Any take-aways from Pitt/Utah

Submitted by DenverRob on

We all know we are playing a good team from the Big East.

Is there anything we can take away from the Utes dominating (out-playing not scoreboard) what is suppose to be the best BE team in Pitt?  Or am I grasping for straws here?

This game is on versus for those wondering.

 

 

grand river fi…

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^

Eh, I'm not so sure.  As these are the first games for each team we don't have enough data to make any real judgements.  Preseason picks of who is supposed to be the best team in a conference are just speculation.

Blue in sec country

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^

I've been watching this game and Pitt doesn't look very good. If that's the big easts best then they're not very good. They seem to be having a hard tine running on Utah and they can't cover anyone. My guess they won't win the big east.

the_white_tiger

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^

Utah is looking good and Pitt is not, their QB needs to step up because Utah's going all out to stop the run. This should be an easy W for the Utes, and maybe(?) they can beat TCu, because they're looking like a legit contender.

NateVolk

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^

I don't know how much like Utah we are, but Pitt doesn't seem athletic enough to win out there. Hopefully our athleticism will be a big factor on our field. 

I haven't heard anyone say we won't be faster, quicker, or more athletic than UCONN. It is the one constant from all the different previews of the game that I have read.

HHW

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:33 PM ^

The journalist from the Hartford-Courant that did the live chat with Angelique today seemed to believe that the overall UCONN team speed would give UM trouble.  I thought maybe he had misunderstood the question or typed it in wrong and asked him for confirmation, which he quickly gave.

I'll give UCONN some props, but team speed had not been one of them. 

jmblue

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^

Don't know, but seeing that Pitt is a top 25 team, how can they not be on PSU's schedule?  I've never understood PSU's refusal to keep that series going.

jmblue

September 2nd, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^

What is he afraid of?  Does he think playing one game a year is going to elevate Pitt's program too much?  They seem to be doing okay as it is. 

Anyway, I looked it up: they've played 96 times, with PSU having a pretty slim edge (50-42-4).  Unreal that they could let it go.

the_white_tiger

September 3rd, 2010 at 12:06 AM ^

It is bush league, and I think that would be a great game for both teams, schools, and the whole state of Pennsylvania. It would be an excellent game, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen in the foreseeable future. They are happy to be in the Big Ten I think, but the resentment is still there for some reason.

JeffB

September 3rd, 2010 at 12:32 AM ^

JoePa also has insisted over the years that PSU and Pitt should be a 2 for 1 deal (2 home games in Happy Valley), which Pitt refused, since they are the 2 biggest D1 programs in the state.

The assumption in the state (at least from Pitt fans) is that once JoePa leaves or dies, the series will start as soon as both teams can schedule it.  The Pitt AD has said that he wants the series, and the PSU AD has almost said the same thing (along the lines of it would be nice to play every year), but won't commit to it because of the old man.

CRex

September 3rd, 2010 at 9:47 AM ^

Yup.  The state government has constantly been pushing Pitt and PSU to get a "tourism" game going.  One big reason the state wants it is the main road through PA is a toll road.  So 40-60 thousands fan travelling across the state means big bucks for the Department of Transportation, in additional to all the taxes from hotels, dining establishments, etc.  

In recent history Pitt has been a joke, they only started to get good with their recent coach and they're finally getting their own stadium.  The pressure keeps building for Pitt and PSU game every year.  A lot of people want one starting in 2011 since PSU is redoing its schedule anyway, but it might have to wait until JoePa retires.  

clarkiefromcanada

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^

I don't want to watch any more Big East teams this season (excepting Saturday when Michigan puts the beat down on UConn). If Pitt is representative of that league...about as exciting as watching paint dry...pass the ambien.

Red_Lee

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:44 PM ^

Is it just me or does the Utah coach always look like he's about to blow up if something goes wrong, and then nothing happens? It's like Jurassic Park III. He's got terrible conflict structure. 

Don

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^

Utah is selling out to stop Lewis on early downs, and Pitt is playing right into their hands by refusing to pass until the obvious 3rd-and-long situation. It never ceases to amaze me why so many OC's seem to have an instinctive aversion to passing on first down. They never seem to be averse to doing on 3rd down.

Not sure it would make a difference anyhow—Utah looks much, much quicker.

bronxblue

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^

Takeway - Dave Wanstedt still can't coach.  For all of the recruiting success he's had at Pitt (and yeah, not great, but he is surrounded by power schools), he still hasn't made them a good enough team to even consistently dominate a down BE. 

As for UConn, about the only takeway is that if UM stops their rushing attack like Utah is Pitt's, they will be in a good position to win.

bronxblue

September 2nd, 2010 at 11:02 PM ^

He was also disappointing as a HC with Chicago.  People act like he was some stud in the pros, but his coaching record is 82-86, and that was with some decent Miami teams bumping up the numbers.  I read somewhere that people keep giving him a chance is because he "looks" like he should be a good coach, even if empirically that is not the case. 

bklein09

September 2nd, 2010 at 10:54 PM ^

Well if Frazer is as bad as Pitts starter we might be alright. 

I know he's young and I know our secondary is not Utah's, but if they just try to pound it with Todman like Pitt is with Lewis, I think we might fare alright. 

I honestly don't think that the Big East is a very strong or deep league, and that is the main thing I'm taking away. 

smwilliams

September 2nd, 2010 at 11:44 PM ^

Unbelieveable. Never seen anything like it.

For those not watching...

Pitt K lines a 30-yarded to tie the game with :03 left. Makes it. But wait Wittingham calls a TO.

Lines it up again. Misses it. But wait Wittingham calls another TO.

Lines it up a 3rd time and just hooks inside the left upright.