Some really interesting things in todays Trib Pitt blog.
http://blog.triblive.com/college-lo...ia-welcome-barnes-transparency/#axzz3eAyPBZcs
When Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes told a group of reporters he had a 2 1/2-hour meeting with Pat Narduzzi last week, I didn’t expect Barnes to reveal any details.
Wrong!
There’s a new sheriff in town, and what a refreshing change.
Most top-level officials, either at a university or in the NFL, like to keep matters in-house. But when I asked Barnes what he talked about with his football coach, he was quick to answer with an interesting tidbit.
Seems one of the things Narduzzi wants is the ability for the coaching staff to utilize charter flights during recruiting trips to increase efficiency and reduce wasted time. Anyone who has traveled on a commercial flight knows how much time can be wasted waiting in airports.
College coaches are almost always busy juggling multiple duties. It’s important for them to get back to the office as quickly as possible after visiting a recruit.
Barnes said that’s a simple request that can be funded through donations. The man came to Pitt with the knack for building a successful athletic program with the help of benevolent donors. At Pitt, he won’t be shy about asking for help.
Barnes said big donors want to see more transparency and a clearer vision for the future. Looks like he plans to do that, and not just by getting donors involved. He said the Panther Fans Experience Committee, which already has 350 applicants for 20 positions, will include season-ticket holders, corporate donors, single-game buyers and students, who usually don’t have any money to give (after tuition).
Among Barnes’ talents is his ability to ask for money and make friends at the same time. Not many can pull that off.
During his 41-minute meeting with reporters, Barnes was asked if he has learned the words to “Sweet Caroline.”
“That’s a pretty good tradition,” he said of the Neil Diamond song that is traditionally played between the third and fourth quarters at Heinz Field. “We just need to keep the students there after we sing it.”
He’s already aware of the other tradition — students getting up and leaving after the final note. (Something I never understood when the game is over by mid-afternoon.)
He also mentioned that some attendance figures he has seen suggest there are more students at games at Heinz Field than there were at Pitt Stadium — an assertion often mentioned by former AD Steve Pederson.
Not surprisingly, the Tyler Boyd question came up, and Barnes didn’t duck it.
He said he spoke to 70 incoming freshman student-athletes Sunday night, and gave them a dose of reality, collegiate-style.
“We talked about responsibility,” he said “Yes, you will be held to higher standards as student-athletes because more eyes are on you. We want to recruit good character and sometimes good character makes poor decisions.
“But all in all, it’s incredibly important to me that our coaches have high expectations for our student athletes. In turn, the student-athletes have high expectations for themselves and are accountable for their mistakes.”
He said the decision for any potential punishment for Boyd, who is facing DUI charges in Jefferson Hills, will be Narduzzi’s to make. But Barnes said he reserves the right to review and adjust any discipline handed down by one of his coaches.
A couple of recruiting notes: Maurice Ffrench of New Brunswick, N.J., tweeted Thursday night that he made a verbal commitment to Narduzzi. He would be the seventh committed player in Pitt’s Class of 2016.
Ffrench, 6-0, 180, plays cornerback and slotback at New Brunswick where he totaled 1,500 yards rushing and receiving and six interceptions. He has offers from Army, Buffalo, Central Connecticut State and Villanova.
Also, Ruben Flowers, a four-star wide receiver from Lima, Ohio, will announce a decision Friday. He lists Pitt as one of his final choices, with Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Cincinnati.
Lima coach Mike Fell said Flowers brings the physical presence to the wide receiver position, despite a 6-4, 185-pound frame.
“He is very, very physical for a high school kid,” Fell said. “It’s very hard for them to tackle him. He’s a good blocker, too.”
Rivals.com ranks Flowers 50th in the nation among wide receivers.
http://blog.triblive.com/college-lo...ia-welcome-barnes-transparency/#axzz3eAyPBZcs
When Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes told a group of reporters he had a 2 1/2-hour meeting with Pat Narduzzi last week, I didn’t expect Barnes to reveal any details.
Wrong!
There’s a new sheriff in town, and what a refreshing change.
Most top-level officials, either at a university or in the NFL, like to keep matters in-house. But when I asked Barnes what he talked about with his football coach, he was quick to answer with an interesting tidbit.
Seems one of the things Narduzzi wants is the ability for the coaching staff to utilize charter flights during recruiting trips to increase efficiency and reduce wasted time. Anyone who has traveled on a commercial flight knows how much time can be wasted waiting in airports.
College coaches are almost always busy juggling multiple duties. It’s important for them to get back to the office as quickly as possible after visiting a recruit.
Barnes said that’s a simple request that can be funded through donations. The man came to Pitt with the knack for building a successful athletic program with the help of benevolent donors. At Pitt, he won’t be shy about asking for help.
Barnes said big donors want to see more transparency and a clearer vision for the future. Looks like he plans to do that, and not just by getting donors involved. He said the Panther Fans Experience Committee, which already has 350 applicants for 20 positions, will include season-ticket holders, corporate donors, single-game buyers and students, who usually don’t have any money to give (after tuition).
Among Barnes’ talents is his ability to ask for money and make friends at the same time. Not many can pull that off.
During his 41-minute meeting with reporters, Barnes was asked if he has learned the words to “Sweet Caroline.”
“That’s a pretty good tradition,” he said of the Neil Diamond song that is traditionally played between the third and fourth quarters at Heinz Field. “We just need to keep the students there after we sing it.”
He’s already aware of the other tradition — students getting up and leaving after the final note. (Something I never understood when the game is over by mid-afternoon.)
He also mentioned that some attendance figures he has seen suggest there are more students at games at Heinz Field than there were at Pitt Stadium — an assertion often mentioned by former AD Steve Pederson.
Not surprisingly, the Tyler Boyd question came up, and Barnes didn’t duck it.
He said he spoke to 70 incoming freshman student-athletes Sunday night, and gave them a dose of reality, collegiate-style.
“We talked about responsibility,” he said “Yes, you will be held to higher standards as student-athletes because more eyes are on you. We want to recruit good character and sometimes good character makes poor decisions.
“But all in all, it’s incredibly important to me that our coaches have high expectations for our student athletes. In turn, the student-athletes have high expectations for themselves and are accountable for their mistakes.”
He said the decision for any potential punishment for Boyd, who is facing DUI charges in Jefferson Hills, will be Narduzzi’s to make. But Barnes said he reserves the right to review and adjust any discipline handed down by one of his coaches.
A couple of recruiting notes: Maurice Ffrench of New Brunswick, N.J., tweeted Thursday night that he made a verbal commitment to Narduzzi. He would be the seventh committed player in Pitt’s Class of 2016.
Ffrench, 6-0, 180, plays cornerback and slotback at New Brunswick where he totaled 1,500 yards rushing and receiving and six interceptions. He has offers from Army, Buffalo, Central Connecticut State and Villanova.
Also, Ruben Flowers, a four-star wide receiver from Lima, Ohio, will announce a decision Friday. He lists Pitt as one of his final choices, with Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Cincinnati.
Lima coach Mike Fell said Flowers brings the physical presence to the wide receiver position, despite a 6-4, 185-pound frame.
“He is very, very physical for a high school kid,” Fell said. “It’s very hard for them to tackle him. He’s a good blocker, too.”
Rivals.com ranks Flowers 50th in the nation among wide receivers.
