It has been a crazy day. I woke up to text messages, Facebook posts, and tweets that all say Chryst is gone. While this is still the likely scenario, there’s a tinge of hope. Let’s go over some facts of what we know:
- Chryst is a candidate for the Wisconsin job and at worst the leader for the job. Most reports indicate the job is his if he accepts if he hasn’t already.
- Wisconsin cannot formally announce a hire until Wednesday due to some legal job posting rule, so no formal announcement can occur until then.
- Chryst met with Chancellor Gallagher and only Gallagher today. Pederson was not a party in this meeting.
- Chryst attended practice today with the team and a meeting was held before. At this meeting he did not tell the team he was leaving.
- Jordan Whitehead said he’s still committed to Pitt. This isn’t relevant to any of the above other than THANK YOU BABY JESUS!!!
Take all of that in. What could it all mean?
It means either Chryst is just biding his time until he can accept the offer or he is not certain he wants to leave. Perhaps all of the stories were true and he is going to Wisconsin and he informed Gallagher at their meeting that he’ll be leaving. It’s also possible Gallagher made him an unexpected offer that forced him to take a step back. What could that offer be?
Steve Pederson’s dismissal as Athletic Director.
It’s no secret that Pederson has his fair share of detractors. It’s widely assumed at this point the primary reason Todd Graham left was his relationship with Pederson (along with a laundry list of other issues). I’ve heard grumblings that Chryst has issues with Pederson as well. What if Gallagher offered Chryst an extension, a bigger budget, and a new Athletic Director? Pitt has two All-American caliber players returning on offense, the best recruit in Pennsylvania starting classes in a few weeks, a deep offensive line, and an easy path to the ACC Championship Game. Chryst’s daughters go to Pitt. Chryst has reasons to turn down his dream job.
I’m not saying Chryst will stay. I’m still assuming that he’s gone. Jerry DiPaola reported that Pitt has already started a coaching search. All signs point that direction. But, this is about what we know. I doubt Chryst told Gallagher “I’m leaving” and was then allowed to coach the team today. The issue with Wisconsin’s hiring procedure is their problem; Pitt doesn’t need to let Chryst coach to satisfy that.
Here’s what I think happened. Chryst was set to take the Wisconsin job, tell Gallagher and the team, then lay low until he can officially accept the position when Gallagher made him a hell of an offer. That offer took him aback and forced him to rethink things. He has put a lot of effort into turning a program that was a dumpster fire when he arrived into one with stability, talent, and upside. Like I said, I assume he’s gone, but at this point it can’t be a 100% certainty.
Alvarez has apparently interviewed Schiano as well.
Could the above scenario I layed out….really come to pass ?
Well Pitt has NOT committed (either financially or mind set wise) to having a successful program.
And we have a horrible judge of talent(and people – Haywood) running the Athletic Dept.
Very hard for any organization to be successful with weak leadership.
At they best, they tread water.
I give you Pitt football.
need some more coffee !
One is because he had absolutely nothing to do with Anderson leaving UW and that school wanting Chryst. If Chryst was offered by Missouri or some other school where PC didn’t have strong ties already that would be one thing but, IMO, there is no way any reasonable PITT fan can put this on SP’s head. This isn’t like TG jumping ship – different situation altogether.
Secondly, I very much doubt that PITT will buy out four years of a five year contract and pay millions of dollars to someone who isn’t at PITT any longer. Don’t expect any ‘boosters’ to come up with that kind of cash either. It’s an urban myth that PITT has that kind of private support money floating around.
Third – WTH?? I take a three day PITT football holiday and this happens. I understand Chryst 100% if he wants to take that Wisconsin job – for him that is a legitimate “dream job’ but I also dread all the crap that comes along with another HC search at this point in time.
But hey – any new HC inherits a decent offense so that may be a bit of an enticement for some young up+coming guy to take a shot with PITT.
But in case there were any more doubts about this, PITT is firmly in the middle of the pack at best as far as football programs go and is seen as a true stepping stone in college football for many reasons. Live with it guys – this is how the Admin has played it for the last 35 years and how they will play it in the future. We haven’t had a ‘splash’ hire in any recent memory DW included. PITT fans just have to get used to the fact that we are an average football program and the stars have to align for us to have great seasons.
It is a slap in the face to the vast majority of Pitt Fans.
Was it done before or after SP was booed while honoring Fitz?
What an example of crony capitalism. It reminds the of the CEO that gets the million dollar bonus, when the corporation is in the red, thousands are being laid off and the stock is in the dumper.
I can’t believe that Nordenberg was oblivious to public opinion and thought that SP was deserving based on merit. It boggles the mind.
Still doesn’t mean we have to accept it or condone it.
Much like in other things in life.
Cronyism bigtime. The extension and the fact that after the events of 2010-2011 (DW/Haywood/Graham), that Cornhole was even allowed to keep his job.
Allowed to keep his job while adding years to his contract and million$ of dollar$ more.
Cronyism has killed capitalism and in the process of killing that once great nation of America.
If Stevie shows up at the game it will be most interesting to see if the crowd boos him out of the building. Cries of “Pedersen must go” will send the message very LOUD and clear to the Chancellor.
Don’t remember them in the SEC.
Unless it was before my time.
Doesn’t seem to be much student criticism of Cornhole.
Don’t know if the Pitt news has ever wrote a story criticizing the handling of the Athletic Dept. Surely they know Pitt is a laughing stock of every other sport besides basketball and wrestling and hasn’t even earned a Single Point in the Capital Cup standings since 2009.
Criticism seems mainly to be alumni based.
Unlike what happened at Michigan recently.
Surely those in charge of the Oakland Zoo, know that Cornhole is a clusterf*ck.
Yet no action.
Our students seem passive when it comes to football. We have become so mediocre that the passion once experienced at football games seems to be missing.
As an old fart, Class of ’63 I admit that I have very strong memories associated with Panther Football. I was a Pitt Band Manager and was at the Syracuse/Pitt game when Mike Ditka stopped Ernie Davis (a fantastic player) and the Orange 10 game winning streak.
Pedersen MUST GO!!
If we are confused as to why HCPC might rethink his decision, I think telling him that he doesn’t have to work for the twit AD that is currently in place might be enough.
However, as I keep repeating, HCPC is very stubborn and this program is not going to improve unless he admits his mistake and replace Outhouse and hire a talented, aggressive, recruiter-savvy DC.
Lastly, I can’t defend HCPC’s record and no one should try. However, I can’t help but love seeing the type of team that he’s assembled from the offensive side of the ball. Big, strong, mobile OL, a decent stable of RBs including the current class, and significant in-season improvements at the QB position.
Notice, no mention above of anything defensively. This has to change!!!
If HCPC leaves, good luck and see ya later. For my money I’d love to see Holliday or someone else with successful HC experience at the D1 level, even if not in the Big 5. Pitt has to quit being a place where you get HC experience.
Yea, well if you were like me, we (the students) weren’t all connected together, like they are today with social media (twitter, facebook, etc). Where they can post something and it can viral in a matter of minutes.
And some of the students do blog on the various Pitt message boards, so they know how the vast majority feel about Cornhole.
Michigan students got involved with getting rid of their AD and their team hasn’t nearly been mired in mediocrity as long as Pitt’s. And their basketball team was just in the Championship game in 2012-2013 season.
With disruptive change, opportunity always is present. This coaching situation could very well act as a catalyst to align those stars of which you speak. If this Pitt administration has to “change” to promote future success, then having a new Chancellor being on board, and apparentently taking a very hands on approach to deal with this situation, is a very promising start.
The ACC money is now flowing into the Pitt coffers as well now. That alone is a game changer over the budgetary constraints imposed previously on Pitt due to the second class income produced in the BE Conference of the past.
Anybody who feels that the University of Pittsburgh can’t field a football program that this city would support is fooling themselves. This city is all about football. The fans of Pittsburgh know football, from Pop Warner all the way through to the NFL and they support programs that produce good football. Pittsburgh is the definition of a “football” city.
However, this knowledgable fan base also demands excellence in the programs that they support because this fan base is used to supporting winners. The problem with Pitt’s program is that Pitt’s administration doesn’t currently strive for excellence but is rather satisfied with mediocrity on the field of play. The figure head of that administration is the AD which is the epitomy of dysfunctional management for this football program and is a poster child for mediocrity regarding his own job performance. We know it, the media knows it, the fan base knows it and now most importantly our newly installed Pitt Chancellor knows it. And people wonder why Pitt “don’t get no respect”?
Change is good, to bring Pitt football back to it’s glory days starts at the top. Start striving for excellence and the fan base will come to support that honest effort if it bears the minimal of fruit.
Change is good and good things come in threes. Here’s my wishlist irrespective to what ultimately transpires with HCPC.
1) Pederson gets fired.
2) House gets fired
3) Jordan Whitehead stands firm in his Pitt commitment.
If all that happens, then Pitt ends up benefiting from this turmoil in the end. Hail to Pitt.
1. He offers big time coach $ (like 3 to 4 million per year)
2. He offers big time coach an AD he can work with and makes the hire
3. He offers big time coach $$ for recruiting & staff
Result we have a big time coach & AD that want to win big time. If this doesn’t happen SOP.
Pretty simple
my 3 wishes are a little different but it’s your list.
Pederson is part of a clique, which is why he won’t get fired. And gets contract extensions based on horrendous job performance.
You can tell he’s part of a clique because Nordy was even willing to lie, in Cornhole’s role in Pitt getting into the ACC.
True enough. When i was a student i had a 386 with a monochromatic display!
