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December 7, 2010

Wannstedt’s End?

Filed under: Coaches,Football,Hire/Fire,Wannstedt — Chas @ 2:30 pm

I don’t know. It’s either prelude to a shake-up or Paul Zeise has the nice scoop.

Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson will meet with football coach Dave Wannstedt over the next few days to discuss his future, multiple sources have said.

As usual, it is on his blog, where he gets a little more blunt.

Here is what I can tell you – based on a lot of conversatons I’ve had in the past 24 hours, it is does not look good for Wannstedt and it seems like the University is set to go in the proverbial new direction.

Now, I’m not saying it is a “done deal”, but it clearly looks bleak for Dave at this point as I haven’t talked to anyone who has even said “he will be back with certain conditions.”

He then lists the reasons you would expect for the fact that Pitt’s administration apparently willing to pull the plug. Missing from the list is “support from wealthy booster(s) willing to help pay the buyout.”

To be honest, that is the one thing that has me hesitant to believe it will happen. There does appear to be a snowball going that way, but I am not quite there.

The other thing, is that the meeting has no set date. Over the next few days is rather vague. I also wonder if Pitt and AD Pederson would make this happen before Saturday. Do they really want to pre-empt/upstage the big Tennessee-Pitt game at the Con?

So if the meeting gets pushed until next week, then I might be further inclined to believe that Head Coach Wannstedt is done

Guess we are all in for waiting and speculating. Whee.





I’ve supported Wanny, you guys have killed me for it, and I’m sad to see him go, although I realized its happening for reasons I cannot defend, namely falling short of reasonable expectations.

I hope everyone from the administration, the staff, the players (BIG TIME), and us the fans realize we all contributed to this failure. I hope the players care enough to realize they let this man down. The players need to play better, the fans need to show up more, and the staff needs to coach better.

Thanks for trying Wanny, here’s to hoping we make a good decision.

Comment by mike 12.07.10 @ 5:24 pm

I was one of the biggest Wanny supporters around and had a month long argument with some people on here. But bottom line, Wanny just couldn’t get it done. I love the guy, but I just got emotionally tired of him. I got way too tired of defending him. In the past couple years here are the tiring losses that I saw in person:

1. Home against Bowling Green
2. Home letting up 56 to Rutgers in 2008
3. At Cinci in 2008
4. At NC St.
5. Home against Cinci in 2009
6. Home against Miami
7. Home against WVU

A total of 7 games in 3 seasons. That isn’t just two plays in two games. Luckily I didn’t go to the bowl game in EL Paso.

Comment by XBlackMagicX 12.07.10 @ 5:25 pm

For all you guys gloating over Wanny being fired, remember it was the Village Idiot who hired Bill Callahan and we all know that the fans in Nebraska are still “over-joyed” at that decision. God’s speed Wanny.

Be careful what you wish for.

Comment by 13-9 12.07.10 @ 5:25 pm

Teryl Austin, Teryl Austin, Teryl Austin, Teryl Austin.

Comment by Antoine 12.07.10 @ 5:26 pm

As others have mentioned, you can stop killing this guy now. He’s a good guy and loves the school. Its hard to fathom such jubilation in another man’s misfortune.

We must realize changing coaches does not vault us into automatic big east champs annually.

Comment by mike 12.07.10 @ 5:27 pm

I really don’t understand bringing up Bill Callahan. Currently the program:
1) Is irrelevant nationally
2) Garners little to no local attention (see attendance numbers at Heinz)
3) Wins very little in a BCS conference that is putrid

I would rather take the chance at trying for a great hire to take us far. If it fails, so what? No Compass Bowl or Beef O Bradys Bowl? WHO CARES? I want to win the conference and play in the BCS games!

Comment by Joe 12.07.10 @ 5:30 pm

makes me think we may actually come out winners of the 2010 backyard brawl after all, haha

Comment by TJ 12.07.10 @ 5:30 pm

13-9

Your name begets the only reason Dave W was here as long as he was…his only signature moment was that score right there.

If you go back in Ziese’s blog several weeks ago…Dave was on the hotseat to be let go prior to that game…his coaching team worked their butts off and won the game.

Even the second rate crew that covered a recent game (the color guy) stated that Wanny has been milking that win for a while now.

Just find a sense if Irony behind it…

DaveD

Comment by DaveD 12.07.10 @ 5:31 pm

How can anyone be disheartened by this move? Wanny is a millionaire, having made more in his lifetime than anyone at Pitt. Yet, he could not elevate the program. So why should I shed tear one for the guy? ‘Oh, he’s a nice fella, a guy to share a beer with.’ GROW UP! Nobody goes to games to watch a nice guy. Nobody turns on the plasma screen to see a coach and pretend to have a beer with them. This is America, land of capitalism. Survival of the fittest. If you want to get all warm and gooey, go watch a Disney movie in the land of make-believe.

Comment by Gas 12.07.10 @ 5:32 pm

Best wishes to Wanny. Although he did not take us to where we wanted to be, he was blood, sweat and tears for the University. I am curious to see the direction we go. Peterson would not hire Wanny without some sort of plan in place.

Comment by JAM 05 Pitt 12.07.10 @ 5:32 pm

Bob Smizik weighs in, mentions Leach and the Temple coach as possible successors:

Pitt fires Wannstedt

Dave Wannstedt has been fired as coach of the Pitt football team.

After three non-winning seasons in 2005-07, Wannstedt appeared to have the Pitt program turned around with nine wins in 2008 and 10 in 2009. But the team is 7-5 this season and on its way to a minor bowl game.

While not shocking — there were ample reasons for the firing — it was surprising. Wannstedt enjoys an excellent relationship with Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg.

But Nordenberg either agreed with Pederson’s decision or chose not to overrule it.

The season was immensely disappointing for Pitt, which was the pre-season favorite to win the Big East championship. But not only did it lose non-league games to Utah, Miami and Notre Dame, it also lost twice in the conference.

Although Pitt finished in a three-way tie for first, it was no consolation. The league was ripe for the taking this year and Wannstedt and his team could not get the job done, could not get Pitt to a BCS game.

There are many candidates to replace Wannstedt and most of them are unfamiliar to Pitt fans. For example, before hiring Walt Harris, Pederson tried to hire Mark Richt, who was a fairly anonymous coordinator at Florida State. Richt said no and felt he could do better, which he did at Georgia.

Mike Leach, the offensive guru who made a name for himself at Texas Tech, will be mentioned. So will Al Golden, who has been able to win at Temple.

But much like four men who achieved great success in Pittsburgh — Chuck Noll, Jim Leyland, Bill Cowher and Ben Howland — there a good chance an unknown will succeed Wannstedt.

Comment by steve 12.07.10 @ 5:33 pm

I’m with BigGuy. It is a shame that UCONN returned that kickoff for a touchdown. The PLAYERS failed to hold on to the ball against WVU, not Wannstedt.

Comment by Campbell 12.07.10 @ 5:34 pm

I think the elevation of the basketball program in the recent decade actually helps shape the search for the new football coach. The administration sees what winning does for the university and would love to replicate that in football (not that they’ve tried to fail in the past).

The espn article says that Wanny will remain in the athletic department, if this is true and lasting, I think its great. Wanny will be a great ambassador for the school and has arguably done a pretty decent job recruiting, the game-coaching and planning was the big problem for him. Hopefully this can help hold together the recruiting process.

Comment by TJ 12.07.10 @ 5:34 pm

I’m pleasantly suprised by this. I really expected the Stache to be back as head coach next year.
Anyway, Le roi est mort, vive le roi…who is our next coach?

Comment by Patrick 12.07.10 @ 5:34 pm

The Pitt administration did the right thing in firing Dave Wannstedt. He was never a good head coach, not for the Bears, not for the Dolphins and not at Pitt.

This is Steve Pederson’s big chance. He fired Frank Solich and hired Bill Callahan and almost ruined Nebraska football in the process. Now Pederson has the opportunity to make the Pitt football program right.

Comment by Penguins Fan 12.07.10 @ 5:35 pm

Joe:

You don’t understand brining up Callahan? If Pederson makes a decision like that, we’ll be in the same league as Duquesne getting our butts beat.

I understand getting rid of Wanny, but Pederson doesn’t have the best track record….that was my point.

Comment by 13-9 12.07.10 @ 5:39 pm

And to the apologists, kindly explain why I should be satisfied doling out dollar after dollar for a mediocre product? More importantly, explain why I should waste my valuable time on a mediocre product? If I wanted to watch garbage, there is plenty of it on television. Finally, of all the arguments, there is no way anyone can reconcile Pitt’s defense on the 4th and one play at UCONN. That play alone should have gotten him terminated. Ask Mark May.

Comment by Gas 12.07.10 @ 5:39 pm

I’ll admit, I didn’t think it would happen.

There’s no question it had to happen, and now. Still, I can’t help but feel sad about it. Wanny could just never seem to adapt.

The most logical candidate right now seems to be Cignetti. Although I would prefer Gattuso, or some other fresh face. I just hope its not a retread, like so many times before.

Comment by Spanky 12.07.10 @ 5:41 pm

Let’s not be ridiculous and blame the mediocre season on the kids. Sure, we didn’t win the UConn game because kick return and fumble, but two plays don’t make a football game or a season.

Motivating the team to play is a big a part of college football as execution, recruiting and game plan. Bowling Green, BackYard Brawls, Oregon State, UCONN, Miami, Notre Dame are just a few examples where the team didn’t show up to play and got beat. At a certain point that falls on the coach. The offensive line woes go back to recruiting. In game adjustments were often notably absent. The blown lead to Cincy also comes to mind where we took our foot off the pedal. So let’s be careful blaming kids for the state of the program and how the season turned out.

I don’t think we need to bash Wannstedt any more, and I do even feel bad for him that he failed, but the reality is that he simply didn’t get the job done and its time to move on.

Comment by TJ 12.07.10 @ 5:42 pm

It’s laughable when people give Zeise credit. He was all for Wannstedt until he got fired and now he’s coming up with all kinds of reasons why he was fired as if there was never any doubt that it would happen. Hypocrite!!

Comment by Mike 12.07.10 @ 5:43 pm

I said last Friday something big was going on. I am trying to recruit a top line kicker to Pitt and was finally able to forward his info and tape.
Only to find out the recruiter at Pitt had been let go. Didn’t sound right and no one at Pitt athletics would discuss it further. Said to call back on Wednesday…

With due respect to Rev George – Thank you God!

There was a lot of locker room and off field stuff that contributed to the firing. I have also been through 6 Pitt coaches being fired or leaving .and considered the alternative not being any better….but the overwhelming Wanny poor management was too much to bear.

Evidently he was allowed to resign. Can we finally have some peace on this site.

I have NEVER rooted against Pitt ….but had with Wanny. Hail to a new era at PITT!!

Comment by Dan 72 12.07.10 @ 5:44 pm

I threw out Teryl Austin as Our next Coach, Great Recruiter, Def Ast @ Univ of Mich, Seattle Seahawks(Super Bowl Year) Arizona Cardinals (Super Bowl Year) Current Def Cord Univ of Fla, From Sharon PA and a Pitt Guy.

Comment by Antoine 12.07.10 @ 5:44 pm

I am sure that like the majority of people who post here we wanted to see “one of our own” do well as the Pitt Coach. It is a shame that Wanny grossly underdelivered during his tenure at Pitt.
It is now up to Pederson to make a BOLD move to bring in a proven winner. I do not want to see an assistant coach elevated to HC at Pitt. Does anybody remember the name Charlie Weiss??
In order to bring in a talented leader for our program it will take $$$. Hopefully our University will loosen the purse strings to step up in class with a coach who will be a credit to our program. Pitt is a GREAT University…there is no reason as to why we can’t excel in the class room and on the field too.

Comment by isnore 12.07.10 @ 5:46 pm

Mike, Zeise is in between a rock and a hard place. If you worked for a daily and had to report daily, I just don’t think you could Dokish like Dokish does.

Comment by steve 12.07.10 @ 5:47 pm

How I see it:

Pitt just fired a Pitt man just one year after a 10 win season.

This, if nothing else, shows that Pitt is DEAD SERIOUS about not being mired in mediocrity as a football program.

I’ve been waiting a long time for confirmation of that.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 12.07.10 @ 5:47 pm

how bout rich rodriguez?

Comment by miket 12.07.10 @ 5:49 pm

“Best wishes to Wanny. Although he did not take us to where we wanted to be, he was blood, sweat and tears for the University.” – I could not agree more JAM. Many thanks to him for being a stand up guy who has had far more success in his career (college & pro) than most coaches do. Most NFL coaches don’t make the playoffs and many college coaches never reach a bowl game.

Having said that, it was time for him to move on. He had lost much of the fanbase and I thought throughout the season he had lost the team. That is partly some players’ fault but not all their fault… It is best for him & the program for him to resign and move upstairs. Now, can we get the hire we need? IN my lifetime I have seen only 3 Pitt fb hires that had some success: Gottfried, Harris & Wannstedt. I’ve also had Fazio, Hackett & Majors II. I started with Sherrill. Will we stay mediocre, more to pathetic or shoot for excellence?

Comment by Bowling Green Panther 12.07.10 @ 5:49 pm

This is an example of the collective power of prayer. Wanny is doing the right thing. The cubbard is not bear, we just need a better cook. Hopefully we’ll get a innovative, foward thinking coach.

Comment by Pittastic 12.07.10 @ 5:57 pm

It sounds simple to me. If the high school play is mediocre and one wants quality, one only has to go out and buy a ticket to a Broadway play. If a football team is mediocre, one only has to fire the coach and hire a new one just like Pitt did when they fired Foge and hired Gottfried, er, ah, I mean when they got rid of Gottfried and hired Hackett, er, ah, I mean when they fired Hackett and hired Majors, er, ah, I mean when they fired Majors and hired Harris, er, ah, I mean when the fired Harris and…aw, hell. You know what I mean.

Comment by BigGuy 12.07.10 @ 5:58 pm

“If you worked for a daily and had to report daily, I just don’t think you could Dokish like Dokish does.”

That’s one interesting sentence!! But the truth is, Zeise is one of the most opinionated sportswriters this city has ever seen. He has no problem trashing everybody else, but with Wannstedt he wouldn’t do it. He was too easy on him year after year and it fooled people in to thinking Wannstedt was better than he was!!!

Comment by Mike 12.07.10 @ 5:58 pm

I like Wanny as a person but I am happy this move was made – shocked actually.

Over on the Pitt board at Rivals, there is talk that this move was decided on after the ND loss and that Peterson has been working on a replacement since then. I have no idea if this is true – one poster that is well-respected says that the coach will be named before the weekend so he can be introduced at the Pitt-Tennessee game. he also says people will be quite happy with the choice.

I am quite intrigued now. I have no clue who it could be – I am assuming someone that is not in football right now. Interesting.

Comment by Mac 12.07.10 @ 5:59 pm

Here’s a wrinkle: Per the Pitt flagship station 93.7, Dave has the option of coaching the bowl game if he chooses.

Comment by Dock71 12.07.10 @ 6:03 pm

That was the strangest news conferences I have ever heard. DW says a few words and the players!!! There were players there!!! clap and follow DW out of the room after he calls for a team meeting?!? WTF? Apparently, he resigned.

Comment by Jerome Lane 12.07.10 @ 6:05 pm

From the Pitt board…

“I have it from my Golden Panther Alums in Pittsburgh that Pederson has a replacement already and it will be an assistant from a major program. So Please, no John Gruden speculation because it is not going to happen.”

Comment by Mac 12.07.10 @ 6:07 pm

Hiring the right coach is a tricky proposition. the fact that Pederson is doing it doesn’t make me feel terrific. He got lucky with Harris and Howland. Or should I say we got lucky. Howland is barely hanging on at UCLA (they just lost to Montana). I hope Pederson has been in consultation with a group besides his yes men. I also think he should have been communicating to fans perhaps twice or so – because it looked like he was out to lunch. The frustration grew needlessly because it appeared no one was listening.

Comment by TonyinHouston 12.07.10 @ 6:15 pm

Anyone have the live press feed without having to install flash5 or whatever else bs there is?

Great News. I literally had to get off the treadmill after work when it ran below ESPN.

Comment by Justin 12.07.10 @ 6:18 pm

Rev. George:
You make an excellent point. What goes unsaid is the administrative support these guys didn’t find at Pitt. I don’t know if the group you listed were terrific coaches or not. I do know when Pitt starts to be successful the chancellor has raised academic requirements. The Pitt chancellor has been one of the big obstacles to sustained success. We see now that Wannstedt had the tools he needed and he couldn’t produce. Clearly it becomes his issue as a coach not the school leadership as has been the case in the past.

Comment by TonyinHouston 12.07.10 @ 6:19 pm

Hiring a coach is tough, the odds are stacked in your favor regardless of where you are unless you can bring in a big-name coach with a proven track record (like Saban at Alabama)…

I don’t see us bringing in a big-name, and I am fine with that…just keep our fingers crossed that things work out now…

Comment by TJ 12.07.10 @ 6:20 pm

Dear Pitt Fan,

WANNSTEDT ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION FROM PITT
PITTSBURGH–Dave Wannstedt announced today he will resign as head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh. Wannstedt informed Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson of his decision Tuesday.
He will remain at Pitt in the capacity of special assistant to the athletic director.
“The past six years have been among the most gratifying of my entire career,” said Wannstedt, a 1974 graduate of Pitt and former standout offensive tackle for the Panthers. “To be the head coach at my university was the realization of a lifelong dream. It has been an honor and privilege to serve Pitt and its football program.
“I’ve always told our players that the University of Pittsburgh will mean more to them than just four years of school and football. It will influence and inspire everything they do long after their last class and final game. I know that firsthand. I owe so much of my life to the education and experiences I had here. Pitt has always been, and will continue to be, an incredibly special place for my family and me.”
“On behalf of the University of Pittsburgh, I’d like to thank Coach Wannstedt for his passionate and committed service the past six years,” Pederson said. “This has never been just a job for Dave. He is wholeheartedly committed to Pitt and its people. We are greatly appreciative of his efforts to build a strong program on and off the field.”
Wannstedt was named the 34th head coach in Pitt football history on December 23, 2004. He has compiled a 42-31 record over six seasons. The highlights of his tenure include:
Three consecutive postseason berths, including this year’s BBVA Compass Bowl. The Panthers also advanced to the 2008 Sun Bowl and 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl, where they defeated North Carolina, 19-17.
A 10-3 record in 2009, the program’s winningest season since 1981. Pitt’s 10 victories secured a final national ranking of No. 15 in both polls, the Panthers’ highest final listing since 1982.
A 26-12 record from 2008-10, the program’s most successful three-year stretch since the 1981-83 seasons.
One of the most celebrated victories in school history — a 13-9 upset of West Virginia in Morgantown on December 1, 2007. The Panthers knocked off the Mountaineers, who were ranked No. 1 in the USA Today coaches’ poll and on the cusp of playing in the BCS title game.
Four first-team All-Americans, including defensive end Jabaal Sheard (2010), tight end Dorin Dickerson (2009), linebacker Scott McKillop (2008) and linebacker H.B. Blades (2006).
Six Big East Player-of-the-Year awards since 2006. The honorees under Wannstedt include running back Dion Lewis (Offensive and Rookie, 2009), defensive end Greg Romeus (Co-Defensive, 2009), defensive tackle Mick Williams (Co-Defensive, 2009), linebacker Scott McKillop (Defensive, 2008), running back LeSean McCoy (Rookie, 2007) and linebacker H.B. Blades (Defensive, 2006).
An Academic All-American and Big East Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year in placekicker Conor Lee (2008).
Fourteen NFL Draft selections, including first-round picks in cornerback Darrelle Revis (New York Jets, 2007) and offensive tackle Jeff Otah (Carolina Panthers, 2008).

Pederson said a national search for a successor will begin immediately.

Comment by Yeti 12.07.10 @ 6:20 pm

meant to say “odds are stacked against you”

Comment by TJ 12.07.10 @ 6:21 pm

AS a businessman of 39 years in both management and sales i can tell all of you…people fire themselves. And all this he loved his players and made sure they went to class etc etc..that’s what you are supposed to do as a head coach!!

I wish him well, but the anger and angst he caused all of us in the 6 years will stay for a long time.

Obviously they found some alums to buy out his contract

Comment by Dan 72 12.07.10 @ 6:22 pm

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by The Rooster 12.07.10 @ 6:25 pm

Mike, I think Zeise knew that the 1st time he trashed Wanny would be the last. Simply no more access, he’s seen it happen before.

I have to laud our AD here. Somewhere into the the process he accessed the players’ opinions I’m sure. And from what little I know, it must not have been pleasant.

Comment by steve 12.07.10 @ 6:25 pm

bring it home jerome.

Comment by FRANKCAN 12.07.10 @ 6:31 pm

When I heard he was canned, I felt like Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning. I was freaking giddy to say the least and just started screaming!!!

Comment by Kenny 12.07.10 @ 6:32 pm

Teryl Austin should be considered for the job.

Despite the poor performance we should thank Dave for his time. He was a breath of well needed fresh air after Walt Harris and for that we should all thank him. He is a PITT man after all and gave it his best shot.

Time to move on.

Comment by PITT fan in Atlanta 12.07.10 @ 6:34 pm

One problem down, one to go. Whether you loved, hated, or indifferent to Wanny, he had to go. Now the worry really begins … The Village Idiot (Thank you 13 – 9) has to find a replacement. This will be very interesting! Quick pick for recruting? Wait unitl after the bowls? Short lists of names? Will he leak the hopefuls like before and fall flat on his face?

Comment by IowaPanther 12.07.10 @ 6:35 pm

Sorry, but there’s no way in hell that Pitt has the power to ruin Zeise. Anybody who messes with the press ALWAYS loses and Pitt would know that. He just loved Wannstedt personally and it effected his reporting. He lost the ability to be unbiased.

Comment by Mike 12.07.10 @ 6:41 pm

It is bill cower i wish just a joke

Comment by FRANKCAN 12.07.10 @ 6:42 pm

Please, stop with the “careful what you wish for” stuff. What, are we going to get someone who loses to Bowling Green, gets the whole university embarrassed to Miami on national t.v., the Oregon St. bowl fiasco, Notre Dame flubs, WVU carjackings!!! Stop it, grow up. What if the next guy doesn’t do anything?? Then, after 4 years if the program isn’t progressing, you try someone else. You don’t sit in the grass and enjoy mediocrity!!! (Again, 7-5 and no BCS games in the Big East is not mediocre, it is poor, very poor). Kicking to the curb?? Guys been in coaching for 30 years, he should have plenty of money, and if reports are true, he’ll be an assistant to the AD to make his millions the next three years. I wish I could get kicked to the curb like that. There are poor people who don’t have enough to eat, guys and women making 20-30 grand supporting their families, that get fired, or their company goes belly up, so, let’s all just keep it in perspective, please. I like Dave, apparently, a good guy, had 6 years, more than enough time to have done something fantastic, never did it.

Comment by DAN 12.07.10 @ 7:02 pm

I know we have a lot of Wanny haters here, but I do want to take time to thank him for at least attempting to bring Pitt back to a more competitive program. His tenure at Pitt wasn’t that much of a failure, he brought some good recruits in and showed loyalty in coming back to his Alma Mater when they called for him. I am relieved to see him go, and at the same time happy to have him onboard to help with recruiting. That is where he seems to excel. Hopefully the next coach will do a better job of putting it all together on Saturdays and be more competitive. Thanks for trying Wanny!

Comment by Heel Hater 12.07.10 @ 7:02 pm

Are they just giving him the “non-coaching job” in the athletic department as a way to get something out of him, instead of just paying him to sit at home for the next few years?

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 12.07.10 @ 7:09 pm


TERYL AUSTIN!

TERYL AUSTIN!

TERYL AUSTIN!

TERYL AUSTIN!

Comment by PITT fan in Atlanta 12.07.10 @ 7:16 pm

Hate to pat myself on the back, but I will. 🙂
After the ND game, I suggested that they kick Wanny upstairs to the old Johnny Majors role. wbb also suggested that later on.

Looks like that’s what they’re doing. Saves some face for him and Pitt gets something for the money they’ll have to pay him
anyway. Smart move as long as he stays out of the new coach’s way.

Comment by TampaT 12.07.10 @ 7:19 pm

I hate to mention Penn State but the guys at blackshoe diaries are posting stuff about Bradley being Pitt’s next coach. Apparently, Bradley realizes he’s not going to get the Penn State job…and the Post says Pederson has lined up a high profile assistant.

Comment by TonyinHouston 12.07.10 @ 7:22 pm

[…] how much I know about the timing of these things, huh? I pushed that post out, and then had to spend the afternoon at my […]


One last thing and I am done…Wanny coddled these players and they got away with “murder” on and off the field. In one last defiant gesture, he was told emphatically…no players at the press conference and showed up with 6. I think that says it all…

Comment by Dan 72 12.07.10 @ 7:26 pm

I stopped posting here months ago, got tired of the same ‘ol, same ‘ol tired back and forth about Wanny. Well, like the guy posted earlier, the guy you work for doesn’t fire you, he only delivers the message. Your body of work gets you fired and Wanny finally found something he could excel at.

I got no ill wishes for the man and hope he enjoys his “life’s work”. But I gotta tell you when I first heard the news the first thing that popped into my head was “ding dong the witch is dead”.

Ironic that I got the call from the university fund raisers just last night and I told them to call me back after Wannstedt was gone. I will call them tomorrow, give them my pledge and get on the list for season tickets again. See you at Heinz.

Comment by wally 12.07.10 @ 7:30 pm

First of all… many of you know my comments on Wanny ruining the Pitt FB brand…so I won’t rehash it. He’s gone, and I would like to forget he ever existed as Pitt’s head coach. No more bashing, he’s gone. Period.

I will, however, concede that he brought in bigger, stronger, and faster guys compared to Walt. That’s about it…

BUT….

AND THIS IS A BIG ONE…

Please stop with the “Wanny helped bring us back or moved the program forward” crap…he did not.

If anyone deserves more credit for Pitt’s FB climb to mediocrity is Walt Harris. Walt Harris inherited an absolutely abysmal program, stuck in the dark ages with facilities, with MAC level talent (as a whole), and brought us back to a level of average. Walt will never get credit with the Yinzer media, and was quite an enigma, but if anyone should get credit for actually improving the program…it is Walt.

People conveniently forget how much better our conference was at that time….7 or 8 wins in the old BE was aaverage/slightly above… 7 or 8 wins in the new BE is below average.

Walt was a great hire at the time, and I will argue did a great job considering the talent and condition of Pitt FB. Granted, he probably would have never gotten us to the “the next level”, but his hire (at that time) was great for Pitt.

Time to get a young, hungry, former coach at the DI level that can strategize, execute and inspire players, coordinators, and the fans.

Hail to Script Pitt on the Football Helmets.
Kill the Dyno cat.
I’ll live with the vegas gold/blue and block Pitt on the rest of the teams….

Comment by Pauly P 12.07.10 @ 7:37 pm

Bad news bama said sal sunseri is on pitts short list i was hopeing for something better.

Comment by FRANKCAN 12.07.10 @ 7:43 pm

Just imagine the new coach, whoever he is, coming in with a fresh perspective, evaluating all of the talent currently on this squad, not to mention the incoming recruits. No previous obligations or preconceptions. Just looking at who the best 22 are. Talk about a kid in a candy shop with a pocket full of money!! I just hope that the guy we hire has no problems with playing the “talent” rather than the “experience” and being fine with giving that talent the “test by fire” experience. Once the members on this team really buy into the idea that those who can, will be the ones that will, the whole metality of this team can be turned on it’s head. Competition from the ground up, brings the cream to the top every time! No more BS about redshirting ever frickin freshman that comes through the front door, no more being apprehensive about playing the inexpereinced player. NO MORE INTITLEMENT!! Once again hope springs eternal, Hail to PITT! What the hell, why not Bill Cowher?

Comment by Dr. Tom 12.07.10 @ 7:48 pm

wally: First thing that came into my head was in honor of Dandy Don’s passing…”Turn out the lights. The Wanny era’s over!”

Comment by TampaT 12.07.10 @ 7:48 pm

thanks Pauly P. seems like a lot of people are rewriting history to bash walt and try to give credit to wanny.

Comment by druc 12.07.10 @ 8:00 pm

Mixed feels no reason to gloat,I guess it hard to me to root for someone that is a “PITT” guy.I Guess all of you monday morning QB’s are putting your applications in cause you all will do so much better? Go big or go home hopefully Sh** bag Perderson hires the right guy or we will be in for another 6 years of listening to cry babies.

Comment by POLE 12.07.10 @ 8:27 pm

Also I live in Florida and TERYL AUSTIN sucks and i hate the Gators!

Comment by POLE 12.07.10 @ 8:36 pm

Ken Pomeroy is amazing, has Kansas #1, Memphis #29. His prediction for today’s game:

Tue Dec 7 29 Memphis W, 78-67 72 85% Neutral

Comment by steve 12.07.10 @ 8:47 pm

Please, no Sal Sunseri or Russ Grimm. Hope they both have great lives, not here. I must say, the Tom Bradley thing would be intriguing. Please get a college coach. Fear not the stepping stone banter either, if you get a coach, who wins, maybe wins the Big East and goes to a BCS and is ranked in the top 10 or 15, then, it’s the universities call, if they want this person, they will pay to keep him. Seems to me about 10-12 years ago, everyone said, Pitt basketball is a stepping stone…….hhhhmmmmmmmmmmm. Maybe we’ll get the wrong guy, thank goodness we’re trying!!!

Comment by DAN 12.07.10 @ 8:48 pm

If Pitt hires Sal Sunseri, I will lose all hope in the program. His hiring would create a huge conflict of interest in the program, especially if Tino began to struggle next season. I want a coach who will allow both Mark Myers and Anthony Gonzalez to compete with Tino for the starting job next year. I believe that Sal would have trouble benching his son, even if it is for the better.

Comment by PatMac 12.07.10 @ 8:52 pm

Sunseri and Grimm are two horrible names that scream more of the same old crap.

I wanna hear more Teryl Austin, Josh McDaniels, Gus Malzohn, Etc type guys….

Comment by TJ 12.07.10 @ 10:04 pm

Josh Mcdaniels? LMAO

Comment by POLE 12.07.10 @ 10:14 pm

go on your computer look up offensive coordinator dana holgorsen urban meyer is trying to get him to come to florida he is at oklahoma state now.every were he has been he has averaged over 400 yards a game he is young he brings excitement.he is what we need here will you all just look it up .

Comment by FRANKCAN 12.07.10 @ 10:35 pm

In the end, no one “feared the stache” anymore.

Comment by DAN 12.08.10 @ 2:23 am

Josh McDaniels? It seems he got to Denver, asked whomever had talent to raise their hands and got rid of them. The Belicheat coaching tree sucks!

Comment by Pittastic 12.08.10 @ 9:12 am

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