Is Pat Narduzzi’s Time at Michigan State Coming to an End?

Is Pat Narduzzi’s Time at Michigan State Coming to an End? Colorado State and Pittsburgh both reached out to MSU to express interest in talking to the MSU

Is Pat Narduzzi’s Time at Michigan State Coming to an End?

Colorado State and Pittsburgh both reached out to MSU to express interest in talking to the MSU DC, and by the end of the weekend both will have done so. Whether face to face or via intermediaries it doesn’t matter, clearly Narduzzi is a hot commodity. And he should be.

There was much speculation that Narduzzi would be a strong candidate at Texas A & M again this year (Spartan Nation broke the story last time) as they fired their DC earlier this year. I believe Narduzzi would have had a difficult time turning down another run by the Aggies, but as of 7:13 p.m. last night, A & M head coach Kevin Sumlin hadn’t called.

Narduzzi has turned down multiple multimillion dollar opportunities to be a DC in the SEC and Spartan Nation broke both of those stories with Texas A & M and Tennessee. He has also turned down several head coaching chances. Sumlin thought he had Narduzzi the last time and felt scorned at the altar per say.

One nationally respected college football figure told me, “Pat has gone to the altar a lot with teams. As a head coach and DC and stayed at MSU. Good for him, but just like Izzo and the NBA, at some point those chances stop when people think you aren’t going to go. In today’s highly political college football world, schools don’t like to be told no publicly.”

At this point, I don’t see Narduzzi turning down either job if the schools are committed financially to a great staff and top facilities. With his recruiting prowess in Ohio and New Jersey and being a self-described “Youngstown guy,” being in Pittsburgh is a no brainer and Spartan Nation feels it is a job he craves. CSU is a rare chance to take over a team already winning with a roster that would fit his style more. Pittsburgh would be close to going home.

According to people intimately familiar with the process, they told me that Narduzzi is a “Serious contender BUT not the first choice at Colorado State“ and at Pitt he is considered a, “Top tier pick out of three.”

Pittsburgh has sent the message throughout the nation’s college football world that they are going to seriously invest in football and upgrade the program. They are also talking to one SEC head coach who has made it clear he wants to leave his school. Although Pitt is not normally considered an “Upgrade” over an SEC program, they are actively selling a new commitment.

Stay tuned for the latest. On Sunday we will revisit the possibility of Narduzzi taking with him other MSU assistants and who could/would replace him.