I think Chryst is going to Wisconsin

[Crimson's Ghost]

Not official by any means, but it seems like everything is pointing to him going back to his dream job. I can't say I blame him, home is home, and Wisconsin is a better job than Pitt. It was an unforseen circumstance that sent Anderson to Oregon State.

1. Pitt fans will freak out, because that's what Pitt fans do. And I get the general feeling more people are worried that they are going to have to go through another coaching search than actually losing Paul Chryst as a coach. Chryst has the makings of a good coach, but has his shortcomings as well. I mean the man is 19-19 in three years, nothing too spectacular. He's won a couple of nice games, but has lost some head scratchers as well.

I think he's attractive to Wisconsin because they are insecure right now, and worried that two coaches have up and left for jobs Wisconsin fans feel are beneath them. Chryst is a safe hire, and it isn't hard to go 9-3 at Wisconsin, just the same way it isn't hard to go 6-6 at Pitt right now.

I think he started to do some nice things at Pitt, and started to stockpile a good offense. Pitt underachieved this year IMO, but with 15 starters back next season and it being his 4th year as a coach, he is going into 2015 as a guy that had to prove something. Not so much "on the hotseat" but at the point where he had to win 7 or 8 games.


I don't know if he's gone, but it sure sounds like the Wisconsin media is making it seem that UW is aligning itself to make an offer to HCPC.



Personally, I would say I'm like most Pitt fans, in that, I'd rather not go through this whole ordeal again. I just think the Coastal Division was very winnable, and having Conner and Boyd made it seem like they had a chance. So going into next year, I wanted to see what Paul Chryst could actually do with a team that essentially his own. I'm not sold on the guy yet, so I can't say I'm heartbroken if he would leave, because I'm still cautiously skeptical of the guy.

Having said all of this, there are many problems at Pitt. They need to put more money into this thing if they want to be better. Chryst doesn't make a whole lot, so you know his assistant don't make a whole lot. Pedersen is a disaster, and is hated by this fan base. I said a few months ago I think things are coming to a head with where Steve P will be heading into next year. Pitt has a new chancellor, and I think he may want a guy of his own to run things, and not Steve P.

Dave Wannstedt once upon a time ago won an average of 9 games in his final three seasons at Pitt, and has used national television and radio stages to say Steve Pedersen is hard to work for, and he wished Chryst well, and hoped Pedersen is finally giving him what he needed to succeed. So it could be sour grapes by Wanny, but at the same time he may have a point.

In the event Pitt needs to make a hire, I would hope Pitt uses an outside firm to conduct the search and not let Steve do anything. He's botched basically everything he's touched at Pitt and Nebraska. It should be noted, Pitt does have ACC money now, and could spend more if they want to, we just don't know if that's something they want to do. I heard this new chancellor is somewhat unsure of big time college athletics, and may do just enough to keep Pitt mediocre.



All this could be overblown in the end, but it sure sounds like the Wisconsin media is calling Chryst the candidate to beat. He's from there, played there, coached there, his mom still lives there and like I mentioned before, Wisconsin may be taking the safe route right now. It makes a lot of sense for him to be the top rumored candidate. Maybe we'll be surprised by their hire, maybe Pitt will throw him an extension, maybe something will happen other than him being the next coach of Wisconsin. Who knows, but it sure is sounding like Wisconsin right now.

[konjo78]

I'm thinking They are going to hire from with in. I think chryst is the public favorite, and pitt should be asking him to leave as fast as possible, but honestly i feel it makes too much sense. If they are going to hire anyone not currently on Wisconsin staff i feel it'll be kirby smart for alabama.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I would think it would be someone with Wisconsin/Big Ten ties, don't think Smart fits that bill.


Has anyone else heard Narduzzi is kind of a jerk and that's why he isn't getting looks despite everyone else saying he's the best assistant on the market?

[PLDragons24]

Sportscenter just reported Chryst to Wisconsin.

[Crimson's Ghost]

I don't think that's correct. They didn't add any new information to the story, they just tweeted what this Wisconsin paper has been saying for the past hour.

[konjo78]

How close is Milwaukee to Madison? The fact ESPN doesn't have it on the front page makes me worry it isn't as strong as a report as they feel it should be.

[Crimson's Ghost]

It's not a done deal yet, so that's probably why. They cities are a few hours apart, but they are the only college in the state both newspapers would have equal scoops.

[Coach]

I think Pitt should hire Tom Bradley. They'll win some games....

[KirkHerbstreit]

A lot of Pitt fans are going to jump off a bridge if Chryst leaves, but as a Penn State fan I wanted him to stay. Why? Well, he really is not a good recruiter. I know he landed Whitehead, but Whitehead is going to Pitt but I hardly think it's because of Chryst. Look at the rest of his recruiting classes. He lucked into Dorian Johnson and Tyler Boyd when the sanctions hit. James Connor was a low rated Defensive end. The rest of his classes are mediocre and filled with kids with mac level offers or lower level power 5. People have also said he inherited a mess. That's bull. It's his third year. Bill O'Brien inherited a mess. He went 8-4, 7-5. James Franklin has a mess that is a lot worse. He went 6-6. Pitt's schedule this year was pathetic. 8 wins should have been the minimum. They won 6 games for the 3rd consecutive year.

Pitt needs to be careful with their next hire. If they want stability, they need to hire someone with either ties to the university of Pitt or ties to Pittsburgh. Pitt has this delusional vision of what they are as a program based on the amount of national championships they won prior to world war 2. Since then, they have had 6 good years from 1976-1982. Times have changed. Passion and fanbase matter. Money matters. Playing in an on campus stadium matter. You do not compete for National Titles in Pitt's current setup unless you are recruiting South Florida like Miami(and they even have trouble now). Pitt had someone who would have never left in Dave Wannstadt. They could hire Tom Bradley and he would never leave. They could hire Joe Rudolph, who is from Pittsburgh, and he would never leave.

Pitt fans want Bo Pellini, Doc Holliday, etc. The minute a coach like that has success at Pitt he will be looking elsewhere.

[Crimson's Ghost]

Pitt puts into the program exactly what they get out of it. Pitt fans aren't entirely delusional, I think they are just hopeful that the athletic department will start to give them a competitive chance. You can be 8-4 here annually, and have a chance at a few more wins every couple of years. The ACC coastal isn't a bad place for Pitt, it wouldn't take a genius to get Pitt to 8-4 or 9-3 type records, and I think that's all Pitt fans want right now.

I think you can be successful at Pitt, I just think the university needs to decide if they want to be or not.

Wannstedt's final 3 years, Pitt won 9,10,8 games. Since then they have gone 25-26 in 4 years. It's possible to win here. Walt Harris at least had them hovering at 8-4 rather than 6-6. I think Chryst could win here next season if he were to stay. Todd Graham would have won here too. It just comes down to the athletic department, and I don't think people want to play for those guys.

Like I said, most Pitt fans are more worried about a coaching search than actually losing a .500 coach. Chryst's salary wasn't anything to speak of, so like I said Pitt got what they put into it.