Pitt Announces AD Fired as Coach Leaves for Wisconsin

Well, if Pitt was looking to troll Wisconsin for hiring its now former head coach Paul Chryst they may have succeeded.

As the Badgers were announcing the return of native son Chryst, the Panthers announced his boss, now former AD Steve Pederson was fired.

The report--originally reported by Brett McMurphy of ESPN, doesn't give a reason for Pederson's departure and several other reports state he'd been interviewing potential coaching candidates as recently as Tuesday night.

Several rumors have circulated that former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Greg Schiano had interest in the coaching job and several others have said he's the leading candidate. Pederson's departure may accelerate the move.

Pitt has already named an interim replacement for Pederson. Dr. Randy Juhl, Vice President of Compliance will oversee the athletic department until a replacement is named.

As for the football team, offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph will handle the team through the Armed Forces Bowl on January 2nd. 

Paul Chryst Named Coach at Wisconsin

((ht: host.madison.com))

We first told you about this story last week. But Wisconsin couldn't "officially" hire now former Pitt Panthers coach Paul Chryst until they fulfilled the legal requirement of having the job posted for a week.

The Badgers have a 6pm (Central) press conference scheduled where Chryst will be introduced. And like we said in the above paragraph, it's not a surprise to anyone.

Chryst grew up in Madison. He played for the team in the late 80's and got his coaching start with the Badgers. He was the teams offensive coordinator from 2005-2011.

Chryst had a tough job rebuilding Pittsburgh after some tough years. He had a 19-19 record with the Panthers in 3 seasons.

He'll replace Gary Andersen who left after 2 seasons to jump over to Oregon State. That move surprised many people, but Andersen claimed it was because of the lack of support by administration that caused the move.

Wisconsin plays Auburn in the Outback Bowl.

Reports: Paul Chryst to Get Wisconsin Job

((ht: jsonline.com))

It didn't take long for the University of Wisconsin to find someone to replace departed coach Gary Andersen. Andersen left Madison earlier this week to take the open coaching job at Oregon State.

Reports circulating out of Wisconsin say that soon-to-be former Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Paul Chryst has accepted the job.

Chryst has been at Pitt for the past three seasons with a 19-19 record, but the Panthers have shown great improvement each season.

It should be noted he is a Wisconsin grad and a long time Badgers assistant when the opportunity opened up in Pittsburgh. Armed with head coaching experience, he should be a good fit for the folks in Madison.

Here's the original story on the move from The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

The move also opens up the Pittsburgh job. The Panthers are all in on the ACC at this point and it should be a fairly attractive opening for whomever takes it.

It should be noted that Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez posted the job just yesterday, the guess is he already had his man (Chryst) ready to roll.

Pitt Pulls Off The Upset Of Notre Dame 28-21

When you throw a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter of a close football game it usually results in a loss.

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees threw two picks each by Pitt's Ray Vinopal that helped the Panthers rally to a 28-21 upset of the Irish.



"Our mantra is you can't start winning until you stop losing and we did things tonight that caused losing," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said.

It wasn't just Rees interceptions that doomed the Irish, two Pitt touchdown drives were extended because of Notre Dame penalties.

Then Pitt quarterback Tom Savage fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter but Notre Dame couldn't pounce on the loose ball and the Panthers recovered.

"It was just a lapse, a bunch of inexperienced guys out there not seeing that they should have been on the ball.” Kelly said.

Savage was extremely efficient completing 22  of 35 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns both to Devin Street.



He wasn't perfect." Pitt head coach Paul Chryst said., "I thought he made some big throws. He competed and that kind of rubs off on the rest of the team. I thought he did a lot of good things."

"Our offensive line and running backs did a great job of really running the ball down there and it made it easy for the team and to control the clock." Savage said.  "It was fun."

Savage and the rest of his teammates had fun because not only was Heinz Field rockin' Saturday night but Pitt ended a three game losing streak to Notre Dame.

Paul Chryst finally has his signature win as Pitt's head coach.

"That was a good win." Chryst said. "We were able to do enough things tonight to win. It was a great atmosphere and it was fun. I know it fueled our kids."

So Much For The Big East Being Worth Something

There was the prevailing idea that Louisville and Rutgers would be making some kind of statement: what that statement is... the HQ has no real clue... but some kind of statement about their place in the Bee-Cee-Ess...

So much for that idea- on both fronts...and Charlie Strong's viability during Silly Season may have taken a hit...

First, Teddy Bridgewater played with a broken bone in his wrist... which the HQ gives him due props for... But UConn beat Louisville in overtime- which will send the Cardinals plummeting in the rankings...
((HT: ESPN))


And, then, Pitt scored 21 unanswered in the second on their way to a 27-6 upset of Rutgers- who was ranked 21st at the time of the opening kickoff...

Pitt, still left in some shambles from the Hurricane Todd Graham era, had to have Paul Chryst pick up some pieces... the Panthers, behind Ray Graham, are now 5-6...
((HT: ESPN))

Luck Of The Irish Against Pitt... Blah, Blah, Blah...

((HT: WNDU-TV South Bend))

The HQ, when we found out about how this game ended, called FOSG Mark Harmon and called him the luckiest Ess-Oh-Bee on the planet...

Y'see...

Mark is a Notre Dame alum. And while he's not a fan of Brian Kelly (the adjectives he has used in reference to his personality have not been flattering), he's always a fan of his alma mater and their on-the-field activities this season...

The HQ actually had them going 10-2- losing to Oklahoma and USC...

So much for that first thought... all that's left is the game out west late in the year...

This had all the looks of a signature win for Paul Chryst...three starters brought up on charges, circling the wagons, getting out to an early lead and an apparent dominance on both sides of the ball against The Irish...

So much for that idea...

Down 20-12 late in the fourth quarter, Kelly's Heroes scored to send the game to overtime where they came back for a 29-26 win in the third extra frame

Here's the post-game/news report...
WNDU Video on Demand -

It's the school's best start since 1993... and, to be perfectly honest, it looks like they'll be in the discussion- whatever the discussion is... for quite some time to come...

How exciting for you...

Three Pitt CFB Starters Arrested

((HT: KDKA-TV))

Not what new head coach Paul Chryst needed heading into the Notre Dame game or anything...starters whose legal status is in question...

Running back Ray Graham, defensive back Lafayette Pitts and wide receiver Devin Street are all facing charges of assault and conspiracy in connection with an alleged incident on October 21st in the Pittsburgh suburb of Oakland.

A man by the name of Karl Olsheski alleges that the three football players approached and eventually surrounded him while he was walking down the street with two women. The complaint alleges that Graham made a comment toward Olsheski. Street then, allegedly, punched Olsheski in the head.

The three received summonses to appear for a preliminary hearing January 9th. No word from campus if Chryst has (or will) discipline the three leading up to the game tomorrow.

WPXI-TV's story from the early morning is hyah...

More when we know more...