I think I’ve been consistent in saying Coach Dave Wannstedt is not going to be fired if Pitt were to disappoint this year. In that respect, he is not on the hot seat. I do think, however, that this is a big year for the Wannstedt reign. The big excuses — year 1, new system; year 2, defense stunk so blame recruiting; year 3, injuries and officiating — are done. A losing or .500 record and it will be hard to say that Wannstedt is the guy to even get this team to the level Walt Harris had it.

The article on the faith in Wannstedt by the administration is nothing not already known. Coach Wannstedt is on great terms with the key folks — Nordenberg and Pederson. Everyone knows it. There is no question that support has been a benefit to Pitt on  the recruiting side.

“One of the reasons we had the No. 1 recruiting classes in the Big East the past three years is I’m not looking to try to get another college or NFL job,” Wannstedt said. “I’ve done those things. I’m here to finish my career at Pitt.

“It’s one thing for me to say it, but when the administration does the same thing, it’s definitely reassuring to recruits and their parents.”

So, rare is the day I find myself nodding with a Smizik column, but I do agree with his point(s) here.

Wannstedt knows how to run a football program. He knows how to recruit. He knows how to glad-hand the alumni. He is expert at dealing with the media. He’s very good with the general public. He’s the guy any school would want as the face of its program — except for those bothersome game days. On those Saturdays and the occasional Thursday and Friday night, too often things that should not go wrong do go wrong.

On game day, Wannstedt’s Pitt teams have failed to live up to, if not expectations, the level of the team’s talent.

…

That’s where Wannstedt’s teams have fallen. They have not been ready to play up to expectations every week.

I, along with most of you, can point to a couple of games in the first 3 seasons that still absolutely boggle. Ohio and Nebraska; Rutgers and UConn; Navy and Michigan State. Games that Pitt lost that were so winnable.

Oddly enough, Smizik is actually optimistic in this column. He believes.

This is the year Wannstedt gets it. He is too good a coach to continue to stumble against inferior opposition. He has done too much good recruiting to continue to head a losing program.

Pitt can win nine games this year, maybe 10. It can win the Big East and go to a major bowl game. It can place itself as one of the elite teams in the conference. The work Wannstedt has done on those six other days has put the Panthers in a position to do all this.

“This season, it seems like everything is in the right place,”‘ said All-American linebacker Scott McKillop. “Our defense is coming back. We have a great running back [McCoy], who is a special player.”

This is the year Wannstedt becomes a seven-day-a-week coach.

In a rarity for all us, here’s hoping Smizik is right.