Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator and former Pitt quarterback Matt Cavanaugh, and Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads are the finalists for the Panthers' football coaching job, vacated Dec. 12 when Walt Harris resigned to take a similar position at Stanford University.

Paul Rhoads, left, and Matt Cavanaugh

Pitt athletic director Jeff Long interviewed Rhoads for a second time yesterday and Cavanaugh's second interview was Monday night in Baltimore. A decision is expected today.

However, Bo Pelini, Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator, might not be out of the mix yet. Pelini had several conversations with Long yesterday as well, and Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops called Long to endorse Pelini for the job.

The field also included New York Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis and Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Sal Sunseri. One other candidate, former Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, pulled his name from consideration early in the search.

Long interviewed all five candidates over the past six days, starting Thursday with Rhoads, then narrowed the field. Both finalists have said they will accept the job if offered.

Rhoads has been considered a strong candidate since the beginning because he is popular with the players and a bright, young defensive coach. He has been endorsed by a number of high school coaches in the area and has a number of key alumni in his corner.

At first, Cavanaugh was a dark horse, but he interviewed well with Long Saturday night in Indianapolis. He has a number of things in his favor -- he has more experience than Rhoads, owns three Super Bowl rings and was a part of Pitt's glory years of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was the quarterback of the Panthers in 1976 when they won their most recent national championship.

He also was a finalist for the job in 1996 when Johnny Majors retired. He was offered the job, but turned it down for a number of personal reasons.