I’m calm, I’m collected. How that office chair went through that window, I have no idea.
I haven’t been drinking to a stupor — though I thought about it — nor did I break my computer in response to the news. I have been trying to do a lot of things in the real world, so I can be clear for the trip to Morgantown. Never even got onto the computer to this point. I had left a message for one of my friends who was going to the game as well early in the afternoon. About an hour later he called me back while I was on my way to take my kid to a check-up at the doctor. That’s how I had the news broken to me that Pederson was rehired as AD. After that he broke the news to me about the Wannstedt extension.
Wow. Way to completely take the little bit of excitement and energy I had for the Backyard Brawl and crush it. Neither of us were joking when we both brought up the idea of bailing on the game completely. If not for the fact that someone else went to the effort of getting the tix in the first place, we probably would have.
This is what I said back in October after Pederson was dumped by Nebraska and there was some speculation that maybe Pitt might contact him.
Pitt and sequels just don’t work. This is not about wanting a Pitt guy/gal as the AD — I don’t particularly care. I want the best person for the job. Not someone the Chancellor already knows and may be comfortable with dealing.Pederson did a lot of good and some bad while at Pitt. He wasn’t the god/savior some make him seem for dragging the primary teams in the athletic department into the modern era, improving the facilities and finally getting a new basketball facility constructed. Nor was he the devil for changing the colors, logo and name and tearing down Pitt Stadium. For the most part he was a good athletic director who provided and acted in a way that helped Pitt. That doesn’t mean he should be brought back now that his alma mater has said “buh-bye.â€
I’m sure there will be a column in the next day or two suggesting that it would be a good idea to bring back Pederson. That he would provide the energy to the athletic department and will make the hard choices, etc.
Feh. That’s just code for dealing with the only major public concern regarding the athletic department. Right now the issue is about the football program and its direction. Does the baseball program need shaken up? How about the men’s or women’s basketball? No. I don’t think so.
The athletic department could probably benefit overall from someone aggressive and with personality. It doesn’t, however, need the overhaul and makeover as before. Things have changed.
Bringing back Pederson would be taking the easy way, rather than being serious about looking for a new AD. It would also be one more sign that the athletic department is being run via proxy by Chancellor Nordenberg.
[Emphasis added.] And of course, there was the obligatory column from Ron Cook.
With the almost immediate decision that Wannstedt would get a 2-year extension, that would ostensibly take him into 2012 season. That this is happening means that we know who is really running the athletic department and that no Athletic Director hired would have had a say in the decision.
Hell, the press release announcing the re-hire of Pederson practically made it explicit the relationship.
Together they orchestrated a major revitalization of Pitt athletics that resulted in nationally ranked programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Today, that team was reformed as University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg announced the return of Steve Pederson as Pitt’s athletic director.
I have no animosity to Pederson, on a personal level. Don’t know the guy. I just don’t like trying to do sequels. It reeks of Pitt not seriously looking for the best candidate for Athletic Director. It’s about the guy the Chancellor likes. It means that Pitt never conducted much of a search. That the search committee got used.
I’m guessing the next news will be a new contract for DC Paul Rhoads.
“Police go all out to halt WVU couch burning.”
That’s awesome when your establishment for “higher education” is known for burning furniture first and foremost. Good job hillbillies.
What a bad day for any Pitt fans
But it’s obvious to me the extension was really put in place (and by the way ESPN is reporting it’s a three (3) year extension to 2012) so that we can fire some coordinators and position coaches and hire new ones. I believe we’ll see Cav and Dunn gone at the very least. With DW having only his original contract in place which ran to 2009 we’d be hard pressed to hire anyone of quality thinking that they would leave current jobs and uproot their families etc. for a one year tenure if DW was fired. That to me is the good news.
I’ve a very close friend I work with who played DB at Nebraska in 1968-72, is a big supporter in many ways of Nebraska football, on various boards, travels back for games, etc, and we’ve had long conversations about Pedersen’s time there. His take on what happened there is a little different then what we read. He said that Nebraska was not all that unhappy with Pedersen, and most agreed with the extension of Pedersens’ own contract, until Callahan started losing embarrassingly big – after his head coaching contract was extended. That combined with Callahan’s shutting out of ex-players and stopping the hallowed walk-on program was the death blow for Callahan. It seems Pedersen didn’t agree with Callahan’s decisions to do that – but he is a hands off AD with his actual coaches so was painted with the same brush. And most alumni and fans recognized SP’s positive contributions (other sports and facilities upgrades) and appreciated them. The problem was that football is just the 500 pound gorilla in the room at Nebraska and EVERYTHING revolves around it. For example, they are seriously thinking about shitcanning the Chancellor of the University also based on Pedersen’s time there and Callahan’s record this season (which my buddy vehemently disagrees with as the Chancellor has done an excellent job in all other areas.)
My point is that we are not Nebraska – much more balanced in the University’s overall missions, and may not have made as bad a decision here as most fans think. But, as I said it’s a pretty stunning turn of events and I’m still thinking about it.
whether you like it or not… whether you are a fan of wannstedt or not.. Minus all these factors…
The way this was handled and the way Wannstedt got his extension on the same day tells a sad story for anyone that is a Pitt fan.
I shouldnt say i am surprised, because Pitt has never been too committed to their athletics, but this is terrible…..
Nordenberg…… I HATE YOU
Did the Pitt administration look at others?
I guess we will never know. The Wanny contract extension? I guess our soon to be 4-8 record dictated that one. Who is running the university?
Mickey Mouse?
Here’s a news flash for some of you out there.
There are less people at our games because…
OUR TEAM SUCKS AND IS BORING TO WATCH!
No promotion is going to change that and if the current staff is retained for next year we will have the same results.
I pray that Steve brought his AXE with him and his target is Matt C and Rhoades.
What’s the chance that Walt is bought in as OC (so we can move the ball again) and that DW takes over the D? I think he has been doing that since the Navy game anyway.
Crazy, I know.
After tonight it’s going to be a long long offseason. Let’s save the negative crap for then. Tonight may end up being disappointing- but it may end up being one of the greatest games in Pitt history. Let’s keep the faith for a couple hours.
LET’S GO PITT
What isn’t there to cry about?
Pitt conducted a national search and hired Stevie.
What a joke!
Just think Wanny has turned the program in “right direction” and has “taken it to the next level!
WOW, as I recall Pitt went to 5 straight bowl games under Walt prior to Wanny taking over.
Just think, 5-6; 6-6 and 4-7 (soon to be 4-8) really justify an extension? Let me ask you this question, would your employer support YOU if you were losing in the business world on a consistent basis?
I sense frusttration just wait until after the game tonight, WVU 66 Pitt 10. “Pitts” administration actually has no clue, for the few of you who are blindly loyal, do not donate any more money to this abortion of a football program, give up your season tickets until the madness stops!
I had a better record than Wanny and they fired me!
And the extension of Wannstedt is hardly surprising, and needed to continue fooling … I mean, assuring … recruits.
What I found amusing was the timing of it all, trying to cram all of this activity in before the embarrassing loss tonight. How disturbing would it be to extend Wannstedt a day or two after he gets crushed by 60 to our (sorta) rival on national TV?
and…
I just woke up Pitts getting beaten by no less than 30…
Atleast bball should win
“What’s the chance that Walt is bought in as OC (so we can move the ball again) and that DW takes over the D? I think he has been doing that since the Navy game anyway.”
As to your first question regarding Walt Harris – chances are nil. That bridge is not only burnt, but the debris has been carted away and buried.
As to DW’s control of the defense – I think that a light went on and he allowed Rhodes to let the players loose after the Navy game – one part feeling he had nothing to lose by doing it, and one part (hopefully) that’s he’s beginning to realize his DC knows more about college football defense than himself.
Now – if he can fire Cavanaugh and replace him with an aggressive COLLEGE offensive coordinator, and let him call his own games, we might see some progress on offense next season. We’ll have the player’s to do it, as I’m confident a healthy Billy Stull is head and shoulders above what we had this season.
Good posts, I agree. I want an AD who is aggressive-we will see change..just not sure if it will be good or bad.
Also, would like to see us jump on the spread o bandwagon…hire pryor’s hs coach and get pryor!
As much as I want to beat WVU and keep them from winning a national championship I have to admit that a Big East team winning the whole thing will raise all teams in our conference from a recruiting perspective. I hope we ruin their season, but if we don’t prevail I’m considering rooting for them in the BCS game. Is that a crazy thought!!!
At least PSU has no shot.
BTW – this doesn’t help OUR recruiting – it’ll only help theirs. And nothing could do more to keep them in check than to lose to a “lowly” Pitt team everyone has left for dead.
For once in their lives I wish our student athletes wouldn’t play like they go to “same ol’ Pitt.” Play to the best of your goddamn abilities.
Hail to Pitt – not the big east.
Wow, did Pederson already screw up the b-ball program? haha
Like I said earlier, I’m not pissed about the Pederson hire. I’m not overjoyed, but I’m not furious either. Maybe he fits better at Pitt than he did at Nebraska.
And extension or not, Wanny’s getting canned if he loses next year. This was just a move to help recruiting.
BTW, off topic but does Les Miles remind anyone else here of Gene Hackman?
So who gets the Michigan job?
I say they give it to Wlat haha
I would really enjoy seeing Pitt ruin WVU’s greatest season. I will have a fond remembrance of this season if we can pull this upset. I have a good feeling about this night game at Mountaineer field. The team deserves to play in front of such a good crowd. It’s Pitt’s last game of the year and that’s all the reason they;ll need to leave it out on th field. When you look back at the adversity that this team faced early in the season and then you look at how the team competed throughout the season you have to be imperssed with the way the team pulled together and played the game.
Add onto that a lot of the players who contributed were freshman and sophomore players, I look forward to further athletic excellence for Pitt. Steve Pedersen pretty much ‘re-stepped’ into an IDEAL situation.
Pitt is so due to win.
I am juiced up for this game.
LET’S
GO
PITT!
Youtube link
And Miami OH misses the 2pt shot, down 1, to win, with :06 left to win at LU….damn. Way to scrape one out. I’m sure by the time we get them they’ll be healthy though…
Our season begins on Wednesday…Duquesne scares me a little and then on the road at Washington will turn my gut. Around this time next Saturday we find out a little more about this team.
Thanks for talking me off the ledge
“If anyone says we need to get rid of Jamie Dixon in order to be “National Champs†or to “take the program to the next level†I swear to god I will kick them in the nuts as hard as I can.” – Exactly.
Dixon maybe isn’t the best coach in the country, but he’s close. He can – and should – stay at Pitt for as long as he wants. We’ll get to a final four with him one day. Maybe not this year (although I wouldn’t be totally shocked), but with Big Baby Blair, we’ll get there soon enough.
I’m the type that takes the shot to win – not to settle for mediocrity. And i’ll admit – maybe we’re going to end up worse off with Wanny as the coach when all is said and done. But all isn’t said and done yet. I’m glad we took the shot no matter what happens. But we’d never know if we didn’t. I don’t want to be another Southern Miss of the world. If in a few years it becomes evident that Wannstedt’s good players and his coaching can’t get it done, i’ll be the first to ask we show him the door. If he can’t get 10 wins when the entire roster is his players, then he should be gone. Just like Wlat.
I feel sorry for the fans though. Most people already know Pitt is seriously heading in the wrong direction but today’s news rally cements the end. Do you really think Pitt boosters haven’t forgotten about what kind of jackoff this guy was last time? No way!
With so many seatbacks as it is already at Heinz Field, who is he going to sell football tix to? Half the fans are going to pay a dime to support Pederson and thats a huge problem. Fans will associate their hatred of Pederson with Pitt. Talk about seatbacks!!
Bad hire Nordenberg. Really bad.