I’ve said it a few times this week. Probably everyone in Pitt’s program and every fan has said it. Pitt just needs a win at this point. This untelevised game against YSU, is one Pitt knows it can’t assume it will win — especially after last year.

“Who are we to overlook anyone?” linebacker Brian Bennett said. “I mean, we haven’t exactly lit the world on fire ourselves. We need to win. We need to win bad. We’re sort of a desperate team, which means we’re going to come out fighting no matter who we are playing.

“That Furman game showed us how easy it is to lose on any given day. Even though we won, we really had to struggle. It was a good learning experience.”

Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko added, “They are going to play hard. They aren’t just looking to come here to lay down for us. They are a good football team and they are going to try and win the game. We haven’t won yet. We need to get a win and we’re going to try like heck to get it this week. I don’t care who the opponent is or where the game is, you have to lace them up and go play well in order to win.”

This game happened because talks with Miami (Ohio) collapsed.

Since Pitt’s offense hasn’t exactly been stellar there is an expectation that the defense will have to continue to step up and hope the offense finally starts coming around.

However, since the kicking is questionable and the offense has been struggling, there is more pressure on Pitt’s defense. Wannstedt said his defense would be able to handle it.

“I think they’re just getting a little bit more comfortable and settling in with what we’re trying to do,” Wannstedt said. “But we’ve got to mix in the blitz to pressure people. Not all the time. We’ve got to be smart with it. But it’s got to be a combination.

“[About the defensive line], I thought we got a little better. … In my mind, if we play the scheme and play it effectively, I don’t care who we’re playing, people are going to have a tough time scoring points.”

Whether actual attendance matches or compares closely to paid attendance, this could be the biggest crowd YSU has ever played before.

A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected for today’s game at Heinz Field.

YSU sold out its allotment of 3,000 tickets and many more YSU fans purchased tickets through Pitt’s outlets.
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The largest crowd the Penguins have played before was 35,874 at Western Michigan in 1999, a game the Penguins lost 46-28.

YSU hasn’t defeated a Division I-A team since Kent State (26-20) in 2000 and they have only played two I-A opponents since, losing to Marshall 38-24 in 2001 and to Kent State 16-13 in 2003.

And for some reassurances, Pitt recruit, Scott Corson a lineman out of Johnstown, says he hasn’t changed his mind about Pitt. He has been offered a scholarship at Illinois, but isn’t interested.