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Tuesday, 24 August 2010 21:05

Written by Paul Zeise

Now that camp is over, the depth chart is for the most part set and we've analyzed and over analyzed every position, let's look ahead to the Panthers first game at Utah.

Obviously this is not a game that is going to be easy to win, it is not the ideal game to begin with - going on the road against a very good team -- BUT if the Panthers can win the game it really would be a huge boost to them, not just for their confidence but also it would solidify their national profile and likely vault them into the top ten. Then if they were to beat Miami, boy the sky is the limit.

However, remember this ---  Regardless of whether the Panthers win or lose this game it is only one game and it is an exhibition game that is meaningless to the goal of winning a Big East championship. So keep that in mind when the reactionaries around you are declaring either a lost season or a national championship based on the outcome.

For instance, if they lose, and look bad doing it, tell yourself it is not the end of the world. And then consider Oregon last year. The Ducks went on the road to play at a very good Boise State team - the infamous "LeGarrette Blount channels Kermit Washington" game -- in their opener and the Broncos pounded them into the blue turf. Yeah, it was only 19-8 but if you watched the game you got the feeling it could have gone on for four more quarters and Oregon wasn't going to score again. The Ducks offense looked terrible in that game. But they rebounded to win their next seven games, won the Pac-10 and went to the Rose Bowl and also became one of the most prolific offensive machines in the nation.

On the other hand, USC last year went on the road and beat a top ten team - Ohio State - in the second game of the year and that had people again thinking that the Trojans were headed for another special season. But USC promptly lost the next week to an unranked team - Washington - and finished a pedestrian 8-4, and ended up in the Emerald Bowl. Ohio State, incidentally rebounded to win the Big Ten and then went on to beat Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

So in short, don't read too much into the results of the first game of the season.Yes, you'd like Pitt to win it to get off to a good start and to grab some momentum, but if they do it doesn't mean much more than they are 1-0. And if they lose, it doesn't mean much more than they are 0-1.

Incidentally, I find it hilarious that I'm getting a barrage of e-mails from people calling me essentially a "typical negative yinzer media type" because I have the audacity to predict that Pitt is likely an 8-4 or 9-3 team, as if going 9-3 against that schedule (the schedule is very tough) -- with the concerns on the offensive line, a first-year starter at quarterback and some real questions about depth at certain positions -- is something to sniff at. As if saying that going 11-1 is something the Panthers do with regularity.

So here is what I want to see - you e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and give me your prediction for the Panthers so I can publish it in the Redshirt Diaries and we'll see just how "negative" I really am. My guess is that most people will predict this team to be about 8-4 to 10-2, but then again, I could be wrong.

Comments (2)

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written by rkohberger, August 25, 2010 - 06:52 AM

Paul, you make excellent points with this column. It is amazing how so many PITT fans want, and feel, that the program can jump directly to a National Championship with winning the prerequisite Big East Championship first.

In the grand scheme there is no BE second place reward towards a BCS game, it's top dog or nothing in our conference.

I'd go one step further with your advice and say that the 'don't panic' sense should be applied to individual player's production in Utah also, especially this season and specifically at QB. A rocky first game, or three, from our new QB isn't the end of the world. It takes some time to get settled and perhaps more importantly it takes some real competition before the Offensive Coordinator can tell what that QB's strengths and weaknesses are under fire - 14 attempts in garbage time last season isn't nearly enough.

I fully expect the defense to have to rise to the occasion out west if we have any chance to win that game.

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written by jlawrence, August 25, 2010 - 10:35 PM

Good post, Paul.

I think the issue with Pitt fans is a need for respect and legitimacy of the Panthers program and the BE.
That does not necessarily mean a national championship, but solid performances against "name opponents". If Pitt goes out and loses a close one at the end, no problem. If however, they go out and lay an egg.... I really think most of us just want to be included in the discussion of top programs.

In the Utah game, I'm expecting a defensive battle. Both teams are strong upfront. Pitt would seem to have a edge with better DBs and perhaps a slight edge on LB play. I give Pitt a slight edge defensively though.
Utah has 4 out of 5 starters returning on the OL returning along with a solid running game. But I like our run defense. With our suspect OL, I think Sunseri has to make good decisions, play within himself anf not turn the ball over! Baldwin could make a huge difference in the game if so.

I think the game will be a nail biter for both teams right to the finish. We'll see.

As far as the season goes, I think we are a 9-10 win team this year. I can see us losing the opener, but like our chances at home against Miami (even with their QB) and on the road at ND (problematic D). I do think we will run into trouble somewhere in conference play...pick any of the following - Rutgers, UConn, USF or WVU.

That may or may not be enough to win the BE, but if we hits 10 wins and come in 2nd, I can live with that.

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