If it weren’t for the fact that I never got a chance to do a post-game post on the Backyard Brawl, I would be done with it. There is just too much going on this week.

The City Game is on Wednesday (7pm on CBS College Sports Channel) at the Civic Arena and I would consider it a toss-up this year. Perhaps even favoring the Stage Magicians at this point as they should be aware that this could be their best chance to snap the losing streak. Plus Pitt has a Friday night home game with New Hampshire.

Saturday is that whole River City Rivalry game that has meaning for the second straight year. This decides the Big East’s BCS bid and whether Pitt finishes as co-Big East champs.

I’m going to skip the media recap, since it is so late.

I think we all know that QB Bill Stull had his worst game of the season. A lot of  “bad” Stull and “same-old” Stull. I’m not going with that, but he did pick a lousy time to forget his footwork and not stride forward when throwing. Yes, some of that was because the O-line was really bad for much of the game and struggled to protect. All those stories that went with the theme of Stull’s redemption are not looking so hot today.

It also didn’t help that Dorin Dickerson had two huge drops. They weren’t TD passes, but with the pressure WVU kept bringing, catching those over the middle may have created some doubt on the Mountaineer’s aggressive defense and forced them to drop a linebacker back to not let Dickerson be the outlet. I also can’t help but think that it might have helped get the rest of the offense in gear and not have Stull spend the whole game looking only for Baldwin.

Playing so poorly on the national stage was also likely a killer for Dickerson winning the Mackey award. Especially with Hernandez from Florida having another good game while romping over FSU. I imagine Stull and Dickerson were back in their apartment late Friday night just staring at each other blankly saying, “What the hell just happened?” Over and over.

The O-line looked so ill-prepared in that game. Stunned that West Virginia’s defense would bring pressure up front all night.

On the defense, the secondary definitely missed Aaron Berry. A WVU offense that has specialized in turning the ball over was error free.

Aaron Smith still returning punts? I was left trying to explain that tomy family. My aunt turned to me after the second time he just ran sideways out of bounds, “Is he afraid to get hit?” I could only sigh and nod. I can’t even get mad at Smith any longer. This is what he’s done all season. In game 11 it is on the coaches who keep trotting him out there.

Then there was the inexplicable field goal tries with Dan Hutchins. When he was trotted out there for a 53-yarder, I lost it. I don’t care if there was a 35-mile/hour gust behind him, he doesn’t have that kind of range. It is a known thing. Coach Wannstedt said so before the season and nothing this year has indicated otherwise. Yet, he trotted him out there. If he wants to take that shot, that’s supposed to be where you use Kevin Harper.

There’s some other stuff, but I’m going to let it go. Too much ahead. And Pitt can still make it a hell of a good year.

A really slow and tiresome trip on the PA Turnpike yesterday. Still not quite up to speed on reality. Frankly, I still feel disconnected.

I really don’t believe in omens, portents and anything on a personal level impacting or influencing the outcome of the game. That said, I do have an irrational sense of guilt over this.

Most of the season I have had at least one dollop of good bourbon (okay, usually more especially when tailgating). Most of the season it has been the recently resurrected Michter’s bourbon — at least in name.

Well Friday was also the day we dedicated my grandfather’s headstone, so lots of family duties and I didn’t get a chance to go out and buy the bourbon until it was time to head back to my parent’s house. I stopped at a liquor store — to much eye-rolling from my wife. Ran in and this liquor store did not have it.

At that point, I felt that twinge of nervousness kick as the familiarity and comfort of ritual — already disrupted by not being at the game with friends or at my own home — was further thrown out of whack.

It was already getting close to 6 and in the car was my mom, wife and son. There was really no rational or sane way for me to drive them to another liquor store in search of a particular bourbon. I mean, how do explain that without seeming like a complete loon and/or someone with a potential drinking problem? So, I “settled” for Maker’s Mark which got me through most of last year.

And, well, we all know what happened to the game. On the plus side, I have finally clipped my toenails

The WVU loss was frustrating because despite Pitt playing poorly in several aspects of the game for 3+ quarters, they were in a position to win. Ultimately, WVU just wanted it more and made the plays. Whether they have the better team and/or coach is moot. On Friday, they were.

It is why rivalry games are the dumbest things on which to place bets. This weekend saw unranked Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, NC State, Mississippi St. beat their ranked rivals. Plus Alabama and LSU had to scrap to the end to get away with wins. It’s no consolation, but it is one of the big reasons to love college football.

It’s the Backyard Brawl.

I’m watching the game with family. Have the good bourbon. Feeling edgy and excited.

Let’s go Pitt!

It’s here. Hopefully everyone had a good time with family — or at least faked it.

Let’s hit the links as I still have plenty of family things to get through so I can sit and watch the game tonight without the wife glaring at me too much for doing nothing else.

How about this. Tickets (maybe 800) still remained for the game.

2007. 2007. 2007. It continues. Even in an SI.com feature as the game of the week, it leads with what happened that year. Another “turning point” for Pitt story (along with speculation on how it could have altered the coaching carousel if WVU had won). And there’s the “it hurt so much” to lose in 2007 stuff.

More interfaith stuff — this time within the Pitt Athletic Department.

Pitt isn’t looking past the Backyard Brawl.

Meanwhile WVU looks for their signature win in the Bill Stewart era — apparently that Fiesta Bowl trouncing doesn’t count since Stewart was only the interim head coach. And the Meineke Bowl win last year wasn’t it either.

Well, at least that is also along the lines of what the WVU DC Casteel is telling his players. That they have yet to win the big games. Just looking to close the season strongly.

Puff piece on Coach Wannstedt keeping an eye on the players in the classroom as well. Clearly something he didn’t learn from Jimmy Johhnson when they were at Miami. An interesting little thing in there was that when he was hired, in addition to getting money to hire and retain coordinators he was also able to get 3 more full-time academic advisers to help the players. He just got the Pitt Athletic Department to make more of a financial commitment to the football program.

Another Wannstedt puff piece about building his team.

Then there is the puff pieces on OC Frank Cignetti. Another focusing on the turnaround of Bill Stull and Pitt’s offense. This one from the San Francisco paper is on leaving Cal to go home. The fans of Cal (at the time) may not have been too bothered by his departure since Cal Coach Tedford was an offensive guy who made their system, but clearly the media liked Cignetti.

Bruce Feldman at ESPN.com puts Pitt at #7 on his list of top-10 biggest surprises (Insider subs).

Losing LeSean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling figured to be a couple of big blows to a Panthers team that wasn’t exactly scary. But Coach Dave Wannstedt brought in new offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, who has sparked major improvement in QB Bill Stull (fourth in the country in pass efficiency), WR Jonathan Baldwin and TE Dorin Dickerson to flow with the arrival of star freshman RB Dion Lewis. Pitt also has been outstanding on defense, leading the nation in sacks and ranking 16th in run defense.

Senior Tight End Nate Byham is still a great teammate. The Hoopies concern, though, is Dorin Dickerson.

Puff piece on how DEs Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus have raised their game since the NCState loss.

Which outcome will clarify the Big East bowl slottings for teams? Backyard Brawl or ND-Stanford?

As for the actual game itself, in case you haven’t heard Pitt plays power football. Looks like the computers see a near toss-up with a slight edge to Pitt. In one of those unit-by-unit comparisons, the edge goes to Pitt.

The WVU offensive line is young, but has played together all season. Whether that translates to stronger play after a week off, will go a long way to deciding the game.

It’s a getaway Wednesday. Hours of driving from out here in Cleveland to my family in Lebanon, PA. Not at all looking forward to the trip with the kids in the car on a hideous travel day. Already sent my dad an e-mail alerting him to have a big dollop of his best single malt ready to give me when I get in town.

As such, I have to give a short shrift to all the stuff ahead of the Backyard Brawl.

Ah, the old standby for rivalry game stories. Interfaith marriage.

After his injury last year, and struggles in camp, Robb Houser has been solid at center. Another huge reason for the offensive success and the overall performance of the O-line. John Malecki being a stud hasn’t hurt either. Hey, better to be 20-somethings doing this than guys pushing 40.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt isn’t a fan of his players drawing attention to themselves with their outward appearance — especially before the Backyard Brawl — so he was a bit torn about his starting offensive linemen sporting bleached-blonde Mohawk haircuts this week.

“You better be ready to back it up — that’s what I told them,” said Wannstedt, a left tackle at Pitt in the early 1970s. “The great thing about playing the offensive line is nobody knows who you are except the people in that meeting room and that building. We know how important they are.

“They all did it, and (right guard) John Malecki’s mother (Angela) is a hairdresser, so I’m sure they did it for free. Those two things, that sounds like offensive linemen: they all did it together and they got it for free.”

Adam Gunn story on coming back from that broken neck.

How about Greg Romeus figuring out his future was in football not basketball? Heard it.

The Backyard Brawl is the headline act in the Big East games (duh, you think it is an 11 am Rutgers-Louisville game?).

1. The Backyard Brawl: It’s the oldest and best rivalry in the Big East, and it’s as fierce as ever now that Pitt has gotten back on its feet. The Panthers bring a two-game series winning streak into Morgantown and will try to come out of Friday night’s game with their Top 10 status alive. West Virginia wants to finish strong to help its bowl standing. It should be intense — and a lot of fun to watch.

2. Solving Pitt’s ‘D’: The Mountaineers have scored just 24 total points in the past two games against Pitt, as Dave Wannstedt has found the answer to stopping the West Virginia spread (hint: it helps to have really good players). Bill Stewart’s offense has sputtered to put many points on the board in the past month anyway and now faces a huge test against a very talented defensive line. Noel Devine may or may not be healthy. What wrinkles have Stewart and offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen devised for this game?

3. Welcome to the Brawl, kid: Pitt freshman running back Dion Lewis has nearly wrapped up the league’s offensive player of the year award with his outstanding season to this point. Can he keep it going in his first exposure to the West Virginia rivalry? Last time out, the Mountaineers allowed Cincinnati tailback Isaiah Pead to run for 175 yards on just 18 carries. How will they stop Lewis from carving them up behind the league’s best offensive line?

2007. 2007. 2007. Just might be a theme. As in the demarcation when Pitt started turning things around under Wannstedt. Pitt on a 2-game winning streak in the Brawl.

More “caveman football” oversimplification on Pitt’s offense. Keeping it simple. Go figure, the Hoopie defense wants to stop Dion Lewis.

Meanwhile the WVU offense is trying to solve Pitt’s defense. Jarrett Brown knows the WVU offense like no one else on the team. Yeah, but for those turnovers and injuries he’d be great.

Pitt is just going about its business.

“One thing we rely on ourselves for is internal energy,” Pitt senior quarterback Bill Stull said. “We strive off each other and build off each other and know no one in the stands is going to make a play, sack the quarterback, throw a touchdown, run for a touchdown. Those are obvious things, but we realize we have to rely on ourselves to hold the team up and make the plays you need to make in order to win.”

There’s the whole theme of the Mountaineers trying to spoil Pitt’s dreams the way Pitt did them in 2007. Except that it isn’t so.

Hoping for a shocker. Will settle for a performance that encourages.

ESPN2 somewhere around the 10 pm spot.

If you like to break out the liveblog from the site, Click Here.

Otherwise it is below.

UPDATE: The epic MAC football battle that is still going on ESPN2 has pushed the start time ot around 10:25.

That seems to be a strong theme. Even when they aren’t in the story directly. Vindication. Redemption. Anything else you want to call it.

Go figure, since Frank Cignetti’s father was a WVU assistant then had to follow Bobby Bowden when he went to FSU, there might be a little interest in his success.

Also at the time Cignetti was raising a couple of sons, one of whom was Frank Cignetti Jr., who spent 12 years in the town.

“There are a lot of great memories,” Cignetti Jr. said. “I played Little League baseball there, played football, had a lot of friends.”

But it was only a temporary stop, for at heart Cignetti Jr. wasn’t really a Mountaineer.

“Make no mistake, we’re Pittsburgh Panther fans,” he said. “Look at the biographies of my family. My dad was born in western Pennsylvania, his first job was at the University of Pittsburgh for Dan Hart. It just so happened that Dad got a tremendous opportunity to go be Bobby Bowden’s offensive coordinator at West Virginia.”

“Oh, I’ve been a West Virginia fan since I coached there,” Frank Sr. said from his home in Indiana, Pa., where at 72 he is finally able to enjoy retirement. “I watch them when they are on television. I’ve followed them through Coach Nehlen and Rich Rodriguez and now Bill Stewart.”

But it changed when his son home came to Pitt.

But make no mistake, the story emphasizes how Cignetti and Wannstedt have the same offensive philosophies and what they want to do. It’s just that Cignetti is doing things that, you know, use the talent.

“We want to go from good to great,” Cignetti said. “Our players are hungry to get better. It’s fun to see guys feel good about themselves, and it has really been satisfying to see our offensive personnel build confidence through success. There’s a belief that whenever they step onto the field they can put the ball in the end zone.

“It’s our job to put them in a position to be successful. We’ve been able to put Dorin in different positions where he can have some success. (Tight end) Nate Byham and (flanker) Oderick Turner have put the team goals ahead of individual goals, and those guys have provided solid leadership all season.”

Cignetti plays humble quite well. Deflecting credit to the players and even going so far as to say Matt Cavanaugh very well could have had similar success this year as the OC (riiiigggghhhht). But again, it comes back to the players who succeeded after nothing working right for some time. Hence the feature on Dickerson and Stull.

The two have been doing it ever since. Stull has thrown for 18 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Dickerson has 43 catches for 496 yards and those 10 touchdowns.

“I knew I could play here,” Dickerson said. “Not just play, but be a playmaker.”

“All Dorin needed was a chance,” Stull said.

“The biggest turning point in my life came when Coach Cignetti came here,” Dickerson said.

“Dorin’s ability really fit what Coach Cignetti wanted to do,” Stull said. “He’s a freak. He’s 6-2, 235, runs a 4.34 and can jump over 40 inches. There’s just no way a linebacker can cover him.”

Stull laughed as only a quarterback who loves to see such mismatches can.

“It’s stealing,” he said. “That’s what Coach Cignetti calls it. He says we all should go to jail because we’re stealing touchdowns.”

Here’s another piece on Stull succeeding and beating back the critics, while admitting the change in OC’s worried him.

“It was tough for me. Having a system for four years, and knowing it like it was the back of my hand, it was tough. There was some doubt whether I was going to be able to pick it up and feel comfortable with it,” he said.

He knew the system, but did not exactly thrive in it. That was the problem.

As for Coach Wannstedt, he’s in his own redemption and vindication storyline. He’s in a good place winning and succeeding at his alma mater. The success now, comes in no small part to the administration sticking with him.

“Our chancellor stepped up,” Wannstedt said. “I had had two or three years. We talked about the direction of the program. I said, if we were to go forward this or that must happen. He stepped up, made a commitment and extended our program.”

That was a few days before Pitt was to play at West Virginia in 2007, a few days before the upset of the century.

Things took hold from there, and the patience paid off.

Now it’s understandable why people would question Wannstedt at the beginning. College football was going in one direction; he was going in another. The game had evolved into Madden football, spread offenses, speed everywhere, bubble screens, zone blocking.

That wasn’t, however, what Wannstedt believed in.

He liked the pro-set offense, quarterback under center, a fullback, a tight end. He liked to run and run, then throw when he had teams looking for the run.

“We’ll probably be one of the dinosaurs left that are lining up with the fullback and a tailback and trying to pound people and play-action pass,” Wannstedt said. “In all the Super Bowls and national championships that I’ve been associated with, that’s what we did. Football goes in cycles. But you have to do what you believe in and what you understand.”

I won’t pretend I was not one of those who questioned the extension. I was not arguing for his firing, but an extension at that point in year 3 seemed ridiculous. The extension seemed more that the school and particularly the money and powers in the University just like Coach Wannstedt a lot and were satisfied with the fundraising and being able to get along with the coach. Happily, I was wrong.

Of course, down in Morgantown, there’s more than a little pressure on Coach Stewart. So, he looks rather wistfully at what Pitt did. Especially the patience.

“This is five years in the works,” Stewart said. “It is five years of getting better each year and adding to the repertoire.”

Stewart has also spoken in recent weeks about how the Pitt fan base showed patience with Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, even as Wannstedt went through his first season with five wins, his second with six and third with five

In Stewart’s opinion, that patience has been paramount to Pitt gaining national prominence, and so, too, is a maturation of a roster that Wannstedt recruited and then cultivated.

Nothing self-serving there. Except that Stewart wasn’t radically changing the system being run — on either side of the ball.

That’s what tonight’s game will be with Texas. Don’t be fooled by their first half struggles with Iowa. When even the Iowa faithful were stunned by the performance and what the Hawkeyes were doing (though knowing it wouldn’t last). This is a Texas team that is loaded.

That doesn’t mean Pitt has no chance, but it isn’t a very large one. This is a big step up in weight class that will be good for Pitt to find out just how far they have to go. I’ll be liveblogging around 10pm tonight. The game’s on ESPN2.

It’s been a while since the two teams faced each other.

The programs haven’t faced off since their only previous meeting, a 91-87 Pitt win on Nov. 29, 1991 in the Preseason NIT.

Longtime Longhorns fans may remember Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, who hit a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat Texas 55-54 while playing for TCU in 1986.

Connections. Tenuous ones, but connections nonetheless.

As for beating Wichita State, the Shockers’ beat writer thought that this game already has them ready to face Southern Illinois.

The Panthers handled the Shockers 68-55 with the suffocating defense and efficient offense that SIU so often uses. Pitt’s physical man-to-man defense forced 24 turnovers. Its patient offense worked the shot clock and wore down WSU on Monday in the CBE Classic at the Sprint Center.

“They’re like a football team,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “It’s like a team that was able to milk the clock. They kept the chains moving and it was very difficult.”

WSU (2-1) made 18 baskets, nine in each half. It committed 13 turnovers in the first half, 11 in the second. Every time it made a run, Pitt turned up its defense and forced turnovers or missed shots.

Even as Pitt was clearly the better team you could see lapses that allowed WSU to make runs. That has to be expected with a young team. Concentration, focus and not letting up are things that have to be learned.

The Pitt Panthers shrugged off a second-half rally to dispose of Wichita State, 68-55, on Monday night in the semifinals of the CBE Classic at Sprint Center.

“We didn’t play great,” Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said, “but we played hard.”

The Shockers made two runs early in the second half to get to within 5 and 3 points. Pitt, happily, did not panic or press. They just made more plays and got their game going.

Pitt was in control throughout against Wichita State, which fell to 2-1. The Shockers trailed 32-21 at halftime, but with the sizable black-and-gold clad Wichita State contingent of fans roaring its approval, Wichita State got within 43-40 when Kenny Manigault set up Durley’s layup with 13 minutes to play.

But the Panthers put the game away with a 16-6 run, including nine points by Gibbs, who earlier had missed two of three free throws after he was fouled on a three-point attempt.

“We thought we had quicker guards, and we wanted to use penetration,” Dixon said of Woodall and Gibbs, who went to the line 17 times. “They have longer, bigger guards, but we thought we had better guys off the dribble, so we wanted to take advantage of that. We spread the floor a little more, and that was effective for us.”

Gibbs didn’t let his missed free throws affect him.

“You’ve got to keep playing,” he said. “That’s what coach Dixon stresses. Don’t let one end of the court affect the other end. Just keep playing hard.”

The play by Travon Woodall was big. He benefited from plenty of attention on Ashton Gibbs. He attacked the basket, fought to get rebounds and played solid defense.

It was Woodall who answered the call when the Shockers concentrated their efforts on stopping Gibbs at all costs. And the best part about his performance was that it entailed much more than scoring. Woodall also led the team in rebounds (6), assists (5) — and much to coach Jamie Dixon’s chagrin — turnovers (6).

“He played really well,” Dixon said. “The thing I’m most proud of is the rebounds. In the last two games, he’s had six defensive rebounds. We’ve been after our guards to rebound more, and he’s done that.”

Woodall realized early on that he would have an opportunity to shine. Wichita State made it clear that someone other than Gibbs was going to have to be the hero for the Panthers.

“My teammates put me in a great position,” Woodall said. “The way they were defending Ashton they were giving me open lanes to the basket.”

Woodall capitalized by getting his teammates easy opportunities. Junior center Gary McGhee scored a career-high 10 points, thanks mostly to Woodall, who found him often off penetration. Woodall also got to the free-throw line 10 times and made seven of them.

Three of his turnovers happened in the final few minutes with the game decided. Not killer, but something to work on. Personally, what I really liked was that as the game went on Woodall found guys inside more.

He found McGhee and while it wasn’t with grace, there was almost a dawning realization by McGhee that he really could out-muscle guys for position and to finish. Just encouraging to see.

This game tonight puts a rather silly streak for Coach Dixon on the line.

When a reporter pointed out that Pitt was 35-0 in November under Dixon, the coach noted it’s not the only month in which his team plays well. “We’ve been pretty good in December, January and February, too,” he said. For the record, Pitt is 104-31 in those three months under Dixon. And in March under Dixon? The Panthers are 27-14.

Well the next step is to actually have a record in April.

My hosting company had a major server failure overnight. It’s been slow slogging to get it back up. Appears to be on the return.

Fingers crossed.

Okay, so facing MVC opponents can be a scary proposition. Especially when Pitt is in what could reasonably be considered a “neutral-road” game in Kansas City.

Live blog below. If you want to break it out from the blog, Click Here

Fun starts at 7:30. The game is on ESPN2.

The bye week did not hurt Dorin Dickerson. He has been announced as a finalist for the John Mackey Award for the best tight end in college.

The other two finalists were Aaron Hernandez of Florida and Dennis Pitta of BYU.

I thought Pitta wouldn’t make it in favor of Dickson at Oregon. Pitta, though, had 9 catches for 111 yards and 2 TDs. That essentially pushed him over Dickson (5 receptions, 63 yards 1 TD).

Meaningful basketball the first half of the week and the Backyard Brawl at the end. Really feels like there just isn’t time for Thanksgiving this year. Unfortunately for me my family doesn’t accept that.

While last week was something of a breather with football. Instead discussions on gametime for the final homegame, and basking in the glow of beating ND — which while personally satisfying has lost a little more luster with UConn getting into the act as well (ND 0-4 against the Big East the last 2 years).

Down in West Virginia, they’ve been writing about the Backyard Brawl since last week. Why? Because unlike the last time Pitt came to WVU, the Mountaineers don’t have nearly as much to look forward to. Some are even saying the situation is reversed.

Pitt-West Virginia: The Shoe is on the Other Foot

The scene is the same, Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium, as it was two years ago when the Panthers came to town and pulled the stopper on West Virginia’s tub full of soothing warm bathwater, allowing them to watch their season go down the drain.

Only this time it is Pittsburgh with everything to lose. The Panthers are the ranked team, the Panthers are the team sitting on a Big East championship, the Panthers have the star players.

…

“I am going to tell the team to out-block, out-tackle, out-hit, out-hustle Pitt, strain and play Mountaineer football,” Stewart said when asked about this year’s role reversal. “Were we a better team in game 10 last week than we were in game nine? In my assessment, we were. We played better on the road against Cincinnati than we played at home against Louisville.”

Well, that’s nice that Bill Stewart thinks that his team has improved. Maybe he can arrange to make sure the appropriate media member asks him the right questions at every press conference. I guess, though, it won’t be this guy.

But West Virginia’s football team is a Pitt wannabe.

Well, at least, the Mountaineers should want to be like Pitt. They should want to have shown the improvement of the Panthers.

…

You could almost point to any aspect of Pitt’s team and see improvement over the season. Heck, throw out Panthers tailback sensation Dion Lewis, who entered the weekend as the nation’s No. 6 rusher, as an anomaly if you wish.

Check Pittsburgh’s receivers, the development of Jonathan Baldwin and the nice way the Panther coaches are using tight end Dorin Dickerson. Compare it to the static play of West Virginia’s receiving corps.

Both Pitt lines have been impressive. West Virginia’s, not so much.

One could go on and on. Look at the teams’ linebackers. The point, though, is this: Before the season one could legitimately say West Virginia had as much, if not more, talent than Pitt. Now, the way the Panthers have grown and the Mountaineers have not, one cannot make the same claim.

Yes, the Hoopies will be the one searching for revenge and redemption. Apparently the players feel that this was a season that got away from them all season because of not making those key plays.

“It’s more about us than it is about [derailing] Pitt. We need this game for ourselves,” Williams said. “We haven’t been able to find our identity all season long. We keep waiting for that game where everything’s put together and I haven’t seen it yet. With only two games left, it’s got to happen soon. Maybe Friday will be the night.”

Indeed, with games to play against Pitt and a week later at 7-2 Rutgers, the Mountaineers still have a chance to come out of this season feeling good about themselves, albeit without a Big East title to show for it. Wins in the final two games and in a subsequent bowl would give West Virginia a 10-win season for the fourth time in the past five years.

What bothers Williams is that with a play or two here or there, West Virginia could already be there – perhaps one or two fewer turnovers at Auburn, a defensive stop or two at South Florida and maybe a fumble instead of a replay-decided touchdown at Cincinnati.

Of course it is. Well, one of the ways to do that is to get turnovers. They actually got Cinci’s backs to turn the ball over after the Bearcats had gone without losing a fumble all season.

The defense that has been getting the stops though, especially in the Backyard Brawl the last couple years, has been Pitt’s D.

Wannstedt said many of the principles Pitt incorporated into its schemes for that 2007 game and against teams which run similar offenses are similar to defenses he used to design to stop wishbone teams in the 1970s and ’80s.

“Any time you defend the option — be it the spread, the quarterback read or the Navy triple option — there are certain concepts that are universal for defenses,” Wannstedt said. “And any offense that has the possibility of having a quarterback run or pass it, you have to do certain things in order to be effective — some with the front and some on the back end — and they haven’t changed over the years.

“There is a lot of carryover from defending the wishbone — but it is no longer just the option teams like West Virginia but other spread teams like South Florida, with a lot of quarterback running plays, those concepts you have to get your defense to understand.”

Tackling rather than hitting has also made a big difference.

With any geographically tight rivalry, recruiting battles are always a big deal. WV media has been doing their best to look for  the ones Pitt lost out to the Hoopies. Safety Robert Sands at the last minute went that way.

When West Virginia and Pitt played, he was all but committed to the Panthers. Still, he admits, he was impressed with the WVU offense, with Patrick White and Steve Slaton.

“I thought it was unfortunate West Virginia lost,” he admits.

Around the same time, a couple of things took place that would push Sands toward WVU.

First there was a leadership convention held in Orlando, and Sands attended along with the vice-principal from Miami Carol City.

His name is Lorenzo Styles.

You might remember it. He was captain of the Mountaineers’ 1992 team, an offensive lineman.

And while they were there, he was selling WVU and what better sales pitch than how they burn couches in Morgantown?

Er, yeah. It also helped that the guy who had been recruiting him at Florida became an assistant at WVU. The final straw that pushed Sands to WVU was early playing time. He started as a freshman as the WVU defense regularly uses 3 safeties.

Then there is Wes Lyons. He of the father that immediately compared his son to Larry Fitzgerald. He, now at the end of his senior year, yet to catch a touchdown pass. Not because he keeps dropping, getting beaten by coverage and alligator arming the opportunities. No. Not that.

“I’m always hoping for it, but we go with the plays that are called and hopefully come out with a win,” he says. “I just have to do what I have to do. I just go out there and play my game.”

Plus, you know he needed to get that space from family.

“I feel like those that leave Pittsburgh are the ones that want to grow up and get away from their mothers and fathers – get out from their wings and go and play for a different program,” said Lyons.

Yes. Because that 85 miles Lyons traveled from North Braddock has surely opened a new world to him and completely gotten him away from his family.

Good thing I’m not a Steeler fan. Otherwise, I would take yesterday as a bad sign.

Tonight’s game is 45 years in the making. The two teams met last in 1964 when the Schockers blew out Pitt 109-58 in Philly.

I can’t say I’m shocked that Jermaine Dixon is not going to be ready for the CBE Classic. Even if he was ready, I’m not sure how much he could contribute in his first game back. Not even surprised that he’s probably another 2 weeks away from rejoining the team. Just let it heal properly.

As for tonight’s game, well both coaches are being highly complimentary of the opponent.

“They really beat up Fairleigh Dickinson, that was very evident,” Dixon said Friday during a conference call with the four coaches. “This team is very physical and we’re going to get a quick look at that.”

WSU coach Gregg Marshall sends the compliments right back. The Panthers tied Michigan State for the NCAA lead in rebound margin at plus-9.3 in 2009.

“Big, athletic, very solid in their approach,” Marshall said. “They really rebound well.”

WSU (2-0) cruised to wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and Arkansas-Monticello. The physical edge enjoyed by the Shockers is over starting Monday.

“We’ve got two good wins, but this is a whole different ballgame,” Marshall said. “They’re going to be bigger, stronger, more athletic. We won’t be able to overwhelm them.”

And vice versa.

Still, while Coach Dixon is willing to talk-up the Shockers he isn’t short-changing his own players.

Dixon, who will be without shooting guard Jermaine Dixon (foot) until at least early December, is pleased with his youthful team’s progress.

“We haven’t gone backward in our three games,” the seventh-year coach said. “We’ve done things better. We’ve seen improvement, and that’s all you can ask.”

Wichita State has their own issues with youth, their leading scorer from last year suspended for one more game and an injury to one of their players that may at least hobble him a bit tonight.

Wichita State will play the game without its point guard and leading returning scorer from last season. Clevin Hannah, who averaged 11.2 points per game last season, was suspended by the NCAA for the first three games of the season because of an administrative error by the school.

…

The suspension has forced Marshall to reshuffle his lineup. Toure’ Murry, the shooting guard last season, started at the point in Wichita State’s first two games. Further complicating matters, reserve point guard Demetric Williams sustained an ankle injury against Fairleigh Dickinson and did not play against Arkansas Monticello.

“We’re a little undermanned with injuries and the suspension, but we’re playing pretty well,” Marshall said. “You have to have more than one point guard, and this is a great example why. It would be nice to get another win without him, but we just have to get by for one more game.”

WSU Coach Marshall admits that the Shockers will look to make a mark with the chance to play Pitt.

“I’m excited about the challenge,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said. “Just like Arkansas-Monticello played up for us, we’ll likely play up for Pitt.”

And of course, a bigger stage and competition.

Wichita State steps up in class against the Panthers, the Big East power that lost four starters from last year’s Elite Eight team.

“We’ve got two good wins, but this is a whole different ballgame,” Shockers coach Gregg Marshall said. “They’re going to be bigger, stronger, more athletic.”

Last year, the Shockers played a tournament in Florida and gave Michigan State and Georgetown tough games. Then knocked off Siena — but then started 0-6 in the MVC to kill their season. Their relative youth (starting 3 sophs and 2 juniors) and their performance in the MVC have them tabbed for 5th.

Here’s a short Q&A with P-G’s beat writer Ray Fittipaldo by the Wichita Eagle‘s beat writer.

There will be a liveblog tonight at 7:30 where everyone can overreact to the action as it happens.

Got some links to clear relating to the football side of things.

At least they spelled his name right in the story, but a Hartford Courant roundup of Big East stuff leads with a bit on Pitt OC Frank “Signetti.”

Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt had three requirements as he searched for an offensive coordinator in the offseason.

“Number one, running a pro-style offense. Number two, be committed to running the football. And then three … get our quarterbacks to play on a higher level and add some [plays] to generate more points,” Wannstedt said on the Big East coaches conference call Monday.

…

Under Cignetti, Pitt has risen to 36th in offense and 15th in scoring. Senior quarterback Bill Stull, who finished with more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (9) last season, has become the Big East’s most efficient passer.

“Frank has been doing some things to give Billy a chance to be successful,” Wannstedt said. “We’re not sitting back there holding it, forcing him to make 1,000 decisions.”

When even Coach Wannstedt is taking (unintended) swipes at Matt Cavanaugh you know there are no regrets over pushing Cavanaugh out.

In Paul Zeise’s chat, he expresses his opinion that Cignetti is not going anwhere — that he is at Pitt for some time. We can only hope.  Zeise also took heat for potentially jinxing Dion Lewis and Ray Graham for pointing out that they only have 2 fumbles between them.

Tyler Palko may not be employed in the NFL, but he’s not done with the hope. Turned down a job in the CFL to keep training. Not sure that was a mart move, but it’s not my life or dream.

Wondering if Jon Baldwin will be Pitt’s third Biletnikoff Award winner? He’ll certainly be on the watchlist next year. His odds of winning, though, will depend on how well whoever is the QB gets him the ball.

Baldwin was also the feature of the AP Big East round-up story this week.

It’s another win. It beats losing. It doesn’t get to be listed as a bad loss like say to the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks come March when Pitt will be sweating the bubble watch. Was it an impressive, dominating win? No. Nor should that be expected no matter how short Eastern Kentucky was.

It is clear, beyond the oft-repeated lack of Jermaine Dixon and Gil Brown at this time, that the players are still learning to play with each other and the chemistry and rotation are still trying to be found. Right now, it will probably be more of a test of just how spoiled we as fans have become.

A 71-60 win, where the team definitely focused on the rebounding.

Pitt responded by outrebounding Eastern Kentucky, 47-25, on Thursday. Maybe the next test Dixon can give his team is to improve their free-throw shooting. The Panthers were 14 for 24 from the line.

In the first 3 games, Pitt has failed to shoot even 60% at the line. No doubt that will remain an adventure all season.

With the rebounding, the guards definitely got after it more — which was very necessary against a team like EKy that took 40% of their shots from outside the arc. Woodall and Wanamaker had 6 and 8 rebounds respectively.

Ashton Gibbs had his second straight 20-point game. Travon Woodall seems to show that he is an extremely unpredictable shooter from game-to-game going only 1-8. Nasir Robinson was effective in the second half with 15 points on 6-9 shooting. Lamar Patterson, though, provided the lift in the first half off the bench.

Pitt’s young players were in the game because junior Brad Wanamaker and sophomore Nasir Robinson were on the bench in foul trouble.

Patterson scored all 10 of his points in the first half and Gibbs scored 14 of his team-high 20 in that period to lead the Panthers.

Pitt held Eastern Kentucky to 40 percent shooting for the game. Much of that had to do with Pitt’s shot-blocking. The Panthers tied a school record with 12 blocks. Taylor and junior center Gary McGhee each had four blocks apiece.

Eastern Kentucky’s coach was happier with his team’s defensive effort, but Pitt’s guard-oriented shift was more than they could handle .

The Panthers switched to a three-guard offense late in the first half and used the diminutive lineup to pull away from Eastern Kentucky en route to a 71-60 victory Thursday night at Petersen Events Center.

Pitt (3-0) played guards Travon Woodall, Ashton Gibbs and Chase Adams simultaneously for the first time this season. The plan worked against the Ohio Valley Conference school, as the trio was on the floor for the majority of game-altering 11-0 run to end the first half.

“That small lineup did bother us,” Eastern Kentucky coach Jeff Neubauer said, “but I made mistakes personnel-wise as well.”

Pitt ended the first half with 11 straight points, holding Eastern Kentucky scoreless over the final 6:57 to take a 39-24 lead into the break.

J.J. Richardson and Talib Zanna got no action in the game. They’ve only made appearances in 1 game to this point. Clearly they are still well on track to redshirt.