Panthers look to continue streak

As the Pitt football team heads into its second game of the season, questions about… As the Pitt football team heads into its second game of the season, questions about quarterbacks are being asked once again.

But if thoughts of head coach Walt Harris and players Rod Rutherford and Tyler Palko are lingering in your mind, think again.

“We have several guys that have demonstrated that they can be good quarterbacks,” said Texas A’M head coach R.C. Slocum at the Big 12 teleconference on Monday. “We’ll continue to look to play the best player at that position.”

Slocum’s Aggies (1-0) come into Heinz Field Saturday for a noon clash with the Panthers (1-0) in their second meeting in history.

The only other time these two teams faced one another was Slocum’s first season with the Aggies in 1989. Pitt won 31-28 in the John Hancock Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Both teams had similar beginnings to their seasons last weekend. Freshman quarterback Tyler Palko made his much anticipated debut in a Pitt uniform in the second quarter as he replaced Rod Rutherford for three plays and attempted one pass.

A’M fans saw not two, but four quarterbacks, including true freshman Reggie McNeil, in their 31-7 victory over Louisiana Lafayette.

After jumping out to a 20-0 halftime lead, the Panthers struggled with the Ohio Bobcats in the second half of their 27-14 win. The offense looked lethargic at times, as they gained only 97 yards passing and 193 yards total offense and turned the ball more than three times.

Senior wide receiver Lamar Slade feels there will be a definite improvement in the offense this week.

“I think we have the first game jitters out of us. We’ve had a pretty good week of preparation and hopefully it carries over into Saturday,” Slade said.

For those who felt that the Panthers were running a conservative game plan offensively, in hopes of holding back some of their game this week, Harris said the strategy in practice this week has been quality, not quantity.

“We’re going to try to get one week sharper,” Harris said. “And I don’t necessarily think the more things you do enhances the chances of being sharper.”

Whereas the Panthers poured it on in the first half of their game last week, the Aggies saved their best for last.

The A’M offense could muster only a 21-yard field goal in the first half at home against Ragin’ Cajuns. The Aggies poured it on in the second half, scoring 28 points.

The Aggies defense was more impressive than the 31 points and 423 total yards of offense.

Known as the “Wrecking Crew,” they nearly caused as many turnovers (a Big 12 record 10) as they allowed rushing yards (11 on 23 carries) as they limited the Ragin’ Cajuns’ to a mere 203 yards offensively.

Harris knows that his offensive line will need to perform better than it did against Ohio if Pitt wants any chance of sending the “Wrecking Crew” on an extra-long coffee break.

“[The] A’M defense is called the ‘Wrecking Crew’ defense and from watching the tapes you can see why,” Harris said. “They’re extremely physical up front. They have three 300-pounders up front. They have experience everywhere.

“I think their secondary is best I’ve seen. They’re a lot like Miami in terms of talent on defense, and that’s very scary,” Slade agrees with his coach.

“If this isn’t the best secondary, it has to be the second,” Slade said. “They had some guys up for some post-season awards. It’s going to be a challenge.”

Despite the Panthers shaky start to the 2002 season, don’t look for Slocum and the Aggies to take the Panthers lightly.

“I saw somewhere that [Pitt] has the second-longest winning streak in college football,” Slocum said. “We have a big challenge this weekend, but I look forward to that challenge.”

However, Slade wants a win for different reasons.

“Texas A’M, they’re a national powerhouse. I feel like if we can go out there and beat them we’re going to get some respect around this country,” Slade said. “Like I said, it’s going to be a challenge for us. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”