For the past two years, many Pitt students have left for Winter Break not knowing who next… For the past two years, many Pitt students have left for Winter Break not knowing who next year’s football coach would be. And for the past two years, they’ve endured a seemingly interminable series of rumors and unpleasant surprises.

As every Panther fan now knows, former head coach Todd Graham left Pitt for Arizona State last month. His departure came in addition to four other defections that literally halved our coaching staff. In the aftermath of a singularly turbulent year — Pitt launched three coaching searches in 12 months — our football team must once again transition to new management.

Needless to say, we’re disappointed with Graham’s fickleness, especially given his earlier championing of integrity and “the Pitt way.” His recent interviews — in which he admitted regret for joining Pitt in the first place — only reinforced our feeling of betrayal.

But amid the recriminations, we’d like to acknowledge one man who has somewhat restored our faith in Pitt athletics: interim head coach Keith Patterson. His decision to stay and, as he said in a press conference, “finish what we started,” merits praise.

The former defensive coordinator wasn’t nearly as vocal as his friend Graham about “principles,” but by all counts, he’s adhered to them far better. Indeed, despite Patterson’s reputation as the head coach’s quiet sidekick (the men roomed together at East Central University and collaborated for four years at Tulsa), he’s surpassed him both in ability — Pitt’s defense excelled this season — and commitment to the school.

More admirable still, Patterson knowingly diminished his job prospects when he chose to remain here at Pitt; by the time the BBVA Compass Bowl concludes, most colleges’ coaching rosters will be full. And although prior connections will probably help him find employment — Patterson might still join Graham at Arizona State — our University has already denied him an extended tenure as head coach, an opportunity in which he expressed interest, according to ESPN.

Of course, we shouldn’t neglect mentioning the other four remaining staff members: quarterbacks coach Todd Dodge, defensive line coach Paul Randolph, offensive line coach Spencer Leftwich and special teams/linebackers coach Randall McCray. They, like Patterson, exemplify the respect for tradition and community many fans still hold dear.

Regardless of the defectors’ reasons for leaving, we think Patterson and his colleagues’ decisions to remain says more about our athletic department than the outcome of the BBVA Compass Bowl. As such, we hope Pitt fans will meet their team with enthusiastic applause this Saturday — not for Graham and his failed “high-octane” initiatives, but for the players’ and the remaining staff’s selfless devotion to our school. In the wake of yet another coaching fiasco, they deserve at least that much.