Good news of sorts. The Big Something expansion chatter has died down a bit. At least insofar as media coverage.

TNIAAM is cautiously concerned that the Big Something might still take two from the Big East and destroy the conference. At this point, I am a touch more optimistic that the conference can survive  because it really seems that only one team might be plucked — not thrive, but survive. The money is the problem, not the BCS bid for those left behind even if only one goes.

My comments on the new ACC TV deal has gotten some attention Brian Cook of Sporting(News)Blog and MGoBlog picks up on it. (Additional disclosure, Brian and I both wrote for FanHouse for a few year.)

That’s another pebble added to the pile of rocks hovering over one of the Big East’s most storied programs. The Panthers are widely regarded to be on the outside looking in despite making more sense academically, geographically, historically, and athletically than any team not named Notre Dame, the Panthers’ recent renaissance in both basketball and football may be a BCS farewell tour. If so, that would be thanks to the Big Ten Network already being on in Pittsburgh, a grinding irony that will not cheer up anyone grimly hanging on to the university of Tony Dorsett and Dan Marino as they prepare to meet new conference rivals East Carolina and Central Florida.

Even though it makes no sense from any other perspective, the Big Ten Network is the ruthless driver of expansion logic. That’s working to the detriment of Pitt and, frankly, everyone else. As always, this is Notre Dame’s fault.

This is not some hater on Pitt. He dislikes intensely the idea of Rutgers in the conference. Brian has been one of the bigger proponents of adding Pitt to the Big Something. He sees Pitt as a better fit to the conference in the broader sense, especially within the geography. The fact is, with the money continuing to spiral, the lack of football TV money in the Big East puts Pitt closer and closer to Mountain West and C-USA territory in the long-term.

Continuing that theme, in case you weren’t aware, Pitt has had one of the bigger declining populations in US markets this decade.

Moving to filler material. An annual offseason chestnut is the call for certain rivalry games to be played once more. Whether nationally — here and here — or in the Big East, Pitt-Penn State is always a popular one.

Brian Bennett at ESPN.com’s Big East blog breaks down the best units in RB and WR. Pitt is unsurprisingly #1 in RB.

1. Pittsburgh: The Panthers have the Big East’s offensive player of the year returning in Dion Lewis, who rushed for 1,799 yards and 17 scores a year ago. Backup Ray Graham, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry, could start for most teams. Henry Hynoski should be the best fullback in the league this year. That’s enough to merit the No. 1 spot here.

Edged out for #1 by Cinci for WRs.

2. Pittsburgh: It just doesn’t get any better than Jonathan Baldwin. Mike Shanahan came on late in the season a year ago and should provide a strong No. 2 target. Guys like Devin Street, Cam Saddler and Greg Cross could make this a corps that can give Cincinnati a run for its elite status.

So that’s two parts of the offense that looks hard to beat in the Big East. So, that puts some pressure on the QB. How does Tino Sunseri feel about that?

That’s a daunting responsibility, but he appears unfazed. “I’ve always had the motto: ‘Don’t feel pressure, apply pressure,’ ” he said.

Especially to an open cut. You have to keep the pressure firmly. Oh, sorry, wrong pressure.

“I don’t know if so much depends on me,” Tino said. “It’s about our team as a whole. The offensive line is a huge part. They have to open lanes for Dion and provide protection for me so Jonathan and our other receivers can run downfield. If it happens that we lose containment, I need to make plays on my feet to extend the play and make a throw downfield. We just have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best on every play.”

Obviously, complete success isn’t going to depend on one player, not even the quarterback. But erratic quarterback play was the primary reason Pittsburgh didn’t meet expectations in 2007 and ’08.

The Panthers didn’t challenge for the Big East title until Stull elevated his play. In ’08, he threw more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (nine). But last season, he threw 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions while improving his passing percentage and passing yardage.

Pitt can’t afford to take a step back at quarterback. If Sunseri is successful, the Panthers could be among the best teams in the country. If he isn’t, another Meineke Car Care Bowl appearance may be in store.

So, yeah. Pressure.

Gary Nova, the new Pitt verbal knows exactly what to say.

“Pitt is a great school and a great program,” Nova said. “We can compete with anybody, whether it is in the Big Ten or Big East or anywhere else so, really, Pitt will be fine no matter what happens. I’m not really worried about that at all.”

Nova chose the Panthers over scholarship offers from Rutgers, Boston College, Virginia, Colorado and Vanderbilt.

He said the two most important factors in his decision were trust and loyalty, and no other staff showed as much as Pitt’s during the process.

“When I went out and visited Pitt, I got a real good feel for the city and for the family atmosphere of the program,” said Nova, who threw for 1,668 yards, 23 touchdowns and only three interceptions last season. “The biggest thing, though, was coach Wannstedt and coach [Frank] Cignetti and coach [Jeff] Hafley — they were honest with me every step of the way. They didn’t lie to me about anything, they were up front about everything and they were loyal and true to their word.

“And I feel like if there is anyone who can get me ready for the NFL it is coach Cignetti, so I am really excited to go there and learn.”

For an arbitrary and unscientific confirmation of OC Cignetti being a top OC, Matt Hayes at the Sporting News ranked him amongst the best OC’s in the country.

6. Frank Cignetti Jr., Pitt. His reclamation of quarterback Bill Stull last season was remarkable, and his grooming of Tino Sunseri will pay off this fall. His offense is influenced by numerous stops, including his days as an NFL assistant, his time in the high-flying WAC at Fresno State and his season under Cal coach Jeff Tedford, one of the game’s best offensive minds.

New offensive lineman recruit Artie Howell answers the question of whether he is 6-3 or 6-2.

Rowell felt the same way. The 6-foot-2, 295-pound guard-center, who was recruited by tight ends coach Brian Angelichio, picked Pitt over offers from Northwestern and Temple. Rowell credited Panthers offensive line coach Tony Wise for believing in his ability despite his less-than-ideal height.

“His credentials are exceptional, with his NFL experience,” said Rowell, a three-year starter on both sides of the ball who has a 3.7 grade-point average. “A lot of schools turned me down because I’m 6-2, but he embraced that. He’s won with guys my size. He tells me it’s not how tall you are but how good you can block people.

“I have good feet, and I think I play exceptionally hard. I go to the whistle. I get after it. That’s what fits me with Pitt. That’s how their offensive line plays. They’re a bunch of hard-nosed football players, and that’s the way I am.”

Speaking of hard-nosed, there’s a story from Rivals.com on strength and conditioning coaches featuring Buddy Morris.

With spring practice over and the school year winding down, now is the time when Pitt’s players become Morris’ project. The players will start getting bigger, faster and better. And Morris will become even more wired — if that’s possible.

Actually, that scenario will play out all over the nation, highlighting the importance of strength and conditioning coaches — who might be the most vital members of a coaching staff. During the offseason, the strength and conditioning staff serves as the eyes and ears for the rest of the coaching staff. Even during the school year, players have more contact with the strength coach than they do with any other assistant.

If you have a good program, then you have a good strength coach. And he does his best — and perhaps most important — work in the offseason.

“After the spring game, our guys came in for recovery and restorative workouts three times a week,” Morris says. “After restorative work, we have finals. We then come in twice a week. We have a two-week break, and then the summer program starts.”

Interesting piece, featuring Coach Wannstedt pointing out that with all the other coaches out recruiting, the strength coach becomes that much more important over the summer in terms of talking to the kids and knowing what is happening.