Sunday, September 14, 2003

By Shelly Anderson, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

It says a lot that after a 42-21 win yesterday the Pitt Panthers spent as much time apologizing and explaining as they did answering routine questions.

An optimist would say that proves how far along the program has come, that it wasn't too many years ago that any win would put Pitt in a state of euphoria.

A pessimist would say that anything shy of a total dismantling of Ball State spells doom for the No. 11 Panthers when they get past their exhibition-like start against Mid-American Conference teams.

A fatalist would say it was clear before the kickoff at Heinz Field that the Cardinals had no chance and Pitt would win big, so the Panthers' lethargic start was moot.

A realist would say there's some credibility in all those viewpoints.

Call me a realist with a cynical bent.

Having to fend off Ball State, a low-echelon team in the low-echelon MAC that had no business hanging with Pitt for more than a half, was difficult to explain.

"I think we came out with a lack of focus," Panthers tailback Brandon Miree said. "I think we prepared well all week, and we took this team seriously. It's just one thing we need to improve on."

"We just came out a little sluggish," added cornerback Josh Lay. "But championship teams put it together."

Championship teams don't play even with a program like Ball State for a half. They don't get called for six pre-snap penalties. They don't fail to cover at home when the point spread is more than 30 points. They don't put their fans to sleep early in the game.

Pitt was pathetic in the first quarter, getting no closer to a scoring chance than David Abdul's 50-yard field-goal attempt that bounced off the left upright and punting on its other three possessions. After the offense righted itself and scored two touchdowns in the second quarter, the Panthers' defense sagged, and the Cardinals too easily stacked two scoring drives in the span of 5:48 to tie the score, 14-14.

No wonder when the second quarter ended, the Cardinals sprinted off the field while the Panthers slunk to their locker room.

Surprisingly, there was no halftime tirade.

"Nope. I'm not much of a talker," Pitt coach Walt Harris said. "It looked like I gave them a hell of a talk, didn't it?"

The Panthers responded to something, scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter.

Quarterback Rod Rutherford was brilliant that quarter, completing 10 of 11 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns as Pitt pulled to a 35-14 lead by scoring on its first three possessions of the second half.

Ball State was not a threat thereafter, but the Cardinals -- who had not scored as many as 21 points against a major-conference school since 1996, a 26-23 loss to Minnesota -- gave the Panthers plenty to think about.

Harris was justified in emerging from the locker room with a stony look on his face.

"We didn't play very well," he said. "Why we didn't play consistently, I'll take responsibility for that. I know we're better than that, and I've got to do a better job.

"I think we're a lot better than that. Those are my sights and my dreams. I can't wait to get back out on the practice field and make it happen."

Those words weren't pithy. They weren't news. They were eerily familiar, though. Harris has said nearly the same thing in the past several years after close losses.

But Harris didn't let it stand there. When asked about his team's slow starts dating to last season, he quickly reminded everyone that the Panthers have won 17 of their past 21 games.

Last week, Kent State took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter before the Panthers poured it on for a 43-3 win. That kind of start won't fly against most of the teams Pitt will face the rest of the season , including Toledo next week on the road. Toledo, the last team in the Panthers' MAC parade to start the season, appears to be much better than Kent State or Ball State.

"MAC teams have a way of coming up to bite you," Harris said.

The Panthershave no teeth marks. They are 21-0 against MAC teams.

And, despite what Miree said, Pitt's biggest challenge might be getting excited about playing MAC team after MAC team. It was poor scheduling, but that's hindsight.

The good news is, there is no reason to believe Pitt lacks the talent to beat Toledo and many other teams this season, especially on offense.

Rutherford, stunning receiver Larry Fitzgerald, developing receiver Princell Brockenbrough, elusive tailback Miree, sure-handed tight end Kris Wilson and an offensive line that has overcome some retooling make up a reliable group.

The defense has come up a little short of expectations, with just two sacks and one interception in two games. The biggest hits have come from freshman Clint Session in games that should have served as a showcase. Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads is normally a master motivator with a winning scheme, and he can be trusted to effect improvement.

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