Another late night…
Unlike most schools, Pitt doesn’t play until Labor Day. This allowed the fans and pundits an extra day to explore the madness of JoePa.
Now, the stories and articles begin on the team and preparing for USF. The opener will be Pitt’s first road opener since 1993 — Pitt’s first year under the Johnny Majors, Back to the Future plan — when Pitt upset Southern Miss. 14-10; and the first road opener for Harris.
This game is considered an immediate test. Pitt under Harris is 7-0 in openers, “but they lose most of their luster because of the teams the Panthers have beaten: Southwest Louisiana, Villanova (Division I-AA), Bowling Green, Kent State, East Tennessee State (I-AA), Ohio and Kent State.”
In the game notes, you can find the depth chart for Pitt (page 3). Depth has emerged as a huge concern during training camp. Overshadowing to some degree concern over how the lines will play. The depth chart is examined here.
Most notable were the eight walk-ons on the two-deep list, including starting wide receiver Joe DelSardo.
Of the seven wideouts listed, only one has caught a pass in a college game. The tight end has two catches and the starting quarterback owns all of two career completions.
The top three tailbacks accounted for 79 yards in 2003. Junior starter Raymond Kirkley took a redshirt.
The question is: Can the Panthers get it all together in six days, when they open at South Florida in sunny Tampa?
Can you say, “Gulp?” The depth chart also reveals that Freshman Darrelle Revis will start at right cornerback ahead of Reggie Carter and Josh Lay. The last true freshman to start at corner was Shawntae Spencer, now with the SF 49ers, in 2000.
Along with Revis starting, another mild surprise is that converted Offensive Left Guard, Charles Spencer will start. JUCO transfer, Josh “Sunshine” Cummings, has won the starting kicker job.
Two column pieces, both concern Tyler Palko. Ron Cook focuses on the Texas A&M game in 2002 when Rutherford layed an egg for 3 quarters, leading to chants of “We want Palko!” and “Put in Palko!” from the stands. Showing a bit of cluelessness from where he actually sat in the press box, he says the chant was “We want Tyler!”
I missed that game, as per the “annual Pitt home game to fall right on a High Holy Day” (this year’s model is only the Furman game on Yom Kippur so it isn’t so bad). Maybe Lee and Pat can share their memories of that game and the chant.
In a bit of revisionism Cook considers the calls “absurd.” Up to that point, it hardly was. Rutherford had not looked good in his first couple games and all through the first half against A&M. It just seemed that Rutherford couldn’t handle the job until he finally found the switch.
Me on August 27:
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.
Cook on August 31:
Have you looked at that Pitt offensive line? …
If I’m new fan favorite Luke Getsy, I’m not thinking about transferring just yet. I’m thinking about maybe playing against South Florida Monday after they carry Palko off.
Advantage, PSB.
The other column from Mike Pirusta focuses on Palko’s confidence. I’ve already said that I like having a cocky, arrogant QB. I think Pitt needs that right now. Leave the negativity to the professionals.
