I nearly missed this column from Sunday, talking about criticism Walt Harris has received. Beano Cook is quoted extensively in the story. Amazingly enough, I am in almost total agreement with what he said:

But this season has been viewed as a disappointment and the buck stops with the head coach.

“I don’t think he’s hated the way some coaches are,” ESPN college football analyst Beano Cook said. “But I think the fans are frustrated when he gets up at a press conference and brags about going to a fourth straight bowl. That would have been OK in the year 2000. But not this year.”
…
Harris has been criticized for poor game management and shaky play-calling. He has been hammered by former Pitt players and coaches for being unable to recruit dominating offensive and defensive linemen.

Cook sees merit to the criticism.

“The play-calling is atrocious,” Cook said. “(Pitt athletic director) Jeff Long needs to tell him either he gets an offensive coordinator, or Long will get a new head coach.”

On recruiting, Cook said: “He’s getting good players at the skill positions. But he’s got to get some linemen.”

In the final analysis, Cook agrees with those who see Harris as a good coach, but not a great one. Harris deserves credit for resurrecting the program, but now, armed with state-of-the-art facilities, more is expected than a late December in Charlotte.

“I don’t think there should be a change, because he’s done a good job overall,” Cook said. “But he’s going to have to take them to the next step and he’s going to have to do it in the next few years.”

If Beano can see the problems, then you know it is glaring.

ESPN’s season review of the Big East and Pitt declare Pitt to be tied with VT as the biggest disappointment in the Big East this year. Any argument?