Obviously for this Saturday as he leads Pitt in the BBVA Bowl as the interim head coach with a skeleton coaching staff. But beyond that.
After the game, Patterson will be on the move from Pitt. That was very clear when the news that Dave Huxtable would be the next defensive coordinator. And as good a resume, and a positive that it is to get Huxtable, I liked the job Patterson did. The defense improved noticeably from the start of the season to the end.
The beat writers spoke well of him, and he stayed when he could have bolted right away with Fraud Graham. As it stood, he could still take the Arizona St. DC position if he wants it.
Turns out, he didn’t want it.
Instead of following his old friend and roommate. Instead of taking a nice BCS-level coordinator paycheck. He’s going somewhere else.
He will be the Defensive Coordinator at Arkansas State for Gus Malzahn.
I’m impressed with the man. It speaks volumes about Patterson and who he is. It also speaks volumes about how he felt about Fraud Graham’s actions. Yes, he may get to be closer to his family that is in the midwest, but the DC job at Arkansas St. is a lot less glamorous for a coach with head coaching aspirations and a lot less money.
As much as I wish Fraud Graham failure and misery, I want Patterson to succeed. He’s chosen the harder path.
ACC vs BE…I will really miss BE basketball, but at least the strength of conferences is comparable. I worry that if Pitt’s FB doesn’t pick up the pace, we will slide further toward irrelevance. Being a strong team in the ACC will mean more than in the BE, but it has to happen first. Not happy that most of the ACC schools are farther from Philly. Andi am getting pretty tired of my VU spouse yapping about traitors and turncoats. I wish VU would get into the ACC, both for the BB rivalry, and to shut them up.
Comment by usd121 01.05.12 @ 8:28 pm
When? Just now? Idiot.
