Ole’ Dick Rod has agreed to pay the $4 million buyout to the Hoopies. Damn.

I wanted this to go to trial. I wanted to have his wife deposed. Pastilong. Everyone. It was just so much fun to follow, watch and laugh.

Were you a student between December 4, 2006 through January 31, 2008? Did you buy a student ticket to a Pitt sporting event over the internet?

If so, then you get your choice of a free ticket to the Rutgers-Pitt football game on October 25 or the Louisville-Pitt game on November 8 (hat tip to Todd Gack).

This is the settlement for a class action lawsuit (PDF, Coella V. University of Pittsburgh, Case No.: 2:08-CV-00129) for an alleged violation by Pitt of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA).

Specifically, Plaintiff claims that the University of Pittsburgh printed the expiration date of students’ credit or debit cards on receipts issued to them in conjunction with the purchase of sporting event tickets via the Internet, in violation of FACTA, as specifically set forth in the Complaint…

You can either submit your claim online, or print this form (PDF) and send it via snail mail for your free ticket.

Offer expires July 14, 2008.

So Coach Dixon topped all wage earners at Pitt last year (and probably this year as well).

Dixon earned $1,296,482 in salary, $39,690 in employer contributions to benefits plans (a category that includes deferred compensation where applicable) and $13,227 in expense account and other allowances in FY 2007.

…

Dave R. Wannstedt, head football coach — $823,733 in salary, $29,396 in employer contributions to benefits plans and $18,526 in expense account and other allowances.

This was for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007. In other words, what he got for the 2006-07 season. I wish there was more of a break down to see actual base salary plus the bonuses/incentives. The salary listed obviously includes the usual performance bonuses — making the NCAA Tournament, winning two games in the NCAA Tournament,  20+ wins, getting to the Big East Championship game, finishing in the top-25 rankings, finishing in the top quarter of the Big East.

As for Coach Wannstedt, that, um looks mostly like base salary.

It won’t happen for a while. And I’m starting to think BE Commish Mike Tranghese might have actually had a plan.

Step 1: Protect the BE’s place in the BCS. Done.
Step 2: Expand both sides so that when there is a split, the two separate conferences are the ones choosing who joins in the long-term. In the short-term it provides a balance so neither side has too much power. Done.
Step 3: TV Money/exposure must improve. Done.
Step 4: Improve and expand the bowl tie-ins. The Big East will have up to 7 bowl tie-ins in the next couple of years — Done.

Step 5: Whisper, quietly nudge potential new members that they need to make sure they are getting things in order.

That seems to be what has been happening. For all the frustration I’ve had with the Big East and Tranghese, there does seem like a long-term strategy. Both sides have been strengthened and put in better position. Now it’s about getting it stabilized and established to ready for the final point where here is an amicable split and expansion.

The inevitable result has always been that the Big East will split and both sides expand/raid other conferences. It’s the timetable and manner that has been an issue.

I favored just doing it, but I’m starting to think I was being a bit impulsive to get to the natural end.

Now, here’s a well thought out, definitely not short treatise on a short-term expansion of the Big East to 18 members in.

Now which two institutions do I think would best shore up the existing alignment of the Big East for the benefit of all 16 current members? The University of Central Florida and Saint Louis University. Both institutions compliment the structure of the Big East in geographic areas containing odd numbers of current members. Please keep bearing with me.

Like I said, it’s a long piece, but actually well-reasoned. I don’t think the Big East would do it. When the time comes I expect the BE to split and expand.

I disagree with him on St. Louis, period. The Bilikens have never walked as big as they talk. They have been one of the most nomadic teams and frankly they need to go back to the MVC. Basketball could and might only expand to 10. That way they could play a true round-robin in an 18 game schedule. Xavier and St. Joe’s would be the likely options.

Football will likely add UCF, Memphis and ECU. Whether there is a 12th is not as important for the Big East football. Especially since the pool is poor after those 3 — Army, Navy, Temple, UAB, Southern Miss. None are particularly appealing for competitiveness, financial commitment and/or geography. Really, having Villanova take the plunge and moving to 1-A would be better than those other choices.

Then there’s this brilliant bit from Troy Nunes is a Magician on Big East football expansion.

‘Tis the season. The coaching carousel is in motion and it is time for speculation, wishlists and rumors. In a sign of both the job Jamie Dixon has done at Pitt and the increased reputation of the program, there are only a couple places where Dixon’s name is being bandied about.

West Coast roots issue seem to be the driving thing for any Cal rumors.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who’s from Southern California and might feel like he has taken the Panthers as far as they can go (which is the Sweet 16 — that’s be OK with Old Blues).

Telling is that there is not even a hint that the whole West Coast thing would be enough to even pretend that would be enough to get him to look at Oregon State. Really, the Cal thing seems very unlikely since it wouldn’t even be a lateral move. I don’t take that one very seriously. And really, Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s seems like the best choice there.
The one that has to be watched, though, is Indiana.

But the best job available is still Indiana, where the names most regularly mentioned as potential replacements are Washington State’s Tony Bennett, Xavier’s Sean Miller and Tennessee’s Bruce Pearl.

Two other names making the rounds here at the East Regional: Pitt’s Jamie Dixon and Texas’ Rick Barnes.

Tony Bennett seems like the best fit, but I could also see Miller being their guy. Rick Barnes has no incentive to leave Texas. Fertile recruiting, lots of money and not as much pressure. I don’t see Dixon as their pick, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they sought him out to talk.
Understand, though, that while Indiana fans are more polite and not nearly as outwardly insane, they have similar delusions like Kentucky. IU fans are setting their fantasies on getting Billy Donovan from Florida.

This will be going on for a while — unfortunately.

UPDATE (3:15): For what it’s worth, Andy Katz at ESPN.com (Insider subs) doubts Dixon would leave.

Pitt’s Jamie Dixon will be mentioned for jobs at Cal and Indiana, but all indications are that Dixon enjoys living in Pittsburgh and has a strong fondness for the school and all that it has done for him. I don’t expect him to leave.

So, there’s that.

Pitt has announced its new ticket prices for season and single game tickets. The result, lower ticket prices and more access to parking passes.

Reduced prices: Season tickets, which go on sale today, are less expensive. Student tickets are $25 (down from $49); Upper end zone seats are $72 (down from $99); Lower level end zone seats and some seats in the upper deck are $99 (down from $199); The lower level sideline and upper level sidelines between the 20-yard lines are $144 (down from $199); and Club seats are $270. The club seats and some of the sideline seats will again require a donation to the Panther Club.

“If you look, 33 percent of our season tickets cost less than $100,” Pitt ticket manager Reed Patterson said. “That’s a tremendous value.”

Parking: For the first time since the Panthers moved to Heinz Field, every season ticket holder will have the opportunity to buy a season parking pass for $60, which breaks down to $10 per game.

“We’re selling the spaces at the same cost we pay for them,” Pederson said. “But we needed to make sure that if you buy season tickets you can buy a parking pass.”

The mandatory donations start at $50.

Other things in the works include lots more pregame festivities and activities. They also listened to the complaints about the stating time and if there is no TV coverage, the games will be starting at 3:30 or later.

As for the later start time, that will probably only apply to a couple non-con games. Given the expectations for Pitt this coming season, even if not on ESPN or ABC, you can expect that the Big East will be showing a few more of the Pitt games on the ESPN Regional.

You know, for a team that finished 5-7, Pitt’s coaches seem to be in demand. Ball, Rhoads (obligatory, awkward self-high five) and now WR Coach Aubrey Hill. He is taking the WR Coach spot at Miami.

A Miami native, Hill played at the University of Florida and was a graduate assistant there from 1996-98 and an intern with the Miami Dolphins under Wannstedt in 2002.

“The personal reasons for him going back to Miami make sense,” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said today. “He went to high school there in Miami. It’s a great opportunity to come back home and personal reasons were a major factor in him returning home.”

Hill did a very good job at Pitt, and will be working with probably the worst position on the Hurricanes (okay, QB was rather shaky as well). If he can help that group, he will be moving up the coaching ladder.

Coach Wannstedt said in the statement that he has no specific timetable or rush for hiring a new WR Coach. Clearly he doesn’t think it is a major issue with the recruiting class for that spot.

You know, when this AP story on how the Pitt win over WVU has produced such huge dividends, it was even before Paul Rhoads was able to ride finally getting a handle on the WVU spread to jump for the Auburn Defensive Coordinator gig. Words can’t adequately express how happy that Rhoads has finally moved on.

I didn’t think it would happen. I now have such optimism for 2008, that I am a little stunned. I do get a kick out of how he got characterized as an “excellent recruiter.” There’s little evidence of that. The talent on the defense started sliding after he got there, it has only rebounded since Wannstedt and Gattuso came to Pitt and started recruiting. As much blame as Walt Harris gets for letting the recruiting slip, after a good few years, there has been little evidence to suggest that Rhoads did much to help.
Consider, the areas Coach Wannstedt most wanted recruited were Western Pennsylvania and the rest of the state. Ohio was where Rhoads was assigned geographically. He had him recruit the area, of least concern and lowest expectations. That seems telling.

The good news for Auburn is that they have a good recruiter and coach in Tuberville. And Tuberville is a defensive guy.

Don’t toy with me, Auburn.

Don’t get my hopes up for no reason. I have trouble believing it true. Pitt couldn’t have this many good things happen in one week.

The rumors are rampant that Paul Rhoads may be heading to Auburn to take over as Defensive Coordinator there. He once turned down the job — leading to his huge contract.

A few days ago the Auburn beat writer said this was the search for a new DC was a very tight-lipped affair. More than any other he had encountered covering Auburn. Then he still speculated on some of the names out there.

Pittsburgh coordinator Paul Rhoads: He’s not a serious candidate and hasn’t been. UPDATE: There is talk that Rhoads might be in the picture after all. I doubt that’s the case, but we will see.

Tuberville refused to comment about the job or Rhoads specifically a few days later.

Jeff Long is gone as expected at this point. Hell of a bump in salary. He was making around $200 K at Pitt, and Arkansas came in with $450,000. That sort of cash will go a long way at Wal-Mart.

No way Pitt was going to match that — especially when Pitt’s extension negotiations stalled out earlier this spring/summer. That kind of bump in salary  comes at a cost. Dealing with the Houston Nutt/Las Cronicas Locas De Boss Hawg stuff. Not to mention a fanbase with contingent unable to distinguish reality from satire. Wow.

I have no idea who will be the next AD. I can tell you it won’t be any former player now doing commentary for the WWL. As I tried to point out earlier, the nature of the AD job is so different from even 15 years ago. Gladhanding and raising money for the Athletic Department is vital, but it is only a component of what the job demands these days. I only want Pitt to find and hire the best person for the job.
In the interim, Donna Sanft, the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Administration, Compliance and Student Life can add “interim AD” to her resume.

Chancellor Nordenberg has already formed an athletic director search committee to be chaired by Jerry Cochran, Pitt’s executive vice chancellor and general counsel. The committee will include Susan Albrecht, Pitt NCAA faculty athletic representative; Tom Bigley, a member of the Board of Trustees and former chair of the athletics committee; Marcus Bowman, director of athletic business operations and former walk-on basketball player under Coach Dixon; Kirk Bruce, assistant athletic director for Olympic sports and former Pitt basketball player in the early 70s and Pitt women’s basketball coach in the 80s and 90s.; John Conomikes, a member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the athletics committee; and Carol Sprague, senior associate athletic director.

They have, apparently, started work immediately. Whether Chancellor Nordenberg will do anything with their recommendations is a different issue (see, 2003). I do expect the job to draw a fair amount of interest. There are still only 65 BCS schools (and only 64 of them have athletic director positions).