I have been rather harsh about the way Pitt screwed around hiring a new AD. I hate that the new AD, Jeff Long, has thrown total support behind the moronic Big East Megaconference (that may come apart before it even starts if the ACC does reinvite BC). Still, he seems to be getting some of the other things right (warning: Puff piece, that may contain actual information).

He reinstated a weekly radio show for football coach Walt Harris and will do the same with first-year men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon. Starting next week, there will be a weekly half-hour Pitt television show on Fox Sports Net, at 7 p.m. Tuesday. It will feature Harris in the fall, Dixon in the winter, plus features on other sports and athletes.

Finally. This has been galling for many of us. Living in Ohio, the entire state is subjected to radio shows: The Buckeye Roundtable, The Jim Tressel Call-in show, and a host of other OSU football radio and TV propaganda. There is a reason there is only one dominant program in all of football rich Ohio (and a bunch of creative/scrambling mid-majors to collect the scraps and missed diamonds in the rough). The point I’m trying to make is that Pitt has never played the media game well or at all. From it’s ill-advised press announcement in the 90s of wanting to be called “Pittsburgh” rather than the negative connotating “Pitt” to only recently getting around to truly embrace the long, rich and actual football tradition at Pitt. They just don’t seem to get it.

Another aspect Long seems to be understanding.

In merchandising, Long likes the panther-head logo but hopes to come up with a second, softened version that will reproduce better in small sizes. He understands the nostalgia for the old script “Pitt” and said it will continue to be marketed in a line of throwback merchandise.

The block Pitt with the “Iron Bar” isn’t the worst alternative logo.

And I can definitely support a secondary better than the flopped “Panther Tooth” from a couple years ago.

My feelings though, is to scrap the main logo altogether. (not to mention reverting to the original colors) I guess I could live without the old script logo returning…

But I have to admit, that after catching the 1987 ND-Pitt game the other day on ESPN Classic (Pitt upset the then #4 ranked Irish 30-22 behind the legendary Craig “Ironhead” Haywood), I sure would like it all back.

The merchandising is an area he definitely needs to work on. Now, I’m not saying I would buy a pair of slippers looking looking like sneakers, or a Hawaiian style shirt with my school, and especially not a $149 alma mater rug (included in the list are such name schools like Delaware, Youngstown State, Tennessee Chattanooga (?), Wayland Baptist (??) and Pacific Lutheran (???)). But, I would be interested in the keychain with the strong minilight, the golf head covers and maybe even the putter.

I just find it frustrating that I stop by one of those cap stores in the mall (in Cleveland) and see 3 different Penn St. caps, Va Tech., West Virginia (WTF?), and Marshall, but no Pitt hats. Okay, that really is more of name and demand — but still, Marshall and WVU? In Cleveland, but not Pitt?

An aspect of the game tomorrow night that hasn’t necessarily been overlooked, but has from a one-on-one perspective is Pitt stud WR, Larry Fitzgerald matching up against the deservedly given pre-season All-American CB, Vontez Duff.

In the season-opener against Washington State, receiver Devard Darling was limited to just four catches for 68 yards. And Michigan’s 6-foot-3 receiver Braylon Edwards was held to 54 yards on four catches. No opposing receiver has broken through the 100-yard receiving barrier so far this season.

Much of that credit goes to Duff, who has 10 tackles, two pass deflections and a forced fumble in four games this season.

You can bet he’ll look to snap Fitzgerald’s touchdown streak. Apparently ND is planning to let Duff go one-on-one with Fitzgerald a fair amount of time, owing to some injuries in their secondary that effects their depth.

Fitzgerald will get his chances, and I believe he will prevail by the end. What this does suggest to me, though, is that Rutherford has to utilize TE, Kris Wilson and the other receivers to keep ND from dropping the safety to help cover Fitzgerald.

Of course Domer nation is still more concerned with the fact that their ex-coach will be doing the color for the game on ESPN.

He has some history with Pittsburgh too, growing up in the area and spending three years as the linebackers coach for the great Panther defenses of the early 1980s.

That relationship may be more distant, but the roots run deep, making his presence in the broadcast booth Saturday night an audience curiosity and a test of his objectivity.

As if all of that would not be uncomfortable enough, Davie knows his comments will be parsed for any hints of bias or bitterness.

Prediction time, since I won’t actually hear him commenting (thankfully), ND fans will consider him biased against them no matter how far he bends over backwards to not criticize them. Though, really, he should want ND to do well for a simple reason.

“From a personal standpoint, I’ve got a lot invested,” Davie said, “having recruited those players.”

It’s very odd to find myself actually feeling some sympathy for Bob Davie.