On AD Jeff Long (thanks, B.B.):

Dave Wannstedt withdrew his name Thursday from the search for a new coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Wannstedt, who resigned earlier this year as coach of the Miami Dolphins, was considered Pittsburgh’s leading candidate.

Wannstedt told Mortensen that he’s not yet ready to jump back into a full-time load as a coach. However, he said that he would keep his NFL options open depending on what jobs are available at the end of the season.

Roughly translated: “I don’t want to have to suck up to high school kids. I can earn a good living as a defensive coordinator, especially if Norv Turner still has a job with Oakland next year. He owes me for giving him one in Miami.”

Wannstedt would have been a popular, sexy pick for Pitt head coach. It would have shown that the school was willing to spend money for a coach and while there was risk, it would have been acceptable.

Now Pitt and AD Jeff Long have to reset. All the named and rumored candidates are coordinators. None have any real head coaching experience. That can be easily be considered Pitt looking to stay cheap. I have to wonder, because there have not been any rumors concerning some of the MAC head coaches we have mentioned on this blog. Novak, Amstutz or Hoeppner, though would likely cost close to what Harris made by the time he departed. A former coordinator, wouldn’t.