But before I do, I want to note a story from the AP sportswriter in Pittsburgh, Alan Robinson about Coach Wannstedt’s re-emphasis on recruiting Western Pennsylvania. The article came out yesterday, and was picked up by papers down in Florida, Georgia, Indiana and California along with a bunch of papers throughout Pennsylvania. It was a positive piece and sends out something of an announcement to other coaches that Pitt be fighting them for the Western Pennsylvania kids.

Today, there is essentially a follow-up piece.

A year after Pitt lost two prime Pittsburgh-area recruits on letter-of-intent signing day, Wannstedt firmed up the Panthers’ recruiting base by signing 11 western Pennsylvania players Wednesday _ or nearly half of his initial 24-man class.

“I think we’re going to be very happy with these guys in a few years,” Wannstedt said.

Many recruits were lined up before former coach Walt Harris left for Stanford following Pitt’s 35-7 loss to Utah in the Fiesta Bowl. But Wannstedt landed commitments from a half-dozen western Pennsylvania players during his barely five weeks on the job, including quarterback Bill Stull of Seton-La Salle High.
…
“Dave didn’t have a lot of time, but he was able to go back to Florida and get some players and he made sure he got that quarterback from western Pennsylvania,” said recruiting analyst Bobby Burton of Rivals.com. “He got some things accomplished in a short period of time.”
…
Pitt did not recruit any of Rivals.com’s Top 100 players and its class is ranked only 38th by that service, 42nd by scout.com and 44th by recruiting analyst Max Emfinger. But Burton thinks Pitt will upgrade its future classes with Wannstedt, whose uptempo personality and sideline enthusiasm are regarded as recruiting plusses.
…
“Walt Harris was never known for being a great recruiter, and I think Dave Wannstedt will be better than him,” Burton said. “To be successful at Pitt you’ve got to emphasize western Pennsylvania recruiting, and he’ll do that.”

It’s already popping up throughout Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

At the Pitt website, they have a collection of comments from Coach Wannstedt regarding the recruiting class.

On the ability of freshmen to come in and start:
“I think these days, the way the game has changed with players leaving before their time is up, I think you have to play the best players that you can possibly play and give yourself a chance to win. I don’t think that’s any different then what I have done in the NFL the past couple years. I can relate it back to when I played. We had a lot of freshmen that helped us win.”

On re-establishing Pitt’s relationships with local high schools:
“There has been a lot of talk about that, but I didn’t find that was the case whatsoever. In fact, I think the coaches who have recruited locally — Curtis Bray, Bob Junko and the others — I think they have done a great job of keeping those relationships. I think the biggest thing is where are we really going to spend our time. What relationship are we going to cultivate? We have had a couple decisions here within the past few weeks. Anytime it is close between a player in our own backyard and our own state that is the way we are going to go.”

On the freshmen class having an impact:
“I think they will. I think it will be determined by where we are at as a football team. I know that LaRod Stephens is faster than anyone we have. I think that this guy has a chance to come in here and be a running back and make some great plays. Does he have the ability to help us? Yes, he does without a doubt. A couple of the defensive linemen have a chance. We could have a young offensive lineman work his way into the starting lineup. It would not surprise me at all.”

On Conredge Collins:
“He had some offers from major schools, like Ohio State and Miami. He wanted a chance (to play running back), and a lot of teams where talking to him about starting at linebacker. Everyone in the country thought he could come in and start as a freshmen at fullback. I told him that we would give him a chance at tailback, because that position is wide open right now. Obviously if we can’t put this guy at tailback, he has to have the ability and flexibly at other spots.”
…
On having a recruiting coordinator:
“I will start tomorrow. I have some guys lined up and I hope to have someone in place by the first of next week. It will be someone that I am very comfortable with and that I can relate to. He has to be a good recruiter and a good football coach who understands the University of Pittsburgh and this area. It will be an addition to the current staff.”

On the new facilities:
“They did a fabulous job putting it together, not just because it’s new either. What is new isn’t always best. The weight room, the training room and the practice fields are great. The indoor field is second to none. The relationship we have with the Steelers is something we need to take advantage of.”

On recruiting the neighboring state of Ohio:
“We will continue to recruit the Akron area. The one area we’ll recruit next year is the Cincinnati area. We picked up Cincinnati on our schedule and we will play Louisville. I had a coach tell me that there were over 30 Division I players taken from that area last year. It makes a lot of sense to me. It is an area where we will get a lot of exposure when we go and play Cincinnati or Louisville. That is an area you will hear more from next year.”

You have to figure most of the offensive line will be open competition, as will running back and the third and fourth wide receivers. The defensive line has some openings. Hopefully the freshmen WRs and RBs will be considered for returning punts and kicks.