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Long makes the right call on Walt Harris' last stand
Athletic Director Jeff Long opted instead to let Harris coach against Utah, which was consistent with the way Long has handled the Harris saga all along.
It was also the right thing to do, for three reasons.
First of all, the players deserved as much. Long has been determined to protect the team and give it every chance to succeed, even as the Harris handwriting shone from the wall like neon all season. Pitt types were privately contemplating Harris' potential departure back in September. But the details of the impending transition from Harris required delicate handling if all that could be salvaged from an awkward set of circumstances was to be gleaned.
Long helped to make that happen by relying upon reason rather than by responding with emotion. He swallowed hard and bit his lip even after Harris' agent _ now Harris' former agent _ publicly bad-mouthed the university and the program and Harris seconded the motion via public silence on the subject. There were still games to play and the bigger issue was supporting the players.
That's still the issue. There's still one more game remaining.
Despite Harris already having a new employer, he's the coach that gives Pitt its best chance to win against Utah.
Adhering to such a philosophy has paid off at Pitt before. Back in 1976, head coach Johnny Majors was on his way to his alma mater, Tennessee, but Majors stuck around long enough to beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and capture the national championship.
No. 2, interim head coaches are a dangerous thing.
If they win the one and only game they coach, it can have the effect of painting the university into an emotional corner and compelling an AD or a chancellor to hire someone that initially wasn't considered the right man for the job. It can become a public relations nightmare and a long-term disaster.
Allowing Harris to coach, conversely, is a win-win proposition for Pitt.
If he loses, so what? He's history, anyway, so why sweat it? Why not instead look ahead to the impending change with optimism and enthusiasm?
And if he wins, Pitt wins the Fiesta Bowl.
There isn't much of a downside to that, even if the architect of the BCS victory had been encouraged to bolt the program in advance of the festivities.
And finally, Harris should coach because he's earned the right. Although his eight-year tenure at Pitt ultimately ended in separation and finally divorce, the Walt Harris Era Panthers had their moments. That they ultimately failed to achieve more of them can be attributed to methods, but not effort.
Harris kept his players' best interests front and center all season, even though he could read the neon as easily as Long.
Harris deserves one for the road.
