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Q: If Pitt wins the Big East at 10-2 and Cincinnati finishes second at 10-3, will that prevent Notre Dame from stealing the Gator Bowl? My understanding is that ND has to be within two games of the Big East's second-place team in order to secure the Gator Bowl. Could Cincinnati's extra game in Hawaii block this? Also, do you know the financial agreement between the Big East and ND? Is it true that the Big East has to share bowl money with ND, but ND does not have to reciprocate?

Bill Mic, Connellsville, Pa.

ZEISE: There is no official rule that says any bowl has to defer to the Big East based on a number of wins with regard to Notre Dame. There is nothing in the contracts and nothing really even unspoken. So theoretically, yes, the Gator Bowl could take a 6-6 Notre Dame team over an 11-1 Big East team. Now, I doubt that would happen -- in fact, I think the Gator Bowl would rather have 10- win teams which are ranked over a 6-6 or 7-5 Notre Dame team, so who knows what will actually happen. The key is, the Gator Bowl has an ACC team, the Sun Bowl as a Pac 10 team. The other opponent for both games is Big 12/Big East or Notre Dame. This year the Gator Bowl picks first -- they could opt to take a Big 12 team and if they do that I'd say it is highly likely that the Sun Bowl will take a 7-5 Notre Dame team over a Big East team. However, if there is a viable Big East option for the Gator, say a 9-3 West Virginia team. The Gator could opt for that over a Big 12, though considering how good the top of the Big 12 is, that is not likely. Either way, Notre Dame keeps its bowl revenue and the Big East keeps its bowl revenue, so there isn't actually any revenue sharing of bowl money.

Q: At the beginning of the season we heard a lot about the packages being implemented to involve Gregg Cross in the game. To date however, we rarely see him if at all. When he does get a chance he seems to do a good job at spreading the field and causing the defense to account for an extra weapon. Why are we not seeing more of him? Is he having a tough time grasping the offense?

Gregory Albart, Frederick, Md.

ZEISE: It comes down to this: Coaches haven't felt the need to use the package. It is in, it can be used any week, but circumstances haven't dictated the need to use it and, frankly, they are 7-2 and it is hard to argue with what they've done. This is Division I college football, not some recreation league where everyone gets to play half the game. Coaches have to win games and are going to put the kids on the field they think give them the best chance to win. There is nothing Greg Cross is doing wrong; it isn't about his not grasping the offense or anything like that, it is all situational and the fact that the coaches would rather have the ball in the hands of LeSean McCoy or Bill Stull when the game is on the line because those two have proven they can get it done.

Q: Why is Pitt taking so many small and medium-size running backs in this year's recruiting class and have open/pending offers out to even more yet? Especially since they all have near-same sizes and 40 times? Might some of them be converted to cornerbacks, safeties, nickel package linebackers, etc.?

Terry Smith, San Clemente, Calif.

ZEISE: This is a great question -- one I can't answer other than to say Dave Wannstedt's philosophy has always been take as many athletes and skill players as possible and find a way to fit them in. They all have speed, they can play special teams and return kicks and stuff, so taking athletes is never a bad thing. Some of them are obviously going to have to move positions but I'm not sure where and who. It is a little bit puzzling given their limitations in scholarships this year but they are looking to the future and, frankly, if you redshirt these guys, they will be ready to go in a few years when the depth chart isn't so jam-packed. Also, two guys listed as running backs, Kevin Adams will likely be a linebacker or a safety and Jason Douglas is going to be a slot receiver/return guy.