why do people think wanny was a good coach?

[Gunga_Galunga]

Harris still had very good Miami and VTech teams in the Big East during his tenure. But I guess that fact gets in the way of someone's fun tantrum and is an excuse.

And Wannstedt had good WVU , a few good L'Villes years and then good Cinci teams. Their schedules weren't much different. Big misconception because Miami had that super 4 year stretch.

 

[TD_6082]

Walt was 25-13 his last 3 years here, and had 17 returning starters. Flacco was waiting in the wings to take the baton from Palko. Pitt should have rewarded him with a new contract with additional $ for assistants and facility upgrades. But instead they chiseled him.

Flacco was a RS Fresh playing behind a RS Soph in Palko. I highly doubt he would have stuck around to start for one year in '07. The facilities were pretty much new at the time. Harris benefited from the biggest upgrade in modern history with the move to the South Side & to Heinz (regardless of how one feels about that decision 18 years later. He got 8 years. I think Harris had taken Pitt as far as he could go, especially when it came to recruiting. Wanny was a guy who could sell Pitt, a tie to the glory days with a reputation as a master recruiter at OKST, USC and Miami. For whatever reason, recruiting still never picked up the way it needed to, although I thought he had Pitt looking closer to a legit program in the trenches (where games are still won by elite programs) than anyone since Mike Gottfried.

 

[DiehardPanther]

Flacco was a RS Fresh playing behind a RS Soph in Palko. I highly doubt he would have stuck around to start for one year in '07. The facilities were pretty much new at the time. Harris benefited from the biggest upgrade in modern history with the move to the South Side & to Heinz (regardless of how one feels about that decision 18 years later. He got 8 years. I think Harris had taken Pitt as far as he could go, especially when it came to recruiting. Wanny was a guy who could sell Pitt, a tie to the glory days with a reputation as a master recruiter at OKST, USC and Miami. For whatever reason, recruiting still never picked up the way it needed to, although I thought he had Pitt looking closer to a legit program in the trenches (where games are still won by elite programs) than anyone since Mike Gottfried.

Harris did a good job recruiting considering he was getting pinched on salaries for assistants and recruiting budget, and the uncertainty of the BE with teams leaving. Harris would have won the BE and played in at least one more BCS Bowl if given the proper support.

 

[BanksvilleDave]

Walt was 25-13 his last 3 years here, and had 17 returning starters. Flacco was waiting in the wings to take the baton from Palko. Pitt should have rewarded him with a new contract with additional $ for assistants and facility upgrades. But instead they chiseled him.

Bailing on Walt was the real travesty. He understood what he had at Pitt, his agent told it like it is, and yinzers with money could not face the truths that are even more relevant now than then. Three star recruits for a three star program

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

Wanny HAD THE best RECRUITS OF ANY Pitt COACH since Sherrill.

There. I Fixed it for you.

 

[TD_6082]

Harris did a good job recruiting considering he was getting pinched on salaries for assistants and recruiting budget, and the uncertainty of the BE with teams leaving. Harris would have won the BE and played in at least one more BCS Bowl if given the proper support.

It's impossible to say. With things the way they were, its hard to see Pitt winning the Big East in 05, 06, or '07.

People love that BCS tag, but Pitt finished in a 4 way tie for the Big East title in a 7 team league. That '04 Big East title is not any more or less impressive than the 2010 Big East title imo.