The incredible lightness of being Wannstache

By Tim Cottrell
Sports Writer/Designer
Published: August 31, 2008

You may recall my second column of the year saying that Pittsburgh wouldn’t live up to the hype this year.

Even I didn’t think the 25th-ranked Panthers would fall apart so quickly.

In a game in which it led 14-0 early, had a 27-15 first down edge and a 393-254 total yardage advantage, Pitt somehow managed to lose at home to Bowling Green, a team last seen getting waxed 63-7 by Tulsa in the GMAC Bowl.

This is just more of the same for head coach Dave Wannstedt, who has made a habit of taking inexplicable losses over the course of his NFL and collegiate career.

All the talk in the preseason was that Wannstedt’s highly-rated recruiting classes of the last few years would start to make an impact, and that the Panthers would build on the momentum of their upset of West Virginia to propel them to a bowl game.

They still might make a bowl, but I’d say they proved unequivocally that they’re not to be taken seriously.

Pitt offensive coordinator Mike Cavanaugh has come under fire for his conservative play-calling, and rightfully so, but as Auburn fans know that kind of thing tends to get dictated from the top.

Wannstedt seems like a very nice guy and he was a very good defensive coordinator in the NFL and appears to be a good recruiter, but I’d say there shouldn’t be any doubt at this point that he has no business being a head coach.

But I think two quotes from the Associated Press recap of the game really tell the story well (and do a good job encapsulating the essence that is Wannstache):

“They gave us some unusual formations and we had a tough time adjusting to it,“ said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, who seemed befuddled by the loss.

Unusual formations? Tough time adjusting? YOU’RE A DIVISION I FOOTBALL COACH, BROTHER.

If you’re a head coach at a BCS conference school and can’t figure out how to counter some MAC team’s crazy formations, you’re probably in trouble.

And Wannstedt and “befuddled” should probably come up in a word association test.

Secondly:

(Pitt running back LeSean) McCoy didn’t seem to like the conservative play-calling, which came after Pitt punted from the Bowling Green 35 and 34 early in the game.

“It would have been nice to get a touchdown but, you know, we follow the leader,“ McCoy said of Wannstedt.

McCoy rushed for over 1,300 yards as a freshman last year, but was limited to 71 yards on 23 carries yesterday.

No. 1: You’re telling me you can’t find a way to get one of the most dynamic players in the country the ball in space and see what he can do with it against a MAC team (even if that MAC team is pretty good, which I will acknowledge)?

No. 2: As Alabama fans no doubt remember from Mike Shula’s final underwhelming campaign at the Capstone, a pattern of conservative play-calling like that can lose you the team, as McCoy might be implying here.

Pitt could very well rebound and have a decent season, but at this point unless they win the Big East or come really close I’m not sure Wannstedt keeps his job.