Latest from Paul Zeise

http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/inde...rt-diaries

Zeise can't be trusted with providing information about the coaching search. He was awful at providing information last year on the two coaching searches. I think he basically just gets whatever info Pitt feeds to him and reports it. And with the way these things work and how secretive they are, Pitt is the last source you should trust for the info (until the press conference/release).

I doubt he will be a serious candidate (so he is a serious candidate) but it has been reported that our first year HC Dave Doeren is requesting an interview for your open coaching position.

I don't understand why since he has zero connection to anything east of Ohio and Alabama other then some parts of Florida. On top of that he WILL be one of the top candidates for the K St job after the 2013 season.

Last year he told us that he was going to take us to the next level and become the next TCU/Boise St...blah blah blah. Ya we won our conference/10 games however, we were also 4 plays away from only having 6 wins and that with the greatest college player our school has had maybe ever. After the MACC win he has put his hat in the ring for the HC position first at Kansas and now Pitt.

We knew we couldn't keep him around past 2013 if he was successful but seriously 1 year?

I know you guys want the best possible coach but it doesn't seem like this guy will stick around at Pitt once a Midwest B1G or B12 HC position opens up.

(12-16-2011 01:48 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  I doubt he will be a serious candidate (so he is a serious candidate) but it has been reported that our first year HC Dave Doeren is requesting an interview for your open coaching position.

I don't understand why since he has zero connection to anything east of Ohio and Alabama other then some parts of Florida. On top of that he WILL be one of the top candidates for the K St job after the 2013 season.

Last year he told us that he was going to take us to the next level and become the next TCU/Boise St...blah blah blah. Ya we won our conference/10 games however, we were also 4 plays away from only having 6 wins and that with the greatest college player our school has had maybe ever. After the MACC win he has put his hat in the ring for the HC position first at Kansas and now Pitt.

We knew we couldn't keep him around past 2013 if he was successful but seriously 1 year?

I know you guys want the best possible coach but it doesn't seem like this guy will stick around at Pitt once a Midwest B1G or B12 HC position opens up.

It's an interesting dilemma, isn't it?

There is definitely some sentiment among Pitt fans that the right move is to hire an up and comer who may not stick around forever but will do a very good job while here. I think that was the Todd Graham philosophy. We saw how that worked out.

Then there's a sentiment to have some stability and hire a guy you know won't leave. You could call that the Dave Wannstedt philosophy. Unfortunately, we also saw how that worked out.

I guess since last time we were in the market for an up and comer and got one who bolted so quickly that perhaps this time we'll be a little more concerned about stability. At the same time, the perfect guy for Pitt is pretty much unavailable because of toxicity at Penn State (Tom Bradley, of course). I just don't know what we'll do.

BobL of scout.com is reporting that Luke Fickell has been offered the job and has until the end of the weekend to give his answer.

(12-16-2011 07:20 PM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  BobL of scout.com is reporting that Luke Fickell has been offered the job and has until the end of the weekend to give his answer.

That makes no sense considering Chryst is scheduled to interview on Sat. Wexell wrote that Pitt and Cristobal were working on a contract too.

Yeah I don't believe anyone has been offered the job yet. We still have interviews to conduct.

When does the dead periods start? I would hope that they have a HC before then.

Looks like its:

Cristobal
Chryst
Fickell


I am warming up to Cristobal. Let's see what happens. I would hope they new coach is in place before the weekend.

49ers DL coach Jim Tomsula apparently has interviewed or will interview for the Pitt job according to multiple sources.

(12-20-2011 02:27 PM)ndlutz Wrote:  49ers DL coach Jim Tomsula apparently has interviewed or will interview for the Pitt job according to multiple sources.

Jim... WHO

Here's a link to an article:
http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburg...odd-graham

Here's his Wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Tomsula

Apparently he was the 49ers interim HC when Singletary got fired. He was also a HC in NFL Europe.

It seems that Cristobal and Chryst are the leading candidates with Fickell out.

http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/inde...the-search

Personally, I have 0 problem with Cristobal but I just like Chryst more. Chryst seems to adjust his schemes to the skill/QB that he has. Something both Wanny and Graham failed to do.

(12-21-2011 11:42 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  Personally, I have 0 problem with Cristobal but I just like Chryst more. Chryst seems to adjust his schemes to the skill/QB that he has. Something both Wanny and Graham failed to do.

Count me in that camp too. I like them both ok but think I would prefer Chryst. I think it's going to be Christobal though.

(12-21-2011 12:00 PM)ndlutz Wrote:  

(12-21-2011 11:42 AM)ClairtonPanther Wrote:  Personally, I have 0 problem with Cristobal but I just like Chryst more. Chryst seems to adjust his schemes to the skill/QB that he has. Something both Wanny and Graham failed to do.

Count me in that camp too. I like them both ok but think I would prefer Chryst. I think it's going to be Christobal though.

I'm with ndlutz here with Chryst and thinking it's Cristobal too.

Should find out tomorrow!

Chryst top choice...

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbur...73125.html

PG agrees with the Pittsburgh Trib

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11355/1198533-100.stm

I'd definitely be happy with the Chryst hire. I like the fact that we may take a chance with him. I'm not turned off by the fact that he has no head coaching experience. He's been an excellent coordinator at Wisconsin and his offensive production speaks for itself. With any luck, that translates to Pittsburgh. Quite frankly, his style of offense would fit here very well. Even better I have been hearing that he's very willing and able to adapt what he does to his talent. That's the most important aspect to coaching to me.

His offenses seemed to be a hybrid of a pro set and spread sets sorta like Ohio State and Virginia Tech.

Apparently his brother Geep will be the OC and Todd Orlando will be DC with Keith Patterson in the running for DC. Will be interesting to see who else gets looks. That Jim Tomsula may be DL Coach/Assistant HC. Who knows. Great to know that this is apparently winding down and we can talk about football again.