masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
May 5, 2010

About Dave

Filed under: Coaches,Football,Wannstedt — Chas @ 3:32 pm

Curious about some of Coach Dave Wannstedt’s perceptions of his time in the NFL? Well, here’s a two-part story on Coach Wannstedt looking back on his time in the NFL. Part One:

OF COURSE, Wannstedt never anticipated being in the NFL to begin with.

He worked for Johnson at Oklahoma State and the University of Miami – interrupted by a stint as defensive line coach at Southern Cal.

He was there when the Hurricanes won a national title under Johnson and remembers a fateful weekend.

“After we won (the national championship),” Wannstedt recalled, “Jimmy called me in and said, ‘Remember that friend of mine from Arkansas, Jerry Jones? Well, what’s weird is,  he’s about to become owner of the Dallas Cowboys. And, you know what’s really weird? I’m going to be the head coach.’”

So started Wannstedt’s NFL career.

Part two is more interesting. It gets into his version of why he resigned in mid-year from the Dolphins, defends his time in Chicago and Miami (hint, it involves the lack of a QB). But things seem to be as much about his closeness with Jimmy Johnson.

The two became friends on the staff of former Pitt coach Jackie Sherrill after Johnny Majors left for Tennessee.

It didn’t take long for Johnson to be offered the head job at Oklahoma State and he asked Wannstedt to come along to Stillwater.

“The easy thing would have been to stay at Pitt,” Wannstedt admitted, :but I thought that, from a career standpoint, if I was going to make a living at this, I needed to get away from Pitt.”

The only time the two separated was when Wannstedt served a three-year stint as defensive line coach at USC.

But they rejoined at the University of Miami when Johnson had an extraordinary run.

“Our relationship was that he knew he could trust me,” Wannstedt said. “It’s very important to have two or three guys on your staff who have an understanding what your philosophy is, think the same way that you do and can put out a lot of fires for you

“We played golf and went to the islands and enjoyed our off-the-field time as much (as coaching).”

Weather turning nice, a 3-year old that shows little interest in being babysat by the TV, and trying to get to the various projects I have put off since September. Whine, whine, whine.

Okay, the NBE blog ran a series of quadrant rankings of the Big East for the offseason. They had the bottom 4 teams (no shocks unless you were high on Cinci). Third tier — surprised to see Louisville this low. Second tier doesn’t seem too stunning except maybe Marquette while losing Hayward and Acker, but seem to be given a boost in perceptions from being much better than expected last season.

Pitt was obviously picked for the First Tier, but also the #1 spot ahead of Villanova, Syracuse and Georgetown (hat tip to wbb). There has not been a question that the expectations would be high and there would be no surprising teams this year.

(more…)

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter