Looks like we are hitting the dry patch for news. Nothing out there this morning. Time to go to a fall back position: college football preview magazines.

Over the past month, the full preview issues have been making appearances, and I’ve been taking some notes. Not merely some specific conference preview issues.

I’m going to do a couple of them now — depending on how long the kid lets me — and try to get more summaries out during the week. Posting may be a little light this week, ironically because I am actually in Pittsburgh. Right now I’m in the Oakland Holiday Inn while the wife is attending a conference. A pilgrimage to a couple watering holes with some friends is hoped for tonight.

Keep in mind, that previews are not expected to be terribly accurate. What they are about are expectations. Based on what talent teams have, the coaching, schedule and everything. They are not gospel.

First up, The Sporting News 2005 College Preview. They don’t have Pitt in the top-25.

In their section on coaching changes, they had the following to say about Dave Wannstedt: “A new challenge will invigorate one of football’s finest teachers.”

They rank Pitt’s secondary as #10th in the country.

Individual players from Pitt were ranked as follows:
QB — Tyler Palko, #9
WR — Greg Lee, #3
ILB — H.B. Blades, #8
CB — Josh Lay, #16
K — Josh Cummings, #3
P — Adam Graessle

The Big East section is credited to “freelancer,” Mike Cherry. Cherry’s current regular working gig is unknown, but he is familiar with the Big East. He had been a sportswriter at the Charleston Daily Mail.

He picks Pitt to finish 2nd in the BE, which everyone is doing, behind Louisville. Greg Lee is his pick for “Offensive Player of the Year.”

On the 1st Team All-Big East he has Palko, Lee, Charles Spencer (OT), Blades, Lay, Cummings and Graessle.

For the 2nd Team All-Big East he puts Thomas Smith (DT), Darrelle Revis (CB) and Tez Morris (S).

The Pitt preview itself is bland. Basically talks about Palko and Wannstedt. Nothing too interesting.