[Redrum]

What is the difference between Stanford players and Pitt players?  Not commenting on any particular individuals, but as a group, back then,  Pitt's standards were in the Miami tier and they lots got Miami-tier players.  Harris' method of discipline worked for a while in that setting, with those kids.  There was a reason why Harris had to announce a policy of no guns in Pitt's locker room.  Harris' mistake was bringing that worldview of players to Stanford, where, on his first day, he made sure that Stanford players understood no guns in the locker room was his policy.

But even back then lots of fans were onto Wlat' as a bit of a headcase.  Oddly enough, it was only when he tried to get the Ohio State job (and failed) that they turned on him en masse.  The well was poisoned, particularly between the athletic director and Wlat.  Pitt declined to renew his contract in advance of his final season and there was a gigantic sigh of relief when Stanford hired him. 

So we got a coach with wounded pride, a stubborn streak,  a view of team and player discipline straight out of the urban Big East, and poor people skills...running headlong into a completely different player and student culture.  What could go wrong?

And, he'd just gotten a messy, public divorce in Pittsburgh.  My personal theory is: he was psychologically spiraling down before he ever hit Palo Alto.  It just got worse on The Farm.

[Redrum]

What is the difference between Stanford players and Pitt players?  Not commenting on any particular individuals, but as a group, back then,  Pitt's standards were in the Miami tier and they lots got Miami-tier players.  Harris' method of discipline worked for a while in that setting, with those kids.  There was a reason why Harris had to announce a policy of no guns in Pitt's locker room.  Harris' mistake was bringing that worldview of players to Stanford, where, on his first day, he made sure that Stanford players understood no guns in the locker room was his policy.

But even back then lots of fans were onto Wlat' as a bit of a headcase.  Oddly enough, it was only when he tried to get the Ohio State job (and failed) that they turned on him en masse.  The well was poisoned, particularly between the athletic director and Wlat.  Pitt declined to renew his contract in advance of his final season and there was a gigantic sigh of relief when Stanford hired him. 

So we got a coach with wounded pride, a stubborn streak,  a view of team and player discipline straight out of the urban Big East, and poor people skills...running headlong into a completely different player and student culture.  What could go wrong?

And, he'd just gotten a messy, public divorce in Pittsburgh.  My personal theory is: he was psychologically spiraling down before he ever hit Palo Alto.  It just got worse on The Farm.