2023-2024 Pitt Super Panthers Sports Thread

[Dickie Dunn]

Is she hot?

[Dickie Dunn]

So I'm intrigued by this. Couldn't be further from your usual Narduzzi hire and definitely not a safe choice. Young, runs a college style offense, and hasn't coached above FCS.

[Joegap]

[willeyeam]

I definitely don't hate it. If anything, it's not a typical Narduzzi hire. Should be interesting

[Morkle]

Is he like a "high-octane" Todd Graham kind of guy?

[Dickie Dunn]

Is he like a "high-octane" Todd Graham kind of guy?

Yes, but not to the detriment of his team. Narduzzi said

"Kade's offensive approach—relentlessly fast and aggressive—is everything a defensive coordinator hates to face and the type of system our players will absolutely love," Narduzzi said. "He's an incredibly creative play caller who is widely regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the country. Beyond 'Xs and Os,' Kade understands and greatly values relationship-building with his players and fellow coaches. On and off the field, Kade Bell will make us better."

but I saw a video with Bell where he talked about how there's a time and place for everything and sometimes you can't just left lane hammer down.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Mathis is strange to say but it’s really hard to complain about this decision from Pitt. I do wonder a tiny bit about the lack of experience at the highest level but l those worries are small potatoes.

Not much intrigue in this Pitt program right now, but this is definitely a step towards “2024 won’t be completely lame”

[skullman80]

Hopefully it will entice some actual good offensive players to come play at Pitt.

[Rylan]

I like that its high risk high reward. And the nice thing about the risk is after a season like this, the coordinator has some grace to where if theres noticeable improvement, which shouldnt be hard, then we are going to be happy.

[Stoosh]

I'm on board. I hoped after 2021 that Narduzzi would realize they need to score points to win. After spending the last 2 seasons watching his guy's offense cough, wheeze, and fart its way to 20 points a game and forcing his defense to play 35-40 minutes every game, it looks like he finally learned that lesson.

I do agree there are some valid concerns about the jump from FCS to P5 FBS, but one thing that came out after the hire was confirmed is that Florida was showing interests in Bell (his dad is former Gators QB Kerwin Bell) and they're not happy that Pitt got to him first. He also has some pretty strong recruiting ties to Florida, so we'll see what that eventually creates for Pitt.

I also think the younger generations of offensive coaches that are coming up through these lower levels of college football are far more ahead on that coaching development curve than some of their predecessors. I watched some of what former Super Panther WR Mike Shanahan put together as OC at James Madison this past year and compared to a lot of what Cignetti was running, it was like watching two teams play a different sport at times. Mack Leftwich (29 year old OC at Texas State) was another name rumored to be in final four for this Pitt job, and his offenses are very much the same.

I forget where I read it and this incredibly oversimplifying it, but a lot of these younger coordinators see the game differently. Focus is on spreading defenses out and getting playmakers into space.

I admittedly didn't know anything about Bell two weeks ago, but based on what I've read since and the way this was handled, I'm encouraged.

[Dickie Dunn]

I can't keep up with any of the Portal ****. We got a DB commit from a Nebraska transfer and a LS commit from UConn. Amongst a host of others, including a OL from Ole Miss, we've offered Western Carolina's RB and top WR. Apparently Nate Temple and Brandon George learned that the Portal isn't a one way ticket to NIL bucks, you have to actually be a decent player on top of it, as they've both decided to return to the Super Panthers.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Nate temple is less exciting news than rowdy telez

[Dickie Dunn]

He's cheaper at least?

[willeyeam]

Nebraska appears to be good at volleyball

[Beveridge]

Good luck to them vs Nebraska.

Good luck was not had.

[Dickie Dunn]

This one hurts

Anyone hear any reasons why he’s in the portal?

People are speculating to go to Miami and play with his brother who is a 5star commit down there.

Ended up with Colorado. $$$$$

Have gotten recent incoming transfer commitments from Oregon State TE Jake Overman (2 years left), Clemson DE David Ojiegbe (4 years left and was a 4 star recruit out of high school), Kansas State DE Nate Matlack (2 years left), Indiana DT Nick James (3 years left and was a 4 star recruit out of high school). Other than this recent grouping we've brought in a LS, the top RB and WR from Western Carolina who wanted to follow their OC, and a CB from Nebraska. So Charlie Partridge remains a draw and someone on this coaching staff needs to figure out how to recruit offensive talent because OL and WR are issues with QB remains a huge question mark.

Today is also signing day and I have no idea what's going on there other than 4 star DT Francis Brewu stuck with Pitt after taking an official visit to MSU last week. Other than an OL from Georgia, all of the top recruits in this class are again DL. So again, someone other than Charlie Partridge needs to figure out how to recruit and coach.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

It was good to see brewu stick around

As of right now, Pitt seems to be breaking even on the portal

Not too excited about this recruiting class but it could be worse

[Dickie Dunn]

I think there's a couple guys at the top of the recruiting class that are solid gets, but the rest are a bunch of "coach em up" whatevers just like every other recruiting class. I have an irrational hope that Penn Hills QB Julian Dugger could end up being an under the radar pickup that fits Bell's offense (whatever the hell his offense actually is).

Other than that, not sure how much it really even matters anymore. They're completely free to leave and go elsewhere if they don't like the Nard Dog Experience and I'd rather funnel NIL money to transfers with at least some kind of a track record at this level versus high school kids. Couple that with the ridiculous conference movement, FSU throwing another hissy fit like going 7-5 in the Big Ten or SEC would have given them a better shot at making the playoffs this year, the ACC likely the next conference on the chopping block, and the potential for NCAA football going the way of schools outright paying players in an effort to keep the rich teams happy and freeze out the poorer schmucks, college football might as well be Pirates baseball at this point. Hopeless other than dodint's optimism.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Honestly I don’t care if Pitt ends up with the haves or have nots. I just want to play a group of teams regularly enough that I can hate them. It’s hard to care when a team turns over a roster every year, so I just want continuity, even if that means plays in the big east 3.0

[Dickie Dunn]

Agreed. Playing the traditional ACC teams does little for me. I hate Miami from the Big East days, but instead we get saddled with BC and Cuse. Gimme someone to consistently hate and I'll be somewhat happy.

[NAN]

Agreed. Playing the traditional ACC teams does little for me. I hate Miami from the Big East days, but instead we get saddled with BC and Cuse. Gimme someone to consistently hate and I'll be somewhat happy.

I think you are only going to get that out of WVU or PSU.

I hate Miami and VT just from the old Big East days. And even though we play Syracuse like every year for the last 70 years I have a hard time hating them.

[the wicked child]

Syracuse was only hate able on the Basketball front due to Boeheim.

The football games have zero heat.

[Dickie Dunn]

VT is a good call. I hate them too. I hate Syracuse and BC more in basketball than I ever could in football. They're irrelevant. I do think WVU and PSU are the only schools I hate regardless of the sport. It takes time and several meaningful confrontations to build up that lifelong, meaningful hate. Playing Duke basketball after moving to the ACC was awesome, but I hate them because they're Duke, not because of shared experiences. I'll hate Nova, Georgetown, and UConn more than I'll ever hate Duke. I'll go to my grave cursing Scottie Reynolds but Cincy football barely gets a second thought from me.

TLDR: college sports are dumb now, take me back 20 years, old man yells at clouds

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

Did anyone watch the 30 for 30 on the 1997 heisman race? All I could think was “damn I wish college football was still like this”

[DigitalGypsy66]

I wish a lot of things were like 1997 tbh