NFL: Wannstedt in the mix with 4 NFL teams for defensive coordinator position
Chargers expressing strong interest Former Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt is not expected to stick around in an administrative role with the university. Wannstedt is actively looking to get back into the NFL ranks and has drawn early interest from a handful of teams, including strong interest from the San Diego Chargers.
Panthers are a public relations mess as Pederson hides behind press releases
The Pitt Panthers are being regarded as a national laughingstock and are a public relations mess at this moment. Just days after firing head coach Mike Haywood who was on the job for 16 days, neither chancellor Mark Nordenberg or athletic director Steve Pederson have answered the bell and spoken to the media about the situation. Instead they are hiding behind statements via press releases. The opportunity is there for Nordenberg and Pederson to explain the situation, say all the right things that their previous search didn’t reveal any of those characteristics about Haywood and that they are going to go about this coaching search the right way. They’ve waited too long and need to go up in front of
West Virginia 35 – Pittsburgh 10: Should Wannstedt’s job be in jeopardy?
The Pitt Panthers (6-5, 4-2) suffered yet another disappointing loss in the Dave Wannstedt era, and questions about Wannstedt’s job security are coming full circle after a 35-10 loss to West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) at home on Saturday afternoon. The Panthers had four turnovers in the game as the Mountaineers turned Pitt turnovers into points to take a 14-7 lead at the half. West Virginia then pulled away in the third quarter, Geno Smith threw two touchdowns passes to Tavon Austin in the third quarter, en route to a 35-10 victory. It was an embarrassing loss for the Panthers, who had a clear path to the conference title and an automatic BCS bowl bid, likely the Fiesta Bowl. This was
SPORTING NEWS PICKS PITT TO WIN THE BIG EAST
In its recently released annual college football yearbook, Sporting News has picked Pitt to win the Big East Conference and go BCS bowling in 2009. “Dave Wannstedt has the personnel in place,” writes Sporting News, which predicts the Panthers will earn a visit to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl. Four Pitt players were named to its All-Big East team, including junior offensive tackle Jason Pinkston, senior tight end Nate Byham, junior defensive end Greg Romeus and senior cornerback Aaron Berry. Additionally, tailback Dion Lewis was rated the Big East’s “Top Impact Freshman.” In breaking down Pitt’s 2009 schedule, Sporting News highlighted the annual November clash with West Virginia as the “Game to Watch.” “The conference title could be decided