Though I didn’t see it personally, I’ve already had three people text me about KDKA reporting on their 6pm news that defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads is thisclose to leaving for the same DC job at Auburn. Apparently Rhoads and Auburn HC Tommy Tuberville were seen meeting together today, and there have been rumors of this move happening for a week or so. They’ve been quiet rumors though, and reaction to this from Pitt fans is probably mixed:

– We want to keep him: Pitt held one of the best offenses in the NCAA to 7 points and played and amazing game. There were different blitz packages and schemes and we were able to keep great containment on White, Slaton, and Devine. Actually, we saw enough improvement during the last few games that there was hope for an even better defense in 2008.

On the other hand…

– Up until then, the defense was horrible. We never blitzed, never made any adjustments during the game, and saw almost no improvement. It’s been said that near the end of the year, Rhoads was simply Wannstedt’s puppet, and DW fully controlled the defense using Rhoads as a middle-man. In that sense, maybe having Rhoads leave isn’t so bad. Anyone that replaces him would have a defensive unit that is fully Wannstedt’s.

Again, these are just rumors, but they seem to be gaining some real possibility.

Edit: Really? Chas beat me by 12 minutes. Ah.

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.

Maybe it’s the fact that the Steelers are off to a hot start, the Pirates are cleaning house and the Pens are starting their season. Or maybe it’s that apathy towards Pitt football has already set in. I’ve been stunned that over the last two stinkers of losses that the primary ‘Burgh columnists (Starkey, Collier, Cook and Smizik) have done a grand total of one column about Pitt — a Smizik quickie on how Wannstedt needed a UVa win for his future. That’s 2 1/2 weeks and practically nothing. I mean Starkey has a side gig doing a weekly Big East report and column for ESPN.com and he couldn’t be bothered with Pitt. This has nothing to do with any pro- or anti- biases to Pitt or Wannstedt. That has everything to do with the interest in the Pitt football program right now in Pittsburgh. Which apparently could be classified as very little. This is a bad trend. Personally, I don’t think the media sets much of the agenda in sports anymore. It is increasingly a reflection of audience interest. That should be a big concern for Pitt’s Athletic Department. I mean, if there was anyone in charge.

Is the game important to Coach Wannstedt and Pitt? Does Coach Wannstedt even realize how frustrated the fans are? It’s hard to say. Like a Magic 8-Ball, it depends on how hard you shake and when to see whether he realizes how important this game is.
From an article on Sunday.

“We’ve got to get one,” Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said. “So, yeah, it’s important. You come out here and work real hard and put this much time into it. The thing that’s frustrating is that you go out and you recruit good players, and they come here.

“So, we’ve got guys who want to win and are preparing to win, but we’ve just got to find a way to make it happen on the field. There’s no other way to really put it than that.”

Wannstedt was also asked if the Pitt administration has still expressed confidence in him and the football program, and his response was curt.

“I won’t even respond to that,” Wannstedt said.

And then yesterday.

“Sure it is,” Wannstedt said. “We need to get back on track and we need to find a way to win this game to get to .500 and we’ll go from there. Is it more important today than it was yesterday? No. Is it more important today than it was the opening game? I would say no. I don’t think you look at leadership that way. You are either a leader or you’re not.”

And I have no idea what that exactly means or the relation for the need for a win and something about leadership; other than the fact that I’ve read and re-read that several times and I want those minutes of my life back.

So, while the regular sports columnists aren’t wasting time on Pitt, the beat writers are trying to fill it in, without dancing too far over. After all, they have to deal with the coaches and players on a daily basis. It’s a delicate situation.

Pitt will play host to Navy tomorrow night in what has suddenly become one of the Panthers’ most important games in recent history.

There were plenty of questions surrounding the direction of Pitt’s program under coach Dave Wannstedt before the season started. They have turned into legitimate concerns in the wake of the way the Panthers have performed.

With a three-game losing streak, Pitt (2-3) seems to be rapidly descending to the bottom of the Big East. The Panthers appear headed for a third consecutive season without a bowl game. A home loss to the Midshipmen (3-2) on national television would further damage Pitt and Wannstedt’s reputations.

Even if it’s by simply stating the facts.

The Panthers coach enters the midway point of both his third season and his five-year contract with a 13-15 record that includes three wins over Division I-AA opponents — and without a signature victory to his credit.

The athletic director, Jeff Long, who pledged his support, left for Arkansas. Pitt chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg has kept quiet amid the search for a replacement. When asked late last week if he still had the administration’s support, Wannstedt snapped, “Yeah. I won’t even respond to that.”

When Pitt (2-3) plays host to Navy (3-2) at 8 p.m. Wednesday, it will do so before an ESPN national television audience that will cast an even greater spotlight on a program that has slipped from Big East Conference co-champion to its basement in less than three seasons.

After a 2-0 start, Pitt has lost three consecutive games. Dating to last season, Pitt has lost eight of its past 10.

Yes, Coach Wannstedt knows he’s getting extra criticism, but honestly — and I think I keep repeating this fact — he isn’t going anywhere. He’s going to be here next year. Lack of a new Athletic Director, the money Pitt is paying and high administration and booster support are the reasons. Any one, would probably be enough. All three makes it a lock.

Paul Zeise won’t say who, but he seems increasingly to believe that there has to be and will be some sort of move made/forced to shake-up the coaching staff.

Q: I know you said Wannstedt is safe for at least another year but if we should we go 2-10 or 3-9, will we at least see a house cleaning of some of the coaching staff?

ZEISE: I think at this point there are a few changes coming almost regardless of what happens from here on and, yes, I’d expect a few major changes if the floor completely falls out of it like it appears is in the process of happening. That has to happen - it is the first step for a university to send a message to a faltering football coach that the direction of the program needs to change.

That theme was repeated a bit Zeise’s online chat. As was a bit of wistfulness for Walt Harris. You know, before this season I was talking with someone about how I didn’t always get the constant drumbeat of denigrating Harris. The answer I got was that in time, people will appreciate a little more what he actually accomplished. Have to admit he or I didn’t expect it to happen this season. Also PantherRants gave itself a little link in the chat.

In another Q&A Zeise was asked about Wannstedt’s seeming penchant to prefer upperclassmen over youth. It’s hard not to reach that conclusion. Several players with seemingly better physical ability still find themselves not starting or playing as much because of an upperclassmen who doesn’t seem to be doing very well. This, I think, is as much due to Coach Wannstedt’s conservative approach. He would rather see a guy beat on a play then a risk a mental error that is a greater chance of occurring with a younger player. I don’t necessarily agree considering the returns lately, but that seems to be how the equation works.

Sure as the leaves changing colors, when the defense starts to struggle Paul Rhoads suddenly stops being quoted in all news articles and disappears from the media. Matt Cavanaugh may not be doing the job as the OC, but at least he will still talk to the media when things go in the tank (I admit to being more willing to cut him a little more slack given the injuries to the offensive side of the ball, and the fact that I would like to see what would happen if the O-line ever performed).

Cavanaugh says that this coming Wednesday, QB Pat Bostick will actually have a chance to throw the ball in the first half. Maybe even in the first quarter.

“I know it’s not much fun for a quarterback when most of second-and-medium and second-and-long and third downs, we were handing the ball off,” Cavanaugh said of the Panthers’ game plan last weekend.

The Panthers trailed, 27-0, at the end of the first quarter and 30-7 at halftime, yet Bostick threw just three passes in the first half.

“We’re certainly not going to let him cut loose and air it out on every down,” Cavanaugh said. “But there’s going to be a better balance, hopefully, in the play-calling. So I’ve got to do a better job of that, and as long as he’s making good decisions and getting completions, we’ll try to be a little more balanced.

“Last week, we went in trying to keep the game close and being very conservative and running the ball as much as we could, to give us a chance to win at the end. Obviously, that didn’t transpire.”

No. No it did not.

Does anyone else start to cringe just a bit when Coach Wannstedt starts comparing games and teams today to match-ups that were around 20 years prior?

Wannstedt compared Pitt’s preparation for Navy to his days at the University of Miami, when the Hurricanes had to play against Barry Switzer and Oklahoma’s Wishbone.

“We played them in a couple national championship games, and we went full speed with the scout guys cutting,” Wannstedt said. “You can’t simulate that. And if you don’t do it, it’s tough enough adjusting to that when the game starts, so you have to do some of that in practice.”

Yeesh.  It’s time to move on. All that does is remind everyone that Coach Wannstedt was a hell of a defensive coordinator. And that Jimmy Johnson isn’t coming through that door.

Looks like Pitt will be in a position to find another prominent person for their athletic department. First it was the coaches; Dixon, then Wannstedt. Now, it’s the guy who hired/kept those two.

Pittsburgh athletic director Jeff Long will replace Frank Broyles in the same position at Arkansas, a person with knowledge of Long’s decision said Monday.

Broyles is retiring as the Razorbacks’ athletic director at the end of this year, and a person familiar with Long’s decision said he will leave Pitt to take over at Arkansas. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not been made.

Arkansas would not confirm Long’s hiring, but spokesman Tysen Kendig said a news conference was set for Tuesday afternoon regarding the athletic program.

Arkansas’ search had been a secretive one until last week, when Stanley Reed, chairman of the school’s board of trustees, confirmed that Long was “a strong candidate.” (The WWL)

It was looking more and more apparent that this was going to happen, but the press conference that Arkansas will hold tomorrow will probably confirm it. ESPN doesn’t usually put up items that turn out to be untrue (except saying Mike Vick wouldn’t plead guilty) so to me, this is a done deal. The AP story mentions that Long has few ties to Arkansas, a point echoed by a writer in that area. The question that matters — who’s the next Pitt AD?

Update: Two more stories from the local TV stations down there.

I dunno. Maybe.

Pitt athletic director Jeff Long is one of three finalists for the same position at the University of Arkansas, according to sources.

An Arkansas television station has footage of Long and his wife Fanny, getting off of a private plane in Fayetteville, Ark., at about 11 a.m. today.

My first question was “who are the other two finalists?” I don’t know for sure. Since the local station wasn’t ID’d and none of the stations in Fayetteville have any footage on their site. Best I can find is mention of Tulane AD Rick Dickson being near the top. Terry Don Phillips, the Clemson AD, and former Assistant AD at Arkansas previously took his name out of the rumors. I’m stunned that Long would be up for the Arkansas job. That’s a really tough gig and a high profile/pressure job considering its nothing but Razorbacks in the state.

I was surprised to learn that Long and Pitt never signed/finished working out that extension from back in May. Seems to be a bit of a problem for Pitt and Chancellor Nordenberg with those things. Remember how long he let interim AD Marc Boehm twist in the wind? Finally Boehm didn’t want to wait any longer and rejoined Pedersen in Nebraska.
Any time I write about AD Jeff Long, it’s with a sense of “ehh.” He has done a lot of stuff in trying to bring the entire Athletic Department and its facilities up to spec. Still, he does enough other stuff that just plain misses.

I know it is reported/said that he is the reason Pitt hasn’t gone back to the script Pitt. As much as the older colors and the script matter, that wouldn’t be enough to can him and I’m not sure that it’s enough to want him gone.

From all observations, stories and rumors, Chancellor Nordenberg is very involved and cares greatly about Pitt Athletics. That is very good considering the years of neglect before him. The downside is a Chancellor being too involved and wanting to run things or (as the older fans may recall from the end of the Posvar years) putting a crony in charge of the Athletic Department. In both the basketball and football coach hirings in the last 5 years, Chancellor Nordenberg was very involved.

In basketball, with an interim/weak AD in charge, it was a poorly run search with only one actual candidate seemingly dictated by the Chancellor and a cheaper fallback. Things worked out for Pitt, but that seems more by luck. Football had Long running the search and process more and was able to look at a lot more candidates. While the jury may still be out on how that one goes, there was a better sense of order and that Long was in charge of it (even if Nordenberg also really wanted Wannstedt).

So, I’m a little concerned about losing AD Long, if for no other reason than the replacement. That’s two straight guys as AD (Boehm and Long) where the contract was never finished. Other candidates may view that warily and it might cost Pitt in trying to find a replacement.

UPDATE: Here’s the report from (apparently) the local TV Station.

Trib has a few more details from the tv vid.

KHBS-TV in Fort Smith, Ark., has video footage of Long and his wife, Fanny, arriving in a plane bearing a logo of the school’s Razorback mascot and N88UA on its tail.

Have to love obsessive details.

There’s just been no news on Eloy Vargas, other than the fact that his profile keeps rising and the offers keep coming. So there’s nothing but speculation. Speculation that makes Pitt fans nervous.

Though buzz among AAU coaches is that Plantation American Heritage 6-10 power forward Eloy Vargas – the nation’s 23rd-ranked prospect by rivals.com — might end up at Louisville, his travel team coach said he’s strongly considering UM, along with UF, FSU, Louisville and Pittsburgh.

Keep in mind that  this is the dead period of recruiting so it’s not like Antigua or Dixon can be in touch with him. The other nerve inducing thing. He is close with his AAU teammate Kenny Boynton, Jr. Boynton just transferred to Vargas’ school.

Boynton is a top-ten 2009 recruiting prospect. While he has an offer from Pitt  — and just about everyone else including Louisville — he doesn’t appear to have much interest in Pitt.

Things have been continually hectic. Part of that is because FanHouse is doing conference previews and starting yesterday we are rolling out Big East previews. Matt Glaude (’Cuse), John Radcliff (WVU) and I are handling the previews and Big East posting all season long. More Posts coming today through Saturday. You should be able to key in on just the Big East previews by going here.

Absolutely no connection, but worth looking at: Beer Pong Tables of the Big East.

Dennis covered the depth chart, and beat writers in Pittsburgh can rejoice that they don’t have to deal with Nick Saban berating them for even speculating on such a thing.

Zeise put down the Harris-Wannstedt player divide rumor started on FoxSports/CollegeFootballNews.com/Scout.com. What makes it really ridiculous is that the numbers don’t work for a real divide. There are only 24 Seniors, fifth year seniros and redshirt juniors according to the ‘07 Pitt Media Guide, p. 107. Just a quick eyeball takes out at least 3 who are transfers or JUCOs. That brings the total number of players who had even 1 year of being coached by or had regular contact with Walt Harris to maybe 21. Only a quarter of the locker room. Even if you pretended that all of them had some resentment to Wannstedt percolating under the surface, it just doesn’t work.
Yes, several juniors and redshirt sophomores were recruited by Harris, but they still signed LOIs with Wannstedt already hired and have only been coached by him. That story may have been believable in 2005 or even last year to some extent, but  not at the start of year 3.

Coach Wannstedt is also not phased by the things that have happened over the summer and training camp.

Wannstedt said most of those problems have been resolved and the ones that haven’t, such as the loss of Fields and Kinder, are the same kinds of things every program is dealing with. He said the players have rallied around each other and have not missed a beat.

“I’ve been doing this for 33 years and I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way, some easy some I had to learn the hard way,” Wannstedt said. “When you have adversity, you have to understand the adversity you are dealing with at the present time doesn’t impact your life, or in our case your team, nearly as much as how you respond to it. That’s a real key principle for us.

“Good football teams overcome adversity, not by dwelling on it but by figuring out how to use it as a positive. If you have a solid foundation, and we have a great foundation with the backbone being our coaches and support system provided by the university and athletic department, then you won’t waver or falter when adversity hits.”

The angst and freaking out should be left to the fans. We have much more practice at freaking out over these things.

For every McKenzie Matthews who leaves the team early in camp and it served as bad foreshadowing, there is a T.J. Porter who seemed ready to run but returned and will be looking to be trying to climb the depth chart this season.

To extrapolate whether Pat Bostick is one or the other right now isn’t going to work. Right now, there’s nothing clear. You have a 50-50 chance I suppose. This, though, from Lancaster is encouraging.

Bostick could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but a source close to the quarterback said that Bostick’s decision to leave Pitt and return to Lancaster was for purely personal reasons, and not due to any particular problem.

“He’s going through some of the things we all went through as college freshmen,” the source said.

If that’s all, it’s going to make the angst and columns bemoaning Joe Flacco transferring a couple years ago look silly.

Given the likelihood that Bostick will be away from the team for at least a week, he has little chance of being the starter. That, of course, might make it easier for him to return with at least some pressure off of him as he adjusts.

At this point, it’s Bill Stull #1 and Kevan Smith #2.

Stull worked with the first group in the morning; Smith worked with the second group in the afternoon, and Wannstedt said this is not likely to change.

“We are going to keep Kevan with the second group,” Wannstedt said. “It is not a big thing because both groups are running the same plays, but Billy at this point deserves the opportunity [to play with the first group]. He is a little further ahead, and we want to make sure [the veterans] are working with the more experienced quarterback. It is not just best for Billy Stull, it is the best thing for our football team right now.

“I’m not concerned [about the quarterback position] because we just have to coach Billy up, and he has the ability to play and be an excellent player. And Billy came out of the spring as our starter, so let’s not lose sight of that, either.”

I think Stull will be fine as the starter. He’s got the mentality and kind of approach that OC Matt Cavanaugh and Coach Wannstedt want from the QB. He’s not a risk-taker, he plays within the system and has had two years to learn the system.

On the front page of PittsburghPanthers.com is a link to the 2007 Football Commercial and in it we see what look like the jerseys we’ll be wearing this year. The following are screen shots from that commercial.

A view of the front with the block PITT letters bigger than I ever would have imagined, which I sort of like.

A view of the jersey front from farther back.

Helmets look to be the same as last year. The TV numbers are moved from the top of the shoulder to the side.

Numbers also look like the same as last year. Interesting to note that there are no names on the back. I’m pretty sure we’ll see them there by September 1, though. There was never any talk of names being removed and it’s possible that there simply wasn’t enough time to put names on between getting the jerseys and shooting the commercial.

Again, I’ve been told they would be officially unveiled on August 9th.