Pitt Football Notebook: Palko maintains friendship with Spartans' QB Stanton
Share with others:
It is not the same as the Manning Bowl between the Giants and Colts, but the two quarterbacks in Saturday's Pitt-Michigan State game are friends and have plenty of history with each other.
Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko was one of the top quarterbacks in the country coming out of high school in 2002 and was invited to participate in the Elite 11 camp near Los Angeles. The camp brings together the top high school quarterbacks in the country and Palko was there along with players such as former Texas star Vince Young, LSU's Jamarcus Russell and Ohio State's Troy Smith.
Spartans starter Drew Stanton also attended and he and Palko quickly became friends. The two have maintained their friendship and both have worked as counselors for the camp as well. This summer, the two, Smith and several others from that class got together and played golf during the week of the camp.
"Drew and I have become really good friends," Palko said. "We have a real close relationship. We talk to each other every week and, actually, we just exchanged text messages a little bit ago this morning. We wished each other luck and I'm looking forward to seeing him Saturday. He is a obviously a great quarterback and he is deserving of all the preseason honors he's had.
"I'm excited for him and the season he's having but I just hope he doesn't put up those Heisman numbers this week."
Through two games, Stanton has completed 40 of 57 passes (70 percent) for 479 yards and four touchdowns. He is also very mobile and the Spartans use the option. He has 17 carries for 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Injury update
Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said John Simonitis (ankle) and LaRod Stephens-Howling (ankle) are the only two players who are questionable for the Michigan State game. Stephens-Howling did not play Friday at Cincinnati and Simonitis was injured on the first play of the game.
"I expect LaRod to work into practice and hopefully John will hopefully do something [today]," Wannstedt said yesterday at his weekly news conference. "[Stephens-Howling] is doing a lot better and we're optimistic and we hope he will be able to do some things this week."
If Stephens-Howling is not able to play Saturday, Shane Brooks likely will earn his second career start. Wannstedt said freshman Joe Thomas would be the starter if Simonitis isn't healthy enough to play. Thomas and Dom Williams rotated at right guard Friday after Simonitis got hurt.
"I think Joe brings a little more physical play to the picture and to our offensive line," Wannstedt said.
Quick hits
The Pitt-Citadel game Sept. 23 at Heinz Field will be a 1:30 p.m. kickoff. It is not going to be televised, but it will be available on ESPN.Com via ESPN360.
Middle linebacker H.B. Blades was named the Big East's defensive player of the week. He had 14 tackles and recovered a fumble in the Panthers' win against Cincinnati. He has 27 tackles in two games, second most in the conference. "H.B. is playing better this year than last and a lot of that has to do with our improvement up front," Wannstedt said. "He is still involved in a lot of tackles. It is just that they aren't 10 yards down the field."
Wannstedt moved freshman defensive end McKenzie Mathews into the two-deep and said it is likely he'll play this week. He also said freshman tailback Dorin Dickerson is getting "real close" to working his way into the lineup. "After watching McKenzie practice some last week, I think he can help us," Wannstedt said. "I haven't made up my mind 100 percent because you don't want to use that redshirt year. If you are going to play [freshmen] you have to really play them."
Michigan State is 2-0 with victories against Idaho and Eastern Michigan. Spartans coach John L. Smith said yesterday he's still not sure how good his team is. "To this point we've played a couple of warm-up games and now this is where the warm-up games are over and we have to go play a real football team," Smith said.
Matt Freed, Post-GazettePitt quarterback Tyler Palko has thrown for 550 yards with six touchdown passes and one interception.
Click photo for larger image.
Al Goldis, Associated PressMichigan State quarterback Drew Stanton has thrown for 479 yards with four touchdown passes and one interception.
Click photo for larger image.
First Published September 12, 2006 12:00 am
