Did Holgorsen interview for Pittsburgh job?
Published: 12/11/2010 7:23 PM
Last Modified: 12/11/2010 7:23 PM
On Saturday night, it is believed that Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen was not in Stillwater. Also, it is believed that University of Pittsburgh athletic director Steve Pederson was not in Pennsylvania.
If you connect the dots, it appears that Holgorsen and Pederson may have convened in Dallas for a job interview.
Pederson is attempting to hire a new head football coach. On Saturday, a source close to the Panthers’ program told a Pittsburgh media member that Holgorsen has been identified as Pederson’s “leading candidate” for the job.
The same Pittsburgh media member reports that Pederson did not attend Pitt’s high-profile home basketball game on Saturday. The third-ranked Panthers were dealt their first nonconference home loss in nearly six years, falling 83-76 to No. 11 Tennessee. When the Pittsburgh media member asked Pitt athletic department officials about Pederson’s absence, no one would divulge the athletic director’s whereabouts.
Holgorsen was in Dallas Saturday, watching a Texas Class 5A semifinal matching Denton Guyer and Longview at SMU’s Ford Stadium. Guyer quarterback J.W. Walsh, who is committed to OSU, rallied his team from a 17-0 deficit to a 28-27 victory. Holgorsen was not expected back in Stillwater until Sunday. The 10-2 Cowboys, who on Dec. 29 face Arizona in the Alamo Bowl, are scheduled to practice during the afternoon.
In his first season at OSU, Holgorsen has coached the Cowboys to national rankings of No. 1 in total offense (538 yards per game), No. 2 in passing (355 yards per game) and No. 3 in scoring (44.9 points per game). Wide receiver Justin Blackmon was the Big 12 offensive player of the year and the recipient of the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the top wide receiver in college football.
The Pitt job became available when Dave Wannstedt resigned under pressure last week. The 7-5 Panthers face Kentucky in the Jan. 8 BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.
As the athletic director at Nebraska, Pederson became infamous for his firing of Frank Solich and his hiring – after a 40-day search – of Bill Callahan to coach the Huskers. In October 2007, two days after a 45-14 home loss to OSU, Nebraska fired Pederson.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
