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November 3, 2009

I don’t say this lightly. There is just so much in this Q&A interview with Tom Dienhart that everyone will take as a key item or focus point. About this season. About Cignetti. About when he came in. The practice facility with the Steelers. About old unis. Playing Penn State.

Here.

Q: Can you bring back the mustard yellow uniforms?

A: “We wore the old traditional uniforms a couple of years ago. You don’t have to twist my arm. Those are the colors I wore. They always will be special in my heart. Times change. I never have been one who gets too caught up in uniform colors. That’s a decision the higher-ups can deal with. I have more important things to deal with. They talked about when we play West Virginia, with both teams wearing throwback uniforms, but I don’t know if that will happen or not. I would favor that.”

Q: Do you want to play Penn State every year?

A: “We need to be playing Penn State. I was on the job about a month and I talked to Coach Paterno about it. It probably won’t happen until he retires and I understand that. It’s his prerogative. But it’ll happen. Maybe I won’t even be here, either [when it happens]. We should play each other. It’s a great, great national in-state rivalry. We should be playing each other. There is no question about that. There probably isn’t anyone who would disagree with that.”

As I said, go read all of it.





How is it that a guy from Rivals.com gets a terrific interview out of the stache but our local clowns get nothing from him? The guy really asked the questions we wanted to hear and better yet he got DW to open up and actually give some answers.

thanks for the link Chas…a good quick read.

Comment by Coach Ditka 11.03.09 @ 12:22 pm

That was a very good interview, have to say DW is a class act win or lose.

Comment by The Dallas Panther 11.03.09 @ 12:37 pm

So let me get this straight. Did I just read that Joe essentially told Dave to go……….himself?

Or maybe, “over my dead body.”

Comment by Steve 11.03.09 @ 1:09 pm

Finally, someone asking our coach what WE want! Not Boobirds and stupid nonsense… Great interview!

Comment by Pauly P 11.03.09 @ 1:17 pm

that would be awsome if they wore thr old uni’s for the WVU. 1 game a season would be great!

Comment by mike 11.03.09 @ 1:29 pm

I completely agree with the comments above about this being a great interview by both the interviewer and DW. The interviewer asked interesting, relevant questions and DW responded in English and not in the cryptic language known as “Coach-speak.”

Personally, I was really impressed with how DW handled the transition from the Harris-era (i.e. not cleaning house like RichRod did in Mich). These kids made a commitment to Pitt and Pitt (rightfully) honored its commitment to them. I think this high character really comes across to recruits – many of whom I have read on pay sites using words like “honesty,” “family,” “integrity.”

I was very surprised how blunt DW was about talking to Joesph Vincent Paterno (don’t call him “JoePa,” it only adds to the illusion of grandeur). Quite a shot across the bow of the U.S.S. Nittanty.

The possibility of script unis at the WVU game? Thank god I bought my tickets in advance. All joking aside, if they were going to this, the home game against ND would be the time to do it. Home crowd, old school teams, Dorsett flashbacks, etc. I really doubt this will happen as the athletic dept. knows it’ll make the fans go absolutely crazy demanding the script back full time, not to mention that Nike would have to design and produce these in the span of a few weeks.

With that being said, let’s take care of business Saturday!

Comment by Bryan 11.03.09 @ 1:53 pm

DW is only 57? He’s got another 5 good years in him before Cignetti takes over.

Comment by Chris 11.03.09 @ 1:54 pm

please don’t wear the script, itll only stir things up and take the focus off the great season we are having

Comment by Jamie H 11.03.09 @ 2:03 pm

Great Interview… I have always been a fan of Wannny and I am actually happy he represents our univeristy (read all comments associated with my name). He is class act.
No matter how this year end I cheer for my panthers every week.

Comment by cdmoore25 11.03.09 @ 2:07 pm

DW is really a class act and I am also proud to have him representing the University. He is starting to overcome the one thing he wasnt good at – winning and winning consistently.

I am glad we dont have a douche like Urban Meyer. Win or lose DW outclasses him on his worst day.

Comment by Coach Ditka 11.03.09 @ 2:14 pm

He addressed script Pitt and Penn State?

All he had to do was mention an on-campus stadium and it would’ve been a Pitt-message board frequenters wet dream!

Comment by Jimbo Covert's My Dad 11.03.09 @ 3:05 pm

As it was, I think several became intensely aroused.

Comment by Chas 11.03.09 @ 3:15 pm

Yea, Paterno said f**k you & “over my dead body” before we play you Home-Home. So lets just be patient and wait a couple more years. How long can the old guy keep going? Then we can get back to my favorite cheer, “Penn State Sucks” aah the memories!

Comment by Dr Tom 11.03.09 @ 4:46 pm

i love you stache.

Comment by Snala the Panther 11.03.09 @ 4:55 pm

how hard would it be for pitt to wear the script uni’s 1 or 2 games a yr? look at oregon they have 4 different helmets they wear. Im sure nike will pay for it, more revenue for them.Just another jersey they can sell

Comment by mike 11.03.09 @ 5:01 pm

Mike,

Phil Knight is actually an Oregon grad, he donates big dollars to the university.

Comment by The Dallas Panther 11.03.09 @ 5:49 pm

Joe Bendel did a great interview with Wanny last night. Some of these topics were discussed.

Who the hell is Anthony Gildon?

Comment by Fletch 11.03.09 @ 5:53 pm

Wanny is the man. Pitt looks to be sustainably good.

Comment by johnnyrocket 11.03.09 @ 6:01 pm

First real insight into the transition for Wanny.
I have been in charge of company turh arounds and most do not have one tenth the compassion that Wanny showed the Harris players. My deepest hope is that we get to clean State Penn’s clock in a bowl game this year. Much like Clubber Lang screaming at Rocky..you been duck’en me chump!

Comment by Dan 72 11.03.09 @ 6:13 pm

FWIW — Bowling Green plays Buffalo tonight on ESPNU … remember them?

While Anthony Gildon may be a good player for someone, and is dearly loved by his mother … he is Fredo here.

Will all these nice Wanny comments be remembered a month from now if we go 2 and 2? The fact is he is subject to criticsm just like any other coach … I just always objected to the unwarranted “ridicule” He clearly isn’t incompetent.

Comment by wbb 11.03.09 @ 6:59 pm

Correction — the MAC game is on ESPN2.

Check this out from Brian Bennett, BU ESPN blog:

We have another clue in the Mike Williams mystery.

The Syracuse Post-Standard is reporting that Williams, Antwon Bailey, Andrew Tiller and Torrey Ball were all involved in a car accident early Sunday morning. Williams quit the team Monday morning, and Syracuse coach Doug Marrone announced today that Bailey, Tiller and Ball were suspended for this week’s game at Pitt for undisclosed team violations.

According to the report, Tiller was driving an SUV that was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer at 5:30 a.m. Sunday in Lenox, N.Y., which is about 30 miles east of Syracuse. Tiller was taken to the hospital, but no one else was hurt.

Police also said the driver of the tractor-trailer was entirely at fault, and no alcohol was involved.
——-

While there may be no excuse for being out so late, still it was a Sunday morning and no alcohol involved. My guess is that Coach Marrone, which now has very little hope for a bowl game, believes it is necessary to set a very stringent precedent. Maybe a very good move for the long term.

Comment by wbb 11.03.09 @ 7:07 pm

I’m still shocked at his candor over Penn State. “It’s not the difficulty in scheduling around conference games. It’s not obstructionism from Penn State’s athletic office. It’s Paterno. When he’s gone, we’ll play, end of story.” Nothing we didn’t know already, I’m just a little shocked to see it come from the mouth of a Pitt official.

Comment by Brian BK 11.03.09 @ 7:46 pm

Very impressive interview. I’m also very glad to have Cignetti on board. BTW, I don’t think Nike would have to work hard to reproduce the old script unis – look at Florida, their uniforms are Nike with the Gator script. In fact, back in the day when Starter made college unis, Florida and Pitt were both decked out in Starter shirts and pants and script helmets. Florida kept the look while we have had several. Hail to Pitt.

Comment by TonyinHouston 11.03.09 @ 8:04 pm

Awesome interview. Wanny is a very humble man and it shows all over his resume. He’s a guy that you want to root for but then his stubborn side comes out once in a while and you wonder about him. I guess that’s part of his charm and I have learned to accept it.

Just keep winning and we will keep dreaming. That’s what sports is all about. He has a chance to do something special this season and it’s haunting him. It must be scary to have something so good be so close but have fields to cross before you can hold it.

Comment by Panthoor 11.03.09 @ 8:06 pm

I have not read many personal attacks on Wannstedt on this board or elsewhere. Most Pitt folks like the guy and root for him (and Pitt) to do well. Most criticism has been on his coaching acumen (or lack thereof). My own personal view has always been I just wished he would stay home on Saturdays. The interview is confirmatory that he is a true Pitt, stand up guy and has integrity. Nobody ever doubted that. If anything, the interview makes you root for him harder. But just like a previous poster pointed out, if Pitt finishes 8-4 not many people will remember the “feel good” nature of this interview.

I hope he goes 11-1, beats the crap out of JoePa in Tempe on New Years Day and celebrates with a big fish sandwich. GO PITT

Comment by wally 11.03.09 @ 10:00 pm

Why would ups want to schedule Pitt on a regular basis???? With a combination of games with Michigan, tOSU, Iowa, and then Pitt their hope for a BCS game is not looking good for the long haul. I don’t see it happening reguardless who their coach is.

Comment by joel 11.03.09 @ 10:56 pm

PSU has no financial incentive to schedule us since they will draw over a 100,000 for Eastern Illinois and Coastal Carolina … which I believe is the reason that they should schedule Pitt … to reward their faithful fans. While every larger NCAA team plays its share of patsies, there is no excuse for the large percentage of them that PSU plays … a game vs Pitt, a traditional rivalry and only 3 hours apart benefits all college fans in Western pA … and while both are ranked as they currently are … benefits all college fans.

Comment by wbb 11.04.09 @ 12:15 pm

That William’s crew were coming back from the Casino at 5am after a their game against Cinci Homecoming Weekend. Rumor has it Coach Marrone brought all the players involved into his office, told them they were suspended, and Williams quit on the spot.
As reported on the Doug Gotlieb Show.

The kid jumped through hoops to get back and was punished and made an emotional decision.

Comment by Freebird 11.04.09 @ 12:29 pm

Not sure what is more surprising.. Williams quitting the team or that Doug Gotlieb has a show.

As for the Wannstedt interview… top notch.

Comment by Joey T 11.04.09 @ 5:20 pm

I don’t know why there is so much chit-chat about the lion cubbies when Pitt has four HUGE games in the offing. Grid historians will verify that the lads from central Pa. have had patsy schedules even when they were referred to as the “Penn State Aggies”. I am looking forward to Saturday next with Pitt walloping the Orangemen and the Bucks mauling the mountain “BOBCATS”. george from columbus

Comment by rev. george mehaffey 11.04.09 @ 5:52 pm

ll you need to read to see DW’s decency is this:

“When I came in, I knew I wanted to change the culture to my philosophy and my way of doing things. But these were Pitt guys and I’m a Pitt guy. You didn’t see a bunch of guys getting run out of here. Everybody finished, and everybody who was willing to stay the course, I kept them around. And it wasn’t the best thing for our team. We probably should have played a lot more younger players. But I just felt that I owed these kids that and I chose to do it that way. “

Comment by Reed 11.04.09 @ 7:51 pm

Oh snap Stache! I love the fact that Wanny basically told JoePa to go spit. It actually sounded like he fell JUST shy of publicly mocking State Penn’s cockamamie bs of a ‘rivalry’ with Mich St. Good for Wanny! In a sports culture where figure heads are so often concerned about being mum and reserved on these types of questions, it’s nice to know that ‘our guy’ isn’t afraid to speak his mind and exercise the spirit of college football.

Enough with the business side of this issue. There’s plenty of reason behind State Penn’s incentive to powder puff their way to a fatter wallet and a padded schedule, but eventually that lack of pride will catch up with them.

I know I focused on the State Penn thing, but it was a great interview overall. Take notes Smizik, Cook, etc. Not every article has to be a nauseatingly redundant piece on the booing of a qb.

HTscriptP

Comment by Cool Hand Nuke 11.05.09 @ 3:37 am

Good Post Cool Hand!! You’re right on the money about our “journalists” from the Post Gazette.

Thanks, Chas. Excellent article.

Comment by The Hagen 11.05.09 @ 8:40 am

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