Judging by the Tweets and comments, new Pitt Head Coach Todd Graham made a lot of people feel more than really good about the hire. Excited, thrilled, juiced. His energy was palpable. Apparently it also extended to some of the players as there are reports that Cameron Saddler and Ray Graham both phoned into The Fan to express their own excitement over Todd Graham.
There is no way to avoid the comparisons to the Mike Haywood presser last month. Where Haywood was really brief — the whole press conference clocked in at 25 minutes with AD Steve Pederson speaking for more than five minutes, this one went a bit over 35 minutes with a very short intro by Pederson.
Where Haywood was stoic (stone-faced?) and spoke only of discipline and molding young men; Graham was animated and spoke openly of wanting to win championships.
Graham was glib and ready for nearly any question. About the only time he looked even momentarily flummoxed was when one reporter asked him about his comments the previous week, “You know, my wife informed me that if I go anywhere I’ll be going by myself. So, that’s a little hard for me right now being 46. I don’t really want to do that.”
It took him a moment there. I don’t know if he was surprised that anyone up in Pittsburgh saw that quote, or if he just expected softball questions in his introductory presser. He did recover, to essentially say that they talked a lot about it and made the decision. Unsaid was that the money helped.
Graham set the bar high for himself. No question. Recruiting rivals loved throwing out the “wall around Western Pennsylvania” quote from Wannstedt’s opening presser every time a decent recruit from the WPIAL didn’t choose Pitt. No doubt plenty of people have filed away some of Graham’s quotes.
Whether it was about winning — the Big East, a BCS bowl, BCS Championship — or about whether he is a short-termer looking for a bigger team/deal, “Just watch and see.” We will and plenty of others will as well.
He also stated that the 2011 recruiting class isn’t salvageable, it will be the finest class (in the Big East? Pennsylvania? Ever? In hindsight? He didn’t say). He and his staff are ready to get out recruiting. He has hired a bunch of guys from DickRod’s Michigan/WVU staff. Something that can only help in recruiting.
In fact, he stated that while there are still a couple coaching spots unfilled, it was vital to get seven spots filled immediately so they can get out on the road recruiting.
I’m calling it now. The Spring Game is going to have its biggest turnout — ever.
HE MUST GO!
I am very interested to see if he can pull some recruits back in over the next few weeks or bring new ones into the fold. Next year, however, I think there is enough talent left that they can win 10 or 11 games (and I read an article where he said the same thing).
However, I will wait to see if he can fulfill his promises. Its already too late for him to try and convince Baldwin and Lewis to stay since they have apparently already signed with agents. Don’t know about Hynoski. He gets a pass on that sorta promise since he probably didn’t know about their signing with agents already.
He also promised the current (2011) recruiting class will wind up being a great one. I am waiting on that promise to see what happens between now and LOI day on Feb. 1st. I hope he can salvage enough of the original class, supplement with some Michigan commits, and add a few other quality players late and get the promised quality class. But, I am skeptical for now.
Finally, seemed to promise Pitt will win big immediately. So, I think that means at least 9-4 next year, or more likely 10-3. Hope he is right about that also. But, again, I am skeptical and will wait and see before judging.
Graham has a lot more upside than Wanny does/did, in my opinion. It’s possible he could flop, but I could also see him producing results similar to DickRod’s las 3 years at WVU, too. There is risk in this hire, but there is potential for great reward, too. I like it.
I’m less concerned about the number of stars next to their names and more concerned about whether they’ll fit into his style of play. I also look for Graham to immediately cast a wider net and find some kids who are excited to play in a system that produces 1,000 yard rushers and receivers and 4,000 yard passers. All things being equal, what kid wouldn’t want that opportunity? Add all the positives of playing for Pitt and I think he’s going to surprise us. It might be too much to expect it to happen in the short period before LOI day, but I’m hopeful he and his staff are going to surprise us.
Let’s not confuse style with substance. Winning is what matters. I’d take a 10-3 record built on power running over a 9-4 record scoring 40 points per game, anytime. We can win via shootout, but lots of pass attempts that don’t eat the clock can put a huge strain on the defense when their stuck on the field 2/3 of the game. There was wisdom to Wannstedt’s brand of football, even if it wasn’t always well-executed.
I wish nothing but the best for our new coach, but there is no one coaching style that guarantees wins. Graham’s style has both upsides and downsides.
You’re right about the number who were at the press conference. I can’t remember if he said there were two more who weren’t there. I don’t recall him mentioning them by name. Anyway, here’s what the PG said:
Graham introduced five of his assistant coaches, who were in attendance at the press conference. They are: senior associate head coach/defensive line coach Paul Randolph, defensive coordinator Keith Patterson, co-offensive coordinators Calvin Magee and Mike Norvell and recruiting coordinator/defensive backs coach Tony Gibson.
Randolph, Patterson, and Norvell all worked under Graham at Tulsa and Gibson and Magee worked with him on Rich Rodriguez’s staff at West Virginia and the two most recently worked for Rodriguez at Michigan.
Read more: link to post-gazette.com
YES way to go Mr Whipple.
Please don’t squeeze the Huskies?
Interesting. Also interesting about GJ Kinne, the 2010 Tulsa QB possibly available to play at Pitt. See the comments. Don’t know if its legal, but there you are.
“The Pitt release said, Graham is “widely regarded as one of the finest offensive minds in the country.”
Huh? He is? Since when?
Graham’s lengthy and impressive resume as a college assistant coach is totally for his work on defense. The only losing season he had at TU came when he decided to take over the play-calling duties when Gus Malzahn left for Auburn. ”
I’ll remain cautiously optimistic. No reason to name streets and babies after him yet. No reason to hate him either.
“Pederson, who almost destroyed Nebraska’s football program when he was the school’s AD, was loathed and feared throughout the Cornhuskers’ athletic department during his blundering reign of terror.”
I think he’s doing the same thing here.
BUT, I think he needs a STRONG supporting cast, and I don’t see that happening. I’m good w/ the offensive staff, and I’m good w/ Gibson who worked at Michigan…..
Other than that, i’m VERY worried about him bringing in essentially the SAME defensive staff that ran Tulsa’s TERRIBLE defense…I’m worried that our D is gonna be wayyyyy lacking until he steps up the defensive staff…
But now the talking is over and time to show that you deserved the big $$$. I am curious to see what he does with the recruiting class with just a few weeks left.
Ultimately I am very pleased that DW or Haywood are not our coach. Graham brings a lot more to the table but I am still taking the “wait and see” approach.
I found it interesting that he had such a weird answer to the question of his committment and loyalty to Pitt since he has been known to continuously look elsewhere. I would like to have heard a more convinving answer than wait and see….but I guess I’ll wait and see.
I no longer look at Pittsburgh as being a “blue collar” town. Ever since the steel mills and Westinghouse (where I was once employed) closed, Pittsburgh transformed itself into a banking and technological city. Pittsburgh has some of the finest colleges and universities in the world; Pitt is one of them. Let’s get over the past and look toward the future. Hail to Pitt!
Why are you still defending Wannstedt’s record at Pitt? He clearly did not outperform his predecessor, Walt Harris. He did not win a conference championship while being in first place with 3 games to go and needing one win for three years IN A ROW. He had one bowl victory and one loss that was the worst football game anyone ever saw. He had numerous losses to MAC schools. He lost to UCONN 4 times. Lost to Rutgers 3 or 4 times.
Why did you want this guy to stay?
Any idea of where Graham will go with the D?
Obviously Todd Graham is the best candidate for the Panthers HC position.
I thought that Bradley would have been a nice fit. I felt all the recruits around here would want to come to Pitt because of Bradley.
After listening to Todd and with him bringing the Todd Rod offense to Pitt there is no doubt in my mind that this will sell to recruits.
I have spoken personally to the last 2 head coaches at Pitt. Walt was not an impressive person to speak to.
Dave had a glow around him. He was an impressive football person and very personable.
Graham is electric. He builds confidence when he speaks. He is of the Gundy, Miles mold as a speaker. Both OSU coaches who must have impressed the hell out of their AD when they were hired.
Jimmy Johnson is also someone who comes to mind when I hear him speak. All of these people match the personality of the type of HC that is now popular in selling a message to recruits.
He says it like it is and seems as though he knows exactly what will work. After listening to his press conference I have no doubt that he will bring success.
This coach has been successful at Rice and Tulsa, both places with far fewer resources than what he’s going to be working with now. I’m measured in my expectations for next season, but excited to see what he can do.
It seemes like the applause were such that the people that were there were impressed such that they felt they were in the presence of some accomplished professionals.
This seemed to be lacking in the last and all other previous new hire Pressers.
I just have a feeling that these coaches are going to sell the message. Watch the recruits over the next 2 weeks and we shall see the results.
Thats my guess
Graham certainly has charisma and confidence and hopefully he can do half of he says about bringing in this year’s recruiting class. Because it will make a big difference, if he can. Walt Harris did a terrific job his first year and fell off dramatically on year 2, because he didn’t have the players. He had made the mistake of staying at Ohio State through their Bowl game rather than hitting the recruiting trail right away.
What I liked the most about Graham’s comments is that he said Pitt’s personnel fit well into the system he plans to run. That they use two backs and tightends in their offence. That they are not a spread offence but a no huddle up-tempo one. This if true, is very important because he will not have completely change Pitt’s personnel to fit his system which would take 2 to 3 years. He also commented that you build you offence around the players that you have. This in itself is a very different philosophy than Rich Rod’s. Rich Rod is dedicated to the spread and in each of his last two jobs at WVU and Michigan he had to recruit different talents to run his system. At Michigan players transfered out because they didn’t fit.
apparently Dion signed with agent… gone
hopefully Todd gets one of them to come back (hyno/baldwin)
tate forcier academically ineligible and skipped a team meeting… can we get him to transfer with Magee??? anybody but tino!
denard doesnt fit in hoke’s offense, apparently looking as well
rob bolden?
any recruiting updates?
Denard will be a junior next season.Will he lose a year of elegibility or will he be a junior if he plays here in 2012?
There are resources for them to look at their options, weigh them carefully, and make sure you’re making the right long term decision. Dion is a small back and although talented, probably won’t go very high in the draft. Another year with a high flying offence could mean a lot more money for him in long run.
Everything else that you said, I agree with!
Go Pitt
dyes, etc werent really an option in the 1890s… many programs started with basics and moved to others to identify themselves throughout middle of 20th century
we are not navy and we are not notre dame… royal blue and mustard is Pitt
navy and gold will ALWAYS be Navy
and to a lesser extent, Notre Dame
(sorry, biased)
I like Wannie, but he the team’s potential was not realized under him, so hopefully we finally see the team at a higher level.
“Well, one donor is apparently fed up with all the negativity and wanted to make sure he/she could offset the others and so today, said donor anonymously gave $100,000 to the Panther Club and specified that it go to the football program because he/she approved of the hiring of Todd Graham.”
There are also quite a few who give 75k + who are withholding their donations until steve goes.
Ditka gives big money as does Dorsett, Fralic, May and Marino. All of them have said they are not giving as long as steve is there.
steve should have never been brought back the second time, so it’s time for steve to go.
steve must go and go now.
I support my school and will continue to support my school, but I have to in good conscious withhold my money from the athletic department until steve is gone. I do not feel that it is in the best interest of the school for him to remain and I do not feel that he has served this school to the best of his ability. Truth be told, I don’t think he has the ability to take this program into the future.
After his first go round, I was appalled when they brought him back. He was run out of his home state on a rail just short of being tarred and feathered. If he did that to his alma mater, what makes you think he really cares about this program?
I support the new coach and I hope that he will take this team to the level that Dave couldn’t. Because of that, I will keep my six end zone seats, but will drop my club seats.
Until steve is shown the door, I cannot in good faith contribute anymore money to the program.
I still love the school and still bleed blue and gold but will not tolerate steve any more.
Hail to Pitt
Dear Panthers Fan,
It is an honor and privilege to be your football coach at the University of Pittsburgh!
As I write this, I am not even 24 hours into my new job. But I wanted to reach out to you – the driving spirit behind the Panthers – to introduce myself and express my excitement in joining this outstanding university.
As I entered our practice facility yesterday, I was immediately struck by the awesome tradition that is Pitt football. It is a tradition of commitment and honor — and championships. Before I was a football coach I was a football fan, so it was a powerful moment for me to stand in front of the glass-encased lockers of John Majors and Mike Ditka, two men I’ve long admired for how they played and how they coached.
As Pitt’s new head coach, I am very aware of Pitt’s tremendous legacy. It is my promise that we will honor Pitt’s great tradition and work to build upon it. I believe there isn’t a football program in the country that has more potential for future greatness than the University of Pittsburgh.
I wanted to share with you our goals for Pitt football. They are, in order:
Produce men of character and integrity. If we don’t achieve this goal, then we can never reach our other aspirations.
Graduate every single one of our players. I want every young man who comes under our watch to earn their degree from this prestigious university.
Win the Big East Championship. It is our goal to bring home the Big East title on an annual basis.
Win a BCS Bowl. When competing on college football’s biggest stage we want to shine.
Win the national championship. We know this to be the standard for Pitt and Pittsburgh!
Nothing great is accomplished in this life without teamwork. Our players and coaches need you – the Pitt Family – to help us achieve our lofty goals. I know you share our championship vision and we look forward to working with you to make those championship moments, on and off the field, a reality.
Tuesday’s press conference was an incredibly memorable moment for my family and me. But as soon as it was done, I immediately went to the film room to begin analyzing top recruiting prospects for this class. The quest for greatness begins today.
Again, I’m honored to be your head coach. Thank you for your support and “Hail to Pitt!”
Sincerely,
Todd Graham
Head Football Coach
University of Pittsburgh
