Some things I’ve been forgetting to get to.

Spring practice schedule for the Big East and questions for each.

PITT

Practice starts: March 25
Spring game: April 19

Biggest offensive question: A consistent aerial game is needed to take heat off star RB LeSean McCoy. That means a steady quarterback is needed. Pat Bostick is back after opening the year as the starter. Bill Stull also returns, and he’ll try to reclaim his job after a thumb fracture in the second half of the season-opener ultimately caused him to receive a medical redshirt. Expect athletic JC transfer Greg Cross to make noise and be a factor in Pitt’s “Wildcat” formation.

Biggest defensive question: A veteran defense with seven returning starters needs to replace stud end Joe Clermond, a two-time All-Big East selection. It’s hoped Greg Romeus, a freshman phenom in 2007, steps up. It’s up to new coordinator Phil Bennett to pick up where departed coordinator Paul Rhoads left off in the monumental season-ending upset of WVU.

Yes, I know as well that Bostick didn’t open the year as the starter. Or even start until several games into the season.

At what point does Pitt stop being a “darkhorse” top-25 team and just be a trendy pick? In the mean time, here’s another piece asking “what if” Pitt hadn’t beaten WVU and what it has meant for Pitt.

“My brother-in-law works for Dick’s Sporting Goods,” Wanny said. “They have two (West Virginia) stores — one in Huntington, one in Morgantown. They had all these national championship shirts and hats …”

He didn’t have to finish the sentence.

Paul Zeise had another Q&A and addresses the coaching turnover.

Q: Do we read more into the various assistant coaches leaving this offseason, or is this just the nature of the business. I would have suspected previous years would have generated more offseason movement, but with the sudden positive outlook of the program, what gives with 5 coaches leaving?

ZEISE: There isn’t much you can read into it – these things happen all the time because assistant coaches are generally nomadic and have to be if they want to continue to move up the chain and achieve their goal of becoming a coordinator or head coach. And guys have different reasons for leaving so when it comes to Pitt’s staff. I think each individual situation was different. Paul Dunn was fired because the line struggled so much. Aubrey Hill went to Miami because of a personal family situation — that is where he is from. Paul Rhoads went to Auburn because he knew he needed to make some kind of move if he ever wants to become a head coach. That was obviously a great situation for him – going to the SEC – and the $170,000 raise probably didn’t hurt, either. Once Rhoads left it was only a matter of time before Partridge left to spread his wings as well. Charlie was Rhoads trusted sidekick (in fact, I’d expect Partridge would play a big role on Rhoads first staff if he ever gets a head coaching job). And it was always very clear that Chris Ball was a short-timer when he came in as he had been ready to and trying to make a move up the coaching chain for a long time and that’s what he did. So really, collectively, yes, losing five coaches seems like a big deal but when you break down why each left, it is all just a part of life as assistant.