The Pitt web site has a countdown clock to the Fiesta Bowl. They also seem to be doing a nice job of assembling information for the Fiesta Bowl. This includes activities for those attending (mostly in PDF).
For Pitt fans, there hasn’t been much in the way of news or talk about the actual Fiesta Bowl. All caught up in the soap opera of Harris leaving/pushed and the search for the next guy. Todd McShay of Scouts Inc. was actually asked a Pitt question in his ESPN.com chat:
Kennny (Pittsburgh): What do you think Pitt’s biggest weakness is going into the Fiesta bowl?
Todd McShay: I think the running game. Their ability to throw the ball has been a big part of their second half surge, thanks to Tyler Palko’s emergence as one of the nation’s more efficient passers. But throughout that, they still have been unable to establish much of a running attack. Against an offense like Utah that can score in bunches, you have to be able to run the ball to keep Alex Smith and company off the field.
I’m not as worried about running the ball as I had been. Tim Murphy in the last few games seemed to have established himself and was running forward and aggressively. Hopefully that will continue.
Meanwhile, Coach Walt Harris is still trying to get Pitt ready for the Fiesta Bowl. While the debate can (and likely will) continue as to the merit of having Harris pushed out as head coach. It has been clear to most (aside from Ron Cook) that Harris really didn’t want to leave.
Harris, allowed to leave Pitt for Stanford earlier this month without protest in a move some players essentially consider a firing, is emotional knowing he will no longer coach the No. 19 Panthers beyond next week.
“Sure,” Harris said Monday night. “I’m trying to act like it isn’t, I guess because I think that’s probably the way you’re supposed to act. We were down at City Council today for University of Pittsburgh Football Day, and it is very emotional, I spent eight years trying to rebuild this football program and I think we accomplished that.”
Asked if he wished he were staying, Harris said, “I think those questions are, unfortunately, behind us now. I do love these players, I have told them how much they meant to me, and that life goes on.”
Some players were more vocal about Harris’ departure, with star quarterback Tyler Palko saying Harris’ departure “stinks.”
I don’t think it is any exaggeration to say that AD Jeff Long’s job could ride on this hire. While there were plenty of factors — local recruiting, coaching staff issues, contract extension posturing, in-game coaching and, of course, money — the conventional wisdom has become that the overriding factor was personal animosity between Long and Harris.
If the next Pitt coach doesn’t do any better (or worse) than Harris, and/or Harris does well with Stanford in the now very intriguing PAC-10; then Long will be viewed as a guy who ran off the coach that rebuilt Pitt and had them going in the right direction (just not at a fast enough pace), just because they weren’t best buddies.
Long would easily be thrown to the wolves by the administration.
Meanwhile, another former Pitt player is now Coach of the Year, in the PIAA:
PIAA champion Thomas Jefferson leads the team with four players after bouncing back from two regular-season losses to win seven consecutive playoff games, defeating defending champion Manheim Central 56-20 for the AAA title.
…
TJ coach Bill Cherpak, a former Pitt player, was the runaway winner in the coach of the year balloting of writers and broadcasters.
Just because no one asked, my personal preferences for Pitt’s next head coach — based on who was actually interviewed — in order:
- Bo Pelini: Good and ambitious. Even if he bolts for a higher profile job, he will likely leave things in even better shape in terms of recruits and national prominence. There’s a certain air of inevitability to him and the job.
- Sal Sunseri: Still very well connected to the local high school coaches (not to mention the fans and boosters). Comes with a great history of recruiting well everywhere. Wants the job. Unfortunately, I don’t think Pitt wants him.
- Tim Lewis: I’m not sure what kind of recruiter he actually is/would be. He has moved successfully from college programs to the pros. Went from being a top draft pick to coaching after a career-ending injury. Obviously has a passion for the game and smarts. I think he would be better than expected. I don’t think, Pitt was serious about him, though.
- Matt Cavanaugh: His star has faded as he has gained more responsibility for the Ravens offense. Jim Fassel has been the one getting all the credit for getting Boller up to Jon Kitna levels in the NFL. Ravens offense, not exactly the best thing to have on the resume. I don’t know how much interest he actually has in a college job, even at Pitt. Not to mention how much interest Pitt has in him at this point.
- Paul Rhoads: Sadly, probably Pitt’s second choice after Pelini. The things people want to criticize Harris for, seem to apply just as much for Rhoads. Except that he seems to be a better interview.
Looks like we will know soon.
