Pitt recruit opening talks with other schools...
Pitt recruit opening talks with other schools...
including PSU. He sounds like a whiny headcase though...
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-rev ... 74464.html
Penn Hills quarterback Anthony Morelli, Pitt's marquee recruit from the Class of 2004, has told Panthers coaches he is going to talk to other schools because of their silence over his snub by a national all-star game.
After being passed over for selection in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Morelli was angered to learn that West Allegheny's Bob Palko, father of Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko, was head coach of the East All-Stars.
"Anthony told (assistant head) coach (Bob) Junko that he will talk to some people," said Greg Morelli, Anthony's father. "He was mad about what happened (and felt) that he should have been told Bob Palko was coaching the game."
Morelli, who gave Pitt a verbal commitment in August, has received overtures from Ohio State, Penn State and UCLA, among others, since December.
He would be Pitt's second high-profile WPIAL recruit to re-open the recruiting process. North Hills tailback Andrew Johnson has scheduled an official visit to Ohio State this weekend. Verbal commitments are non-binding. The national letter of intent signing period begins Feb. 4.
Pitt coach Walt Harris, who spent last week in San Francisco coaching the East-West Shrine college all-star game, contacted the Morellis on Tuesday from Florida. Harris will meet with the Morellis on Thursday to clarify the matter.
"This stems from Anthony being told face-to-face that he would be one of the game's top three quarterbacks," said Greg Morelli, who claims that recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, one of the game's organizers, told Anthony in May that he would be selected to the game. "He's going to be competing against (Palko's) kid for the starting job (at Pitt). We just want them to be honest with us."
Bob Palko, reached by phone Tuesday, said he had nothing to do with selecting the teams. Four Pennsylvania players were selected to the East squad: Reading linebacker James Bryant, Strath Haven linebacker Dan Connor, West Lawn Wilson quarterback Chad Henne and McDowell offensive lineman Kyle Mitchum. No WPIAL or City League players were selected.
Morelli, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, who passed for 5,244 yards and 56 touchdowns in his career, is regarded as a consensus top-5 quarterback and top-20 prospect nationally.
"I didn't have anything to do with picking the coaches," Palko said. "The decisions are made by the Army and Tom Lemming. You get who you get."
Lemming, who runs the Prep Football Report recruiting service, could not be reached for comment.
Palko was surprised to hear that the Morellis would think that he had anything to do with Anthony not being selected. Tyler Palko played in the 2001 Army game, and Bob Palko was the offensive coordinator in the 2002 game.
"Tell him to dispel the rumors because Tom Lemming picks the teams," Palko said of Greg Morelli. "I played who they sent me. He can rest assured I didn't sabotage him. Why wouldn't I want him there? He's from here."
Palko noted that other WPIAL stars have been overlooked, noting that the game's organizers passed on a recommendation to include former Woodland Hills and current Michigan star Steve Breaston in 2001.
"They didn't even pick Breaston," Palko said, "and look at him."
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-rev ... 74464.html
Penn Hills quarterback Anthony Morelli, Pitt's marquee recruit from the Class of 2004, has told Panthers coaches he is going to talk to other schools because of their silence over his snub by a national all-star game.
After being passed over for selection in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Morelli was angered to learn that West Allegheny's Bob Palko, father of Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko, was head coach of the East All-Stars.
"Anthony told (assistant head) coach (Bob) Junko that he will talk to some people," said Greg Morelli, Anthony's father. "He was mad about what happened (and felt) that he should have been told Bob Palko was coaching the game."
Morelli, who gave Pitt a verbal commitment in August, has received overtures from Ohio State, Penn State and UCLA, among others, since December.
He would be Pitt's second high-profile WPIAL recruit to re-open the recruiting process. North Hills tailback Andrew Johnson has scheduled an official visit to Ohio State this weekend. Verbal commitments are non-binding. The national letter of intent signing period begins Feb. 4.
Pitt coach Walt Harris, who spent last week in San Francisco coaching the East-West Shrine college all-star game, contacted the Morellis on Tuesday from Florida. Harris will meet with the Morellis on Thursday to clarify the matter.
"This stems from Anthony being told face-to-face that he would be one of the game's top three quarterbacks," said Greg Morelli, who claims that recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, one of the game's organizers, told Anthony in May that he would be selected to the game. "He's going to be competing against (Palko's) kid for the starting job (at Pitt). We just want them to be honest with us."
Bob Palko, reached by phone Tuesday, said he had nothing to do with selecting the teams. Four Pennsylvania players were selected to the East squad: Reading linebacker James Bryant, Strath Haven linebacker Dan Connor, West Lawn Wilson quarterback Chad Henne and McDowell offensive lineman Kyle Mitchum. No WPIAL or City League players were selected.
Morelli, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, who passed for 5,244 yards and 56 touchdowns in his career, is regarded as a consensus top-5 quarterback and top-20 prospect nationally.
"I didn't have anything to do with picking the coaches," Palko said. "The decisions are made by the Army and Tom Lemming. You get who you get."
Lemming, who runs the Prep Football Report recruiting service, could not be reached for comment.
Palko was surprised to hear that the Morellis would think that he had anything to do with Anthony not being selected. Tyler Palko played in the 2001 Army game, and Bob Palko was the offensive coordinator in the 2002 game.
"Tell him to dispel the rumors because Tom Lemming picks the teams," Palko said of Greg Morelli. "I played who they sent me. He can rest assured I didn't sabotage him. Why wouldn't I want him there? He's from here."
Palko noted that other WPIAL stars have been overlooked, noting that the game's organizers passed on a recommendation to include former Woodland Hills and current Michigan star Steve Breaston in 2001.
"They didn't even pick Breaston," Palko said, "and look at him."
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