Now with Pitt in the ACC just since 2013 in 3 years and Narduzzi a perfect fit for Pitt in 2015 in 2 years. There is a new Paradigm and Pitt Fans should get use to it. This New Pitt Paradigm includes a far different Pitt Program unlike before where struggling to win was beset with many unstable events, changes, and lack of resources.
Pitt now has a solid base of Coaching, Administration Priority Vision, and Budget Stability. This is far more important as a first step of establishing a Top 25 Program. Boosters & Fana are a By-Product of that support and always follows. Boosters will prevail as Fans are fickle but Rebuilding any Program always start with Coaching and support from the Chancellor's Vision.
The same has happen at WVU since it joined the Big-12 in 2012. It is far better for their bottom line, but brings real problems with dealing with the isolation of being 1,000 Miles away of any competitor. It was CoachRod Top 5 Winning that Rebuilt WVU Football Program with Booster Support by 10+ Games Winning, but he left. WVU's Oliver Luck's follow up kept WVU a Power 5 Conference Program. Both are gone now, and WVU will survive but with tougher obstacles in the Big-12 that will cause Coaching Challenges far more than Pitt in the ACC, in my opinion! Oklahoma and Texas have the Program Resources to always be a force in the Big-12.
Penn State also is dealing with the Precipices of the Paterno Legacy left over. Paterno's first Paradigm of change for Penn State was going into the Big Ten in 1993. Even Joe struggled at times in winning there. This assured growing Income Prosperity but it was at the expense of less Winning.
The Second Legacy was the Penn State Sanctions of Lack of Athletic Integrity Scandal in 1998 and 2011. This Scandal greatly damaged the Penn State Brand. However, the Penn State Program is still a Powerful Program and they owe that to Joe Paterno too. Any Coach as seen by O'Brien and now Franklin can win there with such Top 25 Program Resources. I have always admired it, to be fair. Nevertheless, the challenge for all Big Ten Programs not just Penn State is always Michigan & Ohio State. Those Programs don't sit still, with each other, and always countering to beat each other. Therefore, it is far harder for Penn State to overcome them in the Big Ten East, then Pitt in the ACC Coastal.
I have always followed all Three Programs & Teams and with one just a few Phone calls have mutual Colleagues, Boosters and Friends give me the true scoop. In fact, I do that more with PSU & WVU than Pitt since there are Posters on the Lair that know and follow Pitt far more, and have long ears in Shadyside if need be.
What needs to realized by Pitt Fans that things have greatly changed under Coach Narduzzi in the ACC Coastal. The same realizations are coming home to PSU & WVU Fans understanding that too.
Pitt is still rebuilding a Top 25 Team & developing a Top 25 Program doing it under coach Pat & Staff. While WVU & PSU are just having to rebuild Top 25 Teams and they have done it too in 2016.
PSU & WVU staying up with Ohio State, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Texas Teams and Programs is a far tougher challenge than Pitt in the ACC. Pitt has to take on only Virginia Tech as Top 25 Program in the ACC. As well as, Recruiting Heavy Miami Talent. FSU, ULou & Clemson are in the ACC Atlantic. This is a huge difference and advantage for Pitt over Wvu & Psu challenges? This is not a Guess, nor a Hunch, but a Reality.Pitt does not have to play FSU, ULou, and Clemson every year and can grow into more winning easier in the ACC Coastal.
The Old PSU Fans that think otherwise have been wrong since 1993 and WVU fans since 2012. The Smart PSU & WVU Boosters have told me they see much more of Paterno & CoachRod in Narduzzi than they see in Holgrosen and Franklin.
This is not a put down of Franklin or Holgrosen having a great year, but they do have the greater challenges in those conferences than Pitt in the ACC Coastal.
Even while Pitt is still Rebuilding a Top 25 Program like what happen in the 1970s. It will take more time than WVU & PSU, but Pitt is not facing Michigan, FSU, Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State, ULou, and Texas every year like WVU & PSU?
I am not worried nor fear what will happen at Pitt! I leave that to the Chicken Little's of the Past, but without a doubt there has been paradigms of changes and challenges at all 3 Programs! The Best & Brightest know and see it!
