Doing an interview with a coach that centers around recruiting losses is not easy. Per NCAA regs, the coach can’t actually comment on recruits. He can speak vaguely, but that doesn’t do much when people are looking for answers.

So, the effort by Coach Wannstedt to talk a little about the football program as fans try to understand all the misses by the program for local players that seemed like locks for Pitt probably did not accomplish much. For all intents and purposes it was a Rorschach test for where you stand on Wannstedt and the program at this point.

Those in the concerned to panic mode over the recruiting probably found themselves pissed and frustrated because he did not give much clarity in how things will be better. He just tossed out numbers that hold little context.

Wannstedt said he’s confident the Panthers will have a great recruiting class by February. This week, the Panthers will hold two more prospect camps and he expects the total number of players to come through to be about 650, which is far more than they have had in the past.

“If you think about, we had about 50 or 60 kids at our prospect camps,” Wannstedt said.

“So we’re making a lot of progress in that area. And at this point, we are way ahead in recruiting than we have been — at this point the last few years there were probably 40 kids I was comfortable offering a scholarship to — right now, I’d say we are at about 75.

“We are further ahead with quality names at every position and more players come through here than at any point since I have been here. We’re banging heads with the top programs for kids and there will be some wins and losses. We believe we have the best program in the country, but it may not be for everyone.

“But we’re going to get our share of guys, and they are going to be great players who are going to be excited about winning and being a part of Pitt football.”

Those that are being patient to having blind faith in Wannstedt will read the same bit with optimism and the expectations that things will work themselves out by February.

As for recruiting, Wannstedt withstood the backlash of losing seven WPIAL prospects to either Penn State or Michigan, most notably after offensive linemen Miles Dieffenbach of Fox Chapel and Tom Ricketts Jr. of North Allegheny picked Penn State on consecutive days earlier this month. Their losses were prominent because Dieffenbach’s father, George, is a long-time Pitt tennis coach and Ricketts’ father played for the Panthers in the 1980s.

While NCAA rules prevent Wannstedt from speaking publicly about prospects, he was adamant that the Panthers will remain major players for the top recruits in Western Pennsylvania and beyond. Pitt has received three verbal commitments from the Class of 2010 and could add more after it hosts an individual skills camp this weekend on the South Side. He also is planning to host an additional Blue Chip Day in August.

“Nothing has changed,” Wannstedt said, repeating it for emphasis. “I will just say the last three years, at this time of the year, I’ve felt good about 40 players. Today, I’m at 75. We are further ahead with this year’s recruiting class with quality names at every position than we’ve been since I’ve been here. … We’re going to end up with not a good class, a great class.”

I maintain a fierce ambivalence about it all. It’s hard not to be at least a little edgy about recruiting to this point. The misses are a bit glaring and jarring.

At the same time, it is still a long way until February. Recruitments reopen. Decisions change. There seems little to be gained by getting too worked up over things in June.

And as I have said, I believe part of this is tied directly to Pitt’s underachievement the first 3 years of Wannstedt. A mostly good last year hardly balances the scales. There has to be more improvement even without McCoy, Kinder, McKillop and Davis to show the top recruits that progress and promise is happening.

So, it seems football recruiting is not going particularly well at the start of June. With the uptick of early commits in May, Pitt came up rather empty. Right there listed as one of the final picks, but on the outside. Even perceived “locks” going elsewhere.

This despite Pitt coming off a 9-win season. The expectation that this should create more bounce in recruiting for Pitt.

I’ve paid some attention, but not gotten caught up in the minutiae. Understandably there is some concern. The recruiting wasn’t as good this past signing day, but it was excused as a down year for talent in Pennsylvania. This year, it seems Pitt is missing everywhere and the reactions range from absolute panic to a kind of zen state of waiting for things to fall perfectly into place

Since everyone has theories as to what is happening as Pitt recruiting seems to be falling off a cliff right now, I’ll share mine. Keep in mind, this is pure theory and conjecture. I have no proof or sources.

This is the inverse bounce. One good season does not make up for the previous 3 years of disappointing slightly below-mediocrity on the field.

In Coach Wannstedt’s first few seasons he could reasonably claim that he was building something at Pitt. That it was new, shiny and sparkly. The new direction, and aiming higher than what had been accomplished prior. It may take a little work, but it would be stronger, bigger and better.

It could be sold that way and recruits could buy into it. They did.

The problem is, the building is taking too long. That is no longer a realistic thing to sell kids heading into Year Five.

Let’s skip the whole impatience of society today, and Frank Beamer at VT comparisons. That was then, this is now and things are different — money, recruiting, expectations, coverage, TV, etc. There are just as many examples of coaches who have succeeded quickly and with less. This is the landscape Pitt is operating now, and it is not as easy to make the case versus other programs that Pitt is having comparable success or will soon.

That’s what makes this season on the field so important. Pitt needs to show that despite losing McCoy, McKillop, Kinder, Davis and plenty of other key players, that it did not peak last year with a 9-win season and a crappy bowl performance. That they are indeed building to something more.

I would make the comparison to Rutgers in that. They did not pull the big recruiting class right after the 2005 Insight Bowl or even the 2006 Texas Bowl. It was after going to the International Bowl in 2008 (the 2007 season) that was the thing that launched them for their best recruiting class this past year. They had to show that they were sustaining the success.

If Pitt can have a good season — 8 wins or more — then recruiting will pick up again. They will pull some late commits and switches. It still may not be the class expected back in March or April but it will be decent enough. More importantly a good season will be the evidence needed to go forward in 2011.

Scott McKillop was one of the first draftees to sign his contract. In his second camp with the Niners he’s stood out for grabbing an interception off of Alex Smith.

Dropping into coverage, McKillop picked off a pass and returned it to the end zone.

It probably goes with out saying for those who do fantasy football, but do not select Alex Smith for your roster. Not only does he suck, but he’s actually running the Niners second team offense in camp. Shaun Hill has passed him.

Last week, Coach Wannstedt was in the Lancaster area for the rubber chicken circuit. That meant highlighting and plugging the local kids on the squad.

At a press conference prior to his serving as the guest speaker Tuesday night at the 11th Annual Manheim Touchdown Club Awards Banquet at the Lancaster Host Resort, Wannstedt said that the position of Pitt’s starting QB for the 2009 season will go to “who moves the team (in spring drills) and makes the fewest mistakes.”

Bostick, a junior, will compete with senior and returning starter Bill Stull, redshirt freshman Tino Sunseri and sophomore walk-on Andrew Janocko.

Wannstedt said he told Bostick recently that one thing he shouldn’t lack is self-confidence.

“We’re very proud of Pat and the success he’s had,” Wannstedt said. “It was an unbelievable situation (in Bostick’s freshman season). We were getting ready to open our season and I told Pat he would be the third quarterback. All I asked is that he learn our offense.

“First game of the season, we lose our starting quarterback. Within 14 days, things had changed. I said, ‘Pat, you’re our new starter, and we have no backup.’ ”

Bostick started eight games his freshman season and appeared in six games as a sophomore, including an historic four-overtime win over Notre Dame, the longest game in either team’s history.

Wannstedt also praised walk-on and Penn Manor grad Chas Alecxih for earning a scholarship and a spot on the depth chart at defensive tackle, and former Comets’ star Jordan Gibbs, who is competing for a tackle spot on the O-line.

And at the same time, everyone knows it is Bill Stull’s job to lose. The question continues.

Stull was happy to provide positive quotes on Derek Kinder to the Chicago Tribune.

Further proof of Kinder’s resurgence came during Pittsburgh’s Pro Day prior to the draft. Stull was a witness.

“Derek told us he was going to run in the 4.4s at the Pro Day, and we all kind of laughed,’’ Stull said. “Sure enough he ran in the 4.4s. I don’t think he even wore a knee brace.

“His hands have always been extremely good. He’s a competitor. When it comes down to it, he’s going to get it done. He’s just a great athlete and a great teammate. And I think he’s a steal for the Bears.’’

It’s not like you would expect something like, “he sucked and we are glad he’s gone.”

Back home in upstate NY, Kinder was there to throw out the first pitch… at a midget league game.

Kinder learned about performing under pressure as a 10-year-old, when much bigger hitters took their swings against his pitches. Kinder learned to keep his cool, and not back down while playing for the Actives and then St. Mary’s in the Midget League.

“It takes a strong young man to step out there and be in the spotlight,” Kinder said about Little Leaguers, especially the pitchers. “In football, you share the spotlight.”

Even now, at age 23 and about two weeks into what he hopes is a long career in the National Football League, Kinder said those early days in Little League helped lead him on a path to a professional athlete.

“The main thing I learned from Little League is just to have fun,” Kinder said before throwing out the first pitch Saturday during a season-opening celebration for about 200 players in the Midget League.

Kinder signed baseball caps, footballs, scrap paper — whatever the players pushed in front of him — before the season opener at the field behind Albion Town Hall.

His former coach Greg Bennett introduced Kinder to a crowd of several hundred people. Bennett called Kinder “a good role model” who epitomizes hard work and practice.

Nothing like going back home, I guess.

This week, Coach Wannstedt along with other coaches and administrators were down in Florida for Big East meetings

From Coach Wannstedt’s Twitter page.

Just, um, wow.

Sorry about being off the last few days. From August through most of April I am seemingly directly connected to the computer at all times. That means lots of things get neglected until now.

Not that I’m missing a lot.

In Harrisburg, the mayor has declared May, “LeSean McCoy Month.”

May is now LeSean McCoy’s favorite month. Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed read a proclamation this afternoon that pronounced May “LeSean McCoy Month” in Harrisburg, after the former Bishop McDevitt High School football star was drafted by the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

McCoy received the honor in a brief ceremony at City Hall. He stood with his father, Ron McCoy, and said his entry into the NFL has been like living a childhood dream.

Just imagine what would have happened if he had been drafted in the first round. I guess that’s one way to encourage McCoy to keep repping “717″ in the eyeblack.

Staying in the 717, Coach Dave Wannstedt will be in Lancaster next Wednesday, May 12, as the featured speaker at the Manheim Touchdown Club banquet. It is the rubber chicken circuit time of the year for Coach Wannstedt and the rest of the Pitt coaching staff.

Just wondering. Would it be a good idea for Coach Wannstedt to join the coach Twittering? I’m not sure we want Twitter updates at halftime to say, “We need to get FASTER!!!”

And only a week of spring practice left.

I’ve followed along. I’ve read Kevin Gorman’s blog along Cat Basket for almost daily sources. I’ve read the articles in the papers. At the same time, I can’t say I’ve put much thought into spring practices.

Here are what seem to be the some of the main things right now.

Running Back: Dion Lewis, a freshman early enrollee, has apparently been the best RB in the spring. Either Chris Burns was simply passed, or he hasn’t shown the same fire from last summer’s practices. The battle is not settled, but it is not as expected to be Burns and Shariff Harris battling to see who starts and who spells.

Quarterback: Bill Stull will still be the starter at QB, but he is not going to make it easy on himself. No one is or should be shocked that Coach Wannstedt declared that the job was Stull’s to lose. The disappointing thing is that he has not shown much beyond being a senior this coming season and having the backing of the head coach. That’s not to say that Tino Sunseri and Pat Bostick are getting the shaft. It’s simply that the QB position will continue to be a major source of angst for Pitt fans. Interesting observation from an outsider on Sunseri:

Sunseri is the best athlete, but he’s smaller in person than I expected. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 but looks a good couple of inches shorter than Stull and Bostick, who are each listed at 6-3.

I had to go back and check Pitt’s media guide, but yeah, they do list Sunseri at 6-2. All reports I could remember when he was a senior in HS was that he was barely 6-0. In college, you can argue that is not a big deal. Plenty of players thrive despite being 6-0 or under. I would be more concerned if this was still Matt Cavanaugh’s offense. I have some concerns since Pitt does run a pro-set and therefore may not give a shorter QB the lanes to pass with the lines — instead counting on the QB to throw over the lines.

New OC Frank Cignetti is trying not to declare a starter — despite what his boss is saying — so that is still something to keep an eye on.

One interesting development with regards to Pat Bostick is this:

Bostick has looked more and more comfortable this spring, and completed 9 of 17 passes for 72 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the scrimmage.

Where Bostick has shown the most improvement is in the velocity on his passes, a credit to Cignetti. Bostick isn’t showing signs of the windup or hitch in his delivery, and threw some nice deep balls in his first series. The Panthers ran a flea-flicker to Oderick Turner that was broken up by DeCicco and then a deep sideline route that Dorin Dickerson dropped. Bostick also went deep to Jonathan Baldwin, who let the pass slip through his hands, and showed some savvy by flicking a shovel pass to Lewis to avoid a sack when Caragein was draped on his back that gained a first down.

If this is true and consistent, well, then it is a significant change in the course of Pat Bostick’s possibilities. He’s still slow afoot, but if he is able to pass effectively and with force without the hitch and wind-up it is great news.

And yes, if this is Cignetti’s work, then it is a significant indictment on former OC Matt Cavanaugh’s ability to develop, work with, and teach college QBs. Something that was obvious and a significant issue for two years with a young QB is disappearing in spring practices under a new OC that has been here barely six weeks.

Center: I admit to being a bit puzzled by this one. Robb Houser was brought in last year from the JUCO ranks and immediately became the starting center. By all appearances, he seemed to be doing a well-enough job. Definitely better than the previous year’s efforts at the position. Then he suffers a broken ankle and was lost for the second half of the season. C.J. Davis slid over and did a great job filling in.

Now, it seems Houser can’t beat walk-on Alex Karabin. Is this a lingering effect from the injury — out of shape, not all the way healthy, no effort? No clear answer. What is obvious is that Pitt is still scrambling to find someone else who can take the reigns. That may mean moving John Malecki to center.

The extent of John Malecki’s experience playing center was hiking six snaps in the first practice for the Big 33 Football Classic in July 2006. It was enough to convince coaches he was a guard.

Malecki will be a senior. This smacks of desperation. It’s also a big problem stemming from Pitt’s failure to recruit an actual center, and failing to develop one from the offensive linemen recruited. I don’t find this to be second-guessing Pitt’s recruiting priorities. There have been plenty of questions about Pitt not recruiting an actual center.

Nothing was recruited on the Center spot once more this past year. It has been a point — to blind arrogance — that the o-linemen Pitt recruits can be moved wherever on the line. It’s a great concept, but it hasn’t held at the center spot. Last year worked out with C.J. Davis, but that  was the exception. John Bachman, Greg Gaskins, and other efforts to actually move to the spot have all failed.

Sorry. Maybe I’m being a bit hard on this one. It might all work itself out,  but Center  has been a problem for all but one year so far under Wannstedt. At some point, you have to make an effort to actually recruit a real center.

Jonathan Baldwin: He looks dominant.

More Later.

Coach Wannstedt did a Q&A with Brian Bennett at ESPN.com. Most of the conversation centered around the offense.

Let’s talk about your quarterback situation. Is Bill Stull still your starter, or will there be an open competition this spring?

DW: Billy is going to be our starter. We went 9-3 in the regular season with Bill Stull. It was the best record that Pitt’s had since Dan Marino was here. So people have a tendency to lose sight of that a little bit, too, because of the bowl game. Now, did Billy play at a level that we need him to play at to win a championship? No. Can he get better? Yes. He understands that.

Pat Bostick is looking for an opportunity, Tino Sunseri is looking for an opportunity and we have Greg Cross on our team, he’s looking for an opportunity. So I think that with a new quarterback coach coming in, a new offensive coordinator, it’s going to create a real natural sense of urgency on offense in addition to the quarterback position, which I think will be healthy.

All three quarterbacks will get equal opportunities in practice and scrimmage situations and we’ll see how it unfolds. I think we know these kids well enough that we can expect someone to surface and we can hang our hat on someone and say, “OK, this is the way we’re going into the fall.”

So Stull is the starter, but the other three quarterbacks will get equal opportunities — to be the back-up? Whee.

I can’t say I’m really surprised by this. Coach Wannstedt is not going to open up the QB competition. Like a starter doesn’t lose his job to injury, a position doesn’t re-open just because the OC is new.

Wannstedt seems very high on Dan Mason, even suggesting he could make the two-deep as a freshman. Not too surprising, I suppose given the depth issues at linebacker.

He also talks a little about LeSean McCoy going pro. According to Mel Kiper (Insider subs), he sees McCoy falling to the start of the second round (but the 3d back taken).

No one in this group comes remotely close to the talent and depth we had at this spot last year. I expect only two running backs, Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells and Georgia’s Knowshon Moreno, to go off the board in the first round. They probably won’t be selected until the mid-to-late portion of that round.

Pitt’s LeSean McCoy has first-round ability but more than likely won’t come off the board until the second round. That’s the same scenario I see for Connecticut’s Donald Brown, who could end up being one of the more productive rookie running backs in the NFL because of his all-around skills and tremendous character.

He puts Conredge Collins at the top of the fullback list.

Although this position basically has been phased out in the NFL, I like several prospects, beginning with Pitt’s versatile Conredge Collins and LSU’s experienced and highly skilled lead blocker Quinn Johnson.

Over on defense, he sees Scott McKillop going sometime in day two.

Sigh. Well, getting away from the warm fuzzies of the basketball team for a bit. There’s more than a bit of unfinished business with Pitt football. I might come back to an abbreviated media recap. Right now, my sense is that it is almost as if we are back to the beginning of the season. Right after the BGSU debacle. The frustration with Wannstedt, the complete disappointment in Cavanaugh.

Right now, the comments from Coach Wannstedt the other day are being parsed, dissected and interpreted. Fun. Fun. Fun.

Let’s start with the obvious big issues: QB Bill Stull and OC Matt Cavanaugh.

Not just the fans have turned their questions on Matt Cavanaugh within the Pitt program.

Games like that make you wonder if the program can take the next big step as long as Cavanaugh is calling the plays.

It was such a glaring issue in the Sun Bowl.

…or the play callers and decision makers who left them in the game and did little to change things up in order to help them out?

For instance, I’ve been a critic of fans who are always crying for Greg Cross to get in the game – but if ever there was a game that cried out for something different, and if ever the team had enough time to put together a few packages for a guy with his talents, this was it. Particularly when you consider that the Beavers defense in their last game gave up 65 points and like 400 yards rushing TO A SPREAD OFFENSE TEAM.

Let me state that again – a team gets ripped by a spread offense running the ball. Pitt has a quarterback who you recruited to run similar spread schemes. Pitt had almost ONE MONTH to prepare said quarterback and offense for a few packages like that.

Honestly, though, was anyone really surprised that Cross never got into the game? I know I wasn’t.

That brings us to Coach Wannstedt’s teleconference and what he said.

…he also took the opportunity to say he will retain offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh for next season. Pitt’s season ended with a 3-0 loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl Wednesday.

Wannstedt said that Cavanaugh has been unfairly criticized and that the Panthers’ problems on offense are mostly because of poor execution and are not Cavanaugh’s fault. Despite the struggles of Pitt’s quarterbacks, he said, Cavanaugh is one of the best quarterbacks coaches in the country.

“Are you kidding me? We’re not going to base anything off of just one game,” Wannstedt said. “Matt has forgotten more about coaching quarterbacks than most of the other guys out there will ever know. And you can quote me on that one.”

I guess that’s the first issue. Wannstedt sees it as “just one game.” Everyone who is critical just sees the Sun Bowl as the final straw. I admit to being in the latter camp with Cavanaugh at this point. From his struggle to adjust to being an OC in college — remember when he admitted to not realizing/remembering that hashmarks were in different places — to playcalling that has made little sense far too often, to not developing any QBs with any degree of consistentcy or confidence. I will concede that it can be hard to declare the QB all on him, as they players have some responsibility.

Still: Bill Stull, Pat Bostick, Kevan Smith, Greg Cross. None of them are good enough? None have progressed much? At the very least it has to call into question his ability to evaluate. At worst, he’s just not doing the job. If “you are what your record says you are,” then at some point those players and their development reflect your ability.

Honestly, I wish I could muster the anger and frustration. I guess I’m a little numb since I’m not in the least bit surprised by this. Coach Wannstedt believes in his circle and his way. He would rather fail with it, than change his way. We’ve all known this. This is part of it.

The part that actually gets me close to upset is that Wannstedt appeared to put the offensive struggles all on “poor execution.”

DPJ is rightfully pissed off about everything he read.

This has been the hallmark of the staff since the moment they were hired. The is 0 accountability from the staff. We always used to joke about “Not My Fault Walt” but really, when was the last time you heard Wannstedt accept responsibility. This season Cavanaugh admitted a few times that his game plans were poor and the results of which led us to lose to Bowling Green as well as struggle against Iowa and Buffalo.

I will say that it is more Wannstedt than the staff at this point. Wannstedt may be trying to defend his embattled OC, but he’s instead put the blame on his players and the team instead. Nice work.

Even, though, it sure seems like the staff screwed up in some huge ways.

Freshman tackle Lucas Nix didn’t play in the Sun Bowl, but Wannstedt said Nix would have started at left tackle and played the “whole game” if coaches had known prior to pre-game warm-ups that Pinkston would not be available. Instead, fifth-year senior Chase Clowser got his first career start.

Good god, does that cry out for more detail. What does that even mean? I know Pinkston got hurt the day before, but why was it a one or the other situation? They didn’t want to spring it on Nix at the last minute? And then, they didn’t want to make a change? You know, to — what? Disrupt the O-line? I freely admit that I don’t know the full context and what else went into this, but nothing about it made sense on the 31st and it still doesn’t. Clowser was completely overmatched and unable to do the job. Yet, Nix wasn’t going to get a snap because Clowser got the start?

I love Pitt. I would hope that would be obvious at this point. (Yes there is a “but…” coming.)

I know Coach Wannstedt loves Pitt. Having said that, he’s not at all accurate on this.

“When you see some of the things that are happening [with regards to coaches getting fired] around the country, if our chancellor would have responded like some of these other guys do, I’d either be back coaching the NFL by now or be golfing in Naples,” Wannstedt said with a smile, as he sat, drenched with Gatorade, and discussed the Panthers’ season-ending win at Connecticut in the visiting team interview room Dec. 6.

Wannstedt added, “That’s what separates our chancellor from others. … and that’s what makes [Pitt] special.”

Chancellor Nordenberg has been great for Pitt athletics. He has recognized the value of the major programs having a national presence to the university in terms of exposure and overall donations. He is engaged in the athletic department. Again, not in dispute.

He knows the value of good relationships with the coaches. That is the thing. He has a personal relationship with Wannstedt. Just as he has one with basketball coach Jamie Dixon. That is why Coach Wannstedt got an extension last season without any preconditions.

His relationship with the Chancellor. It also would be a significant factor that Coach Wannstedt has built strong relationships with top boosters and supporters of the program. That was as big a factor. There was no real financial risk to keeping and extending Wannstedt.

Imagine what the relationship would have been with the Chancellors and Athletic Directors in the 90s, if Coach Wannstedt had gotten the job in 1989.

“When we met, I said ‘Ed, what are you looking for in a head coach?’ ” Wannstedt said. “He said ‘Dave, I’m looking for a guy who can be on one side of the tracks and talk to the top CEO of U.S. Steel and walk on the other side of the tracks and relate to the guys working out in the steel mills.

“He told me that’s what he was looking for; that’s what, in his mind, was a ‘Pittsburgh guy’ and that’s what this program needed at that time.”

Wannstedt, the son of a steelworker, had long ago worked in a mill a few summers. He figured he’d be a shoo-in for the job.

Not quite.

“I thought when [Bozik] was talking, he was describing me,” Wannstedt said, then chuckled. “It was a nice visit, but then they called me a few days later and said they were hiring Paul Hackett — a California guy. So I guess you could call it an interview, but I’m not sure what was really going on.”

I’m willing to bet Coach Wannstedt would have been out at Pitt. Maybe not after only 3 years, but it would have been in the 90s. The school and athletic department had no will, drive or direction to make changes. It was being run as small-time and Wannstedt would not have been able to change that back then.

So is everyone else finding the Trib site to be hit or miss as to whether it will actually function lately? Given all the doom and gloom over media business the past few weeks, that can’t be a good sign.

The AP All-American team was announced and they somehow thinks there are six running backs in the country better than LeSean McCoy. Scott McKillop made 2nd team.

Sports Illustrated had McCoy and McKillop as 2nd team All-Americans.

Last week was the Sun Bowl press conference — where the coaches fly down there and talk about how excited they are for the bowl and to play each other. Lots of friendly coachspeak.

Riley and Wannstedt were in town to tour the place they will call home from their arrival — Christmas Day for Oregon State, Dec. 26 for Pitt — through game day on New Year’s Eve.

For Riley, this is a refresher. He and the Beavers beat Missouri two years ago in the Sun Bowl.

“That’s why they are two-touchdown favorites,” Wannstedt joked.

“Three points,” Riley corrected.

Wannstedt, too, is familiar with the Sun Bowl, though his experience is dated. His first professional job was as a graduate assistant at his alma matter Pitt in 1975, when the Panthers beat Kansas, 33-19, in the Sun Bowl. Pitt and star running back Tony Dorsett used that as a springboard to win the national championship the next season.

“I remember the great hospitality,” Wannstedt said of his last trip. “I was young and all wide-eyed. I remember saying, ‘I’m going to like this coaching part.’ It seems like nothing has changed.”

Despite both teams being ranked, and the limited amount of tickets they have to sell, there are concerns because of the economy and other factors.

Pitt Athletic Director Steve Peterson and Oregon State Athletic Director Bob Escaroles both think our troubled economy will be a factor in how many people travel for this year’s game but are optimistic.

“Our ticket manager has mentioned that he thinks we might hit 2,500,” said Decarolis.

“I think we’ll bring a very nice-sized group,” said Peterson. “It would be hard to guess after three days of selling tickets exactly how many we’ll end up bringing.”

Olivas wouldn’t offer any estimates, but knows the bottom line on economic impact is heads in beds and overnight stays.

Time will tell and factors are not encouraging.

Traditionally, Pitt fans have not traveled well and Oregon State fans will have to come to El Paso for the second time in three years. This year, the Sun Bowl was a small consolation prize after the Beavers missed out on a trip to the Rose Bowl with a season-ending loss.

The hotel and restaurant business are going to be the big question marks. More than simply getting people to come for the game, it’s getting people to get out in El Paso and spend money. It’s the same sort of thing that goes into pro-convention center arguments.

I’m sure many of you have received the e-mail from the alumni association trying to gauge interest in a 2-night charter, rather than a 3-night. While it is good to know the 3-day charter is sold out, it is telling that the hotel was already opening up rooms for only 2 night packages rather than keeping them blocked off for 3-night stays.

Back to the non-economic aspects of the Sun Bowl. Have you heard? The coaches claim friendship and history. Another big theme that was cited from the moment the pairing was made: good running backs.

Two of the nation’s best will add their names to that list on the final day of 2008, when Oregon State and Pittsburgh bang bodies.

Pitt will bring LeSean McCoy, a 5-foot-11, 210-pound sophomore who has run for 1,403 yards this season. Oregon State will bring Jaquizz Rodgers, a 5-7, 193-pound freshman who has run for 1,253 yards. Rodgers, who is from Richmond, Texas, recently was named the Pac 10 Offensive Player of the Year — the first time a freshman has ever taken home that honor.

The two talented young backs have almost identical statistics. McCoy averages 4.9 yards a carry and 116.9 yards a game. Rodgers averages 4.8 yards a carry and 113.9 yards a game.

Rodgers, though, is dealing with a shoulder separation, and is still in question for the game. Actually, it might be worse. It seems he has a broken bone in his shoulder blade. That definitely puts his availability into question.

Scott McKillop and LeSean McCoy did a teleconference interview with other media. An Oregon State beat writer blogs it and his impressions. First McKillop.

On the phone, McKillop comes off as thoughtful, articulate, and oozing with a the competitive fire that all great LBs must possess.

McKillop said he likes to take the responsibility of the defense on his shoulders, including the kind of criticism that rained down on the Panthers after their season-opening loss to Bowling Green.

Asked what kind of challenge Pitt faces in stopping Oregon State, he mentioned the Rodgers brothers and said the Panthers know all about Jacquizz Rodgers, the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.

“They play a lot bigger than what they are,” he said. “They make a lot of people look silly.”

McKillop said he is aware that James Rodgers will miss the game with a broken collarbone, and that Quizz is not 100 percent certain to play yet (so says coach Riley) because of a sore left shoulder.

But Pitt players expect Quizz to play. “He’s a warrior,” said McKillop, making a very good read from long distance. “We’re preparing as if he will be out there.”

Taking pains to say something nice about anything in an OSU jersey, McKillop said that OSU offensive tackle Andy Levitre stands out on film, and QB Lyle Moevao impresses him.

Then McCoy.

But the player who has been nicknamed “Shady” since childhood re-iterated Monday that he’s planning on being a Panther again in 2009, and that hopefully Pitt will win more games, go to a better bowl, and maybe even contend for a national title. … that last time that happened, 1976, Dorsett was Pitt’s star player and a guy named Wannstedt was one of TD’s blockers.

McCoy praised Oregon State’s defense and said he has been watching video of the Beavers in action.

I asked him if he has seen the Oregon game yet, and he said no. “We haven’t broken that one down yet,” he said.

It was suggested that maybe Pitt coaches are keeping that one from McCoy, because if he sees what UO’s Jeremiah Johnson did (219 yards rushing) and what Oregon as a team did (385 rushing) he might get over-confident. .. .McCoy laughed at that. “I didn’t know it was that crazy (nearly 400 yards),” he said.

“I think (OSU) is still a good defense. … every team has their day. I’m sure (OSU) just made some mental errors.

“You can’t go in thinking the same thing is going to happen.”

No. Especially when you know a defense will do all it can do to force Pitt to throw the ball rather than let McCoy run.

Punter Dave Brytus has a unique distinction.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Brytus said. “I’ll probably be the only college football player to start on two different teams and play in the same bowl game, at least since the (NCAA) transfer rules came into effect.”

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound fifth-year senior, a West Allegheny graduate, averaged 48.9 yards on eight punts in a 27-23 loss to Arizona State in the ‘04 Sun Bowl. He recalls dropping five inside the 20-yard line, but best remembers the difference of kicking at 3,740 feet above sea level.

“It was a good day all around for punting,” said Brytus, who had a long of 58 yards. “For us kickers, it’s nice because it has high elevation so the ball stays up there longer. You get more hang time, more distance on it.

“It’s a huge difference. At Heinz Field, it gets real windy. It doesn’t go in one direction. It swirls. You can’t tell which way it’s going. The air is real thick. You feel like you kill the ball and it just dies. When you go to Texas, you don’t think about the elevation. I wasn’t even hitting the ball hard and it was just flying off my foot.”

He took home an award for best special teams player at the 2004 Sun Bowl.