The words almost came out of Tim Salem's mouth too soon. Three months ago, when he was Pitt's tight ends coach, he said he almost called out offensive plays in the opener against Youngstown State. “I had to hold back,” he said.
There's no holding back — for at least the next six days. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said he has named Salem the play-caller for the Military Bowl on Monday against Navy. Narduzzi said he hasn't started looking for a permanent coordinator to replace Jim Chaney, who resigned Dec. 12 after only 11 months to take the same job at Georgia. He'll get serious about that search after the bowl game, but Salem will be a candidate. “Why would you not be (interested)?” said Salem, 54, who has been an offensive coordinator for 10 seasons at three schools in each of the past three decades. “You coach to be at that level.”
Said Narduzzi: “We'll see how the game goes.” In any case, he doesn't plan to veer far from the course he set when he hired Chaney.
“I like pounding the football (with the run game),” Narduzzi said. “That's Pittsburgh. That's what our personnel has been built to right now.” But Narduzzi does have one requirement for the job that Chaney failed to fulfill. He wants his next coordinator to stick around for a while. “We don't need a guy to come in here for a year,” he said. “It does me no good. It does our football team no good.” He said athletic director Scott Barnes and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher tried to get Chaney to stay. “They probably went above and beyond what they should have and could have done,” Narduzzi said. “The commitment is there, big-time.”
What's left for the short term is for Salem to build a relationship with all of his players, especially quarterback Nathan Peterman, who was close to Chaney and transferred from Tennessee to Pitt because of him. “It was difficult and shocking at first,” Peterman said of Chaney leaving. He said the two of them shared “a moment” after Chaney informed the other quarterbacks he was leaving. “It was a little emotional, but I understand. It's a good opportunity for him. “He was one of the only ones who believed in me coming out of high school. Nobody else wanted to take a chance on me.” Salem, who will call plays from the coaches' booth, understands the scrutiny and pressure he must face as offensive coordinator.
No matter if you're Todd Haley of the Steelers, they (critics) are all going to look at you,” he said. ‘You're too conservative, no imagination, don't throw the ball deep enough, don't make the third-and-shorts.' ” It also can be lonely. “Especially when it's that fourth-down call and the headphones always go blank and silent and (the other coaches) don't want to say anything,” Salem said. “You have to make the call. It puts you on the hot seat.”
Notes: Tyler Boyd said he is “real close” to a decision on whether to enter the NFL Draft next year. “But I'm trying to still perform and get ready for this last game,” he said. “I'm still waiting for the feedback from the NFL, still enjoying college life.” … Wide receiver Zach Challingsworth, who caught at least one pass in each of the past seven games, has a shoulder injury and won't play in the bowl game. … Graduate assistant Dave Bucar, who has been with the team through two coaching staffs, will coach tight ends in the bowl game with help from graduate assistant Mike Shanahan.
Tim Salem:
Experience as coordinator:
Phoenix College (1987-88),
Purdue (1994-96),
Central Florida (2004-08)
Did you know? Former Pitt offensive coordinator Jim Chaney replaced Salem at Purdue in 1997.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
There's no holding back — for at least the next six days. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said he has named Salem the play-caller for the Military Bowl on Monday against Navy. Narduzzi said he hasn't started looking for a permanent coordinator to replace Jim Chaney, who resigned Dec. 12 after only 11 months to take the same job at Georgia. He'll get serious about that search after the bowl game, but Salem will be a candidate. “Why would you not be (interested)?” said Salem, 54, who has been an offensive coordinator for 10 seasons at three schools in each of the past three decades. “You coach to be at that level.”
Said Narduzzi: “We'll see how the game goes.” In any case, he doesn't plan to veer far from the course he set when he hired Chaney.
“I like pounding the football (with the run game),” Narduzzi said. “That's Pittsburgh. That's what our personnel has been built to right now.” But Narduzzi does have one requirement for the job that Chaney failed to fulfill. He wants his next coordinator to stick around for a while. “We don't need a guy to come in here for a year,” he said. “It does me no good. It does our football team no good.” He said athletic director Scott Barnes and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher tried to get Chaney to stay. “They probably went above and beyond what they should have and could have done,” Narduzzi said. “The commitment is there, big-time.”
What's left for the short term is for Salem to build a relationship with all of his players, especially quarterback Nathan Peterman, who was close to Chaney and transferred from Tennessee to Pitt because of him. “It was difficult and shocking at first,” Peterman said of Chaney leaving. He said the two of them shared “a moment” after Chaney informed the other quarterbacks he was leaving. “It was a little emotional, but I understand. It's a good opportunity for him. “He was one of the only ones who believed in me coming out of high school. Nobody else wanted to take a chance on me.” Salem, who will call plays from the coaches' booth, understands the scrutiny and pressure he must face as offensive coordinator.
No matter if you're Todd Haley of the Steelers, they (critics) are all going to look at you,” he said. ‘You're too conservative, no imagination, don't throw the ball deep enough, don't make the third-and-shorts.' ” It also can be lonely. “Especially when it's that fourth-down call and the headphones always go blank and silent and (the other coaches) don't want to say anything,” Salem said. “You have to make the call. It puts you on the hot seat.”
Notes: Tyler Boyd said he is “real close” to a decision on whether to enter the NFL Draft next year. “But I'm trying to still perform and get ready for this last game,” he said. “I'm still waiting for the feedback from the NFL, still enjoying college life.” … Wide receiver Zach Challingsworth, who caught at least one pass in each of the past seven games, has a shoulder injury and won't play in the bowl game. … Graduate assistant Dave Bucar, who has been with the team through two coaching staffs, will coach tight ends in the bowl game with help from graduate assistant Mike Shanahan.
Tim Salem:
Experience as coordinator:
Phoenix College (1987-88),
Purdue (1994-96),
Central Florida (2004-08)
Did you know? Former Pitt offensive coordinator Jim Chaney replaced Salem at Purdue in 1997.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
