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Stephen Thompson's Pitt chat: 03.03.26
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Stephen Thompson
1:16
Welcome to another Pitt sports live chat. Happy to be back with you all after a couple weeks off, so let's not waste anymore time.
Mr Ed
1:17
Can you see a path to a better than 7-5 season this fall based upon schedule and your early assessment of the team?
Stephen Thompson
1:22
I absolutely see a path to better than 7-5 for the football team. In fact, I'd call seven wins mightily disappointing for this squad. The non-conference schedule is not only easier without Notre Dame lined up, but you are also likely to get a diminished version of Georgia Tech relative to last season.

I am very confident the defense will continue to be at least as good as last season, if not better with improved cornerback play, and believe continuity along the offensive line and in the offensive backfield will maintain at least an eight win floor.

I see seven likely wins, a few toss-ups with Louisville, Virginia Tech, Cal and Florida State, then one almost certain loss at Miami. But that's  what it looks like right now. Check back in with me in August.
demosthenes98
1:22
Twenty days ago in this space, Abby Schnable told me that it was unlikely that Tory Verdi would be fired. What changed between then and now?
Stephen Thompson
1:25
I don't want to speak for Abby, who's done some excellent reporting on this matter, but this was unexpected on my end too. To my knowledge, nothing has changed since Pitt offered a strong statement in Verdi's defense after it was announced former players had filed suit against him.

I would guess the athletic department did some fact-finding internally in recent weeks that led them to believe the on-court results and off-court mood were combining to make the situation untenable moving forward.
JR
1:26
Is Pitt recruiting former PSU and Aliquippa RB Tikey Hayes? Great work covering a Pitt sports.
Stephen Thompson
1:26
Not to my knowledge, JR.
Rick Trocano's hair
1:26
Stephen, do you envision the last two Men's BB games have any bearing on HCJC's job if they lose or they are likely to run it back with him for another year ? Also, is the star studded recruiting class, still in play for this fall ?
Stephen Thompson
1:29
I have seen this sentiment or ones similar to it shared from time to time this season and no, I don't believe the specific results of these last two games have any bearing on whether Capel will be back last season. If Allen Greene's decision was based solely on results, it would be easy. But there is a lot more at play given Capel's buyout and the other financial strains on Pitt athletics' budget right now. It's as simple as whether they can afford to do it or not.

And all three members of the latest recruiting class signed their NLIs in the fall, so unless there is a coaching change, their avenues for getting out of those agreements are very narrow.
Leemarvinwannab
1:29
Pitt's mens and women's bb programs are embarrassing. How can WVU men's bb team have 4 coaches in 4 years and still be light years ahead of the Pitt program?
Stephen Thompson
1:31
I don't think what West Virginia does in basketball has any kind of bearing on what Pitt does in the same sport. But I have been dumbfounded that Pitt's women's basketball team has not even stumbled accidentally into a remotely competitive season in more than a decade.
demosthenes98
1:32
The Pitt softball team is off to a 13-6 start going into ACC play. Is there something there, or is it fool's (blue and) gold?
Stephen Thompson
1:33
That team certainly has some talent, and is moving in the right direction, but one win over a power conference opponent (in extra innings over Auburn) and a loss to Tulsa make me want to wait and see what ACC play has in store. That said, taking care of business against inferior competition is one sign of a quality team.
Mr Ed
1:44
Should be an easy week for you story wise when they play V Tech with Narduzzi and Franklin. I’m sure Duzz will stir the pot somehow, don’t you?
Stephen Thompson
1:45
I think you can set your watch to it, Mr Ed. Maybe Narduzzi won't do it intentionally, but there is too much history between those two coaches for there to not be some kind of silly, but viral, passive aggressive comments between those two played out during the week's press conferences.
G Money
1:52
I think anything less than 9 wins is a failure.  Narduzzi has more bad wins at home the past nine seasons, it's remarkable how he loses at home, and takes the home crowd out of the equation early and often each year.  I think Nard has underachieved every single year he's been here, his bowl record is a disgrace.  I'm still a season ticket holder but he's a loser.  The schedule is always winnable.
Stephen Thompson
1:53
A lot to unpack here, G Money.
1:58
First, I think being a Pitt fan and saying anything less than nine wins is a failure would be setting yourself up for disappointment. This is hasn't been a program that consistently wins nine games in decades, so why would that be the expectation?

I can concede Narduzzi has taken some bad home losses during his time but I don't believe there is some massive difference between his team's play at home vs. on the road. I'm also not sure where you get the notion he "takes the crowd out of the equation early" from.

The bowl record is abysmal, though not always an indication of the quality of his team. And saying he's underachieved every year of his tenure at Pitt is quite the exaggeration. True in some instances, but mostly not.

And lastly, I guess you and I might disagree on the definition of "winnable." Was it "winnable" in 2018 when they played three top-15 teams in the non-conference slate, then another in the ACC title game?
1:59
None of this is to say there's no valid criticisms to be had of Narduzzi but we can be more thoughtful about it than "he's a loser" for a coach that's won the second most games of anyone who's ever held the job at Pitt.
2:08
That feels like as good a place as any to end this edition of the live chat. Thanks to everyone who joined and I will see you next time.
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