The papers are split in two distinct directions. The P-G looks towards the Fiesta Bowl and the teams. The Trib. stays in Pittsburgh happily discussing Coach Wannstedt and AD Long.

Let’s start with the team and the Fiesta Bowl. Admitting this should be the Lame Duck Bowl with a different sponsor, a look at the weird situation of the coaches on both sides leaving for new pastures. The situations are different.

Utah had their coach get wooed for a higher profile, big money job. Everyone knew he would be getting a great offer from somewhere within the first month of the season. Utah will keep continuity, though, as one of the assistants takes over the program.

Pitt saw their coach all but officially fired despite the success in a rebuilding year. Pitt has just made a high profile hire, but the entire Pitt football staff is up in the air. Some members might stay, some let go, some just leave. No one knows anything. Arguably, the Pitt players could be playing for some of their coaches jobs. Lots of pressure on that.

You know, there’s been a lot of complaints that this will not be a good game and that people won’t want to watch because of the programs. I can’t help but think that the ratings might be better than expected. You will have all of Utah and Western PA watching — obviously. But you will also have the state of Florida watching to get a sense of their new coach. Stanford draws on the San Francisco area, and there should be some curiosity about Walt Harris. Then there are the Domers around the country. There has to be curiosity about the game, but who do they root against? A Pitt team that beat them at home, but helped get Willingham fired? Or Urban Meyer, the guy they wanted and thought they could get, but spurned Touchdown Jesus for the Swamp? My guess is going against Utah, because it was more personal.

Then there is preparations for the game itself. The players are talking about winning it. Not just trying to play close. Tired of hearing how they don’t deserve to go. Hopefully we will see them show everyone why the Big East is a BCS conference and the Mountain West isn’t.

Over at the Trib., they aren’t yet ready for Tempe. A long puff piece on Dave Wannstedt — just a Pittsburgh guy no matter where he has been. If it matters to you that Wanny was from Pittsburgh, then this is a story you will enjoy.

The other is a puff piece lauding AD Jeff Long for getting Wannstedt. I’ve lauded AD Long for issues of TV exposure for Pitt, getting a new marketing deal, apparel contract, and the local radio and TV stuff.

I will not join in the chorus praising him for this hire, in so far as it applies to the search and the process. I have my doubts as to how much AD Long got to actually search. My gut says this search had more than a little of the heavy hand of Chancellor Nordenberg. I hope to have more time to get into this (not to mention my broadband connection, to help me dig up some things to help make my argument). Suffice to say, that while things managed to work out, the process was anything but encouraging.