Football Q&A with Paul Zeise

Friday, November 19, 2004

It is a two-game season now and Pitt should be well rested and ready to go next Thursday in the Backyard Brawl. It shouldn't take them too much to get up for this one, either, as the memories of the Mountaineers dancing around Heinz Field two years ago or putting up 52 last year should still be fresh in their mind.



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Q: Why do you keep pushing for a new football coach? Have you forgotten the Foge Fazio era?

Gene Chianelli of Huddleston, Va.

ZEISE: I'm not sure what you mean. You are way off base with this one. I have not pushed for a new coach or for Walt to be fired. in fact, I've been one of the few who has said Pitt needs to really think long and hard about things before they make a move. I think Walt Harris and has staff have gotten a bit of a bad rap in many ways from many circles and the piling on in recent months has been ridiculous.

My opinion has always been this: If Pitt thinks it can do better than it is doing, that there is some higher level I keep hearing about, then it should make a change. But I don't think the program is that far below what it should be, to be honest. The two areas it needs to improve are (1) beating ranked teams and becoming ranked itself and (2) recruiting the top players in this area. No. 2 might be Harris' biggest shortcoming. The question you need to ask yourself is how far away in these two areas is Pitt under Walt Harris? Sure, he has been terrible against ranked teams and they've only been ranked (in the final polls) once under his watch, but they've been a game or two away almost every year. And he has landed some guys, like Revis, Gill and Palko, he just needs to get more.

An argument could be made that perhaps they are on the cusp of something big, especially with such a young team. Of course, the same thing was said before 2001 and 2003 and well, we all know what happened those two years.

One other thing that I think is so telling about Pitt fans' negativity and pessimism and why that program seems to be eternally stuck in mediocrity: Why does a new coach have to be Foge Fazio or Paul Hackett? Essentially, when I hear that "we can't go back to the Paul Hackett era so we should just stick with the status quo because at least we win now more than we lose" my first thought is why expect the worst? That tells me you have no faith in Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, Jerry Cochran or Jeff Long.

That tells me many Pitt fans feel these three guys are so incompetent that they won't be able to hire a good or -- gasp -- great coach to take the program to a higher level. That is possible, I mean, there are a few good ones out there to be had and Pitt's administration may just get it right.

That negative, pessimistic vibe is something that surrounds Pitt's program like stench surrounds Cleveland. Yes, you might hire the wrong guy and take a step back, but then again, what if you hire the right guy? You can't be great without taking a risk or two along the way.

Like Matt Damon's character in the poker movie Rounders says just before he sits down in a high stakes game with his life on the line "You can't lose what you don't put in the middle, but then again, you can't win either." In other words, without a risk, there is no reward.

Q: Why is Pitt getting no recognition nationally and within the Big East?

Mark Schilajew of Huntingdon

ZEISE: What exactly has Pitt accomplished that they deserve anything but admiration for being a bunch of hard-nosed kids that play with a lot of heart and enthusiasm? They are 3-2 and in the middle of the Big East pack (with two of their conference wins over Rutgers and Temple), they have really one decent win -- Boston College (who let's not forget lost to ACC powerhouse Wake Forest and struggled to beat Ball State) -- and another against a bad Notre Dame team. Yes, I know they beat Tennessee, but the Vols lost their quarterback in that game and it was just one of them days. Notre Dame is still not a good football team. They will finish 6-5 and go to some nothing bowl in the middle of nowhere (perhaps the Insight.

I'm not trying to be a wet blanket or take anything away from Pitt -- this is a fun team and they play hard. But let's be serious -- do they really deserve national recognition at this point given who they've beaten, who they've lost to and who've they've struggled to beat? I think Pitt is a great story of kids who work hard and play hard and have fun doing it. But beyond that, I'm not sure they've accomplished enough to deserve anything more than the recognition they are already receiving.

The Panthers are a lot of fun, I love the way they play the game, but let's keep this all in perspective. They have beaten nobody and have played what has to be one of the worst schedules among Division I-A teams from BCS conferences and part of that is because the Big East is not very good this year. I'm not saying Pitt is a bad team, I am saying the schedule has worked for them (in helping them to a winning season) and held them back (because it is fairly weak and the Panthers record is perceived to be padded).

Q: Can you talk about how Penn State got verbals from Justin King and Lydell Sargeant in one week during a 3-7 season while Pitt has trouble signing even one high caliber player per season?

Christian Ehehart of Stamford, Conn.

ZEISE: It is simple -- that is still a first-class program in a first-class conference with far less questions surrounding it than Pitt. The Panthers are in a shaky conference, they have a lame-duck coach who may or may not be back and frankly, Joe Paterno has had about a 50-year head start on Walt Harris in establishing ties and creating expectations. Paterno has earned the benefit of the doubt, although people are beginning to waver. And like I said before about expectations -- Penn State people expect their administration will do the right thing and hire the right guy and they sell this to kids who may be worried about Paterno's future. Justin King said as much -- the tradition will continue regardless of who takes over. The tradition is there, the stability is there -- although Paterno is running on empty -- and frankly that's something that Pitt has to and always will have to combat. Penn State puts 100,000-plus people in the seats whether they are playing Central Florida or Michigan. It is a losing team, but it is still a great program. Pitt is still working on creating an identity as a program, even though it has been a winning team.

Q: You said in an article that Pitt doesn't travel well to bowls. Don't you think that Pitt fans would travel a lot more to the Gator or BCS bowl? Also, will the South Florida game be televised? And can Walt Harris save his job with two wins?

Danny Paterline of Columbus, Ohio

ZEISE: On your first question -- I don't think you have that luxury, to pick and choose when you'll support the team. Pitt fans want it both ways -- They want to be considered a big-time program, they don't want to act like one and then they want to make excuses for why they aren't or complain about lack of respect. A big-time program sells out the Furman game, or comes close to it, as quickly as it sells out the bigger games. A big-time program doesn't have 20,000 empty seats for Nebraska. Instead, people here want to whine about the quality of the competition. Then, they want to go to a bowl game, but when Pitt goes to the Tire Bowl, they want to whine that it isn't worth the trip because it isn't a big enough bowl and expectations were higher.

That is nonsense.

Either you support the team -- all the time -- or you don't. It is easy to go to the Sugar Bowl, but teams with real fans bring big followings to lesser bowls as well. West Virginia sold out the Tire Bowl the year before last, they sold out the Gator Bowl last year and if they go back this year, they'll do so or come close again.

If you were the Gator Bowl -- and needed to sell tickets and fill hotel rooms -- who would you bet on? The team with the proven record of having loyal and dedicated fans who travel to bowl games through good times or bad or the team that talks about it and promises this year will be different?

On your second question -- there is no television as of yet for South Florida but Pitt officials are working on it.

On your third question -- two wins may be enough to force the administration to keep Harris around, but it still may not be enough for him to want to stay. Remember, it takes two to tango and right now the university isn't the only side that isn't sure it still wants to be on the dance floor when the next slow jam begins.

And by not extending his contract before the year, the university is in a real bind because Harris's price tag continues to increase with every win. And if he pulls off a BCS berth, the powers that be better be ready to pony up some real dough or lose him and look silly in doing so.

Q: How does Pitt's strength and conditioning coach compare to the last one?

Michael Schwartz of Canonsburg

ZEISE: It is night and day. This team is in far better shape -- physically and mentally -- than any team was under former coach Dave Kennedy. Mike Kent has done a terrific job with this team. They are a lean and mean bunch and they are much more capable of winning games in the fourth quarter because of it. It is no accident that it is their opponents and not the Panthers that are winded in the fourth quarter. You can talk about Tyler Palko's leadership all you want - and that's huge- - but a big difference this year and a reason for all these comebacks is Pitt is not getting worn down in these games and in fact is getting stronger and wearing other teams down.

And if last year's team had the mental toughness -- a by-product of a rigid conditioning program -- and physical conditioning of this year's unit, we'd have been watching an 11-win team not an 8-win team.

Q: Does Pitt win the Big East outright if it finishes in a three-way tie for first with BC and West Virginia?

Randy Ketner of Altoona

ZEISE: Here is the simplest way to break this down: If Pitt wins two games and Boston College beats Temple and loses to Syracuse, the Panthers would finish in a three-way tie with West Virginia and Boston College. Since Pitt would be 2-0 against the other two, all it would need to win the BCS berth is to be within five spots of the other two in the BCS rankings. There are a number of other scenarios, some far more realistic than others, but that one seems to be the easiest path because most others depend on Temple beating BC tomorrow and that doesn't seem likely.

Q: Assuming Walt Harris gets fired, what about Ron Zook? He has some ties to Pittsburgh and is an ace recruiter.

Mike of Alexandria, Va.

ZEISE: Shawn Evans from Scott wants Rick Neuheisel. Andy Zarroli from Plum favors Bob Davie. Phil King from D.C. thinks that Mike Price will be looking to take a step up from UTEP. I've also been asked about Steve Spurrier, Lou Tepper, Tim Lewis, Bo Pelini, Matt Cavanaugh, Sal Sunseri, Dave Wannstedt, Mike Ditka, J.D Brookhart. People, enough! I get the picture --- there are a lot of coaches out there with good credentials that might be interested and some have Pitt ties.

I'm not going to sit here and critique each candidate because 95 percent of the names I've heard, if not more, will not be candidates. Further, the job isn't opened yet so to speculate is silly.

If they do open it, I'd say the big thing they need is to find a top-notch recruiter and a guy who has the personality to energize the fan base, which I fear has been lulled to sleep. Sal Sunseri would fit that bill, but so would Tim Lewis and a lot of other guys. So do yourself a favor -- relax, enjoy the last two games and let the chips fall where they may.

Q: Greg Lee is carrying the torch for "Wide Receiver U." Who are some of the recruits we have that may carry this tradition on?

Chris Gross of West Chester, Ohio

ZEISE: Well, they have secured commitments from two New Jersey receivers, Shawn Simmons and Oderick Turner. Both are about 6-2 and both are said to be fast. Who knows how good they will be at this level because there are a lot of variables with receivers. Among the freshman now on the team, Marcel Pestano has a lot of upside. He wasn't quite ready to play this year, which is why Kelvin Chandler and Derek Kinder have gotten the playing time. But, Pestano has big-time ability. I also think Chandler and Kinder can be excellent receivers and there is always Darrell Strong, who doesn't have blazing speed, but for his size, strength and pass catching ability could become a big, big factor in the future. And don't forget Allen Richardson, who mostly return punts. He may be the best athlete of the bunch. He still has a lot to learn about running routes (remember he was a converted corner) but he is a sleeper.

Q: What do you think the odds are that Tyler Palko and Greg Lee stay all four years if they keep playing at a high level?

Larry Joseph of Mt. Lebanon

ZEISE: I think very good, especially with Palko. Both would have to improve so much in the next year in order to jump into the category of first-round picks. That's not impossible, but it isn't likely. Both have a lot of talent, though, so the sky is the limit. But I just don't think either will be ready after next season and both are level headed enough to recognize that and stick around for another year.

Q: What is the status of Azzie Beagnyam? And what has happened to Adam Gunn and Corey Davis?

Michael Knizner of Marianna

ZEISE: Beagnyam is out for the year, Gunn and Davis are redshirtting but coaches are excited about both, especially Davis, because he is far more intense and committed to becoming a star than you might think given his weight issues early in the season. He has a chance to become a big-time defensive tackle. Another name to remember is Craig Bokor, who is at Valley Forge. If he gets eligible, the combination of Bokor and Davis could be scary for opponents.

Q: Why does Walt Harris continue to juggle running backs?

Buzzy Siford of Carrick

ZEISE: Because he doesn't have any quarterbacks to juggle. No, seriously, he said he has a lot of guys with different talents and wants to get them all into the game. I'm with you, though, I think he needs to settle on one or two and let them get on a roll. Under the current setup, nobody has a chance to really get into the flow of the game. I think the combination of Murphy at fullback and Kirkley at tailback is the best backfield he can put out there, with Furman thrown in as a change of pace.

Q: About Tyler's "F-bomb" why wasn't there an apology from the NBC announcers when Notre Dame fans were chanting "Bull-you-know-what" after the pass interference call?

Pete Tucciarone of Wexford

ZEISE: Probably because the chant wasn't a result of an interview and really wasn't very audible unless you were listening for it. The whole "F-bomb" incident was way overblown, however, by a bunch of stuffed shirts who have nothing better to do with their time but find something to complain about. The kid got carried away, apologized and moved on. I don't see what the big deal is. That silly "kids were watching" stuff is nonsense. Somehow I must have missed the rash of news reports about kindergarten teachers all across the country complaining about increased use of the "F-word" in the wake of the Notre Dame-Pitt game. And besides, if you walked into the average elementary or middle school these days you'd probably hear far worse language than what Tyler said.

Q: What are your projections for Big East bowls and what can Pitt fans reasonably expect for the Panthers?

Adam Yacono of Shaler

ZEISE: That's complicated. Here is my best shot: BC will not lose and will go to the BCS. I think Temple had their moment in the sun last week and Syracuse is not good enough to win at Boston College. If Pitt wins out, it will need some help from the ACC in order to get to the Gator bowl (basically needs Virginia Tech to be there as well) but could be headed to the Insight Bowl. WVU is either Gator or Insight bound. UConn, should it win out, is likely the Tire Bowl. If Pitt loses one, to drop to 7-4 (or drops to 6-5), expect Notre Dame (who will likely finish 6-5) to take the Insight Bowl and Pitt to head somewhere like the San Francisco Bowl or Motor City Bowl. A lot of strange things can still happen (like Temple beating BC or Buffalo beating UConn or Syracuse beating BC), but that seems to be the most realistic look at where teams are headed.

Q: Why did Jason Capizzi transfer?

Dan Musser of Trafford

ZEISE: Because he was kicked off the team by Harris for a number of indiscretions and for mostly being a knucklehead. Say what you want about Harris, but he won't put up with a lot of nonsense that many other coaches tolerate. It has probably cost him some games and a chance at some winning seasons, but you have to admire a guy who has principles about doing things the right way and sticking to them. In that respect, Pitt fans should be proud to call him their coach.

Q: Why is Walt Harris' job even in question? He has completed the turnaround of Pitt's program and this team has an amazing upside.

Robert Kozak of Baltimore, Md.

ZEISE: That is true, he has turned it around but there is a feeling he has not gotten to the next level and won't be able to. His record against ranked teams is abysmal, his record on national television is bad, he has not finished higher than third in the Big East and has finished in the top 25 only once in eight years. He is also slipped in recruiting the past two years and it doesn't appear to be getting any better. And the fan base has grown apathetic, as evidenced by the ticket sales this year and the fact that the WVU game hasn't even been sold out yet.

I'm not saying by any stretch, that I agree or disagree that he should be on the hot seat, I'm just laying out for you what the argument is for replacing him.

Q: Do the Big East officials always blow so many calls or is the conference just upset at Notre Dame because Notre Dame won't join them?

Douglas Rife of Bossier City, La.

ZEISE: Oh boy, a Notre Dame fan crying in his green beer about conspiracies. Meanwhile, Notre Dame is the program that has benefited from more phantom calls and ridiculous homer jobs than any team on the planet. Give me a break. There were a lot of bad calls both ways in that game, but one that was correct -- absolutely correct -- was the pass interference on the Panthers touchdown drive (that made the score 38-35). Tim Murphy was clearly pulled down by his shirt by the Notre Dame kid on that play, I will agree the officials haven't had a great season, but if you are suggesting Notre Dame got jobbed, you are dead wrong.

Q: Does this year count towards Jawan Walker's eligibility or will he be a sophomore next year?

Erik Yost of Tarentum

ZEISE: This year would count as a redshirt year and he'd still have two years left if he gets his act together and returns to the team.

First published on November 19, 2004 at 12:00 am