Opinions on Wannstedt's resignation at Pitt

With the surprise announcement that Dave Wannstedt would be stepping down as Pittsburgh Panthers head coach yesterday, I began to think. Is college football turning into a “What have you done for me lately?” world?

In some ways, it already is. In fact, in the NFL, coaches are being fired one year after getting deep in the playoffs (see Minnesota Vikings and former head man Brad Childress). Insanity? I think so.

The biggest problem with all this is the quick, sudden turnover. If athletic departments sign coaches to five year contracts but realize three years in they aren’t getting anywhere, they’re left with huge buyouts and contract obligations to head coaches (who have smart lawyers). Likewise, when coaches decide to leave programs for better jobs (see Brian Kelly) money that changes hands from one school to the next gets very messy.

How many head coaches is Notre Dame currently paying? Three or four? All I know is, the way it’s heading, one-year head coaching contracts might not be too far away.

Wannstedt’s case is particularly stunning to me. The man known to some as “The ‘Stache” just completed a 7-5 season where the Panthers shared the Big East title with West Virginia and UConn. In 2007, Wannstedt was a hero in the city of Pittsburgh—the prodigal son who returned to coach his alma mater, knocking rival West Virginia out of the national title game by defeating the Mountaineers in Morgantown.

Ironically enough, the last Big east co-champion team to lose their head coach was that 2007 West Virginia team. In a messy divorce, Rich Rodriguez left his hometown team and headed to the greener pastures of Michigan, a place where he now sits in hot water after not exactly meeting expectations.

Wannstedt had “the team” this season, picked by sportswriters and experts to win the league title, but the Panthers disappointing showing left many fans unhappy. Cincinnati was picked to finish second, and ended at 4-8, but no one in the Queen City (except for maybe some of the most fanatical followers of the Bearcats) is calling for head coach Butch Jones to resign. Why is that?

Wannstedt fell victim to the “what have you done for me now” theory. Pitt fans are growing restless and want to see a winner. I just hope they don’t bring in a new head coach that fails worse than Wannstedt. Because then, no one will be happy, everyone will be angry, and a new head coach might be brought in, just because Wannstedt’s replacement couldn’t get it done. Now.

Thoughts or opinions? Leave ‘em in the comments section. Have a good one.