On Narduzzi-Canada & Other Jobs!

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

There have many posts postings about giving raises, keeping coaches, and being enticed to leave Pitt. This comes form some Posters that Forthrightly, Speculatively or Intentionally Doubted Coach Pat Narduzzi from his Appointment, Abilities, & Staff.

All on the Lair, have seen or read the Posts of Criticism in Defeat or Victory with Worries & Doubts every day, always with their Self-Proclaim I support Pitt and care about Pitt. So be it, and I take them at their Words being Authentic and Accurate to themselves! This is what CFB Blogging is all about, we all get it.

Now after that Preamble to be fair to other Posters with different opinions, challenges to Pitt Administration, Athletic Department, Coaching Staffs it is clear we all care about Pitt, but differ on how to go forward into the future. i say, leave it to Narduzzi, but that is just me.

The last 20 years tracing those kind of Words or Shouts of Doubts to previous failures dating back to the early 1990s have come and gone, including my own. The 1996 struggles of rebuilding to 2014 to the credit as well as debits in growing the Program is completed, now time to embark on bigger ACC future.

The 1996 to 2014 Era included small upward increases and backsliding setbacks, by hiring some people with self-interest for private gain, others forlorn and drained after giving their best, to some dolts that came and left with shame.

At the same time there are many that have stayed at Pitt and never left like Chancellor Nordenberg, Dr. Juhl, Borghetti, Lasala and behind the scene Boosters, Alumni and Former Players. By 2013, the goal of getting into in the ACC became areality and provided current & future Budgetary Stability to compete on all levels.

Yet, Pitt still have a few Posters of Doubters because they have been Institutionalize to "Belief Think Dink's" in not believing in PITT IS IT! Well, in spite of their honest beliefs. They never were around when I witness the rebuilding of Pitt Football in 1973 and became part of it, it had Doubters back then, but got done until it fell apart. This time the rebuilding on Pitt in the ACC is on solid ground.

The Doubters cannot be more wrong, Narduzzi is here to stay and his close friend Matt Canada are not at Pitt for more Money or Bigger opportunities. They are devoted, dedicated to their Recruits, Player's and Fellow Staffers, and here to rebuild Pitt Football. No matter the Challenges, Flaws and All.

Unlike those that have come and gone with no intention to stay at Pitt except for future Personal Profit Pockets.....like Pederson, Howland, Graham, and Chryst and others with character flaws by their abandon actions on leaving Pitt.

Nevertheless, it will surprise me if Matt Canada leaves for anywhere as OC because he came to Pitt invited by his Close Friend Coach Pat Narduzzi! Together having the opportunity to augment Matt's own Offensive Coaching Precision's and will not Abandon his Commitment to Coach Pat, Staff, Players and Recruits, in my opinion!

Therefore, while some Posters of Doubts that think Pitt's past Glooms of Dooms will prevail again, I disagree, and feel Pitt's Pat & Matt are on the Precipice of rebuilding Pitt together, and get used to it.

I have "NO DOUBT" about Matt and that whatsoever, and we shall see if that is correct?

 

[EastOhioPanther]

Nice post... I'm with you on this... There always seemed to be something off between Narduzzi and Chaney, and that seemed to become more apparent as that season went along last year. When Coach Narduzzi hired Matt Canada, there were subtle comments made about their relationship & committment. That makes be believe exactly what you are saying... Anything is possible, but I have a gut feel that Canada made a personal commitment to Narduzzi to help build something... None of us know how long that will be, but I don't see Canada jumping quickly, for another coordinator role... I am hoping for that to be true... We definitely could use that stability.

H2P

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Nice post... I'm with you on this... There always seemed to be something off between Narduzzi and Chaney, and that seemed to become more apparent as that season went along last year. When Coach Narduzzi hired Matt Canada, there were subtle comments made about their relationship & committment. That makes be believe exactly what you are saying... Anything is possible, but I have a gut feel that Canada made a personal commitment to Narduzzi to help build something... None of us know how long that will be, but I don't see Canada jumping quickly, for another coordinator role... I am hoping for that to be true... We definitely could use that stability.

H2P

I am with you, and you are correct, it is hard to define, but I sense it too. The first meetings when a gathering of Pitt Boosters that first met with a young Johnny Majors and Johnny had a number of demands before he would commit to Pitt, those demands were met, but Johnny left for his own Alma Mater!

Coach Narduzzi was eyeing this Pitt Job during his father's time, it was confirmed by some of Youngstown Bookie Friends that are wise and can see things everything sports.

Narduzzi is a man that does what he says, and this is among his Friends in Coaching and carries over to Staffers, Recruits and Players and just how he handle James Conner's Adversity and Comeback is just s small sign of it.

I have a Link To Think About That Too below for others to Share & Learn!

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Last year when Chaney was leaving Coach Narduzzi, AD Barnes, and Chancellor Gallagher all worked to keep Chaney at Pitt, but left. Narduzzi stated then he considers it Paramount to keep his Assistants & Staff together for a long time. What happen when Jim Chaney left Coach Pat went out and after OC Canada and found someone better and Canada wanted to come to Pitt Too. I just don't see Canada letting Coach Pat down by leaving unless it is a Head Coaching opportunity between them. I think they love Coaching together again!

Old Link To Think Again and From PennLIve that covers Penn State and this article was predicting a Loss to Penn State and 6-7 season???
For Pittsburgh and Pitt, Pat Narduzzi is a great fit
Excerpts:
.......Because Narduzzi fits the place. I don't know how else to say it. He looks and sounds like Pittsburgh. He doesn't sound pasteurized. Other than Dave Wannstedt (2005-10), who grew up in Baldwin, they haven't had a guy like him in over three decades..............
Pittsburgh is its antithesis. "It's just a big small town," said Fralic who grew up in Penn Hills. "The character of the people is very welcoming. When I bring people here from Atlanta who've never been here, they can't get over it, how friendly the people are, how pretty it is." And they like their football a certain way, too. Not pretty: "I think the people here are hardnosed, they appreciate football played the old-fashioned way. And I think that's what Pat is trying to do and that wears very well. "No offense to some of the people who've been through here, but I don't see a spread-offense type of team here. [Fralic began laughing.] It just doesn't seem to fit. Maybe I'm old-school. "Now, I think there's plenty of ways to skin a cat. But in an ideal world, you'd have somebody who has core beliefs that the people who are coming to the games kind of share."............
I asked Narduzzi this afternoon if, in the age of job-hopping coaches and Monopoly money, he thinks it matters that he's a fit with the city and the school: "I think it does matter. When athletic directors and chancellors decide who they want as a head coach, I think fit is a big thing. You want someone who wants to have longevity at a university. "So, I think if it matters to them, I think it's awful important that you better be into this game as a coach, that you're passionate as a coach, walking in that office every day and knowing that you love being there. That's where I am."...........
...............
Now, I know it seems counter-intuitive for me to say Pitt needs a locally bred guy to be its coach when the two most successful coaches in its history were from Tennessee (Johnny Majors) and Oklahoma (Jackie Sherrill). Any coach who wins can become beloved like a favorite son. Then again, they both skipped town for better-paying gigs, didn't they? Jobs back closer to their roots, to be specific - Majors to Tennessee and Sherrill to Texas A&M. That's my point. Pittsburgh and that whole Mon and Allegheny and Ohio watershed have a wonderfully rich football heritage, not just surrounding the Steelers, either, but in all the dozens of terrific players and coaches the region has produced. And now that Pitt is a Power Five conference member in the ACC, it can for the first time be not just a weigh station but a destination for a homegrown coach who wants to stay there.......................
...................................
Imagine if, say, Nick Saban (West Virginia-bred/Kent State player) or Kirk Ferentz (Pittsburgh-bred) or Bob Stoops or Jim Tressel (both Youngstown backgrounds) or Lou Holtz (West Virginia-bred) or Don Nehlen (northeast Ohio) grew up around the University of Pittsburgh not as an Eastern Independent afterthought but in a major conference with money to throw around. Do you think they would have listened if Pitt came calling early in their coaching careers? And then any one of them might have stuck around, too................
...................
That's the advantage that Pitt has now that it never did when any coach who won had to go someplace else to make serious money. Power conference membership means everything today.............
............
Pitt has it. They also have a guy in Narduzzi who might not be lured away by success: "I enjoy being here and maybe the fan base sees that," Narduzzi said. "That's kind of what it is. You'd better have passion not just to coach the game, but to love where you are coaching the game."
................
Fralic believes it's a match that for once can endure: "Pat grew up down the road. I've never interrogated him on it, but I'm sure when he got into coaching, he would've been tickled pink to have [the Pitt] job. And with people behind him, giving him what he needs, I think he's genuinely excited. He's the kind of guy who fits in very well with the city. "Pat's a hardnosed guy. He's energetic. Very positive and passionate about what he's doing. I think people respect that anywhere. But there's a pride in Pittsburgh about football with people here in general. It means a lot. "Pitt's lucky to have Pat. But I also think Pat's lucky to have Pitt right now. So, let's see if they can grow together."
LINK:
http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2016/09/pitt_football_penn_state_pat_n.html

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

“The four Fs,” his father responded. “Faith, family, friendship and football. For me it goes in that order.” Pat Narduzzi said he learned a lot from his father. “You are brought up in coaching.” Narduzzi said, “and it's really who you are.” A former Narduzzi rival said before the banquet he believes Pitt finally has found stabilty for its program. “Pat will be at Pitt for a long time,” former Ohio State football coach and current Youngstown State president Jim Tressel said. “This is his time.”
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/pitt/8287003-74/narduzzi-football-pat

 

[TD_6082]

Johnny Majors is an old school guy. His move wasn't about money. I read an article a few years back where he was talking about what a tough decision it was to leave Pitt. He said he still has their counter offer in an envelope at home, and to this day, he hasn't opened it.

That was a different era. The money wasn't insane and stability and job security were a little more attainable.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

"TD_6082, post: 1705122, member: 510"]Johnny Majors is an old school guy. His move wasn't about money.
I was there at that Era, I agree it was not about the Money, but it was going back to his UTenn Alma Mater sooner or later. Once Johnny won a National Championship before Paterno did, it is hard to turn down one's Alma Mater wanting you back as a Coach after being a Player? TCU did that to Jamie Dixon last year?

I read an article a few years back where he was talking about what a tough decision it was to leave Pitt.
He said that always, but he left ASAP for UTenn, and after they fired him, said his greatest regret was leaving Pitt?

He said he still has their counter offer in an envelope at home, and to this day, he hasn't opened it.
I know what he drinks and some other things I can't reveal. Johnny ended up .500% at Pitt! He still left and he is not a Narduzzi in my opinion. He really was one of the Hottest Coaches at that time with a Great Staff all around him. Johnny was Disciple of the Broyles Tree of Coaches!

That was a different era. The money wasn't insane and stability and job security were a little more attainable.
Agree, one of his Johnny Demands was to raise $2 Million a year to support the Program, we did that easily every year. I could call 20 Boosters and get $10,000 out them and done in two hours and did it. Plus, the Big Bowl Money even went into university funds and not always stay in Athletic. It helped refurbished Pitt Student Union back then.

It was Texas A&M $1.2 Million offer to Jackie Sherrill that started the Coaching Salary Climb. Paterno was making $60,000 in 1980 and needed $300,000 Loans from PSU later forgiven with his termination. The NFL Coaches were not making millions either at that time!

The point is about Today, and the article above points out Pitt in the ACC has the Resources that stabilized its Coaching today unlike being an Independent or in BEC yesterday.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

If the team keeps winning Pittsburgh will find a way to make the money work

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

If the team keeps winning Pittsburgh will find a way to make the money work

My only correction would be removing one word from your own words in your quote, that I admire....."The team keeps winning Pittsburgh will find a way to make the money work"

No "IF" about it!

 

[TD_6082]

Actually, Didn't Jackie Sherrill get the first $1 million contract from TAMU?

 

[MarySki]

One of coach's comments at Cupka' one night was how he and his wife want stability. That speaks volumes. Thanks capt'. Well written post

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Actually, Didn't Jackie Sherrill get the first $1 million contract from TAMU?

JS Hired as Coach & AD!

TEXAS A&M SIGNS SHERRILL TO RICHEST COLLEGE PACT
Jackie Sherrill, head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh since 1977, yesterday was named coach and athletic director at Texas A & M and signed a six-year contract whose worth was put by knowledgeable sources at the College Station, Tex., campus at $1.7 million.

The contract apparently makes the 38-year-old Sherrill the highestpaid university employee in the nation. Though declining to comment on the total value of the pact, Sherrill confirmed in a farewell news conference at Pitt that it was for six years and said that his base salary would be $95,000 a year. But the addition of benefits - including a home, new cars, insurance policies and money-fund investments - brings the entire package, the sources in Texas said, to an average of more than $280,000.

According to the best estimates of several officials with a broad knowledge of higher-education matters, no other person has ever received so much in pay from an American university.
LINK:
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/20/sports/texas-a-m-signs-sherrill-to-richest-college-pact.html

PPS: Pitt-Post-SCRIPT:
I still have a nice Thank You Note from Jackie expressing his gratitude for comments I spoke glowing about his tenure at Pitt and Pitt Football Fundraising, but he made sure he sent a little portending negative for Pitt to come, he wrote it on Texas A&M Stationary, as way to dump on Bozo Bozik!

Later when talking to the Former Pitt AD, I was told JS said, Bozo will choose Foge, but Bozo will F-Pitt Football All Up! And Jackie was a better Fortune Teller that day and turned out 7 years later to be true and beyond, Jackie was exactly right!

Yet, Jackie also wrote in his book, his greatest regret was leaving Pitt? Jackie also was quoted that Joe Paterno's biggest problem will be Paterno won't know when it is his time to retire.....Jackie got that right too, as Joe left at Penn State's Lack of Athletic Integrity Legacy now seen in the largest $2.4 Million in Title IX CFB Educational History.

All CFB Coaches everywhere owe Pitt's Jackie as Debt of Gratitude for breaking CFB Coaching's Salaries bigger than ever for what he accomplished at Pitt!

Joe Paterno gets some credit later when he signed Nike Shoe Contracts Undisclosed but in time became the CFB standard.

I always say, Pitt & Penn State were better together!