Harris news conference void of good cheer

[Apis Bull]

Harris news conference void of good cheer

By Joe Starkey

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Friday, August 13, 2004

A year ago, Walt Harris walked into his season-opening news conference and said his team's goal was to "win the national championship."

There was no such proclamation Thursday on the South Side.

Not even close.

In fact, Harris probably should have doled out anti-depressants before he started talking.

Wow, what a downer.

By the time the half-hour session ended, you wanted to flick on the local news for a quick pick-me-up.

Harris started by labeling the coming season a "challenge." He got that right. It'll kick off with five games in 25 days, hardly the ideal itinerary for a club that'll be greener than The Incredible Hulk.

The coach then spoke sadly of receiver Princell Brockenbrough, who might miss the season with a knee injury. Speedy receiver Terrell Allen will join Brockenbrough on the sidelines.

Furthermore, Harris explained, heralded recruit Craig Bokor is off to prep school, and potential starters Jawan Walker (tailback) and Josh Lay (cornerback) are having academic problems and "working on their eligibility," whatever that means.

No clarification was needed on the heavy losses Pitt has sustained. Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Miree, Kris Wilson, Shawntae Spencer and Rod Rutherford -- not to mention Anthony Morelli and Andrew Johnson -- all have moved on.

Any more good news?

Well, Pitt's already an underdog against South Florida, and Harris has no idea who his starting quarterback, tailback or wide receivers will be when the season opens a little more than three weeks from now.

The offensive line -- an unmitigated disaster last season -- is far from set, same as several other positions.

In other words, there are holes all over the place going into year No. 8 of the Harris regime. It's fitting that no player is pictured on the front or back of the team's media guide, because there is no discernible star.

Not yet, anyway. Harris does have a way of molding such players at the skill positions.

Fair to say the program is in a rebuilding mode?

"We don't think we rebuild," Harris said. "We're all about reloading."

No, no, reloading is what the powerhouse programs do. Pitt is nowhere near such status.

But here's the kicker (not that Harris has a starter at that position, either): Pitt could still win eight games.

Look at the schedule. It's the softest one since, well, last year, and it's the best thing Harris has going for him. He is incredibly fortunate that in a year of such heavy casualties, the Big East imploded.

Rebuilding could easily be disguised as contending in this watered-down league.

The flip side is that if Harris goes 4-7 - also a distinct possibility - the schedule will only serve to augment the prosecutors' case come December.

Maybe by then, Harris will have named a starting quarterback.

Joe Starkey can be reached at jstarkey@tribweb.com or .

Link:

Harris is definately on the hot-seat.

[Mission9]

Is USF really favored already?  This has to be a first against a big name program.

[smazza]

he will be crying after the game

[E.T.]

Heard we will be 3 point favorites ... our guys need to jump on 'em hard and take any life outta of them.

Go BULLS !!!