The Musberger Drinking Game was posted at Fanblogs last week or so for those who want to know where to find the rules on the net.

Another zinger on Musberger being busted for an open container.

Police in Lincoln, Neb., cited ABC broadcaster Brent Musberger on Saturday for drinking from an open can of beer while riding as a passenger in a rental car near Memorial Stadium, where Musberger had just called the Nebraska-Pittsburgh game. Musberger tried to explain that he was just bringing the beer to someone who really needed it, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt.

No, Pitt is and shouldn’t be assuming YSU is a gimmee at this point. The YSU game notes are up (hat tip to Chris). You can listen free (apparently) to their internet radio broadcast (you can also go here).

I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion that I spent a couple years living and working in Youngstown. It was during the period when now Ohio State Football Coach Jim Tressel was the football coach and AD at YSU, and they were in constant contention (and winning more than their share) for the Div. 1-AA championship. At that time, the fans were aching to have YSU play some 1-A school. Their dream was Ohio St. just to see their kids on Ohio’s biggest stage, but they often settled on Kent St. or Akron. Plus, they liked their chances better against Kent or Akron. Never happened against OSU.

I bring this up, because YSU football is still a big deal there. They love their Penguins. They are only 75 minutes away from Heinz Field. They may no longer be the biggest power in Div. 1-AA, but this game is still a realization of a long-time goal for many fans — playing a BCS school. Given the tumble by Pitt this year, and a less than stellar match-up, it is very likely that the crowd could be around 50% YSU. Perhaps even higher.

Pitt OL Mike McGlynn is from the area and has plenty of friends and relatives coming to the game.

“I’ve had about 40 people call me already looking for tickets, so a lot of people are coming over for the game. It will be real exciting for me, but it will be a little funny seeing that ‘Y’ on the helmets coming at me from across the field.”

McGlynn, who is from Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio, said he has been scrambling to find extra tickets to meet the demand but he’s sure that he’ll have no problem tracking them down .

“I already told some of the [freshmen] that have family coming to the game that I might have to buy their tickets,” he said. “It’ll all work out though. There’s some guys from Florida who don’t have family coming to the game for various reasons, so we’ll get it worked out. I might owe some favors by the end of it, though.”

Yeah, extra tickets shouldn’t be much of a problem.

… And the O is all about the offensive line.

So why is the offense struggling?

According to Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, it has been a combination of things, though most notably, the Panthers’ inability to provide consistent protection for Palko. The Cornhuskers sacked Palko four times and pressured him throughout the game.

He said if the Panthers (0-3) — who play host to Youngstown State this week — want to turn their season around, they need to become more efficient on offense.

“We don’t turn the ball over, we have only four penalties and we have a freshman running back run for nearly 100 yards [LaRod Stephens-Howling ran 17 times for 98 yards] — how do you not win [against Nebraska]?” he asked yesterday at his weekly news conference. “Field position got us a little bit, but we didn’t make plays in the passing game. We’re just a little off. Two of their sacks came with only four guys rushing. We are not efficient protecting the passer. You could have six guys open and the perfect play called, and if you don’t block one guy the whole thing breaks down.

“Inefficient pass protection throws the timing off. I am disappointed but not discouraged.”

I don’t know how hard Pitt is trying to get the ball to the Tight Ends, or whether they can. The TEs have to stay in and block so much, that there are not great opportunities for them to come over the middle. If the TEs get some more touches, hopefully it forces the linebackers to drop back a little more and the safeties to play up — and maybe open up things up for the receivers. Of course, that still means the O-line has to give Palko a little time to throw.

Right now, the only times we know the TE will see the ball is if Darrell Strong is in the game. A reflection of his strength as a receiving TE, and his deficiencies in blocking. Kind of reminds me of when Rod Rutherford would be inserted at QB for a play or series in his first couple of years. Everyone knew that meant he would keep the ball and run on an option or draw.

There is only so much that can be blamed on players on the O-line learning new positions or being new starters.

Wannstedt reiterated the inexperience on the offensive line with center Joe Villani, left guard Dale Williams and left tackle Charles Spencer all starting in new positions. Williams replaced Dom Williams, who was injured this week, and also is a first-year starter.

It’s been the lack of improvement over the first 3 games that is troubling. Especially right up the middle. This has prevented Palko from even trying to step up in the pocket when a blitz comes from the outside.

Of course, not everything can be blamed on the O-line. Palko’s passes and communication with his receivers has not been particularly good.

In the Notre Dame game, Palko’s right hand was mashed by another player’s helmet. He insists the injury is not an issue, but it could be affecting his ability to grip the ball as he prepares to throw. At times, Palko’s passes seem to lack zip; others are thrown without much touch, and sail wildly away from receivers.

Yesterday, Wannstedt gathered the team for a 6 a.m. meeting at the South Side practice facility. In the afternoon, during pre-practice warmups, Palko had a long one-on-one conversation with offensive coordiantor Matt Cavanaugh. The Panthers then ran full-speed drills — with Palko working on deep and mid-range passes.

Is this year’s Palko, last year’s Charlie Whitehurst of Clemson? Palko isn’t the only QB who has absolutely struggled to start the season despite the hype. He’s just one of the more glaring examples.

It’s hard to complain about the defense when they have only allowed 3 field goals in the last two games. Admittedly, the run defense is still a problem, allowing 543 yards in the first 3 games (173 versus Nebraska) and a 4.1 yards/carry average; but compared to the problems for the offense, it’s not as big a deal.

I hate to say it, but the crowd this Saturday is probably going to be a nasty throwback to the end of the Johnny Majors II/beginning of Walt Harris period. 4 tickets, only $70.

The athletic department was already concerned about this game before the season began as far as attendance. An 0-3 start is hard to overcome — even with the old unis. I’m going to have to miss the game this weekend for family obligations, and I know a couple of the tailgate crew have other things they can’t escape.

Well, the game notes from Pitt are up for the game (PDF). Kirkley is still listed as the starter at tailback, but there is an “OR” after his name followed by Stephens-Howling. Followed by another “OR” and Jennings. No other real changes in the depth chart, other than the obvious that Sam Bryant is now starting at Strong Safety. Behind him Redshirt Freshman Eric Thatcher “or” Freshman Tommie Campbell.

The transcript from Coach Wannstedt’s Monday Press conference is available. He admitted there were problems on special teams — especially on returns — that he blamed himself and the coaches. Brandon Mason was actually supposed to get some touches at tailback in the second half, but twisted his ankle on the onside kick-off to start the second half. He’s day-to-day.

There are several questions dealing with Palko and the passing game.

This is minor, but it struck me as interesting.

On Pitt’s punt returners:

Darrelle will return punts. We really just have him and Joe DelSardo. They’re really the only two guys we have right now. We could use Allen Richardson, but I don’t have a whole lot of confidence right now, but he’s the third guy.

Richardson must have really screwed up in academics, behavior/discipline or just lousy in practice.

From Fanblogs:

Brent Musburger was ticketed last night in Lincoln for having an open beer container in the ABC rental car.

Just to be clear Musberger was in the back seat. Not driving.

There’s no truth to the report that when the car was stopped, Musberger told the cop, “I should be drinking something stronger after having to call that game.”

In going through the news, the lack of even bothering with some (deserved) cheap shots at Pitt and Coach Wannstedt tells you just how quickly the media has gone back to ignoring Pitt. It also doesn’t reflect well on Nebraska (though the coaches there probably are happy not to be getting additional scrutiny) that they can go 3-0 and no one cares.

This is the extent of anyone noticing, from Craig James at ESPN.com:

On the other end of good was the Pittsburgh-Nebraska game. Hard to believe that Pitt is playing so badly. The team lines up to kick a game winning field goal and misses not once but twice! I did notice the Cornhusker nation of fans are still turning out in mass during this rebuilding phase. Not surprised.

And James had no choice but to watch. He was stuck in the ABC Studio while the game was on their regional coverage.

The most irrationally upbeat Husker coverage of the game I think I could fine. Easy summary — sure it was an ugly win, but it was still a win.

In one of those six degrees type things, a Lincoln Journal Star columnist and Pitt Athletic Department Special Assistant Johnny Majors.

For what it’s worth, I actually played junior high soccer with Majors’ son John back in Knoxville, Tenn., where Majors led the Tennessee football program for many years. Once we got past the pleasantries and the family updates — young John is in sales and still living in Knoxville — the former Iowa State coach recalled his previous encounters with the Huskers.

“We had a long uphill battle, but we fought them pretty hard,” Majors said, “and in my last year (at ISU, 1972), we ended up missing the extra point in the last 23 seconds in Ames and tied them 23-23. It was one of the biggest, closest glory days of our lives at Iowa State.”

Majors is absolutely, positively sold on Dave Wannstedt as the man to lead the Panthers.

“He’s made of the right stuff,” Majors said. “He’s tough. He’s intelligent. He’s very positive. He’s an outstanding leader.

“And I can tell you this, he’ll be back at work tomorrow believing he’s going to make this team better and get this program in good shape.”

No mention of how wobbly Majors was when he was talking. The article also notes that Nebraska AD Pederson now denies he ever tried to hire Coach Wannstedt at Nebraska — merely consulted with him regarding Houston Nutt.

Finally, just noting that even a less biased observer of the Pitt-Nebraska game had to say that Musberger sucked.

Brent Musburger has been supremely prepared for a long time, but for the second straight week, one has to call this broadcast giant onto the carpet for laughably bad play-by-play. In the final seconds of that frantic Pittsburgh-Nebraska finish, Musburger was lost. On that botched field goal (with seven seconds left) that preceded the blocked field goal that sealed Nebraska’s 7-6 win, Musburger thought that: A) “(Pitt head coach Dave) Wannstedt says his team has a first down.” No, it was second down, but Wannstedt said there was one second left and/or that his team had one more play. B) Musburger said the botched field goal “was a planned play.” One can be assured that no team would ever fake a field goal in Pitt’s shoes, and that no long snapper would ever be able to plan to hit the holder on the helmet and doink the ball right into the kicker’s hands.

Gary Danielson, though, showed why he’s the best, providing superior detail while also bailing out his confused partner. Danielson immediately stepped in to correct Musburger and note that Pitt had an extra down. Even more impressively, Danielson expressed the same kinds of concerns that Nebraska fans and viewers at home might have been thinking of, but were unsure about: namely, that Pittsburgh could have been flagged for intentional grounding, given that kicker Josh Cummings threw the ball to no receiver in particular, and made the throw within the tackle box. Danielson is such a perceptive analyst that you’re never left wanting for details with him. He’s the be-all and end-all, and there’s really no question about it.

As you can imagine, Nebraska fans and stories out of Lincoln are not exactly heralding the game as a major accomplishment. Oh, there are some with the Pollyana outlook — well, no. Not really. When even former Husker greats like Tommie Frazier are being critical of the team, there are problems.

For the most part there is, at best, a reaction that they’ll take the win and hope to get much better soon.

I have to agree with this point from a Husker blog talking about the game:

Prevent defense? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Worst sin of the day. 1-pt game, we’ve hammered the QB all day, and we go to 3-man rush and surrender the one thing that this QB needs to succeed – time to deliver. That may have been the stupidest coaching move I have ever seen. Seriously.

He’s right. It’s like the dark side of NFL coaching experience. Dropping into prevent. In Pitt’s opening possession, Nebraska’s secondary was immediately exposed as being weak and not good against Pitt’s receivers. A 21 yard pass to Lee, an 18 yard completion to Strong. Finally, Nebraska came with the pressure and that forced Palko to throw away on 3d and 5. Before that blitz, Palko had started 3-4 with 44 yards. Then the defensive pressure on the line and blitzing became the standard and Palko went 5-17 and 108 yards (73 coming on one pass) until the final drive of the game. At that point, the prevent allowed him to go 3-6 for 38 yards and a FG attempt. Not a lot for either team to be excessively proud of.

Pitt’s D-line brought some actual pressure in the game, in part because of extra motivation by a public diss from the Nebraska offensive lines coach.

Yet, on the day of the game, Cornhuskers offensive line coach Dennis Wagner openly ripped the Panthers’ defensive line. He was especially critical of their defensive tackles.

“They’re really struggling,” Wagner told the Lincoln Journal Star. “They’ve had to use seven guys at those two positions — not because they don’t have depth, but because they can’t find an answer as to who they want to play there.

“We really feel like our inside three guys are going to have a great game and push those big guys around. Pitt’s guys like to play like trees — they stand up and look around.”

A photocopy of that newspaper story was passed around the Pitt locker room shortly before the opening kickoff.

“I personally read that one, and I took offense to it,” defensive end Charles Sallet said later.

“I think it was disrespectful,” defensive tackle Thomas Smith said, his eyes blazing. “This was the classiest city and the classiest fans that I’ve ever been around. I wouldn’t expect anybody to throw dirt in the paper like that, especially a coach.

“I think it was childish and disrespectful. I’m just sad I don’t get another year to play them again.”

It also seemed to be a stone coming from a glass house given Nebraska’s O-line issues.

In Taylor’s defense, he plays behind a line that’s been shaky. He never complains. He’s a strong leader, a great kid, a gamer. But this offense needs powerful, agile, pocket-protecting tackles. And last week we learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that Nebraska’s tackle play has been suspect at best. Indeed, offensive line coach Dennis Wagner essentially called out Seppo Evwaraye and Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas, saying they weren’t getting the job done.

So, you get the impression that Wagner might be a little too eager to talk to the press.

The offensive line was succeeding at providing some holes for the running game — vastly aided by LaRod Stephens-Howling’s speed and elusiveness. Not to mention Ray Kirkley providing the change of pace.

Nebraska fans, won’t be forgetting Stephens-Howling — the scariest player Nebraska saw.

The main problem is, the pass protection from the line is still non-existent. As the opening and final drive showed, Palko is not that different a passer from last year. When given a chance to set and step into his throws they are strong and accurate. He just isn’t been getting much time. He was sacked 4 times and hit numerous other times.

If Pitt can’t throw the ball effectively, the offense will still be useless. Remember, the goal was a balanced offense.

2 blocked field goals and a botched snap. With Pitt’s offense struggling mightily, any special teams mistake gets magnified. Pitt can’t afford them.

Following up on Lee’s 7 things to smile post, I’ll shamelessly amend, appropriate and addendum.

7 Positives From Nebraska:

1. LaRod Stephens-Howlings-bobana-fofana can hyphenate his name as many times as he wants if he keeps running like that.
2. The Defense. The secondary kept the receivers from getting open and allowed the line to finally get some pressure. The defense was better than it had been against a sustained running attack.
3. Zero Turnovers.
4. The offensive line provided holes with which Pitt could run the ball.
5. Palko to Lee is still a viable deep threat.
6. Graessle can punt the hell out of the ball.
7. Some actual signs of progress for the offense.

7 Negatives from Nebraska:

1. Safety Mike Phillips breaking his ankle. On the instant replay when his body and leg went one way and his ankle and foot went the other, I went queasy.
2. Despite the effective onside kick trickery, special teams were not good from punt coverage to returns, they put Pitt in holes. And do we really want to discuss field goal attempts?
3. The offense still was unable to score a touchdown (8 quarters and counting), sustain a drive, and keep the ball for even half the time.
4. Pass protection by the O-line was lousy.
5. Pitt’s defense has generated only 1 turnover in 3 games.
6. Pitt still seems incapable of throwing short to medium passes over the middle.
7. The Pitt defense, despite the improvements still allowed 185 yards rushing by the backs on 41 carries.

7 Questions:

1. What has happened to Tyler Palko’s mobility? No rollouts, no scrambling. He looks trapped when he drops back.
2. Whatever happened to the Tight Ends? A strength on this team going into the season. Only 2 catches — 1 in the 1st quarter by Strong and 1 on the 4th quarter to Gill. Aside from that, they spent most of their time doing nothing more than helping with the blocking. Hmm. I think I may have answered my own question. A companion question is what happened to the short and medium pass over the middle?
3. Do Big 12 officials call holding? Ever?
4. Has anyone ever seen that many illegal formation penalties called against one team in a game as Nebraska had?
5. If you didn’t have a rooting interest in the game, would you have rather gouged your own eyes than watch?
6. How harsh a laugh do you think OC Matt Cavanaugh is getting at the Baltimore Raven’s 0-2 start and only 17 points (not that he’d ever admit it)?
7. Does actual (not paid) attendance crack 25 K for the Youngstown State/Throwback Uniforms game?

Personal observations:

ESPN GamePlan is dangerous for me. Very enjoyable to flick to so many games (though I never left the Pitt game) during the day. The wife didn’t appreciate it, though. She finally realized I had done something around 10 pm when she noticed as I was flicking between games and the on-screen program guide on one channel registered “ESPPPV2.”

“We have pay-per-view ESPN?”

Trying not to sound defensive, “How else could I see the Pitt game when they were showing the Ohio State game here?”

“How much was it?”

“Well, it’s not like I paid for the whole season package, which is a good price at only $120. I only went for one day.”

“How much?”

“Cheaper than a ticket.”

“Chas…”

Mumble incoherently then take a large glug of beer.

“What?”

Sigh. “Only $20.”

“Uh, huh.” She reaches for the handy monthly budget sheet, “that comes out of your alcohol budget.”

“Yes, dear.”

Why yes, I am whipped. Why do you ask.

Lee hates Brent Musberger for always trying to go for the cheap storyline — usually the underdog — and thus seemingly against his beloved Buckeyes.

Not to go all Dr. Z on this, but I hate Musberger’s play calling because he tells you nothing. I tend to try and chart the Pitt games when I’m at home. Musberger sucks because he never tells you the yardage or anything about the play. As soon as the play ends, he just launches into a narrative. This may be good if you have a bunch of people watching the game and not too concerned with the specifics, but it drives you absolutely batty if you are trying to follow the game and the plays.

That said, Gary Danielson is very underrated as a color guy. He was excellent despite Musberger at talking about the plays and game — when Musberger actually gave him time.

Tonight, I might have been running out to buy a shower curtain that could actually support my substantial weight — as opposed to the cheap plastic Lowes tension thingy that we currently have. But instead, I have fallen back on the coping skills [e.g., resigning oneself to fatalism, searching for the humor in Pitt’s struggles, and laughing at the misfortune of others (hiya Domers)] that many of us Panther fans who sat through the really dry spells (e.g., the early 70s, late 80s, and early 90s) developed long ago. So here’s 7 things that are keeping me smiling while I’m still trying to wrap my head around that epic battle between Pitt and Nebraska: two teams equally and passionately determined to lose a football game by any means necessary. Unfortunately, in that ultimate, critical, “eye-of-the-tiger” moment, Nebraska lost its focus — accidentally winning. Wussies.

7. That Brent Musberger was assigned to that abortion of a game: Many of you know how deeply I hate Brent “Bandwagoner” Musberger. Thus, it was almost soothing to listen to him struggle with the banality of the aforementioned struggle. He finally resigned himself to calling it a “goofy game” at the very end. You could almost hear him screaming “stop the inanity” as ABC went to commercials.

6. That Josh “Sunshine” Cummings smart but failed attempt at intentional grounding took Musberger’s attention off of the real screw-up, Mike McGlynn’s wild-assed snap into low Earth orbit: Nuff said. What a heartbreaking way to end a game. I’m still pissed.

5. That Lee Corso was finally right about Notre Dame: As Chas would say, put this in the even-a-broken-clock-is-right-twice-a-day file. For, well, three weeks now, the man who made Indiana University what it is today (a basketball school) has been infuriating Notre Dame fans worldwide by steadily picking against them. Heck, even my man Herbstreit was teasing Coach Corso about not drinking the Domer cool-aid this morning. But alas, who’s laughing now pretty boy?

4. That Boston College has finally been properly welcomed into the ACC: Did anybody else catch the six or seven BC fans who actually showed up for ESPN’s College Gameday this morning chanting “A-C-C! A-C-C!” over and over again? Did anybody else remember us Pitt fans using a similar chant as the Eagles left Heinz Field last fall after fumbling away a win in overtime? Just savoring the irony. You’ll never win a league championship again, you two-faced cowards.

3. That at least a sixth of Beaver Stadium was empty for the clash of titans that was Penn State vs. Central Michigan (it’s in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and you bet your ass I had to look that up). Trust me, for the the first year EVER, televisions here in Altoona and throughout Central PA are just littered with ads imploring us to please, please reach deep into our hearts and pockets and buy Penn State football tickets. That ALWAYS cheers me up.

2. That Anthony Morelli still looks like a frightened and confused twelve year-old kid wearing his dad’s three-sizes-too-large football helmet: OK, so I’ll admit, the kid’s throws looked pretty freakin’ impressive today. Very fast and largely accurate. But only against the aforementioned Central Michigan Chippewas (I had to look that up too). Despite Fox Sports Pittsburgh’s repeated attempts to convince me that CMU was somehow a juggernaut, the Chippewas defense sucked, period. I’m still waiting like a kid on Christmas morning for the opportunity to see Morelli throw against Ohio State or Michigan. A.J. Hawk will use that twerp’s body for a divining rod before the end of October.

1. That A Few, Brilliant, Michigan State Spartans took post-game celebrations to a whole new level: More than anything else, watching Michigan State upset Notre Dame at home (thus beating the Irish five times in a row in South Bend) helped pick up my spirits again after the Pitt-Nebraska debacle (especially given the Domer a-hole who sat behind us in Heinz Field two weeks ago). But even that was nearly topped by the post-game celebration, during which a few Spartans took the Michigan State flag from their cheerleaders (green with a white block “S”), ran out on to the field, and planted the sucker on the fifty yard line while thousands of Notre Dame fans booed and howled. Call me sophomoric (and I am), but I thought it was laughing-till-my-sides-ached hilarious. Why hasn’t anybody ever thought of planting a flag on an opponent’s field before? It clearly beats jumping around on his logo. And of all places to invent the practice. Almost immediately, Lou Still-A-Domer Holtz was nearly jumping out of his seat on ESPN demanding that MSU “show some class” and “act like you’ve been there before.” Admit it, Lou. It was funny. Especially because they did it to your Irish.

I hope this made a fellow Panther smile a little. Just don’t try to hang yourself on one of those cheap plastic Lowes tension shower rods. They hurt like hell when they let loose and come down on top of your head.

Hail to unconsciousness.

Oof.

I’ve seen better displays in the bathroom at a bullemiacs convention.

Pitt last scored an offensive touchdown barely 2 minutes into the 4th quarter of the ND game. That mean over 2 games now that the offense has failed to get into the endzone.

Man, throw-back day against Youngstown St. is going to take on a whole new meaning.

Those of you not yet married and/or with kids may not quite get the trade-offs and sacrifices you have to make to reserve that key block of time to not be asked to do a damn thing other than sitting on the chair or couch with a beer and chips watching the game.

For me, that entails doing stuff most of the morning and part of the early afternoon with the wife and kid. So, I have to keep this quick.

Struggling Joe has the final installment — I predicted a 19-17 Pitt win, he has Nebraska prevailing 24-14.

Here’s the Nebraska Athletic Department Game Day page. If you are outside the market and didn’t spring for GamePlan (which is understandable) you can listen to a free radio broadcast of the game on the net via Husker Radio Network.

An article that finally notices the parallels of Coaches Wannstedt and Callahan (like we haven’t been harping on that this week)

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan have traveled similar paths to their current posts, and both are being asked to bring the glory years back to their school. Both coaches were hired to replace successful coaches who were fired or shoved out the door and both are asked to elevate a successful program to the elite level.

An AP article echoes the theme.

You couldn’t blame Pittsburgh’s Dave Wannstedt and Nebraska’s Bill Callahan if they spent a few minutes commiserating at midfield Saturday.

The two former NFL coaches took over successful programs – Wannstedt this year, Callahan last year – and now fans of both teams are feeling anxious about the direction the Panthers and Cornhuskers are taking.

Also repeated here along with a prediction of a 21-13 Nebraska win.

The Harrisburg paper goes with a win for Nebraska, 9-7 .

South Florida seems to be reveling in Pitt’s problems — so that it vindicates all complaints about Wannstedt for them — but there is actually a view that Nebraska might be the right kind of foe for Pitt.

Wannstedt has even turned the tables, calling his team “underdogs” for the remainder of the season.

And that’s exactly what the Panthers are this week against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Bill Callahan’s team is a 10-point favorite. This might be the matchup Wannstedt needs.

The Panthers are a dismal 95th in the country in offense. Yet, the Cornhuskers are worse: 99th. Wannstedt should surely know how to defend Callahan’s West Coast offense, which hasn’t quite gelled yet at Nebraska. Then again, Lincoln isn’t that far west.

Wannstedt may know how to defend it, but does defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads?

New Jersey based sports writer Adrian Wojnarowski declares that the Big East should be kicked out of the BCS. Isn’t it a little early in the college football season to start beating that drum?

A kind of shallow “7 things Nebraska needs to do to beat Pitt” piece.

An article from the Nebraska paper on Pitt trying to turn things around. Also a more local variation on the theme.

LaRod Stephens-Howlings gets a small puff piece. Brief notebook where Offensive Coordinator Matt Cavanaugh admits he’s still learning the college game. Way to inspire confidence in fandom.

Finally a little deeper piece on how Tyler Palko felt he started turning things around last year during the Nebraska game.

For those still following the exchanges with Struggling Joe, you can find parts 1 and 2 from him here and here and my thoughts over here and here.

Here’s some more answers from Joe to some of my questions.

Back to the subject of the offense. Is there a running back that is expected to emerge and help open things up for the running game, and what part is the offensive line playing in the offense’s overall struggles?

Well the talk around Huskerland is freshman phenom Marlon Lucky. The Huskers were able to get a player out of North Hollywood, CA. Do you think Tommy Osbourne blazed those recruiting trails too many times? Lucky was considered the #2 back out of HS last year, according to rivals.com but his playing time has been limited thanks to Sr Cory Ross. Lucky has only carried the rock 15 times in the first two games, but that is still 2nd most behind Ross who has 40 carries.

Ross is still the man and I don’t think the problems have been his or any other Husker back’s. Like you stated above, the Nebraksa O-line has been suspect just the Pitt O-Line, so as soon as they can figure out their problems it would help on the running game a lot. I think part of the problem that the line is having is that they switched around a lot in spring practice and in pre-season practice which has led to guys still trying to figure out their position. The funny thing about the O-line this year is that they are giving Zac Taylor plenty of time to throw, yet are not giving the RB’s room to run. It’s like they’re dealing with the bizarro o-line.

How visibly do Nebraska fans wince whenever Lawrence Phillips name is mentioned or he makes yet another police blotter?

Oh, I think they are somewhat amused by Phillips these days. I think when you when a national championship with him in the lineup as opposed to losing a national championship with him in the lineup the shame that one might feel is diminshed some. The only thing that Nebraska fans probably wish wouldn’t happen is that when he gets in trouble, Tom Osbourne’s name gets his name brought up as well. Like in his last instance back in August, when Lo went and choked his girlfriend, there was Tom’s name being brought up again. I think that would bother a Husker fan more than Phillips misbehavin’ again.

Will Nebraska’s men’s b-ball team make the NCAA Tournament this decade? Which is actually more popular the wrestling team or b-ball?

Being that I barely follow either sport for the Huskers, (I’m a Husker football fan, what can I say?) the only thing I can reference about Husker basketball is Eric Piatkowski. Growing up in South Dakota, you get to experience about one high school basketball player every 3 or 4 years making it to the 1A level. So when Dakota guys go “big time” you tend to follow them a bit closer. So the “Polish Rifle” who is still playing in the NBA these days for the Bulls, is about the only Husker basketball reference that I can pull from. He played for them from 1991-1994 and is the 2nd leading scorer in Nebraska history and made the 2nd most career 3-pointers. Sorry to disappoint.

As far as what is more popular? Well according to the ESPN 50/50, wrestling isn’t even important enough to receive votes and 3.7% of the state thought basketball was the favorite sport of the state. So by a slim 3.7% margin, I’ll give the nod to basketball.

I owe Joe a couple more responses, so you can look for them on his site tomorrow.

It never fails.

No matter how down I get about the chances of the team, I find myself constructing scenarios in which they win. Not sure what it is or how to explain it at times, but it sure as hell undermines that bitter, cynical attitude I work so hard at cultivating.

If any thing, the predictions of a Pitt loss by the punditry such as here:

Nebraska -9 1/2 over Pittsburgh: Can’t see how Pitt is going to score against a revived Nebraska defense which shut down a much more powerful Wake Forest attack last week. Add to that Pitt’s offensive line problems, which might be why their vaunted quarterback, Tyler Palko, looks like he just was handed a football for the first time. The loss to Ohio was devastating for Dave Wannstedt’s team. There will be a hangover from it and Lincoln, Neb., is not the recommended place to try and pick up the pieces.

The pick: Nebraska, provided they can find a way to put 14 points on the board.

and here:

Nebraska 34, Pittsburgh 20: The Panthers’ offensive shakeup (starting WR Derek Kinder over Joe DelSardo) might spark things a little, but Nebraska’s active pass rush against the shaky Panther O-line doesn’t bode well for the hurting Pitt fortunes.

Plus placing Coach Wannstedt at #1 in the crosshairs, and I start to get that perverse optimism going.

Add in an analyst from Rivals.com ruminating on whether this will cost Pitt some of its early, outstanding verbals.

Considering how many were picking Pitt over ND, this kind of downgrading is more of what I want to see. Some underestimating Pitt. So, it just bothered me when someone from SI.com actually picks Pitt in an “upset special.” (hat tip to B.B.)

Back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and Ohio isn’t the start that first-year Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt envisioned. And Lincoln isn’t the best place to go in search of your first collegiate victory. But Nebraska (2-0) isn’t as good as its record indicates. The Cornhuskers had 234 yards of offense in their 31-3 win over Wake Forest, and Pitt’s D is much better than Wake’s. Look for the Panthers to have Nebraska QB Zac Taylor on his heels and come out with a victory.

I still don’t know, but I at least expect Pitt to cover.

Paul Zeise’s Q&A (hat tip to Jason for letting me know it was up) is must read just for the opening rant.

Support for this team is truly almost exclusively superficial.

If the past two weeks have taught us anything — judging by the e-mails and voice mails I’ve received and listening to talk shows and reading letters to the editor — it is that many Pitt fans deserve their reputation as being as fickle as the weather in Western Pennsylvania.

Dave Wannstedt has had two, count them, two, games with a team that is compiled of somebody else’s players and already way too many so-called Pitt fans have either jumped off the band wagon or are ready to run him out of town (even though they ran Walt Harris out of town because they didn’t like his style of football and demanded a better run game out of the new coach).

The Ohio loss was no worse than the South Florida loss in 2001 — that one, in fact, was much worse and much more embarrassing for a lot of reasons — but some people insist last Friday was an all-time low for the program.

No doubt things have not begun the way many would have liked, but my goodness, it is ridiculous how quickly the Pitt fan base seems to crumble every time there is some adversity or the program hits a bad stretch.

I wish I could disagree, but if the rapid drop in hit counts to this site since the Ohio game are any indication he’s dead on. People have flipped and given up on the team this season.

I’m trying to strike a balance between Eeyore and Pollyana in outlook. Right now I can’t argue with the columnists ripping on Wannstedt and Pitt’s performance, because, quite frankly it has been atrocious. Still, I believe Pitt will get better. Even this year. And beyond that, the talent that is coming should give hope.

I’ll disagree with Zeise over the issue of not playing to some of Pitt’s strengths rather than going with the so-called power running. The comparison to WVU in 2001 is weak. Pitt hasn’t run the ball well. It hasn’t adjusted during the games to run the ball away from straight up the middle — where quite frankly the line is getting killed — to off tackle or outside consistently. Pitt completely failed to use the short pass over the middle last week (except in the 2-minute drill), getting the tight ends involved and taking some deeper shots to help loosen the defense. That wasn’t just going with a new system, that was just stupid play calling.

Like I said, just read it all.

Looks like Rashad Jennings will not play because of a shoulder injury. This means Kirkley, Stephens-Howlings and Mason will get the handoff. Fullback Tim Murphy is also battling a sore shoulder so it should be expected that Kellen Campbell will see some action. Perhaps even one of the freshmen fullbacks. I suppose what unnerves me is Coach Wannstedt is not looking to change things if the personnel shifts.

“If Rashad’s out, Brandon becomes the third back in the rotation,” Wannstedt said. “But will we vary what we do or how much we do it? No.”

Good God, there are beat writers in Cincinnati lecturing Wannstedt about using what you have in the right way.

Stubbornness can be an admirable quality for a college football coach, but in Dave Wannstedt’s case, it’s damaging his team’s potential.

The first-year coach is doing a disservice to the Pitt players he inherited from coach Walt Harris by dramatically restructuring the team’s offense without the personnel to complete the task.

Harris ran a West Coast style built on speed and precision. The former Miami Dolphins coach, Wannstedt is (pathetically) running a smash-mouth, up-the-middle system that is obviously failing with players who are better suited to spread out the ball.
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The best coaches, the ones who aren’t recycled through the system with a new team every three or four years, can adapt to new personnel they inherit. Those like Wannstedt are bound to endure seasons such as this because of inflexible attitudes.

Anyone who saw the Washington Redskins and Joe Gibbs last year try to turn Clinton Portis into Gerald Riggs (or had family members ranting to the point of incoherence about this) knows what he is writing. I’m not saying do not be untrue to your football philosophy, but show some flexibility in how quickly and stubbornly you implement it. Just because you want to run the ball, and go to power running more, doesn’t mean you have to keep running it right up the middle.

It’s that approach that makes me fear that he’ll keep trying to run Kirkley up the middle rather than try and get him to the outside, where he has some speed to turn the corner. It’s that approach that makes me wonder whether he really will use Stephens-Howling more. He’s definitely got potential if run on a sweep or an end around. Something where he has a chance to use his speed.

Tight End Steve Buches was named one of the team captains for the game, along with Safety Tez Morris, Linebacker J.J. Horne and Running Back Ray Kirkley.

This story effectively explains the pressure on both coaches and teams, but also the potential ugliness of the game.

Two proud programs will match downright embarrassing offenses when Pittsburgh and Nebraska meet on Saturday.

Pitt (0-2) comes into Memorial Stadium seeking relief from the heat already on first-year coach Dave Wannstedt after losses to Notre Dame and Ohio University. Another loss would mark the Panthers’ worst start since 1984.

Nebraska (2-0), which relied on its defense to beat undistinguished Maine and Wake Forest, wants to work out the kinks on offense before Big 12 play opens against defending North Division co-champion Iowa State in two weeks.

“I know we need improvement,” Cornhuskers coach Bill Callahan said. “It’s clear to my eyes and anyone else’s eyes.”

Fans have wanted to cover their eyes when Pitt and Nebraska’s offenses have had the ball.

The Panthers are 95th nationally in total offense; the Huskers 99th.

Pitt is 92nd in passing and 75th in rushing and is converting a miserable 32 percent of its third downs.

“There are no shortcuts to solving this thing,” Wannstedt said. “You have to go out and do it. We have to improve.”

The Huskers are 100th in passing and 77th in rushing and converting just 30 percent of its third downs.

Each team has just two offensive touchdowns so far.

The bright side (if you choose to see it that way) for the 3:30 away game start — no early start on the beer. For some reason, the wife casts a disapproving an eye when I shift from coffee directly to beer or bourbon when there is a noonish start time.

There is the obligatory story about 2 washed out NFL coaches facing each other.

The Pittsburgh papers take notice of Nebraska’s defense. One piece is a puffer on Linebacker Corey McKeon and his trash-talking. The other piece is a little more substantive about the actual style and play.

“Active is a great word to describe their entire front seven,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. “They are very active the entire game and they keep the pressure on from whistle to whistle. They look an awful lot like those great Nebraska defenses from the 1990s when it seemed like they were winning national championships every year.”
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Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh said the most impressive thing about the Cornhuskers’ defense is that it is simple in concept, yet difficult to defeat. He added that Nebraska’s players are fundamentally near flawless and overwhelm teams with discipline and athleticism.

“They play a real sound scheme,” Cavanaugh said. “And they are very, very good at playing their scheme. They don’t do a whole lot, but what they do, they do it very well. They don’t try and fool you or trick you, they come right at you. They are able to bring pressure with just their four guys up front and they’ve been able to pressure quarterbacks into making poor throws.”

The O-line for Pitt is going to have to play an outstanding game.

Strangely, in Nebraska there is some concern that the defense is not really that good, since it hasn’t been tested yet.

Can you blame them? Probably not when they point out, with good reason, that the defense appeared to be doing just fine last year, too, until that 70-point night in Lubbock. Before then, Nebraska had the nation’s fifth-ranked defense, and the Blackshirts were coming off a tough 14-8 victory against Kansas.

Today, some folks don’t want to risk praising the defense, only to be burned and disappointed by another implosion. Those four touchdowns by the Blackshirts in two games? That number might as well be 44, because, well, Texas Tech hasn’t come to town yet, so what difference does it make?

Perhaps such hesitation is warranted. It has only been two games — one against a Division I-AA team — and the opposing quarterbacks haven’t exactly elicited thoughts of Joe Namath.

Reasonable concerns, but apparently Pitt isn’t causing the fans much concern.

So far this season, the Big Red has taken some hard hits. So, too, has Fan Conventional Wisdom, or FCW for short. What’s that, you say? FCW is the dominant opinion that emerges from the plurality of voices that make up the Husker fanosphere. Its most important function is to help us fanboys get a bearing on the next game’s most likely outcome.
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This week, Pitt (and it’s OK to call ’em Pitt again) is 0-2 after losses to Notre Dame and lowly Ohio. Unsurprisingly, FCW is calling for a big-time Husker win tomorrow. Most folks I talk with expect the Panthers to barely get a whiff of the end zone. Predictions around the Web are bursting with victories in the 34-7, 49-6 and 38-10 range. Wow. I hope they’re right.

But, at the risk of the Husker Nation Loyalty Patrol coming to my house and confiscating all of my red clothing, I sense Saturday’s game will again stubbornly refuse to follow FCW’s script. The Panthers seem to own most of the intangibles: They’re upset and hungry, and they’ll likely play with a renewed sense of urgency. They’re a veteran team that has its back against the wall.

The game will be Red Cross Day at Memorial Stadium. Donations will be raised before and during the game. It’s also worth noting that the Pitt Athletic Department has raised over $70,000 for relief efforts.