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Paul Zeise's sports chat: 03.11.21
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Zeise
12:04
OK let’s get it started!
V. Fontaine
12:04
Jeff Long getting fired at Kansas reminded me of this story. You might have still been covering Pitt at the time. We went to Notre Dame for what turned out to be the incredible Tyler Palko five TD game. We were of course just hoping not to get blown out.  Before the game, the Panther Club had a pregame event at the Joyce Center. During the event, Long got up and announced an extension in the series and then said, "Notre Dame is a very good team but we didn't come here to get our (expletive) kicked." The entire room was shocked and pumped at the same time. You never hear an AD talk like that!
Zeise
12:06
Ha I liked Jeff, he seemed like a good enough guy. But that was absolutely his attitude and I kind of liked it. It was clear Pitt was always gonna be a stepping stone for him and it got him to Arkansas
V. Fontaine
12:07
Andrew Brandt wrote last week that Steelers only spent something like $136MM last year, which is obviously significantly below the cap. I presume that's actual dollars and not cap charges. But it does raise a question to me. Do the Steelers actually spend less actual dollars on salaries than people think? And that the cap problems from dead money and restructurings make it appear they spend more than they really do.
Zeise
12:08
Yes that’s a great point. There is always a lot of dead cap money on top of the actual salaries
Buzzard Bill
12:08
Hi Paul,  it seems that Pitt fans are a little too down on Jeff Capel at this point, based on the transfers of Johnson and Toney.  We fans never hear the true  story behind these transfers, but is it safe to say that the major cause was off court rather than on court issues?
Zeise
12:09
I think it was a combination of a lot of things. They didn’t fit the culture, they didn’t buy in to what Capel was selling. If a guy isn’t all in he needs to be all out and that doesn’t mean those two guys are bad guys, they just needed a different fit
Amanda
12:10
I have had it with your weird takes on sports and covid. You and Walls are the worst two people on television. My husband hates you and so do I. For you to make fun of drinking is shameful. SHAMEFUL!
Zeise
12:11
It is very strange that you hate me so much you stalk me every week and bitch about the same dumb things. Maybe get a hobby or something? And oh yeah - have another beer!
Clint
12:11
Do you think if Ke'Bryan Hayes picks up where he left off in September of 2020, will the Pirates be able to sign him to a McCutchen friendly contract? Will he want to do that?
Zeise
12:12
I would be careful about those kinds of contracts. It worked with McCutchen but it had blown up on them too. I think the Pirates should let him play until he is closing in on free agency and then operate like a big league team and sign him to a deal that is equal to his body of work
BeeBop
12:13
So you expect Pitt fans to be patient with Jeff Capel until at least year 5? Hell why don't us fans give him 20 years to rebuild? Your Pitt thoughts make no sense. If Capel hasn't taken Pitt to the ncaa tournament by the end of year 5 he should be fired.
Zeise
12:14
The only thing that we don’t agree on is that he definitely should be fired after year 5. That could be the case but I have to see how the next two years play out
Jacque Strap
12:14
Amanda is either truly nuts, or someone in this chat just pretends to be her since you and everyone else in here enjoys it.
Zeise
12:14
All of the above
Fight On
12:15
First I want to agree completely with your answer to the last question in yesterday's mailbag. Nothing recreational seems enjoyable to me what with the masks and regulations involved, necessary or not. I can't imagine watching a baseball game in person with my glasses fogged up behind a mask when I can watch it on TV masklessly. Next, watching Penn State and Maryland on Sunday I heard the broadcasters arguing for Jim Ferry to have the job permanently. Is that possible or just broadcasters shilling for a coach, which they always do? PSU has overachieved a bit this year given that most pre season predictions I saw had them in last place.
Zeise
12:16
The thought on Ferry is two-fold: 1) who the heck wants that job and 2)  he has done reasonably well all things considered and actually 3) they don’t care enough about the program to want to put that many resources into it
Carl in Carrick
12:17
Hi Paul.  What’s your gut feeling about as to whether Justin Chapagnie will stay or or declare for the NBA?  Have you heard if he or any other players are considering transferring from Pitt?  Thank you.
Zeise
12:18
I would lean towards he won’t be at Pitt next year which would be a very tough blow. I think the lure of the NBA will be too much for him to turn down
Jason
12:18
Should Heather Lyke be on the hot seat for continuing to give undeserved extensions to coaches that aren't performing well? Narduzzi didn't deserve one after they went 5-7 and Capel certainly didn't deserve one after last season's collapse.
Zeise
12:19
Hot seat? I don’t know, she has done a lot of good things for the Olympic sports but like every AD at Pitt - she will ultimately be judged by football and men’s basketball. And even though she didn’t hire Pat Narduzzi, she has stuck with him and gave him a lot of job security
Russell
12:20
Polanco hasn't played since Saturday. Is he hurt again? I know the Pirates owe him a ton of money but can't they just move on already? We've all seen enough or not enough. A 5 tool bust.
Zeise
12:21
For better or worse, the Pirates are stuck with Polanco and I don’t think they are singing that old Huey Lewis song “Happy to be Stuck With You”
Who Dat
12:21
That Kapenan Malkin pairing looks awesome. Do you see Sullivan leaving them together the rest of the season?
Zeise
12:22
I sure hope so. If that’s what it took to get Malkin rolling “what took so long!” They have been really explosive and fun to watch
Tina
12:22
Why does that Amanda lady bother you so much? She gets on my nerves.
Zeise
12:23
I think she secretly has a crush on Rich Walsh and is especially enamored with his hair....
Horace
12:23
How can Heather Lyke be happy with the basketball program now? 3rd straight collapse and no recruits lined up and the statement that was put out by Pitt about Capel criticizing the refs. This is plain embarrassing!
Zeise
12:24
Embarrassing is a bit much. The team played hard, won a few games and rarely mailed it in. It is a process and a sometimes that process takes a little time
Jacque Strap
12:24
Hi Paul...just wanted to say I enjoyed the brouhaha on Twitter the other day regarding Claypool and the 'diva' quotient. You, as always, tried to be a voice of reason. Anyway, regardless of what he is right now, what do you predict about his on/off field behavior? I think the old schoolers, myself included, need to realize this is just the way some kids are these days.
Zeise
12:26
When did calling a wide receiver a diva or saying he had a diva quotient become such a crime? Receivers are almost all divas on some levels and they all think they are open on every play and should get the ball every play. Claypool seems like a good kid, I’m sure he will be fine. There are times, however, a little humility is not a bad thing
Jacque Strap
12:26
How many questions are you getting regarding "This guy was just released, should the Steelers take a look at him?" It's gonna be an epidemic this year.
Zeise
12:31
Heck, my colleague at the Fan Andrew Filliponi - or as my neighbor says Andrew full-of-baloney - probably is like a kid in the candy store right now getting ready for his show. He will have the Steelers signing 40 guys by the end of the day
Denver Pirate
12:32
Paul, thanks for the sports info, everything I read says the Pirates may be competitive in 2024, Hayes will be close to free agent status by then, does Nutting put his money where his mouth is and sign him to a long term deal in the next year or two? I expect a delayed response while you recover from laughing
Zeise
12:33
As I said before - I think it is important for the Pirates to see how he plays and if he shows he has star potential they need to sign him
LA Matt
12:34
Well, another disappointing year for local NCAA teams! Once again, another March Madness  without Pitt, Duquesne or RMU. It can't be their leagues or facilities, so what is the problem? Coaching? Lack of local talent? Will it ever end?
Zeise
12:36
Robert Morris would have been in tourney last year. That program is fine. Duquesne didn’t care enough about basketball until a few years ago. I think that program is in good hands now. Pitt made a very bad hire and turned it into a debacle and still haven’t recovered
Florida man...
12:36
Hey Paul, do you think the Steelers will bring back Dupree?
Zeise
12:39
They would love to but they can’t afford him. He will get a big offer from someone like Tennessee or Indy
LA Matt
12:39
Any insight/news on why Johnson and Toney suddenly left the Pitt program with three games left in the season?
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