Really, that is all I can conclude Mike Prisuta of the Trib is engaging in for this column.

As unrealistic as it is to consider Tyler Palko a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate this season, the Pitt quarterback’s designation as such according to CBSSportsline.com is, nonetheless, revealing.

Palko put himself on the map last season, which wasn’t easy since he was playing for Walt Harris.

It has to be a parody, because, golly, it was real hard for a QB under Walt Harris’ offensive scheme to complie huge numbers. I mean, Palko put up 3067 yards passing last year and 411 in one game against South Florida (PDF). Good enough for 3rd and 4th all-time, respectively (PDF, p 25).

I mean look at the numbers, 6 of the top 12 passing games for Pitt QBs came during Harris’ tenure. So did 5 of the 10 for a season (again, PDF, p 25).

Palko will have a chance this season under first-year Pitt savior Dave Wannstedt to push himself and his program into the NCAA’s upper echelon, and to establish a reputation and a resume that will make subsequent Heisman hype more than just fodder for someone’s blog.

As for the list CBSSportsline.com compiled last week, Palko was included along with 11 other preseason Heisman hopefuls for 2005.

Still sounds like a parody with the “first-year Pitt savior” crack.

This piece is essentially a riff off of the Pitt athletic department press release, and he is making some weak-ass cut on “someone’s blog?” I thought that was what we derivative, unoriginal bloggers do. Not serious, credentialed sportswriters. Alternatively, maybe he’s hoping to drive up hits by having it linked and read and generate lots of e-mail. Again, subtle in the brilliancy. Hats off Prisuta.

I mean, I haven’t even gotten to the Sportsline.com/CBS advertiser (seriously, half the ads in the mag are for CBS tv shows — hilarious) college football preview yet. The HeismanPundit, doesn’t even include Palko in his top-10. I guess, my question is, where did the snipe come from? Who blogged it to set him off? He isn’t making unsubstantiated allegations, is he? That seems reckless and irresponsible.

And then, the whole parody he was shooting for, stopped. Nothing. I must be missing something. The rest of the piece, makes the entirely agreeable point that Palko will likely be more poised for a potential Heisman run in 2006. Obviously, I am missing more of the subtle nuances.

*Sigh*

Once more I weep at my own lack of skill with words when compared to the masters.