A closer look

The Teams – The Pitt Panthers (4-5 overall, 3-2 Big East) have shortened their season… The Teams – The Pitt Panthers (4-5 overall, 3-2 Big East) have shortened their season to just two games, as they try to win out and avoid missing a bowl game for the first time since 1999. The first of the two games is the final home game of the 2005 season when they welcome the Connecticut Huskies (4-4, 1-3) to town. Kickoff is set for noon at Heinz Field.

The Coaches – Dave Wannstedt is in his first year as head coach of the Panthers. He is 4-5 in his first year at the helm and has never faced UConn. Randy Edsall leads the Huskies in his seventh season with an overall record of 36-41. He is 1-0 against the Panthers.

Last Meeting – In September of 2004, the Panthers traveled north to face the Huskies in Connecticut and came away on the wrong side of a 29-17 defeat. Tyler Palko threw for 267 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown strike to Greg Lee, but it wasn’t enough for the Panthers.

First Timers – The Huskies will come to Heinz Field and the city of Pittsburgh for the first time in their school history.

Senior Day – With Saturday’s game being the last contest at Heinz Field for the season, the Panthers will honor 18 seniors who will play in their final home game. The Panthers also have a handful of NFL Draft-eligible players who could possibly be playing their final home game, including Greg Lee and Tyler Palko.

Almost Fifty-Fifty – The Panthers are 6-4 in their last ten Senior Day games. Last season they beat West Virginia, 16-13, in the final home game of the 2004 season.

Almost a Decade – It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Panthers have not been shut out in their last 111 games, a streak that dates back to 1996. It is the longest streak among Big East members.

Cutting Blades – Linebacker H.B. Blades recorded an astounding 20 tackles last week against Louisville, the highest number of tackles this season by a defender in the Big East conference. For the year, he is averaging 12 tackles per game and leads the conference with 108 total tackles.

Special Streak Snapped – Not since 1977 had the Panthers’ special teams been responsible for returning a kick and a punt for a touchdown in the same season until Terrell Allen’s 97-yard touchdown return against Louisville. Darrelle Revis returned a punt 79 yards earlier this season.