The dearth of stories as Pitt training camp is about to start is surprising.

Coach Dave Wannstedt will be holding a press conference at 9:15 am. It will kick-off Pitt’s Media Day. You can listen to it live, but it will cost you. The Yahoo! Sports thing is still in effect. Costs you $4.95/month or around $30 for the full year. Added annoyance is that they want you to use Microsoft Internet Explorer rather than Firefox or Mozilla. Still can’t bring myself to do it.

In the mean time there are lists and rankings to distract.

Rivals.com has a list of top QBs who they believe will have big seasons.

6. Tyler Palko (Pittsburgh)

Two games into last season, nobody would have thought Palko’s name would have landed anywhere near this list. But the fiery signal caller who grew up just outside Pittsburgh survived a shaky start to lead the Panthers to six wins in their last seven regular-season games — a stretch that landed them in the Fiesta Bowl.

The 6-2, 220-pound junior looked like one of the nation’s top players during that stretch, and while he must adjust to a new coach and new offensive coordinator who are committed to running the ball more this fall, another strong season is likely. Both of the Panthers’ top receivers return, including the dynamic Greg Lee, who averaged 108 receiving yards per game.

2004 stats: 3,067 passing yards (56% completion percentage), 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions.

Then CollegeFootballNews.com has plenty of lists. Top Offense, Defense and the sub-units. Here’s where Pitt ranked in each place

Defense — 30
Defensive Line — 43
Linebackers — 19
Secondary — 32

Special Teams — 43

Offense — 16
Quarterbacks — 13
Running Backs — 41
Wide Receivers — 6
Offensive Line — 48

This is what they said about the WRs.

The only question is how fast the depth can be counted on. Greg Lee and Joe DelSardo form an outstanding 1-2 punch with Lee set to be one of the favorites for the Biletnikoff Award. DelSardo is one of college football’s most reliable possession receivers. The backups have talent, but they need grooming with Derek Kinder, Marcel Pestano, and Allen Richardson good enough to eventually become factors. Tight end is a major strength with 270-pound Erik Gill and Steve Buches two of the best in the Big East. More help is on the way with former quarterback Darrell Strong adding even more athleticism and skill.

For whatever it’s worth, at least one of CFN’s writers really likes the situation at Pitt. In the question of “The three biggest surprises will be … ?” Richard Cirminiello says

1. Dave Wannstedt lays the groundwork for Pitt’s return to glory. In a post-season dominated by high-profile hirings, Pitt’s might wind up being the shrewdest of all. And the signs will be evident as early as this fall. Wannstedt is a perfect fit at his alma mater, and he won’t wait long to win big games or land even bigger recruits. He’s a native son, who brings star power and a palpable buzz to a program that’s done well recently, but has never approached the heights of the 1970s and early 1980s. Wannstedt is about to build a bridge to the days of Tony Dorsett and Hugh Green by creating a recruiting fortress around Western Pennsylvania and by leveraging his teaching skills, which may have been somewhat lost on NFL players. Pitt won’t keep Louisville from winning the Big East in 2005, but they’ll win nine games and lay the groundwork to becoming the league heavyweight that the Big East so desperately needs.

He also picks BC to win the ACC Atlantic and Purdue to win the Big 11. Still, I’ll take the optimism — even if I don’t believe the other two.