BY ERIC KNOPSNYDER
EL PASO, Texas — Dave Wannstedt is hoping that the progress that Pitt has made in his fourth season as head coach translates into a bright future for the program.
He joked Tuesday during a Sun Bowl news conference that his previous two stints – as head coach of the NFL’s Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins – started well, but ended with him being fired or resigning.
“We would have liked it to have happened quicker,” he said of Pitt’s first bowl game under him. “Maybe this is a good omen. When I was in Chicago, the second year we went to the second round of the playoffs and (won) coach of the year. Everything was hee-hee, ha-ha. Five years, later, it was not hee-hee, ha-ha.”
Wannstedt also drew chuckles from the Texas contingent when he talked about how things went south after former Longhorn Ricky Williams left his Dolphins squad.
“The Dolphins, the first year we went 11-5 and won the division,” Wannstedt said. “We go on and make it to the second round of the playoffs before losing at Oakland. I had a running back from Texas that decided to take a sabbatical, among other things.”
So Wannstedt is playing up the positives of building from the ground up at Pitt, as the Panthers prepare to play Oregon State in the Sun Bowl today.
“I think this might be a good omen that we started off slower in Pittsburgh, and then we kind of got it going now,” he said.
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Backtracking on punts: Wannstedt said that he didn’t mean to give the impression last week that LaRod Stephens-Howling will be returning punts against Oregon State.
Instead, the Greater Johnstown graduate will play on the punt return unit, but not be the primary returner.
“He’s one of those seniors that we’re trying to give every opportunity to help our football team, but also to help his opportunities,” Wannstedt said. “Hopefully he’ll catch the eye of one of these NFL guys and get a shot.”
Stephens-Howling will return kickoffs and play on the punt and kickoff coverage units.
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Staying grounded: Oregon State coach Mike Riley doesn’t expect the Beavers to change their offense despite losing Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year Jacquizz Rodgers and his older brother, James Rodgers, to injuries.
Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 1,253 yards and James Rodgers, a sophomore wide receiver, was second on the team with 408 rushing yards.
“We think it’s really important for us, if we’re going to win games, to establish a running game,” said Riley, who agreed to a one-year contract extension that will take him through the 2015 season.
The bulk of those duties will now fall to backup tailback Ryan McCants, who ran for 314 yards this season.
Wannstedt said the Beavers are still a dangerous offense to face because of quarterback Lyle Moevao and the Oregon State passing attack.
“They’re No. 1 in the conference in passing, and that doesn’t happen by accident,” Wannstedt said. “After 12 games, it’s incredible … that they’ve given up 12 sacks in 12 games.
“Obviously, they’ve got a great scheme. They’ve got a great plan. Yeah, a couple of great players may not play, but you don’t have the success that Mike has had building a top-25 program without having great depth and other players ready to step in.”
