Pitt prepares for UConn

Just tell Tyler Palko where to show up.

When, where and who are all questions that Palko… Just tell Tyler Palko where to show up.

When, where and who are all questions that Palko does not bother asking when preparing for Pitt’s next opponent.

“Tell you the truth, it doesn’t matter where we play, who we play, what time we play,” Palko said in yesterday’s press conference. “When you get in there and play the game, everything is still the same.”

That’s the confidence that Palko has in his ability, and his coach is seeing a difference in his play as well.

“He got a little better feel for the speed of the game,” head coach Walt Harris said of Palko’s much improved performance against Furman.

Palko completed 30 of 36 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns. The offense was nearly unstoppable.

“That’s the best feeling: knowing that you cannot be stopped,” Palko stated. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to put up those numbers against the Big East.”

And he’ll get his chance to try that on Thursday when Pitt travels to UConn to play the Huskies in the national spotlight.

“The opportunity is great,” Harris said. “It is the Big East opener. We’re playing in front of a nationally televised audience, against an outstanding football program that has won a lot of games the past couple years.”

UConn, who is 3-1 this season, will also have a sold-out crowd cheering them on.

“I’m sure it’s going to be a very loud and very supportive crowd for us on Thursday night,” UConn head coach Randy Edsall said in his Big East teleconference call yesterday.

Harris gave credit to the crowd at UConn in its 22-20 victory against Duke earlier this season.

“Duke had trouble with the crowd,” Harris said. “They had guys jumping offsides.”

Harris went on to explain that Pitt is ready for crowd noise and is experienced with winning on the road in loud stadiums. Virginia Tech’s crowd can be very bothersome, but Pitt has found success in its recent trips to Blacksburg.

“Trust me now; what matters is that we execute,” Harris said. “All that other stuff doesn’t matter.”

Both Harris and Palko praised UConn’s defense by saying that they will have a challenge, but it’s a challenge for which they are fully prepared.

“They have some linebackers that are very talented, and some corners that are really fast,” Palko said.

The defense has already taken two interceptions back for touchdowns, so Palko will have to be careful when dropping back to pass.

“Establishing the run game would be huge for our offense,” Palko explained, adding that a running game helps set up big plays. He also said that the offense needs to execute on first down, like it did against Furman, to allow for more aggressive play calls.

“You can only do so much on third and 15,” Palko said with a smile.

Against Furman, it was clear that success on first downs led to bigger plays. Harris was able to dig through his playbook and use a trick play — a flea-flicker — that led to a touchdown.

Palko was also able to spread the ball around more, including eight passes to the tight ends against Furman. However, that was not by design.

“Obviously, No. 1 is not here anymore,” Palko said, speaking of Larry Fitzgerald. “You don’t go into a game knowing, ‘Hey, no matter if he’s open, not open, give him a shot.'”

Palko will try to spread the ball around again on Thursday, but most importantly, he and the offense are having fun. Both are enthused to play UConn.

“Our offense is excited to get back on the field to keep it rolling,” Palko said.

Pitt will roll out and play UConn at 7 p.m. in Storrs, Conn. The game will be played at Rentschler Field and televised on ESPN2.