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Wolford: Pitt still formidable opponent
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Much of the offseason talk about Pitt football has centered around its coaching turnover (Paul Chryst is the third head coach in three years, although if you count Mike Haywood’s two-week footnote and Keith Patterson’s interim stint, you could argue that he’s the fifth), its future conference (the Panthers move from the Big East to the ACC next year) and running back Ray Graham’s knee (improving but not 100 percent).
That’s a mistake, Youngstown State coach Eric Wolford said.
“A lot of people may have paid more attention to a lot of the things that went on with the coaching changes as opposed to what kind of quality team it is,” he said. “It’s a good football team. They’ve got guys on that football team that could play for that other team in Pittsburgh.”
The Panthers began the 2011 season with high expectations, but stumbled to a 6-7 record that finished with first-year coach Todd Graham bolting for Arizona State before a three-touchdown loss to Southern Methodist in the BBVA Compass Bowl.
But Pitt returns eight starters on offense, including Graham, who was second nationally in rushing before tearing his ACL in Week 8, and senior quarterback Tino Sunseri, who has started 26 straight games.
Defensively, junior tackle Aaron Donald returns after an 11-sack campaign on a unit that has seven new starters, including Mooney High graduate Ray Vinopal, who will start at strong safety.
Vinopal started as a freshman at Michigan two years ago before transferring to Pitt and sitting out last season to fulfill NCAA transfer rules. Vinopal was a high school teammate of Penguins safety Donald D’Alesio and was coached by YSU linebackers coach Ron Stoops, who was Vinopal’s defensive coordinator at Mooney.
“He’s a good player,” Wolford said of Vinopal. “I’m sure he’ll be excited to play [his hometown team]. There’s potential bragging rights there.”
Vinopal is the only Valley native on Pitt’s two-deep roster, but three others are on the team: senior DL Kris Wildman (Champion) and freshmen WRs Chris and Demetrious Davis (Fitch).
Also, YSU defensive line coach Tom Sims played defensive tackle for the Panthers in 1988-89, YSU tight ends coach Mauro Monz was Pitt’s recruiting coordinator in 2000 and Pitt’s senior associate athletic director, E.J. Borghetti, is a Neshannock High graduate whose father, Dr. Ernie Borghetti, graduated from Ursuline High and was an All-America lineman for the Panthers.
The teams have been closer geographically than competitively in the series, with Pitt winning the first two meetings by a combined score of 79-3.
But YSU senior running back Jamaine Cook, whose first collegiate carry came in 2009’s 38-3 loss to the Panthers, said Wolford has made the team believe it can compete against anyone.
“It’s a mindset coach Wolford has instilled in us,” said Cook, who had one carry for 2 yards in that loss. “No matter who we play against, we can compete.”
Junior quarter Kurt Hess agreed.
“I do believe that we can win,” he said. “I think that’s the attitude and the mindset this football team needs to have in every game, whether it’s Pittsburgh or Valpo [Valparaiso] or someone in the conference.”