What a cerebral, forthright, and informative Broadcast about the Panther Football Program and reflection on the Program where it has been and where it may be going!
No question in my opinion "Pitting" is an outright insult and foolish way to describe the rebuilding of Pitt Football Program! Taking on the Pitt Football Conspiracy Theories about the Football Program! The facts are as I am concern all tried their best to rebuild Pitt into a Top 25 Program but many factors impact on that task the last 20 years. Bold changes brought back winning, but conference changes, athletic changes, coaching changes, and administration changes simple has kept the Pitt Program into a Mediocre Cycle after 2010.
The way I see it and this is just my view with no offense to anyone else, Nordenberg-Pederson did rebuild the Football Program into a winner in their first tenure. However, the second tenure of the Nordenberg-Pederson combination setback the Program back due Nordenberg's over confidence of the selfish, myopic, and ego of a proven Nebraska failed Pederson unable to maintain a Top 25 Program let alone ever build one anywhere, not just at Pitt. At the same time, it is my opinion, Nordenberg Goal after 2004 and especially after 2010 was to get Pitt into a Power Conference. In the end, Pitt is now in the ACC and thus a New Era and revenues is upon the Pitt New Chancellor, Athletic Director, and Coaches!
My own take below:
Nordenberg-Pederson-Harris Era-1996-2004:
Few to none knew Pitt could not even fund 85 Scholarships until 2002. No program can win without a full compliment of Scholarship Players. In addition, few Coaches want to even go to a Program without all 85 Scholarships being funded. Harris a Brilliant Ohio State's QB & Offensive Coordinator too on that challenge after several rejections. Walt not only had a rebuilding job but had to do it paying his Assistants far below any reasonable salary that kept changing his staff and thus ending any steady stability in recruiting, coaching, and game planning from year to year. Yet, after 3 years he did it and brought back Pitt to winning from 1997-2004 going 52-44 at.542% Winning Percentage and 52nd Ranking among FBS Teams. When one thinks that Pitt Football Program went 23-54-1 from1990-1996 Winning .314% Percentage Ranked at 90th among FBS Programs, that was a remarkable accomplishment. Pederson left Pitt like Howland did in 2002 both wanting jobs they wanted all their lives, Pederson return to Nebraska and Howland's desire to coach UCAL, and both failed after 5 and 10 years too. Walt Harris & Staff had many accomplishments with very little resources, but kept losing 2 games it should have won, as winning a 1 many expected to lose? Once the ACC raided the Big East and took away Miami, VT, and BC, Walt's winning 9 Games and having a Heisman Candidate in Fitzgerald, slowly drained away as the Program could not win 10 games? More of an impact was on the Big East reshuffling was just a fight for retaining a BCS Bowl, and just made recruiting and winning tougher. In the end, coaching at Pitt having to over come inconsistent winning, establishing recruiting on a shoe string budget and underpaid changing coaches was hard to overcome and Harris was not renewed after 8 years. Still, Pitt became a more attractive job in the process and Nordenberg did hire Pitt Alumnus Dave Wannstedt and some boosters committed to paying his Assistants the salaries to take the Program back to top 25 Winning.
Nordenberg-Long-Wannstedt Era-2005-2010:
In spite of many high expectations, Coach Dave & Staff had an immediate impact on recruiting as he rebuilt ties with High School coaches and his personality was well established in the NFL and among Parents he met. He renewed faith in Pittsburgh going back to Pitt Block and a few Boosters return but not enough? Yet, changing the Harris West Coast System and upgrading its Recruits Talent took 3 years with 3 to 4 disappointing close losses each year? Yet, the 13-9 Win over WVU and additions the play of Revis and McCoy. Coach Wannstedt won at a higher clip as promised, going 43-31 and winning at 581% clip ranking 40th among FBS Teams. Still, even Wannstedt & Staff had trouble losing games they could have won, had discipline problems off the field, and the return of Fired Disgraced Steve Pederson by his own Alma Mater all haunted Wannstedt's Tenure. Nordenberg chose Pederson over Wannstedt for whatever reason (I Suspect the ACC Power Conference Goals Invitation) the Football Program gains under Wannstedt quickly turn to mediocrity due to Pederson caused instability. Still, the Pitt Program finally won 10 Games with a Top 15 Ranking since 1980s. As well as, rebuilding recruiting classes often in the Top 30 and 25 Rankings was another accomplishment towards rebuilding Pitt's Football Program.
End Of Part I:
Part II Below:
No question in my opinion "Pitting" is an outright insult and foolish way to describe the rebuilding of Pitt Football Program! Taking on the Pitt Football Conspiracy Theories about the Football Program! The facts are as I am concern all tried their best to rebuild Pitt into a Top 25 Program but many factors impact on that task the last 20 years. Bold changes brought back winning, but conference changes, athletic changes, coaching changes, and administration changes simple has kept the Pitt Program into a Mediocre Cycle after 2010.
The way I see it and this is just my view with no offense to anyone else, Nordenberg-Pederson did rebuild the Football Program into a winner in their first tenure. However, the second tenure of the Nordenberg-Pederson combination setback the Program back due Nordenberg's over confidence of the selfish, myopic, and ego of a proven Nebraska failed Pederson unable to maintain a Top 25 Program let alone ever build one anywhere, not just at Pitt. At the same time, it is my opinion, Nordenberg Goal after 2004 and especially after 2010 was to get Pitt into a Power Conference. In the end, Pitt is now in the ACC and thus a New Era and revenues is upon the Pitt New Chancellor, Athletic Director, and Coaches!
My own take below:
Nordenberg-Pederson-Harris Era-1996-2004:
Few to none knew Pitt could not even fund 85 Scholarships until 2002. No program can win without a full compliment of Scholarship Players. In addition, few Coaches want to even go to a Program without all 85 Scholarships being funded. Harris a Brilliant Ohio State's QB & Offensive Coordinator too on that challenge after several rejections. Walt not only had a rebuilding job but had to do it paying his Assistants far below any reasonable salary that kept changing his staff and thus ending any steady stability in recruiting, coaching, and game planning from year to year. Yet, after 3 years he did it and brought back Pitt to winning from 1997-2004 going 52-44 at.542% Winning Percentage and 52nd Ranking among FBS Teams. When one thinks that Pitt Football Program went 23-54-1 from1990-1996 Winning .314% Percentage Ranked at 90th among FBS Programs, that was a remarkable accomplishment. Pederson left Pitt like Howland did in 2002 both wanting jobs they wanted all their lives, Pederson return to Nebraska and Howland's desire to coach UCAL, and both failed after 5 and 10 years too. Walt Harris & Staff had many accomplishments with very little resources, but kept losing 2 games it should have won, as winning a 1 many expected to lose? Once the ACC raided the Big East and took away Miami, VT, and BC, Walt's winning 9 Games and having a Heisman Candidate in Fitzgerald, slowly drained away as the Program could not win 10 games? More of an impact was on the Big East reshuffling was just a fight for retaining a BCS Bowl, and just made recruiting and winning tougher. In the end, coaching at Pitt having to over come inconsistent winning, establishing recruiting on a shoe string budget and underpaid changing coaches was hard to overcome and Harris was not renewed after 8 years. Still, Pitt became a more attractive job in the process and Nordenberg did hire Pitt Alumnus Dave Wannstedt and some boosters committed to paying his Assistants the salaries to take the Program back to top 25 Winning.
Nordenberg-Long-Wannstedt Era-2005-2010:
In spite of many high expectations, Coach Dave & Staff had an immediate impact on recruiting as he rebuilt ties with High School coaches and his personality was well established in the NFL and among Parents he met. He renewed faith in Pittsburgh going back to Pitt Block and a few Boosters return but not enough? Yet, changing the Harris West Coast System and upgrading its Recruits Talent took 3 years with 3 to 4 disappointing close losses each year? Yet, the 13-9 Win over WVU and additions the play of Revis and McCoy. Coach Wannstedt won at a higher clip as promised, going 43-31 and winning at 581% clip ranking 40th among FBS Teams. Still, even Wannstedt & Staff had trouble losing games they could have won, had discipline problems off the field, and the return of Fired Disgraced Steve Pederson by his own Alma Mater all haunted Wannstedt's Tenure. Nordenberg chose Pederson over Wannstedt for whatever reason (I Suspect the ACC Power Conference Goals Invitation) the Football Program gains under Wannstedt quickly turn to mediocrity due to Pederson caused instability. Still, the Pitt Program finally won 10 Games with a Top 15 Ranking since 1980s. As well as, rebuilding recruiting classes often in the Top 30 and 25 Rankings was another accomplishment towards rebuilding Pitt's Football Program.
End Of Part I:
Part II Below:
