Since this season is almost over, I am looking back on the 16 years of Pitt football that I witnessed first hand with season tickets – as an undergrad on the 4-and-a-half year plan, a law student and a proud alum. Home games were at Pitt Stadium (1988-99), Three Rivers (2000) and Heinz Field (2001-).

The breakdown:
YEAR TICKETS W-L-T COACH
1988 Student (CAS) 6-5 Gottfried
1989 Student (CAS) 8-3-1 Gottfried (Hackett coached final win in John Hancock Bowl)
1990 Student (CAS) 3-7-1 Hackett
1991 Student (CAS) 6-5 Hackett
1992 Student (CAS) 3-9 Hackett (Sunseri coached final loss)
1993 Student (law) 3-8 Majors
1994 Student (law) 3-8 Majors
1995 Student (law) 2-9 Majors
1996 alumni 4-7 Majors
1997 alumni 6-6 Harris
1998 alumni 2-9 Harris
1999 alumni 5-6 Harris
2000 alumni 7-5 Harris
2001 alumni 7-5 Harris
2002 alumni 9-4 Harris
2003 alumni 7-4* Harris

Coaching: W-L-T (pct) seasons Bowl Games (W-L-T)
Gottfried 13-8-1 (.591) 2 0
Hackett 13-20-1 (.383) 3 1 1-0
Sunseri 0-1-0 (.000) 1(part) 0
Majors (II) 12-32-0 (.273) 4 0
Harris 43-39-0 (.524) 7 5* 2-2

The combined Hackett-Majors era (7 seasons): 25-53-1 (.316), with one bowl game (inherited from Gottfried’s last season in 1989).

Sure, Harris is no Jock Sutherland, Pop Warner or Jackie Sherrill, but he is decent. He coached Pitt to its only 9 win season since I’ve had season tickets, and has a shot at only the third with at least 8 wins (one under Gottfried).
Considering how far Pitt had fallen before his arrival, Harris isn’t doing that badly. Not great, but not badly either. There certainly is room for improvement, so let’s hope that happens.