Justin had the run down/recap of where things stand. It’s… weird. And a bit uncomfortable.
We were all certain Chryst was gone yesterday morning. Now we are mostly certain. Thanks to the job posting laws for what is ostensibly a state job in Wisconsin, the hiring of Chryst can’t happen until at least Wednesday, December 17 — Happy Hanukkah everyone. (Yes, I know it starts the evening before but it is the first full day so roll with it.)
That means Chryst and Pitt is in a weird place. Pitt can’t fire him, because then they lose whatever buyout remains on his originial five-year deal. Not to mention, they can’t take the chance that somehow the Wisconsin thing falls through and suddenly they have to keep paying Chryst.
Conversely, Chryst can’t really resign because he doesn’t really have a job yet. He may have assurances and belief that the Wisconsin job is his, but there is nothing smart about giving up the present job until is a reality. So both sides have to pretend that the status quo is as it was a week prior. Even if everyone just wants a quick resolution so things can move forward.
It’s hard to have major animosity towards Chryst if he leaves. He brought a sense of stability, at a minimum. It feels like he could have/should have accomplished more, but Pitt football isn’t worse than when he arrived. He’d be going home and to his alma mater.
As for, we the fans. Well, it is really strange. I know I had moved on quickly yesterday, as had many others.
Chryst was gone. Okay, who’s next?
Thinking about the next coach. Who would I want? (Tom Herman) Who could I tolerate? (Joe Rudolph) Who made me sick to my stomach at the mere mention? (Sal Sunseri) Now I have to at least consider the possibility that maybe it is none of the above.
Here’s what I am certain. Steve Pederson will not be involved one way or another. Even if he ostensibly remains the AD.
Justin laid out a possible scenario where Pederson is out as AD and Chryst remains. Even if Chryst leaves, Pederson doesn’t get control of the coaching search. When Todd Graham fled Pederson didn’t have control over the search and hiring of Chryst. He had a say, but it was a committee that ran the search. And that was with Chancellor Nordenberg still on the scene.
Assuming Pitt is looking for a new football coach — and that is still an assumption I will make. At best Pederson will only get to voice an opinion. I’m not sure he will even be allowed to ask questions in the interviews.
Odds are, he is already knows he is out of the loop. In fact, it only helps Pitt at this point in public statements. It lets him say things like this with complete truthfulness.
Pitt has received several inquiries from prospective coaches about a possible opening, but Pederson said he has not returned those calls.
“I haven’t talked to anybody,” he said. “We have a football coach right now. We have a good football coach, and that’s my concern, focusing on him right now.”
Or this:
Pederson is still holding out hope that it won’t come to that, even if that appears unlikely at this point.
“I think Paul’s been up front and honest with me about everything that’s going on and that’s really all I can ask at this point,” he said. “I hope he wants to be here.”
No matter what, his time is rapidly drawing to a close. Whether it is an outright firing or his “resignation” that shifts him to a “senior advisory” position to serve out his time (you know, the Dave Wannstedt resignation approach).
I’ve never subscribed to the theory that Pederson is the devil. Nor do I think he’s a particularly positive figure. I wasn’t in favor of his re-hiring because his nature as an executive is disruptive — which is what was needed for Pitt Athletics when first hired. But Pitt was in a much different place upon his return. Plus all the residual animosity that remained from his first tenure.
For the most part, he kept his head down and stayed behind the scenes for the first three years. Then December 2010 happened and it has been all downhill.
Good point. He must be under double secret probation.
Also, if Pederson is not going to be involved in Pitt’s next football coaching hire, what is he still Pitt’s AD? Given his title and salary-level, he should be spearheading this process, not sitting by the wayside. Is This a Pitt thing?
It’s part of why the timing of Chryst (probably) leaving sucks. I don’t think Pitt wanted to move on shaking up the whole athletic department — starting at the top — until Gallegher had at least a year as Chancellor under his belt.
yet Nordy gives him a 5 year deal which really was just giving millions of dollars to a friend … I guess. Tuition bills going up but give millions to someone who can’t do the job 100%.
It is a fact as well PD did a lot of things for Pitt… just time to move on.
Finally, figures with Pitt that nothing is ever ‘normal’… not even a coach leaving us!? Always a weird twist to the tale!
I would absolutely hope they are lining up the new coach now and can announce him on Wednesday when/if Chryst leaves. That is frankly plenty of time! Competent people would have a least a list once and the nebraska stuff started.
If you like what Chryst did for the foundation of this program… Rudolph is the guy and a WPA person to boot.
If you don’t then you have to hire someone who will make a ‘splash’ so there is a lot of buzz… yet if they want new systems … i.e. spread… we are back to 3 year plans!
H2P
Hopefully Gallagher and his people are working on the coach as we speak.
The AD situation will come after that.
Strange, but this particular case calls for that.
If you are going to do something with the AD, then you’re gonna have to pay him anyhow.
So, he can mill around in the background for a few weeks or whatever if needed. Doesn’t matter. Dixon ain’t going anywhere. The other sports all need rebuilt. Football coach would be the top priority right now.
Why have an AD if he’s not hiring the coach???
Wonderful! Exactly. That’s all you need to know. If he’s not involved with the coaching hire,
his days are numbered.
This is a good thing if Gallagher is indeed
involved hands on, and SP is not.
No one has really verified this for sure, excepet a couple bloggers and posters and heresay etc. etc.
Hope it’s all true, but keeping myself toned down just in case.
I know this is more hope than reality, but currently I have no plans to attend next year.
One clusterf*ck after another.
And then after all that incompetence, he was given a contract extension and MILLION$ more.
Something certainly behind the scenes going on here.
Well hopefully Paulie didn’t string along our chancellor if he has no intention of staying.
That would put a little different feeling about his departure to me.
Pitt needs to know, so we can have our…’ducks lined up’.
And the new HC can be hired quickly and decisively.
Nothing kills organizations more than dragging things out and being indecisive.
Comment by BATR 12.13.14 @ 10:06 am
One that reeks of Cronyism.
But this practice is done much thruout college football. And life in general.
I agree that Pitt should move Chryst to an Administrative role and post the old position. By doing it that way, Pitt is somehow protected further from any suit, should the hiring at Wisconsin go awry. We are an employment at will state which affords some protection, but the contract provisions allow for recoveries for termination, etc. It is legal maneuverings in a situation that just doesn’t call for it. It isn’t complicated.
I do not believe Pitt will wait until the 17th to start their search. They would be wise to begin the process of finding a replacement the minute Paul Chryst verbally broke his contract. There is written notice and verbal notice and I believe Pitt has been placed on notice and therefore can move forward with their search, without risking peril.
It’s a simple legal analysis in my opinion. So let’s get it started and see who we get.
If Pitt likes the direction of the program, which they do, go with Rudolph. If not, Gallagher needs to find us a coach pretty quickly to preserve our recruiting class and move the program forward. In the interim, he would be wise to move Steve Pederson to an Administrative position at UPMC to control expenses. He would be good there and can be put out to pasture. That is what large universities do that want to move forward. Put them out to pasture at the medical center on special project. At some point, SP gets sick of the new duties and resigns.
Yet the above comments solidify in my mind the path forward is hire Rudolph for continued of building off of a very good foundation.
… and yes it is good foundation no matter what all the commentary is around the 6-6-6 stuff. Much better off now than before.
if we want WPA football that is physical, run oriented, pro-style the foundation for that offense is here. Offensive side of the ball is well above average in talent and the incoming class has some help on the D side. (not enough).
give Rudolph a chance and that lets Gallegher settle in for a few years, let SP’s contract wind down (and work his a$$ off as an administrator).
Then 3-4 years from now we will be a solid if not great program and strong moves in different direction can be made accordingly…. starting with a new AD who then determines the direction of the program.
and then he will have a strong imperative to clean up the D side. clearly Chryst’s biggest miss being with the DC and that side of the ball.
hopefully all of this as well is allowing for negotiations to really increase the football budget.
I assume Chryst is doing that (if there is any pretence to counter offer) as would Rudolph or anyone else they talk to.
Oh, by the way the date this information was to be released is April 1. GOTCHA!!!
Sorry but I’m feeling like we’re all taking this too seriously, like “its not life and death it’s more important than that.” I’m afraid I am. HTP!!!
actually, that is a great scenario for Pitt in terms of the AD….
anyone from Pitt admin. reading this???
How about the New Hampshire coach or another guy from D2…there are coaches out there in low profile programs that win with whatever players they’re given. Nice to see one of them get a shot at a bigger program.
Last Miami head coach to have a winning record. Last Pitt coach to have a winning record.
Led Pitt to best 3 years in 3 decades.
Just cause people keep repeating he is no good, doesn’t change the facts.
Only shows people don’t know the facts.
* while this is exasperating for us die hards, let’s not lose it. Altgether. Heard a guy call in yesterday to say we should hire the TJ HS coach, cause he would recruit well from the South Hills!
* I never take Smizek seriously and normally find him mildly annoying, but his column today that Pitt should hire a no name HC, so the guy will stay was idiotic even for him
* like all of you, I am terrified of SP even being in the same area code as the next HC decision.
* Pittscript is SP trolling our site. Hey Chas…what was that about sock puppets!
* no matter what, the sun will come up on 12/18 and no matter what happens plan on SOP!
Beans Cook is laughing his ass off from above!
I have shed my last tears for this football program
And let’s not get started on how he ran a renegade program and never properly disciplined his players, including one who nearly ran me over with his car after assaulting a booting officer and driving off in his car. I think he’s currently awaiting trial on a separate robbery charge.
As Joshua aptly points out, the man left a dumpster fire — great line — in Miami and they were assembling the pitchforks and torches before he got out of dodge. I always maintained that Pitt with Wanny as DC and Walt as OC would have been very formidable…but sadly neither one of those guys egos would likely go for listening to the other at this point in their careers.
And by the way, don’t get all snarky just because someone doesn’t love your boy as much as you do…the world seems to think different, not just me.
Joe, I think you were kidding about Rudolph not being ready for big time football. Where exactly is the big time football being played that you reference? It isn’t at Pitt under Pederson and it isn’t at Wisconsin (see 0-59) a week or so ago.
Shared a text exchange with an ex buckeye nfl’er last week and he said that the 59-0 brought back memories of the 72-0 drubbing of our panthers. Rudolph has the fire in the belly, can recruit and with some good OC and DC hires or promotions keeps the continuity going with the big uglies and the footprint towards a sustainable, winning program.
Keep Steve Pederson away from this process. That quote above is so Pederson. It is subtle, but he is trying to convey to Gallagher a message. The message is that Paul Chryst has been open and honest with “me”, not Pitt, not us. He wants it to be about him and show he is in control. Gallagher must see through this and can him asap.
It is all worth it if we get a glimpse behind the post-Nordenberg power arrangement at Pitt and get to see whether Gallagher is a hyper-conservative non-boat-rocker, and lets the status quo run it’s course.
or whether he is a strong man of strong opinions who wants this institution to matter in the public mind and understands that football – like it or not – is an incredibly effective way to do that.
If he allows Pederson to have a significant hand in this in any way, it’s a dark day for the University of Pittsburgh