Want to see a bunch of middle-aged, overweight, mostly white guys in suits get fired up for college kids and their coach? Then make plans for lunch the day before the ND game.

This exclusive Panther Club member event will kickoff the Coach Dave Wannstedt era and the 2005 Pitt Football season. Hosted at the Hilton Hotel-Pittsburgh, the event will feature introduction of select football student-athletes, as well as comments from Coach Wannstedt.

The cost of the event is $40 per person. Tables are also available for purchase at $400 each. All tables are rounds of 10. While reservations are required and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, tickets will not be mailed in advance. All table assignments will be provided at the Hilton the day of the event.

The reception will begin at 11:30 a.m., while the luncheon will start at noon.

Be there!

Apparently Coach Dave Wannstedt was feeling laid back.

Some wore ties with school colors, others donned dark blazers and swanky summer shirts. They came dressed for the media, wearing their smiles and buttoning their lips to talks of game plans and punditry. Hopes were high in the room. “Last year was last year, let’s talk about this year” was the mantra. So, they did. They got back into “move forward” mode. Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese called the day exciting, but it was the new Pittsburgh coach who seemed most relaxed. He called it comfortable, and lived it so, as well.

Standing amongst the other coaches with their best corporate attire, selling the company line and grinning for the cameras, was Dave Wannstedt. Wearing his white Pitt golf shirt and holding the team’s gold and blue helmet in his hands, he looked laid back amongst his new coaching comrades. Just there for the show, not really worrying about the upcoming battles. Not on this day. Not with the atmosphere all set for relaxation.

“Look at these other guys in the room. I would’ve showed up here in shorts if I didn’t know. I’m still underdressed a little. Typical Miami. No socks. Everybody else has got suits and ties,” said Wannstedt as she showed his sockless ankles and calm demeanor.

It’s no exaggeration as this BE Coaches photo shows. Got to admit, the man keeps finding ways to stand out in the crowd.

There has been no shortage of Ricky Williams stories as he reports to Dolphins training camp. I was going to ignore the stuff, because I just don’t care. Still, Ron Cook decides to be a harpie on it, going with the oh, so unexpected angle of getting more comments from his former coach and of course head coach at Pitt, Dave Wannstedt.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

Let’s call Dave Wannstedt!

The new Pitt coach comes to the phone quickly, his voice clear and strong, the enthusiasm in it palpable. Wannstedt is still riding the high of his first eight months on the job, time in which he has worked tirelessly to get commitments from several top recruits, mend the fences with local high school coaches, rebuild the relationship between the football program and the university’s students, faculty and alumni and generally enthuse Pittsburgh to the point we’re going to be in for a real downer if the Panthers don’t whip Notre Dame in that opening-night game Sept. 3 at Heinz Field.

Then, Williams’ name is mentioned.

A couple of things are clear immediately.

One, Wannstedt is glad he no longer has to deal with the Williams headache. And two, Wannstedt’s worst nightmare has nothing to do with the possibility of Pitt coming up short against Notre Dame.

Okay folks, it is time for some honesty about Ricky Williams. He handed Coach Wannstedt to Pitt. His “retirement” cleared the way.

Consider this. Suppose Williams didn’t retire just before training camp. He shows up, then gets the 4 game suspension. The Dolphin season is toast, but things definitely don’t result in Wanny resigning halfway through the season. Wannstedt was already on thin ice, but the suspension results in A) Wanny hanging on through the full season and/or B) Wanny given yet another year in Miami, because it wasn’t his fault that Williams was suspended.

If Wannstedt even makes it to the end of the season, Pitt has to hire someone else. Which could very well have meant talking about Head Coach Paul Rhoads. Or Pitt would have had to wait until sometime after he was fired in January.

Think about how well Wannstedt hit the ground on recruiting and salvaging the 2005 recruiting class. That wouldn’t have happened. At least 2-3 weeks would have been lost.

Nope, the cynical, selfish fact is we owe Ricky Williams for getting Wannstedt to Pitt.

In that respect, I have a hard time getting too interested in Ricky or condemning him.

Yeah. I had nothing else for the post title.

The Canadian Under-21 team starts tournament play tonight. They are taking on defending champ Australia. In a couple weeks, they play in the actual world championship.

Pitt forward, Levon Kendall is not only on the team, he’s a key player.

Crook is looking to Vancouver’s Levon Kendall, a six-foot-nine forward at Pittsburgh, to lead his squad.

“He’s been our go-to guy for the last three years, and with this group has just done an outstanding job, a very, very good young player and I think he’s got a great national team player,” he said.

The team plays aggressive.

Crook said his club, sparked by standout 6-foot-9 forward Levon Kendall of Vancouver, brings a dynamic brand of basketball to the court.

“We push the ball up the court and are aggressive offensively,” said Crook. “Defensively, we’re hard-nosed and play a lot of man-to-man.”

Last year, Kendall starred on the Canadian under-21 team and it gave him some real confidence in his game. The confidence faded, but hopefully he is getting it built back up and will work his way back into Pitt’s rotation come the fall.