updated 3:05 a.m. ET Dec. 22, 2004

PITTSBURGH - Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko clearly isn’t happy with the Panthers’ pending coaching change, saying it “stinks.” Coach Walt Harris doesn’t seem all that thrilled with it, either.

Harris, allowed to leave for Stanford last week in a move some players essentially consider a firing, acknowledged it is an emotional time as he prepares to coach the No. 19 Panthers in the Fiesta Bowl against No. 5 Utah on Jan. 1.

“Sure,” Harris said Monday night. “I’m trying to act like it isn’t, I guess because I think that’s probably the way you’re supposed to act. We were down at City Council today for University of Pittsburgh Football Day, and it is very emotional. I spent eight years trying to rebuild this football program and I think we accomplished that.”

Asked if he wished he were staying, Harris said, “I think those questions are, unfortunately, behind us now. I do love these players, I have told them how much they meant to me, and that life goes on.”

Fiesta Bowl Utah 35, Pitt 7 Game summary Utah finishes undefeated Utah 'D' dominates Meyer wins writers' coach of year award Utah QB Smith might enter NFL draft Pitiful finish for Panthers, Harris

Some players were more vocal about Harris’ departure, especially Palko, who unsuccessfully lobbied Pitt’s administration to give Harris a new contract. Harris was signed through 2006, but the school said the contract wouldn’t be extended — an awkward situation that all but guaranteed a coaching change.

“It’s a business and it’s cutthroat and it stinks,” said Palko, the son of a Pittsburgh-area high school coach. “But being around it my whole life, you understand this is part of the job. Coach Harris has been great. He hasn’t been selfish about anything, he’s been all about the team and we appreciate that.”

Harris’ 25-12 record since 2002 is the best for a Pitt coach over a three-year span since Jackie Sherrill’s teams went 33-3 from 1979-81. Still, athletic director Jeff Long said last week he couldn’t say he was “disappointed” Harris is departing.

Long and Harris were not close, and Long was angered in mid-October when the coach’s former agent demanded the school give Harris a new contract or let him seek a new job.

Long interviewed Carolina Panthers assistant coach Sal Sunseri, a former Pitt assistant, on Monday and is winding down his search for Harris’ replacement. Among those interviewed were Oklahoma assistant coach Bo Pelini, Baltimore Ravens assistant Matt Cavanaugh, New York Giants assistant Tim Lewis and Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads. Former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt pulled out of consideration Thursday, saying he wasn’t ready yet to take another job.

Pitt has signaled it wants to hire a coach before the players leave campus Thursday, but it wasn’t certain Monday if Long is ready to recommend his choice to chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg.

Some Pitt players think they already have a good coach, and many remain confused about why Harris is leaving.

“I think when it happened, it was (a distraction),” third-team All-America tackle Rob Petitti said. “Now, we have our eye on the bull’s-eye. Coach Harris said he wanted to coach us in a bowl game and wants to go out with a win, and I want to go out with a win. So we need to go and win now.”

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