By Dave Holt
Sports editor
After a horrendous 5-6 season in 2005, the Pitt Panthers sit at 3-1 heading into this weekend’s matchup with Toledo. Panther fans should be happy with 3-1. The 2006 version of the Panthers, although not much different on paper, is strides ahead of last year’s team.

What remains to be seen is whether this team can win the games it is supposed to. Pitt failed repeatedly under former coach Walt Harris to win those games, most notably in 2003 against Toledo. Pitt was ranked ninth in the nation and even with Larry Fitzgerald fell to the Rockets 35-31.

Harris either couldn’t get his teams ready for those types of games or he had players that looked past soft opponents. The earlier is the better choice after watching this year’s team blow out Virginia, Cincinnati and The Citadel.

Michigan State was a winnable game, not a “should-win” game. This young Pitt team received a much-needed dose of reality as they let that game get away from them.

What was impressive was how Pitt responded against The Citadel Bulldogs last week. The Panthers scored two touchdowns in seven plays and blew the game wide open before the end of the first quarter. They didn’t make mistakes. They didn’t let the Bulldogs stay in the game.

The offensive line protected quarterback Tyler Palko tremendously and allowed him to finish 15 of 17 for 313 yards and four touchdowns and, more importantly, no interceptions. In fact, the only two glaring mistakes Pitt made the entire game led to the Bulldogs only points. Derek Kinder fumbled along the sideline, giving The Citadel a short field. On third and eight from the Pitt 34 yard line, the Bulldogs threw an incomplete pass setting up fourth and eight. However, Pitt linebacker Clint Session was flagged for being offside and The Citadel had another chance to get the first down. They did after rushing for two yards on third and three and converting a fourth and one.

One key in the Panthers strong rebound was the senior leadership on the team.

“We have good guys that want to win,” Wannstedt said of his seniors after the game.

Two of those guys are Palko and middle linebacker H.B. Blades.

“We executed fairly well. If you don’t, you can have trouble with games like this. But when you execute, you win,” Palko said.

“We got to play mistake-free, assignment football, no matter who it is,” Blades said.

The Panthers did, especially on defense. They shut down the option and the spread formations that they couldn’t stop against Michigan State. Blades and the rest of the defense held the Bulldogs to only 158 total yards, including only 53 rushing. The defense collected two turnovers, forced four fumbles, a turnover on downs and a safety. They also had seven tackles for loss, including three sacks.

“Anytime you get a chance to come out and play, it’s a chance to get better,” Palko said.

Though the caliber of the opponent dropped off significantly against The Citadel, the game definitely boosted the confidence of this young and relatively inexperienced team.

That inexperience may be the reason why many predicted the Panthers to go only 7-5 this year. But with a stretch of six games against Toledo, Connecticut, South Florida, Central Florida, Syracuse and No. 23 Rutgers, there is no reason to believe that Pitt won’t be 9-1 heading into their Nov. 16 game with West Virginia. All six are games the Panthers should win if they continue to execute like they did against The Citadel. Those teams have a combined record of 14-8 but the record is bloated because of four wins against pitiful McNeese State and Illinois.

“We’re not going to take any teams for granted,” Palko said.

Like Pitt did against Toledo in 2003.

Both Palko and Blades were on that team.

If Palko keeps his word and he and Blades doesn’t allow the team to become complacent, the Panthers should be 9-1 on Nov. 16. If not Pitt will have two sure losses against Toledo and Rutgers and possibly one or two more.

Also, hopefully, Walt Harris doesn’t plan on visiting Pittsburgh anytime in the next seven weeks.