What do you guys think about Pitt re-interviewing former candidates (i.e. Sumlin and Graham)?? Do you think those coaches would still be interested knowing they were not Pitt’s top choice the first time around???

Despite Pinkstons post, as far as I know, players are happy about this. They were not enthusiastic about Haywood. I still think higher expectations and more discipline would help in the long run, but I think they are glad to see him gone. Hope they are happier about the successor.

I have always liked the idea of someone who has had success as an HC at a lower level. Experience with the CEO aspects of the job – getting out of your assistants ways, for a start – can only help. Yes, the success was at a lower level, but so were the tools you had to work with. It isn’t like the AState coach is playing 1AA ball with Div 1 recruits. The drawback with this approach is no history of recruiting the 1A talent.
Glad it isn’t my job to hire someone, and then take the blame. I can just sit back and comment.

@Jam 05
Pete Thamel’s NY Times blog (“The Quad”) claimed that Sumlin and Graham wouldn’t even discuss the Pitt job in the first go round.

Something tells me we’re headed for another unknown, even if they are going to widen the search. We just won’t (or can’t) pony up the money some of the candidates mentioned would command.

JAM, Sumlin and Graham “refused to even discuss the job”….(see Thamel)

I’m telling you, Bill Cherpak…if he’d even take it.

Sumlin and Graham “refused to even discuss the job”

they should have added at the $$$$ amount Pitt was talking……..

That I think is our biggest issue here folks.

Ok, thanks guys…Sorry just read the above-posted link. I’mgetting pumped to watch the Steelers but still can’t get the Pit trainwreck off my mind…where the hell do we go from here??

Cignetti. Smart, energetic, well-liked in Western PA.

Bradley. Smart, energetic, well-liked in Western PA. And would literally kill himself to show his ex-boss what he missed out on.

for the college sports fan, XM Channel 143 is pretty good. The host this morning was saying that he thought RichRod would be the best candidate for Pitt (I’m not sure.)

H ealso mentioned that Tulsa’s Todd Graham will be high on the list.

Would love to see Dick Rod get hired, the entertainment value alone would be off the charts. And compared to our last coach, he’s a solid citizen. What are a few extra text messages compared to felony domestic battery charges?

Yes coverage by the PG has been weak, but is it reasonable to expect Zeise to disrupt his vacation or more reasonable that the PG should have been more on it given the staff they had?

Todd Graham would be a great hire but they have to be willing to pay him more then a million a year’

I have heard YES Haywood’s contract was to be just UNDER a million a year.

To save face, keep the current team/staff happy and make some recruits reconsider – Cignetti may be a smart move.

Keep in mind that money might not be the only reason that some of the names thrown around weren’t interested in the job. Pederson (Dixon not withstanding) caused concerns at Nebraska regarding his “management style”:

link to cbssports.com

His rep was as an arrogant, my-way-or-the-highway kind of boss. I’m sure that word gets around, and some of these guys may have been leery of working for him.

Please stop mentioning Rich Rodriguez, its ludicrous. Should never and will never happen

Markp,
I’m with you on this one, I think Cignetti would be a great pick. It one I would have liked to have the first time around. He’s well regarded and we would have kept our recruiting class. He was a terrific OC at Cal and I believe that hancuffed by the more conservative philosophy of Wannstedt. He possible could bring a few of the recruites that we lost, back into the picture.

It sounds like NYT’s Thamel isn’t very well connected. If Sumlin and Graham “refused to discuss” the Pitt job, they aren’t very smart. (Assuming the money is similar to what they’re making) They could take over what was the most talented team in the Big East, with a chance for a BCS bowl most years. And what does Thamel mean by disarray? Again…this is a talented team with a lot of good redshirts ready to play next year on a team with facilities as good as any. Pitt hired a guy who’d had impressive results at a MAC school, a type of hire which has been done many times with great success. Haywood apparently had never been in trouble before. But who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Haywood was probably faced with the most stress he has ever been under…a new job, hiring a staff, getting started recruiting, cutting off ties with Miami, moving, the holidays, a custody problem? Unfortunately, he cracked. That is a very unfortunate and human predicament, not something that is an embarrassment to the university. I can’t believe the Pitt job won’t be attractive to a lot of good coaches. Where is the disarray? Hire the right coach. Let him get started. It might be too late to salvage the recruiting for this year, but with the redshirts already here and a good recruiting class next year…what’s so catastrophic?

I don’t know if anyone mentioned his name, because I haven’t read all of the posts, but how about Teryl Austin as a candidate for Head Coach. He has experience coaching in both college and the pros. He is currently the Defensive Coordinator at Florida, under Urban Meyer (up until yesterday, anyway). I think I heard that he was hired by Texas to be their new DC. I am sure that if offered the Pitt job and about $1.75 million he would take it. However, I don’t think Pitt wants to spend. I think they would rather go cheap. Austin played at Pitt also, not that it matters to me, but some people care about that.

Randy Edsall to Maryland. Just broke on ESPN.

Auggie,

Let’s assume Thamel is right for a second. What does that say about Pederson. Coaches know AD’s and if they did refuse that means SP is toxic and must go.

DaveD

Randy Edsall is a great choice for the Terps. Randy is a Pa. boy out of Glen Rock (near York) and will recruit all over The Keystone State. Stevie had better have is act together this time around!!
Yep, another Big East coaching job is now up for grabs. it will very intersting to see how high the payscale will be for UCONN.

does the coaching carousel in the big east ever stop? good lord.

hey nordy…do you see what being cheap brings you? buck up and pay for a real coah and a real staff…put that $1.8B endowment to use in creating a self sustaining athletic department.

To pile onto Pederson, remember that at Nebraska his first couple of choices turned him down after interviewing. What does that say about him, his reputation and his personal style that coaches would decline to coach at a program like Nebraska with him in charge?

Sorry about the typo’s above!

DaveD:
If Thamel is right, then I guess there is a good chance that SP is the reason.

BenF:
Wasn’t this Austin’s first year back in the college ranks? No way he can command $1.7 million.

Maryland is talking about Rich Rod, which would probably be a better fit. I guess their discussions with Leech are not going as planned. That’s fine because at this point I would rather see Cignetti or Bradley at least get consideration at Pitt. At this stage of the game I don’ think a big name head coach. So the next best thing, in my eyes, is getting a solid guy who is a good recruiter who knows the territory and is hungry for the opportunity to be a head coach.

Zeise lives! Claims Bradley will get interview!

Maryland just hired Edsall, who is basically Dave Wannstedt without the feathered hair and yinzer accent.

I’m not sure how much credence to give Thamel’s reporting, he could be one of those guys who just passes along whatever his sources feed him. SP should be fired anyway for completely botching this whole fire/hire sequence.

I’m serious about Dick Rod, though. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I have to say at this point Pitt has to implement triage. This isn’t a hope springs eternal moment.

In my opinion they must do the following:

1) Stem any transfers from the existing team
2) repair the local coaching relationships that have been basically shot to hell due to this debacle
3) Save next years recruiting class (yes we are behind the eight ball already due to this see point #2 above)
4) Salvage what you can of the 2010 class

We need to save Pa., it’s no longer about opening up Texas, Florida…that can come in time…right now we need to repair the damage that has been done.

Hiring the HC, getting his staff in place, creating the relationships with local area schools, is going to take time. Next year’s Pa class is going to be a very good one (from what I have read).

Right now, I think it’s obvious who the choice should be…I know folks may not like it but I think Bradley is the best choice because I think he can fix most of the items listed above (with perhaps the exception of point #4).

(btw I am assuming they are still looking to purge of existing regime, otherwise someone on the existing staff like Cignetti could fit as well).

DaveD

Anyone know Nordy’s address?
Time to push Bradley or Cig.

Come on, this ain’t rocket science. You don’t need a 300K search firm. There are two coaches; pick one.

@Gas: NO.

To all of the Zeise apologists, please note that he apparently is not on vacation, he found time to appear on KDKAs Nightly Sports call on New Years eve at 10:30pm. You can go to the kdka video archive online and watch for yourselves. I personally like Zeise, seems like a nice guy and I like listening to him but please stop the apologizing for him, he has been out to lunch on one of the biggest stories for Pitt athletics in years.

Reporters, especially beat writers dont work bankers hours. Reporting is a round the clock job. Sometimes its slow, sometimes you have to burn the midnight oil. Thats the nature of the profession. Work now, rest later. Just my opinion. You can easily write and talk to people from home so its not like he has to be physically in an office or away from his loved ones. Come on Paul, get your act together.

@Coach Ditka…

What does this first line of his blog suggest:

Well, so much for a nice vacation and holiday weekend to relax before I head to Birmingham for the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Think that means he was on a vacation…but that could be just because I am misinterpreting the English language.

DaveD

OK Dave so whats your point? He found time to appear on tv on new years eve….doesnt sound like a vacation to me?

Post-Gazette headline:

“Paterno pushes Bradley for Pitt job.”

Great. JoePa calling the shots at Pitt too?

Looks like even Paterno is behind Tom Bradley for the Pitt job.
This may be the first coherent thought the old fogey has had in some time.

link to postgazette.com

Take a quick look at what JoePa had to say to the Trib. He may be 1,284 years old, however, when you read between the lines he is saying that Pederson is a moron!!

Bradley is so great in Paterno’s eyes that they have no intention of ever giving him the job at State College. But as coach at Pitt? Sure, hire him asap. Please, please, please, let’s not drink this kool-aid! Didn’t we drink enough of SP’s?

OK, let’s operationally define “disarray:”

1) Wanny gets fired after he wins his final game and the team is invited to a bowl game.

2) Wanny balks and is kept on as a younger version of Johnny Majors

3) His loyal players are allowed to follow him to the podium to hear his epitaph…while he’s still alive

4) A rushed search leads to few candidates and the selection of an inexpensive coach with a live skeleton in the closet

5) Said coach fires everyone and hires his previous staff who now find themselves on the unemployment line

6) All this happening while the team is about to play a bowl game for a lame duck…and, BTW, are 3.5 points favorites as we speak.

Not only in disarray, downright surreal.

Yeah, let’s get a guy that Temple didn’t want. Makes a lot of sense.

He’s pushing Bradley out of the way at Penn State so his son Jay can become Assistant Head Coach and coach-in-waiting.

link to profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

This just made my eyes bleed.

Both RichRod and Marvin Lewis are being linked with the Pitt job in the media…Richrod just speculation, Lewis is said to be interested in the job and on a “short list”…

Marvin Lewis would be a horrible hire as would the ex-WVa and soon to be ex-Mich coach. Cignetti for coach!

There is zero point zero chance Marvin Lewis is even a candidate. If that is the “new direction” Pitt wants to go then you might as well re-sign the stache. To me, they are one in the same.

I think Teryl Austin will get a more serious look this time.

@hacky3 – That is exactly what Paterno is doing. Time is limited for him, and he just saw Golden get another gig. If he can get Bradley out the way, that’s about it for “obvious” picks to replace him. All the sudden, it’s Jay. I hope that happens – he’s garbage.

Marvin Lewis

Marvin Lewis on Pitt short list
link to profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

Report – Marvin Lewis wants change
link to sports.espn.go.com

As for Marvin Lewis, in the short term, he may be about the only type of name that could save this program. You need some sort of name to get the fans excited, but more importantly get some recruiting.

I’m not saying he’s the only choice, but more that if they’re truly thinking that type of money and that type of name, it’s not a bad thing.

Marvin Lewis, are they out of their minds?????? Told you people, don’t get too excited. Just because we got a mulligan, doesn’t mean they’re gonna find the right guy. Hell, they’ll probably make things even worse.

Wait, maybe I’m thinking of a different Marvin Lewis, ok, my fault. Not the one that has stunk out Cincinnati with tons of talent for the last 5 years??? Ok, which Marvin Lewis are you talking about????

Just what we need. Another failed NFL coach. Tell me this is all a bad dream.

according to Zeise’s new blog post on the PG, Cignetti is on the verge of becoming Rutger’s OC

just wanna thank chas, pitt football sucks, but this blog is unbelivable.

Why on earth would we want a lousy ex NFL coach? Geez, I would rather have a successful Div II coach than that. Anyone (with a clean slate) with a record of success over someone with a record of failure.

Paterno must really be on his last leg as he offers Pitt his kindest gesture in decades; Tom Bradley, his best recruiter in Western PA, and long-time coach.

I’ve always believed JoePa has a soft spot in his heart for Pitt. I think he felt jilted with Big East. As we say in Greek, “Kakomedos”.

I just hope this means good things for a few of our assistant coaches. I have a hard time believing guys like Gattuso and LaSala are interested in leaving. Same goes for our RB’s coach. Do we know if Tulsa’s coach would be interested in a move to the Big East? The guy has a wife and six kids so I think we are safe in the character department.

I know that there are a lot of us Pitt folks that have a “chip” on our shoulder about the Pitt/PSU debacle that has occured, but I would suggest that if Bradley turns out to be the guy this may actually sound a change in the relationship btw the two schools.

I don’t think we should make this hire for conciliatory reasons whatsoever, but given JoePa’s ego talking and hiring this guy will likely soften his stance and might open up the communication lines.

And let me be one of the few that will admit…I would like to see the rivalry renewed…I miss it and would love to see it again.

DaveD

UConn site has that they don’t want to wait on Pitt and are trying to hire Bradley.

Would he go to UConn???

If it’s true that Bradley is to get an interview for the Pitt job, I can’t believe he’d take the UCONN job first.
I have no desire for conciliation with PSU. Who needs ’em.

Yeah, because Pitt is light years ahead of UConn, right? He has some ties there as his nephew went to UConn over Penn State. You people are delousional as to where your program is at. I highly doubt Bradley is interested (thus the Paterno endorsement, which really wasn’t an endorsement, he just said the guy is a good coach). Pitt is a second tier team in a third tier conference. The guy they just hired beat down his girlfriend. The AD is on shaky ground at best. You have to share a stadium, usually half empty, with a much more popular pro team. Your recruiting class is gone. You don’t even know who is going to be the coach in your pittiful (typo intended) bowl game this weekend.

This is attractive to a prospective coach, how?