La~Rod has mixed feelings about being at Pitt

[THE CHOPS]

LaRod's outlook mixed:

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT :

At the press conference announcing his hiring as the football coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Dave Wannstedt said that he wants to re-emphasize the running game.

That could be good news for Greater Johnstown running back LaRod Stephens - who gave a verbal commitment to Pitt earlier this year - or it could result in him going elsewhere.

Stephens was optimistic about the hiring.


"It's nice to hear that he's been named the coach," Stephens said, "coming from his background - he used to play there, he used to coach there, he coached in the NFL."

Stephens, last year's Tribune-Democrat Offensive Player of the Year, said it that Wannstedt's head coaching experience with the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears would be a benefit in attracting quality players to Pitt.

"He knows what it takes to be there in the NFL," Stephens said. "For most players going into college, they have dreams of playing in the NFL. He's a good role model."

But Johnstown coach Bob Arcurio was more cautious about whether the hire would be a good fit for Stephens.

"It depends on what kind of offense (Wannstedt) uses," Arcurio said. "If he uses a power offense, our kid's not a power back. If they run the stretch, that's a perfect fit for him."

Wannstedt said that he would like to see a more balanced offense than the West Coast system run under outgoing coach Walt Harris, indicating that he would like to run the ball 50 percent of the time.

"The running back position is something that we need to focus in on, recruiting-wise," Wannstedt said at his introductory press conference.

Arcurio said the new coach doesn't need to look any further than Johnstown.

"He has a running back - my kid's the real thing," Arcurio said. "They don't have anybody that can break it. LaRod can break it for them."

Having a coach that relies more heavily on the running game could be a great opportunity for an incoming freshman like Stephens, or it could mean that Wannstedt will hit the recruiting trail even harder in search of other running backs. Stephens has been assured that Pitt will honor his scholarship.

But Arcurio said that means little if the two-time all-state running back does not get a chance to prove himself.

"If he goes down there and sits on the bench, that's not going to help him," Arcurio said.

Stephens was more excited about the opportunities that a balanced offense would provide him.

"That gives me a little bit of hope," he said. "I could bring a nice running style into Pittsburgh. I just hope that he looks at me for that. I just hope that I could bring that to Pittsburgh."

After Harris opted to leave for Stanford, Stephens told The Tribune-Democrat that he would like to see a member of the current coaching staff - such as defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads - get the head coaching job.

In his news conference, Wannstedt said that he would be open to keeping some of the current assistant coaches.

That was a definite boost for Stephens, who spurned all offers to visit other schools and focused primarily on Pitt.

"It made me feel better that he was open to the coaches that were already there," Stephens said. "He's going to talk to each one of them and see what they have to offer."

Meanwhile, Arcurio is making sure that Stephens keeps his options open.

"I have to take care of my kids," Arcurio said. "I have a backup (offer) with a MAC team."

"THE CHOPS".

[HOLLYWOOD]

I hope Larod goes to Pitt and has a good career. He shouldn't worry about the coaching and just do his thing and get better every day! I don't know what position he will play. Tough when you have a change in the coaching staff because they don't know you at all or recruit you! Best of Luck to him though

[Lion-line05]

He should have a nice career at Pitt and have a very successful one as well!! The cool thing is that he get's to play for a NFL coach that coached one of the greastest running backs Ricky williams before he became a moron and started thinking about his stupid weed!! Still an awesome guy to play for in wandstedt!!

[#70]

LaRod should def. go to PITT now, you get to play for a former NFL coach, that is awesome. That could help him in the future. wansted, however you spell it, knows what it takes to be in the NFL and that will only help PITT and LaRod.

[Lion-line05]

Something Suprised me when I was on the Internet the other day. I was looking at the caliber of players going D1 and I saw Larod on there only being a 2 star running back!! That suprised me a little bit I figured he would atleast a 3 star or maybe even a 4 star Back!!!

[V8]

Just because someone goes D-1, that doesn't necessarily make them "2-3-4" star back. Granted, he is a very talented player. But, when you can compare him to backs across the nation, the differences become much clearer.

[IEATHAM0555]

Rankings are for the fans...and you get them by the kind of school you are at and how you tested at camps like the NIKE camps...college coaches dont look at them and if you ask a head coach in college what they think about them they say they dont even look at them...yeah if you are a 5 star recruit you are gonna be good but teams recruit players that are gonna be good so if someone is being recruited by a team like pitt they must be pretty good...his size might have something to do with it

[V8]

He is only about 5'7, isn't he?

[Recruiting Guru]

I was just wondering where u seen the 2 star ranking at ...Because on Rivals.com and theinsiders.com he is a 3 star Player

http://pittsburgh.rivals.com/viewprospe ... _key=26458

http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=1158670

Also his backup MAC team is Toledo!!!

He takes his visit there this weekend

[D-nice]

hope he goes to toledo ,i don't have a good feeling about him.