La~Rod has mixed feelings about being at Pitt
Posted: December 24th, 2004, 12:20 pm
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".
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".