No way to prepare for Cincinnati

Pitt better be blitzing 30 plus times next week. Pitt secondary will have nightmares thinking about the trio of wr they have to stop led by Gilyard i said cincy 31-17, cincy could easily put 40 plus on pitt defense next week if pitt doesnt just all out blitz the whole game. Tonights win would have locked up a gator bowl bid with a loss to cincy. We might be going to the car care bowl after a loss to cincy next week. If pitt goes car care bowl with this talent Wanny has to go back on the hot seat.

Bob -

Tough loss...... A win at cinci will make us forget this, but this was very disappointing.

I have been a Stull supporter all year, but his game today was not average.  He was horible until that last drive.  His 2nd int gift wrapped 3 points for WVU and the 1st happened in FG range.  He couldn't hit the side of a barn most of the game.  This may had been an avg. game for him last year, but not for the standard we have become accustomed to watching him play at this season.

If he even had an average game (for his standards) we would have won.

I think that Pitt has had a great season win or lose against Cincinnati.  I'll be there with my family next week and hopefully Pitt and I can spend New Years in New Orleans rather than CHarlotte or St Petersburg.

The bottom lline is that Bill Stull was at the Sun Bowl once again.  He has heart, no doubt  - but unless the receiver is wide open on his first read - he can't make the throw.  His stats were exaggerated against the talent of the lesser talented teams.  The fifth year senior quarterback was overmatched and couldnt do what a freshman named Pat Bostick accomplished- namely beat WVU @ WVU.  

Lets go Pitt - Beat the Bearcats!

This was your typical Wannstedtian egg-lay.   With all the marbles up for grabs, Wannstedt leads (sic) a feeble, half-hearted, sickly effort and Pitt chokes away a very winnable game against a very, very medicocre opponent.

The culprits --

Billy Stull.    The guy looked like a freshman playing his FIRST ever NCAA game.    He was timid, gunshy and scattershot.   Utterly wretched.    One of the absolute worst QBing performances I've seen in, oh, about the last 8 years of college football.  

Dorin Dickerson.   A supposed finalist for the Mackey Award dropped TWO short, EASY passes right in his gut.   The only finalist he'll be now, is for some toilet bowl cleaning award.  

The Pitt Defense - an absolutely pitiful all around game.   Put aside the 1st 2 WVU series -- in which WVU comiited like FOUR penalties and shot themselves in the foot -- the Pitt defense was bamboozled and shoved around like a gradschool team the ENTIRE evening.  EVen when WVU didn't score, they were able to flip the field with LONG, methodical, 10 and 12 play marches.    I have no idea who this defense PREPARED to play against, but it certainly wasn't the WVU offense.   And on that last drive, with 2nd & 9 and 3d & 10, on BOTH times the defense just stood FLAT FOOTED, and over-rushed the qB, and allowed easy, long keepers by the QB.   Sickening, but after the NC ST. loss, no one should be surprised.  It was deja vu all over agian,with Wannstedt, Bennet, and Gatusso all standing ossified on the sideline, as dumfoounded as Laurel and Hardy.  

Cignetti.   For all the fawning and praising over this guy, has ANYONE ever  seen a more vanilla, mundane offensive game plan than this one???   After the 1st series, WVU started to RUN BLITZ on nearly EVERY down.   Where were the QUICK POP passes to the TE (Nate Byham, anyone)???   Screen passes to the RB??    REVERSES??    End arounds??   Quick outs ???   Quick slants ???   None to be found.  

Wannstedt.    Remember, he beat WVU the past 2 years when he had NOTHING to lose.   NOTHING AT ALL.  

We shouldn't have been surprised.    I for, was not.   This is classic, typical Wannstedt.  

(Steelva: I cut a lot of your comments. There's no place for that kind of meanspiritedness here or anywhere else.  Please do not repost them.  --- Bob Smizik

Bob,

please scrap those useless Bill Stull stats. Look at his erratic play, his inabililty to hit a 6'5" wide receiver being covered by smurfs. He has not had an outstanding season and he was exposed this evening for all to see.

Time to line Dion Lewis up in the backfield and take the snaps fulltime.

Chilco the "couch potato psychologist" told you this kid cracks under pressure and has got deep seated mental issues when the pressure is on.

What a fan and coaches nightmare!

STEELVA,

Your dead on. This was an utter failure all around. Cignetti showed nothing (I fear the coaches dread allowing Stull to do much more than hand off and throw lateral passes.)

The defense spent alot of time on the field and were most likely gassed.

If Pitt had some vision they'd hire the assistant coach out of U or FLA, give Dave a classy sendoff, and try to forget the name Bill Stull (gotta be careful....his parents may blog in here and this post could be deleted or picked up by the national media. Feeling's could be hurt and we don't wanna do that in Pittsburgh, whether it be baseball or football.)

all due respect ...I see tonight's game as having little effect on next week's game. In fact, I'm not so sure Cincy looked that much better at home against a weak Illini team. That is not to say that Pitt will beat Cincy next week ... but they can if they move the ball on the ground.

WVU looked a little more focused in a game that probably meant more to them.  Don't you just love it when a team loses a close game and all of a sudden the coach, the offensive coordinator and the QB are total frauds with no credit to the winning team who played an inspired game?

West Virginia wanted this game more than Pitt. Plain and simple. Winning rivalry games on the road is not an easy thing to do. Alabama (which by the way, runs a similar Pro Style offense that Pitt does) had it's hands full with Auburn today.

Yeah, Stull had a poor game but cut the guy some slack. The Panthers wouldn't be in a position to go to a BCS bowl if not for him. He was, after all, the 4th rated QB in the nation coming into this game so he has to be doing a lot of things right this year.

Let's not cry the sky is falling just yet. I think Pitt has an excellent chance of beating Cincinnati next weekend at home. Cincy will score some points but their D is softer than warm bread just out of the oven. If a 3-7 Illinois team can hang 30+ points on Cincy, I'm sure Pitt can. You can bet the farm that Wannstedt will have his players ready for next weekend's game.

Pathetic performance by the fourth rated passer in the country. Typical results for Pitt.

Enjoy 9 and 4 and beating a collection of stiffs including Notre Dame.

I am looking forward to not watching the fourth rated passer again after this season ends. I do not care what the stats say, and what scolding I get from Bob (assuming this post is not deleted ).

I truly wish Bill Stull well in the future. I am sure he is a fine young man, I just do not want to see him throw another football.

collegesportsfan  wrote re: No way to prepare for Cincinnati

on Sat, Nov 28 2009 12:05 AM

Don't you just love it when a team loses a close game and all of a sudden the coach, the offensive coordinator and the QB are total frauds with no credit to the winning team who played an inspired game?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Amen brother!

Have you watched the Pitt secondary play this year. They are god awful , pitt needs to blitz 30 plus times next week. Pitt secondary couldnt stop me from having a big game i'm in my 30 's. Cincy has major weapons everywhere at wr who does Pitt have to stop them at cb nothing. With a win tonight Pitt had the Gator bowl locked up but Wanny in a big game choked like he did in the Sun Bowl last year, Stull also choked in that game if i remember correctly. You just dont go 16 for 30 for 179 yards, 1 td 2 int vs. a suspect wvu secondary that if stull connected 2 or 3 times to baldwin who he underthrew 5 times tonight at least you would have won by 2 td's.

There's no doubt in my mind that Bill Stull will play for a professional football team next season.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders.

BuccoMke,  FWIW, Pitt played tonight without its best cover guy, Aaron Berry.  Regardless, Cincy may win next week but I'll guarantee Pike won't come close to 6 TDs.  I expect a competetive game.

@ Tom (the bomb)...With the way CFL teams throw the ball, no way Stull plays there....His stats have been over-inflated all yr playing lousy competiton....His arm strength is sad for a major Div-I QB....Baldwin could have had at least two td's tonight...Did you notice how frustrated Baldwin was all night?  Ive been saying all year that while he has stats that look nice, he is scared in the pocket (ever notice that whenever throws under pressure, he will pull his right shoulder into his body to protect himself just as hes released the ball)....Other than a good first drive against ND, he was poor, fumbling snaps, etc..

Now tonight, he wasnt the only culprit...The play calling was atrocious....Very vanilla as someone earlier said....Please don tell me Pitt was trying to not show Cincy much - hes a tip - Cincy has game film from the previous games so theres no reason to stay so basic....

Next week, Pitt's db's, even with Aaron Berry provided he plays, will struggle vs Pike and Co.....Cincy will blitz Stull - he has that deer in the headlights look down pat - he throws into coverage like you would expect from a true freshman - they will stack up in the box and make the QB beat them.....I love Pitt  - I hope like heck they win - but as long as Stull is under center, sadly, they wont beat a team that is equal to or better in talent than them.....

Bob,

Luckily I did not stay up to 0100 here to watch the game. After reading about it like the emperor Chaz Noll was quoted as saying "Son it's time to move on to your life work". It's time for Stull to move on. In big games he I won't say chokes but does not play well. They are not asking him to be Dan just manage the game. Hand off to one of the best running backs in the nation and keep the defenses honest by completing a few pass plays to your stud group of receivers! As Clint Eastwood would says" A man got to know his limitations". The coaching staff knows BS so they are limited on how they can use him. In a way I'm glad he got this bad game out of the way where it did less damage! Does Stull deserve all the blame of course not. There is enough blame to go around missed tackles and penalties will hurt any team! They also started to believe all the hype again and the last time that happened was at NC State. That is on the coaches team not prepared, and got caught looking ahead to the Cinci game! Bob like it or not the QB is held to a different standard and the thin skinned need not apply! I'm still predicting a Pitt win next week. They will have to control the ball run, run some more and take the ball out of BS hands! If he cane make a few plays without any turnovers they will be OK ! Now if they get behind and have to throw the ball around allot they are in trouble. Go Pitt!  

BOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Not a whole lot to add here. I agree with Bob. Stull had a bad game. As Steelva pointed out, he got no help from his roommate, Dorin Dickerson, last night.

Let's not forget that Pitt didn't lose to Woodland Hills last night. Losing to WVU is not the same as losing to NC State.

Let's hope it all works out next week vs. Cinci. Pitt could lose, obviously, but nothing from Pitt's or Cinci's performance yesterday changes my outlook on next week.

I encourage all Pitt fans to show some class and give Stull his due cheering when he is announced on Saturday as part of the Senior Day festivities. I don't think it makes me an apologist to say that he is worthy of our respect and has given us some good memories.

Bill Stull is a limited quarterback with a lot of heart, I think we all know that and Bob has written as much.  Yes, he was pretty bad most of the night, but you have to credit the kid with that last drive.  When Pitt absolutely needed that last drive for a TD, he delivered.  His strike to Baldwin was a dead on pass for the touchdown.  Sure, if he had played better during the rest of the game they might not have needed it, but, that does not take away from his performance on the last drive.

It is no secret that  this offense works best when Stull does not have to play from 3rd and 8 all night long.   The coach's have to put him in a position to be successful.   They did not even come close to doing that.  

Ever hear of play action fakes to  # 28 on 1st down?   Why keep slamming # 28 into the face of a run blitz which Pitt seemed determined to do most of the first 3 quarters.   IF you want a big pass play, you are more likely to get it on 1st and 10 with play action than on 3rd and 10 when everybody knows Bill Stull (or any QB) has to throw the ball.

Did Pitt have anything in the playbook other than hand off to # 28 and throw to # 82?   Was there nothing else that popped up in the 13 days of game planning that was available?  Was nobody else open?  Where was Dickerson all night long?  

At some point you have to think about slowing down that run blitz.  Screen pass?  Draw?  Play action pass on first down?

I did not expect Pitt to win that game. WVU had been seething about 2007 for the last 2 years.  There was no way Pitt was getting out of Morgantown with that game and truth is that while Pitt may be the better team, the talent level is not much different.    In the end it came down to WVU not just wanting that game more but NEEDING that game because of the haunting of Rich Rodriguez around that state.  In the end their kicker made his 40 yarder while Pitt's missed his.  

Hard to disagree with you #21

steelva:  I agree with all your comments except about the defense.  They played a good game against a team that had everthing  to win and little to lose by beating Pitt.  DeCicco missed that tackle on Devine which shouldn't happen but I was most disappointed by the winning drive.  I thought Pitt would definitely stop them but they couldn't - maybe  they were gassed but the time of possession was about even.

This is the type of game we're so used to with Wannstadt.  Until Pitt can win the vast majority of games they're supposed to, they'll never have the program they want or will fill that stadium regularly.  I don't like Pitt's chances against Cincy due to Pitt's pathetic pass coverage.  If Pitt doesn't score a lot - at least 35 points, I think they lose this game.  After last nights performance, I have little confidence in our quarterback or offensive coordinator in an important game.

If Pitt's offense plays to win - aggressive, throwing and running the football, but smart aggressive, then let the chips fall where they may.

I like Pitt's defense and I like the fact that they cancelled the off day today and are coming in for practice - they mean business.

I'll be at Heinz Field next Saturday and if Stull lays an egg like he did for most of the WV game (a lot of blame can be spread around to be sure), he'll be lustily booed in his final game.  He needs to fight for the win and be smart about it - my sense is he was tight in the WV game - that's on him and his coaches.

(Are you suggesting the offense did not ``throw and run'' the football.  It did both. Lewis ran for 150 yards.  When a team loses, it's easy to say they didn't play to win. How did they not play to win?

You, and many others, seem to think there's not another team on the field and that team can't affect how you play.

It was a close, hard-fought game. West Virginia played better. It happens. 

How is Stull being tight ``on the coaches?'' --  Bob Smizik)

To clarify, the defense was rather abysmal.    I have no earthly idea what game anyone was watching that says, "The defense played pretty good".   No, they did not.   Not even close.

Just examine, if you will, the final stats, as hideous as they are.

WVU   9 of 19 on 3rd downs.    NINE OF NINETEEN.    

QB - 19 of 31, ZERO int's.    

Rushing -- 205 (two HUNDRED five) yards rushing, including an 88-yard TD jaunt.    

TOP:  30:13.    

Here are the drives after those 1sts drive shoot-in-foot drives by WVU --

05:31 1 06:22 WVU 40 13 plays 49 yds, turnover on Downs

03:21 2 00:57 WVU 30 3 plays 5 Punt

01:03 2 00:59 WVU 40 10 plays, 37 Field Goal Good

13:15 3 03:57 WVU 26 10, plays  48 Field Goal Good

04:52 3 00:18 WVU 12 1 play, 88 Rushing Touchdown

01:36 3 01:46 WVU 36 3 plays,  8 Punt

11:13 4 01:08 WVU 39 5 plays 39 Field Goal Good

07:37 4 03:29 WVU 27 6 plays 13 Punt

02:54 4 02:54 WVU 32 10 plays 42 Field Goal Good

4 drives of 10+ plays given up by this supposedly vaunted defense, which had 13 (THIRTEEN) days to prepare for an opponent they face EVERY year.  

You take away the 2 self-induced bad drives to start the game by WVU, and you have about 90% of their drives which either scored or at least moved the chains, chewed the clock, and flipped the field.    An utterly pitiful defensive effort.    

When you play not to lose, rather than playing to win,  more often than not that mentality leads to a loss.    Odd, but very, very true.  

Wow, the expectations for this team are absurd when losing by 3 to WVU in their stadium is defined as a spectacularly pathetic performance by the offense, defense, the QB, the coaches, cheerleaders, and the bus driver that brought them to the slaughter. It goes to show what a fantastic job the Mustache has done-2 short years ago we had no chance to beat them.

It is hard to tell watching the game on TV, but were the Panthers playing with the handicap of only being allowed one legitimate receiver?

Hard as it is to think of the Backyard Brawl as a trap game that's exactly what last night's game was.  I believe had this game been played earlier or played without a bye week Pitt would have looked much better and would have won.  Additionally the players have had too much time to read all the positive press coverage on the web and in print. This team still has a chance to win 10 games for the first time since 1981. I don't think anyone was categorizing the 2009 Panthers as one of the best teams ever.  A win next week and a win in the bowl game would make this a season to remember.

Still peed off about Stull losing to WVU. I guess only Pat Bostick can win at Morgantown. Stull deserves to get booed if he doesnt play well against Cincinnati. Last game was a chance to see if Stull could win the big one he failed again like the Sun Bowl he was equally as bad. It's either BCS game or Car Care Bowl, i had a friend of mine who went to that game when Pitt played Virginia when they had a shot at bcs game and the season fell apart he said that Virginia fans felt sorry for the 200 people that showed up there at the car care bowl. We will have that type of crowd if pitt falls apart again and loses to Cincy and Wanny should be on the hot seat for next season BCS or you're fired.

Pitt's not beating Cincinnati next week. This team has fooled us this year by beating - in some fairly close games - seriously sub-par competition. They're being exposed now for what they really are, and it's not close to a top-10 team.

Cincinnati will win going away, Pitt will go to the Car Care Bowl, and Dave Wannstedt will continue to be one of the worst head coaches in the country.

"It is hard to tell watching the game on TV, but were the Panthers playing with the handicap of only being allowed one legitimate receiver?"

Quite correct.    And it comes down to COACHING.   It's not like Pitt is devoid of OTHER weapons in the passing game.   Turner is a senior and quite talented.   (Did he even play last nite??  I swear I never saw the guy.) Byham is an enormously talented, yet highly under-used, TE.   Shanahan is a very polished WR with huge size and terrific hands.   McGhee is a senior and is quick as a cat.    Yet Baldwin was the target ofabout 85% of every pass thrownthe occasional flip to Dickerson.      

Nice post, Bob.  I don't want to make drastic comments.  Like another poster said, it's not easy to walk into Morgantown on Senior Night and dominate the Backyard Brawl (we weren't playing Gateway last night).  With that said, I thought the offensive play calling was terrible.  Cignetti has been very good all seas.  He has found ways to utilize our playmakers and create matchup problems.  However, last night was very predictable playcalling.  Where were the quick hits to Bynam, the end-arounds to McGee (who had a nice game doing the little things), the screens, etc.  In my opinion the passing attempts were very low percentage plays.  Yes, DD dropped a few last night and that didn't help.  But WOW, Stull was so inaccurate as well.  He has far exceeded my (and probably most fans) expectations.  But I'm still very worried about his play going into next week.  The arm strength looked as bad as I've seen last night.  Could you imagine the passing game we saw last night going up against Alabama, Florida, Va Tech?  

Lastly, it just seemed like WVU wanted the game a little more.  It's hard for me to believe that WVU is a more physical team than the Panthers but it certaintly looked that way last night.  It just seemed like WVU gave just the slightest bit more of effort.

Walt Harris was right.

I think the most disappointing realization after last night's game is that we're just not that good.  Since when can Pitt allow a trap game.  We are fighting for national respect and trying to prove our ranking.  We can't have trap games.  Besides, it's the backyard brawl.  Come on!  WVU pushed around our D with long, sustained drives.  And when they did throw, our db's were 10-15 yards off the wr's.  Why??  Why run the ball into the line for 3 quarters on 1st down setting up 2 and 8 every series.  Just confusing.  This is stil a very talented team and I think with some adjustments we can beat Cincy next week.  But where we stand right now, we are in no way, shape or form a top 10 team.

I'm sorry Bob....but I don't know if you were at the game or not....because if you were I think you'd have a different perspective for those of us who say PITT PLAYED NOT TO LOSE RATHER THAN TO WIN!

(Please, enlighten me.  What examples can you offer to show that Pitt played not to lose, as opposed as to win?--  Bob Smizik)

Bob,

the played not to lose by:

- a 2 dimensional offense

- sitting 10 yards off of WVU's WR's

- Not utilizing other players (i.e., the western PA mentality and Midget Football philosophy of never giving another guy a chance to make a play. God forbid someone else shines and gets a chance!)

Cinci's coach spreads the ball around and utilizes his 2 solid QB's............ you'd never see that out of "vanilla-sky wannstedt."

Bob are you suffering from tryptophan overload and slept thru last night's comedy of error's???????????

(You are suffering from a common Western Pa. malady known as failing to understand there's another team on the field and that team is trying to win.  Six different players caught passes last night. it's true, Graham was used less than in the past but if he were used more, instead of Lewis, you would have criticized that.

I don't know what you mean by a two-dimensional offense. Like I said, six players caught passes. Yes, Baldwin dominated. He should.  If they had spread it around more, you would have charged them with not using Baldwin enough.

If the CBs were too far off the line, maybe that's why WVU had only 164 passing yards and only 5.1 yards per attempt.

What you can't seem to grasp is a lot of Pitt's shortcomings last night were not the result of its game plan but of West Virginia's game. -- Bob Smizik

Sorry, my verbose self inadvertently hit the 'add" button before I could finish.

WVU packed the box in the middle of the field ALL DAY!!! Sometimes it appeared with NINE guys. When a team does that and all your offense (an offense with as much talent sa probably any team in the country) can muster is one desperation play....you were not playing to win the game.

We hear all of this talk about how Cignetti has been the guy to use Pitt's weapons. Up until this game, I've agreed. But Baldwin should have had 200 receving yards in this game....the kid was one-one on an island with a DB....none of whom threaten to take Charles Woodson's job next year!

In fact, with this gameplan, I'm shocked Pitt was even in the game late. I know Lewis did get some yards....but that was in spite of the plan...imo.

I get the rivalry thing, there's another team and they have players, its been a great year, blah, blah, blah. I agree to an extent with all that. BUT....Pitt was VASTLY superior in talent to WVU and should have won this game EASILY.

I'm not off of the bandwagon and am loyal by far. But good coaches take what the other team gives them and makes it hurt. Pitt played right into WVU's hands....and decided to hope that the defense could make a few plays. And we see what happens....all it took was for Devine to get loose on one play....and a potential GREAT season drops down to VERY GOOD.

It again almost has the feel that Dave still thinks he is coaching in the NFL. LIke he still feels that 9 or 10 wins gets him into the playoffs. He still does not go for the kill-shots....the edge that elite college teams need.

I whined at you Bob about reflecting on the NC State loss. I'm sure that I'm in the minority here, but I actually think this loss was WORSE. Not that WVU isn't a much better team obviously than NC ST....but I thought that maybe Pitt learned a lesson from that loss.

This game showed me that they did not.

I think some of the bloggers are being too hard on Stull.  However, with the way he played throught the first ten games and the fact that he is a fifth year senior, it was a very disappointing performance last night.  I hope he bounces back against Cincy.  p.s. I think Pitt would have won if the defense could have held and sent the game into overtime.  Stull was finally finding some rhythm.

I read the post regarding 'slamming #28 into the line' on first down when it was obvious it was a run blitz and/or stacking the line.

I know this may seem as 'piling on' Stull, but I find it hard to believe that there isn't a package that he could use to audible if he recognized that defense.  Unless they were told to run the play as called, which would be even harder for me to believe.

Oh where oh where is Tom Yewcic when you need a capable back-up QB?

So Pitt hasn't beaten a ranked team and has lost to two unranked teams. Penn State hasn't beaten a ranked team but lost to two ranked teams. That was the constant knock against PSU in prior blog comments, but those are now the facts.

My how the tone here has changed...

Oh Lord, Bob ....... revenge is SO sweet!

Please excuse me while I try to wipe the grin off of the face of every West Virginian this morning!

.... and all of this during the same week that the President of Michigan University fails to confirm that Rodriguez is "Safe" in his job!

Oh Lord, Bob, .... revenge is SOOOOOOO  sweet!

Respectfully,

Roy Baker

Huntington, West Virginia

(With respect to you, Roy, this one doesn't come close to avenging what happened in 2007. -- Bob Smizik)

Okay Bob,

No argument here. WVU played hard and with heart, but once again the pair of Stull & Cignetti were abyssmal.

You can play devil's advocate all you want.

If I am a perspective Pitt recruit I watch this game and bolt in the other direction. I say to myself "so this is the Pitt coaching staff and this is how they run an offense?"

I go home have a slice of leftover turkey and feel great about my decision of not signing with this woeful Pitt Program.

And if I am Dion Lewis or Baldwin I bolt for the NFL as soon as I am eligible.

Pitt is "broken" again!

Louder_Is_Bestest's wrote:

"Dave Wannstedt will continue to be one of the worst head coaches in the country."

How much College Football do you watch? Obviously not alot... Your statement is very yinzer...Not to mention with little merit

Did you watch the LSU game last week? If DW did what Les Miles did, he would be run out of the state of PA.

Bob Stoops? He's one of the worse game day coaches in football. Two years ago he was slaughtered by WVU after Pitt beat them 13-9. It was clear he didn't watch any film of the Backyard Brawl or he wouldn't have looked so lost...He's also the same idiot that didn't make any adjustments during the Boise State game... He was completely out coached.

Jim Tressell? Everytime he plays a team that has just as much 5 star talent he does, he loses...

Pete Carroll?  He lost to a 4-8 Stanford Team two years ago. Three years ago all he had to do was beat a 5-6 UCLA team and he was going to the National Championship game... He lost 13-9

All the above coaches win most of their games because they have superior talent against their opponent. Carroll is the only one of the bunch that can make game day adjustments. But even he has lost to inferior competition..

The point is you can make a case for alot of coaches being the worse in College Football. You're obviously are a PSU fan or you are an uninformed yinzer....

Expand your knowledge and watch more football.... Then make the claim that DW is the worse college football coach...

Actually, PSU lost to only one reanked team .. Iowa was unranked when they beat pSU  ..  which only proves how silly the argument of losing or winning to ranked teams can be.  BTW, do you realize that Rutgers did not get beat by a ranked team in the opener this year? ... they lost to Cincy!

As far as Pitt playing not tol lose ...that certainly wasn't the case before half when a Stull interception led to to WVU's 1st points.

Funny how execution can make coaches look real good.  The only real beef I had was Wanny's decision to kick a 53 yard FG.

Roy Baker,

I hope the cornpone's smoking corn cob pipes and dipping "rub" in West Virginia enjoy this victory as WVU's coaching staff coached like a high school staff in last night's game. One better than dave Wannstedt who coached like a jr. high coach.

CSF,

I stand corrected and you're right. Although that doesn't change the overall theme of my post. You've been here enough to be able to vouch for comments like I alluded to against PSU and Pitt in regards to 'who they beat and who beat them'.

Nothing against Pitt, but your coaching staff made the same mistake Rodriguez made two years ago.

When you have a star racehorse, you should let it run @ full steam, rather than playing a game @ half-throttle.

But, oh Lord, it was SOOOOOO much fun watching YOUR coaching staff make the same mistakes as we did two years ago......  

Maybe Wandstandt will replace Rodriguez @ Michigan.... now THAT would be the sweetest revenge of all!!!!

RD

Obsessive PSU fan wrote....

"So Pitt hasn't beaten a ranked team and has lost to two unranked teams. Penn State hasn't beaten a ranked team but lost to two ranked teams. That was the constant knock against PSU in prior blog comments, but those are now the facts.

My how the tone here has changed..."

Yes and now we have the blog topic being hijacked by one of those fans who don't consider Pitt a rival.... Find a hobby...

where is www.firedavewanndstedt at? I wanna sign up.

Kickers have a lot of power.

Two years ago this game was celebrated as a giant Pitt upset that toppled the WVU program.  The Pitt coaches were credited with a great defensive scheme and Wanny raved about having better athletes in place finally in order to defend White and Slaton.  True, true, true.  But,  Pat McAfee missed a couple of very short FG attempts they he had rarely if ever missed before in his career at WVU.  If he makes those kicks, there is no celebration of the great defensive scheme and Rod is not a traitor he's a national championship coach and yadda yadda.

Two years later, Bitancurt makes all 4 FGs including a weight of the entire state on his shoulders FG at the end, while Pitt's kicker makes just  3 of his 5.  The game goes to WVU, Stewart gets to keep his job another year and Wannstache's coaching is under deeper scrutiny.

They say that you should never let the game get to the point where it comes down to your kicker, but, that happens a lot, just ask Bobby Bowden.   You can battle back and forth all night long, but sometimes it just comes down to your kicker.

Bill Bellicheat would just be Marv Levy if not for Adam V.  All 3 Pats Super Bowls were won by 3 points.  All by the kicker.

I think the people putting this loss on Wannstedt are way off-base.  Every coach could have called a better game if they lost, but he did nothing egregious.  If the officials don't spot the ball poorly when Pitt stuffed Ryan Clark on 4th and 1 late in the game then we aren't even talking about Wannstedt.  

Stull was off and threw a couple of picks, the receivers dropped some passes, the offense was 2-13 on third down and the defense gave up a big play.  That's how you lose a close game on the road.  Pack it up and move on, because there's bigger fish to fry next week.

Guy who apparently can't take criticism of his own team and most likely has slung his share of arrows wrote...

"Yes and now we have the blog topic being hijacked by one of those fans who don't consider Pitt a rival.... Find a hobby..."

You don't even dignify a response.

(His point, and I agree, is that  some people have to inject Penn State into every Pitt topic. Enough, please. -- Bob Smizik)

Guy who apparently can't take criticism of his own team and most likely has slung his share of arrows wrote...

"Yes and now we have the blog topic being hijacked by one of those fans who don't consider Pitt a rival.... Find a hobby..."

You don't even dignify a response.

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No response is need because he was absolutely right.

This was one of those games that you could tell within the first 5 minutes that WV was going to play over their head.

I often wonder what a HC can do when he see's that his opponent...in their stadium....Is going to play an incredible game and get all the breaks.

JD Brookhart just got the axe at Akron, which I find kind of surprising despite their poor year. Guess that makes Walt unemployed also.

Daquido:

They went three and out on their first two drives and took a penalty on the first play of both.  What in the first 5 minutes gave you that feeling about WVU?

Also, the screen pass to Baldwin has got to go.  It's like throwing a screen to Plaxico Burress.  I'd rather split Dickerson or even Graham out there (although with Graham you'd be telegraphing the play).

West Virginia is a difticult place to play, but Pitt has to find a way to win a game like this to get any respect nationally outside of Pittsburgh.  

I will respect your wishes Bob. Although it'd be nice to see the 'no Pitt-PSU hijack' standards applied to all posts, I recall a Notre Dame focused post from a couple weeks ago for example that was hijacked, not just ones that are Pitt-focused like this one.

Let's keep some perspective, please:

1.  Simply put, Pitt was guilty of looking past the 'eers in THEIR biggest game of the year, with the added measure of payback for 2007 to be had if WVU won.  This team promised this wouldn't happen, of course, but that's what teams ALWAYS say in these situations.

Even the PP-G was guilty of this: most of their Pitt beat coverage this week was about the upcoming Cincy game.

3.  Even so, we lost to a good team in a rivalry game on the last play of the game, in their barn.  This is NOT Bowling Green all over again.

3.  There are worse fates than playing QB for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.  Some great college QBs have played in Canada (for one, HOFer Warren Moon comes to mind).  A year ago -- unless Stull's parents are blogging -- no one in here thought that was remotely possible.

4.  Yes, Stull had a bad game in one we couldda won, as did some of the coaches.  I won't pile on.  Yes it was somewhat reminiscent of the Sun Bowl, but it was not THAT bad a performance.

One more thought: unless I missed a news update, Noel Devine was supposed to be pretty banged-up, a game-time decision.  If that was him at half-speed last night, I'd sure hate to be a LB tasked to spy him when he's at 100%.

I'm guessing there will be a thread up on this before the day is out, but allow me to go off topic and broach the huge news that Dennis Dixon now must to start against the Ravens. The biggest upshot has to be that, those who have been making all the noise for our offense to run the ball more, should be getting their wish. Whether they're ready or not, now the O-line has no choice but to be up to snuff on the run-blocking.

As for Ben, though this is pure wishful thinking on my part, I hope his sudden headaches are actually unrelated to last week's knock on the head. He passed all his tests and said he felt fine all along. I've been hit by a sudden flu before which brought on bad headaches as the first symptom, before all the other symptoms showed up. If Ben is lucky, that's all this is. But probably not. He and the Steelers must play it safe, as they are doing.

And this puts even more urgency on the front office to address the offensive line, come the off season. A lot of people around here think this team can simply play ground-and-pound as if we were still in the heyday of Bill Cowher's  tenure. That's not the personnel we have. I'm hoping I'M WRONG, but tomorrow night will probably bear this out. But putting all that debate aside, if the O-line doesn't rapidly accelerate their maturation, Colbert and company MUST address this issue. I, along with many others, have been pining for this since last season.

Daquido:

They went three and out on their first two drives and took a penalty on the first play of both.  What in the first 5 minutes gave you that feeling about WVU?

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Interesting point, but just an overall feel....Pitt not able to score early when they probably should have, etc....Just didn't feel right early, and continued to get worse.

When a shaky opposing FG kicker puts four in one game through the uprights...It's  not your night.

Reading the comments, I would have thought that WVU completely and utterly dominated a completely incompetent Pitt team.  In reality, Pitt was literally one inch away from going to overtime.  Never mind the dropped passes that killed drives, the chop block that pushed them out of field goal range, and DiCicco not making a tackle on Devine (I believe Noel has made a few guys miss over the years).  Any one of those plays could have been the difference in what ultimately was a very close game.

We shoudln't forget that WVU is a good football team.  They played CIncy as close as anyone has all year, and arguably should have won that game.  And yes, Pitt had thirteen days to prepare for their rival, but so did WVU (in fact , WVU had 14).  Take a look around the country.  Clemson got beat by South Caroline, Auburn gave Alabama all they could handle.  It happens in rivalry games.  It happened two years ago in the Backyard Brawl.

Now we have to focus on the game against Cincinnati.  You know, the one that will determine the BCS representative from the BIg East.  And let's remember, there are six Big East teams that couldn't get to this point this year.  It's not like Pitt has special access to recruits.  If Pitt has better players and performs better on the field, that's because Wannstedt and his staff have done a better job.

West Virginia fan here.

It seems to me like most people on this board have concluded that Pitt going into the game should have dominated WVU. I recall a comment which stated something like Pitt was "VASTLY superior in talent to WVU and should have won this game EASILY."

Really?

IMO the teams are very similar talent wise. West Virginia has 3 losses this year all of which came on the road at night on a weekday and against 3 quality opponents. (Cincy, Auburn, South Florida).

I suppose all I am trying to get across here is that WVU is a pretty good team and it seems that the people posting on this board are not recognizing that.  

I do not know who posted the message saying Pitt is VASTLY superior in talent but I would like to hear his rationale.

whoa .... some of the comments .....

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gotta consider there are 11 guys on the other side of the line of scrimmage that want to win also ... ( from a fairly respectable team )  ....

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DW and his staff have done a great job elevating this program to this level .... letz hope they can get the job done against Cincy ....

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"Expand your knowledge and watch more football.... Then make the claim that DW is the worse college football coach..."

Expand your reading ability and see that I called him "one of the worst," which I fully believe he is.

Compiling this many wins against an easy schedule is nothing to applaud. WVU and Cincy are by far the toughest two games on the schedule - and Pitt's already lost the WVU game. Given Pitt's history - and their history under Wannstedt - why should I have any faith that they can compete with Cincinnati (who has a tremendous head coach).

As for your comments about those other coaches....idiotic. Aside from Les Miles, who really is not that good, the other coaches have won national championships and 10+ win seasons in vastly superior conferences. I'd take each and every one of them in a heartbeat over Dave Wannstedt.

(I don't think you can say West Virginia and Cincinnati are ``by far'' the toughest teams on the schedule. South Florida is on the schedule and it trounced West Virginia.

You can't even rate the eight-team Big East, but you think you can rate the 120 Division I coaches. -- Bob Smizik)

I think UConn which only won their 2nd game in the BE today is indicative that the league is better than just a bunch of pushovers.  Their only non-league loss was a 2 point controversial one to an 8-win UNC.

Gosh, who to thank first.  I guess I'll start with the obvious:  Pitt, for having a typical Pitt game where you just know they're going to break their fan's (singular) heart.  Next, the Wanstache ... you non-adjustment making NFL-flame out, I love that you coach at Pitt.  Finally, boo target extraordinaire Bill Stull.  It seems that Smizik owes the the two former students who booed Stull so loudly an apology, they were simply three months early.  The real Bill Stull stood up and now Pitt fan would like him to sit down, graduate and move to Australia.

So thank you Pitt.  Thank you Wanstache.  And thank you Bill Stull.  You will be missed from the national conversation.  Or not.

PS - please stop trying to beef up the BE, a narrow loss to a middling ACC team is your weakest argument yet.  Worse than the BE coaches commercial from last night.

(Fuzzy: I deleted your entry after this one.  Do not use this site to insult other commenters.  And in this case, the pot should not call the kettle black. --- Bob Smizik)

If I'm a Pitt player, I'm focused on the big prize (a BCS Bowl).  PItt went to a very good bowl last year, very comparable to the Gator Bowl (the Sun Bowl), yet...., the Pitt players were HARDLY given a hero's welcome after the game.  So how the heck are they supposed to be excited to firm up the same type of bowl as they went to last year?  No way they want to settle for that again.  

They want a BCS bowl.  Period.  And unfortunately (or perhaps FORTUNATELY), last night's game had nothing to do with it.  So the Panthers were hardly going to leave it all on the field.  Like Bob said, it is what it is, in that the game didn't really matter much, but unfortunately they have lost momentum.

We'll see if that matters on Saturday against Cincy.

Louder_Is_Bestest wrote:

"As for your comments about those other coaches....idiotic. Aside from Les Miles, who really is not that good, the other coaches have won national championships and 10+ win seasons in vastly superior conferences. I'd take each and every one of them in a heartbeat over Dave Wannstedt."

You need to expand your reading COMPREHENSION:

The point was that the coaches mentioned win because they have superior talent and not because they are great coaches. I gave examples for each that you ignored. Each of them have shown a propensity to screw up when a game day adjustment  is needed or a big decision has to be made.

Give DW 4 & 5 star players three deep in the depth chart and you'll see the same results as the other coaches. Barry Switzer made a living at having superior talent and overwhelmed his opposition. He was far from a great game day coach.

EVERY fan base wants to have a Brian Kelly, an Urban Meyer or a Chris Peterson, but they are few and far between. That's why they command top dollar. They don't grow on trees.

There are many teams that have more money, bigger alumni, better facilities than Pitt who still can't get the right coach for there program or it took a long time to find them:

Texas A&M, Notre Dame, USC, Nebraska, LSU, etc...

If you expand your vision and take a closer look at the College landscape you would see this... However some people live in their own little world.

I fully expect that this comment will be censored and edited, though my language will be far more tasteful than that of most Pitt fans above.  End editorial comment.

  I was the guy who said that the B10 was good because Ohio State almost beat USC.  I was the guy who said that the B10 was great because OSU, Iowa and PSU were ranked in the top 15 at the same time.  No, actually that wasn't me.  That was CSF with his apology for UConn's loss to UNC and Pitt and Cincy's top 10 ranking.  Among other less than reasoned statements that largely go unquestioned by the hometown blogger.

You confuse my contempt for PItt as being a PSU apologist and that's just a specious argument that I would ordinarily associate with CSF.  

Remember when he said that the B10 hasn't been good for 40 years?  I do.  I prefer to base my opinions on some semblance of reality.  Please do not conflate my rational distaste for Pitt and its fan, with the ramblings of a genuine apologist.  I find it unbecoming.

To those of you who wrote that Dave Wannstedt is one of the worst coaches in CFB (or maybe yaz even wrote he was the worst, no matter...), you need a little more perspective.  It's one game, folks.

Let's walk back Memory Lane to the 2005 Fiesta Bowl when Utah smoked us 35-7, last game of the Walt Harris era.  We've lost winnable games before and since, but we were utterly outclassed that night.  The speed difference was obvious (they had it, we didn’t).  Had Urban Meyer not called off the dogs, we mighta lost 62-7.  

DW came in and promised we'd run the ball.  I recall thinking at the time that sounded fine, but easier said than done.  He insisted that'd he'd put together the OL that would allow it – correction, IMPOSE it – plus the RBs to carry the mail.  So that in the future, the Utahs of the world must respect the run too, and not just pin their ears back and rush seven.

Since then?  Look at the difference.  Pitt has its best OL in at least two decades.  LeSean McCoy leaves the program TWO years early for the NFL and we don't miss a beat.  Think about that for a moment.

In college, recruiting is everything (relatively speaking, Xs&Os guys are a dime a dozen).  Since Johnny Majors version 1.0, name me a better recruiter and program ambassador at Pitt than DW.  Nope, not Jackie Sherrill.  And the CFB world has changed much since Majors 1.0 (not the least of which is the 25-per-year scholarship limits w/ 85 ceiling).

At very worst, we'll enjoy back-to-back 9-win seasons even if we lose the last two games.  Pitt is currently the envy, on-field performance wise, of even stalwart programs like Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

And the players play very hard for DW.  Think about the wins this year over Rutgers and South Florida and UConn.  Wins last year over ND in South Bend (and here this year).  Remember 13-9?

Yes, we lost last night to a very good team in a hostile crib.  But I think Pitt could play with anyone in CFB and not be embarrassed.  Forever thanks to Walt Harris for raising the program from the dead.  But I never once thought THAT for a single second under Walt Harris.  Or under anyone since Jackie Sherrill left for TAMU.

Seriously, what else do you folks want?  Name me one person on the planet who could do better, a Pitt guy who lives & dies blue & gold?  A guy who won't bolt when Charlie Weis' replacement gets fired in four years.

Me neither:  I cannot think of a better guy.  Bob, please tell DW we love him.

(Check Sherrill's recruiting classes before you downgrade him or put him second to anyone in that area.  The class he brought in in 1977 might be the greatest ever and he continued to build on that. Best recruiting and talent evaluator in Pitt history. --- Bob Smizik)

To PSUmule:  "State College is NOT a [difticult] place to play, but the Nits must find a way to win HOME games against Iowa and Ohio State to get any respect nationally outside of Centre County PA."

Accepting criticism from our Blue & White brethren on how to win big road games is like accepting marriage advice from confirmed bachelors and old maids.  They've never done it themselves, but they sure do know how it's done.

Steelva: Without going into detail on the game, the defense gave up 1 touchdown and I consider that pretty good.  The problem for me was mostly the offense.

Bob:  you said "Are you suggesting the offense did not ``throw and run'' the football.  It did both. Lewis ran for 150 yards.  When a team loses, it's easy to say they didn't play to win. How did they not play to win?"  By my saying "aggressive, throwing and running the football, but smart aggressive"  this speaks to the game plan - keeping the other team off balance and running plays that counter what the defense is doing.  For example, it is classic football to run screen plays when your quarterback is being hurried by an effective pass rush - I don't believe they did that on 3rd and long all day.

You said "You, and many others, seem to think there's not another team on the field and that team can't affect how you play. It was a close, hard-fought game. West Virginia played better. It happens."  I did give WV some credit in my immediately preceeding post.  WV is a decent football team that played well and it does happen (4 other games on Sat had unranked rivals beat ranked rivals - mostly at home) but

from what I saw, Pitt lost this game more than WV beat them by poor execution, a stogy game plan, and no adjustments.

You said "How is Stull being tight on the coaches?'' If the coaches are tight, it affects the players.  Also, if the player is tight, the coaches need to help him loosen up.  Things can be said to help the situation.  You know, like what was said in Caddyshack before the match ending putt.  "Don't worry about it, if you miss the putt we lose" - maybe something else but you get the point.

Good morning, Bob!

You are right, this one doesn't even come close to "avenging" the WVU loss to Pitt in 2007..... not even close.

I am a WVU fan, and can accept the fact that Pitt DEFINITELY destroyed our season (and, @ least for a while, ... our program) after the loss in '07.

But, that is what some of the folks who write on these pages fail to understand.....  Football is a game. There are winners, and there are losers. Regardless of the outcome, the sun wil rise and set the next day.

A little story for your consideration....

I believe it was the Fall of 1969 or 1970. WVU @ Pitt. I was in 8th grade, or a freshman in high school. My Dad comes home with two tickets for the game (given to him by a friend from Pitt, of course). My Dad and I ascend "Cardiac Hill" and sit somewhere near heaven with a view of the field that seemed slightly closer than the vantage point from our backyard in Weirton.

The first half was not even close.... WVU (35) / Pitt (0).

I leave to go to the restroom.... my Dad says "hurry back, it's the "Brawl" and you never know what is going to happen." The bathroom? Come on, Dad, the game was all but OVER....

I was a kid, my Dad had to be losing his mind... how could WVU lose... Right?

Well, YOU know the rest of that story..... 36/35.... Pitt!  Lord, it still hurts, ... we lost and my Dad was right. Two difficult points for a kid to grasp @ the same moment!

So, all those years later, last Friday night, I am watching the game with my 85 year-old Dad. WVU kicks what is certainly the game-winning field goal. I run out of the room to embrace my wife in the kitchen.... and I hear this serious voice from the family room.... My Dad says, "get back in here, there may be a second left on the clock.... this is the "Brawl" and you never know"!

True story, Bob.

That is what makes the "Brawl" so much fun..... Memories of past games, some won and some lost.... family time....traditions.... and respect for the other team.... because this one matters in a special way.....  you just never know!

By the way, for the Pitt fans reading this comment, ..... the game described above still "hurts"!

See, we can be serious fans and still enjoy the game..... even the losses that "Hurt" so badly!

Have a great day, Bob!

Respectfully,

Roy Baker

Huntington, WV

Bob, regarding your comment, "Like I said, six players caught passes. Yes, Baldwin dominated. He should."

Baldwin is a great receiver, but the other guys out there aren't chopped liver. The ball was repeatedly thrown toward Baldwin when he was in double and even triple coverage. Maybe that's the plan for when everyone is covered and Stull is feeling heat, but if it is it's a bad plan.

wow .... a lack of respect for DW - a fine coach that has elevated this program .... to a level it has not seen in many years ...

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up and down the program - this team is pointed in the correct direction ...  good group of coaches .... good group of kids ... disciplined - most often do the right thing - on and off the field ....

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previous to this game beat Notre Dame ... now preparing to play Cincy for the Big East title ......  and you would never guess this if you read the posts ....

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Imma_Man_Im_40  - Great post

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This from someone that has followed Pitt football since the mid 70's .  But I had not attended a game - home or away - in mnay years ( since the Fazio days) - until DW was hired.

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( Ilked FF btw - much more than his successors )

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Looking at the scores from around the country this weekend, it proves again that in true rivalry games, the records and rankings can largely be ignored, even where there's a real talent gap between teams. No. 7 Georgia Tech loses to unranked Georgia; No. 11 Oklahoma State gets stomped by unranked Oklahoma; No. 15 Clemson loses to unranked South Carolina; No, 20 Mississippi loses to unranked Mississippi State; and No. 23 North Carolina loses to unranked NC State. And No.2 Alabama barely beat unranked Auburn. Although it feels like a tired cliche, the Pitt-WVU falls right into this. Pitt should have won this game, and sure, the momentum into the Cincy game would have helped, but too much shouldn't be read into this loss.

"The carpone's smoking corn cob pipes and dipping"

Why are comments like this allowed to stand? I'm a Pitt fan, but  have a lot of relatives in W.Va. There are many people in that state who have just as much class as many people I've met here. Take your pick of special interest groups that would never be characterized in a likewise manner. Talk about a double-standard!

• (I apologize if that offended you.  I don't even know what that sentence means. --  Bob Smizik

Hi Bob,

I asked folks to name a better recruiter AND program ambassador than Dave Wannstedt.  Yes Jackie Sherrill was a great recruiter (too), no arguement.

But the way Sherrill left the program (you know the circumstances better than us...), I mark him down for his lesser ambassadorship.  He and the administration were barely on speaking terms at the end.

Still disagree?  Okay if yes.

(I wrote about Sherrill as a recruiter. I specifcally did not mention him as an ambassador.  Just wanted to make sure you were aware of what he did and the caliber of players he recruited.

He left the program. Goodness gracious! How terrible No one's allowed to take a better job.  Wannstedt left the program, too, in 1978. --- Bob Smizik)

Hi Bob,

Of course it was okay for Jackie Sherrill to leave for a better job.  In fact, if memory serves, at the time didn't Texas A&M make him the nation's highest paid coach?

However, I was attending Pitt then, and was under the impression that Jackie Sherrill more or less fled to Texas A&M to avoid being fired.  It's been within the past x months that even your blog had an article about the high tensions in the program late in the Sherrill era.  If memory serves, didn't the administration even decline to offer him a contract?  Help me recall the details.

Regardless, if I misunderstood the severity of the situation under Sherrill, then I apologize.  Because IMHO, the program has never fully recovered JS leaving (until DW arrived now, arguably...).  Which was my main point, not to cast dispersions on JS.

(I was just trying to clear the air about Sherrill, for whom I have great respect. No criticism was  intended. You're right that Pitt was slow in talking to Sherrill about a new contract and I suppose it's possible his job was in jeopardy but he was 33-3 in his final three seasons so that's unlikely. --- Bob Smizik)

what? Cornpone? Just some good ol vittles and cornbread.

I love cornbread and fried carp.

Bob, on a related point, do you know what's Jackie Sherrill up to these days?  More specifically, does he have any arms-length (or better) relationship with the school, ala Johnny Majors?  Just curious.