Q: What's your take on Greg Cross? Will he live up to the hype -- transitioning from junior-college quarterback and Jayhawk Conference offensive player of the year - and contribute this season? If so, to what extent should we anticipate? He's an athlete and notably mobile quarterback, but what kind of passing game is he potentially capable of -- or will his skill set limit him to "wildcat" formations only? Last, who's looking sharper, Bostick or Stull?

Neil Markon, Philadelphia

ZEISE: Hype? I don't know if that is the right word. I'd say expectations are key with Cross. If you think he is going to be the full-time starting quarterback and lead the Panthers to glory, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. Unless I am missing something or he's had some off days, I just don't think he throws it consistently enough or accurately enough to run this West Coast Offense or any pro-style offense, for that matter. However, he is an excellent athlete and he throws it well enough that the Panthers will be able to use him in some special formations. In Saturday's scrimmage, he ran the spread formations for one series and it culminated with him running around the end for a touchdown - lowering his shoulder to get the final yard. He is fast and he is a good athlete and he'll help give the offense an added dimension, but I just don't see him being the full-time starter unless he makes a dramatic improvement in his passing. And so far, it has been Stull who has had the upper hand but there is a long way to go.

Q: What do you think will be the biggest surprise coming out of Spring Camp - something that came out of nowhere?

Reed Kohberger, Columbia, Md.

ZEISE: I'd say that there are a few - Buddy Jackson could emerge as the starting cornerback and he has a tremendous upside. I really think Greg Williams is going to be one of those players who shows up at some point during the season and does something special. Malecki, if you count that as a surprise, should emerge as one of the best offensive linemen on the team. There are probably some I am missing but so far those three have impressed me.

Q: In a December Q&A you stated that the Big East officials weren't very good and that changes needed to be made the lineup of referees the Conference uses. Do you know if the Conference aqrees with your comments and has addressed this issue?

Jim Price, Midlothian, Va.

ZEISE: Terry McAulay has replaced the recently retired John Soffey as the coordinator of officials for the Big East. That is a start and from what I understand there has been some changes to the actual list of officials for the league with perhaps a few more to come.

Q: After last season I believe that the Panthers could win any game on the schedule. At the same time, there are only a few games on the schedule that I would be surprised if they lost. With seven to ten wins probable for both teams, do you see the ND game as a make or break for both coaches following the events of 2007?

George Shaffer, Morgantown, W.Va.

ZEISE: No, I don't see any one game as a make or break but I do see the whole season as make or break for both. I think there is more pressure on Charlie Weis because he is at a place where expectations are always so high. I don't think 7-5 would be good enough for him to keep moving on. Wannstedt, however, will likely be able to survive at 7-5 with a bowl win, though I think this team would have to be considered an underachiever if it only gets seven wins and a minor bowl bid.