From the desk of Jim Snyder
Big East basketball attendance
Earlier this week the Big East Conference put out their weekly press release and it indicated that the Big East Conference is averaging 10,003 per game. These figures should drift upwards slightly now that we are in conference play, football is over and students are back in school.
Here are the average attendance figures for the top half of the conference:
1) Syracuse - 19,549
2) Louisville - 19,314
3) Marquette - 15,137
4) Georgetown - 12,140
5) UConn - 10,902
6) Pitt - 10,329
7) West Virginia - 9,601
8) Notre Dame - 8,915
Some Hoops talk
The Panthers are 16-3 after handling St. John’s was surprising ease at Madison Square Garden. They are 5-2 since the meltdown at Dayton. In both losses Pitt had a chance to tie or win at the end with plenty of time left of the clock but failed to get a shot off. Sam Young remarked after the Cincinnati loss they should have gotten a shot off and he was right. This is one of those situations where they really miss Levance Fields. Ronald Ramon has done a great job of directing the Panthers attack since the injury to Fields but is at his best when he has the entire shot clock to work with.
Pitt has seven home games left starting with Rutgers on Saturday. Pitt should easily make it into the NCAA tournament if they hold home court service the rest of the way. Stealing a couple of wins on the road would improve their seed. Pitt is currently ranked No. 8 in the RPI rankings. If Pitt wins their share and Duke and Georgetown keep winning Pitt’s RPI ranking should look good come selection time.
Just how far Pitt goes this year will depend on how far the four freshmen progress. Any game where Pitt can pick up a win and get these four some game experience it is a very good night. Keeping DeJuan Blair out of foul trouble will also be a key. He gives them someone you must defend inside even if he does not putting up big numbers in the box score.
Agnus Berenato has the women’s team 14-3 and ranked No. 19 in the country in the AP poll. This is the highest ranking the women’s team has ever enjoyed. Actually it ties a record set back in 1979 but you get the idea. The women’s team is ranked No. 14 in the RPI rankings so they are also well positioned for another NCAA tournament bid.
Sunday is Pack the Pete Day. The Pitt women will play Louisville at 2:00 PM. Tickets are just $1. If you are looking for something to do you might want to take the family or a friend.
Pitt commits Travon Woodall and Nasir Robinson are both playing for nationally-ranked teams. St. Anthony’s has six Division 1 players and is ranked No. 1 in the country. Chester also has players other than Robinson and is No. 6 in the country. They both are playing basketball in systems that are team oriented so they should be good fits at Pitt.
St Anthony’s (13-0) plays Christian Brothers Academy on Saturday in a game played at St Benedict’s. Coach Hurley’s son coaches St Benedict’s which explains why this game is being held on this floor. The father and son, however, try not to schedule each other if possible.
Chester (17-1) plays at Academy Park (Sharon Hill) tonight (Friday).
It is very possible Chester could win a state champion is Pennsylvania this year while St Anthony’s grabs one in New Jersey.
he Future Football Schedules
Chris Peak has updated the Pitt Future Schedule which you can find under Quick Links. The University of Buffalo announced this week that they had entered into a four-game home and home series with Pitt. One source was quick to point out this was a deal done by Jeff Long before he went to call hogs in Arkansas. Some at Pitt are skeptical that all four games will ever be played. Remember Central Florida bought itself out of a deal with Pitt.
Buffalo decided to upgrade their football program a few years back in order to join the MAC. Big East teams scrambled to play them. Rutgers, Syracuse and UConn all quickly scheduled games before Pitt could get to them. The Mid American Conference now has a global deal with the Big Ten. They are in high demand and they often drive hard bargains these days.
Pitt plays Notre Dame for the next eight years. They also have games with Iowa, NC State and Miami, Virginia Tech. Our sources say don’t expect any other games with schools from BCS conferences to be scheduled until 2014.
Last year Ohio State played for the national championship scheduling Akron, Youngstown State, Kent State and Washington. The Huskies had an off year and went 4-9. Penn State played Florida International, Buffalo, Temple and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish had a down year and went 3-9. Each scheduled three cream puffs and one game they thought would be competitive.
The ideal Pitt schedule would be to have non-conference games with Penn State and Notre Dame and three games with the Little Sisters of the Poor. Until they can work out a deal with Penn state the ACC games will have to do.
You far more likely to see games scheduled with the MAC, Conference USA, the Sunbelt Belt Conference or a Division 1AA team that you are to see LSU pop up on the schedule.
The mega trend is college football is not to load up with a pile of tough non-conference games.
We would all like to see a blockbuster game every weekend (and so would I). The reality is you have to build your program up so fans come to see your team and not the other team. The emphasis around the country is on conference games. It is how you earn a BCS berth.
Filling coaching positions
Coach Wannstedt has filled two coaching slots so far. He hired Tony Wise coach as his offensive line coach. He has 19 years of coaching experience in the NFL. He has also coached under Coach Wannstedt so many times I have lost count.
He also promoted graduate assistant Jeff Hafley. Some of you may recall Chris Peak’s article on him last summer. Coach Hafley literally lives at the UPMC complex during the season. He sleeps on a cot and changes and showers at the practice center. He often left only once a week to pick up and new set of clothes.
So he has chosen one veteran coach and one hard-working, aggressive young coach. On the surface it looks like a good blend.
There are rumors the Gateway coach Terry Smith is being considered for the wide receiver slot. You may have read his brother, Harvey, has been hired to be the head coach at Kiski Area. He has been working as an assistant at Gateway. I do not have a clue where this stands but it does generate some interest on my part in that it might help you recruit two of the top juniors in LB Dorian Bell and WR Corey Brown.
The other position still open is the defensive coordinator job. No new names have surface so you best referring to Chris Peak’s article on the subject. I have provided a link below.
Recruiting roundup
The recruitment of A.J. Alexander took another strange twist when he decommitted early this week. The lure of speed sure is seductive. Alexander reminds me of a track guy trying to find the perfect situation so he has a shot at playing football. I could make the same statement about wide receiver D.J. Woods who decommitted from West Virginia and then committed to Cincinnati. They appear to be the same guy. Both of these kids can run. It will be interesting to see if they can play major college football.
As reported yesterday Chris LaSalla is scheduled to visit Vaughn Carraway today. If the Pitt coaching staff feels they have a scholarship to give he will be a Panther. If not I expect him to commit to Temple this weekend. If your last name is not Pryor you have to be careful about waiting too long.
You are allowed to have seven coaches on the road recruiting. The NCAA has permitted Pitt to send Chris LaSalla, Bob Junko and Mike Antonoplos out recruiting until the new coaches are on board.
Yesterday we spoke to West Virginia commit wide receiver J.D. Woods two weeks ago he visited Pitt and loved it. Last week he visited Vanderbilt and said it was only OK. Woods said he was still committed to West Virginia but later said Pitt assistant Charlie Partridge was trying to get a hold on him and he was going to call him back. He could be a backup plan if they do land Carraway. Woods is out of Naples, Florida.
For some time I have thought if Terrelle Pryor was ever going to visit Pitt or Penn State this is the weekend he was likely to do it. Jeannette plays Aliquippa in basketball Sunday evening at Duquesne’s Palumbo Center so he is not likely to stray far from home. There is a report on the Ticker that he will visit Oregon this weekend. I am very skeptical about that report.
Pryor is scheduled to meet with the Pitt coaches this weekend but no one on the Southside knows if he will really show up. We will just have to wait and see.
Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State have one thing in common. They do not have a commitment from a quarterback as all three chase Pryor. Pitt has commitments from three (3) quarterbacks. The staff might be best advised to spend more time on Zack Stoudt and Tino Sunserithan they do on Pryor.
Quarterback Dominick Britt from Trotwood Madison was scheduled to visit Pitt this weekend but that visit has been cancelled. It appears for the time being Pitt has stopped recruiting Britt.
We also have a report that Central Catholic’s Andrew Taglianetti might visit Pitt this weekend. As reported earlier he has a “greyshirt” offer from Pitt.
The coaching staff has been recruited a number of players that appear to have academic issues. You never know when one of these guys might qualify late.They could also come into the picture if another scholarship opens up. As reported earlier this week Harrisburg linebacker Adrian Robinson falls into this category. Floridians Robert Sands and Roosevelt Maggitt might too.
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.
Search for Defensive Coordinators
Big East basketball attendance
Earlier this week the Big East Conference put out their weekly press release and it indicated that the Big East Conference is averaging 10,003 per game. These figures should drift upwards slightly now that we are in conference play, football is over and students are back in school.
Here are the average attendance figures for the top half of the conference:
1) Syracuse - 19,549
2) Louisville - 19,314
3) Marquette - 15,137
4) Georgetown - 12,140
5) UConn - 10,902
6) Pitt - 10,329
7) West Virginia - 9,601
8) Notre Dame - 8,915
Some Hoops talk
The Panthers are 16-3 after handling St. John’s was surprising ease at Madison Square Garden. They are 5-2 since the meltdown at Dayton. In both losses Pitt had a chance to tie or win at the end with plenty of time left of the clock but failed to get a shot off. Sam Young remarked after the Cincinnati loss they should have gotten a shot off and he was right. This is one of those situations where they really miss Levance Fields. Ronald Ramon has done a great job of directing the Panthers attack since the injury to Fields but is at his best when he has the entire shot clock to work with.
Pitt has seven home games left starting with Rutgers on Saturday. Pitt should easily make it into the NCAA tournament if they hold home court service the rest of the way. Stealing a couple of wins on the road would improve their seed. Pitt is currently ranked No. 8 in the RPI rankings. If Pitt wins their share and Duke and Georgetown keep winning Pitt’s RPI ranking should look good come selection time.
Just how far Pitt goes this year will depend on how far the four freshmen progress. Any game where Pitt can pick up a win and get these four some game experience it is a very good night. Keeping DeJuan Blair out of foul trouble will also be a key. He gives them someone you must defend inside even if he does not putting up big numbers in the box score.
Agnus Berenato has the women’s team 14-3 and ranked No. 19 in the country in the AP poll. This is the highest ranking the women’s team has ever enjoyed. Actually it ties a record set back in 1979 but you get the idea. The women’s team is ranked No. 14 in the RPI rankings so they are also well positioned for another NCAA tournament bid.
Sunday is Pack the Pete Day. The Pitt women will play Louisville at 2:00 PM. Tickets are just $1. If you are looking for something to do you might want to take the family or a friend.
Pitt commits Travon Woodall and Nasir Robinson are both playing for nationally-ranked teams. St. Anthony’s has six Division 1 players and is ranked No. 1 in the country. Chester also has players other than Robinson and is No. 6 in the country. They both are playing basketball in systems that are team oriented so they should be good fits at Pitt.
St Anthony’s (13-0) plays Christian Brothers Academy on Saturday in a game played at St Benedict’s. Coach Hurley’s son coaches St Benedict’s which explains why this game is being held on this floor. The father and son, however, try not to schedule each other if possible.
Chester (17-1) plays at Academy Park (Sharon Hill) tonight (Friday).
It is very possible Chester could win a state champion is Pennsylvania this year while St Anthony’s grabs one in New Jersey.
he Future Football Schedules
Chris Peak has updated the Pitt Future Schedule which you can find under Quick Links. The University of Buffalo announced this week that they had entered into a four-game home and home series with Pitt. One source was quick to point out this was a deal done by Jeff Long before he went to call hogs in Arkansas. Some at Pitt are skeptical that all four games will ever be played. Remember Central Florida bought itself out of a deal with Pitt.
Buffalo decided to upgrade their football program a few years back in order to join the MAC. Big East teams scrambled to play them. Rutgers, Syracuse and UConn all quickly scheduled games before Pitt could get to them. The Mid American Conference now has a global deal with the Big Ten. They are in high demand and they often drive hard bargains these days.
Pitt plays Notre Dame for the next eight years. They also have games with Iowa, NC State and Miami, Virginia Tech. Our sources say don’t expect any other games with schools from BCS conferences to be scheduled until 2014.
Last year Ohio State played for the national championship scheduling Akron, Youngstown State, Kent State and Washington. The Huskies had an off year and went 4-9. Penn State played Florida International, Buffalo, Temple and Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish had a down year and went 3-9. Each scheduled three cream puffs and one game they thought would be competitive.
The ideal Pitt schedule would be to have non-conference games with Penn State and Notre Dame and three games with the Little Sisters of the Poor. Until they can work out a deal with Penn state the ACC games will have to do.
You far more likely to see games scheduled with the MAC, Conference USA, the Sunbelt Belt Conference or a Division 1AA team that you are to see LSU pop up on the schedule.
The mega trend is college football is not to load up with a pile of tough non-conference games.
We would all like to see a blockbuster game every weekend (and so would I). The reality is you have to build your program up so fans come to see your team and not the other team. The emphasis around the country is on conference games. It is how you earn a BCS berth.
Filling coaching positions
Coach Wannstedt has filled two coaching slots so far. He hired Tony Wise coach as his offensive line coach. He has 19 years of coaching experience in the NFL. He has also coached under Coach Wannstedt so many times I have lost count.
He also promoted graduate assistant Jeff Hafley. Some of you may recall Chris Peak’s article on him last summer. Coach Hafley literally lives at the UPMC complex during the season. He sleeps on a cot and changes and showers at the practice center. He often left only once a week to pick up and new set of clothes.
So he has chosen one veteran coach and one hard-working, aggressive young coach. On the surface it looks like a good blend.
There are rumors the Gateway coach Terry Smith is being considered for the wide receiver slot. You may have read his brother, Harvey, has been hired to be the head coach at Kiski Area. He has been working as an assistant at Gateway. I do not have a clue where this stands but it does generate some interest on my part in that it might help you recruit two of the top juniors in LB Dorian Bell and WR Corey Brown.
The other position still open is the defensive coordinator job. No new names have surface so you best referring to Chris Peak’s article on the subject. I have provided a link below.
Recruiting roundup
The recruitment of A.J. Alexander took another strange twist when he decommitted early this week. The lure of speed sure is seductive. Alexander reminds me of a track guy trying to find the perfect situation so he has a shot at playing football. I could make the same statement about wide receiver D.J. Woods who decommitted from West Virginia and then committed to Cincinnati. They appear to be the same guy. Both of these kids can run. It will be interesting to see if they can play major college football.
As reported yesterday Chris LaSalla is scheduled to visit Vaughn Carraway today. If the Pitt coaching staff feels they have a scholarship to give he will be a Panther. If not I expect him to commit to Temple this weekend. If your last name is not Pryor you have to be careful about waiting too long.
You are allowed to have seven coaches on the road recruiting. The NCAA has permitted Pitt to send Chris LaSalla, Bob Junko and Mike Antonoplos out recruiting until the new coaches are on board.
Yesterday we spoke to West Virginia commit wide receiver J.D. Woods two weeks ago he visited Pitt and loved it. Last week he visited Vanderbilt and said it was only OK. Woods said he was still committed to West Virginia but later said Pitt assistant Charlie Partridge was trying to get a hold on him and he was going to call him back. He could be a backup plan if they do land Carraway. Woods is out of Naples, Florida.
For some time I have thought if Terrelle Pryor was ever going to visit Pitt or Penn State this is the weekend he was likely to do it. Jeannette plays Aliquippa in basketball Sunday evening at Duquesne’s Palumbo Center so he is not likely to stray far from home. There is a report on the Ticker that he will visit Oregon this weekend. I am very skeptical about that report.
Pryor is scheduled to meet with the Pitt coaches this weekend but no one on the Southside knows if he will really show up. We will just have to wait and see.
Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State have one thing in common. They do not have a commitment from a quarterback as all three chase Pryor. Pitt has commitments from three (3) quarterbacks. The staff might be best advised to spend more time on Zack Stoudt and Tino Sunserithan they do on Pryor.
Quarterback Dominick Britt from Trotwood Madison was scheduled to visit Pitt this weekend but that visit has been cancelled. It appears for the time being Pitt has stopped recruiting Britt.
We also have a report that Central Catholic’s Andrew Taglianetti might visit Pitt this weekend. As reported earlier he has a “greyshirt” offer from Pitt.
The coaching staff has been recruited a number of players that appear to have academic issues. You never know when one of these guys might qualify late.They could also come into the picture if another scholarship opens up. As reported earlier this week Harrisburg linebacker Adrian Robinson falls into this category. Floridians Robert Sands and Roosevelt Maggitt might too.
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.
Search for Defensive Coordinators
