Pitt Football: Ex-Coach Wannstedt Will Not Coach Panthers at BBVA Compass Bowl

Former Pitt head football coach Dave Wannstedt told sources close to Pitt this morning he will not coach the Panthers in the upcoming BBVA Compass Bowl.

The university has named Phil Bennett, Pitt's popular defensive coordinator and the only guy left connected with Panther football who still has a sense of humor, as interim coach.

Bennett will lead the Panthers onto the field in Birmingham on Saturday to take on Kentucky in the BBVa Compass Bowl.

Wannstedt's decision is more important not for what it says about the bowl game but for its confirmation that he is finished with Pitt.

During his faux press conference to discuss Wannstedt's "resignation," Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson, under fire now from every direction, stated that Wannstedt would be his special assistant.

Right. This morning's decision by Wannstedt seems to throw a cloud of smoke over that one.

More than likely Wannstedt is checking out his legal options and intends to recover as much guaranteed money from the university as possible.

When Pederson extended Wannstedt's contract not once, but twice, he created the kind of mess the university now finds itself in with its ex-coach.

Was Wannstedt handled with dignity and fairness during his termination?

You be the judge.

The shock Wannstedt demonstrated after his one-on-one with Pederson leading to his firing indicates he was never given official warnings from Pederson that his job was in jeopardy.

As the past month has turned the spotlight on Pederson and the way he conducts business, it is not a stretch to believe Wannstedt. Pederson makes it a habit of refusing to answer press queries even as recently as yesterday.

Through this saga, Pederson never met with current players to reassure them. He only met with a beleagured group of assistants yesterday.

Should Wannstedt have known his job was in jeopardy? With a portion of the fan base calling for him to be rehired, the answer to that question is not necessarily.

Athletic departments have a hierarchical organizational structure, and the athletic director is responsible for ongoing communication with the head football coach. Obviously such communication did not happen.

It's no leap of faith to assume Wannstedt felt double-crossed.

According to Paul Zeise, Pitt football beat reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, after Pederson's forced resignation conference, Wannstedt went directly to Pitt chancellor Nordenberg.

Once again, Wannstedt felt double-crossed as he believed all along the chancellor was in his corner.

Conversations with Wannstedt about his job security should have taken place after the Miami game, a 31-3 Pitt loss, and the UConn game, the most significant Panther loss in Big East play.

Phil Bennett is a good choice to bring some level-headedness to the Pitt football program for the time being.

Pitt chancellor Nordenberg is aware of the public relations potential of Saturday's bowl game. It's the only football game on ESPN that day and the national media will be squarely focused on Pitt.

With Wannstedt out of the picture for the time being, Pitt has a chance to gain some good will if Bennett can pull off a Compass Bowl victory while at the same time Pitt announces its new football coach.

Moving forward is the only option.