A couple stories on hiring David Walker as RB Coach. I’m sorry, I find myself drooling over a RB coach who has consistently had one of the best rushing attacks in college football the last 5-8 years. Yes, I know lines have a big deal to do with that, but Walker has taken the talent and made it better.

“I think the key is not the system you play in but rather the fundamentals and techniques you teach,” Walker.

“A lot of the things we worked on at Syracuse, I’ll bring to the running backs here. I haven’t yet evaluated the ones we have here, but I will and then I’ll have a better feel for what we need to do.”

Oh, golly. Fundamentals? Technique? Those are two of the things that generally have been lacking in Pitt’s running game. I’m definitely excited. Probably the best position coach signing Wannstedt has made. It gets better:

“The first thing I talk about to young men is I want guys to be three-dimensional. They have to run, block and receive the ball. That’s the goal. We’re going to work real hard on developing those aspects of the game.”

Furman was Pitt’s best receiving RB, Murphy the best North-South runner, and Kirkley was solid blocking. If any could just do 2 of 3 I’d be thrilled.

It’s now official (as much as any verbal can be) for some Pitt recruits. Bryan Williams has recommited to Pitt:

Buchtel coach Claude Brown said Williams’ decision to go to Minnesota didn’t have to do with Harris leaving Pitt. With the coaching change at Pitt, Williams didn’t think Panthers defensive line coach Bob Junko, who recruited Williams, or defensive coordinator Paul Rhodes would be retained.

Wannstedt kept both, though. That was all Williams needed to hear.
…
In Brown’s eight years coaching at Buchtel, he has sent numerous players to Pitt, including Ramon Walker, Deon Hayes, Brandon Hayes, Darrell McMurray, Tim Murphy and Steve Walker. Marlon Terry, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound fullback/linebacker who was Williams’ teammate this past season, committed to play at Pitt before the season.

Williams, who was a Division III first-team all-state performer, rushed for 1,831 yards and 26 touchdowns for the Griffins last season and was a first-team All-Beacon Journal defensive back after leading Buchtel with six interceptions.

And of course Shane Murray at Central Catholic has made his verbal as a QB (for the time being)

He chose the Panthers over Connecticut, Hofstra and Richmond and also was receiving from Georgia Tech, Syracuse and the U.S. Naval Academy.

“I always grew up a Pitt fan – it’s the place to be,” Murray said. “Coach Wannstedt coming in and recruiting Western Pennsylvania players first, that shows how much he’s committed to his hometown. He’s not passing up WPIAL players.”
…
“Shane isn’t just a good pocket passer; he throws well on the run and his decision-making was really spectacular,” Central coach Art Walker Jr. said. “He has the ability to run and his arm is a lot stronger than people think.”

For that reason, Murray has drawn comparisons to Palko.

“That would be great, because Tyler plays with intensity,” Murray said. “He never takes a play off. He only cares about his team and cares about winning. I feel like I’m the spitting image, but a lot skinnier.”

Like Palko, Murray also started at safety, recording 66 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He was named to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 and All-Class AAAA teams, and was an Associated Press first-team Class AAAA all-state pick at defensive back.

Pitt addressed a need by recruiting Murray as a quarterback, where the only other scholarship player besides Palko was backup Joe Flacco.

“When Pitt recruited me as a quarterback, it showed me they have confidence in me,” Murray said. “Even so, if they told me they needed me to play defensive back, I’d do that in a heartbeat. If you get on that field, that’s all that matters.”

Maybe he stays at QB, maybe he changes position like Darrelle Strong did. The kid is an athlete and a football player, and he wants to play. Seems to be worth taking a shot on developing him somewhere.

Finally, the big story, a Q&A with Head Coach Dave Wannstedt. It probably doesn’t need saying, but it is the must read of the day. I’m not even going to excerpt anything. Too much stuff each reader will want to focus on. Suffice to say, even in a Q&A the enthusiasm and excitement he is generating and bringing comes through. I guess, if anything it makes me a little nervous to find myself so easily and happily ready to drink the kool-aid (Yes, part of it is “I want to believe“). I’ll have to work on my cynicism. Tomorrow. I promise.