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Brian Batko's Pitt football chat: 11.8.17
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Brian Batko
2:02
Hello, everyone. They hay's in the barn, as Pat Narduzzi likes to say, and I've allotted the next half hour to react to - I won't guarantee an answer - your best and brightest Pitt queries. What's on your mind? Plenty of space open in the queue, so fire at will.
Josh
2:02
Who is Pitt's next commit?
Brian Batko
2:04
Good afternoon, Josh. Which sport? I'll assume you're talking football, to which I'd respond: Tough to say. The recruiting has been very quiet lately, and I don't have a name for you, but I'll guess that a junior-college player joins the mix next. I think we're sort of at that stage in the cycle, but who knows?
SDWC
2:05
How do the coaches feel about the development of Todd Sibley, will he be in the mix as the feature back next season?
Brian Batko
2:06
Thanks for the question, SDWC. Haven't heard much  lately about Sibley, the highly touted true freshman out of Ohio, but there's not much sense in asking too often about a guy who's clearly redshirting. As far as being in the mix as the feature back, that seems like quite a jump. Darrin Hall is just finally hitting his stride, Qadree Ollison has another year of eligibility, plus Chawntez Moss and A.J. Davis are slated to be back too.
Josh
2:07
Does Pitt really have an attendance issue or is it a perceived one bc of the size of the stadium?
Brian Batko
2:08
Indeed, this matter has come up again just today, and it wasn't something anyone really went looking for or asking about. I wrote about it here http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2017/11/08/pat-narduzzi-pitt-f...
2:09
Anyway, as far as whether it's really an issue for Pitt, I'd actually say not that much. It's a little bit like recruiting: With the exception of a very select bunch, every program wants its fanbase to be bigger and crowds to be larger. The spaciousness of Heinz does make Pitt's crowd look more sparse, but to be honest, I don't think it's a factor holding back Pitt as much as a sizable portion of the fans seem to think.
Blawnox Panther
2:10
This wasn't brought up last week, but with regard to narduzzi's tweet right after Penn state lost to Ohio state, my opinion it was in very poor taste and shows inferiority complex of Pitt towards Penn state.  I think Narduzzi should be more worried about pitt's season and recruiting rank, not Penn state, who most fans would donate a kidney to be 7-2 and 3rd ranked class in recruiting.  Your thoughts?
Brian Batko
2:12
Oh geez, Blawnox (big fan of Nox's here, by the way) I guess you're right that it wasn't really brought up in this here chat, but it sure was a hot topic last week. P-G columnist Joe Starkey opined on it, and it led to a firestorm in his mentions, and also mine by association.

As far as what I think of it, I didn't write this in my brief story about Narduzzi's tweet - I just laid out the facts, whereas some assumed I was criticizing it - but I pretty much agree with you and Joe. I'm all for rivalries and fun stuff like barbs between the head coaches, but this in particular just rang a bit hollow for me.
Pope
2:13
Pitt does have an attendance problem and it's embarrassing!  I suspect there will be A lot of empty yellow seats tonight.  Will Pitt consider tarps to make it appear less worse in the future?
Brian Batko
2:13
Well then I guess I stand corrected, Pope. One thing I do wholeheartedly agree with you on: There will be a lot of empty seats at Heinz Field tonight.
2:14
As for tarps, yes, it's something AD Heather Lyke is considering. I would suggest reading further at this link, also posted above: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2017/11/08/pat-narduzzi-pitt-f...
Blawnox sucks
2:14
Lighten up, Francis.
Brian Batko
2:14
Hey now, let's leave our opinions on suburban Pittsburgh neighborhoods out of this.
Stallings Defender
2:15
is it bad that the women's basketball team lost an exhibition to IUP
Brian Batko
2:16
In my humble opinion, yes. I just think Brenna Wise was a very good player, and I was really a big fan of her attitude/intensity on the court, so to me that's a humongous loss. But like her counterpart Kevin Stallings, perhaps Suzie McConnell-Serio will pull this inexperienced roster together and make something of it.
Mark
2:17
Trivia question, who is the only quarterback since Marino to play four years at Pitt and have an NFL career?
Brian Batko
2:18
Well Mark, not sure if you're trying to make a point here, but that seems like a needlessly specific trivia question given that Larry Fitzgerald played two years at Pitt and is having a decent NFL career from what I hear.

Anyway, without using google - which I do, obviously, have at my fingertips as I come to you live from the Petersen Events Center food court - Tyler Palko had an NFL career. Even started against the Steelers once, if I recall correctly. So...did I win?
Mark
2:19
Alex Van Pelt
Brian Batko
2:19
Wait, Mark, did I beat you at your own trivia question? I'm nervous and uncomfortable...
Mark
2:20
One game does not make a career
Brian Batko
2:20
It does in my chat! Plus, Palko actually played in six games in his NFL, um, cup of coffee.
H2P4now
2:21
Should be an easy win for Pitt tonight, eh?
Brian Batko
2:22
OK, enough of Mark and myself splitting hairs over four-year Pitt quarterbacks. Great question, thanks for weighing in H2P4now, and yes, I can GUARANTEE you that Pitt won't lose tonight.
OHIO412FAN
2:22
Brian, it’s looking at most a 6-6 year and a bowl game for the Panthers. What do they need to do to get to that? What will be the main focuses for this upcoming offseason?
Brian Batko
2:23
Well, in theory, Pitt could beat UNC TOMORROW night to get to 5 wins (hey, they'd be .500, how about that?) and still get a bowl game based on APR scores. But that's all very confusing, so I'll just say to do what you propose, find a way to slow down VT and/or Miami, limit mistakes on offense and see what happens. Main focus for the offseason has to be identifying a QB, in my mind.
PiTT
2:23
Does Duzz look to add another Grad transfer QB next year?
Brian Batko
2:24
Great segue. He's always looking, and will pull the trigger if there's a good fit, but if you ask me right now on Nov. 8, I'll say NO he does not grab another grad-transfer QB...
ah, yeah, drink it in, folks
Walt Harris
2:24
Is tarping part of Heinz Field sort of like a quick-kick on 3rd down?  (Asking for myself)
Brian Batko
2:25
Walt, I really enjoyed your remarks in the upcoming Larry Fitzgerald episode of NFL Network's "A Football Life." That debuts 9 p.m. I believe on Friday night, and it'll be enjoyable viewing for any Pitt fan. But to answer your question: Sure.
Brian in Philly
2:25
Hi Brian.  Seeing the success Paul Christ has had in Wisconsin, where do you think Pitt would be if he stayed?
Brian Batko
2:26
Always nice to chat with a fellow Brian, albeit from a much worse city, but I won't hold that against you. That's an interesting hypothetical. I don't think they'd be too far removed, for better or worse, from where they are currently under Narduzzi. I wasn't totally sold on Chryst as a head coach when he left here, and he's making me a believer now, but the circumstances are also much different for him there than they were or would be here (obviously)
Jason
2:26
Do you think people's confusion over which day Pitt plays could be a factor in their poor attendance?
Brian Batko
2:27
Very astute observation, Jason. I can't rule it out. Some of the Pitt fans who yell at me on Twitter now and then don't seem all that sharp.
HC
2:27
Brian, With the young basketball team, and low expectations, do you think that they will be able to maintain focus and a positive attitude throughout the season?
Brian Batko
2:29
HC, does that stand for "Head Coach"? Is this Kevin Stallings asking me about his team? You're about to meet with us media dweebs in like 20 minutes, so I'll see you then.

But I concur that expectations are low from the outside, mine included. Although I DO believe, from what little I know and have seen/heard out of these guys, that they genuinely like and want to play for Stallings. That should help with keeping their heads up through what's likely gonna be a tough ride.
Jason
2:29
Weaver at DE has looked like he is improving -- do you see him progressing, or think it is more a sign of the weaker teams they have played?
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