It has been a while since I put up a blog and I have been
meaning to do it for a while. It has been difficult since the Pens are in the
playoffs, the Pirates are above .500 and I have one of those job things too
that keep getting in the way. Today it
is muggy outside and threatening rain, so I was just laying on the couch
watching the Buccos and the unthinkable is happening…Jose Tabata is 3 for 3 and
a triple shy of the cycle…and that inspired me to get off my ass. I mean if Tabata can do it once in a blue
moon…I can get on the computer and throw up a blog at the same rate! A lot has happened since my last blog with
Pitt football and to cover it all, we’re bringing back the Hynoskis…they are short
notes, that get the job done and move the ball forward…if you still don’t get it…then
why are you reading this? You are
supposed to be Pitt fans and should know who Henry Hynoski is!
·
Spring ball is over and there was
not a ton of movement up and down the starting ladder, but there also were
several players held out that will compete for time. I like where this team is at, and I believe
they are a better team than last year (except at running back). This does NOT mean they will have a better
record, as I strongly think there will be a slight adjustment period in the ACC
and overall the schedule is a lot tougher.
One thing to watch going into the season is when OT and true freshman
Dorian Johnson comes to campus. It looks
like he will have to beat out TJ Clemmings to get the nod. The big question is the o-line, but I think
when you take two starting tackles and move them inside, that aspect will be
better. That is what Pitt did with Matt
Rotheram and Cory King. It all depends on health and Dorian Johnson. I’m not really worried about Gabe Roberts or
Adam Bisnowaty, but I do think they could struggle right off the bat with a
fast Florida State defense.
·
There were several issues with this
team at the end of spring ball and immediately after and the one piece of good
news is that Pitt no longer has to think about getting down to 85 scholarships,
as they stand there right now. It
started with Terrell Jackson and Rushel Shell transferring. They were followed by Deaysean Rippy leaving
as well. No matter how you are trying to
fool yourself, Shell leaving will hurt.
He may not be the most mature person out there (see his twitter account
right after he left), but make no mistake…he’s a stud and would have
helped. Jackson and Rippy were fighting
for back up time and had some good players in front of them…especially Rippy. He was behind Anthony Gonzalez and Bam
Bradley…both of whom are expected to be exciting players.
·
Right now, if you are a math major…or
just can add and subtract, you are thinking we still have a couple of players
to go before getting down to 85 and you are right. The next issue could not have been
worse. You never want your favorite
college football program linked with a drug bust and that is what Pitt found
themselves with when Safety Eric Williams, Tight End Drew Carswell, & DL
K.K. Mosley-Smith were all given citations during a drug raid in Oakland. Since then, Williams and Carswell have been
kicked off the team and Mosley-Smith is suspended indefinitely. Many Pitt fans
are glad to see Carswell gone, but Pitt went from thin to supermodel thin at
his position and Williams was to compete for a starting safety spot. Hopefully Mosley-Smith will be back
soon. He’ll have to keep his head on
straight, as Paul Chryst has shown that this is HIS team and HIS rules.
·
Can we get some good news please? Yes…I’m glad you asked. Since Pitt and Syracuse (and later
Louisville) moved to the ACC, we have dealt with the whispers that Pitt simply moved
to what the Big East was 20 years ago and soon it would also see teams migrating
to other conferences. I won’t lie. I was
sweating that these were facts. I was
reading too much Clay Travis and believing what he was saying. Then…the gods smiled on the ACC. In addition to sticking to their $52 million exit fee, the conference also agreedto a Grant of Media Rights deal!
This is huge news. Basically,
what it means is that if an ACC team leaves, they must fork over the $52
million for the exit fee AND they would also owe the conference any dollars
they will receive for their NEW media deal in whatever conference they decide
is nicer and that goes all the way until 2027.
Sooooo, basically no one is going anywhere for a while. Since the new ACC media deal runs through
2026-2027, the league should remain in place as you see it now until at least
2025…unless they want to fork over LOADS of money. It also opens the door to an ACC Network,
which could bring Pitt approximately $5 million more per year.
·
Pitt did have a commitment
leave. Chandler Kincade decided to open
his recruitment back up. The Blackhawk
QB probably has heard whispers about AJ Ford and Keller Chryst (Paul’s nephew) and decided to look
around more. NOW…with the recent news of
freshman Tra’von Chapman being suspended…the two parties could reunite down the
line, as Pitt may look to bring in more than one QB and Kincade does still like
Pitt. He’s just looking out for himself
and in reading all the articles and interviews, he seems to be handling the situation
very well.
·
After Kincade left, Pitt picked up a
new commit and received a pledge from Offensive Lineman, Connor Hayes. Hayes is 6’4 and 270 pounds and has a mean
streak. He’ll fit right in. He is also only 16 years old, so those stats
will probably only climb. Many are happy
with this addition to the Pitt family, but there are also a lot of worries with
the lack of players committed to next year’s recruiting class. Now signing day isn’t until February of 2014,
but let’s not let rationalization get in the way…this is Pitt we are talking
about, so naturally we should all go crazy about this topic. From reports
though, Pitt’s fan base may back totally off the ledge very soon (OK, so maybe
not totally, it is the Pitt fan base after all). Big time prospect Mike Grimm (of Bethal Park)
has been spending a lot of time on the South Side facilities and was there
again this weekend. Also on the positive news front, LB prospect Chase Winovich
(of Thomas Jefferson) should be making his choice soon. He is down to Ohio State, Michigan, and Pitt,
but from the comments I have seen, Pitt looks to be in good shape. I won’t hold my breath…I remember Robert
Foster…but these two look good and would cause a lot of excitement if they decided
to say, “Pitt is It!”
That will do it for today.
I’ll try and keep up a little better, but I do tend to take a few weeks
off at a time until August when the team gets back to practicing.
