Pitt hoping to learn from troubles at Ohio State, West Virginia
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New Pitt coach Todd Graham talks with reporters Tuesday about the Panthers' offseason.
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With the college football world in disarray over a series of high-profile scandals in the past month, Pitt's football team is trying to stay above the fray and, perhaps more importantly, out of trouble.
In the wake of the continuing saga at Ohio State and Bill Stewart's resignation at West Virginia Friday, Pitt coach Todd Graham and several of his players insisted Tuesday that everything is in proper order and compliance with the Panthers heading into the upcoming season.
Ohio State is mired in an ongoing NCAA investigation surrounding several of its players, including quarterback and Jeannette product Terrelle Pryor, exchanging signed items and memorabilia for tattoos over a period of approximately nine years. The revelations, detailed in a Sports Illustrated report, forced Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel to resign after 10 seasons with the program.
For Graham, in his first season at Pitt, teaching his players about compliance with NCAA rules becomes that much more of a priority in light of such events.
"We're working with them to educate, educate, educate as far as what the rules are, what the boundaries are, and make them understand that it is difficult and that they're under a microscope, more so now than ever before," Graham said. "Our deal is to set a high standard and stick to it."
Despite being well-versed in how to avoid NCAA violations by coaches, teammates and university compliance officials, players noted that the Ohio State fallout has left a lasting impression that goes far beyond any lecture or seminar.
"Whenever something like that happens, it brings everything to reality because you always sit in seminars and you think that stuff never really happens and that it's just for safety hazards," said Panthers quarterback Tino Sunseri.
"To see it actually happen goes to show you that everything you're doing around the university is being watched and that you're doing everything by the rules."
In addition to the ignominy that has engulfed Ohio State was the implosion of Stewart's three-year coaching tenure at West Virginia. Stewart resigned amidst a scandal that ensued after former Post-Gazette reporter Colin Dunlap claimed Stewart had asked himself and another reporter to "dig up dirt" on West Virginia offensive coordinator and head coach-in-waiting Dana Holgorsen. With Stewart's resignation, Holgorsen was promoted Friday to head coach .
First Published June 15, 2011 12:00 am
