Let’s face it, a down year for Pitt right now will not get the attention an average season for ND or the latest in a series of bad seasons for PSU. So, last week when the national media somewhat noticed — but only so far as making it into a Harris witchhunt story — it shouldn’t have been too surprising. Add in that Pitt only lost to a “positive” story in the UConn Huskies rising to Div. 1-A status and I guess it makes some senses. This week, though, after struggling to come back against the hideous Temple Owls views change.
Maybe Pittsburgh‘s Walt Harris is in trouble after all. Dogged in the local media, but given a pass here last week, Harris’ Panthers needed a late rally to fend off a dreadful Temple team playing without its best player, linebacker Rian Wallace.
Funny, in a sad way, how 2 wins (Furman and Temple) may cost Harris more than one loss.
Joe Bendel has two mid-season Big East reports on ESPN.com. One on the Big East as a conference:
Biggest Disappointment
Pittsburgh entered the season with mild expectations after losing eight starters on offense, but nobody could have predicted such a rapid free-fall. While it’s true the Panthers are 3-2, 1-1, they needed overtime to defeat Division I-AA Furman and barely escaped a Temple team that was coming off a 70-16 loss against Bowling Green the previous week. Quarterback Tyler Palko is emerging as an offensive threat, but he’s playing behind an offensive line that is allowing defenses to attack him nearly every time he drops back. Palko will have a difficult time making it through the season if this keeps up — and then, disaster will really hit. Coach Walt Harris continues to take heat for some off-beat play-calling, most notably a “slide” by Palko for field goal position in a loss at UConn. The Panthers will have a difficult time finding another win on their schedule unless they discover some serious toughness on both sides of the line. Harris is under fire, and a sub-par season could seal his fate in Pittsburgh.
[Emphasis added.]
That was a very polite phrasing by Bendel on Harris for the country.
His other mid-term report is team-by-team (subs. req’d):
Pittsburgh was supposed to be instrumental in keeping the Big East strong, but coach Walt Harris’ team has struggled from the outset. The Panthers sport a decent record (3-2, 1-1), but their victories have come against Mid-American Conference member Ohio, Division I-AA Furman (in overtime) and lowly Temple, which nearly upset them last Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Palko has been one of the few bright spots on a team that struggles to run the ball and misses way too many tackles. The Panthers even became the answer to a trivia question when they were on the wrong end of UConn’s first victory as a Big East member. Unless Harris finds a way to light a fire under this team, they could be in trouble Saturday against Boston College (ESPN2, noon ET). And, it could be the beginning of a nasty downward spiral.
Midseason MVP: QB Tyler Palko willed the Panthers to victories over Furman and Temple, leading fourth-quarter comebacks both times. The left-hander went 30-of-36 for 380 yards with three scores vs. the Purple Paladins and 13-of-18 for 191 yards and a TD vs. the Owls. His numbers are solid — 82-of-149 for 1,115 yards with 7 TDs — but what stands out most is his ability make plays at crucial moments. If he had better protection, his numbers would be even better.
What’s next: The Panthers will struggle to find three more wins, the amount needed to play in a bowl game. They get Rutgers at home, and Syracuse and South Florida on the road. Those games are winnable, but past that, nothing is guaranteed. Perhaps, Palko will find it in himself to spring a few upsets and put this program back on the Big East map.
Well, you have to be optimistic when you can.
