The Pennsylvania All-State Class AAAA team features some familiar names.

(AP) — The Associated Press Pennsylvania boys high school basketball all-state teams for the 2006-07 season, as selected in statewide voting by sports writers and broadcasters. (Name, School, Height, Class, Scoring Average).

CLASS AAAA

First Team

DeJuan Blair, Schenley, 6-8, Sr., 17.0.

Nasir Robinson, Chester, 6-4, Jr., 18.0.

Jeff Jones, Monsignor Bonner, 6-4, Sr., 21.0

Bradley Wanamaker, Phila. Roman Catholic, 6-4, Sr., 17.8.

D.J. Kennedy, Schenley, 6-3, Sr., 17.3.

Player of the year-DeJuan Blair, Schenley

Blair, Robinson, and Wanamaker are your Pitt recruits on that list and it’s good to see they are getting state-wide honors.

It seems like I’ve been out of the house so much the last few days that I forget how to use the computer. Thankfully it’s during a slower time in Pitt athletics, but there are still a few bits of info to be passed along.

First, it starts up in New York City back on Thursday night. I won’t even lie, I was rooting for West Virginia in the NIT Finals because it’s nice to see Big East teams do well. I wasn’t aware, however, that they decided to change the school’s name to “West Virgina“.

Continuing the theme of Pitt rivals, Penn State has a new policy at Beaver Stadium. It’s almost as bad as not wanting to play Pitt in a fair one-for-one deal. They won’t let you bring your own little seatback into the place — instead you have to pay to lease one from them. The best quote comes from Black Shoe Diaries about the policy.

Forty bucks for this?!?! I can buy one of those at McLanahan’s for $20, and I get to own the friggin thing. Is this thing going to be mounted in my seat permanently all year? Through the sun, rain, and snow as well? But I can’t bring my own dry seat that has been sitting in my vehicle all day. No, I have to sit on your soaking wet one? And pay you $40 to do so?

Back to our Panthers though in a few Pitt related notes.

We brought you info on Blue Chip day. According to PSI, a few of the big names who were in attendance were Terrelle Pryor, David Posluszny, Christian Wilson, Andrew Sweat, Jonathan Baldwin, Mike Zordich, Shayne Hale, Leon Green, Cameron Saddler, Ed Tinker and Lucas Nix.

Former Panther (kind of sounds weird saying that) Tyler Palko was selected to the Coca-Cola Community All-American team.

As this year’s honoree, Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) is able to select a charitable cause to be the recipient of a $5,000 donation by the Coca-Cola Company. The donation will go to the TC House Foundation, an organization Palko helped establish to raise funds for the construction of a group home for individuals with Down Syndrome in his hometown of Imperial, Pa.

You’ve probably heard of Palko’s friend Chris McGough who has Down Syndrome, who Tyler has become a very good friend with and who has made appearences at a few Pitt football games. Congrats to Tyler Palko on this honor.

Aaron Gray has been put up as a finalist for the prestigious John R. Wooden Award, and although he probably won’t win, it’s still a nice thing to have happen.

Pitt Senior Aaron Gray has been nominated for the prestigious 2007 John R. Wooden Award. Gray along with 21 other Division I Men’s Basketball student-athletes have earned a place on the final ballot for the 2007 Wooden Award. For the first time in Wooden Award history, college basketball fans will be able to cast their vote for the Wooden Award Player of the Year.

Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include such notables as Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Andrew Bogut (’05), and last year’s recipients, Seimone Augustus (’06) and J.J. Redick (’06).

This is the first year where fans can vote, which is complete garbage. After we found out that places like Duke and UNC have the most number of fans (most of them bandwagon), then players from said places will likely have an easier time gaining more fan vote.

If you want to join in on the voting, go here.

Congrats definitely to Aaron Gray for winning the Big East Scholar-Athlete Award. There’s a cynical side of me that thinks part of why he got it was an additional reward for deferring the NBA for another year. Not to mention, that with his expected financial windfall, he’ll probably just donate the $2000 scholarship money to the school or some other group.

The article in the P-G, though, does have an error. It states that Gray is the first Pitt player to win it. How can they forget the immortal Darren Morningstar? The winner of the award back in 1992.

As for the new Syracuse basketball unis. Not nearly as hideous as expected when they aren’t wearing the base layer. That or the Syracuse players opted for larger jerseys to minimize the contour. I posted my observations here.

So we saw Monday who the coaches think should earn the Big East postseason honors. Tuesday it was the bloggers’ turn to talk. Unlike the coaches, however, the bloggers understand that award teams generally have five players; not half of the players in the league listed on one team. Notable awards listed below but to see the entire list click the link above.

BIG EAST PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Jeff Green, Georgetown

All-Big East 1st Team:
Herbert Hill, Providence
Demetris Nichols, Syracuse
Roy Hibbert, Georgetown
Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova

All-Big East 4th Team:
Sharaud Curry, Providence
Lamont Hamilton, St. John’s
Wilson Chandler, DePaul
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh
Brian Laing, Seton Hall

BIG EAST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR:
Scottie Reynolds (Villanova)

BIG EAST COACH OF THE YEAR:
Mike Brey, Notre Dame

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Jerel McNeal, Marquette

Here are some more official awards announced last night.

2006-07 BIG EAST AWARDS

Player of the Year
Jeff Green, Georgetown

Coach of the Year
Mike Brey, Notre Dame

Rookie of the Year
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova

Defensive Player of the Year
Jerel McNeal, Marquette

Most Improved Player
Herbert Hill, Providence

Sportsmanship Award
Brandon Jenkins, Louisville

No Pitt guys on the list, obviously not a surprise.

I’m about as excited as you can get for a Villanova-DePaul game as you can probably get. If you don’t love Big East tourney time–well I really don’t have any threat for you–but you should. Great games all day today and tomorrow and should be a ton of fun.

I hate the All-Big East teams because they put 11 men on the first team. I realize they have 16 teams to choose and there will be howling over who is left off, but 11 on the team is ridiculous.

Aaron Gray made the 1st team as a unanimous selection. Levance Fields was selected to the second team.

2006-07 All-BIG EAST First Team
*Jeff Green, Georgetown, Jr., 6-9, 235, Hyattsville, Md.
*Roy Hibbert, Georgetown, Jr., 7-2, 283, Adelphi, Md.
Dominic James, Marquette, So., 5-11, 175, Richmond, Ind.
Russell Carter, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-4, 220, Paulsboro, N.J.
Colin Falls, Notre Dame, Sr., 6-5, 200, Park Ridge, Ill.
*Aaron Gray, Pittsburgh, Sr., 7-0, 270, Emmaus, Pa.
*Herbert Hill, Providence, Sr. 6-10, 240, Kinston, N.C.
Lamont Hamilton, St. John’s, Sr., 6-10, 255, Brooklyn, N.Y.
*Demetris Nichols, Syracuse, Sr., 6-8, 212, Boston, Mass.
Curtis Sumpter, Villanova, Sr., 6-7, 225, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Frank Young, West Virginia, Sr., 6-5, 215, Tallahassee, Fla.

2006-07 All-BIG EAST Second Team
Jeff Adrien, Connecticut, So., 6-7, 238, Brookline, Mass.
Wilson Chandler, DePaul, So. 6-8, 210, Benton Harbor, Mich.
Sammy Mejia, DePaul, Sr., 6-6, 195, Bronx, N.Y.
David Padgett, Louisville, Jr., 6-11, 250, Reno, Nev.
Terrence Williams, Louisville, So., 6-6, 220, Seattle, Wash.
Jerel McNeal, Marquette, So., 6-3, 185, Chicago, Ill.
Levance Fields, Pittsburgh, So., 5-10, 190, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Brian Laing, Seton Hall, Jr., 6-5, 215, Bronx, N.Y.
Kentrell Gransberry, USF, Jr., 6-9, 270, Baton Rouge, La.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, Fr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.

2006-07 All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Draelon Burns, DePaul, Jr., 6-4, 220, Milwaukee, Wis.
Jonathan Wallace, Georgetown, Jr., 6-1, 188, Harvest, Ala.
Sharaud Curry, Providence, So., 5-10, 165, Gainesville, Ga.
Geoff McDermott, Providence, So., 6-7, 240, New Rochelle, N.Y.
McHugh Mattis, USF, Sr., 6-6, 190, North Lauderdale, Fla.
Eric Devendorf, Syracuse, So., 6-4, 175, Bay City, Mich.
Mike Nardi, Villanova, Sr. 6-2, 170, Linden, N.J.
BIG EAST All-Rookie Team
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, Fr., 6-1, 200, Indianapolis, Ind.
*Jerome Dyson, Connecticut, Fr., 6-3, 190, Rockville, Md.
Hasheem Thabeet, Connecticut, Fr., 7-3, 255, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
DaJuan Summers, Gerogetown, Fr., 6-8, 235, Baltimore, Md.
Edgar Sosa, Louisville, Fr., 6-2, 170, New York, N.Y.
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame, Fr., 6-8, 250, Schererville, Ind.
Tory Jackson, Notre Dame, Fr., 5-10, 185, Saginaw, Mich.
*Eugene Harvey, Seton Hall, Fr., 6-0, 165, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Paul Harris, Syracuse, Fr., 6-5, 228, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
*Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, Fr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
Da’Sean Butler, West Virginia, Fr., 6-7, 205, Newark, N.J.

*denotes unanimous selection

That’s just too many names. It’s at least 2 too many for the first team. Sumpter, Young and Hamilton were definitely not first teamers. You know they put too many slots out there when you look at the rookie group and see Hasheem Thabeet on the list.

The Dapper Dan Sportsman & Sportswoman of the Year award has been awarded for 71 years and this year a few Pitt folks will be nominated for the award.

In the Sportsman of the Year category:

Jamie Dixon, Pitt basketball coach – Guided the team to a 25-8 mark and a spot in the Big East Conference Tournament title game during the 2005-06 campaign. Led the Panthers to at least 20 victories and a spot in the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons as head coach. Has a team ranked 7th in the nation this season with a 14-2 record.

In the Sportswoman of the Year category:

Agnus Berenato, Pitt basketball coach – Guided the women’s basketball team to 22 victories and a spot in the Final Four of the WNIT in 2005-06. Got the Panthers off to a 13-2 start this season – the best in the program’s history – in pursuit of their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Marcedes Walker, Pitt basketball center – Was named First Team All-Big East performer for the Pitt women’s basketball team in 2005-06 when she averaged 16.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest. This junior scored the 1,000th point of her college career earlier this season during a victory over Robert Morris.

Voting can be done online here. Voting ends January 30 and the winners will be honored at the 71st annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction on Sunday, April 15, 2007 at the Convention Center.

Over at the Fanhouse, I have the results of a small voting bloc of Big East bloggers on Big East football awards. It’s a small bloc, because not many responses were received.

Here’s my ballot.

Coaching performance from Best to Worst:

1. Jim Leavitt, USF
2. Greg Schiano, Rutgers
3. Bob Petrino, Louisville
4. Mark Dantonio, Cinci
5. Rich Rodriguez, WVU
6. Randy Edsall, UConn
7. Dave Wannstedt, Pitt
8. Greg Robinson, Syracuse

I was stunned by how well USF did. At the start of the season, I figured them for last. What with all the injuries, arrests, and drug suspensions. Yet, they kept winning. They got better during the season. For just the 2006 season, I think Leavitt edges Schiano who would get this award if it was for evaluating the job over his whole tenure.
Greg Robinson does not have the talent, and the team did not quitting. I have some real questions about his decisionmaking and coaching . Dave Wannstedt and Pitt’s secon-half nose-dive keeps all the questions and doubts about Wannstedt being a head coach answered for many and unanswered for poor Pitt fans.

Offensive Player of the Year:

Pat White, QB, WVU. He makes the offense go. His decisionmaking in the spread option has been excellent all year. The threat of him taking off, frees up Steve Slaton. He doesn’t pass much, but is quite accurate when he does.
Defensive Player of the Year:

H.B. Blades, MLB, Pitt.
It’s hard to pick Blades, considering how bad the defense around him was. I think to some degree that this is a reflection on how down the defense was overall in the Big East. Rutgers had probably the best team defense, but who was the actual difference maker on the squad? Rameel Meekins? Courtney Greene? That was a squad where the sum exceeded the parts.
Defense, on the other hand, was lacking in major star power. Rutgers had the best defense this year, but it was a unit outperforming the individuals. Is Courtney Greene better or more important to Rutgers than Rameel Meekins?

That made Blades the only standout in the Big East, despite being on a defense that was torched by any team with a competent O-line and running back who could go north-south.

Special Teams Player of the Year:

Art Carmody, K, Louisville.

Some good return guys in JuJuan Spillman (L-ville), Lowell Robinson (Pitt) and Ean Randolph (USF); but Carmody was reliable and extremely valuable to Louisville. Especially during the games when Brohm was out and then just trying to get back into form.

Newcomer of the Year:

Matt Grothe, QB, USF.

A no-brainer. He was the reason that USF did much better than expected. Stepped in when Julmiste went down to start the season, and just won with his arm and legs. He was the entire USF offense for many games, and still couldn’t be stopped by defenses keying on him. Could very well be better than Pat White next year.
Most Overrated Player:

Brendan Carney, P, Syracuse.

Ray Guy hopeful, the only thing working for Syracuse last year. Just fell to middle of the pack in Big East punting.

Most Surprising Team:

Cinci

I thought they would be 6th or 7th in the Big East this year. Instead, they improved all season despite lesser talent than nearly every team in the conference. The lack of depth caught up to them in many games as they faded in the second half. They gave every team they faced at least one half where they scared the crap out of them including: VT, OSU, Pitt, WVU and L-ville.

USF was a close second in this category for me.
Most Disappointing Team:

Pitt

The way Pitt collapsed in the second half of the season was pathetic. They folded as they faced better competition. The team failed to improve throughout the season like good teams or teams with promise do. Very frustrating to see them skid off the tracks in the final five games.

Way too early prediction for best team in 2007:

USF.

I think USF might be able to challenge next year — assuming their players can avoid arrests and drug suspensions. They’ve got the coach, and the talent is starting to fit into place. It’s going out on a limb, but if you really want to make predictions about the 2007 season in December, then why not go on the crazy side. Why take the easy call with Louisville?

Pitt football had its award banquet the other night. Team honors mostly went to the players you would expect.

The various All-American or All-Big East teams are also being released (the Big East “official” All-Big East teams will be announced tomorrow).

Scout.com put H.B. Blades on their second-team All-American squad. Freshman Offensive Guard Joe Thomas was a 1st team Freshman All-American.

Thomas was named a 2nd team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News, along with teammate WR Oderick Turner. Darrelle Revis was named as a 3d team All-American team as a “utility player.” That’s what happens when no one throws his way after the first couple of games and a sub-par year as a punt returner.

Lowell Robinson is a semi-finalist for a new college football award recognizing the best return man.

Now the bad news. They actually named the award after — brace yourself — Randy Moss.

Kind of overshadows the whole honor.

After the Pitt-Western Michigan game, there will be a ceremony to honor the late Maggie Dixon.

Dixon’s parents, Jim and Marge, from North Hollywood, Calif, will be given a pair of Patriot League championship rings.

The team’s Patriot League championship banner and Dixon’s Patriot League Coach of the Year banner will be hoisted to the rafters at 5,000-seat Christl Arena, where they will remain.

This tournament will be moving to MSG next year and become an all-women’s b-ball premeire event.

Today’s double-header features teams with coaches who had some connection to Maggie Dixon.

[WMU Assistant Coach Jeff] Dunlap’s relationship with Maggie Dixon was mostly through Jamie Dixon, whom he grew up playing against in North Hollywood, Calif., and has remained close with through the Complete Player Basketball Camps in southern California, which Dunlap runs.

WMU head coach Steve Hawkins also is friends with Jamie Dixon, with the two having met at Dunlap’s camp.

“They wanted to bring in (coaches) who know the family,” Dunlap said. “Jamie thought it’d be nice for us to come in aand share in this tribute classic for Maggie.

“We wanted to do it for that reason. On the flip side, it helps our program. Hawk and I want to play a nationally respectable schedule. … You have to play people who, on paper, are better than you and go after them. That’s what we’re doing.”

With so much of the Dixon family still living in the New York area, there will be hundreds of friends and family attending.

Halfway through the season and this year Pitt is getting noticed a little. The Pitt Athletic Department pointed out that H.B. Blades was named to CBS Sportsline’s “Halfway” All-American squad. Dennis Dodd in his write-up regarding the halfway point sends some direct love to Pitt.

Best comeback(s): Both Washington and Pittsburgh are three games better than they were at this point a year ago. The Huskies (4-2) were 1-5 after six games last year, headed toward a 2-9 season. Now they seem destined for the school’s first bowl since 2002.

Pittsburgh (5-1) started 2-4 in ’05 on its way to a 5-6 debut under Dave Wannstedt. Now the Panthers are a dark horse to win the Big East.

He also lists the L-ville-Pitt game at the end of the season as one of the expected best games to come.

Over at ESPN.com, Bruce Feldman blogs his “Midseason hot 100” [Insider subs.]

45. Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh QB: Quietly putting up magnificent numbers: 71 percent completions, 15 TDs, 3 INTs.

…

64. H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh, LB: Squatty 240-pound LB is the Big East’s leading tackler with 11.3 stops per game.

In the mid-season review of the Big East, Joe Starkey didn’t list Pitt for any “honors” which isn’t too shocking. Pitt isn’t the biggest surprise or disappointment so far. And they aren’t ready to be considered an alpha dog either.

In his individual reviews of each team [Insider subs.] he offers a rather standard summary.

This time last year, the Ricky Williams ordeal had to be looking like a preferable alternative to new Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt. His team was 2-4, its only victories coming against Cincinnati and Division I-AA Youngstown State. Today, the Panthers are 5-1, though it’s hard to tell how much better they are, considering their wins were against Virginia, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Toledo and The Citadel. Pitt failed miserably in its biggest test to date, a 38-23 home loss to Michigan State in which the Spartans rushed for 335 yards. Pitt still must prove it can stop the run against good teams (or even mediocre ones).

Midseason MVP

Tyler Palko was outplayed by Michigan State’s Drew Stanton in the Panthers’ only loss to date, but he has otherwise been brilliant running offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh’s West Coast system. Using shorter drop-backs than a year ago, Palko is ranked second in the country in passing efficiency (186.01) and first in the Big East in passing yards per game (248.2). He has 15 touchdown passes and only three interceptions.

What’s next

Another less-than-stellar opponent in Central Florida on Saturday, followed by the real season, which begins with a home game Oct. 21 against No. 24 Rutgers. It’s not inconceivable Pitt could be 8-2 or even 9-1 going into season-ending home games against conference powers West Virginia and Louisville.

Actually, I’d argue there is a noticeable improvement — not withstanding the MSU game. Last year against opponents like that, Pitt struggled. And I know I’ve pointed this out before. After just about every win last year, you just found yourself shaking your head and could only say, “at least they got the win.” This year it’s different. The wins are more decisive. The team and/or coaches are still struggling to completely put a team away, but the game is that much sure-footed.

Pitt swept the Big East weekly honors this week. LaRod Stephens-Howling named Offensive Player of the Week. Chris McKillop took Defensive POW.

In light of the season ending injury to redshirt sophomore, safety Eric Thatcher, Coach Wannstedt’s messge was to remind many players in practice that they could be expected to step in and perform as a starter. Obviously that message was one Chris McKillop heeded a while ago.

“I went out there every day and, even though I wasn’t a starter, I played like I was,” McKillop said. “I practiced hard and let the chips fall where they may. It was unfortunate we lost Doug, because he’s a great player, but it gave me an opportunity. I can’t let the window of opportunity close. I seized the opportunity.”

McKillop’s inspired play has been paramount to the Panthers’ improvement on the defensive line. After getting manhandled in his first season at defensive end, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound converted middle linebacker spent the offseason adding 15 pounds of muscle to his frame.

McKillop lost the starting job at left end to Joe Clermond in training camp, but he was ready when called upon after Fulmer was injured against The Citadel.

“That was a tough situation,” Pitt defensive line coach Greg Gattuso said. “That’s a hard thing to do, lose a starting job and to keep working as hard as he worked. It should send a message to not only our defensive line but, hopefully, all our team that you never know when your number is going to get called again and it’s important to be ready.”

Assuming that Pitt beats UCF on Friday and Rutgers beats Navy on Saturday (netither, especially the latter, is a given), the Homecoming game (Oct. 21) with Rutgers should be a very big game in the Big East and for the top-25 rankings. If so, it will likely end up on ESPN2 and move the gametime to 5:45 pm from noon. Apparently ESPN2 is going to show a BE game in that slot. The other choice would be Louisville-Syracuse.

It’s all about making the most of the chances being given.

Mainly press release stuff.

Punter Adam Graessle is on the Ray Guy Award Watchlist for the best punter in college football. No shock, though, arguably he may not be the best punter in the Big East (of course a Syracuse punter gets a lot more chances to punt then most).

Speaking of Syracuse, the October 7 game in the Carrier Dome will be at noon and a ESPN Regional/Big East game of the week.

ESPN360 will be airing the Citadel-Pitt game at 1:30 on September 23. Guess we can rule out being able to see that game streamed on Pitt All-Access as well.

Several little things I need to get out of the browser tabs.

H.B. Blades has been put on the Butkus Award Watchlist for the top linebacker. He’s one of 65 candidates. I’m reasonably sure he was on the list last year. CBS Sportsline also named him the 3d best pro prospect at linebacker.

3. H.B. Blades, Pitt, 6-0, 240, Sr.

Blades enters his senior season with 286 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, and 24 career starts. He also has strong football bloodlines: His father, Bennie, and his uncles Al and Brian were standouts at the University of Miami and went on to successful careers in the NFL.

They also listed Darrelle Revis as the 4th best DB pro prospect.

4. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh, 6-0, 190, Jr.

Revis is an exciting young cornerback who established himself as a quality prospect almost immediately. He earned freshman All-American honors in 2004, starting all 11 games and finishing with 14 passes broken up. Opponents learned not to test Revis last season, instead choosing to pass against future sixth-round pick Josh Lay. Revis was the only sophomore to earn first-team Big East honors, coming through with four interceptions and nine passes broken up. He also became one of the better young return specialists, averaging 11.6 yards per punt return.

Revis not only has the size teams like, but his short-area burst, vertical speed and flair for the dramatic are noteworthy. Like Arizona’s Cason, Revis has NFL bloodlines. His uncle is former Pitt defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, who went on to play for four teams in the NFL.

Rivals.com does a sleeper team prognostication. The surprise is who tops the list.

1. Pittsburgh: Last season’s record: 5-6. Returning starters: Six offense, six defense.
Outlook: All the preseason hype in the Big East centers on West Virginia and Louisville, but the Panthers have a realistic shot at winning their first 10 games before closing with the Mountaineers and Cardinals. The Panthers started slowly in coach Dave Wannstedt’s debut season, losing four of their first five. This year, four of their first five games are at Heinz Field, and Notre Dame and Nebraska aren’t on the schedule. Until facing West Virginia and Louisville, the only Pittsburgh opponents to win as many as eight games last season are Toledo and Central Florida. Quarterback Tyler Palko and All-American caliber linebacker H.B. Blades are proven commodities and good leaders.

It is true that the first 10 games contain none that should be thought of as “sure losses,” but there are a slew of “toss-ups.”

P-G beat reporter Paul Zeise’s Q&A shows a little testiness at being asked about his prediction for the team this season.

Look, if I could predict the future I’d be on one of those Vegas handicapper shows on the radio on Saturday mornings screaming “I LOVE THIS GAME. CALL ME!” That being said, I have been at camp every day, I’ve seen every practice and I have a good idea of the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

I think the team will struggle to score a lot of points because I just don’t see enough big-play threats. I also think the kicking game is going to be an adventure, at least until one of those two kickers gets settled in. That doesn’t mean the offense can’t be productive and efficienty — there are a lot of good players and veteran players, so it will be. In college football, though, to try and grind it out every time you touch the ball is tough, and Pitt is going to have to do a lot of grinding. Those 10-play, 70-yard drives are great for controlling the ball and the clock, but to pull them off you have to be near perfect in execution. You can?t take any penalties or negative plays, and that’s asking a lot.

The defense will be better. It can’t be much worse than it has been in the past few years, particularly against the run.

He could just tell them to pick up the Sporting News or Lindy’s preview guide since he made his predictions then. He sticks with his 7-5 call.

Q: With so much inconsistency at wide receiver, do you see coaches using other skill position players, such as Darrelle Revis, to help the cause?

Zeise: Last year they had some packages to use Revis as a wide receiver in the game plan for West Virginia but didn’t use them. I don’t know that they would go that route simply because the biggest problem the receivers have is inexperience, not talent. And thus, the only way to get them better is to let them get out there and play. When you take an honest look at this team, it will be much better in week eight than it is right now. There are just so many young players being counted on that they can’t help but get better with more experience.

That also means a lot of mistakes to be expected in the first few weeks.