Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Tyler Palko Click photo for larger image.

It seems like just yesterday that Pitt senior quarterback Tyler Palko lined up under center and led the West Allegheny Indians to a 7-6 win against Montour in his first game as a starter. That was the opener in 1998, Palko's freshman season.

Since then Palko, whose father, Bob, is the head coach at West Allegheny High School, has been a fixture on the Western Pennsylvania football scene.

He led the Indians to the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs four consecutive years and won three WPIAL titles and a PIAA championship. Palko claimed the Pitt quarterback job in 2004 and led the Panthers to their first Big East title and BCS bowl game.

Palko is a senior now, so the upcoming season will be his last in the Western Pennsylvania spotlight (unless he's drafted by the Steelers). The Panthers are coming off a 5-6 season -- the first losing season of Palko's career -- and opened spring drills last week with high hopes for 2006.

Palko spoke with Post-Gazette reporter Paul Zeise before spring drills started last week. Zeise covers Pitt football and also covered Palko when he played for West Allegheny.

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Q. Last year was the first time you've not had a winning season. Have you been able to digest what happened and move on?

Palko: You never really get a bad season out of your system, and it is something that motivates you to work even harder. At the same time, you look back and evaluate what happened, how it happened and how to avoid making the same mistakes again. It is sort of like a math problem -- you sit down, read it over and try to solve it. I'm not sitting here sulking about it, but I am using it as a learning experience.

Q. Do you think that trying to adjust to a new coaching staff and learn a new offensive system played a role in the team's struggles last year?

Palko: Anybody that knows me knows this -- I am not going to sit here and make excuses. We just didn't play well last year, as individuals and as a team. That's the bottom line. There was a culmination of a lot of things and learning a new system didn't help, but the biggest factor was that we, the players -- and that starts with me -- did not get it done on the field.

Q. How ready are you to get back out on the field and get started with spring drills?

Palko: I can't wait. I need to get back out there, get the competitive juices flowing and get started on turning this thing around. I was ready for spring drills the day after the season ended.

Q. Do you think your teammates are as ready to get started as you are?

Palko: They'd better be. These guys are adults so they know what we need to do. And if that season doesn't leave a sour taste in your mouth and push you to want to get back after it, you are in the wrong business. From watching our conditioning and whatnot, it seems like the guys are excited and ready to work.

Q. You lost your top receiver (Greg Lee left school early to enter the NFL draft). How difficult will he be to replace and can you guys overcome his loss?

Palko: We have no choice. We have to overcome it. We'd love to have Greg back and we wish the best for him, but he's no longer a part of our team so we have to play with what we have. And I think we have some good young players at receiver and a lot of potentially great ones coming in, so we'll be fine.

Q. Speaking of great young ones, how excited are you to play on the same team with fellow West Allegheny graduate Dorin Dickerson?

Palko: I can't wait. Obviously I am very familiar with Dorin because he played at my high school and I've followed his career. He is a great talent, but I told him he'd better be ready to work when he gets here. All of the expectations mean nothing, he needs to come here to play football and be the best player he can be.

Q. Is it true that you, one of the most decorated football players to come out of this region, the son of a football coach, actually grew up playing soccer?

Palko: Yes, my dad wanted me to stay active but he didn't want me to play football until sixth grade because he didn't want me to get burned out, and he didn't want me to develop that midget All-American mentality that ruins so many kids. I liked soccer but I always got kicked out of the games because I was too rough. They kept moving me further and further from the action because I was more physical than most of the kids out there. It was a good experience because I learned how to be athletic and competitive and a part of a team without burning out on football, which I was around all the time.

Q. Speaking of other sports, you have been described by some as an excellent golfer. How much do you play and are you any good?

Palko: I don't know about excellent, I'm probably around a 10 or 12 handicap. I love it, though. I really enjoy being out there on the course. It is a tough sport. Not too many people have perfected it, but my goal is to get to the point where I am a scratch golfer, so I work hard on my game in the offseason.

Q. Can your dad beat you in golf?

Palko: Please. (Laughs). He stinks. He used to whup me pretty good when we'd play but now he can't come close. He's very busy so he doesn't get to play as much anymore, so he at least has an excuse. I'm a lot more into it than he is.

Q. Your work ethic has become legendary, from the time you put in, to how much film you watch. Football is clearly your passion, but are there other things other than golf that you enjoy doing? What do you do to relax?

Palko: I'll admit, I spend a lot of time with football. And that's because it really is what I do, what I like to do. It isn't who I am, but it is a huge part of my life. I've just always believed if you do something, do it the right way. I'm driven to be the best at what I do, the best to ever put on a uniform -- not just at Pitt, but the best anywhere, ever. I'm a hyper-competitive person -- whether it is football, golf or playing cards with my family -- I'm only interested in being the best at it. That requires sacrifice and hard work. I enjoy my friends and family, but by the same time I love football, being around it, studying it, trying to get better at it and right now that's really what I do.