Wow. A fantastic performance by Pitt. The coaching staff called a great game. And I guarantee, the biggest buzz is going to be questioning why Pat Bostick was put in the game to hand-off to Shariff Harris.

I don’t know why Coach Wannstedt chose the scrub time of this game to burn Bostick’s redshirt. I don’t know why, if they wanted to wisely take out Stull and others, Greg Cross wasn’t at least put in there for some reps.

I do know there are going to be a lot of questions and second-guessing after a game, where otherwise there would be none.

With my wireless card screwed, I am line-bound on the computer for the moment. So, I can’t watch the game and post at the same time. Sorry, I have the game on my TV, and I’ll pass on watching on the computer.

Reader DanS. has some pictures he’s passed on. First, the horde has apparently invaded and taken over a local elementary school as they raise their flag to show control and dominance.

This is where the flag was raised in relation to the stadium.

It does seem that the Pitt contingent has arrived.

Thanks again to DanS. for the photos.

Any ways, fire away in the comments. I’ll try to check in at the half with some thoughts.

OKAY, Click Herefor the LiveBlog.

HALFTIME UPDATE: A great opening half. Pitt leads 35-14.

As frustrating as that 14 point swing on Stull’s interception was, credit to OC Matt Cavanaugh. He came out calling 4 straight passing plays. As much as anything to get Stull’s confidence back up. The first two throws were not there, but the next two were right on the money and all was right.

Pitt’s defense unnerved me in the opening series, but my did they figure things out. Forcing 4 punts in the first half. Navy had 0 punts last year in the first half, and only 1 for the entire game.

You can see that Navy’s d-line can’t really handle Pitt. They are bringing up the linebackers. It is really opening things up.

Just want to see Pitt keep up the pressure on both sides of the ball in the second half.

Scott McKillop has his first person “as told to” up on Sporting News Daily.

…we couldn’t adjust. October 18, 2008

It’s very clear McKillop has not forgotten about last year. And he’s told everyone that.

“They brought in those guys for the game [against Navy last season at Heinz Field],” McKillop said this week. “It was a national television game. There was a big audience. It was another chance for us to establish ourselves as a program. We wanted to make Tony proud. But we didn’t show up. We couldn’t stop them. We were terrible.”

That 48-45 Pitt loss in double overtime was the low point of the Dave Wannstedt era, at least until the home debacle against Bowling Green in the opening game this season. Navy had the ball for 84 plays, ran for 331 yards, had 497 yards of offense and punted just one time. That abysmal Pitt performance followed losses in which its defense gave up 44 points to Virginia and 34 to Connecticut. There was a public outcry for defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads to be fired and to take Wannstedt with him.

No. That last bit is an exaggeration. It was mostly just get rid of Paul Rhoads. The get rid of Wannstedt vibe wasn’t really there.

Any ways, there aren’t many people picking Pitt. Most of the Sporting News folk go with Navy. Lee Corso on Collge GameDay went with Navy. Stewart Mandel at SI.com also picked Navy. Suddenly, I feel better about this game.

Interesting contrast between what Coach Wannstedt says he wants to do versus what he is expected to do.

“The hope is that our reaction times, our adjustments and our mental frame are ready to go because I think we are physically ready to go,” Wannstedt said. “I really think we got as good of a look from our scout team as possible, but we know it is not going to be as good as what Navy will show us. It is just hard to simulate exactly what they do.

“But we have to get started fast. That will really be the key. We’ve talked about that. We need to make sure we start fast and make sure we don’t fall behind. Our guys understand this is an opponent that is not going to turn the ball over and commit foolish penalties and beat themselves.”

But, what is expected?

Q: Do you think Wannstedt and his staff can coach aggressively against a physically inferior opponent such as Navy? Or can it only happen in the second half of a close game?

Zeise: No, I don’t think the Panthers will come out blitzing and attacking on defense nor do I think they’ll come out throwing the ball all over the field. I think that Dave Wannstedt is who he is and he will come out with a more conservative game plan than most of you would like and try to establish the run and try not to give up big plays early. That’s just been the pattern — the coaches don’t seem to turn up the heat until it is needed and sometimes that has been too late. I’d like to see them come out throwing, though, because I think you can throw against this defense as they are ranked 104th in pass defense and 107th in pass efficiency defense. There is no reason Pitt shouldn’t come out and for once, try to blow a team out of the building. But as we have seen, that just isn’t the Panthers style so I would expect another nail biter that comes down to the last possession or two???..

Which might also be why so many are picking against Pitt.

I did find this question funny.

Q: With the kickoff run back for a touchdown (Syracuse) and the blocked punt for touchdown (South Florida), and lack of a punt return game for us all year, do you think the special teams is suffering with Charlie Partridge’s departure to Wisconsin?

ZEISE: No, not really at all to be honest. I think the special teams have been fine, there have been a few breakdowns, but not enough to sound the alarms. And did you happen to see Charlie Partridge’s special teams give up a punt return for a touchdown against Penn State last week? Did you see how miserable some of the punts were from the Badgers punter, thus giving Penn State field position for the entire first half? In other words, special teams some times have breakdowns and I actually think Pitt’s have been better in a lot of areas than they have been in the past. Yes, the lack of a punt return game has been frustrating — but really, when was the last time Pitt had a great return game? I guess it would be like Darrelle Revis sophomore year. I just don’t think the special teams have been all that bad.

There are parts of special teams that could be better, but I have had no problem with their performance. And if you look what Partridge is doing with Wisconsin’s it’s definitely not working. Just shore up the blocking on punts and things are okay. Not having Saddler is the main reason, for struggling with punt returns. No one back there but Berry.

As for the Outside Linebacker spot, well… it seems a bit patchwork.

Q: Could this be the game that Pitt’s lack of depth and experience at OLB finally catches up with them? It seems like Navy’s offense is the type that could really exploit teams that don’t contain well.

ZEISE: Well, it could, though like I said yesterday the outside linebacker issue is being addressed some by the fact that the coaches are using Elijah Fields in that role a little bit in certain situations. Plus I think Greg Williams’ speed can help here and the coaches talked about dumbing some things down on defense in order to take advantage of his physical ability (i.e. “on this play, run as fast as you can and hit the quarterback as hard as you can, regardless if he pitches it or not …”). But this game is all about two things – stopping that belly/fullback dive/fullback power (whatever you want to call it) play in early downs and getting off the field on third downs. And I think more of the pressure will be on the defensive line to get off some blocks and make some plays in order to blow up some of Navy’s plays and put the Midshipmen in second or third and long situations. It will be a very long day if Navy is spending the night in second-and-3 or similar down-and-distances.

Using Fields, especially against Navy is an intriguing idea. It’s also a little scary. As many have said this week, to defend against Navy, you have to stay in your assignments. Being swift is vital, and Fields has the latter cold. It’s the discipline of staying in his lane that is a concern. If he drifts and tries to freelance, I can see him being yanked.