If you’re a University of Pittsburgh football fan, you have to always watch what you wish for — you just might get it.

Remember back in 2004? Walt Harris led the Panthers to a Big East championship — it was a four-way tie for first place with a 4-2 record, but hey, it’s a title — and guided the team to the Fiesta Bowl.

Sure, the Panthers got blown out by Utah 35-7, but Pitt was on the upswing, right? Harris took over a horrendous program back in 1997 and pushed his eight-year record to 52-44.

Despite a shot in the Bowl Championship Series against the Urban Meyer-coached Utes, fans wanted more.

Pitt didn’t sign Harris to stay on and he fled to Stanford.

In came former NFL coach and Pitt graduate and player Dave Wannstedt. The idea was that Wannstedt was going to devote everything to the program, was not going to leave for the NFL again and would bring Pitt back to a top-10 caliber program again.

That never happened. Wannstedt did open up the lines of communications with local high schools again, something Harris did not do, and brought a lot of homegrown talent as well.

When some of that talent didn’t develop, his teams came up short in a lot of games.

He finished his six-year stint with a 43-31 record, but averaged nine wins the final three years and went 5-2 in the Big East each of those seasons.

Wannstedt was forced out — no matter what Pitt may say — and eventually after another offseason coaching move, Todd Graham of Tulsa was brought in.

High-octane offense was his brand of football and the Panthers were hooked.

Personally, I did not expect much this year. The players on the Pitt roster were not really designed for that. Graham basically had to make do with what he had available.

After a 2-0 start, the Panthers have dropped four of five games to fall to 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big East.

I don’t fault Graham and he was able to save a few of Wannstedt’s recruits and snared a few when it seemed too late.

He’s done an excellent job so far, case in point, keeping WPIAL rushing record holder Rushel Shell of Hopewell interested in Pitt.

I have no issue with Graham’s high-octane offense although he’s gotten blasted a bit since it has not been consistent. It’s his system, it’s what he believes in and I have no doubt Pitt will be cranking out points soon.

Pitt mustered just 120 total yards, 50 of which was passing (9-of-30). Not exactly high-octane football but that’s the price you pay for making a switch.

There’s going to be a transition. There usually is. Brian Kelly is in his second season at Notre Dame and it hasn’t risen the Irish to the Top 25 yet.

When the only constant is change, you better be prepared for an adjustment period. If you asked for it, you better be prepared to wait. Again.

Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.