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November 30, 2007

Steve Pederson Named AD (Again!)

Filed under: Athletic Department — Dennis @ 4:11 pm

Just around 10:00 this morning, the Post-Gazette broke that Pitt will bring back Steve Pederson to fill the vacant athletic director position. He held the position at Pitt…ahem, excuse me…”Pittsburgh” from 1996 to 2002. One thing he’s remembered for is lobbying (rather successfully) for the change from “Pitt” to “Pittsburgh” — other things include getting rid of Pitt Stadium, building the Petersen Events Center, moving to Heinz Field, and hiring Jamie Dixon Ben Howland.

And then he left for Nebraska. He was gone in an instant. And that was it, until the Huskers football team fell apart under coach Bill Callahan, who was hired by Pedersen. He was fired back in October, and here he is now.

The hiring seems like it came out of nowhere, and it looks like Pitt didn’t even interview any other candidates, something that some people won’t be happy about.

Many more reactions to come over the next few days.

Update: First day and he’s already extended Wannstedt’s contract.





He extended Wanny?

I wasn’t THAT pissed about Pederson coming back…. but he extended Wanny after three consecutive non-winning seasons?

Posters in here are going to get mad in 3……2…..1…..

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 11.30.07 @ 4:38 pm

Most of us figured that Wanny was here for at least another year or so and if you don’t extend him on paper, he can’t recruit. I don’t like the fact that we might end up having to buy out a fat contract at some point, but it seemed inevitable anyway. My guess is that Pederson has learned his lesson about retaining bad coaches, but for now, you kind of have to do what you have to do.

Comment by thestumper 11.30.07 @ 4:42 pm

Been to many Pitt BB games and a lot before Pederson. The PA announcer always said, “and here is your Pittsburgh Panthers”.

Never did understand the whinning about Pittsburgh. Sounds like you want your cake and eat it to.

Comment by joel 11.30.07 @ 4:51 pm

Pederson? Really? Even with the good things he accomplished here at Pitt how do you forget the fact that he left in a heartbeat for Nebraska and performed poorly there. I’m interested to see who else was considered for the job.

BTW – The return of “The Script” is officially on hold.

Comment by Dave in Orlando 11.30.07 @ 4:53 pm

Joel, not sure if you’re addressing me specifically on the topic of Pitt/Pittsburgh. To be honest, I like Pitt more and would rather see script.

I’d much rather see winning sports teams first and foremost, though — the logo and identity issues are of very small importance in comparison.

Comment by Dennis 11.30.07 @ 4:57 pm

Well at least Pederson won’t have as easy of a time screwing our football program over now. Firing Frank Solich and replacing him with Bill Callahan was a bad idea, but at least Wannstedt’s getting some time to prove his worth.

I think Pederson’s going to be on a shorter leash this time. We just changed the logo, which cost a ton, and the only way we change it now is if we go back to the script. We saw what happened when he brought in his own football coach for the sake of bringing his own coach – disaster. Basketball is in good shape, and we’re getting new facilities on upper campus. I wouldn’t worry about any horrible decisions on his part now other than scheduling patsies – and what AD hasn’t done that?

We’re still going to be Pitt, not Pittsburgh. Jamie Dixon and Agnus Berenato aren’t going anywhere, and Dave Wannstedt will get 2008 – the year he was pointing to in the first place – to prove his worth. So just relax.

Comment by mjb 11.30.07 @ 5:01 pm

I too would like to know who else was interviewed. I’m guessing that hundreds of talented and devilishly sexy men and women interviewed but …. Pederson beat them out. I didn’t have a huge problem with him here, I had some issues but nobody is perfect. Then he goes(nay, runs fast) to Nebraska and the school becomes a punching bag. That’s not funny to me…..So, we hire him back.

This makes us look like a second rate outfit. Man leaves PITT for mighty Nebraska…Man falls on face, PITT hires him back. It also makes us look lazy, or did nobody want to be an AD at Pittsburgh?. In no way am I saying Pederson is a stupid man, if anything he’s the smartest man in Pennsylvania today. He did some good things like hooking up our basketball team, The Pete is gorgeous and so is our winning %. But there wasn’t other people with fresh ideas? I guess we will find out more later.

Comment by Panthoor 11.30.07 @ 5:21 pm

Pitt are for those who went to the school, and Pittsburgh is for those who are from the city. That’s the difference.

Comment by Freebird 11.30.07 @ 5:22 pm

Fire Steve Pederson….why does this school consistently have to go back in time and rehire former coaches, assistants, athletic directors, etc…..I’m really starting to hate the people that run our school….maybe I need to divert my money to IUP….I don’t know what else to say, I’m just pissed, and sick of these ridiculous decisions……suggestions anyone on how to vent!

I think I’ll bring a sign saying FIRE WANNY and FIRE PEDERSON to the game tomorrow!

Comment by Marco 11.30.07 @ 5:28 pm

id love to see the return of the pitt script and the old colors…the store inside the pete sells many items with that color and logo..now would be the best time to switch it..They wore the throwbacks against YSU a few years ago and it looked like the way Pitt should look…
I think Wanny deserves atleast another year, so they extending of the contract is fine with me as long as he keeps bringing in Freshman ALl Americans like he did this season. Pitt had 2.

link to pittsburghpanthers.cstv.com

Comment by hail to pitt 11.30.07 @ 5:28 pm

DW is already signed through 2009, so extending through 2010 does not sound like a ringing vote of confidence.

Comment by HbgFrank 11.30.07 @ 5:35 pm

Freebird – EXACTLY. I didn’t go to “picksburgh” i went to PITT. Stop naming our university after a city. The dumbest fucking idea i’ve heard in a long time.

412-624-4200
mar6@pitt.edu

That is the contact info give to me by 4FACT for Nordenburg if you’d like to leave him your thoughts and feelings.

No contact info available for Pederson yet.

Comment by Stuart 11.30.07 @ 5:35 pm

Dennis, I was talking in general terms and would not call out you or anyone else. BTW I like the rehiring of SP, think he did a lot of good raising $$$$$.

Comment by joel 11.30.07 @ 5:38 pm

from the scout article: link to pittsburgh.scout.com

“No, I think we’ve had enough logo changes around here,” Pederson said Friday…

“I’m anxious to spend some more time with Dave (Wannstedt), because I’ve known him a long time and like him a great deal,” Pederson said. “And certainly, Dave’s a fine football coach. I know rebuilding these programs takes a lot longer than any of us would like.

“We’re talking about recruiting, and sometimes you have lost years in it after you make a coaching change that can catch up with you, and so I’m anxious to sit down to see how I can help us grow this program, because I’m very excited about where we can take it.”

Pederson noted that he wasn’t in a position to discuss Wannstedt’s contract status at this time, but would be in the near future. He also promised to look at Pitt’s future football schedules in an attempt to lure more attractive opponents for the Panthers and said he looked forward to re-opening talks with AD Tim Curley about renewing the Penn State series.

“I am 100 percent committed to helping Dave in any way that I can,” Pederson said. “We’ve got a good man here, a guy that cares a great deal about this football program and this university.

“He’s a good coach and a good recruiter, and what I feel like I can contribute right now is to give him every ounce of energy and support that I have. … I want to roll up my sleeves and see how Dave and I can do this together.”

Please don’t let him fuck everything up because he feels the need to “meddle.” Stick to the important things: OOC opponents, beating PSU…

Here’s a shot though: “Not that many years ago, this football program went to a BCS bowl game, and there’s a long and great tradition of football here.” How long before he brings back Wlat? 2011?

Comment by Stuart 11.30.07 @ 5:51 pm

He should bring back Wlat…..

….to replace Cavanaugh as offensive coordinator.

And the school is the University of Pittsburgh, as in a university located in the city of Pittsburgh. It is not Pittsburgh, which of course is the name of a city.

Therefore, when referring to the school, there are two choices to properly convey what exactly you’re talking about….

Actually saying “The University of Pittsbugh” (too wordy, and kind of dorky)

OR

Pitt (ahhh much better).

Pittsburgh is a city. It is not an institution of higher learning.

Pitt is a university, not a mid-sized city located in Western Pennsylvania.

If you say “Pittsburgh lost a football game”, you’re talking about the Steelers.

If you say “Pitt lost a football game”, you’re talking about the Panthers.

Comment by Jimbo Covert's my Dad 11.30.07 @ 6:36 pm

WOW.

Comment by Ironhead 11.30.07 @ 7:02 pm

Comment by Stuart 11.30.07 @ 7:14 pm

Although i think you say “thstillers just lost n’at.”

People do get confused when if i ever say “Pittsburgh won/lost/scored….”

Comment by Stuart 11.30.07 @ 7:15 pm

Sports Illustrated called him the “MOST HATED MAN IN THE STATE” of Nebraska. Don’t buy the spin that he was fired over football. He aliented most major boosters, ran off employees, hired a cronie from Pittsburg to consult and singled handedly decided to ruin and change 40+ years of culture at Nebraska. Make sure Pitt protects its traditions with this slippery guy. Don’t believe a word he says without checking on it. You were lucky when he left, BEWARE of his return!

Comment by Kent 11.30.07 @ 8:06 pm

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!

The circle of life! or is it one big circle jerk!

It’s one jack-off after another, be patient Wanny just needs 10 more years to break .500!

We are doomed!


Just a Bear fan who checks the Blather from time to time to see how worthless wannie is doing. I had expected an armed insurrection by Pitt fans already. And what do i find..You extended this dope. I am satisfied that wannsted has more pictures of football executives and university presidents with a goat than any man living. Thats the only way he continues to survive. And for you guys to bring back the jerk who set Nebraska back 20 years (with help from callahn) in a New York second is unbelievable. That 1937 “Dream Backfield” (I played for John Cicerneo in HS) has to be spinning in their graves. Good luck Pitt fans, you’re sure gonna need it.

Comment by JEDI KNIGHT 11.30.07 @ 8:45 pm

Good riddance Steve Pederson. No matter what he accomplished at Pitt before, I can’t believe they re-hired him. How could you settle for someone that failed completely and was fired from his previous job? From what I have heard, his previous tenure at Pitt was not without termoil. His ego demanded a logo change for Pitt, and his ego fired a 9-3 NU coach who had spent his entire career at Nebraska. The aftermath has been well documented. He wasn’t fired by NU simply because we had a losing record. He was fired because he managed to completely fracture our fan base, alienate just about everyone and burned a program with 40 + years of rich history and tradition to the ground. His picture and that smarmy grin on the Pitt website from the press conference announcing his hire made me puke. No one in Pennsylvania will ever understand the level of contempt Nebraska for Pederson nor depth of the damage he has done here. The tally? 35 year consecutive bowl streak. Snapped. 40 consecutive winning seasons. Gone. Good luck.

Comment by MsgfromNebraska 11.30.07 @ 9:15 pm

Hey Nebraska fan-

You haven’t been that good recently-even under solich. And before him, osbourne was highly um hum, suspected of cheating and was forced to resign.

Pederson wasn’t a good fit at nebraska, but he does well here-thanks for oyur concern.

Comment by scoocher 11.30.07 @ 9:49 pm

Give Pederson a chance. He has a head start based on the fact that he’s been here before, and he accomplished more than any AD I remember. … and stop worrying about the logo – there are so many more important things to worry about. I think Wanny deserves a chance to see this young team get another year. I would like to see a change in offensive coordinator. Matt C has always had a boring, low-scoring, bad red-zone offense – at Pitt and for the Ravens. It sounds like Pederson is just talking about extending Wanny for one year – which will definately help with recruiting on the short-term. I’m expecting big things from Pitt football next yeat – more urgency and older, more experienced players, with another year of Buddy building them up in the weight room.

Comment by Dishman 11.30.07 @ 9:50 pm

Pitt (or Pittsburgh if you prefer) has just made a tragic, tragic mistake. Steve Pederson single-handedly used his ego to destroy one of the greatest college football empires in Nebraska. Has anyone read the news reports of what happened there? SP refused to understand the culture in Nebraska, and instead tried to create the “Pederson culture” – his own empire. Trouble was – nobody wanted it. He refused to engage former players, took down all the pictures of former college all-Americans, would not acknowledge anyone deemed “below” him in the hallways of the athletic department, and had an ego that is beyond measure. Why Pitt would do this is beyond me……..this is the beginning of the end…….

Comment by The beginning of the end. 11.30.07 @ 10:15 pm

PITT made the right decision in bringing Pederson back and extending Coach W’s contract. The PITT administration made a sound judgement call to keep in place a successful team. AD Pederson in his first stint took over an athletic department in shambles and made parts of it the best in the nation (see basketball arena, training facility on southside). He also immediately upgraded the football field by moving into a brand new field. This field will soon be connected to the subway system and sits around a beautiful ballpark, casino and upscale nightlife.

PITT also made sound judgement to extend Coach W’s contract. He has been building the foundation to have a competitive team every year. He said from the beginning that the success will come when his recruits are fifth year seniors and fourth year juniors. This team is loaded with young talent that has been redshirted. It appears that he may pull in another very good class. I feel very good about PITT’s future.

Comment by Ironhead 11.30.07 @ 10:23 pm

No surprise with the Wanny extension. I’ve been saying he was here to stay based on my inside information. I also think it is the right decision. I have no problem with bringing back pederson. I’m not his biggest fan, but i do respect the job he did here. The fact that he failed in nebraska would only be important if he hadn’t benn sucessful here at Pitt, which he was. I like the script logo, but I like winning more

Comment by TMGPanther 11.30.07 @ 10:52 pm

Quit your whining. If the Panthers were 8 and 3 by now no one would be bitching. What makes anyone think we could get a better coach when we put a whopping 20,000 in the seats for most games. Why doesn’t someone figure out how to get some butts to fill those seats at Heinz. Didn’t Pederson sell 55,000+ tickets before he left. I am tired of all the excuses, pro town, no big time opponents, too much to do in Pittsburgh. Tell me how 30,000+ people from Pgh. make it to PSU for every game and 20,000 or so to WVU. If we lose recruits it is because of the pathetic fan support. There is nothing better to do on a Saturday than going to a big time college football game regardless of the opponent. Con., Cin. and S. Fla. don’t look so bad for a home schedule now. Wake up Panther Nation!!

Comment by J.P. 11.30.07 @ 11:44 pm

GAY AS SHIT

Comment by Adam 12.01.07 @ 2:45 am

This has to be a nightmare right??? Next tell me that Matt C & Rhoades get an extension after we take our ASS BEATING tonight(and we are getting an ASS BEATING tonight) and all of my worst fears will have come to be.

Comment by Tony In Harrisburg 12.01.07 @ 8:23 am

I take a different tack, with no AD (or a strong one anyway) I think Wannstedt keeps all his coordinators (maybe sacrifice a low-tier assistant as a scapegoat). But I don’t think Pederson will hesitate to strongarm Wannstedt into canning one or both of these turkeys.

Comment by geeman2001 12.01.07 @ 11:59 am

[…] Some people believe Pitt is a second-rate program, and by bringing Pederson back because he couldn’t get it done at a “higher level” shows that even Pitt’s administration feels we’re inferior enough. Or, as Panthoor said in the comments: Man leaves Pitt for mighty Nebraska…Man falls on face, Pitt hires him back. […]


Just wanted to say a quick thank you to the University for getting Steve Pederson out of Nebraska. Tried to turn all of Nebraska into “husker nation” but couldn’t hoodwink everyone all the time. Missed a banquet dinner because he got lost, but said it was ok because he heard the meal wasn’t any good anyway. This at a fundraising dinner. Tell me how is he a good fundraiser. Good Luck! Wonder if he will hire a consultant from Nebraska to come and help him run the athletic department.

Comment by ThankYou Pitt 12.04.07 @ 7:52 pm

99% of the people in Nebraska are glad that Pederson is gone. He was the worst A.D. that we have ever had. He almost destroyed Husker Football. Good luck Pitt(sburgh). You’ll need it with “Sly Steve” in command.

Comment by Mike 12.26.07 @ 1:57 pm

Scoocher,
That was without question the most ignorant statement I have EVER read. You attempt to describe the lack of knowledge you have for the University of Nebraska and Tom Osborne would bankrupt the english language

Comment by sully 01.09.08 @ 4:26 pm

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