A end of season/looking ahead piece from the Pittsburgh, AP Sportswriter, Alan Robinson. Fairly upbeat. Matt Hayes at the Sporting News gives quick grades on various coaching hires. He wasn’t impressed with Pitt’s hire giving it a “C”
Pittsburgh, Dave Wannstedt. Is the college game the salvation for an average NFL coach?
Well, the NFL is the destination for above average college coaches. I hope he gets into his reasons a bit more at some point.
Bo Pelini is considered the favorite to get the Syracuse job. Some rumors have him already with an offer and putting together a staff (which may help explain the Sooners’ performance this evening). Pitt of course interviewed Pelini but he didn’t even make the first cut. Well, Syracuse is also considering several NFL coordinators, including Tim Lewis. Lewis, of course, was a former Pitt star and was also interviewed (sort of) for the Pitt job.
Another former Pitt great, Russ Grimm looks to be interviewing for the Cleveland Browns Head Coaching job — before they actually hire a GM? That’s why they are the Browns.
One Pitt commit who changed his mind and instead committed to Minnesota after the coaching changes, might still be considering Pitt.
For a while, Bryan Williams’ mind was set. The Buchtel first-team Division III All-Ohio football player had orally committed to play next season at the University of Pittsburgh.
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“It wasn’t that Bryan wanted to commit somewhere else because Walt Harris left,” Buchtel coach Claude Brown said. “Bryan originally committed to Pitt because he liked coach (Bob) Junko, the defensive line coach who recruits in this area, and coach (Paul) Rhodes, the defensive coordinator.”Once Harris left, Williams decided to commit to Minnesota thinking that Junko and Rhodes would not return. It is believed that Wannstedt will retain both coaches. Brown said Pitt still will actively recruit Williams hoping he might change his mind and stick to his original commitment.
“It’s a confusing thing for a young man to go through, but it’s also a good thing,” Brown said. “It’s a lesson on how a young man has to make an adult decision. But the good things is that he’ll get a free education one way or another.”
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Meanwhile, another Buchtel player who orally committed to Pitt, fullback/linebacker Marlon Terry, hasn’t changed his mind. Terry will play for the Panthers next season.
It would be nice to get the kid back in the fold, but this recruiting class is something of a lost year given everything. It’s looking like mid-40s. If Pitt can finish in the top-40 classes it should be considered a good thing. Top-30 and you toast a remarkable surge.
Our comments are getting some discussions (look under this post) regarding potential members of the Pitt coaching staff. I haven’t heard anything, and I don’t know whether they are legit candidates but some former Pitt players, now coaches are being mentioned.
Here’s what my gut says:
Matt Cavanaugh, OC — Just don’t see it. I can see him getting another OC job in the NFL given the turnover. It might be a bit awkward anyways, since he nearly had the HC job before Wannstedt basically snatched it away at the last minute. Additional negative, Wannstedt needs coordinators who are good, experienced recruiters. Cavanaugh has been an NFL coach the last 10+ years.
Alex Van Pelt, QB Coach(?) — Van Pelt threw his own name out there. If he’s serious about being a coach, he needs to start lower, almost like a graduate assistant. He was a career NFL back-up and then doing color for the Bills. Can he coach? Can he recruit? Too unknown, unless he is willing to start lower on the rungs, I don’t see it. Again, it comes down to experience and recruiting.
Sal Sunseri, DC — I suppose it’s possible. Unlike Cavanaugh, though, he isn’t looking for work. Another issue of how awkward it would be. How much of a move up would this really be? He had the job before (under Hackett), and would it really pay more than his present job as the D-Line coach with Carolina? He has had success as a recruiter so that wouldn’t be an issue. I’m just not sure.
