Worth watching: MSU LB Jon Reschke seeking grad transfer...

[thebadby2]

Talented, tough, highly rated LB from a top HS program who was a starter from his RS soph year on, but has been injury plagued. Played and started for Narduzzi and potentially has 2 years of eligibility left. Knows the Doozi defense inside out. Far better player than any of the 3 guys who started at LB for us last year. Here's the problem-rumor has it he apparently made a racist remark to a teammate that caused a lot of locker room dissension, and he was about to be kicked off the MSU team.

Would Narduzzi take a chance on him knowing that could be an unpopular move with his players? The kid would be plug and play and an instant LB upgrade at Pitt, but if the rumors are true, and they most certainly m are as Reschke has publicly apologized for his comment without being specific--, is it worth the risk of potentially disrupting Pitt team chemistry, which is probably the best it's ever been? Would it be possible for our players to look past his transgression and give him a chance to be a good teammate? I'm not sure about the answer to either question.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

http://on.freep.com/2mgbVgO

 

[vikings1980]

Leave it up to the players.

 

[Las Panteras]

There is opportunity here if Narduzzi plays it right.

To me, something like this can be a real teaching moment. Address the team......tell the story........talk about this not as players but as men. Imperfection, forgiveness....a second chance......etc....

If kids are listening to PN, this may be a chance to even further solidify the team and accept this kid as one of their brothers.

 

[Piranha]

PN would know the kid better than anyone else.

 

[ksquared33]

Once again we cannot help ourselves w/ wanting any player who becomes available.....I get a kick out of the immediate desire for Pitt to be the destination for any kid who goes on the market.
Can we just let 1 player slide by w/o having to go ball's to the wall trying to come up w/ a scenario why he needs to be at Pitt & why Pitt needs to have him.
I know nothing about this young man other than he became available over something he said or did that did not go over very well at his last school(which just happens to be MSU).
Just maybe our Staff is happy w/ the young talent we have in the program just waiting for their opportunity.

H2 PITT !!!

 

[pittgoat]

I feel like we have some good young talent at LB. Pugh, Brightwell, McKee, Pine plus the incoming freshmen. Zeise, Oduwu, and Wirginis should be solid veterans. Why rock the boat? Especially if the dude is a racist.

 

[PhPanther1]

Once again we cannot help ourselves w/ wanting any player who becomes available.....I get a kick out of the immediate desire for Pitt to be the destination for any kid who goes on the market.
Can we just let 1 player slide by w/o having to go ball's to the wall trying to come up w/ a scenario why he needs to be at Pitt & why Pitt needs to have him.
I know nothing about this young man other than he became available over something he said or did that did not go over very well at his last school(which just happens to be MSU).
Just maybe our Staff is happy w/ the young talent we have in the program just waiting for their opportunity.

H2 PITT !!!

I agree with you, but not in this case. If this kid said something so "bad" that Dantonio and player both agreed it would be best if they went their separate ways.....do you really think another coach who doesn't have a relationship with him will give him a shot?

He apparently wants to continue to play D1 if he's gonna stick around and finish his classwork, if not he could leave now and go play D2. Not saying Narduzzi takes or even wants him, but I think Pitt is one of the FEW places this kid will be able to find a home for next year.

 

[PhPanther1]

I feel like we have some good young talent at LB. Pugh, Brightwell, McKee, Pine plus the incoming freshmen. Zeise, Oduwu, and Wirginis should be solid veterans. Why rock the boat? Especially if the dude is a racist.

Doesn't mean he's a racist. Often times in the heat of the moment when in an argument, people tend to strike below the belt with the intent to injure with words. I've seen it for 35 years with my parents...doesn't mean they don't love each other.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

I feel like we have some good young talent at LB. Pugh, Brightwell, McKee, Pine plus the incoming freshmen. Zeise, Oduwu, and Wirginis should be solid veterans. Why rock the boat? Especially if the dude is a racist.

Racist term is used too much.. Switzer from NC the little fast white dude used the N word more than anyone I've heard.. the N word is used and heard more than I care or share.. especially when athletes are considered.

 

[thebadby2]

PN would know the kid better than anyone else.

Right-but if he's inclined to do it, he'd have to sell it to his players.

 

[MajorMajors]

Who do we have ready to back up Wirginis in the middle? If this kid is an inside backer, don't be surprised to see him turn up at Pitt. Coach Duzz has shown that he'll bring in transfers to improve the team...

Go Pitt.

 

[Swervin27]

If the staff feels ok with wirginis and Reynolds, then skip out out on the upper class men transfer and go hard to get 1 or 2 recruits. If you don't feel good at all about wirginis and Reynolds, you got to find someone who can play in September. If it's not one of these two, he's not on the roster.

 

[thebadby2]

Who do we have ready to back up Wirginis in the middle? If this kid is an inside backer, don't be surprised to see him turn up at Pitt. Coach Duzz has shown that he'll bring in transfers to improve the team...

Go Pitt.

Reschke can play all 3 spots and started every game of his RS Soph season at the Sam LB. We don't have a LB on this roster right now that would beat him out if he's healthy. The issue isn't whether he would improve our defense on the field-he would for sure-the issue is whether he would be a problem in the locker room. I don't know the answer to that. I also don't know what kind of kid he is except that he played for one of the best HS coaches and programs in the Midwest, and graduated from a top notch Catholic all-boys HS in a very affluent community. He had several African-American teammates at Brother Rice and played 3 years at MSU without any negatives until this.

Posts on a MSU board intimate that this was a problem between Reschke and one particular teammate that involved a girl.

FWIW

 

[New York Panther]

He was not a middle linebacker at MSU. He played one of the outside backer positions.

 

[H2P333]

I think Duze takes him and his captains welcome the guy. He can play and would be a starter first day. We need this guy and honestly he already apologized for the poor words. He paid his dues. Sign him and he's an All AmericAn under CPN.

 

[thebadby2]

Once again we cannot help ourselves w/ wanting any player who becomes available.....I get a kick out of the immediate desire for Pitt to be the destination for any kid who goes on the market.
Can we just let 1 player slide by w/o having to go ball's to the wall trying to come up w/ a scenario why he needs to be at Pitt & why Pitt needs to have him.
I know nothing about this young man other than he became available over something he said or did that did not go over very well at his last school(which just happens to be MSU).
Just maybe our Staff is happy w/ the young talent we have in the program just waiting for their opportunity.

H2 PITT !!!

The difference here is the potential grad transfer used to play for our head coach, who was also involved in recruiting him.

It would be a no-brainer and a natural fit for all involved if not for the issues raised in the OP. Of course, if not for those issues, Reschke would be starting at LB for MSU this fall.

It really will be interesting to see what happens with this kid, and where he ends up.

 

[thebadby2]

Once again we cannot help ourselves w/ wanting any player who becomes available.....I get a kick out of the immediate desire for Pitt to be the destination for any kid who goes on the market.
Can we just let 1 player slide by w/o having to go ball's to the wall trying to come up w/ a scenario why he needs to be at Pitt & why Pitt needs to have him.
I know nothing about this young man other than he became available over something he said or did that did not go over very well at his last school(which just happens to be MSU).
Just maybe our Staff is happy w/ the young talent we have in the program just waiting for their opportunity.

H2 PITT !!!

This staff has aggressively pursued grad transfers at positions of need from Day 1. That should tell you all you need to know about how confident and content they are with the current roster.

I will guarantee you that Narduzzi is very well aware of Reschke's situation, and I'd be surprised if they haven't already spoken. If you don't hear anything about Reschke considering Pitt, that means Narduzzi told him privately to look elsewhere.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

The situation has to be taken in context. Lots of racial slurs fly the other way ( black to white) and are totally ignored!
If the kid can play, wants to be at PITT, coach Narduzzi ok's it, remember he's the coach and in charge, he should play!
The team will adjust its a good life lesson since stuff like this will happen a lot once they leave the " safe space" of academic America and join the rest of us in the real world!

 

[TIGER-PAUL]

hmm, considering the circumstances...is he good enough to help?

 

[thebadby2]

hmm, considering the circumstances...is he good enough to help?

You're talking about a defense that started a walk-on, a D2 player, and a MAC player at LB. Reschke's got 3 years of reps and film study in our defense, was a highly productive starter for his entire soph season on a CFP playoff team, and was a starter last year until he suffered a season ending injury. As a secondary matter he was a more highly rated HS player than any LB on our roster. I've seen him play both in HS and at MSU. He's good, he has prototype size, and he can run. He played MLB his first two years and backed up an all-B10 MLB as a RS freshman. He can play all 3 LB spots in our D and would start immediately here. We are very young and thin at all LB spots. So yeah, he would help us-a lot.

But that isn't the issue.

 

[woodpecker1]

everybody deserves a second chance... who here doesn't live in a glass house.... I'm totally fine with it if the team is...
he's an impact player

 

[New York Panther]

You're talking about a defense that started a walk-on, a D2 player, and a MAC player at LB. Reschke's got 3 years of reps and film study in our defense, was a highly productive starter for his entire soph season on a CFP playoff team, and was a starter last year until he suffered a season ending injury. As a secondary matter he was a more highly rated HS player than any LB on our roster. I've seen him play both in HS and at MSU. He's good, he has prototype size, and he can run. He played MLB his first two years and backed up an all-B10 MLB as a RS freshman. He can play all 3 LB spots in our D and would start immediately here. We are very young and thin at all LB spots. So yeah, he would help us-a lot.

But that isn't the issue.

He played outside backer his sophomore and junior years. Riley Bullough was the middle linebacker both of these years. And, yes, he was a very good player.

 

[H2P333]

Hearing that he is down to two schools and we are one of them. CPN history helps a lot here

 

[thebadby2]

He played outside backer his sophomore and junior years. Riley Bullough was the middle linebacker both of these years. And, yes, he was a very good player.

Right. Redshirted as a freshman while working the whole year at MLB.

Backed up all B-10 MLB Taiwan Jones as a RS freshman. Saw action at MLB only that season.

Moved by the coaches to the Money spot in anticipation o Ed Davis coming back to MLB off his injury.

Can play all 3 LB spots in Duzzi's D, which is how Dooz likes to groom his backers.

He was recruited to MSU to play MLB, but Narduzzi's philosophy is to get his best 3 LBs i. The field at the same time.

 

[joeydavid]

Even if he's nothing more than a Mark Scarpinato level player for Pitt this is a no brainer. Pitt may have more talented LBers on the roster but not in their Jr or Sr class.

Very little downside if PN wants to add a player he thinks can help.

Talented, tough, highly rated LB from a top HS program who was a starter from his RS soph year on, but has been injury plagued. Played and started for Narduzzi and potentially has 2 years of eligibility left. Knows the Doozi defense inside out. Far better player than any of the 3 guys who started at LB for us last year. Here's the problem-rumor has it he apparently made a racist remark to a teammate that caused a lot of locker room dissension, and he was about to be kicked off the MSU team.

Would Narduzzi take a chance on him knowing that could be an unpopular move with his players? The kid would be plug and play and an instant LB upgrade at Pitt, but if the rumors are true, and they most certainly m are as Reschke has publicly apologized for his comment without being specific--, is it worth the risk of potentially disrupting Pitt team chemistry, which is probably the best it's ever been? Would it be possible for our players to look past his transgression and give him a chance to be a good teammate? I'm not sure about the answer to either question.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

http://on.freep.com/2mgbVgO

 

[sherepower]

Anyone envolved with competitive team sports. Especially football.

Whether its in high school or college. Understands there are always fights amoung teamates throughout their careers.

Most of the time it leads to verbal jabs on top of everything else. In most cases its held behind closed doors and when the heats off. Everyone then shakes hands and makes up after.

If this kid gets blackballed. There is a lot more to this story than what is being released.

 

[thebadby2]

Even if he's nothing more than a Mark Scarpinato level player for Pitt this is a no brainer. Pitt may have more talented LBers on the roster but not in their Jr or Sr class.

Very little downside if PN wants to add a player he thinks can help.

On paper we don't have a LB as talented as Reschke, period. He was a national top 150 player and top 10 national LB.

I mean, he started his entire RS soph season on a CFP team and got meaningful reps behind an all-B10 MLB as a RS freshman. He had two huge games to start the season last year before he went out for the season with a bad ankle injury. He was pencilled in as a starter for this season before he got himself in trouble. You think we have a LB that could,have done that on our roster? Hell, our young guys couldn't displace Caprara, Idowu or Galambos. That's not exactly the 1990 NY Giants LB core there.

Again, his talent and ability to help this team are not in question. He would have an impact on the field here if he's 100% healthy, no doubt about it. The question is whether bringing him in would create a locker room problem. If there's even a chance of that, we pass. Narduzzi knows the kid and he knows his team, and if he wants his former player, Reschke will be a Panther-and will start Day 1. If Doozi doesn't want him, it's because he believes it would create problems within the Pitt locker room.

 

[New York Panther]

Even if he's nothing more than a Mark Scarpinato level player for Pitt this is a no brainer. Pitt may have more talented LBers on the roster but not in their Jr or Sr class.

Very little downside if PN wants to add a player he thinks can help.

Scarpinato was a role player even when he was at MSU. Reschke was a two-year starter, and it would have been three years if he had remained at MSU next season.

 

[President Stache]

I know nothing about this young man other than he became available over something he said or did that did not go over very well at his last school(which just happens to be MSU).

H2 PITT !!!

I dont think you know that about him either. It was SPECULATED. What you DO know about him is that he was a very good player for a good defense. I really do not think Narduzzi would be recruiting him if he was a cancer 'in the clubhouse' so to speak. That being said I have no idea about him either except his stats and the fact we are interested in a guy that started for a big 10 team at a position we had severe weakness at.

In this age of grad transfers, I am all for it. It is not a slight on Pitt... Alabama does it too! Every team is and trying to. You get a semi-known commodity, and a mature player, even if only a year or two.

If we know for sure he is a 'racist' (which I disagree with other posters about that term being thrown around, and I lived in the south for a long time, and hardly EVER heard an N word thrown around), then we shouldnt recruit him, wouldnt be worth the disruption in the team for a year. But I highly doubt this is the case.

 

[thebadby2]

I dont think you know that about him either. It was SPECULATED. What you DO know about him is that he was a very good player for a good defense. I really do not think Narduzzi would be recruiting him if he was a cancer 'in the clubhouse' so to speak. That being said I have no idea about him either except his stats and the fact we are interested in a guy that started for a big 10 team at a position we had severe weakness at.

In this age of grad transfers, I am all for it. It is not a slight on Pitt... Alabama does it too! Every team is and trying to. You get a semi-known commodity, and a mature player, even if only a year or two.

If we know for sure he is a 'racist' (which I disagree with other posters about that term being thrown around, and I lived in the south for a long time, and hardly EVER heard an N word thrown around), then we shouldnt recruit him, wouldnt be worth the disruption in the team for a year. But I highly doubt this is the case.

But....

1. We don't know if Narduzzi is recruiting him to come to Pitt at this point--there is zero chatter about that out there;

2. This was not a "speculation" situation. Reschke issued a public apology to his coaches, teammates and MSU supporters that is pretty transparent and very consistent with the reports of the general nature of what happened and what was said.

I started this thread not because there is any actual info out there that Pitt and Reschke are considering each other, but to provoke some thought and discussion among posters, because I guarantee that Narduzzi and Reschke are very much on each other's radar screens right now, and I'd be surprised if they haven't spoken already. This is a very good, experienced player at a position of great need who just happens to have previously played for our head coach--so the mutual attraction would be obvious.

If we could bring him in without creating a locker room problem, we will do so. If there is any real risk to creating a problem in the locker room, we will not do so.

 

[Piranha]

In all honesty - the majority of the guys on our team probably do not know much about this situation. They do not hang out on Message Boards like us and do not look for stories. If they meet the guy and he is a good dude, then he will be welcomed.

 

[thebadby2]

In all honesty - the majority of the guys on our team probably do not know much about this situation. They do not hang out on Message Boards like us and do not look for stories. If they meet the guy and he is a good dude, then he will be welcomed.

Believe me, it's a smaller fraternity than you would think. Our guys and coaches probably already know the real deal. There are several WPIAL players on the MSU roster that would be personally familiar with the situation. Some of our players may even know Reschke personally, and our head coach has known him since he was a freshman in HS.

I'm rooting for it to happen as I think it would help next year's D a lot, but only if it would not cause any locker room issues.