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.
He is a hell of a recruiter, especially in Western PA. And the man can coach defense. How many other candidates could Pitt get with that much experience and success? Still, yes, I understand… it is a little too soon perhaps…
He’ll never be hired by PITT.
What about Randy Shannon? He was in the running for DC at I think Arkansas but didn’t make it. He has a strong defensive background. He knows the ACC and of course has strong Florida connections.
…I had to get that out. My wife’s parents live in State College and I just spent the last week there. I feel dirty, real dirty. Only went into town once and ate at the Corner Room…it made me miss Uncle Sams.
the last 5 years he has coached the rb but he coached the d line for 7 years knows the ACC like the back of his hand,
and the head coach before this one said if you want to recruit the carolinas you need ken browning he knows every high school coach there is
but he is 66 years old but he looks a young 66 just throwing mud agenst the wall see what sticks
but like i said before i bet it is some one he coached with before
I saw Jimmy a few months back at his Aunts funeral. He said he would like to be home. He made the comment that his pipe dreams have a tendacy to come true. He has a young kid and two teenage daughters. He did bitch about the cost of living and said he really love college coaching and as a side benefit his girl could go to school for free and he could kick ass if she is bothered …really. Jimmy’s drive is not money positions or power. Its about family and coaching. Believe it. When he told me he was going to coach over a beer with several SV grads at Chiodos we thought he was crazy…..10 grand??? Dude WTF. He said I am going to make it….do what u love and u will love what u do!
I asked Jimmy via test if he is planning a move. His response back is “It has to be a package deal, They got to bring in Cherp to get me”. Bill Cherpack (TJ’s coach) and Jimmy graduated together. Of course he was joking. But the next text was “Hmmmmmm, we may be hanging out a dukes (bar on 8th ave, all SV guys)more often”….so he is not showing his cards!
He texted me this afternoon “Knuclehead, out with Geep grabing a bite to eat, you have any quetsions about the quaterback play? Is Adam Walker available….lol” (Adam Walker graduated in 86 and was a running back at Pitt and a d back at San Fran
Geep is the QB coach at San Fran and Chrysts brother….now jimmy may be just jacking me off….but who knows? No body is saying ANYTHING!
I made the calls to my insiders and they all say “I have no clue”
Jimmy would turn into the best recruiter at Pitt
As far as keeping our present D coordinator, well it ain’t going to happen. No one will ever trust him–never, ever. If he wants to be trusted, he must take a job away from Graham. His friend used him to put the coffee grinds. His Dad died a few weeks ago. So did mine. You don’t really become a man until your Dad dies. Then it is time to become the man you want to be. I can’t see how he could follow Graham’s path and look in the mirror. I wish him luck. I miss my Dad.
Jerry O looking for a college job where he makes the same commute?
So forget about Tom Bradley. Temple didn’t even want him BEFORE Sandusky.
The guy from N. Carolina, Ken Browning would be a great get to recruit the South. UNC in the last 18 years has had some great defenses, produced a lot of NFL players. Don’t know if Chyrst knows him, but I would reach out. Even if you don’t offer him DC, he might come as some other coach or maybe recruiting coordinator.
Plus this guy Browning has schemed against ALL the ACC teams and knows their schemes. Seems logical enough to have a guy on your staff that knows the ACC and it’s teams, like a book
HIRE HIM PC !!
I think in Bradley’s case “before Sandusky” has to go back as far as 1998, certainly back as far as 2002.
He has been on the PSU staff since 1977 and has held the integral position of DC since 2000.
Even I remember reading about the rumors of Sandusky’ predilections for young boys back in 1998 when the DA didn’t press charges. Sandusky has been the worst kept secret in college football for decades.
That’s why I was somewhat taken aback by the shock that everyone felt when the grand jury report came out – I assumed that everyone already kind of knew that Sandusky’s actions would come to light. What did shock me was the cover-up and the subsquent charges of perjury by PSU administration.
The reason I’m going back over this is that it is virtually impossible for Tom Bradley not to have know what transpired between Sandusky and the PSU administration when 1) Sandusky was told he’ll “never get the HC job” and 2) when PSU started banning Sandusky from bringing young boys onto the campus.
Honest to God, college coaches are a very small and tight knit community and I can say without a doubt in my mind that this is the reason no school – not one – would touch him with a ten foot pole overs the past decade when he’s been begging someone to give him a job.And there was a good reason not to – because everyone knows that nothing takes place in PSU football without the staff knowing about it – especially someone as ingrained and Tom Bradley.
Which elicited this from Barry Switzer:
“Having been in this profession a long time and knowing how close coaching staffs are, I knew that this was a secret that was kept secret. Everyone on that had to have known, the ones that had been around a long time,” Switzer said in an interview with The Oklahoman newspaper.
Switzer added that others outside the Penn State program had to have known as well.
“You think that a 13-year assistant … hasn’t told someone else? His wife? His father? People knew. The community knew,” Switzer said.
Read more: link to aol.sportingnews.com
PITT will not hire Bradley for this reason alone and as someone stated above, there is a damn good chance Bradley will be on the hot-seat come January 2012 when the trails start.
Personally, I have no issue with either Tomsula, Orlando or Patterson … I just want people who want to be here. Tomsula and Orlando are Pgh natives, and Paterson has been here for a year.
i just dont see tomsula comeing here hope i am wrong.
and i think if it was orlando it would have leaked out bye now.
i dont think he has a DC he never thought Huxtable would say no.
just my thoughts
i am going to go out on branch here i dont think there will be a lot of names of coachs on jan 3 i think maybe one more than we know abought i think he is haveing a hard time geting his staff.
i think that becuse more names have not leaked and this is not the CIA and we should be hearing names just my thoughts.
but really its the holiday season and some people are not in their office or need a vacaction that has been planned with their families.
The holidays season is not normal times and lets not forget that Chryst has to keep the integrity of other individuals in place. He cannot name people that are still coaching in games. This would disrupt the entire team. Lets wait and see after the bowl(Rose) game.
Tossing Thabeets was zook a DC or OC before he was a HC. and i dont bye that it is to far for the leaks to get to the BURGH news travels at the click of a phone.
Quip SCRIPT that was very good made me laugh
i dont think are new HC would name them but outhers would leak the names it is just the way things happen.
Zook was DC at Florida before he was HC there – I think.
Houston panther i am with you i think the same thing.
I know that i am going to catch hell for this from REED AND CHAS but some times i think Zeise is as useful as tits on a bull.
he will have a big story on the new coachs after the press release.
but i want info before we can read the press release are selves bye then. i know he took time off but he takes time off at the wrong times if you cover PITT thake time off after the letter of intent day say on feb 7 or 8 i want my pitt info.
and the number 4 rated center in the USA for next year
But the reality is that Zeise knows there is no story until Chryst is hired and releases the names of his assistants.
To do otherwise would be the same thing all the PITT fans are doing – circulating rumors and speculating on facts. Don’t you think we have had enough of that with both Haywood and Graham.
Personally I like the fact that Chryst isn’t pressured into doing something right away. I know you get upset about losing a player or two because of the Rose Bowl delay. However, I’m way more concerned about him being as comfortable as he can as our new HC.
We are not always long on patience or tolerance for each other’s viewpoints, but our passion for the University of Pittsburgh never wanes.
Let’s have a great 2012 sports year! We are due!
My Pitt New Year Resolutions:
1. Football – watch our new coach assemble a quality staff VERY SOON and hit the recruiting trail to keep our existing commits and secure some other top surprises (You know he wants some big OL talent and some TEs!). Let’s support the coaches and the players who have been through a ton of BS in the past year – hopefully, it’s clear sailing from here.
2. Basketball – My wish is for another fun Big East Season and making the tourney. Dixon will find a way to get the most out of this team. Losing the freshman nut case was unexpected and is hurting us, but he will get these guys to over-achieve. Realistically – we need to get these guys some great experience this year (many young players getting substantial minutes) and next year will only get better with Adams as a beast down low (please don’t jump to the NBA instead!).
Give the man some credit for loyalty to his program, players and HC, even if it involved some financial incentive.
Of course, maybe Birch would not have even come here if he had another year of handler advice.
And, at least according to Dokish, Bond was leaning towards not coming to Pitt/Dixon was having 2nd thoughts about him before Birch reclassified. Something about Bond and his handlers were convinced he should play 2 guard and go quickly to the NBA while Dixon saw him more as a 4 and with the skill set of a 4 or maybe a 3.
But we will never know.
Tom Bradley.
/ducks underneath desk/