Whether you win by one point or 50 points, it still counts the same and that is the best news to come out of the Panthers 21-20 win over Iowa Saturday.

Pitt fans should be excited about this victory because this is the kind of game the Panthers have traditionally lost. I thought the win was a much about guts and character as X's and O's and frankly you'd hope this is the kind of victory a team in search of some confidence and an identity can build on.

The Panthers deserve a lot of credit -- as do the coaches -- because that was a tough, hard-nosed football game and they were able to claw their way to a win.

Those are my general thoughts on the game, here are some more specific thoughts ...

The good: The coaching staff loosened up a bit -- to a point -- and pulled some things out of the bag and went for it a few times on fourth down. It seemed like the coaches were trying to make some things happen which is what they need to. I thought the defense played well, particularly in the second half and the defensive line really came alive in the fourth quarter. The offensive line played fairly well and outside of some bad throws early I thought Bill Stull showed some grit and leadership. Also, Mick Williams played a heck of a game and the defensive line in general played very well, particularly down the stretch.

The bad: The coaching staff went back into its shell after the two touchdown drives and played again not to lose as they held onto a lead. The evidence? Six consecutive series without a first down in the middle of the game. It was only after the Panthers fell behind that the staff loosened up and tried to keep Iowa guessing. The idea that a 14-3 lead in the first half is something worth trying to protect -- as opposed to extend -- is a little frightening. I thought LeSean McCoy had a mixed day but he is still struggling to find his rhythm and the fumbles have to stop.

The ugly: The two turnovers were both a result of bad plays by McCoy and Bill Stull and that can't happen. The outside linebackers are still swimming and on some plays looking lost. If ever there was a route/play call that was tailor made for Jonathan Baldwin it was that flea flicker play. I mean, all he has to do is run fast down the field, get into the end zone and beat a one-on-one matchup. I thought the play was called at the right time but it didn't have the best personnel running it! Greg Cross touches the ball once and runs for a touchdown -- and we never see him again until late in the game on a play that had no chance of working. On one long play by Iowa in the first quarter -- the Panthers only had ten players on the field.

OK, let's get started for Monday ...

Q: What the heck is going on with all this booing from "Pitt fans"? I watched the game at a bar with a few people from Pitt and was embarrassed by the fans who need a reality check. I mean, the team was beating a pretty good Big Ten team at half time and getting booed running into the locker room. What is wrong with these people?

Ryan Kennedy, Savannah, Ga.

ZEISE: I agree. In fact, if I had not been at the game and just based the outcome on my e-mails I would for sure thought they had lost the game given all the negativity and the venom directed at the coaching staff. I don't get it -- yes, the coaches didn't make every play call they should have and yes, they gave up on a few possessions when they got into second and long by getting very conservative -- but Pitt did win the game.

Let me repeat -- Pitt won a game against a BCS conference team (time will tell how good this team is obviously, but it seems like a good team with some good players) with a big crowd at home on a beautiful sunny afternoon on national television. What is there to be angry about? Was it pretty? No -- but I am going to tell you, this team won't be pretty when it wins, this is a gritty group of guys who are just going to fight and fight, so just enjoy the moment. My goodness, it has been a long time since this early in the season there was something to feel good about with this team.

Obviously the team has a long way to go and a lot of room to improve -- but that should have you even more excited because it found a way to win while not playing its best game or a perfect game. The key is now for Pitt to go out and make sure it takes care of business against Syracuse this weekend and if it does -- something unbelievable will happen: Pitt will be going to down to South Florida for a nationally televised game that actually is relevant and a chance for the Panthers to showcase their program. Again, it wasn't a perfect game, but it was a perfect outcome if you are Pitt fan, particularly given the fact that Pitt fans haven't had much to cheer about in recent years.

Q: Dave Wannstedt has assembled some good, albeit inexperienced, talent on this team. After this win I am optimistic they will improve throughout the rest of the year. What are your thoughts?

Dan Scarsella, Newark, Ohio

ZEISE: I think that is the thing that Pitt fans should be most excited about -- as I said above -- this team is just scratching the surface. I mean --- look at the number of players, like Jabaal Sheard, like Elijah Fields, like Dom DeCicco, like Greg Williams, like Bill Stull, like Jason Pinkston and John Malecki -- who are big contributors and are only going to improve with more experience. I said this at the start of the season -- this has the looks of a team that will be much better in the second half of the year than it is right now and you can clearly see that. This offensive line is improving, the defense is starting to come together, Bill Stull is settling in -- there is no reason this team can't improve in a big way over the next month or so. Now, will that translate into wins? We will see, but there is at least reason to be optimistic now and I don't think you could say the same after three games last year.

Q: With all of the discussion about LB's, why is there no mention of Shayne Hale getting into the mix?

Jim Colaianni, Peters Twp.

ZEISE: He's obviously not ready and more importantly he is a middle linebacker and he's probably not a good fit at the two outside linebacker spots and as a result he isn't likely to get an opportunity unless something would happen to Scott McKillop. Hale will be fine, it isn't uncommon for highly-rated prospects to redshirt for a season while they sit behind a star player and learn the ropes.