LINCOLN, Neb. -- Maybe bulletin board material can inspire a team.

Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner was apparently not impressed by the Panthers' defensive line and had no problem expressing his thoughts about the unit. Wagner critiqued the play of the Panthers' defensive line through their first two games in yesterday's Lincoln Journal Star this way:

"They're really struggling," he said. "They've had to use seven guys at those two positions. Not because they don't have depth, but they can't find an answer as to who they want to play there.

"We really feel like our inside three guys are going to have a great game and push those big guys around. Pitt's guys like to play like trees -- they stand up and look around."

Needless to say, Pitt's coaching staff had copies of the quotes reproduced and distributed to all of the defensive linemen and the rest of the defense as well. Coincidentally or not, the defense had a stellar game and the defensive line, despite being overmatched physically by the Cornhuskers' offensive line, played its best game of the season.

Pitt held Nebraska to only 267 yards and 93 through the air. The Panthers had four quarterback sacks and pressured Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor the entire game.

Pitt senior defensive tackle Thomas Smith expressed his contempt for Wagner after the game.

"I thought [what Wagner said] was disrespectful," Smith said. "This is a classy city, the classiest fans I have ever been around and I wouldn't expect anyone from here throwing dirt like that in the papers, especially a coach. Nobody at the University of Pittsburgh would ever do anything like that; I think that was childish and disrespectful.

"I'm just sad I don't get another year to play them again."

Who's in, who's out

Starting left guard Dominic Williams (ankle) and starting tailback Rashad Jennings (shoulder) did not make the trip so Dale Williams and Ray Kirkley started in their respective positions. Kellen Campbell started at fullback instead of Tim Murphy, who did not practice all week because he was hampered by a shoulder injury, but Murphy did enter the game in the second quarter.

Starting strong safety Mike Phillips left the game in the second quarter with a broken ankle. He was replaced by Sam Bryant, who will now assume the role of starter until Phillips returns.

A little trickery

Pitt also added place-kicker Cody Sawhill to its traveling roster. Sawhill, who is a walk-on from Absegami High School in New Jersey, is a kickoff specialist who was brought along as insurance because place-kicker Josh Cummings has a slight knee injury.

But Sawhill also specializes in short directional kicks and onside kicks and yesterday his talent was put to good use as the Panthers surprised the Huskers with an onside kick coming out after the half. Darrelle Revis recovered the kick, then Pitt drove to the Huskers' 21 and scored its first points of the game on a 38-yard field goal by Cummings.

Quick outs

As expected, Derek Kinder earned his first career start at flanker. ... A small group of Nebraska fans wore green "Ohio U." shirts to the game to voice their displeasure with the way former coach Frank Solich, who is now the Bobcats coach, was treated by Nebraska athletic director (formerly of Pitt) Steve Pederson. Solich was fired after a 10-win season despite a 58-19 record (.753) in six seasons with the Cornhuskers. ... Pitt was shut out in the first half but kicked a field goal on the opening drive of the third quarter, thus extending its streak of not being shut out to 105 games. The last time the Panthers were held without a point was in 1996 in a 45-0 loss to Miami. The streak is the longest among members of the Big East. ... Pitt is 0-3 for the first time since 1984. That year the Panthers began 0-4 and finished 3-7-1.