This is pretty cool.

The first Aliquippa Quips football camp, held Thursday at Carl A. Aschman Stadium, drew more than 60 athletes. They paid no tuition. They arrived early in the morning, or at mid-day after summer school, or whenever they could, and they were embraced.

“I just wanted to come back and give the kids an opportunity to be coached by professional coaches, and to learn something about the importance of academics and character,” Babich said.

The camp’s staff included Steelers assistants Lou Spanos and Mike Raich, head coaches Geno DeMarco of Geneva and Jerry Schmidt of Duquesne, Kent State assistant Jason Nichols, and Kent State graduate assistant Bobby Babich, son of the Bears’ coach who intercepted three passes at North Dakota State last year.

The Quips varsity staff , including head coach Mike Zmijanac and veteran assistants Sherm McBride and Pete Short, were also involved. The athletes ranged in age from third-graders to varsity standouts Jonathan Baldwin and Brandon Lindsey.

When Anderson stood at the end of the line, Baldwin stood at the front of the line. The athletes were not separated by ages. They worked together.

“We’ve got pro coaches and college coaches, and we’ve got young coaches and old coaches,” Babich said. “And we’ve got young offensive linemen and older offensive linemen, young running backs and older running backs.

The camp was put together by Bruce Babich, an Aliquippa grad and now the linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears (he also coached the linebackers at Pitt under Johnny Majors from 94-96). He has scary eyes.

Helping at the camp, in addition to the various coaches were other Aliquippa grads. This includes Josh Lay, now a rookie with the New Orleans Saints, and Pitt CB Darrelle Revis.

In the afternoon’s defensive drills, Baldwin offered advice to the youngest defensive backs during a water break. When drills resumed, Lay offered advice to Baldwin. Then, standing at midfield, Babich and Lay began talking about cornerback technique at the line of scrimmage.

The little guys got help. The varsity guys got help. The NFL rookie got help. During a break in the afternoon, Pitt defensive back Darrelle Revis talked to the campers at midfield.

“You have to stay focused,” Revis said. “To be a Division I athlete, you have to stay focused on your grades, and you have to stay focused on the things your parents are teaching you. Your parents will steer you on the right path … Stay with the positive. Stay away from the negative people who will drag you down.”

Well, unless your father is Nelson Peterson. In which case, you might want to consider different advice.

Not exactly a surprise that the stories today are about getting 3 verbal commits yesterday.

If there is a theme for Pitt’s football recruiting focus, it is this — coach Dave Wannstedt was serious when he said his top priority when he took the job in December 2004 was to rebuild the Panthers’ offensive and defensive lines.

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Along with Matha, who was first team all-state in Class AAAA, Pitt also received a verbal commitment from Santalucces (Fla.) tight end Nick Krupa (6-4, 230) and Greg Gaskins (6-4, 280), an offensive guard from William Penn High School in York. The addition of the three players means Wannstedt has received five verbal commitments in the past three days — four linemen and Krupa, who was recruited as both a blocker and pass catcher.

Krupa chose the Panthers over Northwestern, UCLA, Stanford and Auburn. He also drew heavy interest from Miami, but said his visit to Pitt earlier this week went so well he didn’t see the need to look elsewhere. He said he was impressed with the Panthers’ facilities and the fact that they share the same complex with the Super Bowl champion Steelers. He also was excited to find out that the Bassmasters Classic was held in Pittsburgh last year because it means the fishing in the area must be pretty good.

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Pitt would still like to land at least one more offensive lineman for its next class and a blocking tight end.

The focus locally, of course was on Dan Matha.

“Everything that I was listing, all of the pros, were just Pitt, and everything good I was saying was Pitt, Pitt, Pitt,” Matha said. “I have a good relationship with the coaches. They are probably the greatest coaching staff I’ve met. I like that it’s a big city.

“After I talked to (Pitt) coach (Dave) Wannstedt on Thursday, I called (McDowell football coach Joe Tarasovitch) and told him I wanted to commit. He told me to sleep on it. I went in Coach’s office and talked about it for about an hour (yesterday) and said, ‘This is the place where I want to go,’ so I committed right then.”

There was no need for Krupa to break out the charts or dry-erase markers. After visiting Pitt on Tuesday and Wednesday, Krupa knew as soon as he returned to his Lantana, Fla., home that he wanted to play for the Panthers. He received his only scholarship offer from Pitt, but Krupa also was being recruited by Florida, Miami, Auburn, Stanford and UCLA.

“I saw the campus and the city and saw it was beautiful,” Krupa said. “The facilities were outstanding. I really like Coach Wannstedt and the other coaches and know they will be there for awhile.”

There’s not a lot about Gaskins, because he gave his verbal kind of late in the day. On a Friday. Heading into an extended weekend with the 4th of July. He may have verballed late on Friday, but he wants to get to Pitt early.

York (Pa.) William Penn offensive lineman Greg Gaskins caught the collective eye of the Pitt Panthers coaching staff two weeks ago when he dominated at camp. The Panthers offered the young 16-year old manchild a full ride and tonight Gaskins decided he wanted to be a Panther.

“Coach (Greg) Gattuso was recruiting me and he did a great job, so I called and committed to him about 20 minutes ago,” Gaskins said. “I told him I made my decision and I wanted to be a Pitt Panther. He was excited and told me he was callin coach (Dave) Wannstedt.”

Gaskins held offers from Pitt and Maryland, but he said he felt more at home at the in-state school.

When I went there I just felt welcomed,” he said. “The coaches were great. The facilities were great. Everyone there was friendly and I just felt like that was where I wanted to spend the next four years of my life at.”

Gaskins who ranks fourth in a class of 290 is on course to graduate early.

“I would like to graduate, hopefully in early January and get to Pitt early,” he said. “I think it will help me for football and help me get a jump start on my education.”

As for another player from the area, Andrew Devlin, does not appear that close to a decision.

“I have narrowed my list to six schools at this time: Iowa, Pitt, Virginia, Boston College, Stanford and Wisconsin,” stated Andrew Devlin. “I have visited all six schools over the last two weeks. Michigan, Ohio State and possibly Notre Dame would be in the mix as well if they offer. At this time, I’m going to focus on the six schools I listed.”

Devlin has been a two-year starter for Mt. Lebanon High School. He is a versatile and athletic player capable of playing tight end, defensive end and offensive tackle on the next level. Andrew was named first-team All-WPIAL as a junior. Pitt, Boston College, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Iowa, Connecticut, Rutgers and Stanford have extended scholarship offers.

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“It looks like I’ll make my decision on August 13th, prior to our three-a-days. Pitt is heavily in the mix. My mother is a big fan of the Panthers and she’s pushing for Pitt!”

Having a list 6 deep and waiting to see if 3 other programs offer does not indicate a decision will be likely soon (or even that it would be particularly solid). Not even by mid-August. Reads like Devlin should just be willing to take more time regardless of practices to be sure about his choice.