Panthers off to surprising start of the winning kind in 2002
PITTSBURGH – For the second year in a row, Pitt is one of college football’s surprising teams at the midpoint of the season. Only this time, the Panthers (5-1) are pleasantly surprised with their 5-1 start, a marked turnaround from their 1-5 of a year ago.
Now, they can only hope to finish the season the way they did a year ago, despite a challenging schedule that finds them playing Saturday at No. 8 Notre Dame (5-0), followed by games against No. 1 Miami and No. 4 Virginia Tech – all three on the road.
“The sky’s the limit for this football team; that’s the only way we can approach it,” offensive lineman Chad Reed said. “We’d be crazy to take any other approach. We have a lot of confidence in each other and our coaches, and we want to go out and see what we can do.”
Pitt coach Walt Harris already likes what he sees.
“Briefly stated, it’s much better to be 5-1 versus 1-5,” he said.
A year ago, the Panthers’ confidence seemed deflated following a totally unexpected start that included losses of 42-10 to Syracuse and 45-7 at Boston College and an upset defeat to South Florida. But a change of offense – from a hurry-up, no-huddle formation to a prostyle set – rejuvenated quarterback David Priestley and star receiver Antonio Bryant, and the Panthers scored 33 or more points four times during a season-ending six-game winning streak.
With Priestley and Bryant gone, as well as defensive star Bryan Knight, preseason expectations for the Panthers this year were modest. They had an unproven new starting quarterback, Rod Rutherford, who had yet to display much passing ability, and a receiving corps composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores.
But the Panthers not only are winning the games they were expected to win, beating Ohio, Toledo, UAB and Rutgers, they won at Syracuse for the first time in 20 years, building a 48-3 lead before settling for a 48-24 victory.
Pitt’s only loss was to then-nationally ranked Texas A&M, a 14-12 defeat caused partly by two unsuccessful conversion attempts.
Rutherford has gotten better with each game, as have receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Roosevelt Bynes and Lamar Slade. The defense carried Pitt early in the season when the offense was progressing, then kept up its level of play as the offense improved.
“That really helps a lot because we’re very good on defense and the less they have to play, the better they get,” Harris said.
Pitt’s defense leads the nation with 12 fumble recoveries and is sixth in pass efficiency and eighth in total defense. The Panthers also have one of the nation’s top punters in Andy Lee, who averages 45.07 yards per punt. Harris said the statistic that best illustrates Pitt’s early season improvement from a year ago is turnover margin. Through six games, the 2001 Panthers had 10 more turnovers than they forced; this season, they have forced 10 more turnovers than they’ve committed.
“I’ve always stated that was the reason why we were where we were then,” Harris said. “And it has a lot to do with why we are where we are now.”
Harris can only hope his younger players don’t get overwhelmed with where they are Saturday, playing a Top 10 opponent in Notre Dame’s large and historic stadium. It will be the first time players such as Rutherford, Bynes and Fitzgerald have played so big a game before a crowd so large and so loud.
Still, the Panthers have won 11 of 12 overall and six straight on the road and, as Reed said, “We know how to handle all situations. We’ve really seen everything.”
“The future is now for these players,” Harris said. “I don’t want to talk to them about what a win this week would mean. Who knows where we could go? And I’m sure there’s not a lot of people who thought we would be sitting here, except us.”