I’ve been pissed about this since Saturday night. I’m only now getting to vent a little.

Two years ago, Pitt Head Coach Walt Harris nearly torpedoed the entire 2001 season and his job by instituting the spread offense over the summer before the season. Pitt went 1-5 to start the season before Harris stopped being stubborn and arrogant, and junked the spread. It had been obvious to everyone but Harris that the team hadn’t grasped the spread offense — every game with featured numerous delay of games and lost time outs because they couldn’t get the play in and everyone set up, and completely predictable playcalling. The excuses were that the team didn’t have the right players and that they didn’t have enough time to really teach the players.

Last year, West Virginia under second year coach, Rich Rodriguez, beat Pitt with the spread offense. They were able to continually move the ball on Pitt, and while the final score only said 24-17, Pitt was completely outplayed.

Now, Toledo, who also runs a spread offense and has the 4th largest offensive line in the country, generates well under 100 yards rushing (not including the QB — though it still falls short of the century mark), but gets 461 yards in the air. Pitt was not able to sack the QB once, despite better than 2-1 odds that Toledo would pass on any given play. (Apparently others are noticing Pitt’s problem with the spread.)

By far, to me, this quote from Harris was the most telling:

They had a great game plan and executed everything tremendously. They did a lot of things we hadn’t seen before and didn’t prepare for, so that is a tremendous credit to the way they executed.

Say what? That may be a credit to Toledo, but it’s also a hell of an indictment against the Pitt coaching staff. As Pat pointed out, Toledo made second half adjustments to help shut down the Panther offense, but Pitt made no changes and gave up 98 and 83-yard touchdown drives — each of which included a 4th and long that they got with the pass. In those drives, the Toledo QB, Gradkowski, went 20-22 on the drives. This has been a longtime criticism of Harris and his staff — no halftime or game adjustments. It’s maddening. The plan appeared to be build a lead and hang of for dear life.

Well, congratulations Toledo. You got screwed in both polls. The AP poll has you just outside the top 25, and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll really screwed you – by keeping you in the middle of the “others” including being behind Marshall — the team you beat last week. Enjoy the win now, and start looking for a new head coach. I’m guessing Tom Amstutz will be getting a few job offers after this season.