Todd Graham pulled a Baltimore Colts exodus today as he leaves the Pitt program after a 6-6 record. His method to announce to his players was a text that an assistant converted to an email.

Nevermind that Arizona State isn't exactly the hottest, most major program in the world (either slightly better, slightly worse, or about even with Pitt) and they will be playing with Oregon and USC (although UCLA was in their conference championship game with a losing record-and some really bad loses). It may be a beautiful area of the country, and they are saying that his wife made this decision for him, but I think that if he wanted out of Pitt that bad that he jumped for this job, I don't know if Pitt wanted him as a long term answer anyway. Despite beating USF and Louisville, there were way too many loses this year to teams that Pitt had more talent than. And they blew leads vs Cinci, ND, and Iowa and got crushed by Rutgers. So I don't think the game coaching was that good (and after seeing Wanny for years, we should know poor game coaching).

He was being raked over the coals all year in the PGH media, which might be one factor of "let's get out of here", as PGH is a place of lofty football expectations in general. If I wanted to defend his coaching, I could say losing Ray Graham about the middle of the Big East season did not help, but it didn't stop the media here from beating on him. Maybe he just could handle the PGH fans/media.

The search is already underway for a successor. Pitt has talent (not too sure about the QB slot), will always be second fiddle to the Steelers (that's not always bad), and has a great place to play (Heinz Field) or at least watch games.

He did Pitt no favors. Pitt will be hiring its fourth coach in a little of a year. Pitts recruiting class last year suffered as a result and given the timing and the uncertainty, it is likley the Panthers will have another subpar class this year (Odds are Shell will go to greener pastures). In time all of this turnover will cause Pitt to have issues with the depth of talent available to them. They are going to have make a home run hire who will be able to convice the nice class they have currently want to stay and who can make up for the losses for the past couple seasons.

It was a shady way to break the news to his employer and his institution, but if he wants to bolt, he wants to bolt. If Pitt wants to do anything about it they should attempt to sue for breach of contract (although I guess if you resign I'm not sure how you do that). I felt that Pitt was within their right to deny Arizona State permission to speak to him after only being on the job one year. Would stink to be ASU's third choice after the Sun Devils botched June Jones and struck out on Kevin Sumlin

Pitt could maybe claim that he was talking to ASU while still under contract and that no permission was granted.

Face it, this was probably the worst way to leave a program (early, after one year, text, going to a lateral program), but who wants a coach that doesn't want to be there and is looking for greener pastures?

How do contract buy outs work? They were paying him $2Mil per year at Pitt. Can't they put something in there that if you leave, not only do you forfeit the remaining money, but maybe have to pay a 1/2 mil or a mil back if it is after year one, less after year two, etc.

But for a 6-6 coach to bolt, you have to wonder if there were any underlying circumstances that we don't and will never know about. This chapter is over, Pitt must turn the page. Dumb thought, what about someone like Bruce Arians?

He did the same thing to Rice..a day or two after signing an extension.

During press conferences, he threw players (mainly Sunseri) under the bus.

This is a shitty, cowardly way to leave...through a text.

Good riddance.