Ron Cook had a column this morning taking Pitt’s athletic director and football coach to task for the non-suspension of Jabaal Sheard.

If I’ve heard Wannstedt and athletic director Steve Pederson say it once, I’ve heard them say dozens of times that they want a strong program at Pitt — not just a strong team — and that they’re always going to do the right thing for the long term rather than overlook problems for short-term benefit.

Well, guess what?

Hey, I know that admirable policy isn’t always easy to follow. Wannstedt and Pederson wouldn’t have to swallow hard to suspend Sheard if he were a third-string defensive end or if Pitt’s opener was against New Hampshire at Heinz Field. Of course, it’s a lot more difficult in this case. But that doesn’t change the message Wannstedt and Pederson will be sending if they allow Sheard to play at Utah. They might as well tack up a sign in the locker room that says: “If you’re a good enough player and the game is really big, you can get away with bad behavior.”

I’ve already indicated my feelings on this, and that a suspension for the first game still would make more sense to me.

Today was the opening of Pitt’s training camp and Coach Wannstedt wanted to get out in front of all of this.

Sheard read a prepared statement before Wannstedt took the podium and did not take questions, but he will speak with reporters later today. The statement:

“I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today. I am proud to be a student and football player at the University of Pittsburgh. I know the high standards we have here at Pittsburgh and I am proud to call myself a Panther.

“Last month, I made a huge mistake that reflected poorly upon my school and my family. I am deeply sorry for that, and I want to sincerely apologize to my teammates, coaches and family for my actions. I have told them I will work hard to gain their respect and be a leader on and off the field.”

And when Coach Wannstedt got to the podium…

“Hear me loud and clear please. After gathering all of the information and the legal system took its course, we are very comfortable with the decision we made considering Jabaal,” Wannstedt said at his news conference during media day for the Panthers.

“You all know that we have had players in the past, as every school does, off the field, on the field, where it hasn’t worked out. But my responsibility to the university and these kids is to be consistent and fair with the facts and handle it accordingly. And that’s all I have to say about that.”

Wannstedt was asked if he received additional information about the case that did not come to light that influenced his decision. He said yes, but did not want to divulge those details.

Here’s how his comments look in the selected transcription from Pitt’s site.

“After gathering all the information and our legal system took its course, we are very comfortable with the decision we have made concerning Jabaal. You all know that we have had players that in the past, as every school does, whether they be reasons on or off the field where it hasn’t worked out. However, my responsibility to this university and to these kids is to be consistent and fair with the facts, and handle it accordingly.

He has been suspended for two weeks, and there have been things (awards, honors) for both the team and him personally that he was to take part in, but did not. He will be joining training camp while continuing on with his team discipline.”

You can always watch the whole press conference, here.

Would I like to know what that additional information was? You bet. I’d also like to find out more of what is the “team discipline.” Do I expect to find out definitively? No. Does Coach Wannstedt owe me or any of the fans the additional information? Not really. It didn’t make it into court or public documents. It really is up to Coach Wannstedt and the athletic department.

The problem with this, is it leaves the door wide open for speculation. Swinging from major mitigating circumstances to double-standards.

There are plenty of people claiming to be “in the know” on message boards about how Sheard was much more of a victim of the circumstances and lots of other stuff.

I put as much credence in that stuff as I do in Pitt to the Big 10/11/12 rumors from those with their inside sources. It may be comforting. I/we may want to believe that, but a message board rumor is just that. Let me put it this way. If you read those kind of rumors and the program was WVU, Penn State, Florida, USC, etc., would you buy it or roll your eyes?