Editorial: Chryst could save Pitt football

A lot changed for Pitt while we were enjoying Winter Break. A lot changed for Pitt while we were enjoying Winter Break.

Former head football coach Todd Graham bolted for Arizona State University on Dec. 14 with little notice. And eight days later, Pitt named Paul Chryst, the University of Wisconsin’s offensive coordinator, its new head football coach.

With Graham long gone and only half of the team’s coaching staff left, there seems to be little hope left for the program. But we think perhaps Chryst will be a welcome solution to the Panthers’ woes.

Bear with us here, and consider the following.

First of all, Chryst is old. The 46-year-old certainly wasn’t going to get the head-coaching job at Wisconsin any time soon, so in all probability, he wants to settle down and make Pitt his true home.

Two other candidates were Florida International head coach Mario Cristobal, 31, and interim Ohio State head coach Luke Fickell, 28. Taking the head-coaching job at Pitt would’ve only been a stepping stone for either of these young men, who are at the beginning of their careers.

Second, Chryst promotes the kind of mindset that Pitt’s program needs right now. After all the flashiness of Graham’s scant one-year stay, Pitt needs someone low-key like Chryst, who lets his players do the talking.

After employing four head coaches in just two years, Pitt should just construct a program in which its personnel, players, students and fans can take pride. No more high-octane nonsense and championship talk. We just want to know our school pride is in good hands.

This is a program that needs to start fresh in order to be relevant again. And if Chryst’s track record is any indication, he will make sure to adapt his offense to his players — not try to make his pro-style quarterback into Michael Vick.

Chryst is the reality check we needed.

Finally, and perhaps most obviously, he’s a players’ coach.

Zach Brown, a former Wisconsin Badger, even introduced Chryst to the players, showing his respect for the coach.

Compare this to Graham skulking away to Arizona, leaving the players flimsy farewell text messages in his wake, and it’s clear that the team is much better off than it was a month ago.

And the Panthers aren’t shy about it either. Team members openly expressed their shock and disappointment at Graham’s exit — but they also showed their excitement for Chryst’s arrival.

Wide receiver Devin Street tweeted that he spoke with a Wisconsin player who said Chryst is a “cool guy” and a great coach. And Street — who had been burned just days before by his former head coach — finished the tweet with, “Come on hire him already.”

The fact that Pitt was able to turn around and accept this man with open arms is a testament to the respect and reputation Chryst has earned over the years.

And especially when it comes to respect and reputation, it’s clear we’re observing two very different men here. We like what we have seen so far, but Chryst is correct when he says that his actions will do the talking.

After all, Graham’s actions sure did.