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Sunseri to interview today for Pitt job
It has been eight days since coach Walt Harris resigned to become the coach at Stanford.
Harris will coach the Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl against unbeaten Utah before moving on to Palo Alto, Calif.
Long has already met with Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads, New York Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis, Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh.
Sunseri, Lewis and Cavanaugh are former Pitt football stars.
Pelini, 37, could be the choice, as some close to the situation believe, but neither Long nor Pelini are confirming it. Pelini said last night that he is awaiting the outcome. He added that his interview on Saturday afternoon in
Indianapolis seemed to go OK.
"It went all right," he said. "I don't know. We'll find out. It's hard to say. I've been around long enough, it's hard to ... There's only one person that knows and that's (Long)."
Asked if he had received an offer, Pelini was brief.
"No," he said.
Asked when he expected to find out who the choice would be, he was not sure. "(Long) said he didn't want it to be too long," he said. "I assume it's going to be right before Christmas. It doesn't make a difference to me. Time-wise, I'm going to finish out the season regardless of what happens. I'm here till I'm not here. If something happened (getting hired), I'd still work through the national championship game (on Jan. 4 in the Orange Bowl)."
Pelini and former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt were considered top candidates entering the search, but Wannstedt pulled out last week. Whether Pelini, whose resume includes three NFL stops, is Pitt's man will be determined relatively shortly.
Rhoads, 37, who, like Pelini, is known as a players' coach, was the first to interview for the job and is the favorite among many team members. He is in his fifth year on the Panthers staff and is known as an intellectual with a fiery style.
Pittsburgh native Sunseri, 45, has strong support among Pitt boosters and was known for his ability to recruit western Pennsylvania as an assistant at Pitt from 1985-92. He continues to keep close tabs on prep football in the area and could rebuild the recruiting bridges that Harris had hoped to strengthen during his eight-year tenure. Long said last week that one of Harris' shortcomings was recruiting local players. Perhaps Sunseri's strong ties to the area could bode well in today's interview. Those close to Sunseri say Pitt is a dream job and that it would likely be his final stop. Known as a tireless recruiter, Sunseri landed some high-level players during stops at LSU, Michigan State and Louisville.
