http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports...11aac.html

Granted that Tulsa had some very good offenses while he was there, but the quote in Pitt's release is a headscratcher

"Widely regarded as one of the finest offensive coaches in the country"

Graham never coordinated an offense, never coached on the offensive side of the ball

Year School Assignment Record Postseason
1991 East Central Defensive Coordinator 5-4-1
1992 East Central Defensive Coordinator 6-3 OIC Champions
1993 East Central Defensive Coordinator 10-3 NAIA Champions
2001 West Virginia Linebackers 3-8
2002 West Virginia Co-Def. Coord. & Safeties 9-4 Continental Tire Bowl
2003 Tulsa Asst. HC/Def. Coord./Safeties 8-5 Humanitarian Bowl
2004 Tulsa Asst. HC/Def. Coord./Safeties 4-8
2005 Tulsa Asst. HC/Def. Coord./Safeties 9-4 C-USA Champions, Liberty Bowl
2006 Rice Head Coach 7-6 R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl
2007 Tulsa Head Coach 10-4 C-USA West Champions, GMAC Bowl
2008 Tulsa Head Coach 11-3 C-USA West Champions, GMAC Bowl
2009 Tulsa Head Coach 5-7
2010 Tulsa Head Coach 10-3 C-USA West Co-Champions, Hawai'i Bowl

I think they threw that out there because Graham's teams been known to score plenty of points even though he's a defensive minded coach.

I like the hire, just an odd choice of words. Particularly when the offensive coordinator of at least one of those seasons at Tulsa is Auburn's offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn.

(01-10-2011 09:19 PM)mattsarz Wrote:  just an odd choice of words.

Matt, you expect something correct to come out of the Athletic Department run by Steve Pederson after this past month

Matt, a minor correction. Graham was NOT a defensive coordinator at WVU. Jeff Casteel was given sole control of the defense in 2002, and Graham had the secondary...

(01-10-2011 09:55 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Matt, a minor correction. Graham was NOT a defensive coordinator at WVU. Jeff Casteel was given sole control of the defense in 2002, and Graham had the secondary...

Just cut and paste from the press release

Also, WV officially lists Casteel as a co-defensive coordinator in 2002

http://www.msnsportsnet.com/staffDirecto...affID=2170

I thought it was 2001 that Casteel and Graham were co-DCs. It could have been 2002. The memory fades after several concussions. However, after the ONE year they shared DC duties, Casteel took full control of the defense...

yeah it is kind of odd about the offense
explained a bit here

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbur...17567.html

Lets face it they have been Grahamed mark it down for this clowns bio sounds to familiar with what we heard about another so-called genius also unfortunately from Tulsa in Steve Kragthorpe. I just hope it doesn't take you guys 3 years to realize what a HUGE mistake you more than likely just made for he was Kragthorpe right hand man when he was running the show for the Golden Hurricanes.

Tulsa is not known for defense. They outscore people in wild-arsed shoot-outs. At least when I watch them that is what I see. Kind of a poor-man's Boise State before Boise improved defensively. Not sure how Graham's style translates to the Big-East but we shall see.

It will be hard for Pitt to score 60 points in the wind and cold and snow and crappy turf in Heinz Field. But they are welcome to try. If it was not for Rutgers, I could see Pitt falling to the bottom of the Big East pack in 2011 and 2012. I predict Graham will be gone in either 4 or 5 years.

(01-10-2011 10:15 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I thought it was 2001 that Casteel and Graham were co-DCs. It could have been 2002. The memory fades after several concussions. However, after the ONE year they shared DC duties, Casteel took full control of the defense...

2001
Phil Elmassion DC
fired after season

2002
Graham and Casteel CO-DC
Graham went to Tulsa after season and Casteel became sole DC

Found this on pittblather.com

Graham's resume is as impressive as any Big East coaching hire of late.

(01-11-2011 07:27 AM)Hoquista Wrote:  

Mountaineer fans will love 'em in November. But I think Pitt fans will get tired of 'em quickly...

seems one of them is hiring former wvu and michigan coaches as assistants!

Gotta say I was impressed with the Press Conference. If his Presser is an indication of how good he'll be, we'll be in for one fun ride.

The Backyard Brawl just heated up a mite...

(01-11-2011 06:01 PM)animus Wrote:  Gotta say I was impressed with the Press Conference. If his Presser is an indication of how good he'll be, we'll be in for one fun ride.

The presser was impressive. Definitely a good way to start and the opposite of Haywood.

Interesting that over the past two years that only two BE coaches are the same - Schiano and Stew and Stew is gone after this year.

Consider Stew gone next year. Holgorsen has full control of the offense. Stew's a figurehead teaching Holgorsen the ropes at West Virginia in his first year...