WVU, and we shall see if Coach Pat cam not just meet that challenge but beat that challenge of Programs with 2 years edge the last 2 years as well as starting his First head Coaching challenge unlike Coach Dantonio at MSU that already had previous Head Coaching Experience. When Pitt plays Penn State in 2016-19, Penn State will have the higher stars ranked recruits and players and that is going to be hard to overcome. Yet, that is exactly what MSU's Dantonio has been doing to Michigan, Penn State, and others in the Big Ten?

Conclusion:
Still, Coach Pat persona as far as I can read right now, does not remind me of the flashes and dashes of dynamic personalities as Johnny Majors, Bobby Bowden, and Jimmy Franklin but more like when Chuck Noll, Barry Alvarez, Tressel at OSU, Patterson at TCU, and Briles at Baylor, and Johnson at Georgia Tech.

Coach Pat is about to become one of biggest Head Coaches to establish long stability of the Pitt Football Program and stay at Pitt a long time. YSU President and Former OSU Coach Jim Tressel said that about him last week.

I just see Coach Pat with his quiet determination, supreme confidence not caring what is happening at Penn State, WVU, UMD, Rutgers, and including Michigan, OSU, MSU, and all of the ACC. Coach Pat is just focused on Coaching the recruits and players that want to be at Pitt, and oversee that his Staff does just that in the coming years at Pitt.

It is a hard read right now, but I don't think that Coach Pat Narduzzi is a Fazio, Bradley, Holgrosen, and Chryst that proved to be better Coordinators than Head Coaches.

The reason is because I have an hunch and confidence in Jim Tressel that said it, along with Dantonio, and Coach Pat acts like they say, those are the kind of people that do less talking unlike some other Coaches that use flashes to dashes, we shall see?

So Little Done, Still Unknown, and So Much To Do?

 

[Coultr77]

I like when he calls in to State College radio stations as Pat from Pittsburgh....

That would actually be hilarious

 

[Coultr77]

I think Nard Dog is going to be great for Pitt. He is bringing some excitement back. Should improve the D a ton and MSU has had some fairly strong runners i.e. Levon Bell, the RB position should stay strong as well! Good luck I can't wait to play again it will be a great day!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

That would actually be hilarious

I think a show once a quarter between PSU Jimmy, Pitt's Pat, and WVU's Dana would be great TV and promote all 3 Programs and let the Callers Banter in to let it all fly out for great Radio and TV!

I have no problem with PSU Fans and Coaches and Players calling in to Radio Shows and Posting here, and the same for Pitt and WVU fans and Coaches and Players doing it in Happy Valley and Morgantown.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I think Nard Dog is going to be great for Pitt. He is bringing some excitement back. Should improve the D a ton and MSU has had some fairly strong runners i.e. Levon Bell, the RB position should stay strong as well! Good luck I can't wait to play again it will be a great day!

Same here and Franklin & Staff is recruiting the talent for Penn State better than what Paterno ever did and Franklin is following all the rules and regulations that Paterno did not follow!

I can see the good coaching franklin has already done and great recruiting he keeps doing, but Coach Pat is just a hunch until we see it? Pitt had a great Defensive DC too once in Foge Fazio but he did turn into a great Head Coach!