You would think with a career coaching record of 19-19; coming off a 6-6 season — again; home losses to Youngstown State and Akron on the resume; and a recruiting style best described as laid back, that Paul Chryst would not be in the annual coaching carousel discussion for December 2014.
And but for one big red N, that would be true. There are plenty of rumors and ruminations all day that Nebraska at the very least has interest in talking to Chryst.
The connection being that the Nebraska AD Shawn Eichorst knows and likes Paul Chryst from his days as an assistant AD at Wisconsin. Which also explains all the concurrent Bret Bielema rumors — shot down for now. And, I suppose the kind of system Chryst runs would not be a big departure from what is in place and what the recruiting would support.
Everything else screams no. Nebraska fired Bo Pelini in no small part for not winning the games that matter. Pelini may not have finished a season with less than 4 losses — I know, they fired him this year before he had a chance to lose in the bowl game. At the same time, he won 8-9 games every year.
It is hard to imagine that Nebraska would look at Paul Chryst’s record and think, “this will be better.” [Of course Auburn hired Gene Chizik from Iowa State — so, yeah — stranger things have happened.]
There is also the issue that Eichorst is also believed to be interested in going for a big name/splash.
Then there is the thought that Nebraska would want to hire someone Steve Pederson thought was a good hire. I’m not sure the fanbase could reconcile that with anything other than, “hey, at least we get to screw Pederson with this hire.”
So, maybe there is nothing. Maybe it’s just Chryst’s agent doing his job by getting his client’s name out there for a little leverage. Chryst is finishing year three on his rookie contract. A few years extension and a bump in pay for Chryst and his assistants might be the play. Something I would be sort of okay with, if that was the extent of it. I’m not sure it’s earned, but that is part of the way college football coaching can play itself out.
Of course, part of that leverage could give Chryst the control to resist making any changes to his staff (*cough*firematthouse*cough*). Armed with an extension and more promises of autonomy, staff changes after this season could turn out to be minimal.
That gives me pause. Or at the very least a sense of helplessness at the choices.
The flipside would be risk losing Chryst and having the AD get to spin the wheel again on a coaching search.
Reed, Chris Dokish had a pretty extensive blog post about how plenty of coaches were able to turn around programs in 3 years. So your point that few are able to do that isn’t right.
Specifically, Dokish looked at how long it took coaches to get to 9 wins.
“Only 19 of the 55 (34.5%) took longer than three years and 11 of those 19 took over a team that lost 6+ games in the previous season.
Only 8 of 35 (22.9%) that took over for a team that had lost 0-5 games the previous year took longer than three years.”
I don’t post here often but when I do it is usually with a temperament of an 18 month old. Stay mediocre my friends.
However, the defensive stats this year only confirm what an absolute cakewalk we had this year for a schedule. We only played 4 teams with capable offenses, and failed miserably to 3 of them (to the tune of >500 yards per game.)
Also, many of us are not second-guessers. We blasted PC for his House hire at the time it happened. WE knew it was a silly hire … too bad he didn’t think so
next year 48-41 again???
Is Whitehead going to have that big of an impact??
It’s the same group from this year, minus a few starters we’ll lose, right?
I’d like to see this magic happen. I don’t know how it does.
Or is just, “well, if they score 48, we have
to score 49?”
That’s a hell of a way to run a complete team.
There is simply no way we know what he is going to do. And since Dokish selectively made his list of coaches – which he admitted to in that post – I will too.
Nick Saban is the best college football coach in the game today, and you know what he did in his first 4 years at major program?
1995–1997 – Beginning in 1995, Saban moderately improved MSU’s fortunes, taking the Spartans to minor bowl games (all of which they lost by double-digit margins) in each of his first three seasons. From 1995 to 1997, Michigan State finished 6–5–1, 6–6, and 7–5. In comparison, MSU had finished 5–6, 6–6 and 5–6 (prior to NCAA forfeits) in 1992–1994.
1998 – On November 7, 1998, the Spartans upset the No. 1 ranked Ohio State 28–24 at Ohio Stadium. However, even after the upset and an early-season rout of then-highly ranked Notre Dame the Spartans finished 6–6, including three last-minute losses featuring turnovers, defensive lapses, and special-teams misplays, and failed to earn a bowl invitation
There are literally 4 players in the junior and senior class that would play on another big five conference team that wins. Holtz, Rotheram, Clemmings and Render. FOUR. Sorry, there aren’t any others.
And that my friends is Pederson and the former administrations fault.
PC, Rudolph, Hueber, etc. have developed a very nice offense. No one can question that. The key to that was the line which took three years to develop.
Being that the emphasis was naturally put on a good offense, the D should be about a year behind. So it is on House, Haering, etc. to get it done.
The question is, what does he do about it, whatever it is, after this year he owns it.
The offense is good enough to win every game.
He better focus on a winning defense.
First item is to finish the recruiting class with a couple of defensive studs. Blue chip guys can start next year. Especially a stand-out D-End or linebacker. How about a JUCO?
Obviously Winston’s off the field issues and to some extent lesser performance than last year did him in. But how about the QB from GT who will play for the championship?
Certainly Conner’s numbers, what he meant to Pitt results, and his overall character make him our MVP, but 4-4, 6-6, not so much.
How often is an MVP picked from a team that isn’t the best in conference?
ROFL. House has no track record of “getting it done” anywhere… and Mt. Lebanon hasn’t won anything in 30+ years.
I guess Pitt is in big trouble.
I am not saying I have faith in him getting it done.
It’s Player of the Year… not MVP.
And it was a historic, record-breaking year for the young man.
Who will sit him down and tell him to fire House? Pederson?
“Paul, you have to fire Matt House”
“Okay, what is my budget for a new DC and staff”
“The salary has to be less than House’s. You can promote Haering.”
Although Mike Riley isn’t being received much better than Chryst would have been by Husker Nation. Corvallis is a tough place to win and recruit, and maybe after 2008 when he was 28-12 in a 3 yr stretch it would have been a good hire. Today at 61 yrs old and 29-33 in last 5 years, it is a conrnhole-esqe hire.
I know people on here are hoping Pederson and Matt House are shown the door after bowl game. I think you are setting yourself up to be disappointed. Sadly, I don’t think there is a chance in the world Pederson is fired. Especially with the going away gift extension Nordy gave him.
I also think Pitt winning their last 2 games and getting to a bowl means House is back next year. That I’m ok with, because as Dan and gc said this is completely Chryst’s team next year and excuse time for Paulie is over. If he chooses to stay with this inexperienced under qualified defensive staff that’s on him and may very well cost him his job. After 3 years of Chryst I am convinced he will never be a better than average head coach. If I’m wrong, great! If I’m right then in a year or 2 him and Pederson are fired, and then maybe the 30+ run of mediocrity can end…
His career average of 5.86 YPC currently sits 8th in conference history.
Can we stop with the talk of moving him to D?
As far as SP goes. Best case is that he is let go in May-June timeframe which is a deadzone of college athletics. PC will be given a 1 year extension to keep him from running out the door. It would be left to the new AD to fire PC/hire new HC.
I will use more abbreviations in my next post.
Basketball doesn’t look too good either right now. At least Dixon will have us back. It might take awhile.
Please, please make copies of Chryst resume and send it out everywhere. Maybe Montana State can give him a home. I know Eastern Washington won’t take him.
Pleasantly surprised is an understatement. I would be doing friggin cartwheels!
Pederson is toxic and his continued employment turns off an already small and declining fan base.
House being the DC, with mostly under qualified guys around him is sad. With a better defensive staff that can recruit, Chryst could actually be successful, despite some of his shortcomings. keeping this staff comprised as it is, is probably going to cost him his job.
This is his baby now. He will have 2 tremendous talents in Boyd and Conner returning and 2nd year starting QB. It is crazy to me that he can’t see what we all see so clearly. Is he really that loyal/stubborn/clueless to go forward with this same group of defensive coaches?
If he does I see him as Mike Riley’s OC or QB coach in Lincoln in the near future…
PC, well that sure was neat!
MH, yeah, finally got the guys to fill the gaps and keep their eyes right, made all the difference in this game and neutralized their speed.
PC, sure liked the results over those of UVA, GT, Duke & UNC!
MH, for sure, they’re finally coming together.
PC, so you think that the D has turned the corner.
MH, I do. We get Render back we’ll be even better in the bowl game.
PC, but Render has been playing all season before Syracuse, why do you mention him.
MH, just saying.
PC, saying what?
MH, we’re getting it, and when everybody is back we’ll be better yet!
PC, but Matt we’ve sucked on D with every competent offensive team we’ve played except for Miami.
MH, like I said Coach, they’re finally coming around.
PC, so then you’re feeling that your D is turning the corner?
MH, yeah, I guess so, when you put it like that.
PC, glad you feel that way too Matt, cause I’m feeling pressure to make some changes if we see a reoccurrence of the pathetic performance of your D that I witnessed all mid season.
MH, man Paul, that’s cold. I’m 100% devoted to you and the team. I want to prove that your pick for me as DC was the right one.
PC, that’s neat Matt, I feel you, but I’m the HC of this team and I have to tell you that your job is on the line.
MH, how so?
PC, your D better bring it heavy in our bowl game or you’re fired.
MH, Coach, that puts a lot of pressure on me.
PC, welcome to the club, do you think 6-6 cut it for our team this season?
MH, well, I’d hoped for a better results, but I gave it 100%.
PC, I appreciate your efforts. I put out 100% too, the O got it done, the D didn’t. You need to earn us a bowl victory with your defensive effort or you are gone. Sorry but that’s the way it’s got to be. The train is leaving the station. If your D has turned the corner, then now is the time to hop on board.
MH, I hear ya Paul.
PC, it’s business Matt, it’s the only way I can save your job for next season. Bring it like you did at Miami or you’re done.
MH, thanks for the heads up Coach. I got it.
It’s that simple, produce or you’re gone. Time for House to pull on his big boy pants. PERIOD!
Interested in our bowl match up though. Hope it’s not another potential a$$ kicking like catching Ole Miss on the upswing was a couple years ago, although I’d still like to match up against another big 5 conference foe.
more like Life of Riley.
I don’t remember Oregon State ever winning the Pac 12, Pac 10 or even the Pac 8. Or even finishing 2nd or 3rd.
Heck I don’t ever remember Oregon State ever playing in a big bowl game. That Sun Bowl against us might have been their biggest bowl game ever.
Although it could have been more ludicrous…had NU hired Riverboat Paulie.
Just some sort of sham to get people to think somebody else actually was considering him for HC.
Cause who in their right mind, would hire a guy who can’t communicate well, can’t recruit, doesn’t want to sell, and has no in-game coaching acumen as their HC.
Bowl: Payout: Conference Spot: Opponent
Military Bowl: $1M: ACC: AAC
New Orleans Bowl: $500k: Mountain West: Sun Belt
Quick Lane Bowl: $750k: ACC: B1G
Cactus Bowl: $3.3M: XII: PAC-12
Duck Commander Independence: $1.1M: ACC: SEC
Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl: $500k: ACC: AAC
Camelia Bowl: TBD: Sun Belt: MAC
Also,since he has been here he changed the attitude of players like Todd Thomas and got rid of prima donnas like Shell. Not sure what to make of Sotos breakdown, lol.
The team needs a bad ass like Connor on D to lead the way.
Coming back from my brief “MIAMI NICE” Hiatus just to say that for the past the 2 to 3 Years that I have RELIGIOUSLY frequented Pitt Blather… your Post above is THE ALL-TIME CLASSIC!
YCMU (i.e. You’re Crackin’ Me Up)
even if you don’t go to a bowl you still get some bowl loot. No bowl swag, just the loot. 🙂
Under his watch/supervision the record is: 23 – 38
1 winning season in 5 years.
4-8, 8-5, 4-8, 2-10 & just completed 5-7.
UVA’s first bowl game ever wasn’t until 1984.
Pitt had won 9 national championships before then.
UVA has said publicly that Mike London will be back next year. Two very close friends are UVA alums and close to the school. They have told me UVA takes a pretty substantial state government subsidy to break even. Not quite Rutgers level, but close. And that the financial situation at UVA athletics pretty much locks them in to keeping London.
Now, when Conner gets ‘some beast time’ at DE too, now we have a player to recon with on defense. Maybe, just maybe we start winning games we are supposed to.
Simple concept…
SOP – Super Outstanding Panther
You obviously have no knowledge of Pitt athletics since 1938.
School yourself before name-calling.
Comment by TonyinHouston 12.04.14 @ 2:08 pm”
Luckily enough my father has piles of material on Pitt football including the Paths to Glory documentary, the greatest moments in Pitt football history book (signed by Johnny Majors, although that’s irrelevant), numerous game programs going back to the 1950s, a ton of newspaper/magazine clippings from the 1950s-today, and another ton of Pitt games recorded on VHS and now DVD. I’ve read and seen most of them so sorry I don’t need to school myself on anything regarding Pitt football.
A bunch of fans do need to school themselves on how you can be pissed off and disgusted as you want with the state of the program, but reveling in being a jerk about it doesn’t accomplish anything. The way people talk, it seems that they actually get some enjoyment from the relentless snide jerk attitude they display towards the program because they are so upset that it is not what they want it to be. I understand it, it’s the Pittsburgh sports fan way, doesn’t mean I shouldn’t call it out for the childishness it is.
The kid just got named MVP offense so who in their right mind would change or add to his duties?
And not to open up another pro vs. con argument, but #1, I doubt seriously Mr. Conner would “beast” at DE, at least against other than Bowling Green for five plays, and #2, I observed first hand that he gets tired after 2 or 3 carries. Running the ball takes a lot out of you, but rushing the passer is no breather either.
Keeping things in perspective. Conner is a very good running back, but we are a 6-6 team and no one knows our opponent, but until we win consistently I’d put the personal desires and wishes aside and focus on which player is more valuable at each position. I recall we got way ahead of ourselves after winning three games by reading some press. Akron put things back into perspective.
