Colin Dunlap: Hello, good afternoon. YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE at 34 Boulevard of the Allies, the Post-Gazette headquarters, where I am coming to you from today before I embark on my journey to Syracuse tomorrow. Well ... go ahead and shoot with the questions.

Mtnman: Great story on the punter. Can he play in the NFL?

Colin Dunlap: I think he can...yes. He has certainly fought hard to get to where he is.

Mtnman: Colin, who will have a big game against Syracuse?

Colin Dunlap: Just a hunch, and nothing more than that, but Alric Arnett....Sure, Jock Sanders is faster. Sure, Wes Lyons is bigger. Sure, Tyler Urban, at TE, can sit down in the middle and create more space...but this is just a hunch, Arnett will cause the secondary a ton of problems.

Mountainman: If the Backyard Brawl was today, who would win?

Colin Dunlap: Great question. It seems to me, at this point, the teams are about on par with each other. What Pitt did the other night with the two freshman tailbacks was very impressive ... VERY impressive. That said, Bill Stull's play -- after the guy got booed in Week 1 -- has also been tremendously impressive. And, there is always that Pitt DLine that is so tough. I think West Virginia, and no one will argue this, has a bit of a speed advantage. To your question, if they played today, it would be tight, VERY tight.

Mtnman: Will the turnovers be fixed?

Colin Dunlap: They need to be if the Mountaineers want to advance their season. I have said this before: If you keep handing the ball to teams, at some point, someone WILL make you pay. Not everyone is Colorado, which turned those turnovers into just 3 points. If WVU keeps giving it away, they will give games away, just like they did at Auburn.

Mtnman: You touched on the Internet recruiting sites before in your chats. Should we believe anything on them?

Colin Dunlap: Yes, you should. When you read quotes from recruits, you should. As with anything, there is good and bad. Let me say this: Look at the reporter for one of the Pitt sites, Chris Peak ... guy is a pro, a true professional. Whether it is a web site, a newspaper, a magazine, anything, Chris is a professional, reports the right way and could work a beat anywhere, covering any college team in this country. Pantherlair is lucky to have him. But, as a for instance, look at the beat I work, at WVU ... there is one guy in particular who, insists on phrasing his questions with "us" and "we" As in, "Coach Stewart, do you think WE need to run the ball more?" Now, the guy does not work for the University ... to me, only people who work for the University should use "us" or we" ... end of story. If you don't get a chanpionship ring when the teams wins a title, you shouldn't use those terms. Too many reporters feel they are part of the team when, in truth, nothing is further from the truth.

Mtnman: A score prediction for the WVU game?

Colin Dunlap: This is one I could see WVU really busting out of its problems of the early season, holding onto the football and scoring some points. I am going with WVU 42, Syracuse 13

Intrepid: Other than Cinn, who is ranked on WVU schedule? It's a weak schedule. Comment ...

Colin Dunlap: Perhaps you have missed what South Florida has done ... Oh, and, yeah, Auburn. Have you seen them?

policer: How good is Mike Williams?

Colin Dunlap: Tremendously good. Other than Gilyard at UC, Williams is the best receiver WVU will face all year. And there is a chance Mike Williams might just be better than Gilyard. If WVU lets Williams catch some balls, particularly some deep ones, it could get itself in trouble.

WVUtimmm: Can Noel Devine win the Heisman?

Colin Dunlap: He could, but then again, anyone "could." It is a nice though, but it would take a whole lot for him to do it. Seems the voters are in love with quarterbacks, that is the first hurdle. Secondly, it will be awfully tough for anyone in the Big East not named Tony Pike to get true consideration. Thirdly, West Virginia would probably need to win out for him to be considered and he would have to have a monster game against both USF and Cincinnati, when most people will see him on TV, for the voters to see him and consider him a bona fide candidate.

Mountainman: Mountainman: Will Scooter Berry play on Saturday?

Colin Dunlap: Yes, he will. Now, how many snaps is up for debate. My thoughts are that we will see Scooter Berry play about 75 percent of the snaps that he normally would if he were totally healthy.

Chooch79: Do you expect any special game plan that WVU will use to stop Mike Williams?

Colin Dunlap: Does Pac-Man have any eligibility left?

Mountainman: Who will win the Big East?

Colin Dunlap: Logic says Cincinnati. All that said, the more I think about it, anything could really happen ... UC could stumble. Right now, do not be surprised if Pitt, USF, WVU or, of course, Cincy heads to that BCS game as Big East champs. This month will be very, very exciting for the conference.

WVUtimmm: How much better is this Syracuse team than last year?

Colin Dunlap: Exponentially. Doug Marrone has made a world of difference.

Colin Dunlap: OK ... time for just a few more.

WVUtimmm: How does West Virginia make sure they don't look ahead to other games and look past Syracuse?

Colin Dunlap: I have to say this, the team "looked" a little different at its weekly media availability on Tuesday than it has previously. Gone were the smiles, gone were the jokes, gone were the funny answers. It seemed all business this time. With that said, I think there is a renewed focus which leads to them not overlooking anyone.

Chooch79: Does JB still play any pick up games with the hoops team?

Colin Dunlap: Hmmm, I'll ask him when I see him. My guess would be no, not during the football season. But, I would bet he gets out and gets in a run or two after the season ... guy is a tremendous athlete.

Mountainman: What should we look for from Syracuse this week?

Colin Dunlap: First thing you won't be able to ignore is Arthur Jones, their nose guard...he is one of the best in the country. Also, look for this -- how QB Greg Paulus bounces back if he makes an early mistake. If Paulus throws an INT early, or goes three-and-out a couple times, how he bounces back will be huge.

Colin Dunlap: Alrightly, folks ... good stuff. Now, I've got to get back to work. Heading up to Syracuse tomorrow and, if you see me out in Syracuse tomorrow night, remember you can always buy me something to drink ... in the words of my coworker Ed Bouchette, sportswriters like two kinds of beer -- Free and Free Light.

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