Phil Bennett to coach Pitt in Bowl

by **Water Pony** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:35 pm

Not a surprise, but interesing:

PITTSBURGH -- Dave Wannstedt, ousted as Pitt's football coach last month, has decided not to coach the Panthers in the Compass Bowl against Kentucky on Saturday.

Defensive coordinator Phil Bennett, the former SMU head coach, will serve as the interim coach for a program that soon will have its third coach in two months.

Wannstedt was forced to resign Dec. 7, after the Panthers went 7-5 in a season they were picked to win the Big East. Wannstedt, a former Pitt player and the head coach for six seasons, was given the option of coaching the team in the bowl.

Former Miami (Ohio) coach Mike Haywood was selected Dec. 16 as Wannstedt's replacement, only to be fired Saturday after being jailed in South Bend, Ind., on a domestic violence charge. Pitt is now searching for Haywood's replacement.

by **peruna81** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:41 pm

revive the swinging gate...

ALL OUT !

by **ponyte** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:46 pm

It will be interesting to see how Bennett handles this situation. He has the HC job for this game without any of the other HC responsiblities or pressures. My guess is he uses his SMU experience and the lack of long term pressure on a HC to do a very good job.

by **smupony94** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:49 pm

He is a nice guy

by **PonySnob** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:49 pm

Hopefully he hasn't forgotten more football......................

by **Water Pony** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:51 pm

I wish him well. Go Panthers!

I wonder where he will end up next year? Not to mention that the Pitt job is open again in just 16 days. Amazing.

by **Paladin** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:24 pm

Water Pony wrote:I wish him well. Go Panters!

I wonder where he will end up next year? Not to mention that the Pitt job is open again in just 16 days. Amazing.

Amazing that there are still bowl games to watch the week after New Years

by **SMU2007** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:39 pm

what a nice guy. we should bring him back. he was so nice.

by **couch 'em** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 1:58 pm

SMU2007 wrote:what a nice guy. we should bring him back. he was so nice.

He's a good christian man. That's what makes a good head coach.

by **SMU2007** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:03 pm

couch 'em wrote:
SMU2007 wrote:what a nice guy. we should bring him back. he was so nice.

He's a good christian man. That's what makes a good head coach.

worked for Landry.

by **Higher Authority** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:16 pm

I always liked Coach Bennett. Didn't like his record, but I liked him.
Good luck, Coach â€” go Pitt.