Q: Is there anything wrong with the Pitt football practice facility or gear or training techniques that predisposes to ACL injuries or is it just bad luck?

Michael Landay, Dallas, Texas

ZEISE: No, I think it is just a couple of guys had bad luck to be honest and though I haven't done a study, I really don't think that Pitt has had any more or less ACL injuries over the past few years than any other team. Injuries are a part of the game and I'd be willing to bet just about every team in the country by this point in training camp has lost a few players to season-ending injuries.

Q: So I see Josh Marks, who couldn't sniff the field at Penn State, is now going to Pitt and I'm sure that by next year he'll be Pitt's best lineman. Isn't this just another sign of Penn State's superiority over Pitt?

Kyle Frank, Philadelphia

ZEISE: Once again -- I thought Penn State fans didn't care about Pitt any more. But to answer your question, um, no. For one thing I am fairly certain that Marks is not the first highly-recruited kid who either was unhappy at a program or, for whatever reason, did not work out and decided to transfer somewhere else. In fact, this kind of thing happens every day and it all it says is that not every kid is going to be a good fit at every program. But secondly, Marks is being brought in as a walk-on and must earn a scholarship -- so it is entirely up to him. If he works hard, if he is motivated, if he embraces Pitt's strength and conditioning program, then maybe one day down the road, yes, he can help the Panthers. If, however, he isn't motivated, doesn't work hard, doesn't get in shape -- then there is no chance he'll ever sniff the field and, frankly, he isn't likely to be asked to come back to the team at this point next year. Kids transfer all the time, the only thing that makes this one even a little bit interesting is that he's going from Penn State to Pitt.

Q: How is Pitt's overall team speed looking? Better than most teams in the Big East?

Todd Reilly, Encinitas, Calif.

ZEISE: I obviously haven't been in any other Big East camps so I can't compare completely until I see the teams play. What I can tell you is that this is the fastest team, particularly on defense, I have seen at Pitt, perhaps since I started covering them. There is a lot of team speed and a lot of athleticism at almost every position. That bodes well for the Panthers but running fast, while helpful, doesn't necessarily mean a team can play football. Pitt needs to take this talent and athleticism now and turn it into a winning season.

Q: Will this year's team rip my heart out again or do you think they have turned the corner. I am hoping for nine wins. is that asking too much?

Paul Lochrane, Tarentum, Pa.

ZEISE: The first thing I'd say is I hope you saw a surgeon to correct that heart problem you are having..... Secondly, I think nine wins is a reasonable goal for this team, though I am not quite as sold that it is that good as some people are. I think there are some glaring holes and if they are not filled adequately, they could prove to be fatal. Eight wins is probably a little more realistic, but here is the other side of that -- if this team gets the ball to bounce its way a few times I could make a case for 10 or 11 wins as well. Anything less than eight, however, and I'd say you should get that surgeon on the line again.