Remember when Jimmy Johnson stomped all over a box of “Flutie Flakes” after the Dolphins beat the Bills? It was a double bonus for me. I found the action amusing and childish, and well deserved after seeing way too many Doug Flute “10-10” commercials; but then I got to watch Johnson — who I intensely dislike — squirm as he was berated for being insensitive because the proceeds of the BC legend corn flakes were going to autism research and treatment. Well, now members in the Big Eleven can line up to stomp some cereal boxes.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno will join the legions of sports heroes who have been honored with one of the sports world’s most recognized awards — the front of the Wheaties cereal box.

I can only imagine the carnage if Pitt and Penn State actually played against each other.

In light of the injury to Mike Vick of the Atlanta Falcons, there is a good question being asked: what happens to Pitt if QB Rod Rutherford goes down?

The highly anticipated 2003 season could quickly dissolve, unless backup quarterbacks Luke Getsy or Tyler Palko proved capable of leading a team that some project as a BCS contender.

“Rod can carry us,” senior wide receiver Chris Curd said Monday, the eighth day of training camp. “We just hope the other guys can do the same thing.”

It would be difficult for sophomore Palko or redshirt freshman Getsy to duplicate what Rutherford did last season in leading the Panthers to a 9-4 record and No. 18 ranking. He passed for 2,783 yards, ran for 398, and amassed the third-highest combined total in Big East history.

It was his emergence that prompted many preseason prognosticators to deem the Panthers national championship contenders.

With Palko or Getsy at the controls, those aspirations might be far too ambitious. That’s not to discredit either, but Palko has thrown only three college passes, completing two, and Getsy has thrown none. He’s never even played in a collegiate game.

This is where I worry. Harris never seems to give the back-up much work. Even in mop-up duty. This leaves them ill-prepared to do much when they do get into games. Looking back on the 2001 season, a season of much frustration. Harris would make a big show, of subbing out the starting QB (David “Jason” Priestley) for Rod Rutherford. The problem is everyone in the stands and the field knew that Rutherford was out there to run the ball. Rutherford was the second leading rusher on the team in terms of carries (81) and yards (255). He only made 59 attempts the entire season (completing a paltry 19 and 4 interceptions). Rutherford was never given more than 2-3 plays in the offense before he was yanked back out of the game. You could hear audible groans from the fans the minute he started running — because everyone saw it coming. It took Rutherford a couple starts in 2002 before he really started getting comfortable in the game situations.

Now Palko (a much heralded recruit) has gotten practically no game experience — despite a couple games that Pitt had complete dominance and would have been perfect scrub time. Hopefully, Harris will have figured out the importance of giving Palko or Getsy some real playing time before it becomes necessary.

So Pitt has decided to host a basketball tourney this December. Forgive me if I’m not exactly overwhelmed with the teams competing.

Florida State, Murray State, Eastern Michigan, Chicago State and Wagner. I see at least two teams where the net effect of playing is to drag down Pitt’s RPI (Chicago State and Wagner). There are two teams that have been good mid-majors, thus being a risk to play; and don’t hurt/help the RPI (Murray and EMU). Then there is the name school, but in the wrong sport — Florida State — does anyone know if there are any expectations for FSU this year?

Couldn’t Pitt have wrangled an invite to a better tournament, rather than hosting this dink?

Greetings from Meadville, Pennsylvania and the 58th annual Crawford County Fair — the largest agricultural fair in Pennsylvania (including the State Farm Show). That, alone, should make this the most interesting post since Chas wrote us from the highest point in Indiana.

The relevance to Pitt? Only that at practically all of the novelty crap places across the Fairgrounds, there is — for the first time ever — more Pitt junk on the tables then Penn State junk. In an agricultural county like Crawford, this is a shift in popularity of seismic proportions.

Heck, for all I know, all the Penn State junk may have already sold out. But it cheered me up a little. My hometown could possibly be coming around.

Hail to Meadville