What's Wrong With Pitt Football?

After another loss for the Pitt Panthers, another proverbial nail has been placed in coffin for another season. It looks like Pitt will finish with a 6-6 or 7-5 season, records that have become the standard of mediocrity for the Pitt program.

So, why is the Pitt program stuck in mediocrity? The obvious answer is that they are just not good enough. But, that reason is never enough to satisfy the masses. People want to know who's responsible for the team's inability to show ability.

Wannstedt went 42-31 in 6 seasons as HC.
The Panthers are 19-20 since his firing.

For me, it all started back in 2010 whenever Dave Wannstedt was forced to resign. It was only 2 seasons earlier, Wannstedt led the Panthers into the top 10 and had them threatening for a Big East title. They finished with a 10 win season, the first time since 1982. In fact, Pitt gave Wannstedt a 2 year extension to run through 2014. Little did they know, the Pitt Football program would go through three head coaches in that short time.

The Wannstedt resignation was the biggest blow to the Panther program. He was a local guy, who was able to recruit, and was the first coach to get the Panthers into the top 10 for the first time in 25 years. The suits and higher ups in the Pitt Athletic Department believed there was more on the horizon for Pitt Football. Meanwhile, no other coach had put Pitt in the top 10 since legendary Johnny Majors did it.

So, out went Wannstedt and Athletic Director Steve Pederson hired Miami (OHIO) head coach Mike Haywood. The media responded questionably to Haywood's first press conference. The players were even more lukewarm. He was hired on December 16, 2010 and by January 1, 2011 he was fired. He was arrested for domestic violence.This was the beginning of head coach turmoil for the Pitt program.

Pitt announced the hiring of the good ole southern boy, Todd Graham as their head coach on January 2011. He promised to make Pitt Football, "High Octane," and then they went 6-6.

By December 14, 2011 Todd Graham had accepted the offer to become Arizona State's new head football coach. In less than a year, the Panthers would be looking for their third head coach.

Then on December 22, 2011 the Panthers hired Paul Chryst from Wisconsin. Now, in his third year at Pitt, the Panthers appear to going for another six or seven win season.

Stuck in mediocrity.

At least this is better than what Wannstedt would have done. I mean this guy couldn't win the big game!

At least we were talking about playing in big games with Wannstedt. But, personally, I'm looking forward to another trip to the BBVA-ABC Care Care Pizza Compass Bowl.