I’ve got a couple AP wire stories at this point. Harris was introduced as Stanford’s new coach, but no actual comments from him in the brief article.
Alan Robinson, the AP’s Pittsburgh sports writer filed his on Pitt AD Long’s comments at the press conference. Seems he was the only official speaking.
Walt Harris was not guaranteed of returning as Pitt’s coach next season before he was hired by Stanford, Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long said Monday as he began searching for Harris’ successor.
Harris’ status has been in doubt since Pitt chose earlier this year not to extend his contract, which runs through 2006. Many top Division I-A coaches work under five-year rollover contracts that automatically renew each year.
A late-season surge of six victories in seven games that unexpectedly earned the No. 19 Panthers (8-3) a Fiesta Bowl bid didn’t push Pitt into changing its stance, and the school allowed the Big East coach of the year to leave without making a counteroffer.
“You know what? That’s hard to say,” Long said when asked if Harris would have returned in 2005. “We were in an (evaluation) process and had not completed the process so saying any more than that would not be fair. … Coach Harris made his decision in his best interest and now he’s moved on, and we look to move on as well.”
Okay, which is more reassuring. To think that Long was lying when he said that they had not completed the evaluation process before this past weekend; that he was lying when he said that there was an evaluation process; or that he was actually telling the truth?
The least reassuring would be if he was being honest. If Pitt hadn’t completed its evaluations at that point, or weren’t even to a point where the administration had a sense of whether he should be retained or not; then what hope is there that Pitt could actually make a reasonably competent and speedy evaluation and interview of candidates for the position?
Who do they think they were kidding? Everyone knew that the administration had decided that Harris was going after this season. The writing had been on the wall from the start of the season. The whispers, the rumors, the leaks. Never anyone taking direct shots at each other (except for Harris’ agent having an outburst in October).
I’ve gone back and forth on this all season. I’ve passionately wanted Harris’ tenure ended, I’ve defended him and felt he earned a new extension, I’ve sadly concluded it to be best he leave, I’ve reluctantly announced he wasn’t taking Pitt in the right direction long term. That was all in this season.
Long wants the search to end quickly, but said it would take “weeks, not days,” though it could end before the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl against No. 5 Utah – Pitt’s first New Year’s Day or later bowl game in 21 years. Harris will coach the bowl game before officially leaving, as will Florida-bound Utah coach Urban Meyer.
Long wouldn’t identify any candidates, but said he has already heard from coaches currently working in college and the NFL.
I guess the issue of whether Harris should have stayed or been released, for me, came down to, “do I trust the administration to hire someone better?” That’s probably why I decided to hope Pitt retained Harris.
