Wannstedt to get first look at new team as Pitt begins spring practice
PITTSBURGH (AP) – A new era of University of Pittsburgh football begins this weekend when practice begins under new coach Dave Wannstedt. Wannstedt says all of the work he has done since taking the job in late December will be measured this morning, when the team meets at the UPMC Sports Complex.
“You go through the recruiting part and everything else that’s involved with college football,” Wannstedt said Friday. “(That’s) dealing with the academics and the offseason program and the running and the lifting, which is all part of it. But really, the determining factor as far as what type of football team we’re going to have, will start (Saturday).
Since returning to his alma mater to replace Walt Harris, who headed the program for eight seasons, Wannstedt has been in constant motion.
Wannstedt watched the Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl game on New Year’s Day and then began filling out his first recruiting class.
He signed 24 players on Feb. 3 and finalized his coaching staff shortly thereafter.
Then, Wannstedt began looking at the makeup of his first Pitt team.
The Panthers return 48 letterwinners and 18 starters from last season’s 8-4 squad that was co-champion in the Big East, but earned the Conference’s BCS bid.
Nine starters return on offense, including quarterback Tyler Palko and wide receiver Greg Lee, while seven defensive starters are back with linebackers H.B. Blades and Clint Session and cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Josh Lay leading the way.
The biggest change for the Panthers, who led the Big East in several passing and receiving categories throughout Harris’ tenure, is Wannstedt’s desire to have more balance in a pro-style offense with a power running game under coordinator Matt Cavanaugh.
Wannstedt resigned as head coach of the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 9 after four-plus seasons, and some 16 years in the NFL.
“This is an exciting time,” he said. “I’m truly excited just to get out there and see our players moving around, even though we’ve been watching a lot of film on them and a lot of the breakdown tapes and so forth. (But) I want to see it firsthand. I want to see the guy go out there and make a great catch, and I want to see a guy go out there and block somebody. And I’ll sleep better.”
Pitt’s 15-practice spring session ends with the annual Blue-Gold game April 16 at Heinz Field.