The Sports Monitor

One of the first questions about Pitt football after the firing of coach Dave Wannstedt was whether new coach Michael Haywood would be able to keep Wannstedt's recruits in the fold. Highly touted Bishop McDevitt running back Jameel Poteat has changed his mind about the Panthers, choosing instead to go to Cincinnati, a school many Pitt fans would consider inferior to Pitt. Penn Live has more details on Poteat's move. Poteat was the star back for Bishop McDevitt, the PIAA Class AAA champs. He rushed for 31 TDs this season, bringing his career total to 84. While Pitt has two strong running backs already in Dion Lewis and Ray Graham, the move is troubling for Pitt. Penn Live reported that Poteat is " is one of a number of Pitt recruits who have de-committed" since Wannstedt was forced out. One of Wannstedt's strengths was the ability to recruit. It was his coaching that got him in trouble. Hopefully Haywood does better coaching than Wannstedt did. While i...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned a reputation of being cheap. Add the University of Pittsburgh to that list. The Panthers reportedly are interested in Michael Haywood as their next football coach. For a university that wants to think of itself and its football program as great, you don't consider a coach from a MAC school. If you're cheap and are looking at saving a few bucks, then Haywood is your guy. The firing of Dave Wannstedt led folks to believe Pitt wanted more from its program, that Pitt thought it was capable of being an elite football school. Haywood as a leading candidate after two better ones have gone elsewhere doesn't confirm what Pitt fans wanted to believe. Sure, Haywood turned around Miami (Ohio) after going 1-11 in his first year. Pitt doesn't need a turnaround. The Panthers need to move up a level. Maybe Haywood can accomplish that. He reportedly is a good recruiter, and that's half the battle. But this reminds me of Mike Gottf...