Home >  Sports >  U. of Pittsburgh

Wednesday, September 18, 2002

By Shelly Anderson, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Bob Ligashesky grew up in McKees Rocks, played football at Sto-Rox High School and IUP. He knows the special place football holds in Western Pennsylvania and what it generates -- the passion and the popularity, the scrutiny and the scandal.

Ligashesky returned home to family and friends in 2000 when was hired as Pitt's tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. He knew the kind of expectations that went with a coaching job in these parts.

He also knows that local fans appreciate someone who stands tall in trying times.

That's why, in his first interview since several well-publicized snafus with Pitt's special teams, Ligashesky spoke of his need and intent to respond to those problems head-on.

"Part of the mentality in Pittsburgh is to get the job done," he said last night. "The bottom line is to get it done, so there's nobody that's going to put more pressure on me than myself. Pittsburgh wants it done, and it's our job, and my job as a coordinator, to get it done. That's what I'm going to do, and that's what our players are going to do. That's our goal. That's our commitment."

Ligashesky declined to go into the specifics of the special teams problems Pitt (2-1) has had heading into its game this week against Rutgers (1-2).

There were back-to-back illegal-shift penalties on an extra point against Texas A&M. Pitt didn't make that point-after and lost, 14-12. There was a blocked punt that UAB returned for the game's first touchdown last week, although Pitt came back to win, 26-20. There was one other botched extra point, and two field goals have missed.

Ligashesky did talk about the effort to avoid further mistakes.

"I think when all that happened, I think it even drew us closer together in terms of how much they want to win," he said. "We have great morale and chemistry on this team, and it bonded us stronger together because they want to do whatever it takes to get it right."

Several other assistants work with special teams. Recruiting coordinator Bryan Deal coaches the kickers, punters, holders and long snappers. Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads coaches the return men.

But at practice, there is no question who draws all the eyes when it's time to work on special teams. Ligashesky, 40, is an impassioned coach who often punctuates his instructions with bold language. Catch him in the middle of a punt-coverage drill, and he just might set the team record for the vertical leap.

Besides the normal special teams drills early each practice, Pitt this season has been calling for impromptu field-goal attempts later in the sessions. When it was time for those kicks yesterday, all the Panthers not involved in the play were summoned onto the field to rally around. Ligashesky was one of the lead cheerleaders.

Later, he was the last coach off the field. He was a little more subdued than usual by then, although still full of energy, as he worked with several special teams players.

"The players' attitudes have been great," he said. "It starts all the way from Coach [Walt] Harris. He's doing all he can to help us get it right, make sure we get it right, and the players have been fantastic about it.

"There's some things, obviously, we've got to work on. The kids have been really into it. They want to win really bad. It's my responsibility to make sure they get everything right. They've been doing everything they can do get it right."

As they have for several years, the Panthers are using starters, backups and reserves from offense and defense on various special teams units. Ligashesky said several of the older and more experienced players have asked to be on special teams and that the mix is not inherently different from the past few seasons.

"We're developing some newer players, but that's no excuse for us," he said.

Pressed to discuss the illegal-shift penalties against Texas A&M -- which amounted to a problem with uniform numbers and eligible receivers as opposed to the physical formation -- Ligashesky looked straight ahead.

"Time to move on," he said. "Time to move on."