Up Close With PSR
Dave Wannstedt

Dave Wannstedt took over as the head football coach at the University of Pittsburgh last December. Wannstedt, who played and coached for the Panthers in the 1970s, spent the previous five seasons coaching the Miami Dolphins, where he posted a 43-32 mark before resigning after a 1-7 start to the 2004 season. Wannstedt was also the head coach of the Chicago Bears, and served as defensive coordinator to Jimmy Johnson's Dallas Cowboys teams of the early 1990s, winning a Super Bowl there. The Baldwin native has been tearing up the recruiting trail since taking the reigns at his alma mater, securing 12 early commitments for the Class of 2006. PSR Editor Tony DeFazio sat down with Wannstedt in his office on the South Side and discussed his return to college football, the NFL, recruiting and several other issues.

PSR: Having been on the job about six months - how do you view things now and what have you experienced that is different from what you expected?

Wannstedt: I've really enjoyed it. The different aspects of college football have been energizing to me. I've tried to make an effort to spend time in all the different areas that I think are important to having a top national program. By that I mean the obvious area of recruiting. I think you have to make sure you take care of your own backyard and your own house before you start worrying about the neighbors. That's been my philosophy and that's why the emphasis, number one, has been to circle the wagons right here in the state of Pennsylvania.

I've spent time on campus and had opportunities to meet with our administration and our academic and alumni circles, and reestablish those ties.

I've spent some time on the road attending different dinners and golf outings throughout the state, meeting with boosters and people that support our program. We had an on-campus student rally in April at the Peterson Center to try to make a connection with the students. We had a somewhat informal press gathering right after spring practice here on the South Side to reconnect with the local media.

It's really been a fast pace these last six months, and we've tried to make an impact in all the different areas that are important to having an outstanding program.

PSR: What will be going through your mind in those moments before you lead your first Pitt team through the tunnel to face Notre Dame next month?

DW: I don't know…it's kind of interesting - I remember coaching in a national championship game down in Miami when I was the defensive coordinator. I think I was just so focused on the game.

After we won the national championship, I didn't go to sleep all night. By the time we got back to the hotel, two or three of us coaches ended up just sitting out on a couple chairs on the beach and watching the sun come up. And that's when I really had a chance to catch my breath and say, "Hey this was kinda neat."

It'll probably be the same way here. We'll have all the hype and everything going on, but experience tells me that it's my job to separate the emotional part of it from the job at hand. The team is my responsibility. I have to be focused on the game and the things that are going to be happening on the field.

They'll be plenty of time afterward to look back and reflect and enjoy the moment.

PSR: Do you ever feel some of your accomplishments as an NFL head coach went under-appreciated, specifically in Miami?

DW: Well, yeah. Miami is a town - probably like every NFL town - where the Super Bowl is the only thing that people want to talk about. After four years there, we had averaged 10.5 wins per year. Over that four year period, we were the third winningest team in the NFL behind Philadelphia and Green Bay in terms of number of wins (Note: the Dolphins won 42 games in those four years). And it wasn't good enough. And I knew it wasn't good enough - my goal was the Super Bowl. And I think that's the business, unfortunately.

But people don't want to hear the reasons why. The third year in Miami was our best team. That was the team that was a Super Bowl caliber team. And we beat Denver on a Sunday night game and were 6-1. And we had two or three teams that were struggling coming up on the schedule, and we really had the chance to jump out ahead and close the home field, and do all those things. Within 10 minutes after the game, the doctors told me (starting quarterback) Jay Fiedler had shattered his thumb and was going to be out six to eight weeks, and (leading receiver) Oronde Gadsden tore a ligament in his hand and he was done for the year. And we lose four out of our next six, and we're struggling at quarterback and our second-team quarterback, Ray Lucas, ends up getting dinged and we're down to our third-team quarterback who had never played. And that was the window. That was the year that I thought we were going to hit the homerun.

But the point is that nobody cared. Nobody said at the end of the year, "It's a shame that Jay missed eight games," - all they know is we didn't win the Super Bowl. It's the nature of the business.

PSR: Ricky Williams is trying to come back with the Dolphins. What are your thoughts on that whole situation now that you're a year removed and no longer intimately involved?

DW: I would never say that any one player or one incident makes or breaks a season. It was more disappointing than anything…the emotions were more hurt than anger. Ricky was a guy that I had invested a lot in and he was one of my top guys and I believed in him.

I think he can come back. If you play at a high level, your teammates will accept you. I don't think they ever go back to the way…well, I think there is a fine line between playing with somebody on the field because they're going to help you win and inviting that guy over to your house for dinner.

PSR: Is the NFL out of your blood?

DW: Oh yeah. I'm getting all the fix I need. I'm loving this recruiting. And my motives now are to try to make a difference here at the university and with these young kids. It's exciting every day I wake up. I'm not doing this so that I can do an interview for a radio show or a TV show or because of my contract.

I'm doing this thing to try to win a championship but also to try to make a difference here at the university. Here where I was born and raised.

PSR: People talk about Tyler Palko as having a chance to be one of the best ever to play here when all is said and done. What are your thoughts on Tyler?

DW: Tyler has all the intangibles. By intangibles I mean he's a smart guy, he's committed to being the best. He's got talent to really take his game to the next level. His best football, I believe, is in front of him. He's working with the attitude that his best football is front of him. And I really think that with two years in this system, with two years under the tutelage of Matt Cavanaugh…well, it's exciting. It's exciting to have a player with that potential to improve to that level. He's so hungry to get better.

PSR: What parts of this team excite you the most?

DW: Our offensive line is going to be critical and I was really pleased with them coming out of the spring. I thought that they were better than what anybody gave them credit for. And we only have one guy from opening day a year ago lining up in the same spot.

I was very encouraged by our tight ends. I think we have a good group of tight ends. And our secondary - I think if we stay healthy we have a chance to have as good a secondary as anybody in the conference.

PSR: What parts of the team keep you awake at night?

DW: Our front seven. Right now, if we were to play a game tonight, we don't have one defensive lineman or one linebacker who is lining up at the same spot that he did opening day a year ago. That's a concern.

That is really going to be the focus in training camp. We need to make sure that, number one, we get the players lined up in the right spots where they can play at the highest level possible and give us the best chance to win. And we've got to get this thing back together quick.

PSR: Auburn goes undefeated in the SEC last season and doesn't sniff a national championship. With the current state of the conference, can an undefeated Big East team win a national championship?

DW: Without a doubt, sure. Louisville is the team in the Big East that we're all chasing…so whether it be West Virginia, Louisville - any team in our conference would be a contender if they get into that situation.

PSR: Is it a better path to the BCS for Pitt, now that Miami and Virginia Tech are out of the conference?

DW: Ah, Miami and Virginia Tech have always been national teams, but Louisville was sixth in the country last year. We know how good West Virginia is. Miami won nine games last year, so who knows how good they'll be this year. Every year is a new year.

PSR: You added a lot of high-caliber teams to the out of conference schedule. How does that help Pitt?

DW: Jeff Long and I have had a lot of conversation about future schedules and I think that we always want to have two national teams…Notre Dame and Nebraska this year. Iowa, Miami of Florida, Virginia - two strong BCS teams. When you are talking about scheduling four or five games, that's a lot, and that fifth game is tough.

PSR: How has Penn State's move to the Big 10 changed recruiting in Pennsylvania?

DW: I don't know. I just know that we've got to do a better job, particularly in the eastern part of the state. We had an outstanding year last year, we win the Big East, and we don't sign one player from the entire eastern part of the state. We've already got one or two guys committed, and that's been an area of focus.

To answer your question, I don't really know how it's changed. When I was here, we were winning at least 10 games a year and winning and playing for national championships. I know the emphasis was put on the entire state of Pennsylvania. We didn't talk much about Penn State then and we're not going to talk much about them now.

PSR: You mentioned doing a better job in eastern PA. With Temple out of the conference and off the schedule, how does Pitt make inroads in recruiting in southeastern PA?

DW: Get in there, roll up your sleeves and go recruit. (Offensive line coach) Paul Dunn's from Philadelphia so he'll go recruit that area. (Running backs coach) David Walker who played at Syracuse is going to recruit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area. (Linebackers coach) Curtis Bray is going to recruit the Harrisburg area. We've got to spend the time and make the effort.

All you've got to do is get one kid, and we got a commitment out of a big defensive end from that area for next year. All of a sudden you get another kid from that area, and that's how it works.

During the month of May, we hit Philadelphia and visited schools during the day and then put on a clinic for high school coaches that night. We went over to Hershey, PA and hit schools during the day, then put on a clinic for high school coaches. So I think walking the walk as compared to just talking the talk has made a difference.

PSR: How hard and how important is it to generate fan interest in that part of the state?

DW: It's real important. There are Pitt fans all over the state, we all know that. There are your diehard fans who are going to come no matter who the coach, what your record or who you're playing. Then most fans, I think, like that personalized feeling. They want to be able to connect with the school, with the coaching staff…I'm hoping by getting out there and getting around physically, combined with being a Pittsburgh guy and being from Pittsburgh, people will say, "You know what? Let's get down there and support the team."

I enjoy the recruiting part because it's Pitt and it's Pittsburgh. It's my school and it's easy for me. When you believe in something it's easy.

PSR: You have 12 early commitments so far. Is there a danger with early commitments in that, 1) a kid might de-commit if a better offer comes along; and 2) it's critical that your talent evaluation be correct?

DW: We haven't had one kid come in here and get a scholarship who we haven't obviously evaluated in camp, broken down his film and researched his academics. We have spent a lot of time with every kid that we've offered a scholarship to. I don't care to hear about rumors, I don't read Rivals or any recruiting stories; all I care about is what happens on the field.

All these early commitments - if we don't get a commitment from him, Michigan's going to. Penn State's going to. Pete Carroll at USC is going to. So that's the competition that we're dealing with.

GET TO KNOW DAVE WANNSTEDT

PSR: Where would you feel more comfortable: Chicago's North Side, having a beer at Wrigley; South Beach in Miami looking at all the beautiful girls; or the South Side of Pittsburgh having a Primantis' sandwich?

DW: Oh boy, that's a tough one. I've enjoyed all three of those. I've had about as much fun at all three of those as is legally possible to do…I would take the atmosphere at South Beach, the food and beverage of Pittsburgh and the nostalgia and tradition at Wrigley.

PSR: CDs or iPod?

DW: iPod. Big.

PSR: What's on your i-Pod now?

DW: Michael McDonald. He's got a release where he does the Temps and Marvin Gaye and that type of stuff.

PSR: Favorite athlete growing up?

DW: Probably in my younger days, it was baseball. I was a big baseball player and it would have been some combination of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris…I always seemed to end up on the Yankees even though I was a Pirate fan. Those two and probably Dick Groat.

PSR: Greatest player you ever played with?

DW: Tony Dorsett.

PSR: Played or coached against?

DW: Maybe Reggie White.

PSR: Who spends more time on their hair - Jimmy Johnson or Ricky Williams?

DW: (Laughs) I'm not going to touch that one for a bunch of reasons.