Ol' Pedey at it again.

[The Snork]

Some people never learn:

 

 

Wannstedt out after six seasons as Pitt coach

By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer 12 hours, 10 minutes ago

 

PITTSBURGH (AP)—A few words on a statement said Dave Wannstedt resigned as Pitt's football coach. The emotion in his voice and the unhappy players gathered around him said something much different. Wannstedt stepped down under pressure Tuesday, three days after Pittsburgh finished up a disappointing 7-5 regular season that included blowout losses at home to Miami and rival West Virginia. The former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins coach will remain as a special assistant to athletic director Steve Pederson, who hopes this coaching change turns out better than the last one he made at Nebraska.

 

Wannstedt, who signed a contract extension through the 2014 season only nine months ago, gave no signs Sunday after Pitt accepted a minor bowl bid that he was weighing retirement. But after he met Tuesday with Pederson, Pitt held a hastily called news conference announcing he wouldn't return.

 

It was immediately evident that Wannstedt didn't voluntarily choose to leave. A number of Pitt players who appeared voluntarily at the news conference, without being invited, crowded around him to show support.

 

Wannstedt, a former Pitt player whose devotion to his alma mater is renowned, was supposed to read a statement and answer questions. He did neither.

 

"You know what? I had a few things to say but this says it," Wannstedt said, referring to his players' strong support. "I appreciate the opportunity that (chancellor) Mark Nordenberg and this university gave me to come here, win games and most importantly to try to make a difference in these young men's lives. Thank you."

 

Wannstedt and the players then left for a team meeting, leaving Pederson to explain why Wannstedt wouldn't return in 2011.

 

"Over the course of time, Dave and I talked a number of times that he wouldn't coach forever and that he might want to do something else," Pederson said. "After this season, it became the appropriate time to have that discussion. It seemed to make sense at this particular time."

 

Not to the players, it didn't.

 

"I'd be disappointed if had a coach that the players didn't think the world of," Pederson said. "These players think a lot of Dave, and that's obvious. Nothing could have meant more to Dave than to have them here with him."

 

Pitt will immediately begin a national search for a replacement. Pederson doesn't prefer an offensive or a defensive coach, and assistants will be considered.

 

"We've kept our eye on a number of people," said Pederson, who said all athletic directors maintain such a list in case there's an abrupt coaching change.

 

Wannstedt's six-year tenure was marked by upset losses, a failure to win an outright Big East title or play in a BCS bowl—something the Panthers did under his predecessor, Walt Harris, the season before Wannstedt took over in 2005.

 

Pitt's administration was highly supportive of Wannstedt, yet the empty seats at Heinz Field and the persistent inability to elevate the Panthers' program to a higher level dogged him throughout his stay at his hometown university.

 

Wannstedt had a 42-31 record, including a 26-12 mark from 2008-10 that is Pitt's best for a three-season stretch since 1981-83. However, the Panthers failed to meet expectations even while going 9-4 in 2008 and 10-3 in 2009, when last-minute losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati cost them the Big East title.

 

This season, the Panthers—overwhelming favorites to win the conference— lost a two-game lead in the Big East and a BCS bowl bid by losing to Connecticut and West Virginia. And despite running a mostly embarrassment-free program, Wannstedt and the school were troubled by charges brought against four players.

 

Non-conference losses to Utah and Notre Dame didn't help during a season in which running back Dion Lewis rushed for fewer than 1,000 yards after gaining 1,799 last season. Greg Romeus, the Big East defensive co-player of the year in 2009, was limited to two games by a pair of major injuries.

 

"This was a hard season, a tough year all the way around, on and off the field," Pederson said. "That wears on everyone. … As you go through tough years, you begin to evaluate."

 

Pitt won only one bowl game under Wannstedt, beating North Carolina 19-17 in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last season.

 

This will be Pederson's first national coaching search since his failed hiring of Bill Callahan at Nebraska in 2004, a move that followed the surprise firing of Frank Solich following a 9-3 season. Then, Pederson said he wouldn't stand for the Cornhuskers to sink into mediocrity—apparently, a criteria also used in the Wannstedt decision.

Pederson and Callahan subsequently were ousted weeks apart in 2007, with Pederson returning to Pitt shortly after that. He had previously been Pitt's AD from 1996-2002, overseeing the demolition of Pitt Stadium, the move into Heinz Field and the construction of the much-praised Petersen Events Center for basketball.

 

Wannstedt had been hired in late 2004 by former Pitt AD Jeff Long, who is now at Arkansas.

 

Pitt's highlight moment under Wannstedt's tenure was a 13-9 upset victory in 2007 at West Virginia, a 28-point favorite that needed to win to qualify for the national championship game. But the Panthers came back to begin the next season by losing to Bowling Green.

 

Wannstedt, a former Panthers player, returned Pitt to its roots by emphasizing local recruiting, but with decidedly mixed results. Western Pennsylvania turns out far fewer impact players than it did during the 1960s and 1970s, when Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino and Bill Fralic all came from the region.

 

Wannstedt, who has drawn sharp criticism for his in-game coaching, will be allowed to coach the Jan. 8 BBVA Compass Bowl against Kentucky in Birmingham, Ala., if he wants. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. likely will coach the team if Wannstedt doesn't.

 

"Dave's coached his whole life, and all of a sudden he's not a coach anymore," Pederson said of the former Southern Cal, Miami and Dallas Cowboys assistant coach. "It's tough on anyone. Finishing coaching is not easy for anyone."

[ICT HSKR 10]

HAHAHA Contract extensions are the kiss of death! Nice severance package and retirement money though from the payoff.

[The Snork]

Pitt Football: Steve Pederson Now Has Ruined 2 Football Programs

By Dave DeBlasio (Pittsburgh Featured Columnist) on November 27, 2010

This plea for help goes out to Nebraska fans: How did you get rid of clueless Steve Pederson and then dump his win-challenged coach?

 

We suffering Pitt fans need a little guidance. When it comes to football, Steve Pederson knows about as much as the cotillion committee at the Junior League.

 

You guys were so successful in cleaning house at Nebraska Pederson came running back into the arms of Mark Nordenberg, Pitt's aloof chancellor who confuses being chancellor with being king.

 

Some readers who have made it this far are getting ready to tell me how out of line I am for picking on the man who is rebuilding athletic facilities at Pitt, increased football attendance, and administrates over a Top Five hoops program.

 

Re-read title, please. I'm writing about the football program here so save your equivocations for Shakespeare.

 

Some Pitt fans are so mad right now they can't think straight. Two themes predominate their thinking: Wannstedt must be fired and the turf at Heinz Field sucks.

 

Guess what, fellow Panther fans? If Steve Pederson had gotten his way back in 1997, this dud of a coach would have been inflicted on us 13 years ago. Luckily for Pitt, Wannstedt was too busy screwing the Chicago Bears fans to bother with his alma mater.

 

I am a Walt Harris fan—at least a fan of Harris from 1997-2002. Harris seemed to forget that the running game and a strong defense are essential elements of a winning team. But I would take Harris back in a minute over this buffoon of a coach we have now.

 

Pederson sits silently through this disastrous 2010 season he is ultimately responsible for. Just like he did at Nebraska, Steve Pederson never blames himself when his decisions leave a big stink bomb right on top of the fans.

 

Pederson didn't learn self-reflection from his Nebraska termination. He did, however, learn to be cautious and spread the blame around.

 

Pederson is quick to criticize anyone but himself. Pederson ignores fans emails and hides behind his buddy Nordenberg.

 

Remember, fans, he dumped Pitt to go "home" to Nebraska. He returned to Pitt when the Nebraska fans, who have a much lower tolerance level for the nonsense Pederson engages in than we do, ran his butt out of town.

 

Nordenberg welcomed him back and allowed him to extend Dave Wannstedt's contract after two losing seasons and one 6-6, before Pitt's win over West Virginia in 2007.

 

Pederson marked his territory by renewing loser Wannstedt before he set up his office on his return visit to Pitt.

 

That's one big screw you to fans from your new athletic director.

 

Chancellor Nordenberg deserves his share of rebuke as do a number of Pitt chancellors who interfered in Pitt football while knowing nothing about the sport.

 

And please remember how Pitt left its on campus stadium to play home games in a pro venue.

 

The real culprit for the turf at Heinz Field is not Mr. Rooney. Pitt AD Pederson campaigned to destroy Pitt Stadium. Pitt had complete control over Pitt Stadium. Pitt owned it and could have installed natural grass.

 

When you give up ownership, you give up control. That's the American way.

 

Like he is prone to do, Pederson made a mess because he didn't talk to anyone about his stadium plans who weren't fat cats. As a group, former Pitt players were opposed to Pederson's plans and were vocal about it.

 

I raise the stadium issue now because turf complaints come with the territory when you use someone else's facility. Furthermore, the college football game should be played in a college stadium, not a pro stadium.

 

You want to have an inspiring game day experience? Go to a game at Navy's home stadium, or Beaver Stadium, or even Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston.

 

Or go to Nebraska's stadium in Lincoln where they have exorcised all traces of Steve Pederson.

 

Another week will go by, Pederson will stay ensconced behind his office walls, Wannstedt will play circus master to a down-trodden, out-of-control program, and many Pitt fans will be rebudgeting for 2011 adding the money they'll save from canceling Pitt football season tickets.

 

Never fear, Pitt fans, Pederson's moment of accountability is coming. Keeping Wannstedt around for next season will guarantee a loss of season ticket sales and a shrinking fan base in 2011.

 

Increasing home football attendance is the one task we know for certain Nordenberg charged Pederson to accomplish.

 

Hey Husker fans: We have an A.D. we can give you—real cheap, too.

[zoogs]

Some readers who have made it this far are getting ready to tell me how out of line I am for picking on the man who is rebuilding athletic facilities at Pitt, increased football attendance, and administrates over a Top Five hoops program.

 

You know, that doesn't sound too bad if you look at the big picture of things.

 

Didn't know Pittsburgh football started from somewhere to be ruined from, honestly.

[NUance]

Wannstedt had a 42-31 record, including a 26-12 mark from 2008-10 that is Pitt's best for a three-season stretch since 1981-83. However, the Panthers failed to meet expectations even while going 9-4 in 2008 and 10-3 in 2009, when last-minute losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati cost them the Big East title.

 

This season, the Panthers—overwhelming favorites to win the conference— lost a two-game lead in the Big East and a BCS bowl bid by losing to Connecticut and West Virginia.

 

I'll be very surprised in Pedey pulls in a coach any better than Wannstedt.

[kansas husker]

Wannstedt had a 42-31 record, including a 26-12 mark from 2008-10 that is Pitt's best for a three-season stretch since 1981-83. However, the Panthers failed to meet expectations even while going 9-4 in 2008 and 10-3 in 2009, when last-minute losses to West Virginia and Cincinnati cost them the Big East title.

 

This season, the Panthers—overwhelming favorites to win the conference— lost a two-game lead in the Big East and a BCS bowl bid by losing to Connecticut and West Virginia.

 

I'll be very surprised in Pedey pulls in a coach any better than Wannstedt.

 

That's not a fair statement to make. Steve Pederson has a long history of making good and correct coaching hires.

[husker_hurdler]

I keep hearing about Paul Rhoads from ISU. cyclonefanatic doesn't give much credit to the sources

[huskernumerouno]

That egotistical bastard will probably try coaching himself when NO ONE accepts his offer to be a pawn in his little world.