The hot seat. That which Coach Harris firmly is sitting upon. Yet there is really nothing about it in the national media. That’s depressing. That means, that Pitt, for all the climbing back into respectability has very quickly slipped below the radar. Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni’s own precarious position is really the only hot seat in the Big East, and this despite being one of only two games this past Thursday.
Even Joe Bendel in his ESPN.com inside the Big East doesn’t actually put Harris on the hot seat — he just notes that he his being killed in Pittsburgh radio.
The point of contention centered around Harris’ decision to have quarterback Tyler Palko slide for field position on third-and-goal from the UConn 12 with 57 seconds remaining in the first half, instead of taking a shot at a touchdown. Palko said he would have preferred to have gone for a score, but added he didn’t want to question his coach or he’d get benched. Harris, whose team (2-2, 0-1 Big East) plays at Temple (1-4, 0-0) on Saturday, responded to the sophomore signal-caller’s comments.
“I think that’s probably a comment that if asked, he’d probably like to have it back,” Harris said. Harris should have taken a shot at the end zone. Palko is his biggest recruit in years and his players needed a jolt of confidence. The decision not to go for it gave the impression that he’d rather retreat — to a fledgling conference member, no less — rather than attack.
The Pitt defense, thought to be the strength of the team, faltered against the Huskies. It yielded 185 yards to tailback Cornell Brockington and failed to record a sack. A week earlier, Furman nearly upset Pitt by amassing 423 yards and 38 points before losing in overtime. Temple might provide a short-term elixir, but that’s not even guaranteed. Owls quarterback Walter Washington threw for 278 yards in the Panthers’ closer-than-expected 30-16 victory last season at Lincoln Financial Field. “We’re learning,” linebacker Clint Session said. In 2003, Pitt’s defense was the primary reason for a late-season free-fall and a disappointing 8-5 record, which turned the critics against Harris.
Palko is emerging as Pitt’s only true offensive threat, particularly since the running game has been held to less than 100 yards the past three outings. He’s thrown for a combined 647 yards the past two games and led the Panthers with 49 rushing yards against the Huskies. Problem is, Palko is running for his life every time he drops back to pass. The offensive line got dominated by UConn, which recorded four sacks, and is proving to be a severe weakness. Harris says the road to a national championship is paved by a great offensive lineman, yet he’s had only one lineman drafted in eight years. By the way, that player wasn’t taken until the seventh round.
Pitt better be drawing up their list to move fast after the season. Theadministration will need a new coach, and they better not be overestimating their attractiveness right now.
By the way, the video of Walt Harris’ press conference is still not available on the site.
