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Friday, 06 January 2012 03:23

Written by Paul Zeise

Thursday was kind of real light, real quick practice but the most important thing that happened today is this - the Panthers beat SMU in the bowling challenge so they defended their title as last year, they won the bowling challenge against Kentucky.

Now why is this significant?

Because this is the fourth year in a row Pitt has gone to a bowl game and the Panthers are 2-1 in their previous three. And in the two years they won the game (2009 in Charlotte, 2010 in Birmingham), they also won all of the challenges against their opponent during the week leading up to the game. In El Paso in 2008, however, they lost all of the challenges to Oregon State and well, we all know how that Sun Bowl game turned out.....

So it is a simple formula - Pitt wins the challenges, it wins the game.....

** A number of seniors have been selected to All Star games:

Offensive lineman Lucas Nix - Has been invited to the Senior Bowl, which is the biggest and best of the All Star games, so if he does well during the workouts leading up to the game he should solidfy his status as a draft pick.

Linebacker Max Gruder and defensive end Brandon Lindsey  - There is still a possibility that Lindsey could get bumped up to the Senior Bowl, but for now, both of these two are going to play in the East-West Shrine game, which is also a prestigous game and one that could help theiir draft stock.

Defensive end Chas Alecxih - Will play in the Players All-Star Classic in Arkansas, the game is the same one that launched Dom DeCicco last year and it pits players from Texas versus players from the rest of the Nation.

Cornerback Antwuan Reed - Will play in the Casino Del Sol Classic in Arizona.

Linebacker Greg Williams - Will play in either the The Battle of Florida or the Casino Del Sol All Star games.

** A couple people have asked me about Jarred Holley and whether, because he has graduated, he is leaving to go to the NFL even though he has a year of eligibility left. He laughed when I asked him and said that he put his paperwork in with the NFL but hadn't yet got his evaluation back. He said unless he is blown away by what they tell him - in other words, he isn't expecting to hear he is going to be a first rounder or whatever - he will be back next year to finish his eligibility. 

** People have asked me about coaching updates and here is what I have on some of the guys who may stay and one who may come:

Joe Rudolph - Wisconsin tight ends coach and Belle Vernon native - is still possibly coming to Pitt with Paul Chryst in some sort of co-coordinator capacity but apparently Wisconsin coach Brett Bielema would like to keep him and they are working on some arrangement where he could add some sort of co-coordinator type title to his current duties. Bielema has been turned down by both Jay Norvell and Chuck Long for Chryst's old position of offensive coordinator.

Spencer Leftwich - Said he has a number of opportunities to sort through and hasn't made a decision. One source said he could end up at Arizona, which would make sense, but he said he has a lot of things to consider. Like I wrote on Twitter, however, his wife and family - inlcuding his oldest son, Mack, who is an outstanding quarterback at North Allegheny, are going to stay in their current house until Mack graduates next May. That means Mack will be back to quarterback North Allegheny in the fall regardless of where Spencer ends up. Arizona State is still apparently a possibility as well but again, he said he has some decisions to make.

Todd Dodge - Have heard he has an opportunity perhaps at Houston (as in, the Cougars) as well as several big high schools in Texas. Remember, before he was the head coach at North Texas, he was like some kind of legendary high school coach in the state so it wouldn't shock me if he ends up at a high school (I've seen several different ones he is a possibility at). He said he will take his time and find the right fit, but like Leftwich, I am thinking he'll make a decision very quickly over the next day or two.

Paul Randolph - It seems like he is the most likely of the leftover assistants to end up at Arizona State with Todd Graham and I think he will unless he can get a defensive coordinator position somewhere.

Keith Patterson - Already announced he is headed to Arkansas State as defensive coordinator.

Shawn Griswold - Actually, I lied when I said Randolph is the most likely to end up with Graham at Arizona State because Griswold, the strength coach, is almost a definite to head out there once the game is over Saturday. 

Randall McCray - Didn't get to talk to him today and last time I did, he had a few things on his plate but nothing definitive in terms of an actual plan. Again, I'm sure it will change quickly once the season is over, but he's the one guy I didn't get to talk to today.

Tom Bradley - Hey, can't have a coaching update involving Pitt without mentioning the eternal candidate - at least according to a certain group of people who seem hell bent on getting him hired at Pitt. There has to be something he can do, right?

** In case you missed it - Lucas Nix is the latest Panthers player to have a scrape with the law. 

Comments (19)

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written by Cheetah, January 06, 2012 - 02:49 AM

Dokish said the other day that Dodge is going to be the head coach at a Texas high school named Marble Falls. Never heard of it, but they just got lucky because if they want the spread, he knows how to do it.

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written by paul shannon, January 06, 2012 - 06:25 AM

would it it be funny if sal ends up as psu dc ,one paul to another

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written by joebull, January 06, 2012 - 07:40 AM

One source is saying Joe Hueber for O-Line coach...he was an o-line coach for the Vikings. Also, saw a source where Rod Woodson will be DB coach. (don't think I can believe that one though)

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written by joebull, January 06, 2012 - 08:17 AM

I meant Jim Hueber...former O-Line coach with the Vikings, Wisconsin, and (Zeise will like this), Temple to name a few

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written by PittofDreams, January 06, 2012 - 08:25 AM

Apparently ripping off a door poses no risk for a knee injury or future NFL career.

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written by Jack, January 06, 2012 - 09:03 AM

I don't know Nix, and maybe I'm off on this, but he seems like just another Pitt blowhard who underachieved. I hope he gets his act together because he does have talent.

Patterson seems like a class act. He's one assistant I'll remember.

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written by Pitt Grad 92, January 06, 2012 - 10:33 AM

I have a few questions about the Nix incident. Were the police called and on the scene when he was still at the house? Did he drive himself to the house? If so, why was he not arrested for DUI? Do the police usually let persons suspected of public drunkeness go home without a citation? There seems to be more to this story.

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written by jlawrence, January 06, 2012 - 11:37 AM

PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Section 5505 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 1

A person is guilty of a summary offense if he appears in any public place manifestly under the influence
of alcohol to the degree that he may endanger himself or other persons or property, or annoy persons in
his vicinity.
Penalty 1st Offense
Fine 0-$300
Jail 0-90 days

Hard to see how that charge has any merit since the incident occurred on private property.

Section 5503. Disorderly Conduct.
a. Offense defined. - A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:
1. engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior;
2. makes unreasonable noise;
3. uses obscene language, or makes an obscene gesture; or 4. creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor.
b. Grading. - An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree if the intent of the actor is to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, or if he persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable
warning or request to desist. Otherwise disorderly conduct is a summary offense.
c. Definition. - As used in this section the word "public" means affecting or likely to affect persons in a place
to which the public or a substantial group has access; among the places included are highways, transport facilities, schools, prisons, apartment houses, places of business or amusement, any neighborhood, or any premises which are open to the public.

Again, hard to see how that charge has merit since the incident occurred on private property.

On the other hand, the criminal mischief charge applies anywhere.

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written by joebull, January 06, 2012 - 11:48 AM

New source says Rudolph is coming to Pitt...seems like the whole Wisky offensive staff is coming...not a bad thing!

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written by csf, January 06, 2012 - 12:07 PM

I'm hardly a legal expert but can public drunkenness be charged based on word of mouth from the victim? I can see a citation for the door but it would seem to be hard to prove a drunkenness charge without a breath or blood test.

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written by pantherd, January 06, 2012 - 12:32 PM

As a former Pennsylvania police officer and now an instructor in criminal justice I wonder how the police can file a public drunkenness charge when they apparently never encounter Nix. The criminal mischief would probably filed on information received from the victim and or witnesses who must convince a magistrate district judge that Nix was culpable. DC is a very vague act but it does require public annoyance, alarm etc. I wouldn't doubt that these charges will be dismissed when Nix agrees to pay for the damage to the door.

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written by Joe D, January 06, 2012 - 01:17 PM

pantherd,
You don't use criminal courts to get paid for a civil issue!!!
That said.... something smells..
perhaps having something to do with the Nix's... perhaps one tooo many times with Nix causing issues... whether bullying or who knows what.
We are talking TJ... football is king!
Where is Cherpak on this.

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written by pantherd, January 06, 2012 - 02:15 PM

Joe D....
I can't tell you how many times I have been in the minor judiciary when the case was settled by paying restitution. It is a civil issue but the purpose of the minor judiciary is to dispose nuisance cases that can cripple the courts of common pleas. It is very common for police officers to file non-traffic citations based on info received. Nothing unusual at all.

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written by DBaldone, January 06, 2012 - 02:30 PM

Joe D... good insight on football related comments but stop with the conspiracy theory stuff... and why would Cherpak have anything to do with this??? Once these guys leave his program, they are not his to babysit...

PZ - any insight on recruiting? i know where in the dark period but who is Chryst looking to head up the recruiting? Scary to think we may have to relative "patchwork" classes...

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written by pantherd, January 06, 2012 - 02:50 PM

Understand Rudolph was flying in today for an interview. Any updates on his status?

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written by Joe D, January 06, 2012 - 02:57 PM

dbaldone...
you obviously don't know how HS "football" towns evolve and protect players!!
Frankly I'm surprised the "Nix's" got "ANY" citation... so something is amiss... politically speaking. And yes, that includes Cherpak.
For example, in Hopewell (non-football town/school) the AD and football coach and priciple will turn you into the cops for having a can of snuff in your back pocket... not in aliquippa.. lol Heck, if I'm not mistaken, the chief of police is on Aliquippa School Board!! How does the saying go... to Serve and Protect... Protect whom?

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written by DBaldone, January 06, 2012 - 03:07 PM

I went to a high school in Beaver county where football was king and am very familiar with how it works... and which schools it works in... but when you're gone, you're gone... unless you've gone to the League...

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written by Imma Man! Im 40!, January 06, 2012 - 03:57 PM

pantherd, Dokish is reporting Rudolph has been hired at Pitt. For what it's worth...

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written by Cheetah, January 06, 2012 - 04:38 PM

*t means a lot actually. I've never seen the guy be wrong when he says it's happened. By the way, Paul also said it on twitter and the Wisconsin paper said it too.

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