The season is complete but just like every team that finished with a losing record and failed to make a bowl, the heavy lifting and hard work begins today. It wouldn't be an understatement to say this is one of the most important offseasons in the history of the program. The Panthers finished on a high note but they need to build on that. They need to finish strong in recruiting and get all of these injured guys back into the fold for the spring. I will do Q&A's through this Thursday and then my offseason begins. but we will bring back the Q&A the last week of January to discuss recruiting and signing day which is the next week, so keep those questions coming.

Q: Many people that I've talked to were appalled at the officiating of the Pitt/WVU football game and felt the officials were trying to 'give' the game to WVU to secure a spot in the BCS National Championship game. Hard to prove but what is your take on the two critical holding calls late in the game and the thought of that possibly happening? My own feelings is that with so much on the line in terms of money, prestige, etc I would not put it past the Big East to orchestrate something like this!

Carl Levin, Evanston, Illinois

ZEISE: Not surprisingly, this was a very, very popular question filling my inbox the last two days and the thing that makes it worth answering is that Pitt won the game, so it is not just a bunch of sour grapes. And the best part it is -- it was asked in many very entertaining ways -- like one guy who compared Michael Tranghese to Vince McMahon because the last few years it seems as if the key games in the conference have always produced a certain desirable outcome with the help of the officials. I thought that was funny. But first off, I don't think there was any conspiracy from the Big East office to try and make sure West Virginia got to the national championship game -- that notion is pretty silly. However, I will say this -- those holding calls on Oderick Turner and the celebration penalty --- as well as the non-call on the clear defensive holding by a West Virginia defensive back one play after Turner's second holding call -- were very, very questionable at best. And while I don't think, nor could anyone prove, the officials were trying to impact the outcome of the game, the Big East needs to take a very hard look at this crew as well as some of its other officials and make some changes because from what I saw this year. I've spoken with many media members who regularly cover this league throughout the year about this subject who have witnessed the same thing -- the Big East officials weren't very good, weren't very consistent and in some cases, flat out weren't fair in how they were calling games. The Big East clearly needs to review some of the calls in the Pitt-Rutgers game, the Pitt-South Florida game (there were some awfully tough holding and hands to the face calls in that game) as well as the second half of that Pitt-WVU game. If there aren't changes made to the lineup of referees for next season then the Big East is not doing right by its teams.

Q: Did Paul Rhodes save his job with the win over West Virginia? With Dave Wannstedt's extension, there is obvious trust in him, what new signs do you have for the coaching staff in terms of who is staying or going? Does this win bring a big change for Pitt?

Royce Jacomen, Blacksburg, Va.

ZEISE: I was ridiculed by some earlier this season when I said Paul Rhoads was:

(a) a good coach and ...

(b) was not in jeopardy of losing his job.

Dave Wannstedt has consistently said both on and off the record --- he respects Paul Rhoads, he thinks he is a good football coach and he wants him to be a part of the staff because he is not a part of the problem. So that game didn't save his job because, as I said, it was clear to me it wasn't in jeopardy. What it might have done is it might have gotten some respect for Rhoads from his legion of critics among the fan base. As for other changes, I don't think there will be many, or will there be the wholesale kind some people think. The bottom line is this season was influenced heavily by key injuries and that is the approach that will most likely be taken when the staff is evaluated by Wannstedt.

Q: With the graduation of several offensive linemen this year, what is the status of Scott Corson, who was a top PA lineman in high school?

Dion Freedman, Baltimore

ZEISE: He'll certainly be in the mix if he can get some things taken care of academically. The center spot is wide open and Corson is one of the few guys on the roster with experience as at center.