Unsurprisingly Pitt and especially Coach Wannstedt have come out this weekend taking a beating in the media.
FLORIDA TODAY assistant sports editor Ralph Routon lists the five most disappointing college football teams so far this season:
1. Pittsburgh (0-2).
After making a BCS game last year, and with plenty of returnees, the Panthers had high expectations with new head coach Dave Wannstedt. Losing at home to Notre Dame was one thing. Losing at Ohio was disastrous.
But, hey, at least we are the best of the worst.
Another article wondering about how so many pundits could be wrong about various teams, including of course:
Pittsburgh. Former Panther Tony Dorsett stood up before his school’s opener and said he was sure first-year Coach Dave Wannstedt was the man to turn the program around. Well, maybe Dorsett was right. Last year, Pitt went to the Fiesta Bowl under Walt Harris and this year Pitt opened with losses to Notre Dame and Ohio.
The piling on continues.
Worst coaching job: One week after making a disastrous debut at home against Notre Dame, Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt showed again why he was such a bust in the NFL. Considered dark horses in the dismal Big East behind favorite Louisville, the Panthers will likely go into league play with three losses with a trip to Nebraska scheduled for Saturday.
And Nebraska is happy about this considering their own problems on offense.
However, there’s a bright side to all of this offensive misery. A few of them, actually:
Bright Side I: Pitt’s foundering football team. The 0-2 Panthers are a train wreck. They rank 95th nationally in total offense and 61st in total defense (Nebraska is No. 99 and No. 6, respectively). New Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt looked lost as the Panthers fell in overtime to Ohio last weekend. After playing Pitt on Saturday, NU has a bye week before beginning conference play. Perfect. Bill Callahan and Co. can step back, take a deep breath and assess the situation. And, yes, we have a situation.
And of course, the fellow bloggers are not letting things go unncommented.
And you know what, there is no answer right now. I’m not giving up, but there is nothing to say to defend what has happened. All that can be done is just kind of shrug and hope.
