The good part about Dave Wannstedt pulling his name yesterday from consideration as head coach, he did it early in the process. As much interest as his name and profile automatically seemed to make him the frontrunner in the search, imagine how worse and ND-esque it would have been if he had waited until next week or even after the formal interview to change his mind. The downside, I had finally gotten to the point where I could type Wanny’s name without double checking the spelling.
Seems that Wannstedt’s withdrawal wasn’t the only change. Houston Texans DB coach and life-long friend of AD Jeff Long, John Hoke, appears to already be off the list of possible candidates. The guy has a good resume, but he would have been an awkward choice considering his long friendship with Long. It just would have come off as some classic cronyism.
On the other hand, a familiar name is back on the list –Matt Cavanaugh. Guess the fact that the Ravens are showing an offense again, is restoring some of his luster. Actually, I missed it the first time I read the article, but this is troubling
Wannstedt suggested that he went back and forth on the Pitt job. He has a close relationship with chancellor Mark Nordenberg and entertained the idea of coming home. He even researched the current Pitt roster and some of the incoming recruits, just to stay on top of things.
He reportedly would have required higher salaries for his assistants, though that was not seen as a deal-breaker.
[Emphasis added.] Going hand-in-hand with finding the right guy to be head coach is getting the right assistants. You can’t skimp on them either. That was an underlying issue when Harris was running things. The pay of Pitt assistants was on the lower end.
In an almost passing comment regarding who LSU would get to replace Nick Saban, Tim Brando mentions Wannstedt:
I’ve spoken with Wannstedt and while he said no to his alma mater, Pitt, understand that school lacks the commitment to excellence in football that LSU already has.
Sal Sunseri, the former Pitt player and assistant, does not appear to be on the list despite his interest. I know he is also popular with some alumni and boosters, but he does not seem to be high on Pitt’s list. Other former Pitt players are letting everyone know that they would be interested in becoming part of the next Pitt coaching staff. Alex Van Pelt is volunteering to be a QB coach (no comment); and Teryl Austin (who? name not ringing any bells), presently the Seattle Seahawks DB coach, wouldn’t mind being a defensive coordinator.
AD Long did actually conduct an interview yesterday. Paul Rhoads got his interview, and got an endorsement from ESPN recruiting guy, Tom Lemming. Of course, Lemming isn’t exactly ripping any possibilities. From his online chat at ESPN on Tuesday, December 14 (subscription only):
Jerry: Tom. Do you have any word on recruiting at Pittsburgh now that Harris is leaving?
Tom Lemming: I’ve been hearing Matt Cavanaugh, Bob Davie, Dave Wannstedt and Tom Clemons as the four candidates. Pitt’s recruiting has been on hold and will suffer for the time lost. I think all four are great candidates. They can’t go wrong with any of them.
The less said about Paul Rhoads as Pitt head coach, the better.
In other football related notes, Bill “the original offensive genius” Walsh explains and apologizes for his 2 1/2 star crack on Pitt.
Walsh reportedly made the comments moments after former Pitt coach Harris was introduced as the coach at Stanford. He said he cringed when he saw the words in print.
“I was promoting Walt to some local writers, and what I was saying was, ‘He took a program that was probably two-and-a-half stars and made it a four-star program.’ When he got there, he had to deal with some lower-level athletes, but he built it up.”
Walsh claimed some of his words were in the wrong places, blaming himself for not being clear enough.
“It sounds awful, and I feel awful,” said Walsh, 73, who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories. “I have all kinds of friends in Pittsburgh, and this is embarrassing as hell for me. We were on the Stanford campus, and I was talking about how beautiful this campus is and how Pitt’s campus was in a tougher part of town from what I remembered. But that was from 20 years ago. I understand it is beautiful there. Dan Rooney (Steelers owner) told me that. I feel stupid for any of this happening. I just don’t know if an apology is enough.”
If that’s the way he wants to spin it. Fine. I’m willing to let the thing drop.
Mike Prisuta defends AD Jeff Long and Walt Harris for allowing Harris to coach the Fiesta Bowl. He makes the same point I made a few days ago when Ron Cook was complaining about this. You let an interim coach, coach the game and you risk getting trapped into hiring that guy if the team wins. Specifically, Paul Rhoads. That just isn’t a route that should be followed.
