Panthers have to start winning on the road
PITTSBURGH – Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt seemed surprised when he was told in Tuesday’s weekly media gathering that the Panthers did not win a road game last year. “Were we really 0-5 on the road last year?” Wannstedt said. “We’ve been focusing so much on this year and on putting last year behind us that I didn’t even realize that.”
He hopes to turn that tide this Friday night when the Panthers (1-0, 0-0) travel to Cincinnati (1-0, 0-0) for the season’s first road trip as well as the first Big East Conference game this year.
Both teams are coming off wins at home last week. Pitt racked up an impressive 38-13 win against Virginia
“We’ve already put the Virginia win behind us and have been practicing and focusing a couple of days on Cincinnati,” Wannstedt said. “We know the importance of the first conference game, and how tough they are to win this early in the season, and we’re even traveling on a short week with the game on Friday night, so we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
The Bearcats shut out Eastern Kentucky, 31-0. Wannstedt is expecting a stiff challenge.
“Anytime you shut out a team, I don’t care what level you’re playing at, from high school to the pros, it’s an impressive feat,” Wannstedt said. “They played a lot of true freshmen last year, especially on defense, so now they’ve developed experience with 10 starters returning on defense and eight on offense, so we’re expecting a tough game this week.”
One factor the Panthers have in their favor is veteran leadership, which helps a great deal on road trips, according to Wannstedt. Senior linebackers H.B Blades and Clint Session, junior Darrelle Revis, and fifth-year senior quarterback Tyler Palko will be leaned on to provide the leadership Wannstedt expects.
“We’ve been preaching to Tyler to get the ball to the open guy and not focus on just one go-to guy, because we don’t have one of those,” Wannstedt said. “He performed that game plan to a tee against Virginia and we expect him to continue that effort this week.”
Session received Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance Saturday in the win against Virginia, which included nine tackles and a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown.
“Clint is probably one of our most-improved players,” Wannstedt said. “His speed and toughness were always there, but this year he has the injuries behind him, his mind is right, his work effort is impeccable, and he’s helping to lead our team on and off the field.”
Blades led the team in tackles with 13 and Palko received conference honorable mention honors for completing 17 of 22 passes for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns against last week.
“Whenever you get out of the organized structure of team meetings and practices, that’s when your leaders really step up and have the ability to make a difference on the rest of the team,” Wannstedt said. “I think we have terrific leadership this year and they will be invaluable on road trips this year.”
Following Wannstedt, Palko summed up the challenge of any road game.
“When we played on the road last year we had some costly turnovers which will kill you because you’re already at a disadvantage being on the road,” Palko said. “We just have to concentrate on keeping our mistakes down, play our game, and do the things we do best.”
He also previewed the Cincinnati defense, which he considers to be strong, athletic and talented, especially in the secondary.
“Their secondary is very athletic and their corners are big, taller kids, and No. 13 (Haruki Nakamura) is a heckuva ball player,” Palko said. “Their linebackers are stout and athletic and their d-line was is much-improved this year.”
Nakamura was the team’s leading tackler last year and earned preseason second team All-Big East honors this year. He has picked up where he left off and had 6 tackles and an interception in the Bearcat’s win last week.
Friday’s winner is awarded the “River City Rivalry” traveling trophy, a large, life-size, brass trophy that resembles a ship’s engine room control.