Is this the kiss of death for JD?

[Dr Z]

Brookhart not eyeing Pitt post

First-year Zips coach pleased with situation

By David Lee Morgan Jr.

Beacon Journal staff writer

Given that University of Akron coach J.D. Brookhart spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh under Walt Harris, some might think the first-year Zips coach would be an automatic candidate to fill the void created when Harris decided Sunday to become the coach at Stanford.

``Naw,'' he said when asked if he was interested in returning to Pitt. ``I'm thrilled to be here (in Akron). We did some good things this year and I think we have a great thing going.''

Brookhart led the Zips to a 6-5 record and a 6-2 record in the Mid-American Conference. The Zips had a late-season opportunity to win the MAC East Division championship, but lost to Miami.

Before taking the Akron position, Brookhart was the wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator at Pitt. He coached All-American Larry Fitzgerald, who was the 2003 Heisman runner-up and won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver.

Harris talked with Brookhart shortly after accepting the position at Stanford.

``I think this is a great opportunity for Walt,'' he said. ``It's a chance for him to go home.''

Harris, who has compiled a 51-43 record in eight seasons at Pitt, grew up in San Francisco and played at the College of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

This season, the 58-year-old Harris led the Panthers to an 8-3 record. Pittsburgh was the co-Big East champion.

Harris recently was named the Big East Coach of the Year, an award he also won in 1997.

On Sunday afternoon, Harris met with his players to announce the news.

Pitt starting junior fullback Tim Murphy, a former Buchtel star, wasn't surprised by Harris' departure.

``Everybody on the team kind of had a feeling he wasn't going to be here because (the school) didn't give him a contract extension,'' Murphy said.

The 19th-ranked Panthers earned a BCS bid and will play Utah on Jan. 1 in the Fiesta Bowl. Harris will coach the team in the Fiesta Bowl.

``He expressed to us how much he wanted to coach us in the bowl game for the last time,'' Murphy said. ``So I don't think this is going to be a distraction. I think we'll play even harder for him so we can give him a win before he leaves.''

One name that has surfaced as a possible replacement for Harris is Dave Wannstedt, a former Pitt player and assistant coach who resigned as head coach of the Miami Dolphins after a 1-8 start this fall.

[JP Morgan]

Way to get the scoop DLM ! What did you do, watch Fox sports Pittsburgh last night to get the information for your story?

I can only imagine the phone call that DLM made to JD to get the "scoop."

Ring, Ring, Ring

JD - "Hello"

DLM - Hey, coach, David Lee Morgan here with the Akron Beacon Journal.

JP - Who?

DLM - David Lee Morgan with the Akron Becon Journal!

JD - Uhhhh, I already have a complimentary subscription, but thanks for the call....

DLM - No, no, no, I'm a writer for the Beacon Journal.....

JD - Oh, sorry I haven't read any of your article's.

DLM - You should, I'm really good at what I do.

JD - OK? So what can I do for you?

DLM - I heard on fox sports last night that you may be considering leaving for the Pittsburgh Steeler job.

JD - Well, I don't think Bill Cower has been fired or has quit, are you sure you don't mean the Pitt Panthers?

DLM - Uhhhh, yeah, that's what I meant.......silly me. So are you considering the Pitt Job?

JD - Naw, We did some good things this year and I think we have a great thing going.

DLM - Thanks for the inside info coach, I'll break this story tommorrow morning!

JD - OK buddy? You sure you don't have any other questions?

DLM - Nope, then plenty of inside scoop for today! Bye.

JD - (Hangs up and then say's) What an idiot!

[Kangaroo Craig]

That's hillarious JP. I'm laughing my A*# off here! What an idiot the David Lee Morgan is. Sad thing is, that's probably exactly what happened!

[Guest Youngstown Vindicated]

J.P., why can't you cut your li'l brother Davey Lee a little slack? Are you still jealous cause he got a job with that big city paper in Akron, and you're still stuck in Youngstown? Get over it man, and show a little Christmas spirit.

I hear DL's going to give us all a Xmas present and present a preview of the 2005 Zip football team before the holidays. He's just waiting for them to send him a copy of the media guide so he knows who the players are for next year.

[JP Morgan]

stuck in Youngstown

If I had a nickle for every time I've heard that!