• Font Size    

KDKA.com Sports Links

2009 Baseball World Series
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Pitt Panthers 2009 Preview

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Sep 26, 2009 5:00 pm US/Eastern

Pitt Panthers 2009 Preview

Pitt Panthers News

By: Casey Shea
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― The Pitt Panthers kick-off the 2009 season Saturday at Heinz Field against Youngstown State.

With the Big East Conference largely believed to be wide open, how will Pitt's season go?

2008 Year In Review

The Panthers finished 2008 with a 9-4 record after a 3-0 loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl.

Pitt struggled in the game that was largely dominated by the defense.

Quarterback Bill Stull was 7-for-24 for 52 yards and an interception in the loss.

Kicker Conor Lee attempted a 58-yard field goal in the games final minutes, but the wind knocked it down and it came up short.

Head coach Dave Wannstedt is back for his fifth season with the Panthers and is looking to improve upon the second place finish in the Big East in 2008.

The Panthers shook off a season opening loss to Bowling Green by winning five straight games, including an upset of then No. 10 ranked University of South Florida 26-21.

Rutgers snapped the winning streak in a wild game of offense that ended 54-34.

The Panthers rebounded after the Rutgers loss with wins over Notre Dame and Louisville, before coming up just short against eventual Big East Champion No. 19 ranked Cincinnati 28-21.

Pittsburgh closed out the regular season with wins over conference foes West Virginia and Connecticut to finish 5-2 in the conference.

Key Players For 2009

For the Panthers to get where they want to go, these three players will have to step up and lead the team.

QB – Bill Stull, Senior – Stull finished 2008 188-for-330 for 2356 yards passing. Stull threw for nine touchdowns and ten interceptions, while completing 57 percent of his passes and a 119.88 quarterback rating. He was also sacked 25 times.

DT – Greg Romeus, Junior – Romeus finished 2008 with 51 tackles, 26 solo, and seven and a half sacks. The 6-foot-6-inch 270 pound Romeus closed out the season by taking home MVP honors in the Sun Bowl with two sacks and four tackles.

CB – Aaron Berry, Junior – Berry finished 2008 with 41 tackles, one sack and three interceptions, including one in the Sun Bowl. He was also selected to the All-Big East second team.

Key 2009 Games

While every game is important, these three games could make or break the season for the Panthers.

Oct. 16 @ Rutgers – The Panthers will go on the road to face Rutgers in the seventh game of the season. Rutgers is considered by some to be one of the favorites to win the Big East and this game could go a long way in determining the top dog in the conference.

Nov. 14 vs. Notre Dame – Notre Dame will make the trip from South Bend to take on the Panthers at Heinz Field. With all the hype surrounding the Fighting Irish this season, this game may be a clash of the titans.

Nov. 27 @ West Virginia – The Panthers go on the road to take on West Virginia in the 102nd "Backyard Brawl." Last season the Panthers edged the Mountaineers 19-15 at Heinz Field. The Panthers lead the series, 61-37-3.

KDKA-TV's Expert Predictions:

Mike Zappone: Pitt will finish 9-3 and tied for the conference title with South Florida. That game head-to-head at Heinz Field could decide who gets the BCS berth from the Big East. 10-2 is very possible if they can win two of three or better at WVU, Rutgers, and Louisville.

2009 Schedule

Sept. 5 vs. Youngstown State: Win 38-3  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Sept. 12 at Buffalo: Win 54-27  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Sept. 19 vs. Navy: Win 27-14  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Sept. 26 at North Carolina State: Loss 38-31  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Oct. 2 at Louisville: Win 35-10  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Oct. 10 vs. Connecticut: Win 24-21  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Oct. 16 at Rutgers: Win 24-17  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Oct. 24 vs. USF: Win 41-14  Game Recap |  Game Scoreboard

Nov. 7 vs. Syracuse: Win 37-10  Game Recap |  Scoreboard

Nov. 14 vs. Notre Dame: Win 27-22  Game Recap |  Scoreboard

Nov. 27 at West Virginia

Dec. 5 vs. Cincinnati

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.