From the desk of Jim Snyder
Marc Boehm leaves his mark
When Steve Pederson left Pitt to take the athletic director jobs at Nebraska Mark Boehm was appointed interim athletic director at Pitt. Several months later Boehm followed Steve Pederson to Nebraska where today he holds the title of Executive Associate Athletic Director.
Boehm served as interim athletic director at Pittsburgh for nearly five months before going to Nebraska. During that time, he hired Jamie Dixon, Agnus Berenato and soccer (Sue-Moy Chin) as head coaches for the Panther programs.
Despite the fact that Mark was on the job a short time his legacy casts a long shadow. Coach Dixon has now taken the men’s team to the NCAA tournament four years in a row. No other Pitt basketball coach in the history of the program can make that claim. Coach Dixon has also taken Pitt to the Big East tournament finals 3 out of 4 years. The Pitt basketball program has won105 games the past four years. This ties Coach Dixon with Gonzaga’s Mark Few for the second most wins ever in college basketball to start a coaching career. The record is 107 victories, set by Everett Case at North Carolina State from 1947-1950.
Agnus Berenato directed the Pitt’s women’s team to a 24-9 record and the first NCAA berth in the school’s history. Pitt will have most of its players back next year and will add several promising newcomers. Coach Berenato seems to have the women’s program on the right path.
Comings and goings
This week UConn announced that freshman Ben Eaves is leaving their program. St. John’s announced Ricky Torres and Avery Patterson will be transferring. Many others around the country will do the same looking for more playing time. Pitt has been very fortunate in recent years. They have kept most of their players and they have won with experienced fourth and sometimes fifth year players. Pitt may be a little vulnerable right now. Many of the players currently in the program were recruited by Barry Rohrssen and Joe Lombardi who are no longer at Pitt. Assistants are usually a player’s confidant. There are grumblings that several players are talking about transferring. With the exception of Levance Fields and Austin Wallace virtually ever player scheduled to return next year has been rumored to be thinking of transferring. Hopefully now that the season is over hopefully calmer heads will prevail and the prospects of increased playing time next year will calm this group.
Football recruits watching practice
We are in a Quiet Period right now but coaches can talk to prospects that are on campus. Some 2008 recruits spotted at Pitt practice in the first few days include.
Andrew Sweat LB Trinity HS
Mark Yancich LB Trinity HS
David Posluszny LB Hopewell
Ryan Turnley OL Hopewell
Lucas Nix OL Thomas Jefferson
Zac Dysert QB Ada, Ohio
Tino Sunseri QB Central Catholic
Quinten Williams TE Central Catholic
Tyrone Ezell-DT Steel Valley (sophomore)
Some of the incoming freshmen have also stopped by. This list includes:
Myles Caragein DL Keystone Oaks
Chris Jacobson OL Keystone Oaks
Mo Williams WR Erie Strong Vincent
Dan Matha Erie McDowell
Dom DeCicco BD Thomas Jefferson
Aundre Wright WR Perry/Milford Academy
Depth charts are a work in progress
We have updated the depth charts to show the players that are currently practicing. Keep in mind that several players have been out with injuries and some are limited as to what they can do as they recover. This list would include John Malecki, Mick Williams, Jameel Brady and Irvan Brown. In addition Elijah Fields has been suspended. Some in this group might be on the two-deep if they were available. In addition Pitt has a couple of dozen incoming freshman that will not be available until this summer so this list will change but it does give you an idea of some of the battles going on during spring practices sessions. Please see one of the links to the Depth Chart. You will find a link under Football in the blue boarder.
Four consecutive NCAA appearances
The Pitt basketball season is over. Seniors Aaron Gray, Levon Kendall, Antonio Graves and Doyle Hudson took this group about as far as they are capable. I thought they had a chance of upsetting UCLA but the Bruins make 23 of 26 shots from the free throw line. One of the worst free throw shooting teams in Division 1 hits 88.5% of their shots from the charity stripe. This happened to Pitt several times this year.
Pitt struggled often on offense over the last dozen games. They were up and down during this period. The formula followed a familiar pattern. Extend the Pitt guards as far as you can gambling they are not quick enough to beat you off the dribble. Teams then often double teamed Aaron Gray and dared the forwards to beat them.
Last night Levon Kendal, Mike Cook and Sam Young made only 6 of 23 shots for 26.1%. Layups were missed that were down right demoralizing. Young buried two jumpers only to see them hop out. Offensively this group had a tough night.
The four seniors will all leave Pitt with their degrees. No player in this group was a highly-ranked prospect nor a highly-recruited player. At the end of the day they deserve an atta boy for keeping a winning program on track.
Pitt seems to have a number of promising recruits in the pipeline although next year could be a transitional year until they gain some experience. Brad Wanamaker, Nasir Robinson DeJuan Blair and Darnell Dodson all had big years for the high school teams. I have also been impressed with junior point guard Travon Woodall. The three guards in this group all look quicker than anyone on the Pitt roster.
Once some time passes I think most will look at this team and say they went about as far as they could have reasonably been expected to go. There are a lot of schools that would like to have gone 29-8. The tournament nature of basketball means only the NCAA and NIT winners leave on an up note. The others finish the season with a loss.
We will have some photos today from last night’s basketball game and from spring football practice.
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.
Marc Boehm leaves his mark
When Steve Pederson left Pitt to take the athletic director jobs at Nebraska Mark Boehm was appointed interim athletic director at Pitt. Several months later Boehm followed Steve Pederson to Nebraska where today he holds the title of Executive Associate Athletic Director.
Boehm served as interim athletic director at Pittsburgh for nearly five months before going to Nebraska. During that time, he hired Jamie Dixon, Agnus Berenato and soccer (Sue-Moy Chin) as head coaches for the Panther programs.
Despite the fact that Mark was on the job a short time his legacy casts a long shadow. Coach Dixon has now taken the men’s team to the NCAA tournament four years in a row. No other Pitt basketball coach in the history of the program can make that claim. Coach Dixon has also taken Pitt to the Big East tournament finals 3 out of 4 years. The Pitt basketball program has won105 games the past four years. This ties Coach Dixon with Gonzaga’s Mark Few for the second most wins ever in college basketball to start a coaching career. The record is 107 victories, set by Everett Case at North Carolina State from 1947-1950.
Agnus Berenato directed the Pitt’s women’s team to a 24-9 record and the first NCAA berth in the school’s history. Pitt will have most of its players back next year and will add several promising newcomers. Coach Berenato seems to have the women’s program on the right path.
Comings and goings
This week UConn announced that freshman Ben Eaves is leaving their program. St. John’s announced Ricky Torres and Avery Patterson will be transferring. Many others around the country will do the same looking for more playing time. Pitt has been very fortunate in recent years. They have kept most of their players and they have won with experienced fourth and sometimes fifth year players. Pitt may be a little vulnerable right now. Many of the players currently in the program were recruited by Barry Rohrssen and Joe Lombardi who are no longer at Pitt. Assistants are usually a player’s confidant. There are grumblings that several players are talking about transferring. With the exception of Levance Fields and Austin Wallace virtually ever player scheduled to return next year has been rumored to be thinking of transferring. Hopefully now that the season is over hopefully calmer heads will prevail and the prospects of increased playing time next year will calm this group.
Football recruits watching practice
We are in a Quiet Period right now but coaches can talk to prospects that are on campus. Some 2008 recruits spotted at Pitt practice in the first few days include.
Andrew Sweat LB Trinity HS
Mark Yancich LB Trinity HS
David Posluszny LB Hopewell
Ryan Turnley OL Hopewell
Lucas Nix OL Thomas Jefferson
Zac Dysert QB Ada, Ohio
Tino Sunseri QB Central Catholic
Quinten Williams TE Central Catholic
Tyrone Ezell-DT Steel Valley (sophomore)
Some of the incoming freshmen have also stopped by. This list includes:
Myles Caragein DL Keystone Oaks
Chris Jacobson OL Keystone Oaks
Mo Williams WR Erie Strong Vincent
Dan Matha Erie McDowell
Dom DeCicco BD Thomas Jefferson
Aundre Wright WR Perry/Milford Academy
Depth charts are a work in progress
We have updated the depth charts to show the players that are currently practicing. Keep in mind that several players have been out with injuries and some are limited as to what they can do as they recover. This list would include John Malecki, Mick Williams, Jameel Brady and Irvan Brown. In addition Elijah Fields has been suspended. Some in this group might be on the two-deep if they were available. In addition Pitt has a couple of dozen incoming freshman that will not be available until this summer so this list will change but it does give you an idea of some of the battles going on during spring practices sessions. Please see one of the links to the Depth Chart. You will find a link under Football in the blue boarder.
Four consecutive NCAA appearances
The Pitt basketball season is over. Seniors Aaron Gray, Levon Kendall, Antonio Graves and Doyle Hudson took this group about as far as they are capable. I thought they had a chance of upsetting UCLA but the Bruins make 23 of 26 shots from the free throw line. One of the worst free throw shooting teams in Division 1 hits 88.5% of their shots from the charity stripe. This happened to Pitt several times this year.
Pitt struggled often on offense over the last dozen games. They were up and down during this period. The formula followed a familiar pattern. Extend the Pitt guards as far as you can gambling they are not quick enough to beat you off the dribble. Teams then often double teamed Aaron Gray and dared the forwards to beat them.
Last night Levon Kendal, Mike Cook and Sam Young made only 6 of 23 shots for 26.1%. Layups were missed that were down right demoralizing. Young buried two jumpers only to see them hop out. Offensively this group had a tough night.
The four seniors will all leave Pitt with their degrees. No player in this group was a highly-ranked prospect nor a highly-recruited player. At the end of the day they deserve an atta boy for keeping a winning program on track.
Pitt seems to have a number of promising recruits in the pipeline although next year could be a transitional year until they gain some experience. Brad Wanamaker, Nasir Robinson DeJuan Blair and Darnell Dodson all had big years for the high school teams. I have also been impressed with junior point guard Travon Woodall. The three guards in this group all look quicker than anyone on the Pitt roster.
Once some time passes I think most will look at this team and say they went about as far as they could have reasonably been expected to go. There are a lot of schools that would like to have gone 29-8. The tournament nature of basketball means only the NCAA and NIT winners leave on an up note. The others finish the season with a loss.
We will have some photos today from last night’s basketball game and from spring football practice.
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.
