Stupid column from Bob Smizik wondering why people got so bent out of shape over the possibility of associate head coach and top recruiter Barry Rohrssen leaving the program for St. John’s last week.

Maybe I was too vague for someone like Smizik, last week. Let me spell it out.

In the last year plus for Pitt athletics:

— Lost the AD that helped rebuild the two major college sports, hired the coaches, moved the football team into sharing a pro level stadium, and helped to push the construction of the Pete and the new South Side training facilities.

— Lost the head basketball coach who rebuilt the basketball program from bottom feeder to Big East Champions and back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.

— Had one of the most pathetic, embarrassing and sloppy pursuit of hiring a new basketball coach.

— Saw the school go over 6 months without naming a new AD, losing the interim one as well.

— Had the ACC raid the Big East for the top two football programs, then come back for BC as the cherry on top.

— Had the BCS status of the Big East up in the air for the last 6 months, and even now, it doesn’t feel safe.

— Had a football season with BCS potential fall apart when the defense couldn’t stop anything on the ground.

— Lost a top assistant on the football coaching staff to a new job, leaving Harris in total control of the offense without any dissenting voice.

So you could see why keeping some, any, continuity in the basketball program for a little longer might be considered a relief. Just for a while to keep some of the same people running the show might be good for the stability and long term psyche of Pitt athletics.

Looks like WVU has decided to pull the scholarship offer to Running Back Raymond Williams. This comes on the heels of his arrest and accusations of robbery and murder.

I expect Williams to eventually end up at Division II or some I-AA school. He will set all sorts of records, and be considered a medium to high draft pick, and then ESPN will do some story on his fall and rise.

UPDATE: Make that 15 years. It appears from reports Williams and another have confessed to the actions

Two Benedictine High School football stars have confessed to taking part in a botched robbery that left a teammate dead and will beg for the state’s mercy, a lawyer for one of them says.

City prosecutors filed murder and aggravated-robbery charges Wednesday against Raymond Williams, who won Ohio’s Mr. Football honor last year as the state’s outstanding prep star, and Jon Huddleston, a defensive back on the state-champion team. If convicted, the Cleveland teens would face at least 15 years to life in prison.
Police say the two and 16-year-old Lorenzo Hunter tried to rob a 20-year-old man with a fake gun around 2 a.m. April 16, only to see the intended victim pull a gun, fire and kill Lorenzo as Huddleston and Williams ran.

Pat D’Angelo, Huddleston’s lawyer, said both youths spoke with Benedictine counselors, then agreed to give police oral and written statements without attorneys present.

“They made statements to investigators that expose themselves to liability,” D’Angelo said Wednesday. “We’re contrite, remorseful and saddened that someone died.”

‘Angelo said he reviewed statements from both defendants and understands that Williams brandished the phony gun during the stickup of Rodney Roberts near East 124th Street and Craven Avenue.