A closer look…

The Teams: Looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-6 season a year ago, the Pitt… The Teams: Looking to rebound from a disappointing 5-6 season a year ago, the Pitt Panthers will open up their 2006 campaign tomorrow beneath the shining lights of Heinz Field as they welcome the Virginia Cavaliers to the Keystone State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Broadcast: A division of ESPN, ESPN U, will broadcast the game nationally. Also, as with every Pitt game this season, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will pick up the broadcast on channel 152.

The Coaches: Two former NFL coaches will lead their respective alma maters onto the gridiron tomorrow. While Wannstedt (5-6 at Pitt), the former coach of the Miami Dolphins, has but a season under his belt, the Cavs’ Al Groh, formerly of the New York Jets, begins his sixth season as UVA’s head coach. Groh holds a 37-26 record at Virginia and a 63-66 mark for his 11-year career.

Last Time Out: The teams have only met three times, the last coming in the 2003 postseason. With a stifling defensive effort, the Cavs held Pitt to three second-half points and star wide out Larry Fitzgerald to none as Virginia held on for a 23-16 win in the Continental Tire Bowl. Pitt still leads the all-time series 2-1 with the last regular season meeting 51 years ago.

Polar Opposites: While Pitt struggled to a 5-6 2005 season, missing out on a bowl game, the Cavaliers were busy capping off a successful 7-5 campaign, rallying to top Minnesota in the Music City Bowl in the finale. Included in that winning season was a 26-21 conquest of eventual ACC champion Florida State.

Open For Business: Last season’s 42-21 embarrassment at the hands of Notre Dame broke a streak of eight straight season-opening wins for Pitt. Still, the Panthers have won 24 of their last 30 openers.

Division Champs?: While Wannstedt’s 2000 Miami Dolphins may have won the coveted AFC East crown, their 11-5 record did feature two losses to the Jets during Groh’s last season in New York.

What’s your shoe size?: While Pitt returns its leading passer and rusher from 2005, the Cavs will be breaking in new starters at both positions with each attempting to replace all-stars. Virginia will try senior quarterback Christian Olsen out as the successor to perennial playmaker Marques Hagans while senior fullback Jason Snelling will shift to halfback in an attempt to fill the void left by Wali Lundy.