The P-G Pitt football beat reporter had his online chat yesterday and his Q&A today. The Q&A was on the short side because of tonight’s game, and not much new there.
I think the online chat has gotten to the point where people are trying to bait him over playing Bill Stull. Interesting comments on T.J. Porter and his maturity. I have to agree with this part from the chat.

Vic_Damone_Jr.: What is the biggest difference in the defense this year?

Paul Zeise: I think it is clear that the defensive line is playing at a much higher level than they have been. A lot of that has to do with having better players, but I also think moving Greg Gattuso to defensive line coaching was a brilliant move because he has clearly helped upgrade that position. If you look at it Pitt doesn’t have a bunch of studs on the defensive line but they are effective now, they get off blocks and as a result they make everyone elses job easier.

I made note of the Gattuso move making a difference earlier this week. I think it helped in that Gattuso is a good coach and teacher, and also it got the attention of the rest of the defensive coaches. They survived the change in head coaches without any turnover. This probably served as a none-to-subtle notice that things had better improve or else.

This part of the chat made me smile.

Vic_Damone_Jr.: Why do you constantly defend Paul Rhoads? He has not done a good job the last four years.

Paul Zeise: I don’t constantly defend anyone. I just don’t think it is fair to throw the guy under the bus given some of the issues personnel wise he’s had to deal with. I think he has shown when he has good players, not great ones, but good ones at a majority of the positions, he can do a good job. It is hard to coach defense when your defensive line is being pancaked more than the batter at the Waffle House. Do I agree with everything he’s done or everything about his scheme? No. But I could say the same about just about every coach, so I really just don’t think it is fair to destroy him like so many people would like.

[Emphasis added.]

Heh-heh-heh.

Not to be overlooked, basketball practice can start this evening.

There will be no Midnight Madness — Pitt will hold a Media Day this afternoon before its first official practice Saturday. Instead, the illumination comes from a national spotlight.

Pitt is ranked as high as No. 3 in the preseason polls and is virtually certain of being a top-10 team in next month’s AP preseason poll for only the third time in the program’s history.

Seven-footer Aaron Gray, who pulled his name from the NBA draft to return for his senior year, is a consensus All-American and popular pick for Big East Player of the Year.

Sophomore Sam Young, an All-Big East Rookie selection last season, joins Gray and senior forward Levon Kendall to form one of the nation’s top frontcourts, according to Lindy’s and the Sporting News.

Kendall, one of eight returning players from last season’s 25-8 team, said no one’s complacent because of the October polls.

“I think the guys are taking it the right way,” Kendall said. “We realize we haven’t proven too much.”

To that end came the nightly summer pick-up games — and running and weightlifting and conditioning.

“It was a little different than in the previous years,” Kendall said. “We went after it earlier than normal, and it’s carried over through the summer. That hasn’t happened in the past. Guys are in better shape and ready to go.”

Instead of a Midnight Madness, which would have been awkward with the football game this evening, they will be doing another fan fest. It’s scheduled for Saturday, October 28 from 2:30 to 6 (the football team has a bye that weekend).

Sponsored by Pontiac and US Army, Fan Fest offers basketball fans their first glimpse of the 2006-07 Pitt men’s and women’s basketball teams. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. with an autograph session featuring head coaches Agnus Berenato and Jamie Dixon and the women’s and men’s basketball players in the Petersen Events Center lobby and concourse areas.

Following the combined autograph session, the Pitt women’s team will play an intrasquad scrimmage. The Panthers men’s team will then take the floor for a scrimmage.

Fan Fest will also feature performances by the Pitt Pep Band, Pitt Cheerleaders and Pitt Dance Team, along with various family oriented activities, including face painting and a Halloween costume parade.

There was a big piece on Dixon and everything he personally went through over the spring and summer.

Finally, Seth Davis at SI.com asks questions about 20 different teams. I have to admit the premise of his to Pitt has me confused.

Pittsburgh: Who will emerge as the committee of one?

The Panthers are entering the season with unprecedented expectations, thanks largely to their perimeter quintet of senior Antonio Graves, juniors Ronald Ramon and Keith Benjamin, sophomore Levance Fields and junior transfer Mike Cook. The problem is, none of those is a proven crunch-time player like departed point guard Carl Krauser. Krauser took some boneheaded risks, but at least everyone knew where to go when the game was on the line. The point guard position is too important to be manned by a committee of five. Someone here needs to step up and fill the leadership void created by Krauser’s graduation.

Beg pardon? I thought the expectations are a result of Aaron Gray coming back, and a strong frontcourt with Gray, Kendall and Young? His question about the PG is somewhat legit, though, everyone already knows/expects to see Fields running the show most of the time.

If I was feeling snarky and defensive I’d just assume Davis is looking for something to rip Pitt for now that his annual, stock complaints about the non-con is not applaicable any longer. Thankfully, I’m not feeling that way.

So, the Golden Knights are excited about wearing black.

The University of Central Florida’s players can hardly contain their excitement for what they feel will be an electric atmosphere tonight at the Citrus Bowl.

The Golden Knights will unveil new black uniforms, fans are being asked to wear black as well, ESPN will televise the game nationally and Big East power Pittsburgh with head coach Dave Wannstedt will be across the way.

Let’s review. The game is at night. The players will be in black jerseys. The fans will be in black. Yeah, that will look great for the cameras.

Added bonus, it’s Friday the 13th in October. I wonder if these subtleties will somehow escape the ESPN crew calling the game? Please?

UCF is hoping to build on their last-second win over the Matthew McConaughey-led Marshall team that snapped their 3-game losing streak. Not to mention the hope that Pitt will be looking past this game for the match with Rutgers.