After two seasons on the job, the best word to describe the performance of Dave Wannstedt as coach of the Pitt Panthers is a mundane one but nevertheless fitting: disappointing.

Wannstedt took over a team that had five consecutive winning seasons and the same number of bowl appearances and he has yet to produce either.

Apologists will claim Walt Harris, whose contract was not renewed, left Wannstedt with little talent, but that simply is not true. According to Pitt's 2006 media guide, there were nine starters on offense and seven on defense returning from the team that represented the Big East Conference in the Fiesta Bowl.

Matt Freed, Post-Gazette photos Dave Wannstedt -- In a word, disappointing Click photo for larger image.

Granted, the returning defensive line was not strong. But, in almost any circumstance, a new coach is going to find some shortfalls in personnel. It's rare when there's an opening at a school that has won 25 games in the previous three seasons, as was the case at Pitt. In reality, Wannstedt, whose Panthers were set to open preseason practice this morning at their South Side facility, walked into a good situation, not a bad one.

He inherited a roster that had established a winning tradition and included -- all returning for two seasons -- quarterback Tyler Palko, cornerback Darrelle Revis and linebackers H.B. Blades and Clint Session. Yet, not only has Wannstedt failed to post a winning season, going 5-6 and 6-6, but he has yet to produce a victory of note. His best win was the first game of last season when the Panthers beat Virginia, a team that finished 5-7. Other than that, the only teams Pitt has beaten in Wannstedt's two seasons are the usual array of cupcakes and Big East bottom-feeders.

Pitt's Darrell Strong and Jeff Otah joke around beside coach Dave Wannstedt as they pose for team photos yesterday. Click photo for larger image.

The Panthers were picked to finish sixth in the Big East in a vote of conference coaches, which means another non-winning season is possible. The five-game road schedule is daunting, with trips to Michigan State, Virginia, Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia. The seven-game home schedule is thick with weak teams, but two of those clubs, Cincinnati and South Florida, were picked ahead of the Panthers in the coaches' poll.

In this era where fans, alumni and media stress victory and where winning is so closely aligned with revenue -- which is all-important in major college football -- there's plenty of pressure on coaches to succeed in a hurry. Which means Wannstedt, despite apparent strong support from the Pitt administration, is close to being in a situation where he has to win this season. With another non-winning season, there will be calls for his dismissal.

That would be a mistake. Despite the deserved disappointing tag we've put on Wannstedt, there's too much about him that suggests he should be given the full term of his five-year contract to turn what he has developed into a losing program back to a winner.

First and foremost is the fact Wannstedt has the look and feel of a good coach and owns an impressive resume. He was a college assistant under Jackie Sherrill and Jimmy Johnson. He was defensive coordinator under Johnson when Miami won the national championship in 1986. He was assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Johnson when the Dallas Cowboys won Super Bowl XXVII. His work with the Cowboys earned him a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears, where he went 32-32 for four seasons and 8-24 in his final two before being fired. He was 41-23 in his first four seasons as the Miami Dolphins' head coach, but resigned the following year in the midst of a 4-12 record.

Pitt's Tommie Duhart jumps in the middle of a spontaneous game of "hot potato" with teammates yesterday on the South Side. Click photo for larger image.

At Pitt, he has brought a sense of stability and integrity to the program. The fact he is a Pitt man and proud of it helps him with alumni. His players are mostly staying out of trouble and graduating. He has recruited well, albeit with far too great an emphasis on Western Pennsylvania talent. He needs to revise his thinking on the importance of stocking the team so deeply with local players.

What he hasn't done is win. It's possible, a new coach could do better. But the importance of continuity cannot be understated.

After four seasons at Rutgers, Greg Schiano was 12-34, which will get a coach fired at most places. Rutgers stuck with him and Schiano responded with seasons of 7-5 and 11-2. Rutgers was ranked 16th in the recently released coaches' poll and has the look of a national power.

Chuck Noll was 12-30 in his first three seasons. Dan Rooney stuck with him because not only did the Steelers improve each year, Noll had the look and feel of a winner.

Wannstedt is not Noll, but he has a similar look and feel. He deserves the full term of his contract and, despite what others might say, Pitt will give him that time. If he hasn't done the job in five years, the guess here is Pitt won't have to tell him to leave.

There are winning seasons in Pitt's future, but maybe not this year.