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Q: How much say does a team have in deciding the start time and dates? Pitt expressed that they like late start Saturday games later in the day and play no Friday games yet we have two Friday games and only one Saturday afternoon at 3:30 game in four weeks and now South Florida game is a noon kick-off as well. Is TV by far and away the biggest factor?

Mike Stoli, Philadelphia

ZEISE: Yes, it is, and while the school has some input, it also usually has to bow to the wishes of the conference and to television. Pitt also has, at least early in the season, the dynamic of having to work with the Pirates (because they share the parking lots) from time to time. If both teams are home on the same Saturday, one has to play early and one has to play late and they work it out -- that is just how it is. Teams want to play on television and that usually means television dictates what time and day the game is played. Pitt will not play a Friday night home game ever, but it has agreed to play Friday nights on the road. The South Florida game, for instance, that is the conference's call and the conference wants it to be the Big East game of the Week for television so that's why it is a noon kick. There is often a bit of a give and take in these discussions -- like Pitt has been able to leverage some extra television games for moving games to a different day or time -- but for the most part the conference and the conference's broadcast partners hold the power when it comes to the start time of televised games.

Q: I just heard Kirk Herbstreit say on ESPN2 he won't vote Cincinnati into the national title game no matter how good they look because they lack "wow factor" and because their schedule isn't good enough. So here's someone who has a say in who plays for the national title saying he's already decided -- with/ the season not even halfway over and the Big East and Oregon State (who Cincinnati beat) not yet proving how good or bad they are -- that he's not voting for a team regardless of how good they look. What do you make of that, Paul? Is college football a sham?

Ryan O'Hara, Philadelphia

ZEISE: I didn't hear him say it so I can't verify if that is what he actually said -- but if it is, then he should have his vote revoked because that is just silly. I do know this -- if Cincinnati is one of only two undefeated teams at the end of the season and they don't play in the national title game, then college football is indeed a sham. Actually, college football in some ways already is a sham in that a beauty pageant is more objectively judged than the way the two teams to play for the national title are picked. Until there is a playoff, the sport will continue to be a national punch line and travesty. That being said, Cincinnati, if it is undefeated and one of only two left standing, I believe will play for the national title. Now, if say, Florida and Texas are undefeated, then obviously Cincinnati will be on the outside looking in. That's just how it is.

Q: I can't help to notice that this is Robb Houser's last year as the Panther's starting center. Is there anyone capable picking up once he departs the team? I know next year is still a long way off but center anchors the offensive-line and that could pose a problem, especially with a new quarterback at the helm. What are your thoughts?

Eric Bruno, Louisville, Ky.

ZEISE: This is actually a great question. I know if Houser goes down this year a guy like John Malecki would likely have to move to center. Alex Karabin is the back-up but I'm not sure he's shown enough that coaches would trust him to be the full-time starter at this point in the season. He hasn't played at all and as we saw last year -- when C.J. Davis stepped over and filled in at center -- the transition for a guard with athletic ability can be done with little trouble. As for next year -- good luck with that one. Karabin will be given the first shot but I don't know right now who else will be in the mix because they've moved so many of those younger guys around so much. It will be very interesting. Pitt still could also go out and find a junior college center to step in and I wouldn't discount that possibility, either.

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