Pitt Football Fires Michael Haywood: Could Rich Rodriguez Be a Good Fit?

Once the news on new Pitt head coach Michael Haywood’s arrest on a domestic battery charge, the Pitt faithful have been in an uproar.

Former coach Dave Wannstedt, while he underachieved at times, had come off of three seasons in which he won nine, 10 and seven games. Pitt hasn’t seen a three-year stretch of success in a very long time.

Naturally, Pitt AD Steve Pederson turned to Haywood, who only two seasons ago completed a 1-11 campaign at Miami, OH.

Now, after the charge on Haywood was upgraded to a felony there was only one move Pitt could make and that was to fire Haywood immediately.

"After careful consideration of recent events, the University of Pittsburgh has dismissed Michael Haywood as its head football coach, effective immediately. He was advised of that action this afternoon," Pittsburgh chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg said in statement.

With all the secrecy involved not only with Wannstedt’s dismissal, but the initial search for a head coach, the finger is going to get pointed at the last man standing. Pederson.

In essence, after the Haywood firing, Pederson’s stock has dropped as low as it’s ever been. Considering how most feel about him, it’s shocking that Haywood is the only one that was given his walking papers.

“It isn’t fair. The truth will eventually come out,” Haywood told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

According to Assistant St. Joseph County Police Chief Bill Redman said the woman Haywood has been accused of beating had marks on her neck, arms and back.

If that’s the case, I don’t want to see what Haywood’s idea of fair truly is.

Make no mistake about it though; Haywood has left his imprint on the Pitt program even without coaching a single game.

In a matter of a little over two weeks, Haywood watched a recruiting class that Wannstedt had as the 21st-ranked in the nation dwindle down to only nine recruits. Half of them will likely decommit after the next coach is named.

That impact alone could be felt for a few years.

Now the pressure shifts back to Pederson, who must hire his second coach in a little under a month.

Who’s left though?

If Haywood was the guy Pederson wanted when there were candidates available, the chances of a quality hire when the candidates aren’t available are very slim.

You can throw out all the names of ex-coaches who were let go this season and Pitt won’t throw the money at any of them.

One name in particular that might make a little bit of sense is Rich Rodriguez, who is certain to be the former head coach at the University of Michigan very soon.

Sure Rodriguez had some issues both on and off the field at Michigan, but as much as I hate to admit it, this might make sense.

Rodriguez can recruit. No debating that. He also can win in the Big East. No debating that either.

Pederson stood by and watched West Virginia take Dana Holgorson right away from them. If he wants to make a splash, Rodriguez could be out there.

Of course, that would not only come with baggage, but it would take some time for Rodriguez to gather the personnel necessary to run his offense.

While it will never happen, it’s really not a far-fetched idea from the Panthers' point of view.

Sometimes to find the right guy, you have to turn to the enemy. It couldn’t turn out any worse than the Haywood hiring.