In case you missed it during Big East Media Days, the Quarterback is the thing.

Only three quarterbacks made the trip here for Big East media day, but you couldn’t go anywhere in the Hotel Viking without hearing talk about the position.

Lingering questions abound throughout this league when it comes to the guys under center, and that’s one reason why the conference race seems so wide open. And it’s why so few teams are being mentioned for the Top 25 this preseason.

“Quarterbacks have a tendency to sway a lot of media and fan attention, and I think rightly so,” Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt. “It’s very difficult to win a championship at the high school, college or NFL level without an outstanding performance from a quarterback.”

…

“Billy’s the guy, and it’s his job to lose,” Wannstedt said. “We have enough talent at quarterback to win, and I think Billy will have a good year. I’m very optimistic about it.”

Pitt fans are decidedly less optimistic, and Wannstedt knows he hasn’t had the greatest track record with quarterbacks.

“It’s been a thorn in my side since I’ve coached, for some reason,” he said. “On my tombstone, my wife’s going to put something about quarterbacks.”

And damned if the Wannstedt’s didn’t use that as they went to other media outlets like in NYC.

Pam always has been the one who could get her rock-jawed husband to loosen up a bit when it comes to football. So as they were discussing the upcoming season and uncertainty the Panthers have at quarterback, Pam said jokingly:

“On your tombstone they’re going to write, ‘Here Lies Dave Wannstedt, Loving Husband, Devoted Father, Never Had Any Luck With Quarterbacks.’ “

Wow. Spontaneity. Noticing a theme?

When Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt finally is planted 6 feet under 35 or 40 years from now, he’s pretty sure what they will engrave on his tombstone:

If Only He Had A Quarterback!

It was a funny line on a gorgeous August morning as Wannstedt sat outside his office overlooking the practice fields at the South Side compound Pitt shares with the Steelers and reflected on the pick of his Panthers as Big East Conference favorites this season.

Use the line this many times and in this many places, and it might become reality. Or Pitt fans might start to roll their eyes at it. Especially if he used it in the canned interviews on media day that gets replayed throughout the season on ESPN. But, he wouldn’t do that, right?