Pitt sophomore cornerback Aaron Berry believes the Panthers (2-3), who are in the midst of a three-game losing streak, are at crossroads. And he's confident his teammates will take the right path and are ready to turn the season around.

That isn't much different than anything the Panthers have been saying to this point. But they still are showing a united front publicly despite mounting evidence that the season is rapidly spiraling out of control.

"Our season is not over yet," Berry said. "We have to keep fighting. Right now we are at the point where we can either fold it up and give up or keep fighting and trying to get this thing right. And right now, it doesn't seem like anyone here is ready to quit, everyone wants to turn this around, everyone wants to start winning and get to a bowl game."

Berry's sentiments were echoed by many of the players and coaches who, after taking a few days to heal and regroup, returned to the field yesterday for their first full contact practice in preparation for Navy (3-2).

The Panthers play host to the Midshipmen in a Wednesday prime-time affair, and Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said the outcome will go a long way toward determining the Panthers' fate for the rest of the season. Wannstedt said the Panthers need a win, not only to get back to .500, but also to help the team regain its confidence.

"I believe we have great leaders on this team and the older players are going to help the younger players out," Wannstedt said. "I also think every guy needs to worry about getting it right and not worry so much about the next guy and what the next guy is doing. One thing is that when you are losing, everything [negative] is magnified and everything is under the microscope from a coaching standpoint.

"I think confidence would be the number one thing that would come from a win, we need that confidence again."

Sophomore tight end Nate Byham disagreed that the team is lacking confidence but acknowledged that there is something that isn't connecting from the practice field to game day. He said the team has had excellent practices the past two weeks and he knows if they continue to work that hard, sooner or later it will click.

He also took exception to the idea that has been floated among fans that they have quit on the season and are no longer responding to the coaches.

In fact, he said the opposite is true.

"That is not the case at all," Byham said. "We are working extra hard. We've put more time and effort into it, and if anything all of this has helped us come closer together as a team. We have a lot more people standing up and holding guys accountable, and I know I have become more of a leader through this as well.

"I mean, we are not losers, we don't enjoy losing, none of us. We know our talent, we know what we are capable of -- we've shown some real signs that we are coming together. We know all this hard work will play off."

Berry agreed with Byham and said anybody who believes the Panthers aren't working hard and working together doesn't understand the players and the winning programs most of them came from.

And the notion that the team is not sick of losing, that they are going through the motions or have already given in is ridiculous.

"It has been really frustrating," Berry said. "But nobody here is complacent. Maybe the fans or whatever are, but nobody here is. Everybody here is committed to bringing that winning tradition back to Pitt. We're going to work hard, we're going to do it and take each game one by one."

NOTES -- Pitt did get some good news on some injuries. Offensive lineman Jared Martin (shoulder) returned to practice as did linebacker Nate Nix (knee). Also, Wannstedt said defensive end Doug Fulmer (knee) is "getting close" to returning.