Halfway through the season and this year Pitt is getting noticed a little. The Pitt Athletic Department pointed out that H.B. Blades was named to CBS Sportsline’s “Halfway” All-American squad. Dennis Dodd in his write-up regarding the halfway point sends some direct love to Pitt.

Best comeback(s): Both Washington and Pittsburgh are three games better than they were at this point a year ago. The Huskies (4-2) were 1-5 after six games last year, headed toward a 2-9 season. Now they seem destined for the school’s first bowl since 2002.

Pittsburgh (5-1) started 2-4 in ’05 on its way to a 5-6 debut under Dave Wannstedt. Now the Panthers are a dark horse to win the Big East.

He also lists the L-ville-Pitt game at the end of the season as one of the expected best games to come.

Over at ESPN.com, Bruce Feldman blogs his “Midseason hot 100” [Insider subs.]

45. Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh QB: Quietly putting up magnificent numbers: 71 percent completions, 15 TDs, 3 INTs.

…

64. H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh, LB: Squatty 240-pound LB is the Big East’s leading tackler with 11.3 stops per game.

In the mid-season review of the Big East, Joe Starkey didn’t list Pitt for any “honors” which isn’t too shocking. Pitt isn’t the biggest surprise or disappointment so far. And they aren’t ready to be considered an alpha dog either.

In his individual reviews of each team [Insider subs.] he offers a rather standard summary.

This time last year, the Ricky Williams ordeal had to be looking like a preferable alternative to new Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt. His team was 2-4, its only victories coming against Cincinnati and Division I-AA Youngstown State. Today, the Panthers are 5-1, though it’s hard to tell how much better they are, considering their wins were against Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Toledo and The Citadel. Pitt failed miserably in its biggest test to date, a 38-23 home loss to Michigan State in which the Spartans rushed for 335 yards. Pitt still must prove it can stop the run against good teams (or even mediocre ones).

Midseason MVP

Tyler Palko was outplayed by Michigan State’s Drew Stanton in the Panthers’ only loss to date, but he has otherwise been brilliant running offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh’s West Coast system. Using shorter drop-backs than a year ago, Palko is ranked second in the country in passing efficiency (186.01) and first in the Big East in passing yards per game (248.2). He has 15 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

What’s next

Another less-than-stellar opponent in Central Florida on Saturday, followed by the real season, which begins with a home game Oct. 21 against No. 24 Rutgers. It’s not inconceivable Pitt could be 8-2 or even 9-1 going into season-ending home games against conference powers West Virginia and Louisville.

Actually, I’d argue there is a noticeable improvement — not withstanding the MSU game. Last year against opponents like that, Pitt struggled. And I know I’ve pointed this out before. After just about every win last year, you just found yourself shaking your head and could only say, “at least they got the win.” This year it’s different. The wins are more decisive. The team and/or coaches are still struggling to completely put a team away, but the game is that much sure-footed.

Shocking, I know. With nearly a quarter of Pitt’s scholarship players hailing from Florida, there’s a lot of excitement among the players about the trip to Orlando.

“You know how it is, something about going home always makes it extra special,” said Rashaad Duncan, who is from Belle Glade, Fla. “And you know Central Florida probably has all Florida boys, and they look at us like, we went up North so we aren’t Florida boys any more. We want to show them we are and we still play like it.”

Middle linebacker H.B. Blades is from Plantation, Fla., and said the fact that most players from the state know each other or of each other makes the trip more exciting. He added that most of the students who graduate from his school go to Central Florida, and there are other players, such as defensive tackle Gus Mustakas (Cooper City), who have siblings at the school.

Not that Pitt can directly use this trip as a recruiting tool.

Pitt won’t be able to use this Florida trip for recruiting purposes because it’s a Friday night game and conflicts with high school football games. Under NCAA rules, the Panthers also aren’t permitted to invite prospects to away games. Coaches will, however, make sure to use the lure of returning home as a recruiting tool.

“I think the biggest benefit is when you’re sitting in a young man’s home that you’re recruiting and saying, ‘We’re going to have a chance to come back and play in your home state,'” said Pitt defensive ends/special teams coach Charlie Partridge, a Plantation, Fla., native who recruits the state for the Panthers. “That’s important for that young man and that family. It’s not always easy for them to get up here for every game. This year, they know there’s two games they can drive to.”

Coach Wannstedt indicated he won’t be hanging around a day or two extra in Florida after this game to recruit. I’m not sure if Aubrey Hill or Charlie Partridge will. It wouldn’t be surprising if they did try to squeeze in a couple visits.