Wannstedt hire affects Williams and Jarvis?

[Captain Kangaroo]

Wannstedt hire rouses recruits

Saturday, December 25, 2004

By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Time will tell about coach Dave Wannstedt's recruiting abilities. But his hiring Thursday as Pitt's new coach is a positive sign in the eyes of some potential recruits.

Central Catholic quarterback/defensive back Shane Murray made his official visit to Pitt last weekend when he had no idea Wannstedt would be the Panthers' next coach. Murray also has been to Hofstra, and has January visits scheduled to Richmond and Connecticut. He was pleased to hear of Wannstedt's hiring.

"You figure he's seen so much talent because he's coached at such a high level," Murray said. "You know he knows a lot about football."

Murray sounded like Pitt was his top choice now.

"[Wannstedt] does kind of push you there a little bit more," he said. "If I'm going to go there, I'm going on my own will. But it does help knowing that there's a coach there now -- and a good one."

Duquesne running back Shane Brooks also visited Pitt last weekend and seemed encouraged with Wannstedt.

"He's a veteran coach who coached NFL teams," Brooks said. "You can't beat experience like that."

Brooks, though, stopped short of saying Pitt is his leader. He has January visits planned to Connecticut and Akron.

Although Pitt has verbal commitments from 12 high school players, Wannstedt does not have to honor those scholarship offers.

"I still have to meet him and see if he still offers me a scholarship," Brooks said. "Probably in a couple more days I'll be able to figure things out a little more."

Monessen fullback/linebacker Mick Williams has visited Akron and is going to West Virginia Jan. 14. Pitt had offered a scholarship, but Williams did not want to visit Pitt until the coaching situation was resolved. He said he hopes to make an official visit in January, but didn't say Wannstedt's hiring made the Panthers No. 1 in his eyes.

"I never met the dude, so that's what I'll wait for," he said. "I'll wait until I meet him and then go from there."

It will be interesting to see if Wannstedt offers scholarships to any other Western Pennsylvania players. Two weeks ago, Central Catholic coach Art Walker said he believes the new Pitt coach could do himself wonders if he offered a scholarship to Central Catholic star running back Eugene Jarvis, a two-time Post-Gazette Player of the Year.

Former Pitt coach Walt Harris offered Jarvis a scholarship in the spring, but the Panthers pulled it in the summer after getting a commitment from Johnstown running back LaRod Stephens.

Burrell offensive lineman John Brown is one of three WPIAL seniors to commit to Pitt. The others are Aliquippa receiver/defensive back Tommie Campbell and Moon lineman John Bachman.

Brown, whose father played at Pitt, said he would have stuck with his commitment no matter who Pitt hired.

"But I think this is definitely a plus for the Pitt team," Brown said of Wannstedt's hiring. "He coached in the NFL so you know he knows what he's talking about. I think he can take this team to new heights and I think it's awesome that he's a local guy and a Pitt alum. He knows this area and I think that's what Pitt needed most."