That seems to be one of the keys getting hammered in the local media. Must have been a talking point for the players and coaches.

“We’ve started slow on defense the past couple of weeks,” Wannstedt said. “And by slow I mean, we haven’t made many big plays early to change or impact the game and we have to get that going.

“And these guys, if you look at what they do they will challenge us from start to finish. They are four wide receivers, five wide receivers — they are as spread and wide open as anybody we’ll face. They will play 30 percent of the game without having a running back on the field,” he said of South Florida. “So we need to start out playing fast and match their speed.”

Wannstedt said the most puzzling aspect is the poor early play of the defensive line, which was supposed to carry the load for the team. The Panthers lead the Big East in sacks — 3.25 per game — but most have come in the fourth quarter.

“I think two things are behind the way we’ve played in the fourth quarter,” Wannstedt said. “We are in good shape, and I also think that in the fourth quarter, when teams have been in passing situations, we have been able to turn those guys up front loose. They are playmakers for us, and I don’t think there is any question that those guys have to be productive for us to be good on defense.

“And in the fourth quarter, when teams have had to try and throw it against us — our guys have been able to use their ability to just go after it.”

So, what you are saying is the defense has trouble recognizing what an opponent is going to run and that is making them tentative? Or are you saying the defensive coordinator isn’t sure? I mean, it sure reads that the defense is coming out unsure of what to expect and playing back to see what happens, rather than trying to dictate anything.

I suppose the defense performed better in the second-half of the last 3 games. The offense, was more effective in the second half of the Syracuse game. Obviously, if Pitt is going to win this game, they have to be more consistent the entire game. There can’t be big gaps of no production from the offense and the defense can’t sit back in stretches.

Linebacker Scott McKillop knows that the Panthers need to jump on South Florida early to ensure they will have a chance to bury the Bulls late.

“If we go out there and start slowly, we’ll be down real quick,” he said. “It will be an ugly game real fast. We’re playing as fast (in the fourth quarter) as we were in the first quarter. There’s no let down in our effort and execution, we’re getting comfortable in the fourth quarter. Now we need to do that in the first quarter, start out a little faster than we did this past week.”

Murray thinks that it’s by coincidence that the Panthers have started slow, but he also knows that a lethargic start will inhibit Pitt from showing its second-half prowess.

“It’s just something that happens, you start slow and then you pick it up, but we can’t do that against South Florida,” he said. “If they get up early on teams it’s hard to come back on them.

“They’ll pick you apart with their spread offense. If you get behind this team it really kills momentum and Coach Wannstedt says you can either be a momentum maker or a momentum breaker, so we want to start out fast and finish fast.”

And, um, if you happen to remember the Iowa game. It helps to be productive in the middle portion as well.

Joe Starkey makes the point that this game has the potential to be one of the biggest games in Dave Wannstedt’s tenure at Pitt. I have to agree.

Nothing Pitt does tonight could match the historical magnitude of what it pulled off Dec. 1 in Morgantown, W. Va. But in terms of impact within a given season — that is, within Pitt’s season — a win tonight would be bigger, because it would make the Panthers 2-0 in the Big East and quite possibly provide the springboard to a landmark campaign.

This might be Pitt’s last chance to play somebody in the top 10, as No. 24 Connecticut is the only other ranked team on the schedule at the moment.

The key is this is for Pitt’s season. Beating WVU was huge in terms of a lot of things outside of Pitt. The BCS, the coaching carousel, the direction of WVU. The only real impact for Pitt was a big recruiting boost and the expectations for this season.

This game, if Pitt can win, makes BGSU the exception, the blip. A win and suddenly Pitt is one of the teams to beat in the Big East this year. Brian Bennett on ESPN.com echoes the points.

Not that this game doesn’t have meaning outside of the Big East. Other BCS Championship hopefuls in the SEC and Big 12 have a rooting interest in Pitt to make sure there are no other teams that can make a claim.

From the South Florida perspective, this is about the end of “preseason.”  It’s now about starting the Big East conference play as the favorite and not blowing it — like last year.

The scenario is eerily similar.

Go back briefly to 2007.  The University of South Florida had just run off football victories against Elon, Auburn, North Carolina, West Virginia, Florida Atlantic and Central Florida, in that order.

6-0.  They had entered into college football’s restricted airspace…..ranked No. 2….a spot normally reserved for old, traditional powers, not 10-year old upstarts halfway through their 11th season.

The Bulls were headed to Rutgers for their seventh game, Thursday night, national television audience on ESPN.

Sound familiar?

The Bulls lost 30-27. The first of 3 straight conference losses that knocked them out of the top-25 and out of any chance at the Big East title. Of course, that game was on the road as well. USF is saying the right things.

USF gets its first shot at proving it can handle the rising pressure Thursday night against Pittsburgh at home. The game will be televised on ESPN, and the nation will be watching to see if another top-10 team topples over.

When asked about playing on national TV, Grothe responded like the leader of a top-10 team should.

“It’s actually really cool,” said the former Lake Gibson star. “Especially when you’re on the field and see all the cameras flying around. It’s good for the program. It’s good for the guys out there. We get a little more confidence, especially when we’re playing at home.”

They are also not playing down the importance.

The Bulls realize this game means much more than just playing on a nationally televised stage. Win, and they have the following week to rest with a perfect record intact. Lose, and they have to sit through a bye week before getting the chance to bounce back.

“It’s a big game. We have to win this one,” said Grothe. “We’ll have some time to relax and heal after this week, so we need to come out and play the best we’ve played all year.”

Neither are the coaches.

“There’s a different buzz in the meeting room,” defensive backs coach Troy Douglas said. “They understand we need to step our game up even more. … It’s obviously a big game, so we’ll see what happens.”

Panther Rants has their preview for the game.

The keys for Pitt are obvious. On defense, Matt Grothe has to be contained. Pressure has to be put on him and actual hits and tackling. No getting close and whiffing. Grothe is so elusive as he starts to move around when he drops back. If he isn’t wrapped up quickly, he will get loose and make Pitt pay. They have a stable of decent — promising, even — backs. But I’d rather take my chance with their running backs than with Grothe.

On offense, this is where the offensive line has to be big. They have to give Stull time — and space. When he throws, there has to be room for him to stride. His arm strength, and mechanics require it. On his best, strongest throws, he is stepping into them. The Bulls defense has plenty of speed and they let their corners gamble.

And of course with the offensive line, they have to be opening space for LeSean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling. Yes, the defense will be keying on McCoy, so it is up to the O-line to give him a chance.

As for the coaches. This is where the lack of faith comes in as a fan. Gameday coaching by Wannstedt and the coordinators.

I guess the word is aggressive. Not reckless. Aggressive. For all 60 minutes. They want the players to play a complete game from the opening kick to the final whistle. They have to do the same. They can’t be afraid to take shots. They can’t think that they need to start killing clock. It starts at the top. If the coach and the coordinators aren’t aggressive and calling for plays that attack, then the players take their cue from that.