Is This the Year?

Power rankings on ESPN.com have Pitt at No. 24. Meanwhile, USA Today's preseason rankings show Pitt on the fringe of its Top 25.

Regardless of where the preseason prognosticators place the Panthers, excitement levels are high around the UPMC Sports Complex. And university officials seemed to beat everyone else to the punch, expressing some inkling of expectation prior to Pitt's colossal upset of West Virginia in the final game of last season by extending Dave Wannstedt's contract.

But let's put it all in perspective.

Pitt's 13-9 upset of West Virginia rocked the college football world and generated all of the buzz that you were just reading about. But is it warranted, or is it a big leap of faith and hope after a one-time aberration from the norm?

(Take a timeout here. Normally, I don't get into politics on here unless it's a joke, but can you see comparisons between Barack Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and Pitt's win against WVU? I know it took three years for Obama to reemerge as a presidential candidate, but that's basically like one offseason in football, right?)

The Panthers' offense revolves around sensational running back LeSean McCoy. There's even a "Shady Cam" on Pitt's Web site. McCoy will need some help from his backfield mate, 5-foot-7 roadrunner LaRod Stephens-Howling. But with all the focus on Pitt's running game, which still might not be enough to stop McCoy, the entire Panthers Nation will have its eyes transfixed on Bill Stull.

Stull, as many of you probably know by now, showed promise against Eastern Michigan last season before injuring his thumb. He didn't seem like a game-changing quarterback, but he appeared to be a confident manager of the game. With an explosive running attack, that may be all Pitt needs to be successful.

Expect Pitt to return the same kind of defensive power that it has maintained over the past few seasons. The athletic talent is there. Now all there has to be is a will to win and a game plan that works, something that surely has been missing the past few seasons.

But before we start talking about eight, nine or even 10 wins, let's get through training camp. Because last year's left everyone limping into the season. So slow down and think clearly.

After all, it's still Wannstedt coaching.