Remember earlier in the day, the post regarding the Big East Coaches teleconference?
Now here are most of the “Big East Notebook” stories based on it. Pitt’s problems leads in just about all of them. The stories are focusing on the struggles of Tyler Palko.
“I think there are several things” contributing to Palko’s poor start, Wannstedt said. “No. 1, he’s learning a new offensive system. A growing period takes places. No. 2, our offensive line … four of the five starters are new, and we have a new fullback and a new tailback from a year ago. So there is a transition for our offensive personnel. That has contributed to Ty’s slow start.
“He will bounce back. He started slow last year, they tell me. He’s a competitor. He’s a leader.”
And here.
For those thinking that coach Dave Wannstedt is the most frustrated person at the University of Pittsburgh right now, think again.
That honor may go to Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko.
During the final five games of his sophomore campaign last season, Palko averaged 314 yards passing. He threw 16 touchdowns and just two interceptions, and was named second-team All-Big East.
Entering this season, big things were expected out of Palko and the Panthers. But entering Week 3, the Panthers are 0-2. Palko is averaging 170 yards passing and already has four interceptions.
Wannstedt, the NFL coaching veteran who is in the midst of his first season as head coach at his alma mater, said that Palko is definitely frustrated.
“Tyler Palko is about as competitive a kid as you’re going to be around,” Wannstedt said Monday. “If he throws an incomplete pass there’s frustration on his part. Let alone two touchdowns the other way.”
The one thing you can count on with Coach Wannstedt, is that he will defend and back his players. It’s one of the reason they remain very loyal to him.
The plight of Pitt and Coach Wannstedt are also the lead here.
Pittsburgh’s first-year coach takes his Panthers, 0-2 for the first time since 1984, to Nebraska on Saturday. While you won’t mistake these Cornhuskers for those of Tom Osborne, it’s also hard to imagine Pitt was picked as the prime challenger to Louisville in the Big East.
Pitt alum Wannstedt more highly regarded as defensive coordinator with the Miami Hurricanes and Dallas Cowboys than as a head coach in the NFL took little time to come under fire. Comparisons were evident after his team was shredded at home by Notre Dame and lost in overtime at Ohio U.
The Irish hires Charlie Weis, and ND’s offense resembles the Four Horsemen. Ohio University grabs Cornhuskers reject Frank Solich and makes Tyler Palko look anything but an all-league quarterback.
Yet, Wannstedt suggests there’s no reason to panic … or feel the pressure.
“Chuck Noll used to say pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what you’re doing,” Wannstedt said.
That infers Wannstedt feels he knows what he’s doing. Certainly, it’s too early to conclude otherwise.
You know, when he busted that quote out during the teleconference, I winced and shook my head. All I could think was how the message boards are going to love that one.
Even in Fortune Magazine, Pitt gets it.
Be Careful What You Wish For Part II: Last winter when Walt Harris left Pittsburgh to take the head job at Stanford, Pitt athletic director Jeff Long approached Pittsburgh alum (and then-recently-fired Miami Dolphins head coach) Dave Wannstedt about the job. Wannstedt declined, then reconsidered and took the job. Pitt fans were pumped. Now they’re distraught. After getting blitzed at home by Notre Dame in Week One, Pittsburgh lost 16-10 in overtime to Ohio University on Friday night. Not THE Ohio State University (who, of course, lost to the Longhorns on Saturday). We’re talking about the Ohio U. Bobcats, now coached by one Frank Solich, the former head ‘Husker. The MVP of the game was Ohio’s Dion Byrum, who scored both of his team’s touchdowns (including the game winner in OT) on interception returns. In fact, he has three interception returns for touchdowns in the first two games.
This weekend in the Big East, only Rutgers is considered to have a “gimmee.” They play Buffalo.
And finally, ESPN.com’s bottom 10 puts Pitt right there at #10. We’re in no position to dispute right now.
