MPM: Does Elijah Fields make the switch to linebacker full time next season? He's responded well to this hybrid position, he's playing now in the nickel, and it would make sense to me to see him as a full time outside linebacker next season with the way Jarred Holley has played.

Paul Zeise: I'd say given that the two outside linebackers are back and Mason is ready to step in the middle, no. I do think, however, they will use the nickel packages more and find ways to use him as a fourth linebacker as well as a third safety -- in other words, come up with some different coverage schemes, to incorporate him into the mix at a position where he can have a little more freedom to use his athleticism. That's especially since Taglianetti will be back next year so the Panthers will have three guys capable of playing safety and will have the luxury to explore some different looks using Fields.

Frankie_CigsPack: Any word on who Pitt will play as their 6th home opponent for next season?

Paul Zeise: Well, Pitt fans are probably not going to like this but from my discussions it seems almost certain that it is going to be a Division I-AA opponent, which means the Panthers will have the dreaded two I-AA's on their schedule. Now, I do know that they have Miami, Utah and Notre Dame -- and they are three good teams, but to me, there is no excuse for having two I-AA's ever. There has to be someone out there willing to play, and if it means another tougher game, for your fan's sake, you should do it. That's just my opinion.

Frankie_CigsPack: If you had to pick right now, who would you say wins the Big East and the BCS berth?

Paul Zeise: I really don't have a good feel for that. I'll say this -- WVU, Pitt and Cincy are the three best teams, no question about it. And out of the three, I believe Pitt has the best players top to bottom. But that doesn't mean they will win both of those games, as we all know. Cincy is extremely well coached and plays hard and doesn't make many mistakes. The Pitt-WVU game is a rivalry game, which means anything at all can happen. It really will come down to this -- which team plays the best games down the stretch (i.e doesn't make mistakes and makes plays when they are there to be had)

theWellHungarian: If Pitt would have beat NC State, where do you think they would be ranked? Top 5? Top 10?

Paul Zeise: I'd say they would be a top 10 team. Maybe about 8th or so.

bb355: hey paul, how you doing? just hope pitt doesnt overlook syracuse next weekend, I think they are a better team than their record shows and for some reason when pitt plays so called weaker teams, they seem to let up a bit and always makes it a close game.

Paul Zeise: Yes, I won't be surprised if it is a closer game than it should be, although Pitt can be at least somewhat happy by the fact that Troy Nunes no longer plays for the Orange as he was a Panthers killer! But Syracuse will come in and give Pitt its best shot and if the Panthers aren't ready to match that intensity it will be a very tough game.

theWellHungarian: From the little, granted very little, I've seen Tino Sunseri this year, I don't feel too confident about the QB position next year. Is Bostick going to be given a chance to win the starting job or is it essentially Tino's to lose?

Paul Zeise: Yes, Pat and Tino will battle for the job through spring and fall. And I wouldn't worry too much about it because Tino has just gotten a few a little tastes of it -- hasn't gone through a camp as the starter, hasn't had the benefit of playing full games and working with the entire gameplan -- so the bits and pieces we've seen have been basically just him getting his feet wet -- you know, the proverbial "he got some work...."

Frankie_CigsPack: I know it's way too early to start talking about this, but who do you see winning the QB job next year?

Paul Zeise: Really, I could make a strong case for either Bostick and Sunseri -- it really will come down to which kid plays better in the spring and summer. I don't think either is the favorite right now.

Frankie_CigsPack: Dion Lewis and Ray Graham have been phenominal so far. Will the recruiting at the RB position take a back seat for 2010-11?

Paul Zeise: No, there are already a few running backs committed in this class and I'm sure there will be a few more in next year's class. Dave Wannstedt believes you can never have too many running backs because they get hurt and because they are usually good athletes and are the kinds of players you can move around to other positions.

GoPitt: If Pitt doesn't use the bandit package, who is the starter, Elijah Fields or Jarred Holley???

Paul Zeise: According to Dave Wannstedt, it is still Elijah Fields with Holley being the third safety. But like I pointed out earlier this week -- other than Notre Dame, the Panthers play three spread teams so i think we'll see a lot of nickel/bandit/buck/dime whatever you want to call it (I realize they are all a little bit different but they are essentially the same packages with a little tweaking)

theWellHungarian: Let's get this question out of the way.... Pitt vs. Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. Your Prediction?

Paul Zeise: I think that people are kidding themselves if they think Penn State would blow out Pitt this year. The Panthers have a better offense than Penn State does and a defense that would match up well with Penn State's offense. It would be a close game but frankly, I'd give Pitt the edge this year -- say the Panthers would win by 6 points -- because the Panthers offense is so versatile and has so many weapons and because Penn State's offensive line isn't great and I think Mick Williams and company would have a great day.

GoPitt: What lit the fire under Greg Romeus the last few weeks? He seems to be making more plays than in first couple games of season

Paul Zeise: I think he realized early in the season that hard work is what brings success and not headlines and other stuff. He really needs to work hard and when he does -- we've seen it over the past month -- he can become a really dominant kind of player. He was one of the guys early in the season who probably read his headlines a little too much but then he realized, it isn't going to just come -- he's got to go out and get it, and he has.

GoPitt: Why the change in philosophy for Pitt? They kept the pressure on in the USF game even though they were up by a lot. In the past, it was lets try to protect the lead and not challenge the other team

Paul Zeise: I think there was something learned in that N.C. State game and it was this -- the Panthers are too good on offense to try and shut it down the way they do. They've earned the trust of the coaching staff and they've earned the trust that they are not going to turn the ball over or put the defense in bad situations, and I think also the coaches learned that the defense might not be good enough to shut it down the way they thought they could when the season began.

Memory_of_Terrelle: Assuming a split between Syracuse & ND (not a given either way), would you prefer a win over WVA or Cincy?

Paul Zeise: You can't lose to Syracuse because if you do, nothing from that point matters. It is the win you need to put yourself in position to play the top two teams with a chance to win it all -- and not have to rely on anyone else to help you get to the Big East title. As for the other two games, it doesn't matter to me -- I just hope they are both done in time for me to turn my story in on time.

MPM: What would be your best guess as to the game time for the Notre Dame game?

Pau Zeise: I'd say it looks like it could be headed for a night game, perhaps even all the way to prime time kick-off (that 8 p.m. slot).

Frankie_CigsPack: What are your thoughts on the BCS process and do you hope at least 4 teams go undefeated to create more controversy?

Paul Zeise: I hate the BCS and think it is a stupid way to end an otherwise great season. Nobody knows who is going to beat who on a given day so to validate Florida's undefeated season -- against an extremely overrated and surprisingly weak schedule -- while saying that of Boise and TCU or even Cincy isn't good enough, is ridiculous. College football is great for 12 or 13 weeks then turns into a fraud and a national punchline for NCAA greed and stupidity. Other than that, I have no opinion on it

Menofpaws: If there were a "comeback player of the year" for college football, whom would you give it to...Tony Pike or Bill Stull? Never in my wildest dreams have I ever seen this transformation of a player. But then again, I picked Cindy Lauper over Madonna.

Paul Zeise: It would be Bill Stull in that group (though I think they would probably give it to the kid from Boston College who came back from cancer)

Maxo70: What freshmen or younger players are making the biggest impression on the scout team? Who can we expect to contribute next year?

Paul Zeise: Haven't heard much about the scout team, other than some of those young offensive linemen are playing extremely well and that position seems to be on the rise and in good hands.

Panther_Hollow: Paul, how much do I have to pay you not to bring up attendance in any of your Q & A's for the rest of the year? I believe the amount of tickets sold is a better barometer than fannies in seats.

Paul Zeise: Well, it is news and it is a part of the story. And do you really want me to start announcing tickets sold versus attendance? I mean, for instance, they had 57,000 tickets sold for the game on Saturday against South Florida -- and if there were more than what, 38,000 -- maybe if you stretch and count everyone who tailgated, everyone in the press box and who works in the stadium and everyone who was at the casino you get to 40,000? Doesn't that make Pitt look even worse? That not only couldn't they get more than 50,000 to attend a big game, they had 17,000 to 20,000 no shows as well?

Menofpaws: Curious, were you and Gorman actually at odds or are you guys buddies?

Paul Zeise: Gorman? I hate his guts. No,seriously we're very good friends, we went to Point Park College and worked on the school newspaper together. I was sad to see him leave the beat because it is nice to have a couple of good friends, like Chris Peak and Gorman, to travel with and hang out with on those road trips. I still talk to Gorman a lot but obvioulsy I don't see him a lot because he only occassionally drops in at practice. But John Grupp is a good guy, so that's cool, too. Honestly, when you spend as much time as we do around the team and around the guys who cover the team, you better learn to get along with people or it will be a lonely existence.

Frankie_CigsPack: What have you heard about the 2 QB recruits coming in next year? Any chance either of these guys could see the field next season?

Paul Zeise: I doubt it just because they are going to have to come from behind after missing spring and, frankly, by the time summer rolls around Bostick and Sunseri will be gobbling up most of the reps in order to try and win the job. It will be tough for one of the younger kids to make an impression. It is not impossible, but it will be tough. The kid from Cleveland -- Myers -- is more of a traditional, dropback passer, while the Gonzalez kid is a mobile/athletic/multi-purpose kind of quarterback so there is a contrast in their style as well. There is also still Kolby Gray bouncing around.

ImmaManIm40: Did you see that Stull was given an ESPN "Helmet Sticker" Saturday nite for his performance against USF? Those stickers are corny, but still... . I'll bet no one else, not even Stull's parents, imagined that possibility after Sun Bowl.

Paul Zeise: And like I said earlier this week on the Sports Showdown (or maybe it was the Nightly Sports Call) -- if I would have told you before the season that out of these quarterbacks -- Bill Stull, Jarrett Brown, Terrelle Pryor and Darryl Clark -- Stull would be having the best season -- and by a lot, people would have tried to have me institutionalized!!! His transformation from journeyman to excellent quarterback has been something really amazing.

Frankie_CigsPack: Can you give us some insight as to what the team thought of Bill Stull at the beginning of the season to where they see him now? It's a great story in college football this year without a doubt.

Paul Zeise: Yes, a lot of the team wanted Tino to be the guy because they didn't have much faith in Stull. Now, if you talk to them, most of these guys would run through a wall for Bill because he's earned their respect, not just as a good quarterback but as a tough guy who is a leader and who wants to prove he is a winner. Respect and confidence from your teammates are two things you must earn and Stull has certainly done that.

ImmaManIm40: This is easily the best Pitt offense in the Wannstedt era, they hit you from everywhere with multiple warheads, a very pleasant surprise. How much of that do you contribute to the extra month of practices before last year's bowl game, also the first of Wanny's regime? How much is due to a new OC? How much to Neil Diamond?

Paul Zeise: Yes, it may be the best offensive team I've covered -- in terms of versatility and ability to score in so many ways. Walt had some explosive offenses but I'm not sure I remember one which also had the element of a Dion Lewis who could run for 150 yards and two touchdowns any given game. The consistency of the running game is what separates this group -- but again, the three toughest games are ahead.

Big_John: This a comment more than a question but there was an incomplete pass that Bill Stull threw right before half time that a year ago I think he woulf have tried to do too much with. He nicely just threw the ball away and preserved field position for the field goal. Is that him growing up, or Frank C. being a better coach than Matt C?

Paul Zeise: It is the natural progression of a quarterback, who is going to make better decisions the more he experiences things.

ImmaManIm40: Throwbacks are all the rage now. Odds that Pitt rolls out the Script unis for ND, and rocks the house down?

Paul Zeise: I'd say somewhere between slim and none.

theWellHungarian: I still don't understand why they don't tarp off the one section of seats (518 -- 527) with a P-I-T-T and create a greater demand for tickets. The argument in the past was that the on-field product was the reason for low attendance. This can't be the case this year. A packed stadium will look much better on TV.

Paul Zeise: Yes, that isn't a bad idea but then again it smells of an inferior program so I don't know that they want to do that. I've often said they should designate those seats as the family area, make the tickets dirt cheap for a foursome which includes kids, and try to sell it that way.

PittDC: How many ND fans are buying season tickets and not showing up except for that game? Also, Panther_Hallow could pay people to go to the games, then I'll stop asking you about the attendance Paul. It's shameful.

Paul Zeise: I'm sure there are some, but I have a hard time believing 17,000 Notre Dame fans have bought season tickets, not when there was actually a game where there were legitimately close to 55,000 in the seats. I often think attendance if overrated, too, and frankly the programs which seem to brag the most about attendance -- i.e the Big Ten programs -- are the ones which seem to have only that and academics to cling to because they realize that they are so far inferior to the truly elite teams in the country on the field. I mean, fans of college football should cheer hard for Ohio State to beat Iowa and thus get rid of the possibility of having yet another overrated Big Ten team get smacked around in the national title game by an SEC team....

Paul Zeise: OK, this was a lot of fun. Next week, we will do it again and talk a lot more about Syracuse. Enjoy the bye week, there are some really good games on, and we'll talk again.

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