Pitt blocks transfer from going to play for Todd Graham at Arizona State

You probably didn't assume Pitt was over the whole Todd Graham thing, but there's now confirmation that the Panthers dislike him as much as ever.

Pitt wasn't happy with the way Graham left to be the coach at Arizona State, less than a year after the Panthers hired him. Graham wasn't given permission to talk to Arizona State, so he resigned to take that job. He sent a text message to players on his way out instead of meeting with them. The players ripped him. Graham cemented his reputation as a coach who can't be trusted because he always has an eye on the next job. His name at Pitt will be cursed for a long time.

So when the possibility of running back Rushel Shell transferring from Pitt to Arizona State came up, that was met with a pretty predictable response, according to ESPN.com.

Shell was a prized recruit who had a promising 641-yard freshman season, but he decided he doesn't want to be at Pitt anymore and will transfer. That's a big blow to the program already, and him considering playing for Graham probably set off more strong feelings at Pitt.

This is a pretty hard one to take sides on. On one hand, you have a pretty unlikeable coach and a school that obviously has some (deserved) hard feelings. It's pretty easy to see that side of the argument. On the other, transfer restrictions stink, just another way to keep the players from having any control – as they help make millions for their schools.

One thing we do know: Todd Graham isn't close to being welcomed back at Pitt.

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