Okay. Quick and dirty.
Palko named the starting QB last night. Luke Getsy was apparently very upset and even Harris doesn’t know if he’ll stay at Pitt. No reason for Getsy to transfer yet. If the O-line is as bad as last year, he’ll be starting because Palko will be out for at least a game with a concussion.
Wide Receiver Greg Lee was surprised by the decision. He thought it was too close to call and would play out into next week.
The QB starter may be named but a bunch of others are still up in the air. This includes tailback, fullback, a cornerback, wide receivers, and of course injuries on the lines have a bunch of questions.
Coach Harris considered last year’s paper thin defense to be an “aberration” for the entire year. So that means he expects the D to be better this year (And how much worse could they be?).
Joe Bendel does his breakdown of the team and the challenges. Bottom line, is a 6-5 regular season and losing its bowl birth to finish an even 6-6. Right around what most expect.
Post-Gazette beat reporter Paul Zeise, does his first Q&A for the new season. Nothing that surprising, but even Zeise, a beat writer who has to deal with the guy almost daily, notes Harris needs a good year:
Q: How secure is Walt Harris? Will eight or nine wins save his job?
ZEISE: The seat that coach Harris is sitting on is certainly getting warm but I’m not sure there is a magic number for him remain at Pitt. I know three wins would put him in big trouble, but the other end of the scale (7 or 8) is not so cut and dried. Harris runs a clean program, the team wins enough and the kids go to class and he doesn’t put up with a lot of off-field nonsense. That goes a long way towards keeping the administration happy, further than most people know. Season ticket renewals, however, have not been quite as good as the university had hoped and that’s a factor as well. The bottom line is Walt needs to have a good season, how good is not quite as clear.
My feeling .500 or better he stays. 5-6 or lower, and a change will have to be made.
Finally, Pitt has its 7th recruit. Rashaad Duncan from Belle Glade, FL. He’s apparently a diamond in the rough, according to this breakdown from Bob Lichtenfels from Panther Report.
