Pitt/PSU: PA Taking Center Stage

[The Ancient Enemy]

Wrote this for a site but they aren't exactly running a 4.3 when it comes to how long it takes for them to post stuff. Wanted to get this up before tonight, obviously.




So much talk about the SEC, the Big XII. But what is the hottest area of college football right now? It isn't Texas, it isn't California, it isn't Florida. It isn't even those conferences mentioned above. It is Pennsylvania. There are three FBS teams in PA: Temple, Pittsburgh, and Penn State. For residents of the Keystone State, the ship is officially on the horizon, and looking to make dock.

All three teams are playing better right now than they have in years. Temple's blight has been incredible, to say the least, and the job Al Golden is doing is miraculous and amazing. Way across the state, Pitt has routinely shot themselves in the foot under Dave Wannstedt. And Penn State? Well, they also routinely shot themselves in the foot.

And the fans took notice.

There had been no shortage of reports from the PSU High Command that things needed to change. A lot of the finger-pointing was in the direction of underboss Jay Paterno, for his alledged mismanagement of Penn State's quarterbacks, and questionable playcalling. For the life of me, I am still unsure who is fooled by play-actions on 3rd and 14. The evidence was piling up against JayPa each season, and the lynch mob seemed to grow every week. His old man, Joe, also under heavy rocket-fire from the brass and the fanbase.

As of now, all hammers are silent on the blue and white hangman's scaffold.



West of Happy Valley? Similar grumblings. The Pitt faithful have been calling for former QB Matt Cavanaugh's head for years. Cavanaugh, now the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, has been criticized mightily for his alledged player mismanagement, and poor playcalling even this year, very conservative playcalling at USF, playing for a field goal. Likewise, as a freshman Johnstown High's Larod Stephens returned a kickoff for a TD, the only Pitt TD of the game, and was taken off return duty the next week. Pitt's defense, unlike Penn State's, was also under a barrage of criticsm, as the defenses under Paul Rhodes routinely failed to make in-game adjustments. Rhodes has since left the program for Auburn, and we see where Pitt and Auburn are today, in 2008.

As of now, all hammers, silent in their chorus of the blue and gold guillotine.

Not only do the Nittany Lions and the Panthers battle for much of the same recruits and audiences, they also have a another similarity. In 2004, Penn State won 4 games. In that same year, Pitt lost to Utah in a BCS game that was anything but competitive. But even with the disparity between a BCS game and a 4-win season, the programs were both at a crossroads. Head-Coach Walt Harris exited stage west for Stanford, and both Penn State and Pittsburgh both embarked on journeys into unfamiliar territory.

For Pitt, the journey would be led by former Miami Dolphins coach and former Panther alum Dave Wannstedt, looking to lick the wounds that Harris inflicted with the alumni. It was a seeming perfect fit. In State College, the Lions' staff would persuade (or push aside) Joe Paterno and his 3-downs-and-a-cloud-of-dust offense for a faster attack under Mike Robinson. The Lions had instant success, winning 11 games en route to the Big Ten title. Robinson himself received Big Ten MVP honors. For Pitt, not as much success. 5 wins in Wannstedt's inaugural campaign, and the grumblings had already started.

After two more seasons without bowl appearances, Pitt actually headed into 2008 with large aspirations. But a season-opening loss to Bowling Green looked like it had all but sealed the deal on the failed Wannstedt experiment. It was looking like Wanny's legacy at Pitt was going to be chalked up to his inability to deal with the coordinator positions.

At Penn State in 2006 and 2007, the Lions won 9 games in both years. But for supporters and fans, it was two of the longest seasons they had endured at Penn State. The staff seemed to set aside the success of the 2005 offense for the PSU offense of old, despite the fact that the 2005 campaign gave them more success than they had in a decade.

Going into 2008, the Lions promised a new, faster offense. Across the state, Pitt was ranked in the top 25 to start the year and had themselves a serious Heisman candidate. But despite Pitt's early season pothole, both programs are poised to win their respective conferences.

Things are in position to come full circle for the two programs. The Lions have been knocking on the Big Ten door for years, not able to get inside the upper eschelon. Pitt, likewise, is showing signs that they are the top dawg in the Big East this year, and are poised for years to come. As for Penn State, Saturday is more than just a big game, it is a monsterous game. They are getting their shot to tip the Big Ten scales, which is what they wanted. Pitt, likewise, will get their shot later this year against West Virginia. For the fans, and the players, and the recruits, and the citizens of the Keystone State, this is exactly what everyone knew could be on the horizon, and have been eagerly waiting for.

[deliverance]

Then Pitt went out and lost by 20 to Rutgers. So much for that. I guess at least PSU help up their end of the bargain.

[The Ancient Enemy]

I didn't see any of the Pitt game, and from what I can guess, I bet the Pitt fans wish they hadn't seen it either.

[deliverance]

I didn't see it either. I was watching the 'Horns and trying to catch some of the LSU vs. Georgia game. What happened Pitt fans?

[S Cube]

Rutgers would get a 60 yard td pass, McCoy would score, Rutgers would get a 40 yard td pass and a 50 yard td pass, then McCoy would score. This repeated for the entire game. Schiano out-coaches Wanny every single year and it makes me sick to my stomach.

[trojanpanther]

Like I said before, we are a basketball school.

[The Ancient Enemy]

Its like I said before a million times... when you lose a bad coordinator, you cannot replace him with a guy with a WORSE track record and expect to magically win games!!!!!

[Crimson09Crazy]

5-7 is coming my friends you wait and see.

[ham55]

I see why Royster is running in that photo. Does anybody else see it?







Aaron Maybin is coming!!!

[trojanpanther]

I wouldn't say that Bennett is a worse Defensive Coordinator than Rhoads. If you look at their history, I believe Bennett has the best resume.

You are judging his DC ability by his head coaching ability. The list of outstanding coordinators that didn't make it as head coach is long and distinguished. Bennett had some of the best defenses in football while at Kansas State.