Training camp begins on Tuesday. These are not open to the public practices like the Steelers in Latrobe (or the Eagles at Lehigh), but there will be a FanFest on August 25 at Heinz Field where you can meet the players.

Optimism abounds. Even in Central New Jersey, where the fans of the Scarlet Knights are expecting a winning season and their first bowl game in a long time. Heck, the optimism is such that in the preview, the paper actually refers to Rutgers as a darkhorse in the BE.

Of course, in Pittsburgh, Coach Dave Wannstedt is ready for some football.

He has enjoyed meeting alumni, building relationships within the university, recruiting, fund-raising, attending pep rallies and all the while he has relished becoming the public face of his alma mater.

He has enjoyed it all, but coaching football is what he does best and that is why he’s as excited as anyone that the Panthers open training camp this week and that the season is less than a month away.

“In the NFL it is all about coaching and football all the time,” Wannstedt said, “but the thing I’ve liked about this is the variety and all the different areas I have had to stay involved with. That broke up the offseason. But I do what I do because I love football and I really can’t wait to get out there and get started.

“We have a lot of holes to fill and a lot of work to do, but I’m really ready to get down to X’s and O’s and leave the other stuff on the back burner for a while.”

The article notes that Pitt still isn’t set at RB, is unsure about the back-up QB (Joe Flacco is still unknown), the need for more depth on the offensive line, and the fact that the entire D-line has been reshuffled. On the bright side, there is great depth at Tight End.