Pitt Panther Football: What A Mess

First and foremost, Happy New Year everyone. Hard to think 2010 has come and gone, but it has.

For Pittsburgh Panther fans it has been a tough year in football. They had high hopes of dominating the Big East, the season culminated with the firing of Coach Dave Wannsted.

My experience has been bringing in a new coach revitalizes a team and the fan base. Hope springs eternal that now we get things turned around. Pitt hired its new coach,Mike Haywood, combine that with the new recruiting class and Pitt fans had alot to be excited about.

The end to a disappointing season and firing of the coach just got worse. Pitts new year starts off very badly for them because of their new coach who as of this writing is sitting in and Indiana jail cell charged with domestic battery.

Just when Panther did not think it could get any worse, it has. It is being reported that Pitt recruits are dropping off their list fast. The whole program is in total disarray.

As a BSU homer I have had to listen to years of former Pitt player and ESPN announcer Mark May slam my Broncos. Guess its my turn to stick a jab at Mayday.

The following came from a Boise State message board toasting the mighty Mark, who loves to toast the non AQ schools.

"Clearly, this is a smear campaign, paid for by non-Automatic Schools like Boise State or BYU..."


Pitt is in serious trouble and as of yet has made no comment. There really is nothing they can say, they have scant information to work with. Their legal position whether to fire or not fire has got to be tenuous at best. They really are in a no win situation.

For more on the Pitt situation: Pitt Coach Arrested

Harmon Killebrew

The name Harmon Killebrew won't register with most people reading this blog, unless you were a baseball fan in the 1960s.

Harmon played for the Washington Senators that later became the Minnesota Twins. He hailed from the small town of Payette, Idaho, not to far from where I grew up in Boise.

Around here he was a legend, wow, a guy from Idaho playing pro baseball, for us spud peelers that was a pretty big deal. Just like Jerry Kramer another Idaho playing for Green Bay.

Harmon is in his 70s now living in Arizona and he is sick. He has been diagnosed with a form of throat cancer. It is sad for me to see this part of life, my childhood heroes getting old and getting sick. Like most I still tend to think of them as they were, young and invincible.

I would ask those reading this blog to take a moment and say a prayer for Harmon Kellebrew. He was and is always a class act and a gentlemen. I met him once at an autograph singing back in the early 60s he could not have been more gracious.

In his day the heroes were heroes on the field and you seldom heard of scandals like you do in today's sports world.

Learn more about Harmon Killebrew. Hammerin Harmon Killebrew

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Dont Hate The Bird-Hate The Game

That was posted earlier on the net along with other disparaging remarks. Sadly they were talking about the Independence Bowl played in Shreveport, La.

Part of the part of the pregame show included the Air Force Academy releasing its mascot, "The Bird" for a pregame flight around the stadium. After his release and pre-approved was done the bird took liberties and went AWOL.

I did not see the game featuring Air Force and Georgia Tech and from all reports I did not miss anything. Some speculated the bird knew what a snoozer it would be and that is why he sought out the night life of Shreveport circling the city.

Apparently the birds AWOL took up to three quarters of the game before he was recaptured and brought back for to Independence Stadium for the post game festivities.

In what turned out be as boring a game as predicted, you have two offenses using the triple option, they produce good running attack but little offensive fire works, Air Force won in a squeaker by a score of 14-7. So as the man said, dont hate the bird for flying the coupe hate a game that was so boring even the Air Force mascot took flight.
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Little Caesars Bowl

Tonight's Little Caesars Bowl featured The Toledo Rockets from the MAC Conference and Florida International University's Golden Panthers from the Sun Belt Conference. I must admit I was surprised to see FIU in a bowl game. My most recent memories of FIU was seeing lopsided scores in the many body bag games they have played in recent years.

I full expected Toledo to take the Golden Panthers to the woodshed. Not that I had anything against FIU. We played Toledo this season and it looks better on the resume if teams you beat win their bowl game.

Going into the half it looked as if picked this one right with Toledo leading 21-7. Midway through the 3rd quarter Toledo kicked a field goal and created what appeared to be an insurmountable 17 point lead.

On the ensuing kickoff things got interesting. Receiver T.Y Hilton took the kick off and returned it 89 yards to the house cutting the Rocket lead back to 10 and giving the Golden Panthers the much needed spark to keep the game close.

The momentum did seem to change of the Hilton touchdown return. Three plays into Toledo's kick off return drive the Panthers struck again. Aided by a Rocket penalty the FIU Panthers were able to get to the Toledo 17 and from there Darriet Perry made it a 3 point game.

The rest of the third quarter played out with little action either way. Later in the 4th quarter Hilton made his presence felt again as he caught the go ahead touchdown for the Golden Panthers making it a 31-24 score and their first lead in their first bowl game appearance in school history.

Toledo did not role over and play dead, they drove down the field and Terrance Owens capped the drive with a touchdown, bringing the Rockets within one point and about 1:16 left on the clock. When Toledo punched it in the coach left no doubt as to the Rockets intent as he held up two fingers, they were going for the win. Toledo scored the two point conversion and took a one point lead.

The ensuing kick off was a squibb kick that FIU was able to return to almost the 50 yard line with over a minute left on the clock and needing very few yards to get into field goal range.

FIU found themselves in a make of break 4th and 17 and 48 seconds on the clock. It reminded me instantly of my Boise State Broncos who in the 4th quarter had a 4th & 18 with 18 seconds to go, trying to tie the game.

Like Boise State the Golden Panther were successful in converting the game deciding down. It was very close, by less than a yard T. Y. Hilton had risen to the occasion again. The Panthers were able to get more yardage after the new first down and kick the winning field goal leaving no time on the clock, thus winning their first ever bowl appearance. Florida International played their first college football game in 2002 and only became a FBS team in 2005. They are the fastest team to ever go from D1AA to D1A status. Congrats to both teams for great seasons and to Florida International University for making it to a post season bowl in 5 short years and for your first of many bowl victories to come.

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17th Christmas

I was not sure if I wanted to post this but have decided to do so anyhow.

This Christmas day marks 17 years since I had my last drink. For me it is the Christmas present that keeps on giving. Because of the decision back in 1993 I can look forward to more Christmas days, knowing my triplet nieces better and maybe even dance at their weddings. They are only 11 and I am 61 but who knows.

Any how to all of you who read this blog, thank you and may you and your family have a wonderful and happy holiday season. Thanks and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Andy

Merry Crhistmas

Seems impossible another year has come and gone and that it is Christmas day but it is.

I just want to thank all you that have followed this blog over the last year and wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Happy New Year.Andy

Goal Post Controversy

The effects from Boise States missed field goal in the closing seconds against Nevada have apparently found their way to the NCAA.

The controversy is about the height of the Nevada goal posts. There is a contingency of fans who swear Brotzman's first kick was good and then of course those that say no, he missed it.

The cause for the debate is centered around the height of the Nevada goal posts. They are not the standard 20 foot high posts like most colleges and the NFL. Had they been that height, there would be no controversy.

The NCAA is looking at next season making all college goal posts a mandatory 20 ft high. A little late for the BSU Nevada game but it certainly makes sense to have a standard goal post height for every college football field.

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