Oh, what a day.
It has been hard to keep up. Exactly a week too late for this crap to start going down. Too much stuff coming to a head, and now this again? Okay, let me apologize in advance for the expected lack of coherence. It has just been too chaotic and too insane today.
I am a natural cynic. Just the way I have always been. Not sure how or why. I just am. Being lucky enough to have had a few years writing at the now defunct AOL FanHouse gave me the opportunity to observe many turns on the college coaching carousel. Everything from Dana Altman taking the Arkansas job and then running back to Creighton. Lane Kiffin napalming Tennessee. Yet, this one even blew me away.
Yet the Tennessee-Kiffin-USC situation is probably the closest parallel. You had a brash coach. One who critics would say was much more style over substance. Makes radical change to the program. Lots of people affected. And for the most part the fans went with it because it may be a time to shake things up a bit more. A guy who struggled in the first year as the players transition to a new style. But at the same time, there’s hope because of the recruiting class that is coming.
Then the abrupt bailing — taking almost all of the new staff he brought in with him to leave a crater. Yet, somehow, as much as the “Fall of Saigon” chaos that ensued when Kiffikins bailed. He had the balls to speak to the players directly to tell them he was leaving, and to at least pay false lipservice to the media.
Todd Graham couldn’t even pull off the minimalist effort of not looking like an asshole. I mean, when you make Lane Kiffin look classy…
In case you are wondering, Keith Patterson is going to serve as interim head coach. So, yes, yet more Groundhog Day. The DC will serve as interim HC for the BBVA Bowl.
Oh, and yes, there will be blood (well, money) from ASU and Graham.
Mr. Graham first advised Mr. Pederson of his intentions via telephone Tuesday evening. During that conversation, Graham requested permission to speak to another institution. That permission was denied and he was asked to sit down in person to discuss everyone’s best interest in this situation. There had been no earlier indication of a desire to leave his position at Pitt. In fact, he expressly stated that his coaching experiences at the University of Pittsburgh had been entirely positive and that his decision was based solely on personal family reasons.
“Obviously this is not the way we would have expected Mr. Graham to handle any possible departure,” Pitt executive vice chancellor and general counsel Jerry Cochran said. “Beyond normal expectations with respect to professional conduct, he has failed to comply with the terms of his contract.”
Buyout and/or lawsuit coming soon
That personal family reason. Penni Graham — his latest wife — has her parents now living in Arizona. Of course that doesn’t explain why he apparently sniffed around the Texas A&M and Kansas (Kansas???) job to no avail. The only explanation is, that the guy is an asshole looking for the next big pay day.
I actually dislike getting personal about this stuff, but there’s a reason so many people got angry when Kiffins left after only one season, and the same will happen/is happening to Graham. There are lines you cross and lines you don’t cross. Regardless of the “opportunity” or “ties.” Graham crossed that line by seeking a bigger payday that quickly when so little was accomplished.
Maybe it’s a psychological thing. Graham was abandoned by his father. He speaks so much of family and that crap, yet his job hopping surely suggests some of that emotional scarring. I’ll defer to the psych majors on this. I’m sticking with asshole.
The only good thing at the moment is that Pitt’s recruiting class is hanging together. Rather than having players just say, “we will wait and see” it has been more “hail to Pitt” and “eff that guy.”
A couple other points before I dedicate myself to the bourbon.
Every coach is a salesman. Every coach. There’s going to be a lot of, I never trusted that snake-oil/used car salesman approach of Graham’s. That isn’t what makes Graham an asshole. That’s fine. That’s just why you didn’t like him. But every coach is selling. It’s a matter of how you like to be sold. Dave Wannstedt, Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer, Walt Harris, Paul Johnson, Randy Edsall. It doesn’t matter. They are all salesmen of some sort or another. They have to sell a vision. A belief that they can coach and win.
Everyone is feeling betrayed and angry. That is no reason to swing back to the “we need a Pitt guy” pendulum. If the guy is good and has Pitt ties, great. But that isn’t and shouldn’t be a big factor right now. That seems to be the natural impulse on a quick-bailing coach. Find the guy who is loyal. Has ties to the area and/or program. Don’t let him be the guy to hurt us.
And no this isn’t an anti-Wannstedt thing, but just a reminder of how obsessed in 2004 Pitt was with finding a “Pitt guy.” Remember the finalists other than Wannstedt? Cavanaugh and Paul Rhoads? The other interviewees? Tim Lewis. Sal Sunseri. Et. al.
And, no, Tom Bradley is not viable. Until the Sandusky scandal is resolved he is toxic. There are too many questions about who knew and when. Bradley is deep in that stuff. No one is going to touch him for a HC job for some time.
Hegets paid $250K for a reason (not millions of dollars like head coaches) and $250K is too much. Great he speaks in front of camera and sets travel schedules for Pitt’s 10 plus varsity sports. Absolute joke!
They should hire a guy who they know will be committed. They need a Pitt guy and they need a pro style offense. This spread shit is crap and respect some of the best NFL players in the league today and history are from this program because it was one of the only traditional pro-style systems left…that was until this d**bag came in for one year and left.
Maybe it was a mistake to get rid of him, maybe he’d be pulling down so much talent that we’d take the ACC by storm. Maybe not.
But just get a coach who will take the O/D linemen and defensive players away from Penn State and maybe OSU that we need and have lost to them even with Wanny, and who is consistent, and there’s a chance to be okay.
“He talked the game, and when you heard him you believed him. The community embraced him and his family, stuck by him — and this is how he rewards everybody?”
Doesn’t this describe it for all of us? And the asshole spoke at a Pitt lunch on Tuesday? Really?
I assume Pederson doesn’t pick this coach. I also assume, given the report by Zeiss (I think) that they aren’t going to use a search committee this time (which may be BS), that they already have a pretty good idea of who they want.
They just should’ve done a better job bringing in a new one.
My theory?
They considered Graham for the job initially, but figured Haywood was a “safer” hire (in other words, cheaper and probably wouldn’t bolt on us).
Haywood beat up his old lady, Pitt had to get rid of him (definitely the right call) and they also had to save face.
So they had to take a risk on the flashier but riskier hire in Todd Graham in order to make some sort of splash.
And it bit them in the ass, which they most likely knew was a distinct possibility when they hired the guy.
Look, I knew that if he had a few good seasons and really built the program back up some college football giant would take him away.
But I didn’t expect that A. It would be after 1 season, B. It would be after 1 bad season, and C. that shitty Arizona State would be the team to nab him.
Hopefully we get someone who likes the spread offense- that’s what our recruits like (Voytik, Davis, Davis etc.) I personally like watching a spread offense any day of the week once you get it working well.
First he hired a guy with not much track record as a HC in Mac Daddy. And this was to replace a guy who was very much liked in the community and the high school coaching ranks. And apparently didn’t do due diligence on a background check either.
With Graham, one had to be leery with Graham’s one year stint at Rice. Where he did the same dog & pony show with them and then promptly pulled up stakes and bolted back to Tulsa.
All I gotta say, does this mean we get Tino time yet again next year. And wonder if any of that factored in with him leaving. This is so bizarre.
BBVA same scenario two years in a row. But this also has June Jones factor since he was apparently set at ASU until the last minute and we just happen to be playing him & SMU in this made for TV bowl for extra high drama.
Sports like current events unfolding has reached… The Twilight Zone.
If the recruits are staying then the program is definitely not in shambles. It’s all about the players, if they stay then we can survive this debacle. But only if Steve Pederson has nothing to do with the next coach Pitt hires. He obviously doesn’t know a good football coach from a hole in the wall.
Hail to Pitt!!
Apparently Nebraska’s alumni are more influential there, then the PITT alumni are at PITT.
And you are right CBC, this guy made some real game day coaching blunders, a Pop Warner coach wouldn’t make. It’s not like losing Jackie Sherril or something. But the way the bum left and didn’t even have the courage to address his players in person, just shows a total disregard for people. People who he said he cared about.
A very bad example in a world of bad examples for the young people of today. No wonder the country and the world is so fucked up !
My votes (wish list) are for Rhoades, Walt Harris (yea I said it), or Jim Tressel ( go huge name who is still a big with recruits and recruited the same region as Pitt).
Graham sucked. Come on Pitt fans. Now we don’t have to listen to his his bullshit excuses for the next five years.
And I never wanted Walt Harris fired
so nanny nanny boo boo
this after only 6 beers…………
Pros fo TA:
1) long storied college coaching pedigree (Michigan, Florida, Penn State, Syrause)
2) energetic recruiter who likely will retain all current committments
3) Native of Western PA and PITT Alum
4) Successful NFL coaching pedigree (Seattle – Superbowl, Arizona – Superbowl, Baltimore – Playoff an Superbowl hunt)
5)Will stay at PITT forever
Con for TA
Currently coaching at Baltimore and they are likely to go deep into january (NFL playoffs). May not be fully available until late january and this could hamper recruiting
Pros for SS
1) success under Saban
2) two National Championship BCS games
3) PITT guy and W PA native
4) Wants to be at PITT
Con for SS
1) a wannstedt retread!
2) Nepotism (son Tino)
Either would be fine but Teryl Austin is younger, more energetic, can better relate to the younger kids, and has the NFL connections. IF we can overcome the NFL playoff issue then its a go. On second thought, have the next coach being profiled in the NFL playoffs might be the best PR that PITT could hope for with a new coach coming in….?
Coaching Experience
2011 Baltimore Ravens _ Defensive Backs
2010 Florida (Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks)
2007-09 Arizona Cardinals (Defensive Backs)
2003-06 Seattle Seahawks (Defensive Backs)
1999-2002 Michigan (Defensive Backs)
1996-98 Syracuse (Defensive Backs)
1993-95 Wake Forest (Defensive Backs)
1991-92 Penn State (Graduate Assistant)
Coaching Accomplishments
•Has 20 years of coaching experience, including 12 at the collegiate level and seven as an NFL defensive backs coach with the Arizona Cardinals (2007-09) and Seattle Seahawks (2003-06). Austin helped lead both Seattle and Arizona into the Super Bowl as NFC Champions.
•Led the Gator secondary to a No. 3 ranking in SEC pass defense and SEC pass defense efficiency in 2010, while ranking second in the conference with 17 interceptions.
•Under his guidance, cornerback Janoris Jenkins was named a first-team All-SEC selection in 2010.
•Previously coached alongside Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio at Syracuse and Gator quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler at Michigan.
•Under Austin’s tutelage, 2008 first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie led the Cardinals with four interceptions during the regular season and had two more in the playoffs during Arizona’s run to Super Bowl XLIII.
•In 2007, Austin’s secondary helped the Cardinals lead the NFL in interception returns for touchdowns (six) and in return yardage (551). Cornerbacks Rod Hood and Antrel Rolle each had five interceptions with Rolle returning three of them for touchdowns and Hood returning two. Rolle’s 231 return yards were good for second in team history, and his two interception returns for touchdowns against Cincinnati (Nov. 18) tied an NFL record.
•During his tenure in Seattle, Austin was instrumental in the development of the Seahawks’ secondary heavily pieced together through the NFL Draft, mentoring draft picks Marcus Trufant (first round, 2003), Ken Hamlin (second round, 2003), Michael Boulware (second round, 2004) and Kelly Jennings (first round, 2006).
•In winning the NFC in 2005 in Seattle, Austin’s secondary, despite missing a combined 19 games due to injury, helped carry the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. The defensive backfield was led by Boulware, who in only his second NFL season led the team in interceptions (four) and was second on the team in tackles (73).
•In 2004, Austin coached a group of Seahawks defensive backs that, for just the second time in team history (1984), had three different players intercept at least five passes and for the first time since 1984, all four starters intercepted at least four. Collectively, the Seahawks ranked third in the NFL with 23 interceptions and collected at least one pick in all but two games.
•Prior to joining the Seahawks in 2003, Austin was an assistant for 12 years at the collegiate level, where he also coached defensive backs. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Penn State (1991-92) before heading to Wake Forest (1993-95), Syracuse (1996-98) and Michigan (1999-2002).
•At Syracuse, he mentored All-Americans Donovin Darius and Kevin Abrams. Darius was named the 1997 Big East Conference Player of the Year and went on to become a first-round NFL Draft pick with fellow defensive back Tebucky Jones – the first time in Syracuse history that two Orange were selected in the first round.
•He also coached NFL talents Will Allen (Dolphins) and Keith Bulluck (Titans) at Syracuse and tutored Marlin Jackson (Colts) and Cato June (Colts) while at Michigan.
•Austin also helped lead teams to seven consecutive bowl berths from 1996-2002.
Prominent Players Coached
FLORIDA
•CB JANORIS JENKINS – First-team All-SEC pick by the AP and second-team pick by the coaches’ and Phil Steele.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
•CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – The first-round pick reached the PFWA and Sporting News All-Rookie team in 2008 with four interceptions and followed that up with a six-pick season in 2009 to earn Pro Bowl honors in his second NFL season.
•S Antrel Rolle – Grabbed 10 interceptions and returned four for touchdowns in three seasons under Austin, including the 2007 season in which he picked five passes and returned them 231 yards for three touchdowns.
•SS ADRIAN WILSON – A three-time Pro-Bowler (2006, ’08, ‘09) was selected to the 2009 All-Pro team after recording 73 tackles, five interceptions, two sacks and a fumble recovery on the season.
MICHIGAN
•CB MARLIN JACKSON – A two-time All-American and two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection was a first-round pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2005 NFL Draft. A four-year starter for the Wolverines, he totaled 195 career tackles, 13 tackles-for-loss, nine interceptions, five forced fumbles and two sacks in his collegiate career.
•S CATO JUNE – Earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a senior despite being plagued with injuries at Michigan. He was chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft and was a 2005 Pro Bowl selection.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
•CB Marcus Trufant – First-round draft pick in 2003 developed under Austin, eventually becoming a Pro-Bowl cornerback. Totaled seven interceptions and 39 pass breakups over his first two seasons in the NFL.
SYRACUSE
•CB WILL ALLEN – Finished his collegiate career with 142 tackles, four interceptions and 39 passes defended. Was a first-team All-Big East choice and was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as a senior. He was taken in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
•S KEITH BULLUCK – Was a three-year starter and collected 375 tackles (seventh-most in school history), six sacks, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries during his career. Led the Big East with 138 tackles and was named first-team All-Big East and received the Bill Horr Award as Syracuse’s most valuable player as a senior. He was selected in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
•S DONOVAN DARIUS – Set the school record for tackles by a defensive back with 379 in his career. An All-Big East selection in 1995 and 1996, he was drafted in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
•CB KEVIN ABRAMS – A two-time All-American (1995, ’96) at defensive back, Abrams owns the Syracuse record for season (24) and career (55) passes defended. He was selected in the second-round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.
•S TEBUCKY JONES – Converted from running back to defensive back before his senior year and earned All-ECAC first-team and second-team All-Big East honors as a safety. Recorded 80 tackles, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and four interceptions in his lone year on defense. Drafted in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
•S Tebucky Jones (1st) – Syracuse ’98 – New England Patriots
•S Donovin Darius (1st) – Syracuse ’98 – Jacksonville Jaguars
•CB Kevin Abrams (2nd) – Syracuse ’97 – Detroit Lions
•S Keith Bulluck (1st) – Syracuse ’00 – Tennessee Titans
•CB Will Allen (1st) – Syracuse ’01 – New York Giants
•S Cato June (6th) – Michigan ’03 – Indianapolis Colts
•CB Marlin Jackson (1st) – Michigan ’05 – Indianapolis Colts
Playing Career
A three-year starter and four-year letterman at Pittsburgh (1984-87), who participated in the 1987 Bluebonnet Bowl and was a redshirt player on the team that made it to the 1984 Fiesta Bowl. After graduating, Austin competed in the training camps of the Washington Redskins (NFL) and Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) before playing for the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football in 1991.
Bowl Games as a Coach
•1991: Fiesta
•1992: Blockbuster
•1996: Liberty
•1997: Fiesta
•1998: Orange
•2000: Orange
•2001: Citrus
•2002: Citrus
•2003: Outback
•2011: Outback
If Todd Graham wants to act like the aforementioned young girls that’s one thing. Sure it sucks, sure he blindsided the actual invested Pitt family, but you can’t feel that bad about that kind of person leaving the program we all clearly love.
I admit I am a huge Wanny fan and because of that I never completely bought into Todd Graham’s schtick. I’m excited (and only a little bit worried) about the hiring of the next coach. I’m excited (and a little bit worried) about the recruits who want to stay with the school and not necessarily the coach. When it is all said and done – and I’m talking about the near future here – I am certain that we Pitt fans will all be back on board, and the program will be positioned to achieve greatness. I don’t believe in any other option.
As far as used car salesmen go, Todd Graham was a tough sell. Pitt sells itself.
PITT had by far the most history and national titles of all Big East teams and they can proudly say that same thing about the ACC when take the big show there.
If anyone isn’t on board with that: so long, take care, you won’t be missed.
Todd Graham doesn’t make Pitt’s future bright, Pitt people do.
We’re out of the woods, Pitt’s worst chapters are behind us. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
According to USA Today, Pederson earns close to $750,000. He is responsible. He is not a paper pusher as you would have us believe. He gets paid big, he needs to pay big when he screws up.
I mean even if Tom Bradley had a better record than The Biggest Douche in the Universe (I refuse to call him by another name) and took us to a bigger bowl. How good would that make any of us feel.
So we as Pitt fans have to take are victories in small doses. We have to find victories in our humiliating defeats.
So from this I will say bravo to the Pitt brain trust. They saved us from the from any potential taint from PSU by hiring The Biggest Douche in the Universe.
(may sound overly sarcastic, but I really am glad that it didn’t happen–even though I wanted it to back in the day. In fact, my biggest fear was TBDITU would leave Pitt too soon and I still am thankful).
DaveD
Obviously SunDevil boy was looking to exit PITT and not caring a hoot about asst. coaches.
If this flim flam man was sniffing around the A&M and Kansas jobs as Chas mentioned, than it’s 100% certain the wifey excuse(one thing he didn’t succeed in was getting an attractive wife,3rd time around) was nothing but BS. Which I think it is anyway. Her parents or whoever live in Tuscon not Tempe.
May this band of gypsies enjoy the 120 heat of Arizona and hopefully they won’t get skin cancer.
Not to mention all the illegals that flood AZ.
haha
Comment by ChrisA 12.15.11 @ 1:35 am
That’s pretty sad ChrisA.
You should be the one doing the dumping. Girls are like buses, you hop off one and hop on another. And if you stay on one too long, they begin to……..
Just ask Penny ! lol
That and 30 years of football incompetence from one AD to another, from one Chancellor to another is enough reason to say….avoir, auf wiedersehen, adios…..Good nite and Good luck
Lisa Love then set out with university chief financial officer Steve Patterson to find his replacement, the main parameters being someone who was energetic, likes up-tempo offensives and preferably had previous head-coaching experience.
Lisa Love is the ASU AD….haha (no wonder why flim flam man conned her)
And ASU’s CFO is one Steve Patterson. Mind you not Steve Pederson or Keith Patterson.
Then this:
Letting off the gas isn’t in Graham’s nature and he was excited about the opportunity to run with the stable of athletes he’ll inherit at Arizona State. (didn’t he say the same about Pitt’s athletes last Jan.)
“Obviously, our offense is going to be high octane, it’s going to be quick-strike, explosive,” said Graham, 49-29 in six years as head coach. “Our whole deal is about explosive plays. I like to see the ball thrown down the field.” (well only if ASU doesn’t have a Terrible Tino on their team)
Then:
A defensive player and coach coming up through the ranks, Graham made his mark with an up-tempo offense that made Tulsa a perennial Conference-USA contender. The Golden Hurricane twice led the nation in total offense and his 2007 team set 29 school records, 15 conference marks and four NCAA records, including the largest margin of victory in a bowl game, 63-7 over Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl.
All of these school records and such were the result of Gus Malzahn & Chad Morris being OC.
He had neither at Rice and went a middling 7-6 and neither at Pitt as well and went a middling 6-6.
From what I’ve seen he’s a terrible game day coach, makes illogical decisions and won’t last at ASU longer than 3 losing seasons. Tulsa, Rice and PItt beat no one of note while Flim Flam man was coach. Oh he won’t have Wash State to count on for a win since they hired Mike Leach or AZ since they hired DickRod. He might beat UCLA until they get it back in gear and maybe Colorado.
That’s it.
And online poll suggest over 85% of the AZ Republics readers don’t think it’s a ‘Great Hire’.
They general consensus from what I can gather, is this was an act of desperation from the ASU AD and President since their coaching search had turned into a ‘circus’ with several blunders in not getting Kevin Sumlin (who I think we be a bust) and June Jones, who they pulled out on in the last minute. So this Lisa Love the AD, much like Smiley last year, were in DESPERATION MODE.
And a flim flammer like Graham has apparently made it an art from, to take advantage of people’s desperation. Which if you’re lacking in morals isn’t hard to do. I always make it a point down here to avoid those who do a lot of preaching and especially those that quote the Bible. And Graham did both quite naturally.
What a night where I can’t sleep.
The issue here is whether Pitt recognizes that it is not the victim, it is the reason this happened. PITT, four letters, instant brand recognition. Be who you are and don’t pretend. Quit lying about how many people attend games, stop the yearly gimmicks to sell tickets “My City, My High octane” or whatever it was last year.
Sell Pitt. This is our schedule…We want you to have fun and enjoy life…put the worries behind…bring the kids and watch college football…
And find a leader of the organization who knows that excellence starts within the organization and grows from there.
= Chas nails the situation three times in less than 24 hours with his posts. i love it when he gets so angry he starts swearing on here, you know he’s serious then. But the words match the situations don’t they?
= Boy, I’m reading a whole lot of optimism in these comments and, although I’m pretty optimistic myself usually, I’m shocked by them.
“Shell and Voytik are staying”… really? Based on reactions 12 hours after the bombs fell? There is a lot of emotional stuff going on with these kids and the natural reaction is to do the exact opposite of what the betrayer has done. But emotion runs out pretty quickly guys. I’ll wait and see what happens on Feb 1st with this recruiting class.
= PITT will actually make money on this situation as they paid out $2M but you can be sure the buyout is more than that.
= I’m getting back on my historical soapbox because I think it’s important right now with some of the stuff I’m reading about what PITT should do moving forward here.
One thing hasn’t changed with PITT over the last day, week, month, year or decade. PITT will not put the success of the football program over that of the University’s all around reputation both locally and nationally. It will not.
We saw that very dramatically about 54 weeks ago when DW was fired, we saw it 50 weeks ago when Haywood was fired and, as Chas says, we will see it again when Tom Bradly is NOT hired to be the HC. I know the majority of PITT fans want to think it’s all about wins and losses and football success but that isn’t it with PITT. As bad as these coaching fires/hires/departures look they don’t rise above the level of concern the administration had with the past off field issues and the SI article last year.
Fans without thier heads in the sand must have seen the similarities between the ‘firings’ (and they were) of Walt Harris and Dave Wannstedt. It isn’t some weird coincidence that they were both let go after co-championships and at the height of thier BE successes, such as it was. True, they were wearing out some of their welcome in other ways, but the stake in thier hearts were the extraneous issues going on with them and the players in the program away from football.
The PITT administration, specifically Chancellor Nordenburg, has to always put the well being of the University as a whole above an individual part, no matter how public it may be as in football’s case. He does this unflinchingly and in large part by ensuring that the University is above reproach in all things, especially public issues. Talk about money the football program brings in? Minuscule compared to personal and corporate donations to the PITT endowment which depend on PITT being the type of institution people want to have thier names and legacies associated with.
So that said, anyone thinking that PITT is going to drag any whiff of the PSU scandal into thier house by hiring Tom Bradley, especially for the silly ass thought that he may be able to salvage football recruits this season or win a few more football games next season, is just wrong and doesn’t understand the administration’s commitment to the University.
Finally, I didn’t get much into Graham’s actual personality much in my posts because I was more concerned about all the interesting football issues we had going on since his hire but I’ll personally tip my hat to DRW, and others but he in particular, for expressing belief that Todd Graham was a rotter from Day One. DRW and I will not agree on the Mark Myers issue of this season but that is separate from the overall belief he had that Graham was a fraud and a shyster – and he expressed that again and again with foreboding references to Graham’s earlier professional life. I just the other day posted that DRW couldn’t give Graham a compliment if his life depended on it – and it turns out there was a reason for that.
As in anything, we’ll look back at this year and chuckle while we shake our heads. It just will take some time. Lets not let this ruin our Holidays.
I could be wrong but TG is developing a resume that seems to predict a manner of behavior that is less than noble. Time will tell.
The University of Pittsburgh, although the victim in this debacle, should not feel responsible for what happened. This is ALL on Todd Graham. In the long run he might of done us a favor.
Task one right now is to reinforce to this recruiting class that the world is not coming to an end if they stick with their commitment to Pitt. Pitt will get through this and hopefully come out ahead in the long run.
BTW, I like the Austin idea for HC. Who cares that he might not ACTUALLY be free to begin the job until late January? All we require is a final commitment from him now to solidify Pitt football’s immediate future. I think that he would love to take the job if offered too.
It will take a few years to dig out of this mess but we will. I’m enjoying the optimism on this blog and also appreciate the safe haven from flamers here. Pitt Blather is the only place to be at a time like this.
Anybody who thinks Pitt should de-emphasize football, drop to 1-AA, or jump off a cliff should stop acting like a friggin drama queen. Relax already..
No Bradley please, but this is a good thing. The guy reaked of BS from day 1.
“Maybe he really did leave for family reasons – even a broken clock is right twice a day. He’s still a blow-hard asshole.”
============
Sorry, I don’t buy it. You don’t run out of town in the middle of the night, leaving a text to your team in the aftermath. If it truly were a family decision, you pull your team together, and you tell them that to their faces. They’ll be disappointed, but they’ll understand. You’ll leave with a modicum of class and decency.
Graham left like a coward.
1. His family wasn’t happy in Pittsburgh.
2. He asked for permission from the AD to talk with ASU.
3. If it wasn’t ASU, it would have been somewhere else..but his wife has family in Phoenix so it worked out well for him.
4. Have you ever taken a job only to find out it wasn’t the right fit for you? It happens everyday. Get over it.
If they have a foot out the door on their way to Arizona State, their belongings should be waiting on the sidewalk outside the Pitt facilities right now.