What’s in store for Pitt, Penn State, WVU
One team has a chance at an undefeated season, one is just trying to get back on the winning track and one’s expectations have plummeted miles in just one year. At least that’s what preseason reports suggest for the three major college football teams around here in West Virginia, Penn State and Pitt.
So far those touts have been pretty close.
The Mountaineers opened with lopsided wins over East Carolina and Central Florida, the Nittany Lions beat an out-classed Akron team before being out-classed themselves at Boston College, and the Panthers were very unimpressive in trudging past lowly Ohio.
So what are we to make of the general outlook most have on these 2004 squads?
I see one as over-rated, one as under-rated and one that’s just as advertised.
All three are back in action at home this weekend in games that could go a long way in telling what kind of season awaits them.
The Mountaineers host Maryland, a team that beat them twice last year. The Panthers entertain Nebraska, a big name that – like Pitt – has taken a tumble in stature recently. The Nittany Lions welcome Central Florida after dropping an egg in Chestnut Hill.
The under-rated team?
Penn State. Yes, the Lions looked explosive and entertaining against the Zips, then looked mistake prone and ineffective against the Eagles, but they’ll bounce back with a huge win over a Golden Knights team that was hammered by WVU 45-20 last week.
Then they dive into Big 10 play.
Joe Paterno’s boys face back-to-back road trips to Wisconsin and Minnesota, but then play five of their final six games at Beaver Stadium. After consecutive home games against Purdue, Iowa, Ohio State and Northwestern, the Lions travel to Indiana, then close the regular season at home against Michigan State. They’ll split the first road trip, split the home stand, then win their final two to end up at a respectable 7-4 (5-3 Big Ten) and earn a decent bowl bid.
The as-advertised team?
Pitt. Walt Harris had enough problems before the season even started by questioning his players’ willingness to fight through injuries and then watching Luke Getsy leave after losing the starting quarterback battle with Tyler Palko.
Not much is anticipated from the Panthers this season. They were picked to finish only above Temple in the Big East by The Associated Press.
Palko struggled mightily against the Bobcats, but Pitt did win the game fairly handily thanks to a strong defensive effort, and there weren’t many of the latter last year.
Pitt has a couple local players of impact in Connellsville’s Marcus Furman (I’d give his position, but Harris has switched him back and forth from offense and defense so much my head’s spinning just thinking about it … oh, wait, that’s right, he’s a running back again, and a kick returner), and Belle Vernon’s Erik Gill, who starts at tight end.
The Cornhuskers, who are coming off a loss to Southern Miss, will manhandle the Panthers, as will Boston College and Notre Dame later this season.
The only game the rest of the way the Panthers can safely put in the win column is against Furman, a Division I-AA team who they play next week. Even the game at Temple could be a tough battle. The trip to Connecticut, an up-and-coming program, will be a tough one. Syracuse is way down, so the Panthers might have a shot in the Carrier Dome. Rutgers has one of its best teams in years, so a win at Heinz Field over the Scarlet Knights will be tough to come by.
West Virginia should overpower Pitt, but the Backyard Brawl is one of those rivalry games where you never know what could happen. The inevitable loss at South Florida was postponed from the season opener to early December.
When you look at it, this entire season will provide a golden opportunity for Harris to show some of his coaching ability. No one expects anything from the Panthers. A 6-5 record would be looked at as a remarkable feat.
It won’t happen, though. The Panthers are looking at 4-7, 5-6 at best.
That leaves the over-rated team.
I hate to break it to all you ‘Eers fans out there, but WVU is, indeed, going to lose a regular-season game. In fact, they’ll probably drop two, and maybe three, and the first could come tomorrow.
I’ll admit, the ingredients are there: a good coach in Rich Rodriguez, a talented team and not an overpowering schedule. Mix all that together, pop it in the oven and it could come out perfect.
I just can’t see it, though.
Yes, the offense was dominating on the ground the first week and spectacular through the air the next week. The Mountaineers can definitely move the ball.
They have the local elements that make you want to pull for them in Uniontown graduate Kevin McLee, Laurel Highlands graduate Nate Forse and Carmichaels graduate Bobby Hathaway, with two of those three seeing significant action.
McLee, a sophomore who starts at linebacker, has six tackles and one pass break-up. Hathaway, a redshirt freshman linebacker, plays mainly on special teams and has been so effective that he’s actually fifth on the team in tackles with nine, and also returned one kickoff for 16 yards. Forse, a sophomore, is a wide receiver.
My main concern with WVU is with their defense. West Virginia has rolled up 101 points in two games, but also has given up 43 points to weak opponents.
While the schedule isn’t overwhelming by any means, there are several roadblocks out there, starting with a Maryland team that has beaten the Mountaineers by an average score of 39-13 in their last four meetings.
West Virginia must go to Blacksburg to take on Virginia Tech on Oct. 2, which is never an easy assignment. If the Mountaineers do win there, they’ll have a week off to prepare for their trip to Connecticut on Oct. 13. The Huskies, who are currently on a seven-game winning streak, were 9-3 last year and are 2-0 so far this year. Another dangerous team will be Rutgers, which hosts West Virginia on Oct. 30.
Boston College comes to Morgantown on Nov. 13 and the Big East championship could be on the line that day.
Even the Panthers, who are suddenly miles below the Mountaineers talent-wise, could pose a threat in what is always an emotional, throw-out-the-records battle.
Final verdict: 9-3.
BCS bowl? No.
Big East title? No.
Just a solid season and a good bowl bid. That’s something the Mountaineers should be proud of, but those of you looking for more than that will be in for a rude awakening as this season goes on.
Assistant Sports Editor Rob Burchianti can be reached at rvburchianti@hotmail.com