Whirly's Thoughts..

[whirlybird optio]

That was bad. Not just losing to Montana, but the morgue like atmosphere, broken only by heckling of Stallings. You had sections in the lower level with less than 20 people in them. At one point, I swear a call was put out to football players, other athletes to get over to the game, because a bunch showed up like 10 minutes into the game.

I guess the most depressing part of the game is I'm not even mad, or think anyone played particularly bad. I think Carr and JWF regressed some, Stevenson had a better game, Luther played hard, but that's about it.

A sobering thought is that I think we are currently playing players who Montana wouldn't even recruit. If you took the names off of the jerseys, you wouldn't be grabbing Pitt players if your life depended on it.

Also..we won't REALLY know how good these guys are until we start playing some real competition. Stevenson and Carr certainly look like pieces, but are they pieces marginally better than Patriot and Big Sky competition, or legit ACC pieces. I really don't know. I know that without question we have 7-8 guys who are in no way anything close to ACC level. Carr, JWF, Stevenson are certainly closer, but I just don't know. We'll know more after next week...I expect PSU to be like a 14-16 point favorite, and then OK St is pretty bad, but we'll see.

As someone who was at the Navy game, I'll just say that Lyke looked genuinely concerned about this team, and I really don't put anything past her in terms of the future of this program. When the zoo bails during ACC play, we'll see where KS really stands.

H2P

 

[balboa10]

That was bad. Not just losing to Montana, but the morgue like atmosphere, broken only by heckling of Stallings. You had sections in the lower level with less than 20 people in them. At one point, I swear a call was put out to football players, other athletes to get over to the game, because a bunch showed up like 10 minutes into the game.

I guess the most depressing part of the game is I'm not even mad, or think anyone played particularly bad. I think Carr and JWF regressed some, Stevenson had a better game, Luther played hard, but that's about it.

A sobering thought is that I think we are currently playing players who Montana wouldn't even recruit. If you took the names off of the jerseys, you wouldn't be grabbing Pitt players if your life depended on it.

Also..we won't REALLY know how good these guys are until we start playing some real competition. Stevenson and Carr certainly look like pieces, but are they pieces marginally better than Patriot and Big Sky competition, or legit ACC pieces. I really don't know. I know that without question we have 7-8 guys who are in no way anything close to ACC level. Carr, JWF, Stevenson are certainly closer, but I just don't know. We'll know more after next week...I expect PSU to be like a 14-16 point favorite, and then OK St is pretty bad, but we'll see.

As someone who was at the Navy game, I'll just say that Lyke looked genuinely concerned about this team, and I really don't put anything past her in terms of the future of this program. When the zoo bails during ACC play, we'll see where KS really stands.

H2P

Stallings buyout is high. Barnes did a job on us. I think stallings is here at least another year after this. We did not have better talent than Montana our big guys are going to get embarrassed in acc play

 

[prez41]

Stallings buyout is high. Barnes did a job on us. I think stallings is here at least another year after this. We did not have better talent than Montana our big guys are going to get embarrassed in acc play

The decision Lyke has is to determine whether the buyout is less costly than the amount of revenue that will be lost from lost ticket sales, donations, etc. with Stallings as coach. She is in a tough spot.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Carr and Stevenson are legit ACC bench players on a good team. However, they are freshmen which means that good upperclassmen from mid-majors are as good or better. Montana and Navy had better players than we did but that isn't surprising given our youth. I remain encouraged that we are playing hard and not getting blown out despite not having a true low post player.

 

[vegasgreed]

Everything does not fall on Barnes for that contract. Pitt themselves, the management signed off on that contract.

Stallings buyout is high. Barnes did a job on us. I think stallings is here at least another year after this. We did not have better talent than Montana our big guys are going to get embarrassed in acc play

 

[Haydman]

The decision Lyke has is to determine whether the buyout is less costly than the amount of revenue that will be lost from lost ticket sales, donations, etc. with Stallings as coach. She is in a tough spot.

Exactly right. She's going to have to figure out where's the tipping point. Do you ride out an empty Pete, with no ticket sales and complete apathy by the fan base just to save $$ on the contract? Not to mention that even though we don't have the strongest donor base it's not going to be easy to attract new dollars while losing to the Montana's of the world.

 

[Saboteur]

Exactly right. She's going to have to figure out where's the tipping point. Do you ride out an empty Pete, with no ticket sales and complete apathy by the fan base just to save $$ on the contract? Not to mention that even though we don't have the strongest donor base it's not going to be easy to attract new dollars while losing to the Montana's of the world.

She will let the season play out and after the season she will make a decision based on the progress or lack of it.
Two games in and the prospects are bleak.
I feel for the players and for their sake, hope they improve because whatever they do, they still wear Pitt and they still play hard.
I'm not going to comment on talent level. It is obvious to me as I watched from a computer screen in Columbus.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

The decision Lyke has is to determine whether the buyout is less costly than the amount of revenue that will be lost from lost ticket sales, donations, etc. with Stallings as coach. She is in a tough spot.

This is what she's getting paid for!
The great ones make great decisions so lets see how Lyke handles this one!
My prediction= Stalling is at Pitt until he decides to leave or maybe in year 4 or 5 of his contract when Pitt is able to find enough loose change on the ground to pay for his buyout!

He didnt get here by accident! The Pitt admin., Pitt legal, Pitt athletics signed off on the hiring of Stallings.
What noone in those groups has access to Google or Bing to run a search on the Stallings?

 

[Pav9870]

Where is the infamous trucking magnate who wanted such a big say in the basketball program? Wonder what his thoughts are now that we have a coach stressing offense? Not a whole lot of time being wasted on defense or rebounding right now. Can't see these guys getting through one of the infamous rebounding drills that reduced some guys to tears. I"d say Pitt needs to show that backer how he can really help the program with a buyout.

 

[Fsgolfdr]

Those calling for HL to make the decision to replace KS because they’re losing revenue from an empty Pete are assuming that then they would step up and hire a coach that would bring back the fans are delusional . No such coach is coming into this situation without a mind boggling contract . Anyone seeing that happening !

 

[Pittfan85]

Those calling for HL to make the decision to replace KS because they’re losing revenue from an empty Pete are assuming that then would step up and hire a coach that would bring back the fans are delusional . No such coach is coming into this situation without a mind boggling contract . Anyone seeing that happening !

I have a question...are you related to stallings?

 

[levance2]

I have a question...are you related to stallings?

He just enjoys being a contrarian.

 

[bobfree]

IF Stallings had any integrity he would pull a Gary Andersen move.

 

[PantherO]

Well, KS will be here for the year at the very least. I guess buckle up cause it is going to get really ugly when the big boys are here. And you can guarantee if WVU can beat us by 60 or more, they will.