Kevin Gorman: Timing would be terrible for Pitt's Pat Narduzzi to leave for Michigan State

We’ve always known it was only a matter of time before Mark Dantonio would leave Michigan State and speculation would surround Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s name to surface as successor.

That countdown started only seconds after the news broke.

And the timing is terrible.

When Dantonio abruptly retired Tuesday — the eve of the second Signing Day — amid allegations his football program committed multiple NCAA violations, Narduzzi was a natural to be named a top candidate. He was Dantonio’s defensive coordinator for three seasons at Cincinnati and eight at Michigan State, the last two as assistant head coach.

Narduzzi ran a dominant defense under Dantonio, one that ranked among the nation’s best as the Spartans went 13-1 in 2013 and 11-2 in ‘14 for top-5 national rankings. The familiarity with the Spartans’ most successful seasons in decades should make him an attractive option for Michigan State.

Ever since Paul Chryst returned to Wisconsin — where he was offensive coordinator before becoming head coach at Pitt for three seasons — Panthers fans long have worried Narduzzi would leave for Michigan State the moment Dantonio departed.

But Narduzzi should stay.

Where Wisconsin was Chryst’s alma mater and his dream job, what made his decision a no-brainer is the Badgers were among the Big Ten’s best programs. Wisconsin was coming off an 11-3 season when Gary Andersen left for Oregon State. Michigan State is another story. Since Narduzzi left, the Spartans slipped from 12-2 in 2015 to records of 3-9, 10-3, 7-6 and 7-6 over the past four seasons under Dantonio.

Worse yet, Michigan State was embroiled in the sex-abuse scandal when school physician and USA Gymnastics athletic trainer Larry Nassar was convicted of assaulting athletes. That led to the retirement of athletic director Mark Hollis and the resignation of university president Lou Anna Simon in 2018.

Again, the timing is terrible.

Which makes me wonder: What exactly, at this moment, makes Michigan State’s football program more attractive than Pitt?

The easy answer is bigger conference and better football program over the past decade. Michigan State is in the Big Ten, but the Spartans are fighting to be the fourth-best team in its East Division, behind Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan.

Another attraction is Michigan State’s 75,000-seat, on-campus Spartan Stadium, as well as the natural rivalries with the aforementioned trio. Pitt plays at an NFL stadium in 68,400-seat Heinz Field and only faces its traditional rivals on a rotating basis. The Panthers have games scheduled against Notre Dame this fall and in 2023 and West Virginia from 2022-25 but none against Penn State for the foreseeable future.

Now I know what you’re thinking. What makes Pitt attractive?

The Panthers return senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and the nation’s No. 15 defense, which led the country in sacks per game (3.92), from a team that finished 8-5. Not only did defensive linemen Patrick Jones and Jalen Twyman and safeties Paris Ford and Damar Hamlin bypass the NFL, but the Panthers should also benefit from the return of star defensive end Rashad Weaver from knee surgery.

Michigan State could convince Narduzzi he’s the right man to restore the Spartans to college football’s elite, but that might take time. He already has Pitt pointed in the right direction, positioned to be perennial contenders in the Coastal Division and leading the Panthers to the 2018 ACC title game.

And let’s not forget the bold prediction about an ACC championship Narduzzi made in December: “Our goal is not just to get there. Our goal is to get there and win the thing. And in the next couple of years, we’re going to win one. I can guarantee you that.”

We’ve always known with Pitt and football coaches, there’s no such thing as guarantees. Coaches have a history of leaving for bigger and better jobs: Johnny Majors for Tennessee, Jackie Sherrill for Texas A&M, Walt Harris for Stanford, Todd Graham for Arizona State and Chryst for Wisconsin. The revolving door has left Pitt with an inferiority complex that it’s become a steppingstone job.

This time, Narduzzi should say he’s standing pat at Pitt.

Until he does, we can continue the countdown to a meltdown.

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