This week we are joined by Pittsburgh athletics podcast The Loyal Sons. You can follow them on Twitter at @TheLoyalSons. You can also check out their podcast here.
Tell us about yourself and your podcast.
We’re three lifelong Pitt fans. Through thick and thin, we’re die-hard fans. In 2018, we had the idea to make a Twitter account where we could collectively share our thoughts on Pitt athletics… but mostly jokes and memes. We gained a pretty decent following and in the summer of 2021, we made the decision to give podcasting a shot. Pitt having their best season in centuries certainly helped, but fast forward three years and we’re going strong. We’re far from journalists, but we offer the Pitt fan perspective in a unique way that speaks to the heart of Yinzers the nation-over.
What are your thoughts on Pitt so far this year?
Really good. And by really good I mean worse than we could have ever imagined. Phil Jurkovec looks atrocious and that kind of threw our entire offense out of whack. We have a good run game and Rodney Hammond is a dog but when that’s your entire offense and you’re constantly playing from behind, you’re in trouble. Frank Cignetti’s seat is about as hot as it can get. Both he and Phil have been dreadful. Gavin Bartholomew is a top tight end in the country but we can’t get him the ball more than twice a game. Our defense is still pretty good (I think) so they’ll keep us in games against other not-great teams.
How has the Pitt program changed in the last five years?
Kenny Pickett helps. It’s tough to think about now but prior to this season, we felt REALLY good about the trajectory of the team. We followed up an ACC Championship with a 9-win season capped off by a Sun Bowl victory. Pat Narduzzi has been recruiting at a high level for Pitt standards too so the future looked bright. This team might be a solid QB away from being a 9ish win team on the field. Frank Cignetti’s 2006 playcalling and offensive scheme is not it, and there are very legitimate fears we could be squandering the program’s momentum by going conservative on offense.
What are your thoughts on having Virginia Tech assigned as a permanent ACC rival?
I won’t complain about biennial trips to Blacksburg. Also, with all due respect, 2003 Frank Beamer isn’t walking through that door any time soon, so Pitt hasn’t exactly been assigned a guaranteed annual loss with this pairing. It’s a fun game that could become a fun rivalry between two programs that can consistently compete with each other. Even if we’ve kind of owned you since 2020 (editor’s note: send your hate mail to LoyalSonsEmail@gmail.com).
Do you view Virginia Tech as a rival program?
We like them as an in-conference rival. You’ll never reach PSU/WVU level but that’s maybe a good thing. We despise them and they are insufferable. We used to hate VT but that was mostly because of the stretch when VT was overrated by the media. We’re pretty similar programs in a lot of ways so I think each fanbase gets that.
What is your outlook for the future of the ACC?
It’s bad. I mean, I’m glad they expanded and added Cal and Stanford, and I’m very intrigued by the SMU addition. But I think it’s clear the conference’s most valuable assets are just waiting out the Grant of Rights until it’s fiscally feasible to bolt, and a couple primetime games on The CW won’t change that. Clemson, FSU, Miami, and UNC will take off for the SEC and B1G, and the rest of us will be left to scramble for whatever spots remain in the Big 12 – accepting whatever discount they require of us. In the long-run, I wouldn’t hate if the ACC took the Big 12’s realignment approach after the biggest programs get poached: add the most fun remaining G5 teams and at least build an entertaining mid-tier league. Tulane, JMU, App St, Coastal, ECU, WKU, etc. are all fun and there for the taking.
What conference do you see Pitt belonging to in the next 5-10 years?
Honestly, whoever will take us. We’ll be content if we aren’t in the AAC or some irrelevant conference. The B1G and Big 12 both make sense because of our rivals WVU and PSU (although they’re delusional and don’t consider us rivals). More than likely we’ll end up in the Big 12 or a watered-down version of the ACC.
What are your expectations for the Virginia Tech game?
U-G-L-Y. Bad QB play. Probably general sloppiness. No matter who comes out on top both fan bases will leave Lane Stadium disgusted by what they watched. I do think our defense is still pretty solid and will win us this game. Maybe first to 14 wins. I’m guessing Phil Jurkovec will start. We did just spend most of this Q&A bashing him but after he left the game due to injury at halftime against UNC, our backup Christian Veilleux somehow managed to look worse.
What’s your prediction for the game?
17-13 Pitt
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