Paul Chryst was one of the reasons Chris James picked Pittsburgh.
However, James got to play only one season for Chryst, who left Wednesday to take the head coaching job at Wisconsin, where he played and was an assistant coach.
“That was his dream job,” said James, a 2014 graduate of Notre Dame. “I can’t blame him for going home, but it was hard for us.”
Despite Chryst’s decision, James said Friday he’s committed to the Pitt program for the long term. The Panthers finished the regular season 6-6 and play Houston in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, on Jan. 2.
“For now, I am here,” he said. “[It] stinks that he’s gone, but the last thing on my mind is transferring. I love my teammates, and I plan to make the best of my next three or four years.”
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A 5-11, 210-pound running back, James made an immediate impact in the backfield as a freshman. He’s run 82 times for 404 yards and four touchdowns and had one catch for 23 yards. James is third on the team in rushing yards. He ran for a season-best 122 yards on 19 carries in a 30-7 win over Syracuse on Nov. 22.
“When I was being recruited, I was told I would have a chance to come in and contribute,” James said. “I would have liked to have some more wins, but it was all a learning experience for me.”
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James said his first introduction to the college game came at the team’s preseason camp. On a run to the outside that he said he normally would break for a long gain around the corner, he was caught by a linebacker and defensive end and pushed out of bounds before he could make his cut.
“Right then and there, I knew I wasn’t in high school anymore,” he said. “The main thing is the speed of the players. Everybody is fast here. It’s taught me to be a smarter runner, to be able to read the defensive line more. In high school, I would see a hole and go. Now, you have to learn how to run.”
Notre Dame coach Mike Hennessey said he stayed in contact with James throughout the season, mostly by text and e-mail. After watching James run for 4,220 yards and score 53 touchdowns in high school, Hennessey said his star running back was ready for the big time.
“It’s about what I expected,” Hennessey said. “He got a great opportunity this year, and I sure am looking forward to him making more progress in the future.”