Pittsburgh Slams the Door Shut...
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THE CHOPS
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Pittsburgh Slams the Door Shut...
Pittsburgh slams back door shut....
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh's football recruiting mantra has been to build a fence around western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas, but in recent years the gate has been left open with many top high school players going elsewhere or not even being offered scholarships.
With new coach Dave Wannstedt in the fold less than two months, that fence was mended when necessary and sealed as tightly as possible in that short time, as the Panthers announced that 24 freshmen signed letters-of-intent to attend Pitt with "11" from Pennsylvania and "10" from the W.P.I.A.L.
Wannstedt and his staff discussed the recruits during a press conference Wednesday at the UPMC Sports Complex. It was the first signing day for recruits.
Pitt got "21" players who will be freshmen in the fall for the 2004-05 season, while three others already began classes in January and can practice in the spring while retaining freshman eligibility this coming fall.
"We had "11" players from Pennsylvania, six from Florida, (two) from New York and New Jersey and one (each) from Ohio and Virginia and Maryland,'' Wannstedt said. "And that's how I would see our recruiting going.
"Unless it's a special situation, we really don't need to go any farther (away) than that. There's plenty of quality players in the 300-mile radius from our campus, so that's what our focus would be. Unless it's a special situation where we would have a tie or a contact or something like that.''
The only recruit outside of the W.P.I.A.L. was Johnstown senior LaRod Stephens.
The 5-foot-7, 165-pound record-setter was one of five running backs brought in this year, and Wannstedt believes that Stephens has a chance to contribute to the Panthers as soon as he arrives on campus.
"I know that (Stephens) is faster than anybody we've got,'' Wannstedt said.
"And I think the guy's got a chance to be a change of pace back that can get in there and make some plays. But is he going to be the type of guy who can come in here and unseat somebody, I don't know that. Does he have the ability to help us next year? Yes, he does. Without a doubt.''
Stephens was recruited by former Pitt player Curtis Bray, who coaches the linebackers, and he couldn't stop raving about him.
"He's very fast and quick, and he's a terrific football player,'' Bray said.
"He can make some plays on offense, but he also should be important on special teams. And he can return kicks and punts, so there's a lot of different ways that he can make an impact as a freshman at Pitt.''
Wannstedt hoped to increase Pitt's presence in Pennsylvania in the future. He also noted that the Cincinnati-Louisville area would become a priority since the schools in both cities joined the Big East Conference this year.
Pitt concentrated on linemen this year with five on the defensive side and four on offense. Also, the Panthers signed five running backs, and all five were all-state performers for their respective schools.
Wannstedt also touched on several other topics, even though he has done nothing but recruiting the past month after filling out his staff:
n Pitt will play a pro-style offense and defense and be as aggressive as possible on both sides of the ball.
n Wannstedt will add a recruiting coordinator to his new staff. He has a few candidates, will begin interviewing today and hopes to make a decision sometime next week.
n Due to the intensity of the recruiting season and his newness to the job, Wannstedt said he has not really looked at who the Panthers have coming back next season, but he will work on that and next months spring practice sessions beginning next week.
n The biggest difference in recruiting for him this year as opposed to his last foray into the field in college was the invention of the cell phone. Wannstedt said he usually likes to call the home and talk to the parents, but with each recruit owning a cell phone you rarely get them at home.
"THE CHOPS".
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh's football recruiting mantra has been to build a fence around western Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas, but in recent years the gate has been left open with many top high school players going elsewhere or not even being offered scholarships.
With new coach Dave Wannstedt in the fold less than two months, that fence was mended when necessary and sealed as tightly as possible in that short time, as the Panthers announced that 24 freshmen signed letters-of-intent to attend Pitt with "11" from Pennsylvania and "10" from the W.P.I.A.L.
Wannstedt and his staff discussed the recruits during a press conference Wednesday at the UPMC Sports Complex. It was the first signing day for recruits.
Pitt got "21" players who will be freshmen in the fall for the 2004-05 season, while three others already began classes in January and can practice in the spring while retaining freshman eligibility this coming fall.
"We had "11" players from Pennsylvania, six from Florida, (two) from New York and New Jersey and one (each) from Ohio and Virginia and Maryland,'' Wannstedt said. "And that's how I would see our recruiting going.
"Unless it's a special situation, we really don't need to go any farther (away) than that. There's plenty of quality players in the 300-mile radius from our campus, so that's what our focus would be. Unless it's a special situation where we would have a tie or a contact or something like that.''
The only recruit outside of the W.P.I.A.L. was Johnstown senior LaRod Stephens.
The 5-foot-7, 165-pound record-setter was one of five running backs brought in this year, and Wannstedt believes that Stephens has a chance to contribute to the Panthers as soon as he arrives on campus.
"I know that (Stephens) is faster than anybody we've got,'' Wannstedt said.
"And I think the guy's got a chance to be a change of pace back that can get in there and make some plays. But is he going to be the type of guy who can come in here and unseat somebody, I don't know that. Does he have the ability to help us next year? Yes, he does. Without a doubt.''
Stephens was recruited by former Pitt player Curtis Bray, who coaches the linebackers, and he couldn't stop raving about him.
"He's very fast and quick, and he's a terrific football player,'' Bray said.
"He can make some plays on offense, but he also should be important on special teams. And he can return kicks and punts, so there's a lot of different ways that he can make an impact as a freshman at Pitt.''
Wannstedt hoped to increase Pitt's presence in Pennsylvania in the future. He also noted that the Cincinnati-Louisville area would become a priority since the schools in both cities joined the Big East Conference this year.
Pitt concentrated on linemen this year with five on the defensive side and four on offense. Also, the Panthers signed five running backs, and all five were all-state performers for their respective schools.
Wannstedt also touched on several other topics, even though he has done nothing but recruiting the past month after filling out his staff:
n Pitt will play a pro-style offense and defense and be as aggressive as possible on both sides of the ball.
n Wannstedt will add a recruiting coordinator to his new staff. He has a few candidates, will begin interviewing today and hopes to make a decision sometime next week.
n Due to the intensity of the recruiting season and his newness to the job, Wannstedt said he has not really looked at who the Panthers have coming back next season, but he will work on that and next months spring practice sessions beginning next week.
n The biggest difference in recruiting for him this year as opposed to his last foray into the field in college was the invention of the cell phone. Wannstedt said he usually likes to call the home and talk to the parents, but with each recruit owning a cell phone you rarely get them at home.
"THE CHOPS".
Re: Pittsburgh Slams the Door Shut...
larod stephens should leave now before it's too late.
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The Ancient Enemy
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Re: Pittsburgh Slams the Door Shut...
And why is that, master? He's 4 and a half feet tall, someone needs to remind you guys of that. Plus Wannstedt just said he'll play, somewhere. The kid is small and a freshman. Relax.
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THE CHOPS
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Re: Pittsburgh Slams the Door Shut...
I heard about four or five days ago, that Pitts Coach D. wants him simply because he can fly. He claims that LaRod will be thee fastest kid at Pitt.
I can see him running back punts or kick-offs right away.
"THE CHOPS".
I can see him running back punts or kick-offs right away.
"THE CHOPS".
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urjuststupid
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