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Q: Should we credit Neil Diamond with an assist in the win against UConn? I had no idea "Sweet Caroline" could be a fight song! The crowd went from deflated to exhilarated after the song and the 30,000 or so who were left were deafening with UConn being forced to punt. Can you explain the "Neil Diamond Effect"?

Sean Grimm, Allison Park

ZEISE: You know you aren't the only one who asked this, in fact, I got more than ten of these questions about Sweet Caroline changing the momentum in the game. Obviously, what happens in the stands can feed the emotions of the team to a certain extent and while I think this is a bit overstated I will agree with this -- something does happen in that stadium when the crowd comes alive and sings that song. I think part of it is because the students came up with the idea, pitched it to the athletic department and the athletic department listened and as a result, it brings a little extra energy. It is pretty interesting actually -- even the games like Youngstown State which were over long before the end of the third quarter, the crowd gets hyped for that song. What is interesting is, if you watch the team while that song is being sung, they seem to be getting into it a little bit as well. Hey, I'm not big on marketing gimmicks, but every little bit helps I suppose and this is one thing that every Pitt fan I've talked to seems to agree is a good thing and a good addition to the game day atmosphere.

Q: What would have happened if Pitt was up 21-7 at halftime Saturday as they should've been? I think Pitt would have lost because they would have played ultra conservative (as per Dave Wannstedt's past) and Uconn would've come back to win. It is almost better to have Pitt tied or losing at halftime then have them winning. What do you think and why do you think this is?

Jeff Poole, Wilkes-Barre

ZEISE: I don't agree with that -- I think if Pitt goes up 21-0 on Connecticut they would have blown the Huskies out because the Huskies aren't built to make a big comeback like that. They don't have a one-man show like Russell Wilson, they don't have a quick strike offense and I just don't see that offense being able to score if it had to become one-dimensional. Now, to your larger point -- I think we've seen Dave Wannstedt evolve a little bit each year and usually it is because he learns a tough lesson. Last year it was going for it on fourth down after not doing it against Bowling Green and losing. I think the N.C. State game has taught him that you have to keep scoring against good offensive teams if you want to win games. I know Frank Cignetti's philosophy is to be more aggressive and I think he's been slowly but surely selling Wannstedt on the idea as you can see the offense opening up a little bit more each week. So in short, I have sneaking suspicion that if Pitt gets a lead here in the near future, it won't sit on it like it has in the past. Obviously time will tell but I'll be shocked if they are up by 10 early in the third quarter against Rutgers, that they'll go into "run out the clock" mode.

Q: Any chance that we see more blitzes than usual from Pitt's defense on Friday to try to rattle Rutgers's freshmen quarterback?

Bob Podomnik, Jefferson Hills

ZEISE: No, that is just not Dave Wannstedt's style. He is not big on blitzing and he only likes to blitz in very limited circumstances. He really does believe in the "four go get the quarterback, seven defend the back" philosophy of defense. Pitt does blitz occasionally, but it is rare and it is usually controlled. And I don't think they will change much against Rutgers either, even though there is a young quarterback.

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