I have to be honest. I haven’t thought or worried too much about the vacant defensive coordinator position. It isn’t that I don’t want to get it resolved. And obviously I want Coach Chryst to hire someone who is very good at his job (not to mention above average as a recruiter).
It is just that I really didn’t expect a new DC to be hired until after signing day. Most rumors and reports suggested/hinted/implied that Coach Chryst was going to be waiting until after this week to really move on the hire. So it seemed silly to wonder, angst and provide calorie-free updates when there really was no information or expectations.
Well, now we are reaching the point where a hire is going to be made and must be made. Coach Chryst has acknowledged as much during his signing day presser.
Then FootballScoop tweeted out that Coach Chryst was planning on going in-house with co-defensive coordinators. Using Matt House and Chris Haering. With House being in charge of calling the defensive plays. That tweet was quickly refuted by PantherLair. And indeed, FootballScoop quickly walked the co-DC thing back.
At Pitt, local reports say Chryst still looking to bring in a DC (rather than use co-DCs from staff). Our sources says this remains option 1
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) February 8, 2013
Apologies if prior Pitt tweet was incorrect.
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) February 8, 2013
Sources say Chryst was not able to get primary target & the co-DC route is a fallback if a better opportunity doesn’t come to fruition soon
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) February 8, 2013
The last tweet is probably a bit of ass-covering by FootballScoop and/or his source for the info over the goof. At least that is what I’m hoping.
Assuming this is mostly accurate, the issue is that the guy they thought they were going to get or that they targeted did not work out as expected. If so, then Coach Chryst did put himself in a bit of a corner by waiting this long.
They have to hire someone very, very soon with spring practices barely a month away.
He still hasn’t gotten anyone that knows and can really recruit in the mid-Atlantic states. Not to mention Florida and anywhere within the ACC footprint. You would hope that any DC he hires would at least have some ties in that area to help for the future.
This hire is now at a point where it takes on greater importance because it will reveal a lot about Chryst as the head football coach. I’ve found it disturbing how unwilling he has been on most of his hires to venture beyond a certain circle that tied the assistant and position coaches to direct relationships with him. The one exception has been Bobby Engram (who worked with Chryst’s brother) — and by coincidence Engram has been the brightest spot among the coaches with regards to recruiting.
He doesn’t have anyone from his immediate circle of connections that is qualified for the job. If somehow he chose to promote from within, that would be a huge mistake and speak a lot about Chryst. That he doesn’t trust to hire anyone he hasn’t worked with before. That he finds personal connections more important than the coach’s actual ability.
Chryst has said he has conducted interviews. Presumably he has evaluated the candidates. Now he has to make a decision.
@FRANKCAN, good stuff!! Hope you are well!
know he would have tons of choices.
than that is what he should do they are out there
Pitt is in the ACC now and it is time to act like
it .
house is unqualifed.
mike archer or todd orlando are good choices.
Jim Harbaugh is a punk.
I’m still reeling from the 2009 football loss.
Billy Joel said it well, You may be wrong for all I know, but you may be right.
But here’s what I know: the best recruiter on Pitt’s staff was “Part of the Ped State program”, his name is Bobby Engram.
Always cheer for Duquesne and Robert Morris when they aren’t playing Pitt.
Bobby Mo always good, Duquesne…a cryin’ shame on that athletic dept..
#23 PITT @ #17 UC Bearcats (18-5, 6-4)
UC is coming off a road loss to Providence 50-54
Pitt is coming of a sluggish win over Seton Hall 56-46.
We can definitely knock the Bearcats out of the rankings with a win. As they can do likewise to us.
Battle to stay in the Top 25
Miami is undefeated in the ACC, who would have thunk it. Bodes well for PITT, Syracuse & Louisville in their entries into the ACC.
The difference between Engram and Bradley is this:
Engram never coached at Ped State, he ONLY played their and he played offense as well. So he never was around Sandusky, as the pedo was a Defensive coach.
Whereas Bradley did coach at Ped State and he worked quite closely with Sandusky as they were both defensive coaches. In fact Bradley’s boss was Sandusky as DC for 20 years, worked under him and took over for him as DC after Sandusky was outed. In 20 years under Sandusky, there remains lots of questions as to what Bradley knew or didn’t know. Unless he was absolutely clueless, he had to have known something.
That is the difference between Engram & Bradley.
We’re going to have to deal with the new basketball power in the ACC then alcofan.
Miami leads UNC at halftime 44-27.
Though Miami’s arena only sits 7,000 and the announcers noted it wasn’t totally sold out.
That’s amazing.
I’ll predict 30% of them will lose.
First one already has as #3 Michigan loses in OT to Wisconsin.
@ Coach Ditka, agree wholeheartedly. Tired of hearing about them. ^^
Definitely seems to be the dude who put the stick in the spokes of PC’s search… bet these guys thought it was a done deal after the superbowl.
Then the prick factor kicked in and screwed the deal…
yeah with PC’s brother there everyone just has to grin and bear it…
Rookie move not having a backup ready but that is ok… let’s see how PC responds.
Pathetic, really.
It’s up on Gretawire, she’s obviously demented, delusional…whatever. What’s she gonna come out and say,
“yes we are all evil pedophiles up here in Creepy Valley and Joe was the head ringmaster.”
You can tell this was written for her.
Here it is:
link to gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com
P.S. In actuality this is mis-titled as many news stories are, this is no opening up on Sandusky at all. This is just a letter defending the Pope of Creepy Valley’s reputation.
I can not remember a season that one team (in this case Miami) absolutely destroyed both Duke & North Carolina on their home court. Previously Miami tore up Duke 90-63 in Coral Gables.
Today’s final:
Miami 87 North Carolina Tarheels 61
UNC was never in the game, falling behind 9-0 from the onset, NEVER had the lead and were behind by 17 at the half. This after Roy Boy Huckleberry Hound said on his radio show Thursday nite, that UNC had turned the corner.
With today’s beatdown and PITT and Syracuse and then Louisville entering the ACC, the balance of power in the ACC, might finally be shifting from Tobacco Road. Hard to believe !!
Interesting nobody authored (or at least took credit) the ESPN story you linked.
What is ESPN trying to do, exonerate Paterno, which would then lead to exonerating Ped State, with this supposed “exclusive panel” of authors of the new report. Of course this “new report”
was funded by the Paternos. lol
I can imagine what it’s conclusions will already be.
Do they actually think people are that stupid.
Trying to pass the blame onto Pennsylvania Child Services when in fact all of them were contributing money to the Pedo’s 2nd Mile front, is the ultimate in hypocrisy. Which is typical of people in higher learning today.
These people (or more correctly creatures) are vile and quite disgusting. If you can’t see right thru these creatures, you aren’t looking very closely.
I wish PITT would just back out of our planned 4 football games with this disgusting university.
end of line 3
“and subsequent investigation is an indictment of ALL of them.
@Emel – the picture you painted of bradley working”under” the ped master, was not pretty. I almost puked! Thanks for that visual…not!
“Pitt may be in for a transition period upon joining the ACC and you shouldn’t get your hopes up. The ACC is a whole different world and fan obsession is unlike anything you’ve seen before.”
Too funny…I think it’s the Research Triangle that’s in for a bit of transition.
Will some fantastically wealthy Pitt booster please donate seven figures to the athletic department in order to make this happen.
Dammit Steve get with the program.
I too agree that Berenato is the right coach, but Pederson will not support her or the team. He makes Pitt not a coaching destination. Coaches need to be able to coach, and recruit, and recruit the best coaches that will make the team a success. Anything less in support equates to mediocrity. Mediocrity or less is where we have been in Steve Pederson’s reign over the department.
Case in point, look at the college challenge cup.Where does Pitt place? Are they even in the top 50 as an entire program? He is a joke in the industry. You never hear him mentioned for any other job. Why? He is Pitt’s major problem. At some point the Board will wake up and understand the importance of the “Brand” and how sports adds to the academic excellence of an institution in the form of higher visibility, higher applications, etc. I would task the blatherites to go to major universities board of trustee meetings when athletics is presenting and sit in on the meetings. The highest ranked athletic programs, also prioritize the brand and reputation of the athletic squads as they promote athletics.