Now the second half was entertaining. Not just because Pitt won. It sure helped, but the USC announcing crew seemed to pick up their own effort in the second half to make the difference.

In the first few minutes of the second half, they commented that to this point, this may have been the Gamecocks’ best defensive effort. They didn’t, however, sound sure that it would continue. Kept commenting about how they’ve played some good teams tight, but haven’t won yet. Then as Pitt was on a 10-0 run about halfway through the second half, they were just going off on the team. Talking and ranting about their mistakes. How they were giving away the game and the opportunities. It was a riot. Sure they were homers, but you expected that. They were just funny about it.

As for the second half of the game itself. Pitt turned up the intensity and really started getting the ball inside. Troutman, who only took one shot in the first half, went 8-10 from the field in the second and stayed on the boards. He finished with 20 points and 12 boards. His only negative was going only 2-5 from the Free Throw line, including 2 misses at the end of the game when Pitt needs to have them.

Krauser finished the game strong after a hideous first half. He definitely didn’t have his shot tonight. After going 1-6 in the first half, he only attempted 4 shots (making only 1) but was the guy making the clutch free throws at the end when USC was successfully fouling to try and snatch the win back. Krauser made all 6 FTs in the last minute to help Pitt hold onto the game. He ended up with 14 points and 10 coming from the charity stripe. He can annoy and frustrate at times in the game, but he is still the guy on the team I like seeing with the ball in the last couple minutes.

Taft had a so-so night. I expected a better game from him, and I’m starting to wonder if maybe his elbow that he hurt in preseason might still be bothering him. He was dreadful at the FT line at 2-7. He finished with 5-10 shooting and 12 points but only had 6 rebounds and 1 block. Plus he had at least 2 shots blocked by USC during the game. Just should not happen.

Ramon played a solid game. He was 50% shooting 3s, making open looks that were given. He will keep earning minutes with 11 points in only 21 minutes.

Yuri Demetrius gave his usual defensive effort, but also provided some actual offense tonight. He hit 2-3 3-pointers. Clearly Coach Dixon likes the defense Demetrius gives the team.

Antonio Graves, coming off the ankle sprain was not much of a scoring factor with only 3 points. He did however have 5 assists and a steal while playing a good defense.

Mark McCarroll is losing minutes rapidly. He has become this year’s Toree Morris. The big senior who just is getting lapped. McCarroll still looks lost playing defense, and is now afraid to shoot. If he can’t even provide the offense, he will not be getting off the bench much. It’s part of the reason, Pitt has gone to starting 3 guards, rather than using 2 guards and 2 forwards.

Aaron Gray has become the most reliable bench player to spell Troutman or Taft. He is showing a much better touch on his shots and is handling passes much better. He still needs to improve the defense, but he is staying at home more. I expect his minutes will keep increasing.

Looking at the boxscore, what is missing? Keith Benjamin and John DeGroat. Neither even got in the game. This was Pitt’s toughest game, and the first one they really had to fight and the outcome was in doubt until the end. Suddenly the Pitt bench got a lot shorter. The players out there this night will be the ones we will be seeing when Pitt starts playing the upper-half of Big East teams. The only guy I think could get on the court still, is DeGroat. McCarroll, if he continues to struggle will get less time. Perhaps Levon Kendall as well.

First time Pitt has trailed at the half this year. Also the first time Pitt has ever trailed at the half at the Pete. Down 28-25.

Listening to the first half of the South Carolina-Pitt game has been annoying. Hard to tell with the USC announcers how much Pitt is just flat or if they were unprepared for South Carolina’s defense. I’m thinking more of the latter. In game, halftime stats can be unreliable, but Pitt has committed 9 turnovers (4 from steals) and had 3 shots blocked. South Carolina has only 6 turnovers (0 from steals).

Neither team has shot exceptionally well. Pitt near 40% and USC at almost 45%. Pitt struggled with FT shooting. 3-7 (actually it was mainly Taft 1-4), but did hit 4-10 3-pointers. USC missed all 5 3-pt shots.

Krauser not having a good night. 4 points, 1-6 shooting, 0-2 on 3-point attempts. More later

I’ve yet to see anyone actually predict a Pitt upset. Maybe that’s for the best. Just give the players more reason to get fired up for the game. Let that “us-versus-the world” cliche get full use.

This breakdown via ESPN.com from ScoutsInc. (subscription only), gives every facet they analyze to Utah. Essentially, they predict a blowout in the second-half:

Expect Utah to prove it belongs in this game, while also helping to prove the theory that the BCS’ automatic bowl bid system is flawed. A Panthers’ pass defense that has been among the worst in the nation will have problems slowing down Smith. Once the passing game is established, Johnson and Smith will have more room to run. Pittsburgh’s conservative offense will keep the score close in the first half, but the Panthers will eventually abandon the running game in an effort to come back and Palko isn’t capable of keeping pace with Smith.

Prediction: Utah 38, Pittsburgh 17

In the breakdown, what they say is that Pitt has not shown itself to be a fundamentally and technically sound team. That is what will catch up to them in the second half as Utah exploits their mistakes.

On the lighter side, there is the chat session with Beano Cook:

Johnny (Ann Arbor, MI): Is Wanny going to be able to bring Pitt back to prominance? Do you think he’ll unload those horrendous uni’s?

Beano Cook: I hope he gets rid of the uniforms .. if he can recruit, they will be real good again. If he can’t, they will struggle. However, the feeling here is that he will do a good job in recruiting.
…
Sean_Peadar (Hoboken, NJ): Beano, what will it take to get Pitt & PSU to renew that rivalry?

Beano Cook: Remember this Sean, Auburn and Alabama didn’t play for about 35 years .. life goes on. If Penn St. doesn’t want to play, so be it. It’s up to them. It’s childish of Penn St. not to play but it is their choice.

He also suggests that Syracuse hire Tom Bradley from Penn St., but also writes off the ‘Cuse as ever being major players in college football again. I will however back Beano completely on junking the present Pitt unis.

You knew it was coming, but I thought they might wait until after January 1.

Syracuse fired football coach Paul Pasqualoni on Wednesday, eight days after a 37-point loss in a bowl game — and less than a month after giving him a vote of confidence.

Chancellor Nancy Cantor announced Dec. 6 that Pasqualoni would return for his 15th season with Syracuse, but 11 days later Daryl Gross was hired as athletic director and the Orange’s humbling 51-14 loss to Georgia Tech in the Champs Sports Bowl apparently sealed Pasqualoni’s fate.

The decision to fire Pasqualoni was made by Gross.

I love how they note that Pasqualoni did not attend the press conference. That might have been a bit awkward.

I’m guessing Randy Edsall, the UConn head coach and Syracuse alumn, will be one of the names commonly brought up for this search.

Lots and lots of stories. Very little time this morning.

Today is media day for both teams. Expect lots of quote-filled articles tomorrow.

The issue of coaches leaving for other jobs and should they still be coaching in the bowl games. I know I’m biased, but I think there is something of a difference where an assistant will be taking over as head coach (Utah), and where the new head coach wasn’t even decided until this past week (Pitt). The former suggests the departing coach should not, while the latter gives a little more of a rationalization/justification.

Utah seems to be enjoying the role of being the favorite. The defense is talking shutout. Maybe that’s because their star players on defense were originally members of the offense. Heck, even the Utah beat writer seems to be caught up in the idea of blowing out Pitt.

Quarterback Alex Smith has seen the odd alignments, the disguised coverages, and the blitzes from all angles.

And for the last time, probably.

Not only is the Utah junior expected to leave school and turn pro after leading the unbeaten No. 5 Utes against No. 19 Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day, but he does not anticipate seeing from the Panthers any of the complex defensive schemes to which he had grown accustomed in the Mountain West Conference.

Pair that with the fact that Smith has directed the third-most potent offense in the nation – 46.3 points and 520.7 yards per game – and the question becomes pretty obvious:

Can the Utes possibly be stopped?
…
The Utes have won 15 straight games, and withstood all kinds of defensive attacks – from the relatively basic schemes of Texas A&M and North Carolina to the wild blitz packages of New Mexico and BYU. Few of their own players have an idea of how an opposing defensive coordinator might best plan to stop them.

Yes, the Mountain West Conference. Where only 2 other schools finished above .500. Home to the most complex defenses in the country? Funny, looks like most of them are pretty much middle of the pack when compared to the rest of the D-IA schools.

Pitt on the otherhand, seems to be doing fine with the role of underdog. The label isn’t a problem.

Everyone wants to write about the Ute defensive lineman Sione Pouha who has love for Pittsburgh because his Mormon mission was in the Oakland section from 1998-2000. Heck, he was even at the final game at Pitt Stadium. Expect to hear that story Saturday night after his first tackle.

Greg Lee gets a nice piece in the Arizona paper talking about how he stepped up after Larry Fitzgerald left. Puff piece on Palko.

Notebook quick hits: Palko was recruited by Urban Meyer to play Safety at Notre Dame; Pitt’s offensive line coach and “run-game coordinator” will likely go to Stanford with Harris — considering how both have been, well the only response I can think of, is “good”.

That “spider” Rob Petitti encountered. It really was a scorpion.

Joe Starkey sees the potential for a fantastic game.

Where the money goes. The Mountain West is partying this year. Pitt, meanwhile is not reaping as much as expected. Interesting reads if the economics of programs and conferences are of interest to you. Then there is the money the players get — travel expenses and per diem.

Now for the Wannstedt features.

Smizik column on how hard Dave Wannstedt is working on assembling a staff, talking with other coaches, seeking advice, and — because the NCAA gave Pitt and Wannstedt a special waiver — talking to recruits.

H.B. Blades’ dad, Bennie Blades, was a star safety with the Miami Hurricanes and coached by the Defensive Coordinator Dave Wannstedt. Bennie is quite happy to have Wannstedt now in charge. He also would like to see Pitt and his son win the Fiesta Bowl since they blew their shot against Penn State back in ’87.

South Carolina is a good team. They are just outside the top-25, and the latest RPI has them at #38 (Pitt is at #51 thanks to the 260th rated schedule). They have lost twice this year. In OT to in-state rival, Clemson; and by only 4 points to #2 Kansas on the road. There is no reason to think this will be an easy game. South Carolina has veteran players.

“Pitt is going to lose to somebody sometime,” [South Carolina Head Coach, Dave] Odom said. “I’m not going to say it’s going to be to South Carolina, but I’m hoping it is.”

South Carolina returns three of its top five scorers from last year’s 23-11 team, including forward Carlos Powell, who tops the Gamecocks in scoring, rebounding and has recorded three double-doubles this year. Guard Tre’ Kelley and forward Tarence Kinsey also are averaging double figures in scoring.

With so much talent returning, Odom decided to beef up his non-conference schedule. He added home-and-away series with Kansas and Pitt, opting to play road games this season in exchange for home dates in 2005. He also scheduled Temple and Clemson at Colonial Center.

“I thought this year’s team required a different challenge,” Odom said.

Pity Pitt hasn’t considered that option.

South Carolina Coach Odom sees some familiarity in Chris Taft with Tim Duncan, who he coached at Wake Forest.

Despite all of that, the lines put Pitt as a 10 point favorite. You can catch the game free on streaming audio through South Carolina.

This may come as a shock, but I really don’t have much of a sense as to how this game will go at this point. I just have not seen much, nor read enough about Utah’s actual game (as opposed to just glowing praise of the team and the coach) to form an opinion. And I have to say, most of the stories talking about the game have been less than informative. They usually just talk about the coaches going to new jobs and the game will be on the QBs. Then without much explanation they just go with something like “Utah has too much firepower for Pitt” as if nothing further is needed.

There is a more trusted source this time. I find the writers at College Football News have actually watched the teams and know a little more about what they are writing. So, they have a preview and keys to the Fiesta Bowl worth reading in full. From the Preview portion:

Pittsburgh will win if… it avoids the early Utah run. Once the Ute offense gets on a roll, it’s impossible to slow down while the defense always seems to feed off the momentum of the moment. Pittsburgh has to strike early and strike heavy slapping the Ute defense in the mouth with a couple of big plays. The Utes are second in the nation in turnover margin taking away 29 and only giving up 13, but Pittsburgh is ninth with a solid ball-hawking defense. If the Panthers can force a few mistakes and capitalize, it’ll have a shot.

That’s the encouragement. Now from the keys, and what makes me worry:

One of the underrated aspects of Walt Harris’s career at Pittsburgh was his ability to get some ball players out of the state of Florida. That is no more evident than when looking at the Pittsburgh linebackers, HB Blades and Clint Session. The two south Floridians have combined for 188 tackles on the year and have improved significantly from last year, the freshman year for both of them. However, they’ll be under the microscope in a major way in Tempe against the vaunted Utah offense. Against West Virginia, there were a number of occasions where the two linebackers were caught out of position when WVU QB Rasheed Marshall ran the QB zone read trap. Marshall picked up chunks of yardage early as Blades, in particular, was chasing the running back after a solid fake. Um, bad news for the Panthers because that’s a staple in this Utah offense. So, against this offense one of the best ways to not get caught out of position is to cross key the potential ball carriers, especially when Smith is in the backfield with only one other back. Blades and Session run exceptionally well, but that speed can get them out of position, so reading their keys is huge in this game for this duo. They’re going to need some help from their defensive front, in that they’ve got to be able to run to the ball without having a lineman come free to hit them in the face. It’s going to be hard to enough to find the ball, much less to have to get free of a guy like Ute OL Chris Kemoeatu. Don’t be surprised to see the Pittsburgh defensive staff use either one of them in blitz packages if they’re not able to slow this offense conventionally. It’s a huge role of the dice to take your linebackers and put them on blitz missions against this offense, but with a pair of Floridians like this, you can take your chances.

That’s what I mean by guys who actually watched the teams play. Pitt, even in the last game against USF, was painfully burned at times when the D bit on the obvious fake to the RB. Read both pieces. It will at least give you an idea of what Pitt will be facing.

The Pitt web site has put out some of the quotes from player interviews. The defensive players were actually interviewed yesterday, and you can see their comments sprinkled in the articles (but Pitt only put the direct quotes up today). Later they added the quotes from members of the offense. From Rob Petiti:

On keys to winning:

“We have to score more. We have to control the ball. We can’t make mistakes, especially turnovers. If we’re going to win this game, I don’t want to say we have to play perfect, because you never do, but mistake-free. We don’t want to turn over the ball. We want to make their offense work for everything.”

On the Fiesta Bowl experience:

We’ve been here only two days. The hotel is awesome. It’s something I could probably get used to, except for the spider in the bathroom.

Must have been a hell of a spider.

Tyler Palko:

On Utah’s defense:

“They can do a lot of things and play fast. They do a lot and they’re good at all the things they do. They show a lot of things and they disguise well. It’s going to be a challenge for me because you have to prepare so much mentally for this game. I’m looking forward to the challenge, it will be my hardest game, mentally, that I have to face and I’m looking forward to that. It’s going to force me to prepare like I would against a pro football team. They can do so much and I’m welcoming that challenge. I’m really looking forward to that.”

On Pitt’s Approach:

“We’re not going to go into this game any differently. The big thing we have to realize is, it’s just a football game. Just like when we went into Notre Dame, we can’t be in awe. You’ve got to control the ball and take care of the clock. We’re up to the challenge. You can’t dictate how the game is going to go when so many things can happen. Everyone is talking about how good both offenses are, I thing the defense is going to come out with a little chip on their shoulder; with something to prove.”

Harris may not necessarily inspire the troops, but you have to believe they will follow Palko through a wall.

This is just some unfinished thought I had bouncing in my skull.

Louisville, which recently raised the salary of their head football coach Bobby Petrino, is going to have to sweat it out whether he will be spirited away to LSU. Doesn’t matter that his salary will be nearly $1 million per year. LSU can and will offer more if they decide he is their guy.

Why bring this up? Well, one of the big arguments everyone advanced for bringing in Wannstedt or someone like him (Cavanaugh, Sunseri) was that he was a Pitt guy. A guy from the area. Played at Pitt, coached at Pitt. And all of that is great.

But what if he does everything we hope he does in a few years? Gets Pitt back to national contention. Shows no signs of being a one season wonder. Recruiting is yearly top-15. What happens if Miami under Larry Coker continues to fall short of national title contention? Wanny was a top assistant and recruiter there. He won a national championship with Jimmy Johnson. Now at Pitt, he showed he can win at the college level. Think they wouldn’t make a run at him. Why wouldn’t he at least listen? He must have some feelings left over for the area and the school. And you know Miami would be perfectly willing to throw the money for a coach.

Arguably, even at his introductory press conference he left wiggle room to leave someday, by saying “I would plan on this being my last coaching stop.” It is the plan now, but things change later.

I’m not trying to be negative. I’m very happy with the hire. But lets stay realistic. His ties and roots may help, but they do not assure he will never leave. Just as they don’t assure success.

I know, I’ve been complaining about this years schedule since the summer. I complained about last year’s non-con as well. It’s mainly two things: 1. It’s embarrassing for a team and a program that has been in the Big East Tournament Championship game for 4 straight years, to play such a weak schedule; 2. It means people like me who live outside of the Pittsburgh region don’t get to see Pitt very much until sometime in January. Everyone talks recruiting as the big thing in college. How do you help recruiting? By winning and being seen on national TV. Pitt is doing one but not the other.

I’ve mentioned that Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated has blasted the non-con regularly. He leads with his mailbag on the issue again.

We’ll begin with Patrick from Pittsburgh, who is one of many Panthers fans who took umbrage with my criticism of their team’s weak non-conference schedule:

I just don’t get where all the anti-Pitt venom comes from. Certainly Pitt doesn’t play a tough non-conference schedule. But looking at today’s Sagarin ratings, Pitt plays three top-50 non-conference opponents in December. UConn, the defending national champion, plays a grand total of zero before February. I know that people do mention that UConn and teams like them are playing weak schedules, but there seems to be a special hatred for Pitt.

First of all, Patrick, hate is a strong word. Not only do I not hate Pitt, I think it’s very possible the Panthers will end up as the best team (and Carl Krauser the best player) in the Big East. But Pitt fans are constantly carping about a lack of respect from the national media, yet the team plays a non-conference slate that wouldn’t even test a Division III team. And to make matters worse, Pitt left the state of Pennsylvania just once (for the Jimmy V Classic at MSG) before the start of Big East play. Its only true non-conference road game was at Penn State on Dec. 11. Patrick cites the Sagarin ratings, but I can also direct you to the latest RPI numbers from Jerry Palm, which indicate that Pitt’s strength-of-schedule ranking of 260 is lowest among the top 70 teams in the RPI.

Yes, UConn isn’t much better in November and December (140th in strength of schedule), but at least the Huskies are playing at Oklahoma on Jan. 10 and at home against North Carolina on Feb. 13. You also said it yourself — UConn is the defending national champion. The Huskies hardly need to maximize their national TV exposure. Pitt, however, does. Given how good this team appears to be, it’s a shame the school is denying its fans and players the pleasure of playing more meaningful games this time of year.

[I don’t think it was the same Patrick who blogs here occasionally (we are expecting a full posted report on the Fiesta Bowl, BTW).]

Not to mention making it a question mark as to how good the team is or will be; and where it really needs to work on improving. Some things will be obvious, but other things don’t get exposed until late. Kind of like when Syracuse beat Pitt last February. The ‘Cuse went to a collapsing defense, that forced Pitt to make outside shots. Pitt couldn’t, and it cost them that game and was the blueprint followed by opponents in the NCAA Tournament.

Mostly side stuff. The teams are practicing, but there isn’t much to report about it. Pitt is working on stopping Utah’s offense. Their practices have done well to stop the shovel pass, but that isn’t making Pitt feel good.

He figures that if the Utes have thrived on that play all season, the Panthers’ reserves who are imitating the Utes’ Paris Warren and others are not doing a very convincing job.

“Going against the scout team offense, we’ve been stopping that play left and right,” Crochunis said Monday. The Utes “must have the timing down so well for that – the speed and tempo; it’s so fast. It’s hard for us to prepare for, because for the scout team offense, it’s a very difficult scheme to run. It takes a couple of weeks to learn.”

Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads described the Ute offense as “extremely unique,” although Pittsburgh faced spread-offense teams such as Temple, West Virginia and South Florida.

“They really make you work to stay disciplined,” Rhoads said. “Obviously, nobody’s been effective at [stopping] it all year. . . . You’ve got to have everybody in the right location and they can’t vary from that task.”

Rhoads’ defenses are known for basic, sound schemes without much risk. Like Utah’s defense under Kyle Whittingham over the years, the Panthers give up a lot of yards (388.9 per game) but not a lot of points (23.0).

Comments, Lee? Actually, the more I read about the Utah offense, the less I want to know. It makes my palms sweat at the thought of Pitt’s defense facing it.

And while their offense has been categorized in many ways — as a hybrid of a spread and wishbone, a cross between a spread and a pro-set, a spread with too many wrinkles to call it a mix — one word probably describes it best:

Unstoppable.
…
It was developed by coach Urban Meyer when he took over at Bowling Green in 2001. He took pieces of different offenses — the running game from option teams and the passing game from some wide-open teams such as Purdue — and combined them. He brought it to Utah in 2003.

The offense includes many wide-open formations, but it is not a pass-happy system.

In fact, the Utes were ranked higher in Division I-A running the ball than throwing it. And most of the pass routes are short, with receivers gaining a lot of yards after the catch.

Pitt defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said it is a combination of three offenses that Pitt has faced this year — Temple, South Florida and West Virginia. It combines the quarterback running plays and options of the Mountaineers and Owls with the passing plays and five-wide formations of the Bulls.

If there two words that strikes fear into my heart regarding Pitt football, it is simply “spread offense.”

Sticking with defense and Paul Rhoads for a little longer. A column wonders whether the Utah game will be the deciding issue in whether Rhoads comes back as Pitt’s defensive coordinator under new head coach Dave Wannstedt next year.

Meanwhile the Duquesne head football coach is eyeing a place on the Pitt coaching staff. Well, at the very least the media keeps bandying his name about and asking him. Tells you all you need to know about the head job for the Dukes. Hey, at least he could pocket the moving expenses.

Speaking of pocketing the money, a bunch of the Pitt players decided to drive down to Tempe in rental cars. Each player gets $1400 dollars to use in any way they want for getting to the bowl game. They can keep whatever is left. I like the idea of a roadie, but you have to imagine the coaches were sweating it. 30+ hours driving. Hey, when you have more time than money…

Tyrone Gilliard is loving life in Tempe. Seems he could get used to being waited on constantly.

Perhaps Urban Meyer is looking to piss off the media, or just circle the wagons with his players early in the week. He did his best to keep the players from expected media interviews after practices yesterday. Well, he does have a lot of issues with the turnover of coaches including many who have already left or are assuming new duties in this game.

Utes offensive coordinator Mike Sanford was recently named the head coach at UNLV and he left Utah immediately after he was hired. He also took with him linebackers coach Kurt Barber and tight ends coach Keith Uperesa. Cornerbacks coach Chuck Heater, who is going with Meyer, already has left to start his position at Florida.

That means the staff was short-handed by four coaches.

To make up for the losses, Meyer promoted quarterbacks coach Dan Mullen to offensive coordinator and two graduate assistants, Lance Hunsaker and Garry Fisher, will take on the roles of full-time assistants. And volunteer assistant Jay Hill has been hired as a defensive assistant.

Here’s a longer piece on Dan Mullen. He’ll be leaving Utah for Florida after the Fiesta Bowl with Meyer, along with offensive line coach John Hevesy and receivers coach Billy Gonzales. Mullen will not be up in the booth, but stay down on the field. At least for Pitt, while the coaching staff may be sweating, they haven’t left.

Add in another Ute who is dealing with rumors of turning pro after the game. Wide Receiver Steve Savoy is giving it a serious thought.

A fairly interesting piece comparing the two QBs — Tyler Palko and Alex Smith.

In four days, Palko and Smith will ask a national television audience to strap on the seat belts. It could be an incredible ride. Both are capable of putting up monster numbers and neither takes kindly to losing.

“A Heisman finalist and a Heisman candidate for next year,” said Pitt linebacker H.B. Blades. “That’s what we got in this game. You’re talking about two really good quarterbacks. I’ll take Tyler, but I’m sure Utah will take (Smith). Both can play the game.”

And everyone expects big numbers on both sides.

To think, Pitt could have faced Texas in Tempe.

Limited computer time, dial-up, and too much preoccupation with the new football coach led to neglect of what the basketball team has been doing. Well, technically, nothing since they haven’t played since Thursday. Still, some articles and things worth noting.

No change in Pitt’s ranking in either poll.

Krauser carrying Pitt against Richmond got him lots of love. For whatever it is worth Dick Vitale named him his player of the Week.

Veteran point guard Carl Krauser played all 40 minutes in a hard-fought 69-60 win over Richmond. Krauser finished with 31 points, seven rebounds and five assists. His effort and leadership are keys to another fast start (9-0) this season for the Panthers.

In the Big East, he had to share Player of the Week honors (PDF) with Ryan Gomes of Providence. (BTW, check page 5 for the home attendance listings. Pitt is in 4th, but BC is hovering around 4,000. Hard to get respect nationally, when your own fans don’t show. Enjoy the ACC.)

A piece noting how Pitt’s depth has been important already this season. A theme I have been mentioning since before the season started. It is one of the things I now check in the box scores after games — who got a DNP or very limited minutes.

There is a game Wednesday on ESPN Full Court/Fox Sports Pittsburgh (doesn’t appear to be on Fox Sports Atlantic unfortunately) at 7 pm. Pitt’s lone remaining challenge in the non-con — South Carolina. The good news for those outside of the FSP, or don’t feel like paying $15 dollars for the game, or even the $5 to listen to the Pitt broadcast over the net — South Carolina streams the game free. Go to their Yahoo! page, and click the audio link for the Pitt game. I mean, yeah, you may have to listen to Gamecock homers calling the game, but how much can you complain when there is no charge?

Pitt has put out info and the game notes (PDF). Here’s what South Carolina has to say about the game. Pitt has never beaten the Gamecocks. 0-5 record. The last time they faced each other was back in 1976. Of course USC hasn’t beaten a ranked non-con opponent in almost 7 years.

If I wasn’t still on dial-up at the in-laws, this would almost feel like the normal beginning to a week getting ready for a football game. It’s Monday, the game’s on Saturday and the articles are finally beginning to focus on the teams and the game.

It starts with the warm reception each team’s official flight received at the airport:

They could see the party from the plane, the huge tent with the welcome banner stretched across the top, the scores of bowl organizers in pastel yellow jackets waving congratulatory placards, and the red carpet being rolled out across the tarmac and right up to the steps leading from the plane.

“It’s unreal,” junior linebacker Grady Marshall said. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen.”

That stands to reason, considering the Fiesta Bowl is like nothing the Utah football team has ever attended.

Their historic undefeated season made the No. 5 Utes the first mid-major team to break into a Bowl Championship Series game like the one against No. 19 Pittsburgh on New Year’s Day, and many of the players and coaches arrived at Sky Harbor International Airport on a chartered flight Sunday every bit as awed by the welcome reception as they expected to be.

Then there is the reality:

I’m not sure exactly what I expected to see as we rolled into Sky Harbor International Airport on a sunny, but cool Phoenix afternoon, but I surely did not expect to see Fiesta Bowl volunteers donned in yellow jackets literally roll out a red carpet for Stanford coach Walt Harris as he descended a portable stairway tethered to a U.S. Airways aircraft (one of the few in recent days that actually had all of the passengers’ luggage on board).

Florida coach Urban Meyer got the same treatment.
…
You never would have suspected that the “fans” who helped to line each side of the red carpet — along with many Fiesta Bowl Committee members — actually were props who’d been invited to party under a canopy the size of a couple of end zones on the understanding they would welcome the participating teams (Pitt and Utah) on the tarmac.

It seemed like a good deal. Many of the adults spent their time sucking down Coors Light, eating turkey and roast beef fresh off the bone and dipping into that fondue fountain.

A few minutes before Pitt’s plane landed, the revelers emerged from the canopy with signs that said things like, “Welcome Coach Harris” and “Welcome Big East Champions.”
…
Another man was a lifelong Penn State fan who said, “I can’t believe I’m holding up a Pitt Panther sign right now.”
…
Utah arrived an hour later. And wasn’t it cute that the crowd was supplied with placards welcoming each of the team’s head coaches, the outgoing Meyer and his soon-to-be successor Kyle Whittingham.

They stood there and cheered just for free Coors Light?

Vince Crochunis has an account of his commercial flight from Philly to Tempe.

The game is officially a sell-out, though you can expect Utah fans to outnumber Pitt fans nearly 2-1.

Both teams are talking about how they came here to win the game. As opposed to the “we’re just happy to be here,” stuff. Well, there was some use of the cliche:

“It’s great,” [Utah] senior running back Marty Johnson said. “You pull in and see all this stuff, and you realize the kind of game we’re at. You know, playing Pitt? That was a downer, at first. . . . But now, it doesn’t matter who we play, it’s just about the game, the Fiesta Bowl. We’re happy to be here, and I know Pitt’s happy to be here. Now, we just have to come out and play.”

Actually, both teams are out to prove they belong in the BCS game.

Both coaches insist that their impending departures are not a distraction. Utah, may have the additional distraction of wondering how soon after the game whether their QB will announce his decision to go into the 2005 NFL draft.

A puff piece on Darrelle Revis, on his progression from planning on a future in basketball to being a starting CB on Pitt. The Utah paper indicates that defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads wants to stay with Pitt. Then, let’s hope the defense performs in a way suggesting they want to keep playing for him.

Finally, from the selective transcript of Walt Harris’ press conference in Tempe:

On coaching the last game for the University of Pittsburgh:

“We came to the University of Pittsburgh in 1997. There’s not a lot of coaches that can say they were head coaches for eight years. (Pitt) had won 15 games in (the prior) five years and hadn’t gone to a bowl in nine years. Since then, we’ve gone to six bowl games in eight years, we’ve graduated players… we’ve had a Heisman Trophy runner-up that you are all getting a chance to enjoy for those of you who follow the Cardinals, we’ve had all-conference players, we’ve had the most Big East Academic players for four years in a row. We’re proud of what’s been accomplished with the tremendous help and support of the university. Our players find a way to get it done and now we’re going to play in the arena that we wanted to play in, which is the Bowl Championship Series.”

Expect a couple extra stories this week on Larry Fitzgerald’s first year with the Arizona Cardinals. I also think we can put the chance of a sideline interview with Fitzgerald during the Fiesta Bowl at better than 90% since Arizona ends the season at home.

The papers are split in two distinct directions. The P-G looks towards the Fiesta Bowl and the teams. The Trib. stays in Pittsburgh happily discussing Coach Wannstedt and AD Long.

Let’s start with the team and the Fiesta Bowl. Admitting this should be the Lame Duck Bowl with a different sponsor, a look at the weird situation of the coaches on both sides leaving for new pastures. The situations are different.

Utah had their coach get wooed for a higher profile, big money job. Everyone knew he would be getting a great offer from somewhere within the first month of the season. Utah will keep continuity, though, as one of the assistants takes over the program.

Pitt saw their coach all but officially fired despite the success in a rebuilding year. Pitt has just made a high profile hire, but the entire Pitt football staff is up in the air. Some members might stay, some let go, some just leave. No one knows anything. Arguably, the Pitt players could be playing for some of their coaches jobs. Lots of pressure on that.

You know, there’s been a lot of complaints that this will not be a good game and that people won’t want to watch because of the programs. I can’t help but think that the ratings might be better than expected. You will have all of Utah and Western PA watching — obviously. But you will also have the state of Florida watching to get a sense of their new coach. Stanford draws on the San Francisco area, and there should be some curiosity about Walt Harris. Then there are the Domers around the country. There has to be curiosity about the game, but who do they root against? A Pitt team that beat them at home, but helped get Willingham fired? Or Urban Meyer, the guy they wanted and thought they could get, but spurned Touchdown Jesus for the Swamp? My guess is going against Utah, because it was more personal.

Then there is preparations for the game itself. The players are talking about winning it. Not just trying to play close. Tired of hearing how they don’t deserve to go. Hopefully we will see them show everyone why the Big East is a BCS conference and the Mountain West isn’t.

Over at the Trib., they aren’t yet ready for Tempe. A long puff piece on Dave Wannstedt — just a Pittsburgh guy no matter where he has been. If it matters to you that Wanny was from Pittsburgh, then this is a story you will enjoy.

The other is a puff piece lauding AD Jeff Long for getting Wannstedt. I’ve lauded AD Long for issues of TV exposure for Pitt, getting a new marketing deal, apparel contract, and the local radio and TV stuff.

I will not join in the chorus praising him for this hire, in so far as it applies to the search and the process. I have my doubts as to how much AD Long got to actually search. My gut says this search had more than a little of the heavy hand of Chancellor Nordenberg. I hope to have more time to get into this (not to mention my broadband connection, to help me dig up some things to help make my argument). Suffice to say, that while things managed to work out, the process was anything but encouraging.

Dave Wannstedt now has a week or so to at least get some of his assistants and recruiters hired before the NCAA imposed “dead period” for contacting recruits expires. This also means that there is plenty of time to wonder and hope that his hiring will immediately catch the fancy of local recruits. At the very least, present Pitt commits seem juiced about the hiring.

There is an air of excitement among Pitt recruits and targeted prospects about Thursday’s hiring of Dave Wannstedt as the Panthers’ new football coach.

Recruits said Wannstedt’s NFL experience — he was head coach of the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears and won a Super Bowl ring as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys — is an attractive quality that should make a recruiting impact.

“He was an NFL guy, so he obviously knows how to run a successful program,” said Burrell offensive tackle John Brown, who in March became the first player from the Class of 2005 to commit to the Panthers. “Kids are going to look at coach Wannstedt as a guy who has been successful in the NFL, has coached some Hall of Famers and should have an idea in their head that, ‘He can do that for me.’ ”

That is what went through the mind of linebacker Steve Dell of Lantana, Fla., who committed to the Panthers the day before Walt Harris accepted the Stanford job. Dell also is considering Florida, Indiana and North Carolina State, but he said Wannstedt’s hiring was a bold move.

“Wow,” Dell said. “That was my first impression. He knows what the NFL wants. He sure has enough contacts in the NFL. That’s very much a plus.”

Further down the article is praise for Paul Rhoads (of course) and Bob Junko, the present associate head coach and guy in charge of recruiting for most of Western PA. Now, what I don’t get is that the criticism of Harris was that he didn’t recruit Western PA very hard, yet there has been nothing but praise in the last week or so for Rhoads and Junko from high schoolers and their coaches. Is everything just being piled on Harris? If so, why hasn’t anyone come out and accuse Harris of ignoring his own staff recommendations? These seem to be some of the unasked questions.

Sorry, got off topic. There are just a lot of things never explained that may remain that way.

Apparently Wanny’s hiring doesn’t just intrigue the recruits. At least one local college coach is hoping for some interest.

Pitt and the Steelers’ coaches are also planning to talk more. It can only help, and enhance interest from recruits to see more and more ties to pro teams.

Just realized that Pitt added links to pictures and to let you hear the Wannstedt Press conference in the press release announcing the hiring. Wish I had time to listen.