Well, I’m glad the players (at least publicly) aren’t being overconfident about the game against the Bobcats.
The idea that Pitt playing at Ohio tomorrow night might serve as a breather on the schedule is one embraced by no one from Wannstedt to the last man on the Panthers’ depth chart.
“We better be hungry every week,” quarterback Tyler Palko said. “It shouldn’t take a loss to make anybody more hungry or less ready to play.”
Leave the overconfidence to the fans.
Palko, apparently wants to have a much more efficient offense, this game.
There will be pressure on Pitt’s defense to play better, regardless of the opponent.
“We should be scrutinized,” he said. “I mean, 500 yards? I think the last time I was close to giving up 500 yards in a coaching day was [1991] when Warren Moon was the opposing quarterback [for the Houston Oilers] and I was the defensive coordinator for the [Dallas] Cowboys [in a 26-23 loss in overtime]. I don’t remember another day like that.
“So we should be scrutinized, everybody on defense, because that is unacceptable.”
Yeah, the more I read in his comments, the more I can see Coach Wannstedt taking over the defense by next year. He’s taking problems on the defense very personally.
Ohio, though, is a very young and inexperienced team. Not to mention a new coach of their own.
Solich is in his first year as the Bobcats coach, and patience is one virtue he’ll need to have to get through this season. He, too, has a young team that will go through some growing pains early on.
The Bobcats (0-1), who play host to Pitt (0-1) tomorrow night, lost, 38-14, Saturday at Northwestern, and Solich said most of their problems were because of inexperience. Ohio starts seven players who are true sophomores or younger, and only four seniors, and has 23 players who are true sophomores or younger on its depth chart.
But, they now feel more ready.
Hartke, who is a backup to senior Seth Ream, is one of five freshmen on the defensive two-deep. He said the unit got stronger as the Northwestern game went on because players started to get comfortable with what they were doing. He said playing at home this week will be a big help.
“Our first game was in a hostile Big Ten environment, so that added to it,” he said. “This week, we have the crowd on our side, we are in a familiar place, and that will make a big difference. We’re going to need it because Pitt is a big, physical team and they will present us with a big challenge.”
“Hostile Big Ten environment”? This was Northwestern. The crowd was just over 20,000 and they are not exactly considered rowdy (especially considering the lack of bars not just near the stadium, but in all of Evanston).
I mean, Ohio should have more fans jamming their own little place for the Pitt game. Afterall the Mayor of Athens, Ohio declared all Fridays “Green and White Day.”
I’m shocked to report that Pitt has returned a block of its allotted tickets to Ohio — about 1100. Let’s see… about a 3 hour or more drive as I recall — a good hour of it on rural roads — a Friday night game, no where near enough hotels in the area. Can’t understand Pitt fans not traveling to this one.
Coach Wannstedt gave scholarships to two more walk-ons. Both Seniors — linebacker/special teams specialist Doug Roseberry and fullback Justin Acierno. Always cool.
