The reason Walt Harris isn't getting any love in town is the same reason his job is on the line at Pitt. It's big home games such as the one against Nebraska Saturday. Harris and Pitt haven't won nearly enough at Heinz Field.

Harris might be surprised how much less "negativity" there will be if Pitt finds a way to handle Nebraska. He called Nebraska "a storied football program" yesterday. Who's going to argue that? But the Huskers aren't very good at the moment. They lost the second game of the Bill Callahan era Saturday -- 21-17 to Southern Mississippi. It was their first non-conference home loss since 1991.

But it's still Nebraska. It's still a national television game and Pitt's second-biggest home game after the Thanksgiving night rivalry game against West Virginia. And it's still a reunion with Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson, who has become the face of the program since firing coach Frank Solich after a 9-3 season last season. The joke going around here was that Callahan was unavailable to speak with the Pittsburgh media yesterday because he was in Pederson's office, begging to keep his job. It's safe to say Pederson and Callahan are deflecting much more stinging slings in Lincoln this week.

Pederson, of course, is the man who hired Harris at Pitt and gave him everything he needed -- facilities, coaching salaries, etc. -- to compete for the Big East Conference championship and a New Year's Day bowl every season. "I'll always be indebted," Harris said yesterday.

Pederson also is the man who surely would have fired Harris -- probably after the 2002 season -- if he had stayed at Pitt. Harris wasn't thrilled when he was asked about that possibility. "I don't think that's a fair question. ... We haven't done very bad here in spite of what some people might think."

Harris is right, in a sense. Pitt lost, 72-0, to Ohio State, 45-0, to Miami and, 60-6, to Notre Dame in 1996, the year before he took over. That's a long way from trips to minor bowls the past four seasons.

But Harris and the Panthers have failed badly at Heinz Field. The team's record is 13-7 there with the wins against East Tennessee State, Alabama-Birmingham, Rutgers, Toledo, Boston College, Temple, Kent State, Ball State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech twice and Ohio University twice. Only the wins against Virginia Tech can be described as impressive.

That's not what Pederson had in mind when he pushed for Pitt to move from ancient Pitt Stadium to sparkling Heinz Field. He was thinking more in terms of what Ben Howland and Jamie Dixon did with the basketball program after moving into the Petersen Events Center. Pitt won its first 34 games there and is 35-1 in two seasons.

Harris lost Pederson as his biggest fan with a loss to South Florida in 2001 in Pitt's second game at Heinz Field. The Panthers weren't ready to play a team that was in its first full season as a Division I-A program. That led to subsequent lopsided home losses to Miami and Syracuse and a 1-5 start. It also led to Pederson making inquiries about Ron Zook's interest in the Pitt program.

Zook, now the coach at Florida, was a defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints then. Harris kept his job only after leading Pitt to a six-game winning streak to close the season.

The home loss to West Virginia in 2002 was almost as painful. It was Pitt's first sellout at Heinz Field. A Gator Bowl bid was believed to be on the line, although Notre Dame ended up with it. Pitt lost, 24-17.

After that season, Pitt officials drastically reduced ticket prices in an attempt to fill Heinz Field. Even then, Pitt fans didn't get their money's worth.

The Panthers lost at home last season to a bad Notre Dame team and to an average Miami team -- at least by its lofty standards -- with a Bowl Championship Series bid at stake. That Miami game was the night Larry Fitzgerald (three catches for 26 yards) lost the Heisman Trophy.

Is it any wonder the Nebraska game isn't sold out despite the same low ticket prices?

Pittsburgh fans want more. That's why the Panthers could do wonders for Harris and their program with a win Saturday. Nebraska looks beatable.

Like Pitt, it has issues on offense. Callahan has switched it from an option offense to a West Coast passing offense. Quarterback Joe Dailey has struggled, throwing seven interceptions in two games. He might not be a match for Pitt's improved defense, which played well against Ohio Saturday night, although it's probably wise not to get too excited about a strong performance against a second-tier Mid-American Conference opponent. Ask Penn State.

A win against Nebraska could mean a successful season. With games against Furman, Connecticut and Temple, Pitt could start 5-0. With the Big East so weak, it could go 8-3 with losses to Boston College, Notre Dame and West Virginia or even 9-2 if it can beat Boston College at home Oct. 16.

That should be enough for Harris to keep his job.

It also should mean a little love for him.