With Signing Day a couple weeks away, lets’ face it. The angst (as such) around Pitt fans is with our own selfish interests. It’s been annoying, frustrating, and yes, understandable at losing a bunch of very good recruits to other programs that have poached the former staff and just re-recruited the kids amidst Pitt’s coaching carousel chaos.
Still, it sucks for a lot of the kids who committed to Dave Wannstedt and Pitt. It has been a complete mess on their end, and what if you aren’t one of the top recruits in the group? Do you stay with Pitt if it is still your best offer as far as conference and name recognition? The scholarship is going to be honored, but are you sure about how you will fit with the new staff, and what they want to do?
It’s a staple of the media with the coaching carousel. Once the ride stops, snap evaluations are offered for the hires. We all do it. Randy Edsall to Maryland — meh. Will Muschamp to Florida — boom.
I’m sure many remember plenty of raves about Dave Wannstedt when he was hired. How his positive, rah-rah attitude would be perfect in college. How much like Pete Carroll his approach would be (back when everyone was looking to failed NFL coaches to be the next Pete Carroll). How his quick scoring with recruits after being hired showed that he was going to have Pitt humming along. Anyways…
Well, if you think the way Wannstedt was let go, the botching of the first search and fire, and everything else has affected the way Pitt fans are watching the program and athletic department, then you should at least understand how it has colored the perception of hiring Graham.
