Pitt can still make BCS Bowl despite loss

When I sat down with Claude Harriott prior to the start of this year’s Pitt football season,… When I sat down with Claude Harriott prior to the start of this year’s Pitt football season, we talked about all the preseason media hype aimed at the Panthers, who have been expected by many to dominate their schedule.

“I look at it as being fun,” Harriott said. “But that’s just [on] paper until we play the season.”

Harriott had a point. What’s on paper means absolutely nothing to the value of a football team. Rankings, statistics, and the Vegas bettors’ line play no part in the outcome of a college football game.

The Panthers put together exceptional numbers Saturday night against the Toledo Rockets.

Larry Fitzgerald caught 12 passes for 201 yards, which was a career high. Kris Wilson caught three touchdown passes in the game, also a personal best. Rod Rutherford completed 24 of 36 passes for 315 yards and threw four touchdown passes.

These are some of the best statistics in college football across the nation this past weekend. But unfortunately for the Panthers, they are meaningless. What it all boiled down to, as the final seconds ticked away, was the fact that Pitt came up short against the Rockets Saturday night – the Panthers were upset 35-31.

I refuse to jump on the ignorant bandwagon many have chosen to board after watching the highlights. The Panthers do not stink, their season is not over, and their chances of securing a spot in a Bowl Championship Series Bowl game are far from gone.

I still believe that Pitt is “it.” It has the talent to finish in the top 10; there’s no question. What I do question, however, after watching this week’s defeat, is the coaching performance during Saturday’s loss.

Toledo Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski put on quite a show for Toledo in the upset over Pitt, completing 49 of his 62 pass attempts for 461 yards. His performance broke school records in all three categories.

Gradkowski was undoubtedly the star of Saturday night’s game, single-handedly carrying his team down the field in the closing minutes of the game to upset the No. 9 ranked Panthers.

His success story is noteworthy; he’s a local boy from Pittsburgh, overlooked by Pitt in the 2001 recruiting class and barely beating out the Rockets then-first-string quarterback just before the start of this season.

In just his fourth collegiate start, Gradkowski made the Panthers sorry for not bringing him to Pitt. He wanted to win Saturday’s game against Pitt more than anyone in the stadium, and it showed. He displayed the heart of a true competitor, proving unafraid to take on any challenge.

Gradkowski’s efforts were indeed remarkable, but I do not understand how he was not stopped by the Pitt defense. He was simply overlooked.

The play calling of the Toledo’s coaching staff was basic but effective. Coming out in a no-huddle offense, the Rockets caught the Panthers off guard. But their plays were kept simple.

On numerous occasions, Gradkowski threw short, high-percentage passes to his receivers. The Pitt secondary was lined up about 10 yards off the ball, allowing Gradkowski to repeatedly hit his targets on passes of five yards or less and letting the receivers do all of the work. The Rockets continued to march down the field and put the ball in the end zone, and the Panthers continued to let it happen.

At one point, late in the game, at the start of Gradkowski’s comeback, Toledo took a drive that began at its own two-yard line, and went 98 yards in 12 plays to put the Rockets within three points.

In the final drive of the game, Toledo went 83 yards on 15 plays to score the winning touchdown.

The Rockets did in the second half exactly what they did in the first. Yet Pitt refused to adjust. Pitt failed to attack a sophomore quarterback in just his fourth career start and failed to play tighter defense on quick-hit pass plays.

The talent of the Panthers’ defense was there Saturday evening in the loss to Toledo. The players only did what they were told. An unprepared Panthers’ defense was simply the result of looking ahead to next week, and I think the coaching staff is to blame.

The Panthers got out-coached this weekend by the Toledo staff, which did a fine job.

But the talent is there, and there’s a long season ahead in which they can get to where they’re “supposed to be.” However, a serious focus must take place only one game at a time.