Just because Pitt beat a Division 1-AA team this past weekend, doesn’t mean the national media isn’t still taking whacks at Pitt. Bruce Feldman on his ESPN.com blog (Insider Subs.) lists his ten biggest surprises so far, both up and down.

6-Pitt (Down): I was surprised when the Panthers got blasted at home by Notre Dame. I was stunned when they got beat by Ohio in the follow-up. (Girlfriend: You’re still watching that game? C’mon, does anyone really care about the outcome of that one? Me: Only one fool who thought Pitt was a top-15 program, and sadly, you’re dating him.) If they lose to Rutgers, I think you’ll start seeing Wannymustgo.com or at least Nomorestache.com spring up.

Stewart Mandel at SI.com wonders what happened to a bunch of players who ended last year as studs and this year to date have been duds.

Pittsburgh QB Tyler Palko: One year, you’re walking into Notre Dame Stadium, leading your team to a dramatic last-second victory and cursing on national television, the next you’re walking into Ohio’s Peden Stadium, throwing two interceptions that turn into touchdowns and getting cursed by your own fans. Man, can this sport turn on you in a hurry.

What fans are cursing him? Despite Palko’s problems so far this season, he’s been treated very fairly by the fans. But then, that would ruin the cursing parallel Mandel was shoehorning in there.