The War Room is targeted towards our premium customers. We ask that all information reported in the War Room MUST stay right here! That’s the way this deal works. When this information is repeated outside of the Between Fifth and Forbes forum it only cheapens the price of yours and every other die hard who have purchased premium services. The War Room is one of our more popular features...thank you all for keeping the information on this board.
From the Desk of Jim Snyder
A quick look at Panther football recruiting
We have reported in previous War Rooms in that Pitt may be limited in the number of scholarship it can offer to the Class of 2005. By the time the University of Pittsburgh goes to summer camp they will be at or very close to the 85-limit on scholarships. This will be a relatively young Pitt team with very few seniors. One could make a case that Pitt would only have a dozen scholarships to offer but history tells us this number will grow. We are estimating about 16 prospects will be offered scholarships.
The area of biggest need is no secret. They must restock on the offensive line. Coach Harris already has a verbal commitment from John Brown but we figure they will take 4 more offensive linemen.
Here is a quick breakout of what we think it will look like if the limit is about 16 scholarships.
Offensive linemen - 5
Wide receivers - 2
Defensive backs - 2
Running back - 2
Tight end - 1
Defensive end - 1
Linebacker - 1
Defensive lineman - 1
Sub-total - 15
This breakout quickly puts you at 15. The remaining scholarship could go to the best athlete available to Pitt or possibly a quarterback. As things stand right now all 4 quarterbacks on scholarship would return for the 2005 season. If Pitt does offer it could go to Seton LaSalle’s Bill Stull or Central Catholic’s Shane Murray. We may have to wait and see if either one attends the Pitt summer camp.
Pitt already has a verbal commitment from Johnstown’s LaRod Stephens. Pitt appears to be the leader for running back Irvan Brown (6’ 0” 190) from Central Square, NY. This could be their two running backs.
Pitt appears to be the early leader for WR Marcellus Bowman from Youngstown Liberty. Logic tells me in the end the Panthers will also probably get a commitment from Central Catholic’s TE John Pelusi.
One of the “X’ factors is the incoming class of 2004. On the surface there are not enough scholarships available to handle this class. It is quit possible a couple will not make it academically. In most cases we will not know until sometime in June. They may take the SAT exams again in May and you need their senior grades to be sure. It is possible a couple could head to prep schools. Do you save scholarships for them?
We are moving out of a “Quiet Period” and into an “Evaluation Period”. During the Quiet Period coaches could only talk to recruits on campus. As a result they would have Junior days or invite them to Spring Games. This often limits your contact to players from the Tri-State area with a 3 hour drive of the campus. Coaches from around they country will start visiting high schools now. They will talk to their high school coach to get a better feel for the player and his academic status. This allows the coaches a chance to show out of state prospects a little love. You would often read articles saying I am getting a lot of mail from school X. They should now get in school visits. We will evolve into a period of summer camps which will also help college coaches in the evaluation process. Up to this point they have been trying to recruit the low hanging fruit.
It is my general impression in talking to many recruits this spring that Pitt is being better received this year than they were at the same time last year. Last spring the wheels are beginning to come off the “old Big East”. Uncertainty was everywhere. That has settled down. There are fewer question marks for recruits. There are a small number of recruits that appear to be bothered by the new Big East but they appear to be exceptions to the rule. Pitt could have one of their best recruiting class in a very long time even though the total numbers will be smaller than normal. The need is so great with the big guys up front that the success of the class may well judge on the success in this area.
A look at this fall
At times some of our posters almost assume Head Coach Walt Harris is in some sort of lame duck season. In talking to people close to the scene these posters might be getting a little ahead of themselves.
The administration is cooperating with Coach Harris. They have passed on brutal road trips (LSU ect) next year in order to schedule a 6th home game against Furman. They have also passed on a national TV game at South Florida in order to give Pitt its best chance at starting the season with a few wins.
In is not impossible that Pitt could start the season 5-1 (Nebraska being the most likely loss). By the time Pitt has 6 games under their belt the young offensive line might actually figure out who they are supposed to block.
If Pitt goes 8-3 with virtually everyone back the following year and an experience QB at the helm (Palko/Getsy) you never know we could be in for 6 or 7 years of Drew F (or is it Drew M?) calling for a coaching change. That was a joke folks.
Good news of the basketball front
This past week saw Coach Barry Rohrssen passing on a opportunity to go to St. John’s in order to stay a Pitt. Barry gets more money and the title of Assistant Head Coach to stay. Barry wants to be a Head Coach. We think Pitt is his fastest way for him to get there. We would love to see Slice bringing a few more players into the program over the next couple of years before heading off to do his own thing.
It looks like Pitt will have to wait anther 10 days to find out if they will land swingman Alex Galindo (6‘ 6“). He is scheduled to visit Rutgers this weekend and Kansas next weekend. I like Pitt’s chances in the battle but you never know for sure. It appears that Mount Vernon’s Dexter Gray (6’ 6”) is on hold until this matter is resolved.
Note to Pantherlair.com Fans: The staff at Pantherlair.com works diligently to bring you the best information on University of Pittsburgh football and basketball recruiting (in addition to game coverage). Thousands of Panther fans visit our site on a daily basis. We have received a tremendous amount of e-mail thanking us for our efforts. If you like our site, please feel free to tell other fans about it. “Spread the word” and let’s add to our online family of Panther fans.
From the Desk of Jim Snyder
A quick look at Panther football recruiting
We have reported in previous War Rooms in that Pitt may be limited in the number of scholarship it can offer to the Class of 2005. By the time the University of Pittsburgh goes to summer camp they will be at or very close to the 85-limit on scholarships. This will be a relatively young Pitt team with very few seniors. One could make a case that Pitt would only have a dozen scholarships to offer but history tells us this number will grow. We are estimating about 16 prospects will be offered scholarships.
The area of biggest need is no secret. They must restock on the offensive line. Coach Harris already has a verbal commitment from John Brown but we figure they will take 4 more offensive linemen.
Here is a quick breakout of what we think it will look like if the limit is about 16 scholarships.
Offensive linemen - 5
Wide receivers - 2
Defensive backs - 2
Running back - 2
Tight end - 1
Defensive end - 1
Linebacker - 1
Defensive lineman - 1
Sub-total - 15
This breakout quickly puts you at 15. The remaining scholarship could go to the best athlete available to Pitt or possibly a quarterback. As things stand right now all 4 quarterbacks on scholarship would return for the 2005 season. If Pitt does offer it could go to Seton LaSalle’s Bill Stull or Central Catholic’s Shane Murray. We may have to wait and see if either one attends the Pitt summer camp.
Pitt already has a verbal commitment from Johnstown’s LaRod Stephens. Pitt appears to be the leader for running back Irvan Brown (6’ 0” 190) from Central Square, NY. This could be their two running backs.
Pitt appears to be the early leader for WR Marcellus Bowman from Youngstown Liberty. Logic tells me in the end the Panthers will also probably get a commitment from Central Catholic’s TE John Pelusi.
One of the “X’ factors is the incoming class of 2004. On the surface there are not enough scholarships available to handle this class. It is quit possible a couple will not make it academically. In most cases we will not know until sometime in June. They may take the SAT exams again in May and you need their senior grades to be sure. It is possible a couple could head to prep schools. Do you save scholarships for them?
We are moving out of a “Quiet Period” and into an “Evaluation Period”. During the Quiet Period coaches could only talk to recruits on campus. As a result they would have Junior days or invite them to Spring Games. This often limits your contact to players from the Tri-State area with a 3 hour drive of the campus. Coaches from around they country will start visiting high schools now. They will talk to their high school coach to get a better feel for the player and his academic status. This allows the coaches a chance to show out of state prospects a little love. You would often read articles saying I am getting a lot of mail from school X. They should now get in school visits. We will evolve into a period of summer camps which will also help college coaches in the evaluation process. Up to this point they have been trying to recruit the low hanging fruit.
It is my general impression in talking to many recruits this spring that Pitt is being better received this year than they were at the same time last year. Last spring the wheels are beginning to come off the “old Big East”. Uncertainty was everywhere. That has settled down. There are fewer question marks for recruits. There are a small number of recruits that appear to be bothered by the new Big East but they appear to be exceptions to the rule. Pitt could have one of their best recruiting class in a very long time even though the total numbers will be smaller than normal. The need is so great with the big guys up front that the success of the class may well judge on the success in this area.
A look at this fall
At times some of our posters almost assume Head Coach Walt Harris is in some sort of lame duck season. In talking to people close to the scene these posters might be getting a little ahead of themselves.
The administration is cooperating with Coach Harris. They have passed on brutal road trips (LSU ect) next year in order to schedule a 6th home game against Furman. They have also passed on a national TV game at South Florida in order to give Pitt its best chance at starting the season with a few wins.
In is not impossible that Pitt could start the season 5-1 (Nebraska being the most likely loss). By the time Pitt has 6 games under their belt the young offensive line might actually figure out who they are supposed to block.
If Pitt goes 8-3 with virtually everyone back the following year and an experience QB at the helm (Palko/Getsy) you never know we could be in for 6 or 7 years of Drew F (or is it Drew M?) calling for a coaching change. That was a joke folks.
Good news of the basketball front
This past week saw Coach Barry Rohrssen passing on a opportunity to go to St. John’s in order to stay a Pitt. Barry gets more money and the title of Assistant Head Coach to stay. Barry wants to be a Head Coach. We think Pitt is his fastest way for him to get there. We would love to see Slice bringing a few more players into the program over the next couple of years before heading off to do his own thing.
It looks like Pitt will have to wait anther 10 days to find out if they will land swingman Alex Galindo (6‘ 6“). He is scheduled to visit Rutgers this weekend and Kansas next weekend. I like Pitt’s chances in the battle but you never know for sure. It appears that Mount Vernon’s Dexter Gray (6’ 6”) is on hold until this matter is resolved.
Note to Pantherlair.com Fans: The staff at Pantherlair.com works diligently to bring you the best information on University of Pittsburgh football and basketball recruiting (in addition to game coverage). Thousands of Panther fans visit our site on a daily basis. We have received a tremendous amount of e-mail thanking us for our efforts. If you like our site, please feel free to tell other fans about it. “Spread the word” and let’s add to our online family of Panther fans.
