Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

It appears I am one of few upset about Steve Pederson’s return. Ostensibly,… Dear Editor,

It appears I am one of few upset about Steve Pederson’s return. Ostensibly, Pederson was rehired because of his success with Pitt’s football program. Is it that easy to forget he was recently fired from Nebraska where the team was ranked nationally only twice during his tenure, both times far outside the top 10 rankings they enjoyed seasons before? It cost the Cornhuskers $2.2 million to buy Pederson out – clearly they wanted him gone – and I’m supposed to be excited he’s going to get the Panthers a BCS bid? That’s not even the worst of it – according to ESPN, there were issues in Nebraska stemming from Pederson’s “personality and management,” things that are not simply going to change now that he’s at Pitt. Nebraska’s chancellor also cited “low morale and growing concern about keeping key personnel in the athletic department,” as well as the alienation of Nebraska alums as reasons for Pederson’s premature departure. And don’t forget, Pederson is also the man who tried to rid us of our moniker “Pitt” and mandated we be called “the University of Pittsburgh,” though luckily that change has since been reversed.

An AD is useless without a support system and Pederson’s knack for alienating even his top aides – two of whom resigned this year – was a big enough issue that Nebraska reneged on his five-year contract extension. The decision by Chancellor Nordenberg to rehire Steve Pederson after a whirlwind courtship – even if it is the second time around – is a slap in the face to the University and the staff of the athletic department, as well as the fans who stuck it out when he went to Nebraska. I was thrilled when Pitt beat West Virginia on Saturday, but I can’t help but be concerned for the future of Pitt athletics now that Steve Pederson is back.

Jennie Luptak Sophomore Accounting and finance