Pitt Football: Rich Rod Is Not a Serious Candidate to Replace Haywood

Separating fact from fiction in a head coach's search is often difficult. Rumor has it UConn has put its feelers out for Penn State's Tom Bradley and they are ready to act quickly.

Dreaming about Rich Rodgriguez being fired by Michigan—I don't believe that's happened yet—then getting the call from Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg to lead the Pitt football team is pure fantasy.

Or some might call it a nightmare.

It doesn't matter because it won't happen. The search to replace Haywood is beginning with a rush and there are no big names on the list.

Paul Zeise reports today in his Red Shirt Diaries that Kevin Sumlin of Houston and Todd Graham of Tulsa expressed interest in the Pitt job during the first search (post-gazette.com, Jan. 2, 2011). They were turned down after being interviewed.

Yes, add that information to your Steve Pederson termination folder.

Peter Thamel of the New York Times is reporting those guys won't even speak with Steve Pederson,  Pitt's athletic director, again. Case closed. Not interested.

Pederson is under fire and everyone knows it. After Pitt chancellor Nordenberg announced Mike Haywood's termination, he followed up with a comment about "his full confidence in and support of Steve Pederson, an important member of Pitt's senior leadership" (triblive.com, Jan. 2, 2011).

Infer as you will but we all know what a vote of confidence usually precedes.

Pederson will look at coordinators as well as head coaches this time. Tom Bradley will get a serious look according to Pederson.

Brady Hoke, head football coach at San Diego State University, might still be in the running.

As of this date, there are more names to eliminate from consideration than to add. Take Frank Cignetti off the list. Cignetti is working out a deal with Greg Schiano and Rutgers to be the Scarlet Knights' offensive coordinator.

Joe Paterno, Penn State's head coach, went public today in his support of Tom Bradley for the Pitt job.

Randy Edsall, UConn's coach, expressed interest in the Pitt job a few weeks ago. He was apparently serious about leaving the Huskies, the program he built into a BCS contender. He has been named Maryland's new head football coach.

I don't know where the search will end up but one thing is for certain: Hell will freeze over before Pitt even considers Rodriguez.

Stay tuned. If you ever pause to look at accidents on the highway or burning buildings, you are in for some serious entertainment as Pitt digs its way out of a deep dark hole.

The coaching search is heating up already.