On the heels of expectations, ESPN has listed Pitt as one of 5 potential breakthrough teams for the BCS

Pitt has lived in the shadow of Miami and Virginia Tech long enough. The Panthers have arguably the best receiver in the country in Larry Fitzgerald, the most underrated RB in the conference in Brandon Miree. And if QB Rod Rutherford can just be a little more consistent, this team could sneak up and spoil the Hurricanes’ and Hokies’ farewell tours. Walt Harris has loaded the Panthers with talent. They get Miami, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame in Heinz Field and travel to Texas A&M, West Virginia and BC. The season — and a BCS bowl bid — may come down to how well the Panthers play at home.

The others were NC State, Oregon St. (are you kidding me?), Oklahoma St. and Virginia.

There are fairly high expectations for Pitt, both in the national media and by the fans this year. The ever meaningless pre-season USA Today/ESPN/Coaches poll puts Pitt at #11. (The only useful thing about being rannked in the pre-season poll, is that it’s easier to stay in the poll once the season starts then it is to crack in from the outside). Despite being considered as the 3rd best team in the Big East, Pitt is considered one of the sleeper teams to contend for the BCS; to be this year’s Ohio State.

The undercurrent to that, is the fact that based on the polls, the two top teams in the Big East — Miami and Virgina Tech — are bailing for the ACC next year. For the Big East to hope to survive as a football conference, Pitt has to step up this year to show that the teams still in the Big East can compete on a national level.

So, let’s be clear.

Anything less than winning the Big East will be a disappointment this year.

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To Pitt Sports Blather. A name we chose because we couldn’t seem to agree on anything else, and this generated the least amount of opposition. With the exception of myself, the guys are blog newbies. Since this is a new site, things may change — get added, removed, moved, etc. Please bear with us as we try to figure this out. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get comments on the site as well.

I guy I work with claims to have seen Pitt Coach Walt Harris snogging pretty hard (complete with tounge) with an attractive, middle-aged, raven haired beauty at an Oakland Thai Restaruant on Wednesday evening. Good work Walt. Live the dream…

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