Well, now the Pitt beat reporters find out how good their sources really are. Names are starting to leak over who appears to be on the interview list, who has forwarded their resume, and other potential names.
Dave Wannstedt and Bo Pelini have both been contacted and had interviews arranged. Another name expected to be interviewed is John Hoke, the secondary coach with the Houston Texans. Hoke was also the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for Steve Spurrier in Florida and is an old friend of AD Jeff Long.
Other names expressing interest: Frank Solich, who was interviewing for the Ohio University job (Ohio U? Really? That’s a bit of a drop-off from Nebraska.), but is also a Johnstown native. Jerry Glanville is also interested. Of course he seems to be interested in any head coaching job at this point. Really, if Pitt wants a clown coach they can stay in the family and contact Ditka.
Tom Bradley, the Penn State defensive coordinator, seems to be picking up steam as a legitimate candidate. His performance in putting together the Penn State defense — their only bright spot — coupled with his very good track record in recruiting in Western PA has his name starting to get a lot of traction.
In an AP story from Alan Robinson, he is still asking why Pitt was so eager to get rid of Harris.
Three consecutive seasons of eight or more victories. Six bowl trips in eight seasons, including the Fiesta Bowl this season. Greatly improved attendance and recruiting at a school that won only 12 games in four seasons before he arrived.
Many college coaches would get a decade-long contract for such a turnaround, one all the more remarkable because it was performed at Pitt under the giant shadow of the Steelers – who, to many Pittsburghers, are the only football game in town.
Restoring a program that once was western Pennsylvania’s answer to Temple but now has regained much of its former prominence got Walt Harris nothing more than a one-way ticket back home to San Francisco.
Pitt has begun searching for the Stanford-bound Harris’ successor, the first major challenge confronting athletic director Jeff Long since his hiring 18 months ago. What Pitt and Long still haven’t fully explained is why they’re seeking a new coach when their old coach seemingly was performing at a high level.
Sadly, I don’t think we’ll ever get a definitive explanation. I’ve never heard a full reason for why Pitt fired Mike Gottfried mid-season in ’89. I’ve heard salacious stories and rumors, but never a clear explanation.
Worth noting, even though it no longer really matters, but is curious. Harris fired his agent. No explanation, and it will be argued that it came 2 months too late. Who knows. Some feel Stanford really did get a coach who could be too good for them.
And of course, there is the fodder for sports talk radio in Pittsburgh. At least, I’m guessing it is. Bill Walsh calling Pitt a 2 1/2 star program and “hopeless.” For the opposing view in the story, you get Beano Cook. I’m not going to get too bent of shape over this stuff from Walsh. He was a hall of fame pro coach. At the college level, he failed with Stanford, and he is a friend of Harris. Stanford hasn’t been relevant since the band was on the field. He’s backing his guy. Did he need to attack Pitt? Probably not. The only way to prove him wrong, though, is on the field.
