Kick off Fiesta with no head coaches, it’s that simple

It’s the biggest game of Walt Harris’ eight-year tenure at Pitt, and it’s the biggest game of… It’s the biggest game of Walt Harris’ eight-year tenure at Pitt, and it’s the biggest game of Urban Meyer’s two-year tenure at Utah. But the Fiesta Bowl is looking like it’s more for the players, not the coaches.

Meyer has already packed his bags and is set to leave for the University of Florida when the Fiesta Bowl game-clock hits zero.

Likewise, Harris may have his eyes on the clock, as a job at Stanford may be in his future. Harris is expected to interview with Stanford tomorrow for its head coaching position.

Yesterday, Harris was supposed to meet with Athletics Director Jeff Long to discuss his coaching future at Pitt. Neither Long nor Harris could be reached for comment on how the meeting went.

It is possible that Harris will step down after the season is complete and essentially give Pitt fans what they’ve been calling for all year: a new head coach.

Harris has several reasons to go to Stanford. For one, being a native of the bay area in San Francisco, Stanford is closer to home. He also has connections at the school. The athletics director at Stanford, Ted Leland, was the athletics director who originally hired Harris at Pacific back in 1989 — Harris’ first head coaching job.

If Harris goes, it’ll make the Fiesta Bowl more of a joke. Two teams with coaches who are getting out of town.

It’s even more comical, given the fact that both Meyer and Harris have taken their respective programs to their first BCS bowls, yet one is definitely leaving and the other is looking to.

According to the Associated Press, Harris makes an estimated $600,000 a year, and Stanford would love to open its wallet and pay for an “offensive-minded” coach, as they believe he is. Harris also might be paying attention the seven-year, $14 million contract that Florida gave Meyer and thinking about the opportunity Stanford’s offering him.

Even if this team wins the Fiesta Bowl, Harris will likely go, and Pitt will likely let him go.

Besides, he wouldn’t be the first winning coach to leave Pitt for a dream job in California. Ben Howland skipped town after taking the Panthers to the Sweet 16 in 2003.

Remember, Harris’ head was being hunted about a month ago after a loss in Syracuse, but thanks to wins by teams that he does not control, Pitt is going to a BCS bowl.

Co-Big East champions or not, this team still finished 4-2 in the conference. Add in the fact that more teams won the Big East this year than lost, and that accomplishment is nothing spectacular.

It is for these reasons that an 8-3, Fiesta Bowl-bound team can do without its head coach next season.

It’s a shame that either one of these teams, Pitt or Utah, is going through this in the midst of a dream season. But Pitt has plenty to look forward to. There is no reason to think that Pitt will not find a great successor for Harris. This job will be eyed up by many prospects, including former Panther Dave Wannstedt.

Pitt football is a great program to take over, especially after this season’s success. The team that a coach would take over would need just a few new plays in the playbook and a boisterous, motivational voice in the locker room to lead them onto the field every Saturday.

Pitt’s football program has so much potential, and its current coach has not exploited the possibilities.

The school’s location is terrific for football. The team plays at Heinz Field, one of the best NFL stadiums in the nation. Recruits should be flocking to Pitt just for the opportunity to play there.

A new coach, added to this team’s 2004 talent, would bring in new talent.

There has got to be some senior wideout in high school looking at Tyler Palko and thinking, I would love to catch passes from him.

And Wannstedt, or whoever takes over as head coach at Pitt, would love to witness that freshman do just that.

Harris’ future may not officially be determined, but the future is not too far away.

Enjoy Stanford, Harris.

Jimmy Johnson is the sports editor of The Pitt News, and he’s in the running for Pitt’s new head coaching job after turning down Notre Dame, but he admits that he has not officially been contacted by the university.