In something of a surprise, Dave Huxtable declined the opportunity to become the defensive coordinator at Pitt, to instead remain the linebackers coach at Wisconsin.

“I’m very flattered,” Huxtable said. “I’m humbled. I love Paul Chryst, in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve become very, very close with him. I think he’s a tremendous person and a (heck) of a football coach. I wish him nothing but the best and I know he’s going to do a great job and have great success at Pitt.”

Huxtable admitted it was not an easy decision for him to make, but said he is extremely happy at UW under head coach Bret Bielema.

“It’s always a hard decision for me,” Huxtable said. “I love this place, I love the guys I’m coaching. Coach Bielema has been awesome to me.

“It was a great opportunity for me to go to Pitt, to get back to a coordinator position. It was not an easy decision. But right now I’m fixed and I’m focused on playing this game. I’m ready to do that.”

I’m sure Wisconsin sweetened the pot for Huxtable, but it seems Huxtable is just feeling a bit comfortable at the moment.

So, back to the Orlando or Tomsula speculation for the next Pitt DC.

I do believe a good bit about what Khem Birch said to CBSSports.com’s Jeff Goodman about leaving Pitt — well at least the part about not being particularly close to his teammates and feeling isolated. When you look at most of the places Birch cites for potential transfer destinations, they are programs that happen to have a Canadian player on the team. Pitt by the way, has released Birch to transfer to anywhere except Missouri.

Other aspects I’m not so sure about. Check out PittScript for a good running account of everything from yesterday — including the Mizzou tampering allegations. Mizzou has denied any tampering allegations, and it seems Pitt buys it — because the contact appears to have come from some of the people around Birch. And those same people are the reason Mizzou really doesn’t want much to do with Birch.

Birch also insists that he is in no rush to get to the NBA.

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Just to provide a brief counterpoint to the story I posted yesterday about Wisconsin Linebackers Coach Dave Huxtable coming to Pitt when Paul Chryst takes the reigns. Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema has been vague about much in the change of coaches, including who. He did offer a hint.

A source previously told the State Journal that Chryst had contacted three assistants about going with him: linebackers coach Dave Huxtable, tight ends coach Joe Rudolph and Bostad.

The source said Huxtable was still a possibility, but Bielema might have just firmed up that situation.

“The last 48 hours have been all of that stuff going on,” Bielema said. “It was a good break for our players, because there were some things that needed to get sorted out.

“I know what’s going to happen. I don’t want to release anything. … Definitely going to be transition on my side.”

Bielema was asked if he planned to wait until after the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2 to make the announcement.

“I haven’t talked to those guys specifically,” he said. “It’s just one other guy.”

With Bostad being the confirmed departure, Bielema’s statement could be read as just Bostad going. Or, I suppose it could be taken to mean that “one other guy” means one more besides Bostad.

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