Miami blew a game against a bad USF today.

Randy Shannon was gone a few hours later.

Say what you want about the “U”, but THAT’S how you take care of business.

So depressed over this. This was supposed to be the year. A freshman in 2007…I was there when 13-9 happened. I saw the team turning the corner and each year the team improved (loss to oregon in a bowl game win over UNC in a bowl game) and I really thought things would continue (win the big east) back to reality. Time for a change

I was thinking that same thing earlier JC’sMyDad. I wonder what Pitt’s brass thinks of that? PS. Do you know the Metelsky’s?

Chas,

My $$$ buys or does NOT buy my season ticket and the $100 donation that comes along with it. If Wanny is back next year then I will save my money and not buy a ticket and donate nothing.

If 10,000 other people do what I do then Pitt is losing money by bringing Wanny back.

Most want him gone, including me, I believe Smug Smile Steve is going to keep him, because, Smug Smile Steve, does, what, Smug Smile Steve wants. One thing that should not happen, “give DW one more year, one more chance, his recruits are coming, his players are maturing, one more chance”. This is a repeat post of mine, from about one month ago. Let me save the university, and the fans from more heartache, emotional rollercoaster, and come spring, thinking, “it will be different this time”. So, without further adieu, here is the 2011 season, and some odd quotes from Dave, to save you all the pain.

BUFFALO..14..PITT..28—-”Hey, we know, you know, they’re a tough team”, “Good win, good win, any win on opening day is a good win”

MAINE..21..PITT..31—-”We knew the Black Bears would be tough, they never quit.” “They’re a great team from their sub division”

IOWA..31..PITT..10—-”You know, they’re a Big Ten team, they play Big Ten football” “Kurt has done an outstanding job over there”

NOTRE DAME..64..PITT..61…4 OVERTIMES!!—-”Tough one to lose, tough one to lose” “Helluva game fellas, hellava game” “Someday, the kids will look back and be thankful they were involved in this one”

UTAH..38..PITT..14—-”We know who Utah is”, “We knew it, couldn’t stop them” “The underclassmen are going to have to step up”

SYRACUSE..21..PITT..17—-”I knew they have been improving, I told everyone that” “The upperclassmen are going to have to step up”

RUTGERS..14..PITT..17—-”Great win, great win, full effort” “When you play hard, they type of results happen”

UCONN..33..PITT..29—-”I don’t know what to say, Tino, Tino, you know, he’s a junior, but, really, he’s not that experienced. He really needs to take the next step”

USF..21..PITT..42—-”I think we’re starting to see some things come together”, “That was a real team effort”

LOUISVILLE..27..PITT..20—-”Hey, Charlie Strong, I like what he’s done down there”, “you know, he’s a Florida State guy, right?”

WVU..24..PITT..17—-”I thought we would win, I really did”. “We didn’t”, “Anything can happen in a rivalry game”, “hell, I threw the records out the window myself”

CINCINNATI..17..PITT..26—-”What a game, what a game” “I can’t wait to get these kids into spring”, “we’re gonna work hard, and if these kids work hard, we should be able to play ball next year”, “hey, I gotta go, gotta get with the kids”

So, there you are, feel free to toss and upset win in, maybe a cupcake beats us. You don’t need any football magazines in May, don’t need to get excited in July, and August, go take some time with the family, instead of counting down to Pitt football opener. We’re allready done with 2011, now, it’s time to decide, do we want to keep DW for 2012??? Come on Nordy and Smug Smile Steve, the suspense is killing us!!!!

I get that Tony, but the loss of ticket sales won’t be known until well after the decision to keep or fire Wannstedt is made.

The die is cast on Wannstedt. If Wanny remains, no matter what happens next year, no matter how you dress it, you’re still putting lipstick on this pig. The really sad thing is that I don’t have hard feelings against Dave, its not like he dropped the ball because he just gave up on the process. The problem is the process has given up on him. Utilizing the recruits that he has brought in, his philosophy and coaching techniques just don’t produce the product that he assures everyone is coming. Look at his track record, never has, probably never will. Like Einstein’s definition of insanity, “keep doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result”, that’s Wannstedt in a nutshell. The biggest issue however is that it’s evident that the players are coming to that same realization, and when that happens, GAME OVER!Here’s the conversation Pitt’s AD should have with Wanny on Monday. “Dave, this is nothing personal, however you have not delivered on your promises and since I know that you love this University and want the best for this football program, I’ll expect your resignation on my desk by tomorrow so that we can get a quick start on our coach search process before the holidays”. End of story, and Dave should be the first one shaking his head up and down agreeing with the assessment if he really has the best interest of this program and University at heart. Why?, because next year is going to be UGLY in regards to lack of fan support and the intense media scrutiny that will surround this program, OMG, the vultures are already circling! When you can cleary see a Mac truck barreling down the road at you, common sense dictates that you step up on the curb before you get run over. Why in the world, anyone in a position of authority would allow things to remain as they are now is just plain old negligence. Dave has had his opportunity, now is the time for a major change. I hope for Pitt’s sake it happens sooner rather than later.

Let it sink in. The guy who beat Pitt 31-3 this year was fired. Yep.

My memory is a bit foggy, but…In the years leading up to No Fault Walt’s departure was there not the same hue and cry for his firing? He had as many performance shortcomings that DW has and no one would say what a good guy he was or that he was a “Pitt man” or an ambassador for Pitt. And the response by the administration? None. They let him work thru the end of his contract and then moved on to Wanny. If anyone remembers it differently please correct me.

What I get from this is that the administration is risk averse and fiscally tight fisted. Certainly not biased toward action.

So Dave will be here next year and the two years after. Not even an angry mob with pitchforks and torches on the Cathedral lawn could change their minds.

Tribune Review reporter – Gorman said it best:

“It’s the same old story,” senior left tackle Jason Pinkston said.

“The final chapter should end with an expression Wannstedt likes to use about making cuts in the NFL.

Pitt didn’t fire you, Dave.

You fired yourself.”

Time to move on.
Miami just fired Randy Shanahan after giving him a four year extension at the beginning fo the season. He is a former player for Miami and Wannstedt protege.
Irony for sure…

Come on Steve let Wanny go (give him a spot in the Athletic Department as executive something of football operation) and find a young hungry capable coach.

I really like Dave but we have all seen how this thing will turn out. 1-2 more year with the same results and the eventual expiration of his contract. We will have lost 2 years of mediocre football. My years on this earth are winding down and I just don’t have the time to wait anymore!

My response to the Pitt administration when I get the letters and phone calls as to why Im not renewing my season tickets will be the following. You give me and my party of 20 the same parking permits we had for over 10 years before this season and a new head coach and Ill purchase again. And I cant wait for the emails and mailings to start coming up asking for my support to attend some kind of “bowl” game. For legal purposes, it may or may not be returned with a big “F U” marked on it.

for those who followed my blog posts over the past few months, I never bought into the preseason hype that Pitt was the overwhelming BE No. 1, and had always thought WVU was the most talented team this year. However, I had never suspected this year’s team would
1) not continually improve as the year progressed
2) not continually shoot itself in the foot by making one mistake after another, one careless penalty after another, etc
3) give up like they did in the Miama and WVU games. Even Wanny admitted that the ‘air went out of their sails’ with the long TD pass at the beginning of the 3rd qtr …. really? 2 TDs down and over 27 minutes to play?

Not sure what surprised me more … the team’s lack of character or lack of focus.

One thing for sure … if Wanny doesn’t go, then at least DC Bennett has to.

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rutgers Scoop, Chas Rich. Chas Rich said: Some incoherent, tired, belated thoughts on the Wannstedt era. http://bit.ly/dEjtvY [...]

Forget the National championship or Big East Championship. Could we get to the level of Notre Dame? You know play 6-6 ball against name opponents.

Smug Smile Steve is going to hold a presser in March, unveiling the “New” Pitt uniforms and color array. “That’ll keep their minds busy for awhile”, “I think a touch of purple and red highlights”, “And…we’re gonna now be known as…..Pittsburg….ya, leave off the “h”, that’ll sell 34 more jerseys”. Yep, old SSS, everything but the product on the field.

Dock71: I don’t remember the cries for Walt’s ouster being as angry as they are now. You’re right Pitt claims poverty with regard to football coaches – but they should take the cash out of Pederson’s salary. He’s the idiot who gave Wannstedt two, not one, but two contract extensions.

This is what I have learned watching Pitt football in the Dave W. era:

1.) Games low scoring and extremely boring;
2.) If games are high scoring we normally lose;
3.) If Dave W. has more than 7 days to create a game plan, we normally lose.
4.) We lose 90% of our nationally televised games and a majority of those are blowouts;
5.) If there is anything on the line (ie-bowl, bcs, conference championship) we will lose;
6.) I EXPECT TO LOSE EVERY GAME, NOT WIN;
7.) I’m always waiting for the bottom to fall out or for a major mistake to lose the game with Dave as our head coach;
8.) The game day experience consistently gets worse;
9.) The Pitt Athletic Department will demand more money for an inferior football program;
10.) Pitt will NEVER win anything with Dave W. as our head coach!

IN OTHER WORDS WE PLAY JUST GOOD ENOUGH TO LOSE!

You know what’s sad I wasn’t even surprised of the outcome. This guy has ruined not only his reputation but also Pitt’s national reputation. He has insulted my football knowledge since he has been here six years. I’m truly embarrassed to wear the colors. It’s not like there a down and out team. He was hired to get to the next level and I think its worse now then when Walt Harris was here. This guy has to go. Mark my words people I think we will loose to Cincy. I can see our D unable to stop Collaros…

Once all of the media have firmly turned against you, like they have on the mustache man, your days are numbered. I think there is finally enough momentum, anger, and frustration from the alumni and fans that DW cannot survive.

Thanks for trying Dave but it is time to move on…

Pederson may have given Wanny two extensions, but he’s also responsible for hiring Howland and Dixon (I don’t think he hired Wanny).

The extensions are questionable, especially in hindsight, but that can be fixed. Fire the guy and buyout the contract. What can’t be fixed would be losing a guy like Dixon if you’re not extending and renegotiating contracts.

I’d rather lose a little dough by making a few bad extensions because those mistakes are easily corrected with the only penalty being lost cash. Sure it would be a significant amount of money, but it would be much more harmful to the athletic programs and the university to lose a good coach like Dixon because Pederson wasn’t giving extensions.

I think the crowd is a little bit too tough on Pederson for the football program’s shortcomings, or easily forgetting the tremendous success he has had with the basketball program.

What happens to the recruits? They go elsewhere.
I stand behind Dave, the players and the university.
Tough loss… let’s beat cincy …

I’m not even going to watch the Cincinnati game. Why? The bowl game is going to be a joke. Any fan, besides the player’s families, that travels to that game is wasting money.

Wannstedt has to resign. He cannot, with good concious, believe that he is the right man for the job. Do the University that you love a favor and make the decision for them.

Hail to Miami, and an administration that won’t accept mediocrity. A season of promise ends up with 5 maybe 6 losses to unranked teams. Romeus, Sheard, Pinkston, Baldwin, DeCicco gone next year. Another rebuilding year, we need a new architect and construction manager. Maybe they will retread Jackie Sherrill. There are no more buildings to build, It’s time for a new AD and Coaching staff.

Amen TJ. I don’t understand the rap that Pederson gets here at all. I graduated in May, and I can tell you from a student’s standpoint the gameday procedure and atmosphere at Heinz Field improved DRAMATICALLY when Steve came back. He listened to student input for starting new traditions (Sweet Caroline was a student idea, and regardless of people’s feelings on this board about it, the song is an absolute hit with the student section – ya know, the people who actually make noise at games and the people who should matter MOST). He slashed student season ticket prices in half, and allowed students to buy more guest passes in an attempt to fill the student section – and those measures have paid dividends as the student section is nearly full for most games. Steve rerouted the buses so that they now drop students off AT Heinz Field, not on the downtown side of the Clemente Bridge as they had under Long. Return-trip buses after games tripled when Steve came back; I had previously planned on waiting an hour and a half after the game to get back to campus and my senior year I could usually get back in less than thirty minutes. Even the parking nightmare that is the North Shore was completely out of the control of the athletic department. Pederson secured a multimillion dollar upgrade facility for our olympic sports as well. And lets not forget: Steve brought in Howland and has extended Jamie’s contract every time other schools have come calling. Has Pederson missed on the extensions with Wannstedt? Of course. But it is hard to argue that things were not looking a little brighter going into this season. Even a lot of the Wannstedt haters, myself included, had high expectations for this season, because that product on the field given us those expectations. It turned out to be a mirage, and we got burned. Blame the coach, not the AD. In my book, Steve has done great things for the Pitt Athletic Department since his return.

Jon, well said. You brought up things I didn’t know about Pederson, one of which I took advantage of after the L’ville game (speedy bus from Heinz to Oakland).

I am blaming the coach, not the AD. And to increase his stature, it’s time for Pederson to step up and make the tough financial decision, one which Pitt as an institution has been historically loathe to make.

So who else thinks that Wanny stays, and Shannon is introduced as the new DC?

I agree with Jon. Even the new Panther Club points system is much better than before when you would find out that tickets were on sale to the general public the same day that PC members got their notice. Now’s the time to screw State Penn by picking up Golden while Joe hangs on another year. Pitt is unfortunately a reflection of Pittsburgh, where its who you know rather than your talent that lands you a job. The talent on the team has recognized the place for what it is and they’re having none of it. They don’t respect their coach or their quarterback.

the best young coach out tere is kevin sumlin. the best assistant coachs are tod orlando and herb hand dick bumpas jason phillips. give one of them the chance fire wannstedt. do the right thing dave quit for the love of pitt quit hail to pitt down withe dave.

I’m as disappointed as everyone else with the loss. DW’s teams play with so little heart and passion it’s upsetting. I’m not in town enough to justify buying season tickets and I realize a lot of people won’t renew theirs, but my opinion is that they should let Dave serve out his contract or give him the option of moving into a Athletic Department position. I don’t think our program becomes better for firing him right now, unless they have some incredible coach lined up to immediately take his place. We’ll lose a lot of recruits and risk plummeting in to a Syracuse-like football program funk. 8-win seasons won’t look so bad then.

If Dave leaves on his terms in one or two years he can help make that transition a lot easier. I realize why people are so frustrated, but this is a college program not a professional sports franchise. He might not be great for the football team but I do believe Dave is great for Pitt. Then again, if no one renews their season tickets, he’ll be gone.

Jaimz – that is priceless. You called it. That is a Pitt move for sure. “With the addition of Randy Shannon, we have solidified our program, and have full confidence in Coach Wannstedt’s ability to take our program to the next level.”

And in 2 years, we will have what we already know – that Shannon was a great assistant under Butch Davis and Larry Coker, as was Wanny under Jimmy Johnson. But under Wanny, you could put Bear Bryant, Jock Sutherland, and Chuck Noll – and still wind up 6-6. Don’t get me wrong – I totally admire what Shannon did at Miami. I just was never sold on him as a head coach. But frankly, I would take almost anyone else over what we have.

By the way, wasn’t Wanny the defensive guru? If that happens, that will be his third DC in 6 years.

To Lou, what national Pitt reputataion are you talking about? When Wanny took over, we had just lost to Utah 35-7. And Walt was the best coach since probably Sherill back in 81 (although Gottfried wasn’t so bad.)

To TJ, Pederson hired Walt and Howland but not Dixon or Wanny. The last football coach that Pederson hired was Bill Callahan … a pretty gruesome thought!

I would love to see Mike Leach as our head coach. EVERYTHING I read say this guy got railroaded by ESPN & Craig James and James’s kid s .

The guys Offense is Killer and blows other teams like Texas & Oklahoma out with less talent then we have now. Anyone think any of Wanny’s teams could have beaten either of those teams in the last 6 years?

Does he stay forever? Who cares Nothing is forever and if we win the big east or a BCS bowl game or two while he is here then I am fine with 4 to 6 years of exciting winning football. His salary is in he same price range as Wanny. Talk about a value for Mike Leach or how much we are paying for Wanny netting so little results.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/25/sports/ncaafootball/25leach.html?_r=3&hpw

CDMoore25,

I think that’s a very real risk (losing recruits and potentially some of the younger roster player), but that may depend on the potential coach coming in.

I’ve thought long about that potential risk, but I’m also not sure I trust Wannstedt to turn these recruits into something that can win 10 games a year with any regularity.

CDMoore25

Recruits? Unless we have Jesus Christ himself lined up to play QB for Wanny then we are still going to get our asses kicked by teams with better, the same, or just slightly less talent.

Mike Leache’s Resume at Texas Tech a school that I would consider to be on the same level as Pitt

* 10 consecutive winning seasons
* 8 consecutive seasons with at least 8 wins
* 4 seasons with at least 9 wins[61]
* 1 season with 11 wins
* 9 consecutive bowl appearances[62]
* 5 bowl wins (most by any individual coach in the history of the program)[62]
* 4 seasons completed with team ranked in the Top 25[63]
* 19–11 record against in-state conference rivals Baylor, Texas, and Texas A&M
* 53–11 record at Jones AT&T Stadium, home of the Texas Tech Red Raider football team
* 2008 AP Big 12 Coach of the Year[31]
* 2008 Big 12 Coach of the Year[32]
* Coached 1 Fred Biletnikoff Award (Best Wide Receiver) winner: Michael Crabtree (two-time winner)
* Coached 1 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Best Senior Quarterback) winner: Graham Harrell
* Coached 1 Mosi Tatupu Award (Best Kick Returner) winner: Wes Welker
* Coached 3 Sammy Baugh Trophy (Outstanding Quarterback) winners: Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, and Graham Harrell
* More than 150 NCAA, Big 12 and school records broken as Texas Tech’s head coach[8]

Not my fault Walt did drive me crazy with some of his play calling and incomplete recruiting, but the man lifted a down for the count program (we lost 66-0 to OSU the year before he started) into a more than respectable, competitive squad. He lost bad games like Wanny, but would also bounce back and win some big ones versus better teams and look great doing it. No matter what, the games were exciting and interesting…and hope was always around the corner — unlike this painful process of the past 6 years. You cannot say we are better than we were in 2004; but in 2004, you could clearly say we were light years better than 1996. Six years is more than enough time…sorry Dave, thanks for your efforts and passion, but time to move into administration big guy.

Bringing in Leach may convince Baldwin to stick around for another year. I’m worried he may jump too early, and hurt Pitt AND his own pro career in the process.
Not sold yet on Teryl Austin (Florida’s defense has been less than stellar this year, his first as a DC – he’s been a position coach up to this year), although I like that he’s a W PA native and Pitt guy.

I am expecting a bad loss to Cincy this week. 45-13. Then let the tidal wave hit. If this happens, Pederson wont be able to sit idle.

Everyone does realize that Peterson gave WLAT seven years, right?

RE: Baldwin. I’m reminded of Shady’s guffaw when asked if he even considered for a second staying another year.

Tony: I’ve come to respect Leach a great deal after listening to him almost daily on Sirius/XM and agree that it seems as though he was railroaded. That has worked out well for Texas Tech – NOT. However, I don’t think Pitt has a shot at getting him. There will be jobs opening in the big time conferences that will be much more attractive and higher paying.

I’d like to see Pitt hire a HC from a smaller school who has been running a successful program for the past few years. Don’t have any names right now, but I think a guy like that offers a bigger upside than a coordinator from a big program or another retread. That only works if the Pitt administration has the balls to make a move on Wanny. I still have my doubts there. I really think they’re hoping for a win next week and in whatever crap bowl we end up in to bail them out on that.

Pitt apologists who are creating a FUD strategy (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) should listen up, right effin now…

The Wanny Ship has sailed. He had 6 YEARS to show improvements and build our reputation/stature. We are worse than we were under Walt. We may lose some recruits, but so what? I expect us to lose some if we keep Wanny…knowing that he is a constasnt lame duck coach and will eventually be fired.

…and he WILL be fired, eventually. We all know it. Why? Because he is NOT good enough to run a college football program from “soup to nuts”…the nuts being wins on the field. You can recruit all you want, kiss the ADs asses all you want, but you have to fill seats and win games.

If we take a step back to implement a system, SO BE IT! It is time to get a winning system in place to move beyond this mediocrity and ineptitude.

As I said before, we are bigger, we are stronger and we are faster than the Walt era…but we are NO BETTER!!!

Enbough already. Cancel your tickets and halt donations, put Slippery Steve on the hot seat too…maybe then he’ll earn his paycheck and fix this football program.

The fish stinks from the head down….

I’m with TampaT…get someone who actually has run a college program (albeit less talented recruits, preferably with a dynamic offensive and defensive scheme)… and experience getting blitzed by bigger schools…and recruiting in our hot bed areas. He needs to know how to run a college program. Remember when Wanny came back…it was on the job training…constantly bitching “don’t have enough time” “wasn’t prepared for the lack of time.” “not sure of the development with the players.” “I owed it to the kids that were here to play them.”

Wanny didn’t know how to run a program. We get that now. His first year in he inherited a team full of Sophomores that appeared in a BCS game…and essentially ruined them.

Not sure, but someone like the HC at Temple. He would be an interesting prospect, and fits my criteria above…

But, I’m w/ TampaT…no more people without RECENT, HEAD COACHING, COLLEGE D1 experience!!

This is a line from a response to a blog post by Bob Smizik regarding Rich Rod getting fired:

Both Penn State and Ohio State have had success with a modified form of the spread, so that isn’t the problem…

The reason I added this was to point out how other teams are willing to evolve regarding the talent around them. Remember the Big 10 is noted for it’s 3 yard and a cloud of dust history. But coaches in that league adjust based on the talent on hand.

Wanny won’t…

Look I don’t know if Greg Cross would’ve been a difference maker, but I wonder what a spread/read option Offense with him at the helm would’ve looked like with guys like Dion/Ray

Hell even WVU had Owen Schmitt in their backfield, we could’ve had a spot in our spread that leverage Henry Hypnoski.

Obviously we will never know…

DaveD

GARBAGE. Every Pitt fan is garbage! That is how the administration perceives us!! We are fed mediocrity and told to shell out our hard-earned for season tickets, parking vouchers, concessions, shirts and hats, and athletic donations. And we better be thankful for doing it. How arrogant! I will again e-mail Pederson: Not one dime until mediocrity is NOT tolerated. And how dare the administration shit down my throat and then tell me it was fillet… oh, and I better pay for such a prime cut of beef.

Al Golden (Temple) and Mike Matthews (jmes Madison) are 2 young coaches that may be looked at. Golden has shown real promise, however, it may lead to the ultimate insult … coming here for a successful 2 year stint, then leaving for his alma mater (PSU.)

Leach and Mark Mangino (New Castle native) are considered offensive gurus with successful major college experience … but with baggage.

Tino’s dad would seem to be a viable candidate … very good resume but no HC experience. I would have to think that there are a few top assistants (a la Charlie Strong) that may be good candidates.

If Wanny is to be replaced, I don’t necessarily think a ‘name’ is needed … who heard of Howland before he was hired …. I just hope that Pedersen had a better gameplan than what he had at Nebraska when he replaced Solich

Gonna be in D.C. Wednesday night. Where do the D.C. folks go to watch the hoops games these days?

Golden has reportedly already interviewed for the Minnesota job and is rumored to be on the short list for the Miami job, but I would absolutely love to see Pitt make a run at him. I don’t believe Minnesota is a better job than Pitt. Miami obviously would be.

For what it’s worth, there’s talk that Edsell is also on the Miami short list, so we’ll see.

I’m not a fan of Mangino. I’m a fan of tough coaches, but some of the stories that came out in the wake of his dismissal at KU are almost frightening…like Jim Leavitt-level frightening.

Sal Sunseri would be interesting given the program he’d be coming from; he’s certainly seen the Saban blueprints. But I say this half-jokingly…if the accusations of nepotism are bad NOW, I can’t even imagine.

I’m curious about what Nordenberg and Stevie P think of guys like Cignetti & Gattuso.

I always thought that maybe the admin. planned for Cignetti to be the heir apparent when he was hired, and he did some pretty creative things when he was at Cal. From what Zeise and Gorman have written/said this year, it seems like Cignetti’s been given the order from above to go more conservative this year because of Sunseri. But I really liked how he found ways to use different players last year.

Gattuso is admittedly a long-shot because making the leap to head coach would be a big one; he’s only really been a position coach here and the last program he ran was Div. I-AA non-scholarship Duquesne. But he was incredibly successful there for a long time, and had that team competing during his last few seasons with scholarship I-AA programs. The guy can recruit and he knows how to utilize players. It can be argued that the d-line during the last few years was perhaps the most consistently productive part of the team, and that came under his direction.

Again, I think he’d be a longshot, but as long as we’re just throwing out names…

@Carmen. Check out pantherclub.org for DC alumni info.

And Miami about to hire Gruden.

Stoosh, Not to make excuses for Mangino but if you knew his head coach in high school (Lindy Lauro) you wouldn’t be surprised by his no BS attitude, which probably wears thin after a while. Mangino was fired at Ellwood City for supposedly yanking a player’s facemask while disciplining him on the sidelines, but less than 10 years later won the Frank Broyles ward for top assistant as the OC for national champs, Oklahoma .. and 6-7 yrs later led Kansas to their only BCS bowl and win. Mangino may still be a useful OC for someone, he is a msater of the spread.

“Stand behind Dave”??? What does that even mean??? You stand behind mediocrity??? Save that for pee wee league and high school!!!

Seven years of Walt produced bowl games in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Wins in 2001 & 2002. Walt’s 2002 9-4 teams probably was better than Wannstedt’s 10-3 team last season because Walt played a much tougher schedule. Walt lost fan support in the much hyped 2003 season.

You know, come to think of it, I don’t think we qualify as mediocre. Mediocrity would be 7-5, 6-6 in the Big Ten, Big Twelve, SEC. 7-5, 6-6 in the Big East really qualifies as POOR!!!! Let’s do a re-take, and see who we’ve won against…

New Hampshire
Florida International
Rutgers
Louisville
Syracuse
South Florida

That is really ugly. There isn’t one win in that group that you would be proud to say, “hey, we beat so and so”. Horrible, absolutely horrible!!

I wouldnt worry about the stache’s successor until he is actually gone. Lets save that for another day. The one and only thing that I think can keep Dave in place would be the financial issues of paying off his contract. There is no way he will resign and leave that money on the table. If Pitt wants him out they must step up and fire him or create a position within the AD for him.

Some great names have been mentioned though…we can dream…..

At least some positive Pitt news. Curtis Martin and Chris Doleman have made the list of 26 finalists for the NFL Hall of Fame. I would think Curtis is in no problem, #4 all time rusher, numerous awards and pro bowl appearances. Lots of other good players in the field of 26 including Jerome Bettis.

Good luck to the Pitt alum!

But I think we can still win the Big East if we win next week, and EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE COUNTRY loses.

So buck up.

Yes, I too was one who thought Wanny would adapt. Because he was in his third head coaching failure, and this time at his alma mater, no less, I thought he might at least try. And I have to admit, the last few weeks it has been mostly execution problems. But I think the whole team may have bailed after Notre Dame, not just me. And I think a lot of that goes back to the nothing-ever-changes futility of a Wannstedt-coached team.

But it IS nice to see the Pittsburgh media, largely Smizik, Zeise, and Cook, finally tell the truth. They’ve been little more than apologists for Wanny up to now. I guess the wind is finally blowing hard enough in the other direction that they feel they can safely stick their heads up out of the hole.

As for Wanny getting fired — I don’t know. This could just as easily be termed an aberration by the administration. Elite status is now, apparently, 9-3 and the Car Care Bowl, and Wanny can do that. Occasionally.

Well, I’ve lived through 12-0, and 1-11, and whatever our record is this year.

And this year, as always, HAIL TO PITT.

Anyone who supports Wanny or the singing of Sweet Caroline should be imprisoned.

Any chance we can get a current basketball thread? The Panthers will likely move up a couple of spots in this week’s polls, and with the Vols’ win against ‘Nova, the December 11 game with Tennessee just got a whole lot more interesting!

It’s time to find a silver lining in the Pitt sports’ scene!

From Ziese’s Blog…all I can say is Sigh

And beyond that nobody really knows what Chancellor Mark Nordenburg is thinking but knowing him as I do and knowing what he values here is what he is likely seeing when he looks at this program: He sees a program that is run clean and free of scandal, a program that has won more games than it loses, a program that really has stressed academics and done a good job in that area, a program that has at least been in some big games in recent years and thus is competitive, it wins more games than it loses and it is a program with a coach who is an excellent role model for his players, who cares deeply about his players and who cares deeply about the university and stands for the right things. It is also a guy that the chancellor hired and a guy who the chancellor has said on many occasions publicly that he believes in.

DaveD

Golden is an interesting prospect. Jim Tressel came from Youngstown St. I think, to OSU, so the leap can be made successfully. There’s probably some ‘no name’ coach tearing it up at one or two sub-division schools now, so I hope people are doing their homework. Gattuso did do very well at Duquesne, so he’s earned serious consideration — if Wanny stays on, there will be so much disappointment.

Probably not.

Bill Parcells once said “you are what your record says you are.”

What is Pitt’s record under Dave Wannstedt for games of significance that are nationally televised in six seasons?

If Pitt doesn’t win the Big Least football conference this year when will it?

How many “self inflicted errors” does the team make week after week to lose games or make them closer than they should?

Is there any evidence that Wannstedt has the ability to “coach players up” or even be a “good game day coach” at any level? (the NFL or NCAA)

How many “good reasons” do we need to hear as an excuse for this team not to win games and when is the coaching staff held accountable for correcting them?

What has Dave Wannstedt done to improve the status of the program inherited from Walt Harris?

Why does Pitt evaluate Wannstedt’s performance differently from Walt Harris?

Pitt will never play for a national championship in football under the leadership of the Dave Wannstedt.

Besides his liability of not being a “good game day coach” it’s pretty obvious that he lacks the “killer instinct” of the elite coaches.

Does he ever publicly reprimand his players during the game for egregious lapses in fundamental football execution (Like a Brian Kelly type would)….in practice? (Maybe sitting them on the bench if that’s too harsh) If he does when are they corrected?

Can he not recruit “better players” after six years on the job?

In college football “style points” matter in a system without a playoff in which every game counts; even if Pitt were able to run the table (which will never happen) they would never impress the pollsters with the margin of victory under Wannstedt’s prolific scoring machine.

Let’s face it, Pittsburgh is a pro football city with burgeoning elite men’s college basketball program.

It’s pretty obvious that the Pitt athletic department is complacent with the football program as long as they contend in the Big Least football conference.

Just don’t try to “snow job us” with pre-season football ticket plans because you give the fan base no reason to “sell out” Saturdays at Heinz field.

As a Pitt football fan, I live by these rules:

1. Always expect to be disappointed, because you will be. If they’re ranked high, it’s because they’re overrated.

2. Realize that the Big East is a second rate conference.

3. Realize that Pitt is not going to be an elite NCAA FBS program.

4. Enjoy the memories of the mid 70′s and early 80′s; but understand that will never happen again.

5. Recognize the rich tradition and 9 national championships and know that it will never reach ten.

6. The only way Pitt will have a great coach is to be lucky enough find one on the rise. He’ll probably be gone in 4 years anyhow; may as well stick with Wanny for now.

7. Relax during tight games against meaningful competition THEY WILL LOOSE.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fire-Dave-Wannstedt/177303925629929?ref=ts&v=wall

Thanks, Chris. Appreciate it.

Zeise is a coward and a Dave Wannstedt apologist. He needs to be reassigned as well. His writing is awful and his analysis is worse. I need a clean break from everything related to pitt football over the past six naseauting seasons.

Hate to say it but it might not be a bad idea for wanny to go after Randy Shannon as defensive co-ordinator. Short of getting fired this might give him one more year. Shannon can sure upmthe Florida recruiting!!

Please say no to “Pitt” guys like Sunseri or even Austin who is simply not ready. Magino really didn’t do a great job at KU with one year as an exception and he’s got a chance at dying any day. Leach would be an amazing hire, but it’s not going to happen.

My personal recommendation is for Mark Helfrich, although we’ll likely not get him out of Oregon. Mark Whipple should be considered. Paul Petrino might be interesting as well.

Again, it might not happen, but to me there are WAY too many talented, innovative coaches out there to not make a dramatic change ASAP.

An old friend called me today from the Chicago area. He was chuckling because he figured I was fuming over the recent Wanny moves… he asked me if I remember what he told me that week we hired Wanny. I told him that I remembered, but was hoping he was a bitter Bears fan. Turns out he was right…

“The guy is so stubborn and arrogant…for reasons we don’t know? Maybe a rub off from Jimmy Johnson. He will ruin your program. You will come to despise him and want him to be run out of town. His words and actions will become so predictable, you will only laugh at how silly you were for not seeing it years in the past.”

Those words haunt me to this day…

Hey PaulyP, I remember my uncle telling me, “you just hired a loser”, and I was mad at him, because I was so excited DW was coming……

I don’t think Wannstedt is going anywhere. Status quo, guys. Love it or leave it.

Only an absolute blowout of Pitt this Saturday (Cincy winning by 3 or more touchdowns)could lead to forcing the issue to “kick Wanny upstairs”. He will be given another year to screw up what is left of our football team and then be dumped with one year remaining on the contract. Pitt would have only a $1.2m payout vs. $2.0+ if he is canned now.
Next year’s schedule could be an enormous disaster for Pitt with other teams showing improvement while we wallow in the Heinz Field mud with a weak O line, weak linebacking, a secondary that will be chasing passes over its head, a quarterback (Tino is #1 for Wanny)who just doesn’t have the talent to raise the bar and a coaching staff that should be at Ball State.
Oh, and don’t forget the seniors graduating that we will see playing on Sunday. What a mess!!

Ooops, I should have included Baldwin who will probably head to the NFL. Baldwin has not had a spectacular year, however, given the O line, play calling and quarterback he is teamed with it is understandable why he appears to be in another world. I believe that in the NFL (probably a second round pick) he will have an attitude adjustment and become a player to reckoned with!!

Paul Zeise article below sums it up.
http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/pitt-redshirt-diaries/23424-some-news-notes-and-observations
If you want an average uninspired football program that has little entertainment value and no real competitive relevence on the national stage, then Wannstedt is our man becuse his up side is that he has the University’s best interest at heart in “other” regards. So sorry, but the prime directive Wannstedt laid on the table when he showed up here 6 years ago was winning BE Championships while spouting the “I know what it takes to win National Championship” mantra. Well, he may know what it takes to accomplish the above, but Wannstedt has clearly demonstrated an inability to produce it. No hard feelings Dave, step aside and let the administration put somebody in there who just might be able to win some of those games that actually make a major college football program relevant. Those who initially defend Wannstedt and his performance end up coming full circle with the rational argument on why he should be replaced. Nough said, we new a new coaching staff for this program!

Wanny has not delivered, period!

6 years, no Big East championships, no BCS bowl games, what direction has this program taken under Wanny?

Is it better, the same or worse since he has taken over?

All I have to say is that if I made statements to the people I work for regarding delivering specific goals and not achieve them I would be terminated.

I sure Wanny is a nice guy but sooner or later you have to deliver, he hasn’t, time for a change!

Haven’t posted on here in a while, as Pitt football has sucked away my enthusiasm (and I was one of the supporters). I really don’t understand how a team can make so many mistakes. Fumbles, missed opportunities and bad play calls. I definitely think a coaching change should be made. And yes the people arguing with me before were right. When I’m wrong, I say I’m wrong.

Honestly, I don’t think it happens unless Wanny steps down. Yes, the team really underperformed this year. But here are the reasons he would be kept:

1. He graduates players and cares about academics. I know a lot of people don’t care about that on this board, but the person making the decision to fire Wanny does. And Pitt has been making a push to become a top academic institution.

2. Before this season, Pitt was arguably one play away from being Big East champions for two seasons in a row. And yes it was mistakes that prevented Pitt from winning the Big East. But the team was right there.

3. Wanny is still recruiting great. To have a top 15 class for next year on Rivals while being in the pathetic Big East is unbelievable.

This is not a defense at all. In my opinion Pitt was the more talented team in every game they played this year and should have lost a maximum of 2 games. I just think people on here are talking as if the program is in shambles and/or is worse off than it was 6 years ago, which is flat out wrong. In 2004, Pitt’s recruiting class was number 47 and in 2003 number 39. The past 2 years Pitt will have back to back top 20 recruiting classes. When Walt was here the Big East was still a premier conference, and recruiting should have been easier. I’m pretty sure it is easier to recruit in Florida if you are selling players on getting to play Miami (when they were still good) every year and being able to show how they missed out on you. Is Wanny a bad game day coach? Yes. Is he a bad recruiter? No. It is much easier to fix a talented team than to fix a non talented team.

If a change is made, the new coach should be expected to win at least 10 games.

While this season was a huge disappointment, Pitt should be ready to rock and roll next year.

Hail to Pitt!

Vic Money….you are hilarious. You used the words killer instinct and Brian Kelly in the same sentence….LOL…anyway..

Some of you have short memories. Wasn’t Steve Pederson re-hired AFTER Wannstedt was given a new contract? Pederson is/was not responsible for the hiring/re-hiring of Wannstedt. As some have said, that is Nordy’s call.

When Walt left, this team was pretty bad off. There was something like 3 DTs on the entire roster…I am not accepting mediocrity when I say that I think that this program is better off now than when Wannstedt took over.

The question is….is it worth blowing up to get rid of Wannstedt? It depends…I agree that hiring a guy like Mike Leach would would minimize the damage. But that would cost some serious cabbage.

All this talk of who could coach…just find someone who has won games…Ohio State did that in Tressel….no one else would have even considered him and look at the program he has. YSU was winning and competing for championships and now Ohio State does the same. just a thought.

Some facts to throw in here.

DRGAGS: Tressel had been sought after before. Miami offered him the job before Butch Davis was given the shot in the late 90s. Well known and respected for his work. He had been quietly pursued by many teams because he recruited so well in 1-AA in addition to being a fine coach. The OSU job, was the only one he wanted.

George: partially correct on some facts. Wannstedt was hired by former AD Jeff Long. Pederson, though, did give him both extensions. The first came/announced just before the 2007 Backyard Brawl. Nordenberg obviously has a lot of say in these things, but Pederson pursued Wannstedt back in 1996 — something both sides have acknowledged.

You can’t cite lack of depth at one position as proof of being better off now versus the end of Walt Harris. Otherwise someone might ask you, how many actual centers (rather than converted) are on the team at the moment?

Mike Leach needs a Job.

He was at 1.7 mill a year when he was fired @ Texas Tech he started there @ 1.2 mil. He is considered desperate to clear his name and get back on the field so he may take 1.2 million or slightly more again to get back in the game.

If our Offense put up 50 to 70 points a game we should see a substantial increase in ticket and licensed apparel sales that would more then make up the difference in salary.

People have not got behind this team because they break your heart and are boring when they win.

I’m sure that Nordy isn’t looking at Mike Leach and that some other school will pick this guy up and we will wish we did.

Pittsburgh TV announcing that TCU is moving to the Big East. News conference scheduled for this afternoon.

Oops guess I should have looked forward. Old news. Sorry, Chas.

As a Pitt fan for over 40 years, for all but about 10 of those, we have been always looking forward to being a great team next year. As someone noted above, we play our best football in the pre-season. What makes anyone think the same dumb mistakes, the same bad sideline calls, the same lazy pass routes, the same lack of strength and aggressiveness, and the same off season arrests won’t happen next year? These are all kids that Wanny recruited now. Great, he graduates players, and doesn’t break NCAA rules. That is a minimum for being a coach at Pitt – and at plenty of other Division I schools. As bad a coach as he is, he better, because that may be the only thing that keeps him around. By the way, Walt Harris ran the program the same way from that standpoint. And so will our next coach. That is the school, not the coach.

Chas,

I am not sure if you were picking a position out of the hat…but don’t a lot of programs convert linemen to centers? It takes not only experience but a couple of years in the weight program to make a good center. I am sure that someone can cite examples each way but I never had a problem with converting other linemen to center. Now, I know that Pitt didn’t have many choices of linemen to convert to center….

And, for the record, if I had a wish/say-so in all of this, it would be for Wannstedt to accept the ‘Special Assistant to the Chancellor in charge of Football Related Alumni Relations’ position and for Pitt to go and get Mike Leach. But I will also go on record as saying that, if that were to happen, Wannstedt has left the program in better shape than when he took over. Obviously, none of his stated goals (then or now) were accomplished. But he didn’t (yet) run the ship in the reef. I don’t hold any animosity towards the guy.

Mike Leach is loving life in Key West and is available. Miami just fired their head coach. Coincidence?

You guys are delusional. Mike Leach? Are you kidding me? Why in the world would he want to come to Pitt? You act as if Al Golden would be moving up in the world if he goes to you guys. I have news for you, Temple is a better program than Pitt. The MAC is better than the Big East.

You guys act as if people will line up for the job. Minnesota is a better job than Pitt. You know why? Minnesota plays in a real conference.

All successful football programs have a competent QB and has the succession of the position in place. With all of the problems Pitt has had this year in various positions the root of the team failure is the decision not to get a qualified high school QB in place a couple of years ago. Currently, there are three QB’s in the MAC Conference who would have given Pitt a chance to have won at least 4 more games. They play for Miami OH, Western MI and Northern Illinois. Pitt could have had any one of them but they just did not do it. Sunseri was not even recruited by one MAC team and the Rivals listing was bogus.

All programs miss on recruits but those who misjudge the QB position are doomed to fail. If Wanny is fired this one bad decision will be the cause of his demise.

We are delusional? The guy that wrote that the MAC is better than the Big East? WOW. I don’t know what you are taking but if you don’t stop soon, your brains will be dripping out your nose.

Hey George The BE is a stronger conference than the MAC overall but this year Pitt would not win the MAC. If you check the scores for UCONN you will see that they were thrashed by Temple. UCONN wins the Big East but Temple could not win the MAC.