Win at Syracuse a learning experience for Harris

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Don’t tell me anything different. The final score of the Pitt game Saturday… SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Don’t tell me anything different. The final score of the Pitt game Saturday was 48-3. There is no question about it. If anyone tells you anything different, they obviously haven’t figured out to use the remote control yet because there were so many better games on television than Pitt against Syracuse.

But this is a good thing.

I’m going to play coach here for a moment and hand out two game balls. And the winner of the first game ball is: head coach Walt Harris. Yes, I said Harris. I’m giving the coach some props because he finally figured out three things essential to coaching a successful program.

First, he learned how to beat Syracuse. This hasn’t happened since Harris had taken over as Pitt’s head football coach. Heck, this hadn’t happened since I was comfortably nested in my mother’s womb.

Syracuse might not be as good as Miami or Virginia Tech, but to have a definite loss in the Big East for so many years in a row has hampered almost every season. Now with a win against Syracuse, there is no definite loss in the conference and a chance to make a better bowl.

The second thing Harris learned was how to do was open up his playbook. It’s about time we saw a first down play go for more than 50 yards in the air. For the first three games of the season it was predictable on every play. Everyone from section one to section 301 in Heinz Field knew exactly what play was coming on each down.

Thankfully, Saturday was different. The play calling left the Orangemen defense guessing the whole game. At some points Syracuse could be seen putting 10 of 11 defensive players up in the imaginary box expecting a run. Each time Syracuse did this, Rod Rutherford found Roosevelt Bynes, Lamar Slade or Larry Fitzgerald deep down the field for a big play. First down plays weren’t always runs and second downs weren’t always passes. It will be this type of play calling that can beat Notre Dame next week.

The third thing Harris successfully learned for the first time Saturday was how to run up the score.

“I told my team at the end of the game that I don’t know how to coach when it’s 48-3,” Harris said. “I’ve never been in that situation but I’d like to get the opportunity to get to work at it.”

Granted, you don’t have much of a choice to score when your defense is so good that it forces two consecutive fumbles inside the 10-yard line. However, I can recall games even earlier this season in which Pitt had an opportunity to win by 30 or more points (Ohio and Rutgers) and Harris refused to keep calling in the dogs and score more. It was nice to see Harris stick with Rutherford through three quarters and let him amass almost 300 yards passing for the second straight game.

My second game ball goes to Rutherford. Rutherford has successfully silenced his critics and has learned how to use the tall, thick and more skillful wide receivers that are better than most defensive backs Pitt will face. For the second week in a row, Rutherford threw for more than 250 yards, throwing for 279 on Saturday. Three touchdowns against Toledo and two touchdowns Saturday is a good sign for the passing game.

However, there were two things that caught my attention about Rutherford Saturday. First, his running ability and his athleticism were displayed on center stage. When all else fails, use your feet. Rutherford ran for 28 yards against Syracuse and helped an ailing running game get going.

The most important aspect of the game didn’t take place with time remaining on the clock. After the game had ended and the coaches had shaken hands, the teams trotted off the field. Rutherford was the last to leave the field and was greeted at the exit off the field by a standing ovation from the Pitt faithful in attendance. Congratulations Rod, you have finally earned the respect of Pitt fans.

Next week, Pitt plays at Notre Dame. If Harris coaches the way he did Saturday and Rutherford continues his poise in the passing game, I am saying this right now: Pitt will beat Notre Dame and become a ranked team.

Brian Goldman is a columnist for The Pitt News and was amazed that a Syracuse fan put on 51 free T-shirts given out at the Carrier Dome Saturday. Yes, this was the most exciting part of the game.