Fond Farewell for Blades

While it may have been a disappointing season for the Pitt football team, fans can take solace in the fact that one of the Panthers' steadiest performers is receiving well-deserved recognition.
Linebacker H.B Blades has had a heck of a week. Blades was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year, became a three-time All-Big East selection, was named a Football Writers Association of America First-Team All-American and earned a spot on the Sports Illustrated All-America squad.
Obviously, Blades was one of the few bright spots in a dismal season for the Panthers. As a fan, it was hard not to root for him. He was a gritty competitor, was always accountable, had a great attitude and was an exemplary leader. Pitt will have a hard time replacing him next year.
While I don't think that he will be a first-round draft pick due to concerns about his height and speed, I do believe that he will have an excellent career at the next level. He fits into the Gerald Hayes mold. Hayes is currently the leading tackler for the Arizona Cardinals.

I'm feeling much better now!

Whoa! That was close. Pitt eked out a 70-67 victory against a game Buffalo squad in a very hostile environment. Down by as much as 10 in the second half, Pitt stepped up their defense and was able to pull out tough victory.
The Panthers went zone for the first time this year and it didn't work. UB, which has shot less than 40 percent on the year, hit 45 percent of their shots against Pitt. Pitt went back to man in the second half and held the Bulls to 25 points in the second half after giving up 42 in the first half.
Mike Cook played very well. He created chances off the dribble, passed the ball well and even rebounded -- a much-maligned aspect of his game. He was also money from the free throw line -- going eight-for-10.
Gray was solid with yet another double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Hard to fault Pitt in this one. Aside from their porous first-half defense, they were solid in just about every aspect of the game. They shot nearly 50 percent from the field and almost 70 percent from the line -- their Achilles heel in the past.
We didn't shoot exceptionally well from beyond the arc (33 percent) and had some trouble handling the ball in the first half. Took care of the rock in the second half, though. UB did an excellent job on the boards. Seemed like they were out-hustling us at points.
Listening to the post-game show right now and Dixon is really pushing the fact that his team played and won against a good team on the road. Even quoted the RPI formula. Evidently somebody is thinking ahead to Selection Sunday.
He's also saying Pitt will be using the two-three zone more this year. Hopefully we improve as things do not get easier with Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and Dayton coming up before the holiday.

Poll: Coaches Playing the Field

West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez flirted with a lucrative offer from Alabama before turning his back on the Tide and accepting a similar, if not better offer from the Mountaineers. Pitt fans should be no stranger to this. Men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon played interest from Arizona State into a new contract last year despite having several years remaining on his current contract.

How do you feel about coaches using offers from other schools to improve their current position?
	It's the American way!
	Ehhh... It's the nature of the beast.
	Who cares?
	Makes me feel kind of icky.
	How dare they hold institutions of higher learning hostage!

Dixon on The Jim Rome Show

If you are within earshot of a radio or at a computer and can get The Jim Rome Show, tune in ASAP. Word is Jamie Dixon is scheduled to "appear," perhaps in the third and final hour.
You can tune in for free via the Internet through Pittsburgh's Fox Sports 970 AM.

Update

Dixon will not appear on The Jim Rome Show this afternoon after all. Rome claimed Dixon was "still on the practice floor" and hence unable to participate in an interview. Dixon has be re-scheduled for Monday's show.

Pitt Basketball Notes

Sam Young's Knee

Interesting story on Sam Young's injured knee in today's Post-Gazette.
There has been much speculation about his lack of playing time in recent games. Apparently, it is the result of a nagging knee injury and not a matter of him being in coach Jamie Dixon's doghouse. The injury was originally diagnosed as tendinitis and it does not appear to be healing quickly.

Gilbert Brown's Status

Young's injury could mean more playing time for Gilbert Brown who is apparently near 100 percent after suffering through an ankle injury and mono to start his college career. Rumors had Brown red-shirting this year, but that could change if Young is sidelined by the knee injury. By all accounts he is an explosive offensive player who can create and score on the perimeter. As a guard he's not interchangeable with Young, but could possibly play small forward at 6'6" and 190 pounds.

Tough Stretch

Pitt starts a three game road trip with a visit to Buffalo on Saturday afternoon before trekking to No. 11 Wisconsin on the 16th and No. 22 Oklahoma State on the 21st. They round out the pre-holiday schedule with a home tilt against Dayton on the 23rd.
Everybody is talking about the games against the Badgers and Cowboys, but don't sleep on the bookends. UB is a good squad that has beaten Temple and Miami (FL) this year and play in a difficult venue while Dayton is at the top of a tough A-10 conference with early-season victories over Louisville, Holy Cross and Creighton.
One point to note -- playing good teams on the road between semesters is a blessing. We can only hope that the rowdy students will be home for the holidays.

Just give him the damn ball!

Thanks to the silliness that is the NFL Network, you may or may not be aware that the Steelers ran all over the Cleveland Browns last night in a 27-7 romp at Heinz Field. But since you are reading this, and most likely a Steelers fan, you get the benefit of the doubt.
Storyline: Willie Parker ran for at franchise-record 223 yards.
I'm an unabashed fan of Parker and think that he has been getting the raw end of the deal from the Steelers coaching staff this year. The Steelers have abandoned the run way too early in several of their games and seem to have little confidence in Parker as a long-term solution at running back.
Predictably (see 2003 season) that has led to less than desirable results. Parker has carried the ball less than 20 times in five games this year. We have lost four of them (the lone win being an inexplicably difficult victory against these same Browns in Week 11).
Parker deserves the opportunity to prove the critics wrong. When given the chance to show that he is durable enough to withstand the punishment that a feature back takes Parker has excelled. With tonight's performance, he is now the fourth-leading rusher in the league and has rushed for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
It's time for the Steelers to put their doubts to rest and put the ball in Parker's hands more often.

Is this thing on?

Welcome to Iron City Sports, my little venture into the blogosphere.
My goal is to provide other Pittsburgh fans with updates and my worthless commentary (It would not be a blog without that -- would it?) pertaining to Pittsburgh teams -- namely the Steelers, Panthers, Pirates and Penguins.
Oh, and if you're wondering why I did not name the blog Steel City Sports, here is your answer. Not that there's anything wrong with that.