Pitt Football: A.D. Pederson Fails To Light Fuse with Michael Haywood Hire

I sincerely hope new Pitt coach Michael Haywood is a smashing success. For many Pitt fans, reaching the “next level” has become a myth, ever so elusive and far away.

Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson had a chance to restore faith in the Panthers football program. He had a chance to make a splash with a big-name hire to replace Dave Wannstedt, whose stock has risen as Pederson fumbled through a search for his replacement.

Whereas Dana Holgorsen, the guy West Virginia stole from Pitt when Pederson attempted a weak defense of Holgorsen’s lifestyle to moralistic chancellor Mark Nordenberg, operated offenses that regularly scored more than 400 points a season through a decade of games, Haywood can claim only one—Notre Dame in 2005 when he was offensive coordinator.

Six years of stodgy, predictable Wanny ball, and fans wanted a major change.

Haywood’s only claim to flash is a YouTube video circulating among bloggers where he pumps up the RedHawks.

I can show you Dave Wannstedt’s DVD after upsetting West Virginia in 2007. It’s all flash. In the big picture it meant little.

Brian Bennett of ESPN weighed in yesterday that this particular head coach search looked clumsy. Chris Dokish of Big East Report did not mince words in describing Nordenberg and Pederson as cheap and idiotic if they made Haywood the next head coach.

Fans are weighing in on a number of different web sites with approximately 100 new messages posted on pittblather.com since Haywood’s pre-official announcement around 8:00 p.m. yesterday.

The consensus is running 2-1 that Pederson needed to hit a home run with this hire. Instead, he bunted.

Nordenberg and Pederson should have been concerned about the number of fans threatening to cancel season tickets and the number of alumni, like me, who will continue to vote on their actions in absentia by withholding donations for the time being.

Pederson needs to sell season tickets for the 2011 season. It remains to be seen if yesterday’s hire will light the fuse to accomplish that.

Pederson also needs to keep an eye on his job security. Nordenberg is reported to be retiring next year.