With Pitt's impending move to the ACC, we've got a whole new cast of characters to work with for a while. At least until conference realignment happens again. Last time, we got to reunite with our former mates up at Boston College. Now we're taking a trip down south to Clemson, where the guys over at Shakin the Southland, SB Nation's Clemson blog, took the time to talk about the Tigers. Much thanks to them and to Peter, who answered my questions.

Cardiac Hill: In case you were wondering, I, and probably every other Pitt fan, was hoping that it was you guys who scored 70 points in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately, that didn't work out so well. But football is obviously a very big deal to Clemson fans. You guys won your first ACC title since expansion this past season and you're normally fairly competitive in the Atlantic Division. What has made Clemson into such a competitive program?

I think it's fair to characterize Clemson as sort of a sleeping giant in the college football landscape. Clemson has always had the resources. They have the biggest stadium in the conference, one of the best sets of facilities, and outside of Miami and Florida State have more talent on paper than any other ACC school. Up until last season, these resources and talent have largely gone to waste over the last two decades and the program has never been able to get over the hump and win a conference title.

Clemson fans are also finally getting what they want in terms of the athletic department completely committing itself to football. Going into the 2012 season, Clemson will boast the #1 and #3 highest paid coordinators in college football in Chad Morris and Brent Venables. An ACC title will continue to be the goal of the fan base every year, as well as beating our rivals in Columbia, something this staff has failed to do each of the last three years.

More of this after the jump:

Continue reading this post »

Another day has passed and still we know nothing of Pitt's football schedule for next season. About the only things known right now are that Pitt will likely be in the Big East (unfortunately) and there are currently four non-conference games - two home against Youngstown State and Virginia Tech and two on the road against Buffalo and Notre Dame. We also know that Pitt will likely have six or seven conference games depending on whether or not a school like Boise State can join the Big East for 2012.

Steve Pederson has said that Pitt is close to finalizing a non-conference game for next season to replace the TCU game and I think expect an FCS team.

The scheduling quirk for Pitt next season is that they are scheduled to face only two Big East teams at home. As things stand now, Pitt is scheduled to face Rutgers and Louisville at home and travel to Syracuse, South Florida, Cincinnati, and Connecticut. Should the conference not get a school to come in for 2012, it will be interesting to see if t the schedule is adjusted so each school plays three at home and three on the road.

Assuming all that happens and Boise State doesn't join for 2012, Pitt finds itself without a 6th non-conference game. The Panthers would have six home games in that scenario, so another game at Heinz Field isn't mandatory. But they may want a 7th as Pitt would likely want another one to offset revenue losses from playing two FCS opponents.

Continue reading this post »

For most Pitt fans, it was a time for celebration back in September when Pitt announced they were moving to the ACC. Now, though, we're seeing the negative aspects of conference realignment with the loss of arguably our biggest rival - West Virginia.

With the Mountaineers' move to the Big 12 now official on July 1st, the Backyard Brawl may be over for a while. I don't expect the Mountaineers to be showing up on any future Pitt football schedule for the next few seasons, which is truly a sad sight to see. While WVU fans are no doubt happy to see home match-ups with Oklahoma and TCU next season, most are probably a little upset to not see Pittsburgh on it as well. And Pitt fans should be as well.

Do we hate having to go to Morgantown to play WVU? Yep. Do a couple West Virginia and Pitt fans tend to take the rivalry too far? Undoubtedly. But if we refuse to play West Virginia, are we really any different than Penn State? For years, Pitt has been trying to get an annual series against the Nittany Lions started up. But the constant statement out of State College was that there was no room on the schedule for Pitt. The Panthers' stance is now looking eerily similar to Penn State's. A 100+ year rivalry and there's no room on the schedule? That's not just wrong, it seems criminal.

Continue reading this post »

Sammy Davis Jr. - Birth Of The Blues (via millsbrothers)

This week's music is The Birth of the Blues by Sammy Davis, Jr. This was maybe his biggest tune at concerts and while he could probably sing it a bit better in his younger days, this one's still a nine out of ten. Davis was probably the second best singer in the Rat Pack behind Frank Sinatra and some will probably even make a case he may have been the best.

Pitt links from last week that we didn't get to are after the jump.

Continue reading this post »

Well, they said they were leaving for next season. I guess West Virginia got something right after all.

The Big East and West Virginia have reportedly reached a settlement that will allow the Mountaineers to depart for the Big 12 for the 2012-2013 season. In total, the Big East will receive $20 million, $11 million from WVU and $9 million from the Big 12. So, right now, if Pitt is in the Big East for next season, we're in trouble with our schedule. Pitt only has 4 scheduled non-conference games (of a now required 6).

But wait, Boise State may jump early? Raise your hand if you think that means Pitt and Syracuse are heading to Idaho next season (hint: it should be all of you).

Meanwhile, Boise State has had talks with the WAC, a source said, about placing the rest of the teams in the league a year early if it were to leave for the Big East in football a year early to replace WVU.

The source said the move is up to Boise State and that the WAC would accept the Broncos a year early if they were to ask.

It's possible that BSU fills in for WVU's or TCU's schedule (both of which had the Mountaineers and the Horned Frogs coming to Heinz Field), but don't bet on John Marinatto allowing that.

Continue reading this post »

I haven't touched too much on Big East expansion lately. Greg's mentioned it and with Pitt on their way out, I've gotta say my interest is waning. Fast. That said, I love John Marinatto bashing as much as the next guy and man, is he taking some heat right now.

The latest indication of the job Marinatto's done is in one of those extremely scientific ESPN SportsNation polls. Sure, these polls aren't taken too seriously by most of the people voting (myself included), but I still found it pretty amusing that as of last night, 85% of respondents grade old Johnny at either a D or an F.

Unlike many, I won't kill Marinatto for the recent additions he's made. I actually think expanding the geographic reach of the conference while busting into some pretty big markets is about as good as he could have done. There's a bit of a sacrifice being made in some areas (i.e. Memphis football the latest hilarity), but to add Boise State's football program was definitely a coup.

Problem is, Marinatto's made some mistakes along the way that can't be ignored.

Continue reading this post »