There’s no reason to beat around the bush or to piss down your back and try to tell you it’s raining. I don’t believe in any other way but to be honest. Pitt is f*****.
Going back to when he arrived in 2017, the one person that Pitt football couldn’t afford to lose, and this includes Pat Narduzzi, was legendary defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.
The University of Pittsburgh realized this, and it was the reason that whenever other major programs such as Alabama, Miami, Florida (you get the point) tried to poach Partridge, Pitt came up with the necessary money and titles to keep him.
It’s not always about money and unfortunately, Pat Narduzzi and Pitt found that out today as Partridge decided to head to the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.
From all the information that I’ve gathered, this move had nothing to do with finally making it at the NFL level, money or being unhappy at Pitt, Partridge just wanted to escape the cesspool of college football. It’s that simple.
Last week it was Jeff Hafley leaving the head coaching position with Boston College to become defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Today it was Partridge, and this trend will no doubt continue until something fixes college athletics.
Who in their right mind wants to deal with the insanity of the transfer portal and NIL deals? Partridge is an ace recruiter and arguably the best defensive line coach in college football. Unfortunately, that doesn’t matter anymore because all of that is devalued by the necessity of having to re-recruit your own players at the end of every season and the time and energy that goes into doing so.
It’s whether your NIL collective has enough money to keep the players that are getting bid on.
A perfect example of what likely helped drive Partridge from Pitt is the situation with Samuel Okunlola. The former four-star defensive end was in a position to be Pitt’s starting defensive end this season alongside fellow four-star recruit Dayon Hayes.
That never materialized because programs around the country saw Okunlola’s potential and eventually Deion Sanders and Colorado put in the highest bid for his services.
This isn’t just a Pitt problem. This is something that’s impacting every college team in the country.
I don’t care how much money you’re making; this would drive any coach crazy and make you question your job and whether you truly have the passion to do it. With the uneven landscape in college football, it’s difficult for Pitt to land high four-star players, but Pitt has been able to do that, in large part due to Partridge. Want proof? Seven of Pitt’s last 10 four-star signees were defensive linemen.
Having to re-recruit these players at the end of the year and worry about what you’re trying to build up is going to stay intact the following year wouldn’t be a fun job. Thus, Partridge is gone. I’ll be honest, this is pure speculation on my part, but I truly can’t see Narduzzi having the stomach for this much longer either. Guys like him and Partridge are real football coaches and have no desire to deal with the rapidly changing college football landscape.
Speaking of Narduzzi, he’s now faced with yet another “biggest coaching hiring” of his Pitt career. Honestly, it’s an impossible task because no one he brings in will be better than Partridge. No one will have the recruiting connections in Florida that Partridge has and whoever he brings in won’t be a better teacher than Partridge.
So, I truly don’t envy Narduzzi with this one.
All I know is that Pitt has to reach for the stars and go pluck a name defensive line coach from another Power Five program. He has to be someone that’s established, someone that is a tremendous recruiter and someone that will make a difference. Patridge was Pitt’s highest-paid assistant coach, so they have the money to spend.
Narduzzi’s other pressing job is to get together and have a long conversation with his young, talented defensive line, guys like Sincere Edwards, Francis Brewu, Jahsear Whittington, Isaiah Neal, David Ojiegbe, Nick James, Antonio Camon, etc. and try to talk to them and see where their heads are after finding out one of the top reasons they came to Pitt is no longer there. Good luck with that.
Despite a 3-9 season a year ago, Pitt football was starting to generate some positive vibes with the transfer additions along with the buzz surrounding the new offensive coaching staff.
Unfortunately, a lot of that has been erased today but that’s the current world of college sports. Don’t count on something being there tomorrow because it could be gone in a second.
Congrats to Charlie. Pitt football was around a long time before him and will be OK a long time after him…
You’re right in saying that Pitt football will be ok. This NIL nonsense has pretty much assured that it will never again achieve a level much higher than that.
I agree. He is a talented man, but there are other talented coaches out there that know the same teaching and recruiting techniques that he knows. He has left behind some assistants that have served under him for several years. A football program is never about one man, especially in our current climate.
The transfer portal has ruined college football….
And basketball.
College sports seems intent on self-destructing.
All institutions are earmarked for destruction. You haven’t been following closely what is indeed going on. Burning down the past for their…….
Great article that’s truly spot on, Mike. You pretty much nailed it. We saw the poachers steal away Addison when this whole nonsensical NIL garbage began. It’s truly the ruination of college football but it’s not surprising in the least. In today’s world honor and loyalty are out and have been replaced with selfishness and greed. It’s unfortunately par for the course in today’s modern world. I can’t blame Coach Partridge or anyone else for wanting to leave the idiocy behind. The NFL is no treat these days either but it’s better than dealing with delusional kids and this NIL… Read more »
Yuck sounds like someone is into golden showers.
Besides Trump ?
Trump? I guess you people are the same people that bought into the whole Russian collusion hoax lol. How’d that turn out for you? Keep believing in what tell-lie-vision tells you. Thinking for oneself is a lost art these days. Apologies to readers for the off topic comments but it was brought in by others.
These people probably still believe that Benghazi was caused by a YouTube video among other things.
It’s funny. Democrats are more often then not in to what they accuse their opposition of doing.
Adam knows…👍🇺🇸
A free mind uncluttered with propaganda and tell-lie-vision fairytales is a beautiful thing. Kudos!
Thinking for yourself? If you did you would not be following the Orange Mussolini. It’s ok to have a small dick Jeff
Sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself of that Rodd. 😂
I bet this was Rod Rosenstein. 😂
Will agree college football is a cesspool. Basketball too ! Glad I don’t watch 98% of the pc agenda’d garbage. Soon to be 100% looks like. They ruined the NFL too with this garbage.
When they go to the 12 playoff system for football….you can be assured that 8 of the 12 spots will be filled by SEC & Bigjoke high paid NFL minor league, no academic requirement schools masquerading as colleges. Have fun with that !
I’m not attempting to take a crap on you or your profession Mike but in all honesty covering high school kids and treating them as if they’re already stars instead of just kids has contributed to all this in truth. Showering these young kids with interviews and undue attention has been part of what’s enabled this sense of entitlement. And your outlet isn’t the only one by far so I’m not attempting to single you out. Perhaps these kids should actually accomplish something meaningful at a meaningful level before we cover them and treat them like stars. You end up… Read more »
I don’t understand why universities don’t hire a very good HS or D2 coach, and use the extra $5-7 million/year for NIL, to get the best recruits out there. Just a thought!
H2P!!!
Best of luck,Charlie. Thanks for all you’ve done for Pitt!
I agree it’s a blow to the program, but also a chance to improve. Duzz has his work cut out for him, but a younger coach can identify with these kids better. Also, seems every ACC team has a strong defense line, and the cupboard is full at Pitt. A Partridge student may take this opportunity and build upon his success. It will hurt, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Best of luck to Coach and thank you! Is AD talking about retirement again this off season? Could you imagine Aaron Donald sitting across from a HS kid? I… Read more »
40 years ago a wise coworker of mine said it was a matter of time before money ruined college football.
Unfortunately he was right.
Let’s all be honest in admitting that players being “compensated” in some form or fashion has been going on behind the scenes with questionable programs for years. All one has to do is think back to those 2 Live Crew Luther Campbell teams the Miami Hurricanes once put together. You can bet those players were at the very least going to celebrity parties and receiving gifts of some kind. Having said that making player compensation the norm was the wrong avenue to go down to put it mildly. It’s a real mess now.
Excellent insights as always is provided by Mike Vukovcan. This paints a clear picture of the demise of men with integrity and passion who coach college football at the highest level. I also believe TV money has led to the current state of college football. We see a tradition conference like the PAC collapse. Instead of a yearly meeting with WVU we now have a manufactured rivalry with Stanford and Wake Forest. Money and greed has made college football what it is today. I understand what Mike is saying about recruits (high school, from other programs and keeping your own… Read more »
That’s the point, the NCAA created this current situation. NIL is just an antithesis of what we had in the pre- NIL era. Now, all the old heads are panicking. This had to happen. In time, a more organized system will prevail. For decades, the NCAA used NIL to their advantage and even many universities profitted off of young men that were not even guaranteed a scholarship from year to year. NIL is more fair, and legal, than non- NIL. It’s just as fans, it doesn’t fit our needs.
I agree that NCAA created this current situation to some degree. In my opinion they created this current situation by not anticipating the future. The NCAA, the Universities, the coaches wanted status quo or something that benefited them and never considered the athletes. Now we have a system where the athlete can transfer without stipulation. Added to the equation is the athlete can receive NIL money. Also add to the equation boosters without scruples or concern for the young person. Wait, add to the equation big money networks throwing money at the SEC and Big 10. This causes Athletic directors,… Read more »
College football is now the NFL, without any rules, structure, or framework to ensure that all teams have an equal opportunity to compete. College football is a business, without a business model. No other business would survive, and neither will college football.
Love or hate Narduzzi, he is one of the best defensive coaches in the country (emphasis on DEFENSE). Hence, I will play devil’s advocate and state that Pitt may not be as screwed as it now seems with Partridge departing. I think we’ll be okay if the current star D-line recruits will be convinced to stick around and not panic.
Panicking is never a viable option. The entire article smacked of panic. His anxiety attack entertained quite a number of participants on this thread.