The Pitt band's halftime performance usually includes several numbers from the "Sound of Music."

After the latest performance by the Panthers, however, director Jack Anderson might want to consider finding the sheet music from Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" and make it a staple because the Panthers are sinking like the Titanic.

The Panthers lost, 34-14, to the Connecticut Huskies last night before 40,145 at Heinz Field in one of the low points of the Dave Wannstedt era.

Pitt had six turnovers that contributed to 17 Connecticut points, was penalized eight times for 57 yards, converted 4 of 17 times on third down and allowed three sacks. It was exactly the kind of performance the Panthers (2-2, 0-1) could not afford in their Big East Conference opener. After the game, Wannstedt apologized for the way the team played.

"Speaking from my heart, I take full responsibility for that disappointing game," Wannstedt said. "The fans came out and it was disappointing that we could not muster up a more effective attack. We have to be accountable for that and it starts with me.

"We started off with a couple of foolish penalties, we were late getting plays into the huddle, some formations were not what they should have been and then we turn the ball over a couple of times. I mean, with six turnovers, we're lucky this thing wasn't 60 instead of 34."

If there was a bright spot, it was that the Panthers may have found a quarterback capable of giving them a chance to win in the upcoming weeks.

Heralded freshman Pat Bostick came into the game in the second half and showed some flashes of the quarterback that he was a year ago when he was named the Gatorade player of the year for Pennsylvania as a senior at Manheim Township High School.

Bostick completed 27 of 41 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. He did throw three interceptions, but his third one came in the waning seconds when he threw the ball into the end zone in desperation. But he seemed to get better as he gained confidence.

The same cannot be said of starter Kevan Smith, who, for the second consecutive week, played poorly. Smith's first pass was intercepted and returned to the 6, and three plays later the Huskies had a 7-0 lead after Lou Allen's 1-yard touchdown run.

Smith also fumbled with 17 seconds remaining in the half and the Huskies cashed in the turnover when Tony Ciaravino kicked a 39-yard field to give the Huskies a 27-7 halftime lead. Smith's elbow was hyperextended on the play and was not able to finish the game, but Wannstedt said he was going to put in Bostick anyway.

"We have to be very efficient at the quarterback position, we cannot continue to turn it over," Wannstedt said. "We were going to make the quarterback change regardless, I had made that decision with two minutes to go before the half. Pat will start next week, I'll say that right now and make that real clear.

Tailback LeSean McCoy turned in another good performance as he rushed for 70 yards on 11 carries, scored a touchdown and completed an 18-yard pass to Nate Byham. Despite coming off consecutive 100-yard rushing games, he did not start nor did it seem as if he was a big part of the game plan as he was continually replaced by LaRod Stephens-Howling.

Wannstedt explained after the game that he wanted to get both tailbacks into the flow of the game because they are both capable of making big plays. McCoy accounted for all 62 of the Panthers' yards on their lone first-half touchdown drive, but was on the bench on the first series of the second half.