The HOT seat

[Cap pitt]

HCPN should be on the hot seat, year after year they recruit the same, they coach the same, and their records have been the same. So, they are doing the same things year after year and as fans we are expecting different results. I’m tired of waiting til next year, I’ve been waiting 49 years for a different result,

 

[BreakingPitt]

Agree
That's why I don't care anymore.
Duke and Boston College have surpassed Pitt.

 

[Saboteur II]

I’ve stopped thinking he is on the hot seat. But I know he is the laughing stock of the profession after totally wussing out and brain farting his way through the Toledo game.
Candidly, Toledo would not hire the guy.
Who would?

 

[HailToPitt725]

I’ve stopped thinking he is on the hot seat. But I know he is the laughing stock of the profession after totally wussing out and brain farting his way through the Toledo game.
Candidly, Toledo would not hire the guy.
Who would?

Unironically, I could see him finishing his coaching career at Youngstown State after he’s done at Pitt, whether that’s after 2025 or some other time. I think it’d mean a lot to him to take his father’s program to the playoffs a few times.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

HCPN should be on the hot seat, year after year they recruit the same, they coach the same, and their records have been the same. So, they are doing the same things year after year and as fans we are expecting different results. I’m tired of waiting til next year, I’ve been waiting 49 years for a different result,

5-7 and he's gone.

3-9
2nd team in FBS history to finish 7-6 after 7-0 start
5-7

That's a brutal 3 year stretch. You don't get another year.

 

[pittmeister]

HCPN should be on the hot seat, year after year they recruit the same, they coach the same, and their records have been the same. So, they are doing the same things year after year and as fans we are expecting different results. I’m tired of waiting til next year, I’ve been waiting 49 years for a different result,

Money is the problem. Important people are not happy about the way the season ended... Virginia and Toledo games were especially tough for them to shallow. 9-4 is a lot better than 7-6. The long term solution is more cash.

The immediate Solution: Ride it out for as long as possible and hope that Holstein can capture the magic he had in the first 5 games of the season. The staff is addressing the OL to make it happen. We are going to have to out score the competition.

Narduzzi's defense needs pass rushers to make it work. The last two seasons, he's lost his best young pass rushers (Okunlola and Edwards) How would our defense look next year if he had both coming back along with Gandy, Biles, Louis, Scott and Lovelace?

I'm afraid that no matter who you bring in as HC, the results will be about the same because of the current climate in college football. It's a tough situation.

 

[SteelCityChamps]

I think it's trending for 2025 to be his last year regardless of record.

 

[HailToPitt725]

If 2025 is his last year, I’ll just say this: I appreciate what Coach Narduzzi has done for this program. He brought much-needed stability and helped reached heights we hadn’t achieved since the 80s. He might not be the “right coach” at the “right time” for this program in this era of college football, but he’s leaving it much better than how he found it.

 

[pittbb80]

Money is the problem. Important people are not happy about the way the season ended... Virginia and Toledo games were especially tough for them to shallow. 9-4 is a lot better than 7-6. The long term solution is more cash.

The immediate Solution: Ride it out for as long as possible and hope that Holstein can capture the magic he had in the first 5 games of the season. The staff is addressing the OL to make it happen. We are going to have to out score the competition.

Narduzzi's defense needs pass rushers to make it work. The last two seasons, he's lost his best young pass rushers (Okunlola and Edwards) How would our defense look next year if he had both coming back along with Gandy, Biles, Louis, Scott and Lovelace?

I'm afraid that no matter who you bring in as HC, the results will be about the same because of the current climate in college football. It's a tough situation.

Agree with everything you said. I was fairly optimistic until they Lost Edwards and Gandy to the Portal. Now not so much but I suppose we need to see who they end up picking up to replace those guys.

Your last statement is spot on. Im not sure who they get to coach because Pitt just isnt going to compete with the $$$ being thrown around.

 

[TD_6082]

HCPN should be on the hot seat, year after year they recruit the same, they coach the same, and their records have been the same. So, they are doing the same things year after year and as fans we are expecting different results. I’m tired of waiting til next year, I’ve been waiting 49 years for a different result,

Narduzzi had Pitt in a pretty good spot, at the 40 year high mark, before NIL & the portal kicked in. Until some monied boosters decide they want to compete with elite programs for recruits, it doesn't get better.

In fact, it's probably going to get worse before it gets better, regardless of who the head coach is. Unless a program is willing to spend top dollar, it's going to be really hard, if not impossible, to be nationally relevant in the ACC. Truth be told, going forward, its the Power 2 and Group of 7.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If 2025 is his last year, I’ll just say this: I appreciate what Coach Narduzzi has done for this program. He brought much-needed stability and helped reached heights we hadn’t achieved since the 80s. He might not be the “right coach” at the “right time” for this program in this era of college football, but he’s leaving it much better than how he found it.

He inherited a 6-6 program and has lost 5+ games in 8 of the last 10 years. If he goes 5-7 or worse next year, it would be the worst 3 year stretch since Majors 2 so how in the world could you say he'd leave it better than he found it? He found a 6-6 program with a good amount of offensive NFL talent.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Unironically, I could see him finishing his coaching career at Youngstown State after he’s done at Pitt, whether that’s after 2025 or some other time. I think it’d mean a lot to him to take his father’s program to the playoffs a few times.

I think he holds a grudge against YSU due to them firing his dad.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

He inherited a 6-6 program and has lost 5+ games in 8 of the last 10 years. If he goes 5-7 or worse next year, it would be the worst 3 year stretch since Majors 2 so how in the world could you say he'd leave it better than he found it? He found a 6-6 program with a good amount of offensive NFL talent.

Yeah, Pitt has been about the same since Harris got us out of the 90's rut. If anything, it's starting to trend ugly again with Narduzzi at the helm.

I completely disagree with the notion that Pitt is doomed no matter who the coach is. We need a better high school recruiter, because those players are cheap (after like the top 250 or so) and will then take a discount to stay. You won't keep them all, but that's okay. If you recruit enough good ones, you'll still be okay.

You can't rely on the portal when you're Pitt, other than to plug a few holes, because it's too expensive. If anybody has seen this week's visitor list, you might think we're South Dakota or something. It's sad.

 

[HailToPitt725]

He inherited a 6-6 program and has lost 5+ games in 8 of the last 10 years. If he goes 5-7 or worse next year, it would be the worst 3 year stretch since Majors 2 so how in the world could you say he'd leave it better than he found it? He found a 6-6 program with a good amount of offensive NFL talent.

1. He showed it’s possible to win ACC Championships, which in today’s world means it’s possible to win national championships
2. He helped get our facilities and support staff to a level that’s competitive with the rest of the P4; we didn’t even have a special teams coach before he arrived!
3. He’s done a great job getting former players to come back and be more involved with the program, something I’m not sure could be said before

One extra thing I’ll add that’s relatively small but still counts for something: the student section was dreadful before he arrived, routinely leaving at the end of the third quarter to catch the bus for most games. It’s done a 180 since he arrived, both with participation and getting it back behind the endzone. I’m not sure he was *the* driving force behind this, but I’ll give him some credit for getting the student body more energetic about the team.

Have we slid back since 2022? Of course, but I’ll stand by my opinion that the program is in a much better position now than where it was in 2014.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Heather Lyke is responsible for the student section being what it is (arguably her crowning achievement), and Pitt brass has been much more willing to spend (recruiting/coaching budget, facilities, etc.) ever since we were accepted into the ACC, to their credit. I don't know that Narduzzi had a whole lot to do with any of that.

 

[bobfree]

Narduzzi had Pitt in a pretty good spot, at the 40 year high mark, before NIL & the portal kicked in. Until some monied boosters decide they want to compete with elite programs for recruits, it doesn't get better.

In fact, it's probably going to get worse before it gets better, regardless of who the head coach is. Unless a program is willing to spend top dollar, it's going to be really hard, if not impossible, to be nationally relevant in the ACC. Truth be told, going forward, its the Power 2 and Group of 7.

We went 10-15 the past two years and 5-11 in the ACC. It doesn't get much worse. We're bottom of the barrel with wake and uva.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

We went 10-15 the past two years and 5-11 in the ACC. It doesn't get much worse. We're bottom of the barrel with wake and uva.

Is the roster any worse than the one Chryst left behind? The answer is a resounding no, and the logic is about as objective as it gets.

With the same coach, in a conference that has only gotten worse since 2015/2016, the results are also worse.

It's honestly just a matter of seeing how much having to keep Narduzzi negatively affects the program at this point.

 

[djbpitt]

1. He showed it’s possible to win ACC Championships, which in today’s world means it’s possible to win national championships
2. He helped get our facilities and support staff to a level that’s competitive with the rest of the P4; we didn’t even have a special teams coach before he arrived!
3. He’s done a great job getting former players to come back and be more involved with the program, something I’m not sure could be said before

One extra thing I’ll add that’s relatively small but still counts for something: the student section was dreadful before he arrived, routinely leaving at the end of the third quarter to catch the bus for most games. It’s done a 180 since he arrived, both with participation and getting it back behind the endzone. I’m not sure he was *the* driving force behind this, but I’ll give him some credit for getting the student body more energetic about the team.

Have we slid back since 2022? Of course, but I’ll stand by my opinion that the program is in a much better position now than where it was in 2014.

Rational thinking and common sense. Get ahtta here wit' dat!

 

[Haydman]

1. He showed it’s possible to win ACC Championships, which in today’s world means it’s possible to win national championships
2. He helped get our facilities and support staff to a level that’s competitive with the rest of the P4; we didn’t even have a special teams coach before he arrived!
3. He’s done a great job getting former players to come back and be more involved with the program, something I’m not sure could be said before

One extra thing I’ll add that’s relatively small but still counts for something: the student section was dreadful before he arrived, routinely leaving at the end of the third quarter to catch the bus for most games. It’s done a 180 since he arrived, both with participation and getting it back behind the endzone. I’m not sure he was *the* driving force behind this, but I’ll give him some credit for getting the student body more energetic about the team.

Have we slid back since 2022? Of course, but I’ll stand by my opinion that the program is in a much better position now than where it was in 2014.

Nothing is ever all bad or all good. I can appreciate some of the the things that HCPN has done. Nothing more impressive that winning the ACC but with that said, he's been here 10 yrs and his body work screams average coach. The reason you have to move on from him is because of some of the very points you bring up. You can't let fan, student, and former player enthusiasm/energy continue to slip away.

You can't lose a meaningless bowl game to Toledo and not think the program takes a hit. I know there's financial cost to getting rid of him but at this point I think the negatives associated with keeping him are worse.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Yeah, Pitt has been about the same since Harris got us out of the 90's rut. If anything, it's starting to trend ugly again with Narduzzi at the helm.

I completely disagree with the notion that Pitt is doomed no matter who the coach is. We need a better high school recruiter, because those players are cheap (after like the top 250 or so) and will then take a discount to stay. You won't keep them all, but that's okay. If you recruit enough good ones, you'll still be okay.

You can't rely on the portal when you're Pitt, other than to plug a few holes, because it's too expensive. If anybody has seen this week's visitor list, you might think we're South Dakota or something. It's sad.

We need new blood a fresh take on recruiting. Remember when Walt came in, Pitt was so bad but he was able to land a few local blue-chip prospects like Brandon Williams and Tutu Ferguson over Penn State by selling early playing time. At that time, PSU was a NC contender so the thought was those kids would have to sit for years over there. Narduzzi either can't get this point across or isn't using this as a strategy. The PSU bench is littered with WPIAL stars who would be 3-4 year starters here.

Essentially, we need a coach to come in and say "come to Pitt if you want to play football." I loved what new UNLV coach Dan Mullen said. He said he wants guys who like to play football. In some ways PSU's success should work against them. Some kids don't mind sitting the bench and partying in Pedo-land but most kids do want to play. They won't play at PSU.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

1. He showed it’s possible to win ACC Championships, which in today’s world means it’s possible to win national championships
2. He helped get our facilities and support staff to a level that’s competitive with the rest of the P4; we didn’t even have a special teams coach before he arrived!
3. He’s done a great job getting former players to come back and be more involved with the program, something I’m not sure could be said before

One extra thing I’ll add that’s relatively small but still counts for something: the student section was dreadful before he arrived, routinely leaving at the end of the third quarter to catch the bus for most games. It’s done a 180 since he arrived, both with participation and getting it back behind the endzone. I’m not sure he was *the* driving force behind this, but I’ll give him some credit for getting the student body more energetic about the team.

Have we slid back since 2022? Of course, but I’ll stand by my opinion that the program is in a much better position now than where it was in 2014.

He won an ACC Championship and still lost to a mediocre MAC team (which he has mastered) and a mediocre Miami team. He gets credit for that but he's done more damage lately to nullify the good that that brought. The other stuff, who cares. He's improved facilities and brought back former players? A lot of people can do that.

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

I thought for sure Narduzzi was going to be the Pitt coach who reaches 100 career wins at the school and that I'd witness it. Now, I'm confident that he won't get there because he'll be relieved as the coach before he can get there.

The problem is Pitt will hire the same old boss with the same characteristic: stubbornness.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Nothing is ever all bad or all good. I can appreciate some of the the things that HCPN has done. Nothing more impressive that winning the ACC but with that said, he's been here 10 yrs and his body work screams average coach. The reason you have to move on from him is because of some of the very points you bring up. You can't let fan, student, and former player enthusiasm/energy continue to slip away.

You can't lose a meaningless bowl game to Toledo and not think the program takes a hit. I know there's financial cost to getting rid of him but at this point I think the negatives associated with keeping him are worse.

I am the one who says bowl games are meaningless. I was wrong, in a way, because if you are playing a team who went 4-4 in the MAC and you are up 10 midway through the 4th and you go to OT and lose by not going for it on 4th and goal for the 1, that MATTERS. Had they lost 24-17 in a game where Toledo has a pick 6, a PR TD, and our backup QBs just suck, whatever, you move on. But Dugger was good enough. Reid was good. But the D couldn't get a stop when it mattered and you have to try to win the game on 4th & 1. It was such a mind-numbingly stupid decision. Narduzzi is usually pretty aggressive on 4th & 1. You cant kick there.

 

[HailToPitt725]

Nothing is ever all bad or all good. I can appreciate some of the the things that HCPN has done. Nothing more impressive that winning the ACC but with that said, he's been here 10 yrs and his body work screams average coach. The reason you have to move on from him is because of some of the very points you bring up. You can't let fan, student, and former player enthusiasm/energy continue to slip away.

You can't lose a meaningless bowl game to Toledo and not think the program takes a hit. I know there's financial cost to getting rid of him but at this point I think the negatives associated with keeping him are worse.

I don’t disagree with this at all. I think the program is better now than before he arrived, AND it’s likely time for a change.

He was what we needed at the right time: he provided stability and a much-needed identity to the program. But, with how rapidly evolving college football (and collegiate athletics) have become over the past three years, I’m not sure he’s guy to help us navigate that. It’s the same way I felt about Heather Lyke, who will go down as one of the best ADs in Pitt history.

Coach Narduzzi showed us what “could” happen at Pitt. Regardless of how this year went or how next year goes, I’m leaning towards making a change to help us take that next step, especially when you consider how important this moment in time is for where we end up on the P4 spectrum in a potential “new world order.”

 

[TD_6082]

I don’t disagree with this at all. I think the program is better now than before he arrived, AND it’s likely time for a change.

He was what we needed at the right time: he provided stability and a much-needed identity to the program. But, with how rapidly evolving college football (and collegiate athletics) have become over the past three years, I’m not sure he’s guy to help us navigate that. It’s the same way I felt about Heather Lyke, who will go down as one of the best ADs in Pitt history.

Coach Narduzzi showed us what “could” happen at Pitt. Regardless of how this year went or how next year goes, I’m leaning towards making a change to help us take that next step, especially when you consider how important this moment in time is for where we end up on the P4 spectrum in a potential “new world order.”

What next step is there?

With Pitt's current NIL, they aren’t going to compete for ACC Championships. And the schools winning ACC Championships couldn't be more irrelevant nationally.

 

[pittdan77]

What next step is there?

With Pitt's current NIL, they aren’t going to compete for ACC Championships. And the schools winning ACC Championships couldn't be more irrelevant nationally.

I fear that the new group running things will see football as being worth about the same regardless of the investment and act accordingly.

 

[HailToPitt725]

What next step is there?

With Pitt's current NIL, they aren’t going to compete for ACC Championships. And the schools winning ACC Championships couldn't be more irrelevant nationally.

It’s a fair question. Knowing we’ll be “behind the eight-ball” when it comes to NIL, I think we need to look at what Dillingham did at Arizona State, Cignetti did at IU, etc. guys who were able to quickly turn non-bluebloods into contenders in this new era.

In the case of Cignetti or even Coach Prime, that could mean hiring an existing G5 head coach who brings his staff and best players with him, then fill out the rest of the roster like we otherwise would through the portal. That gets the ball rolling and gives you something you can build off of moving forward.

A Dillingham-type hire could work, but would that really be much different than when we hired Narduzzi? At that point, it’s just another lottery ticket you hope the AD hits on. Another thing to consider is how often will first-time head coaches be successful at the P4 level moving forward when it’s not a blueblood? They have to start from scratch, not only recruiting the current roster back but they also don’t have anyone to bring with them from their existing job. Just an example of the type of questions needing to be asked in this new era.

 

[Pittisit4me]

Any new hire will really have his work cut out for him where recruiting is concerned. The Duzz alienated wpial coaches and players. The Duzz has been stocking this program with Southern leftovers mostly from Florida. There is no guarantee the new coach will be able to maintain that pipeline. Franklin pretty much gets all the high quality players from the Delmarva. So if we do make a new hire, and with a limited NIL budget, where do we go to get our players? A great coach may be able to turn that around rather quickly. That said, do you have faith in the Pitt big brass to make a good hire, and would anybody who would be good enough to make an impact right away be interested in coming to Pitt?

 

[pittmeister]

Boise State coach pleads for fans to donate to NIL fund with other teams offering up to '10 times more'

Boise State offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said in a Facebook post that other teams are offering "between 2 and 10 times more" than the Broncos can in NIL money.

www.foxnews.com

 

[TD_6082]

It’s a fair question. Knowing we’ll be “behind the eight-ball” when it comes to NIL, I think we need to look at what Dillingham did at Arizona State, Cignetti did at IU, etc. guys who were able to quickly turn non-bluebloods into contenders in this new era.

In the case of Cignetti or even Coach Prime, that could mean hiring an existing G5 head coach who brings his staff and best players with him, then fill out the rest of the roster like we otherwise would through the portal. That gets the ball rolling and gives you something you can build off of moving forward.

A Dillingham-type hire could work, but would that really be much different than when we hired Narduzzi? At that point, it’s just another lottery ticket you hope the AD hits on. Another thing to consider is how often will first-time head coaches be successful at the P4 level moving forward when it’s not a blueblood? They have to start from scratch, not only recruiting the current roster back but they also don’t have anyone to bring with them from their existing job. Just an example of the type of questions needing to be asked in this new era.

Dillingham and Cignetti haven't built anything sustainable. Those still aren't very good programs.

ASU won a shit conference by winning several close games. They actually lost to Cincinnati and Texas Tech. When Skattabo is gone, which I assume is now, that party is over.

 

[Pitt2009]

Agree
That's why I don't care anymore.
Duke and Boston College have surpassed Pitt.

I don’t know about that? BC hasn’t won more than 7 games in like 15 years.

 

[pittmeister]

Any new hire will really have his work cut out for him where recruiting is concerned. The Duzz alienated wpial coaches and players. The Duzz has been stocking this program with Southern leftovers mostly from Florida. There is no guarantee the new coach will be able to maintain that pipeline. Franklin pretty much gets all the high quality players from the Delmarva. So if we do make a new hire, and with a limited NIL budget, where do we go to get our players? A great coach may be able to turn that around rather quickly. That said, do you have faith in the Pitt big brass to make a good hire, and would anybody who would be good enough to make an impact right away be interested in coming to Pitt?

Fair points... I will say, I'm not sure how much Duzz is alienating the WPIAL coaches and players. I don't believe he's 100% to blame. This has been going on for awhile. Then again, we don't know what is being said behind the scenes.

As we've all said a million times on this board, the coaches and parents have a different view of Pitt. They don't see it as "big time". Big Ten rules. Until....... Little Johnny doesn't play... Then they matriculate elsewhere. If Pitt doesn't want them, WVU and other schools will be glad to take them.

Aliquippa players were almost a lock to go to Pitt. Not so anymore. A couple have drifted over to PSU (Fisher, Hayes), . I can't stand Franklin. But he is charismatic and appeals to black coaches whether they are HC or assistants. Same goes for Terry Smith. Clarion is moving in that direction. Their national success makes it tougher.

So? What can you do about it? Again, not an easy solution. Franklin is entrenched. You have to first take a realistic view of the situation. I will pontificate in another post...

 

[Richard A]

The one issue for Narduzzi is the assistant coaches he’s hired. When Pitt was at the top of college football under Majors and Sherrill they had great assistant coaches and several went on to be head coaches. The one thing they had in common was they could recruit especially the WPIAL. Yes times are different but you have to have good coaches who can recruit good players. They don’t have to be all 4&5 stars players. When your recruiting classes are in the low 30’s 40’s and even 50’s you’re not going to compete. The classes are usually in the middle or lower part of the ACC. Doesn’t add up for good teams. Maybe Duzz can by start by evaluating his coaches and hire coaches who are good recruiters and develop better relationships with the area HS school coaches.
Pitt can reach the top of the ACC but again how much is the administration willing to spend and fully commit to winning. Whether or not Duzz is the answer only the administration can determine which direction the football program will go.

 

[ThePanthers]

Just need to find a great coach with great assistants that can pull in the best players with no money! Easy enough. Why can’t Pitt think of this.

 

[bobfree]

Just need to find a great coach with great assistants that can pull in the best players with no money! Easy enough. Why can’t Pitt think of this.

No. We should stay status quo.

And match that with our 48th ranked recruiting class and 50 ranked transfer class.

There might be 12 people at games next season.

 

[HailToPitt725]

I think he holds a grudge against YSU due to them firing his dad.

That’s a good point, I think I remember reading something about that. Still, I can see him ending up at a smaller place that holds sentimental value to him, or least is a little further away from today’s NIL age and and allows him to focus more on football.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

That’s a good point, I think I remember reading something about that. Still, I can see him ending up at a smaller place that holds sentimental value to him, or least is a little further away from today’s NIL age and and allows him to focus more on football.

Rhode Island makes sense. Didn't he play there, and don't they vacation there each summer? I like your thinking. Let's get Duzz to Rhode Izzy!

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I think he holds a grudge against YSU due to them firing his dad.

So you're saying he'll get back at them by taking the job and running them into the ground?

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

So you're saying he'll get back at them by taking the job and running them into the ground?

Pitt week would be hilarious. He'd almost lose to Boardman Community College the week before, upon instructing his OC they're only allowed to hand off that week. Then he'd have the entire campus more secured off than Area 51.

 

[HailToPitt725]

Rhode Island makes sense. Didn't he play there, and don't they vacation there each summer? I like your thinking. Let's get Duzz to Rhode Izzy!

Him and Scott Shafer can go back and finish where they started… just no kiwis this time.