Miree to return to lineup

Pitt running back Brandon Miree has witnessed the highs and lows of college football during… Pitt running back Brandon Miree has witnessed the highs and lows of college football during the past two weeks. Unfortunately, witnessing is all he’s been able to do.

He watched as Lousaka Polite reached the ball across the goal line against Virginia Tech to clinch victory against a Hokies team that many thought was Sugar Bowl-bound. Then, he watched as his team managed just 10 rushing yards without him against West Virginia last week in a nightmare of a “Backyard Brawl.”

Miree couldn’t be blamed if he felt bitter about a senior season in which, thus far, he has appeared in only three games due to a stress fracture in his heel. Miree, however, is far from angry.

“I can’t sit back and complain,” he said. I’m just trying to keep faith.”

Miree’s faith has paid off because, barring a major setback, he expects to make his return to the lineup Saturday, when the Panthers (7-3 overall, 4-1 Big East) travel to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls (1-9, 0-5) at 1 p. m.

Usually, playing Temple doesn’t generate much excitement. This is the same Owls team that has lost home games to Rutgers and Division 1-AA Villanova this season.

However, there is still much on the line for Pitt – a Big East title and a Bowl Championship Series berth – and it must try to avoid coming out flat after the WVU loss and with Miami looming on the schedule. Miree doesn’t think that will be a problem.

“Coming off a big loss, we just have to get up about playing football,” Miree said. “We respect this team. We’re treating them like an upper-echelon team.”

One team that did not treat Temple with much respect is Virginia Tech, and the Hokies barely escaped Lincoln Financial Field with a 24-23 overtime victory last weekend. Panther head coach Walt Harris, who has been on the losing end of two Temple games in his career, knows not to take anything for granted.

“We’ve always had hard, tough games with Temple,” Harris said. “They play very physical.”

The Owls run a spread attack on offense led by quarterback Walter Washington. Washington took over for the injured Mike McGann earlier in the season and has seized the opportunity, rushing for a team-best 390 yards and one touchdown while throwing for 816 yards and seven scores.

Senior Makonne Fenton and junior Umar Ferguson have shared time at tailback for the Owls. Ferguson played well against Virginia Tech, rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown while catching another.

It’s Washington, however, who figures to carry the load against a Pitt team that has not shown it can stop anyone on the ground. Harris knows what his defense must do to prevent Washington from becoming the next opponent to set a school record against it. He just hopes that his players get the message.

“We’re not a good tackling team,” Harris said. “We have a couple of football players who refuse to put their shoulder in on tackles.”

One of those players Harris has sent a message to this week is defensive end Claude Harriott. Harriott, who was expected by many to be Pitt’s best defensive player this season, had his job put up for grabs in practice.

“[Harriott] is an unfortunate situation, but when you start, you’ve got to get the job done,” Harris said. If Harriott doesn’t get the nod, sophomore Azzie Beagnyam will.

The game will be the first and probably the only Pitt-Temple game to be played at the new home of the Owls. Temple is set to leave the Big East conference after next season.