NCAA: Can Somebody Hand Me an Iron City?

Being from the northeast, I humbly believe that I have a basic understanding of Big East football, Boston College, and ACC Atlantic Division. I'd like to think that I can carry a good comparative conversation concerning the talents of Dion Lewis, Montel Harris, and Andrew Dixon. I know what UConn means to Storrs, what Flutie means to Chestnut Hill, and what The 'Cuse means to upstate New York.

But I have no idea why the good people of Steel Town, USA have such hatred for Bill Stull and Dave Wannstedt.

For those of you who weren’t tuned into ESPN during the third quarter of Saturday’s Pitt game against UConn, you missed a crowd berating the home team with some of the loudest booing I’ve heard all season.

They booed the Pitt offense, QB Stull, Coach Wannstedt, Wanny’s mustache, and the Panther mascot.

In fact, the Pitt fans actually booed throughout a pass play from Stull to Jonathan Baldwin at the 0:12 mark of the third quarter…until Baldwin made the catch in the end zone for an important touchdown that sparked the 24-21 comeback win.

Yes, Wannstedt has been inconsistent, but at the time of the hate-fest his boys were trailing a 4-1 UConn team by just eight points. 

Yes, Stull has shown flashes of idiocy, but at the time of the hate-fest he was hitting on over 66 percent of his passes for 1000-plus yards, 11 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. 

Yes, Pitt was losing to UConn for over 45 minutes, but at the time of the hate-fest they were in the middle of four straight scoring drives.

Dave Wannstedt has done a good job recruiting, coaching, and leading a program that struggles to matchup on paper, in facilities, and throughout the recruiting world with the Florida’s, USC’s, and Big 10 powers of college football.

Wanstedt has brought in good recruiting classes that included big-time playmakers like LeSean McCoy, Derek Kinder, Dorin Nickerson, Pat Bostick, Baldwin, and Lewis.

Oh, and by the way Pitt fans, you won on Saturday, you’re now 5-1, and you’re on top of the Big East standings.

Ease up guys.  Cavanaugh and Dorsett aren't walking through that door.  Your nine (err, FIVE!) national championships are a thing of the past.  Larry Fitzgerald has no more eligibility left.  Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Johnny Majors aren't available.

Pitt fans, It's time to crack open that next Iron City, settle onto that favorite bar stool, and enjoy the trappings of being a first-place team.  Coach Wannstedt is getting it done in the Steel City.