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That's been part of PSU's problem this century: not enough Pennsylvania kids. You lose your base with out-of-towners. You just said that Pennsylvania is a great football state, whose kids are sought after by many schools. That's why Pitt's verbals from Pa are SO important. PSU can get those kids from Maryland and Joisey. Where else can they go and still be close to home for their parent's to see them play? You guys can sit back and HOPE the kids will de-commit to Pitt, but it ain't gonna happen. Instead of worrying about this, you better hope that all those kids who have PSU on their lists look that way. THEY are the ones more than likely who are going to change their minds.

What makes you think they are going to change thier minds? Is it thier terrible record? Bad loss to Ohio State this year?

I bet it's the stellar wins that Pitt has over Rutgers and Ohio U that is keeping the recruits coming. Right?

Kids being recruited by PSU can change their minds and drop PSU off their lists for many reasons. Pitt's already got verbals at least. Drives you guys crazy doesn't it?

Kids nationally have no interest in Pittsburgh. They have heard Wanny talk, and then saw what he's capable of.

Upstart programs need to take Moldo's path of winning the kids in the immediate area. That draws attendance, too, because you can drive 5 miles into town and see your buddy play that weekend.

There's two things that are really sticking out to me about Pitt's very, very, very slow progress:

1. You had a few seasons under Harris where you made bowl games. Attendance was up. That's a good sign. Then, you struggle under Wanny this year. Dude, where are your fans? You call Penn State's fans fairweather!

2. 33K for homecoming is a joke, Moldo. UNT might get that for homecoming. That is the one home game where people go to games and it's a big deal. You played a huge, long-time conference rival!

The lack of attendance is proof positive what I am saying: you have SO MUCH you need to do before you're even ready to win the Big East. What you say about atmosphere is so completely off base. Having recruits at games like OSU with a packed house and screaming fans creates excitement for these kids. You cannot tell me the Pitt recruits at the Cuse game were like, "Man this place is sick I really wanna play here."

I cannot stress this enough. When a new coach gets hired, there is initial hype and an immediate boost in recruiting. This ALWAYS happens, especially when the guy you hire is an ex-NFL guy. You can argue this until we are all blue in thw face, but the fact remains that the attendance wars and the recruiting wars are won ON THE FIELD. You have GOT to win games! 4 or 5 loss seasons are what hurt Pitt in the Harris days. Bowl games mean NOTHING. 60 teams make bowl games. If you CAN'T make a bowl game, THEN you know you have something wrong. Especially in a very bad conference like the Big East.

Maybe you will get all 17 players, and good job. But you gotta win games. Those Top 100 losing interest is a very bad sign!

What do you mean "before we are ready to win The Big East", did Pitt not win The Big East last year and play in a BCS bowl? Is Pitt not still in contention to win it this year? Where is your brain, 1995? You know what it takes for Pitt to win The Big East, but Penn St. hasn't competed this late in the season for a Big Ten championship in like 10 years. The success Penn St. is having this year has really warped your mind and your memory. You said that you have to win and that if you can't make a bowl game there is something wrong. Well, in the recent past Penn St. hasn't won and they haven't been going to too many bowl games. Take your own advice: it is October and you are the one that has already predicted the fall of Pitt football and the reemergence of Penn St. glory days. Also, as far as coaches go, look at Penn St's. They have a 78 year old corpse who just a year ago was about to be run out of college football by every one. Recruits don't forget this. No one wants to play for this man anymore. One successful season out of 6 doesn't bring back the glory and rep just yet for Penn St.

Listen, child. Even when PSU was doing poorly, did the attendance slip? NO. Did the recruiting slip? NO! Why is that?

I will gladly tell you why. Because PennState has DECADES worth of prestige and has CLOUT. Kids still wanted to play for PSU, even though their records were bad. That is because, Penn State has tradition, has a HUGE attendance base and fanbase, and has a legendary coach. Did they, or didn't they, get the best recruiting class EVER at that school AFTER a terrible season?

Why do kids go to PSU when they are 4-7 and not Duke when they are 4-7? Tradition! Decades worth of football prestige!

There is no comparison between Pitt and Penn State, currently. Not even during the Harris years, because Penn State still dominated them in attendance and recruiting. People all across this country like Penn State because of what they have done in the past. Every Penn State game is broadcast on either ESPN2 or the GamePlan. I was watching PSU games on ESPN down here in Texas even when they were the worst they've ever been under Paterno.

There is no comparison, currently. You guys had a few good years under Harris, and what has it gotten you? It's gotten you 33,000 people at your homecoming game, and likelwise attendance for the rest of the conference home games. Nobody cares, dude. Where are all these fans you Pitt people were boasting about last season? They don't care. Pitt does not have the clout to draw 65K when ever they do poorly, like PSU has the clout to draw 100K when THEY do poorly. It is very, very, very, very simple.

And you did not win the Big East. You tied 4 ways for that title, in a conference of seven teams. And it is because of Pitt's stellar performance in that BCS game, against a one-and-done Mountain West squad, that is fueling the fire for the conference to lose that BCS bid. Nice job. Nice job gathering fans, too.

Isn't it funny how as soon as PSU starts doing well, all those Pitt fans are GONE. Now, all the Pitt fans are complaining about the people jumping on the PSU bandwagon. What was it called when they started rooting half-heartedly for Pitt a few years back?

If you don't see that attendance as a major factor in building that program, you have rocks in your head.

Recruiting wars and attendance wars are won on the football field. Go lose 2 more games. You already lost to Ohio and Rutgers.

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Penn St. hasn't competed this late in the season for a Big Ten championship in like 10 years.

Also, as far as coaches go, look at Penn St's. They have a 78 year old corpse who just a year ago was about to be run out of college football by every one. Recruits don't forget this. No one wants to play for this man anymore. One successful season out of 6 doesn't bring back the glory and rep just yet for Penn St.
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Ok, lets go ahead and look at the coaches. One has 351 wins all time in NCAA D-IA football. The other is 4-4 and lost to Ohio and Rutgers.

No one wants to play for Joe anymore? Why did Derrick Williams and Justin King go to PSU in the first place? They wanted to play for the 2nd most dominate coach in D-IA football history and play for one of the most history filled schools that the nation has ever seen.

In 2002 they were in the hunt for the Big10 title, as they were in 1999. 1994 happens to be the only year they won the conference. So what, it's a tough conference. It has the winningest college football team EVER in it, along with Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State and Purdue recently. PSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Purdue, Michigan State, 8 teams right there that could win the dang title any year.

In the Big Least you have WVU, Louisville, Cincinnati, South Florida, Pitt, Syracuse, UCONN and Rutgers. WOW! Rutgers is in 2nd place alone right now over top of your 'beloved' panthers. Pitt is going to lose to Louisville this weekend and WVU to end the year and not make a bowl game. We'll see how well that goes for the recruiting this offseason, after Pitt can't win an 8 team conference.