Time for Narduzzi to do the near impossible

[the_insider_]

James Franklin did the near impossible with his team in 2016. His team started 2-2 with a loss to Pitt and a bad loss to Michigan and squeaked out a game against Temple. He then proceeded to rip off 9 wins in a row and lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. That is what turned the PSU football program around. There was a lot of talk after the 2-2 start that he might be finished at the end of the year and fans wanted him fired.

Well it's time for Narduzzi to do something that we don't expect and something that none of the Penn State fans thought Franklin would do in 2016. Win 8-9 games in a row here.

It probably won't happen. We aren't lucky enough as Pitt fans. But, man, would that be nice.

 

[Gep Dawg]

It would be awesome, we do deserve that once every 30 years.

 

[redbyrds]

James Franklin did the near impossible with his team in 2016. His team started 2-2 with a loss to Pitt and a bad loss to Michigan and squeaked out a game against Temple. He then proceeded to rip off 9 wins in a row and lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. That is what turned the PSU football program around. There was a lot of talk after the 2-2 start that he might be finished at the end of the year and fans wanted him fired.

Well it's time for Narduzzi to do something that we don't expect and something that none of the Penn State fans thought Franklin would do in 2016. Win 8-9 games in a row here.

It probably won't happen. We aren't lucky enough as Pitt fans. But, man, would that be nice.

Franklin had a D1 QB. Duzz has a D2 QB.

 

[Mikefln]

Franklin had a D1 QB. Duzz has a D2 QB.

Make no mistake, Pickett is not a tradition offense college QB in any division no matter if it is D1, D2, or D3 or NAIA. He could be a triple option QB because as an athlete he is D1, but as a tradition QB, no not a college QB at all. Since he is not at one of the academies running the option, he really should switch positions to WR. Who knows he might become the next David Sills.

 

[PittFanDan17]

This team can do it dammit. A lot of teams falter in week 1 games. We lost that game, Virginia did not win it. Fans are getting that twisted. We made the mistakes that gifted them half of their points. I think this team will turn it around. ACC Coastal is still very well in reach.

 

[gary2]

This team can do it dammit. A lot of teams falter in week 1 games. We lost that game, Virginia did not win it. Fans are getting that twisted. We made the mistakes that gifted them half of their points. I think this team will turn it around. ACC Coastal is still very well in reach.

UVA was forced to punt, what once? Things came easy for them. Other than a freak play to Davis, nothing Pitt was trying to do came easy.

What game were you watching? We made big mistakes sure, but we would have lost if we played with no mistakes. They were better.

 

[McKee Place]

Who knows he might become the next David Sills.

Probably more like David Crosby or Stephen Stills unfortunately.



No truth that the title of this suicidal dirge will be Pickett's probable stats vs PSU. Probably.

Man. This reminds that we really need another music thread. Actual football talk is depressing. At least until the Steelers start playing. What? They open at New England? Oh. Ok then, maybe two or three music threads...

 

[PittFanDan17]

UVA was forced to punt, what once? Things came easy for them. Other than a freak play to Davis, nothing Pitt was trying to do came easy.

What game were you watching? We made big mistakes sure, but we would have lost if we played with no mistakes. They were better.

The only part of the game they were better was the dline. We won every other part fo the game besides that, turnovers and special teams.

 

[gary2]

The only part of the game they were better was the dline. We won every other part fo the game besides that, turnovers and special teams.

You truly believe that the only position they were better than us at was the DL? Wow, Just wow.

 

[foxchapelpanther]

James Franklin did the near impossible with his team in 2016. His team started 2-2 with a loss to Pitt and a bad loss to Michigan and squeaked out a game against Temple. He then proceeded to rip off 9 wins in a row and lost to USC in the Rose Bowl. That is what turned the PSU football program around. There was a lot of talk after the 2-2 start that he might be finished at the end of the year and fans wanted him fired.

Well it's time for Narduzzi to do something that we don't expect and something that none of the Penn State fans thought Franklin would do in 2016. Win 8-9 games in a row here.

It probably won't happen. We aren't lucky enough as Pitt fans. But, man, would that be nice.

the difference is that Franklin is a great recruiter of players and coaches.

that UPS team that started 2-2 and then won 11 games back-to-back seasons...

had a RB coach that is now at Bama, a WR coach that is now OC at Michigan, an OC that is now a head coach in the SEC etc. etc.

and three OL that are now NFL players, a QB who is now in the NFL, three WR who are in the NFL (two of them starters), a TE in the NFL, multiple RBs in the NFL (including Saquon Barkely) etc etc etc

college football is a talent attraction business at its core.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

It would be awesome, we do deserve that once every 30 years.

But I think we both know the more likely outcome! A shocking upset of UCF or PSU, followed by another 7-5 record and mediocre bowl appearance.

 

[pittman71]

Probably more like David Crosby or Stephen Stills unfortunately.

View embedded media

No truth that the title of this suicidal dirge will be Pickett's probable stats vs PSU. Probably.

Man. This reminds that we really need another music thread. Actual football talk is depressing. At least until the Steelers start playing. What? They open at New England? Oh. Ok then, maybe two or three music threads...

Steelers are going to whip New England’s ass

 

[NCanton Panther]

The only part of the game they were better was the dline. We won every other part fo the game besides that, turnovers and special teams.

Wow we were watching totally different games!!!

 

[PittFanDan17]

Wow we were watching totally different games!!!

Sorry i can see the good out of that rough result. Game was closer than the final scoreboard indicated and our defense played lights out and the offense showed a ton of flashes, just made crucial mistakes at poor times.

 

[Mikefln]

Sorry i can see the good out of that rough result. Game was closer than the final scoreboard indicated and our defense played lights out and the offense showed a ton of flashes, just made crucial mistakes at poor times.

Agree on the defense, but the offense I am agreeing with N Canton. Did we watch the same game?

 

[PittFanDan17]

Agree on the defense, but the offense I am agreeing with N Canton. Did we watch the same game?

Second half looked rough but once again, our mistakes were the reason for that. Drops and turnovers.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

The Duzzie can save the season by laying some wood to Ohio, a real ole school beatdown, and beating the Nitters.

With that we can find other 5 wins, in addition to beating an average bowl team, and Duzzie has a season.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Sorry i can see the good out of that rough result. Game was closer than the final scoreboard indicated and our defense played lights out and the offense showed a ton of flashes, just made crucial mistakes at poor times.

I think you’re flat out delusional

We got dominated and had no business being in that game in the first half

 

[thebadby2]

Sorry i can see the good out of that rough result. Game was closer than the final scoreboard indicated and our defense played lights out and the offense showed a ton of flashes, just made crucial mistakes at poor times.

"I can see", said the blind man.

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

It was a combination of mistakes and poor play. You might be able to survive one or the other, but you rarely can survive both.

 

[PittFanDan17]

I think you’re flat out delusional

We got dominated and had no business being in that game in the first half

I see the bright side. I said what i said and thats how i feel. Coastal is far from out of reach just yet.

I am not going to overreact after week 1. Remember last year after the PSU game and the overreaction that came with it? I was guilty of this big time. Everyone thought we would go 3-9 or 2-10 after that game but we won the freaking division. Its a damn long season and i am not going to lose faith in this team or duzzy. A lot can happen, both good and bad but saying we're going to be terrible is just throwing in the towel; why be a fan if thats how you're going to be after week 1? Thats how i feel about it. H2P

 

[jaebree422]

We Need A Qb!

 

[McKee Place]

Pretty much everyone around my section ... and this section includes a lot of players families (and... sigh ... their hot girlfriends)... were all like "how the heck are we leading in this game" at the point it was 14-13. It actually gave me some confidence we might win, because we had made all the mistakes and looked the least impressive by far to that point and I thought Virginia might start getting frustrated. I give their kicking team a lot of credit for rescuing them after several drives stalled with relentlessly reliable FG (in "the toughest place to make a FG" yet I don't believe Ive ever seen a Pitt opponent miss one, lol).

Conversely I downgrade our defense for playing decent overall, but consistently letting Va off the hook on 3rd and longs early in those same possessions, when they were too far from FG range. Needed a foot on the neck. Not only does that kill in that game but it can lead to chronic repeats through the season... it gets in the head, "damn, we can't stop anyone on third down".

 

[the_insider_]

It would be awesome, we do deserve that once every 30 years.

That's how programs turn around. I feel like we all deserve it.

 

[the_insider_]

This team can do it dammit. A lot of teams falter in week 1 games. We lost that game, Virginia did not win it. Fans are getting that twisted. We made the mistakes that gifted them half of their points. I think this team will turn it around. ACC Coastal is still very well in reach.

Agreed. I think Whipple will have the offense going much better this week. From the OL to the QB to the WRs.

 

[the_insider_]

UVA was forced to punt, what once? Things came easy for them. Other than a freak play to Davis, nothing Pitt was trying to do came easy.

What game were you watching? We made big mistakes sure, but we would have lost if we played with no mistakes. They were better.

It definitely would have been nice to see the defense come up with more stops and force more punts, but they played well given the circumstances that Special Teams and Offense put them in.

 

[the_insider_]

the difference is that Franklin is a great recruiter of players and coaches.

that UPS team that started 2-2 and then won 11 games back-to-back seasons...

had a RB coach that is now at Bama, a WR coach that is now OC at Michigan, an OC that is now a head coach in the SEC etc. etc.

and three OL that are now NFL players, a QB who is now in the NFL, three WR who are in the NFL (two of them starters), a TE in the NFL, multiple RBs in the NFL (including Saquon Barkely) etc etc etc

college football is a talent attraction business at its core.

Narduzzi also had Jim Chaney who was hired away to Georgia and Matt Canada hired away to LSU. Let's not act like he hasn't brought in good coaches. It's unfortunate they haven't kept or been able to keep either of them. Especially, Chaney. I think MacVittie would have been a very good QB with him.

 

[the_insider_]

Sorry i can see the good out of that rough result. Game was closer than the final scoreboard indicated and our defense played lights out and the offense showed a ton of flashes, just made crucial mistakes at poor times.

I agree 100%. The missed FG also loomed large. Most of the mistakes are things I think can be corrected. I'm still optimistic!

 

[DiehardPanther]

Narduzzi also had Jim Chaney who was hired away to Georgia and Matt Canada hired away to LSU. Let's not act like he hasn't brought in good coaches. It's unfortunate they haven't kept or been able to keep either of them. Especially, Chaney. I think MacVittie would have been a very good QB with him.

Ironically, a lot of posters ripped Chaney when he was here.