Most Overrated Team of 2008? The Pitt Panthers
I’m just going to go ahead and say it: Pitt is overrated.
Way, way overrated.
Never have I seen a team get so much mileage out of one win as the Panthers have gotten out of their season-ending 13-9 upset of West Virginia last season. And now, simply because the Panthers managed to play one good game, the national experts would have you believe that, yes, the Panthers are for real. In fact, take a look at most preseason Top 25 polls, and you’ll see Pitt—a team that went 5-7 last year and has yet to post a winning season under coach Dave Wannestedt—listed among the best teams in the country.
Sorry, I’m not buying it.
With notable exception of sensational tailback Lesean McCoy, there is not a single elite player on this team (linebacker Scott McKillop is a good, but not great, defensive playmaker). There is no quarterback, as Pennsylvania prep phenom Pat Bostick has not yet proven he can play at the college level and somebody by the name of Bill Stull seems in line to take the top job. Then there’s the issue of the Panther line losing both of its starting tackles from last season, Jeff Otah and Mike McGlynn. The defense is solid if not exactly spectacular.
The schedule isn’t exactly a walk in the park, either (not even by Big East standards). The Panthers open with patsies Bowling Green and Buffalo, but then host a could-be-good Iowa team before hitting the road to take on a mysterious Syracuse squad and an always dangerous South Florida team. Two losses in that three-game stretch is not out of the question. In early November, meanwhile, there’s a trip to South Bend, where the Panthers will take on a much improved Fighting Irish squad.
The bottom line?
The 2008 Panthers aren’t all that much different than the 2007 Panthers—that is, an average-at-best Big East team that would be lucky to break .500, much less earn a bowl bid.
And I'd be very interested to hear somebody offer an explanation as to why I should think otherwise.
Photo: Though Pitt tailback Lesean McCoy is one of the best in the country, the 2008 Panthers have the look of an average team -- again. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Comments
YOUR COMPLETLEY RIGHT ON THIS ONE OVERATED.
Pitt in the top 25 is ridiculous. Thank you for the voice of reason.
Gotta agree. The Yinzers around here just don’t get it, and I’ve been pummeling them for trying to squeeze blood out of a 13-9 stone that they claim is the “true Pitt team starting to come together”. As a Pitt grad student and Dolfan, I can’t wait for the season to start so I can enjoy the schadenfreude. Pittsburgh and Wannschmuck deserve each other.
Ummm… Wondering if that Penn State degree has anything to do with your pick?
I’m sure you’re an objective journalist, but to be sure, I would think going with someone other than Pitt here would reassure us all.
Also, tell JoePa to get off his high horse and play Pitt home-and-home.
You are quite frankly an idiot. Maybe if you knew anything about the team, you would have a different opinion.
Their best QB, WR, DT at the beginning of last season all missed at least 10 games. No different than last year? You are one ignorant being.
That doesn’t even take into account the addition of other players like Elijah Fields and Jonathan Baldwin. You probably don’t know who they are because you have a job writing about sports even though you know much less than the average local fan.
No superstars on defense? Maybe if you watched them play you would know that Greg Romeus and Mick Williams are unbelievable talents.
Get a life. Way to go out on a limb and say a highly rated team that went 5-7 last year is overrated. I can’t believe you actually get paid to write the garbage that you write.
I honestly think you should get a new line of work.
You asked for rational reasoning on Pitt’s top 25 ranking for 08? It’s as simple as a top 25 ranking for the last three years by the scouting services on their recruiting classes. The talent on this team is just showing up now. The win against WVU did nothing but give confidence to a young team that was beat up by injuries to multiple key players at the skill positions last year. We all know that college football is all about momentum and emotion if all else is equal. This team is equal or better than any team they will meet this year except maybe USF and WVU and with that WVU win momemtum in place, Pitt’s 2008 season could be a big surprise. If they stay injury free on the offensive line, nine wins are probable. The team’s motto this season is “prove it” lets see what they can prove because quite frankly whatever you or I predict doesn’t mean jack sh*t does it? That’s why they play the games. Do me a favor and follow up your opinion in three months once some stats on paper and you can reassess your commentary.
Season is only half over but ready to eat some crow?
If Pitt didn’t lose to a bad BG team in their first game, Pitt would be Top 10 right now.
I’ll check back at the end of the season. Hopefully, some humble pie will be on your menu.
I say the most overrated is USC and Ohio State…I mean these two dont play anyone and they get all of this attention like there so good haha yeah right…USC is suppose to be in the BCS Title game every year but they slip up to the weak teams there playing..The same goes for Ohio State…HAHA Laughing at them fools!!!
I say Pitt is still overrated. Their best wins have come against overrated teams (yes Virginia; ND, USF, and Louisville are all overrated, and so was the pre-Stanzi Iowa team) and they haven’t played an above-.500 team that hasn’t been overrated yet. Tonight’s game against Cinci is the big test. As a longtime Wanny-basher (and self-hating Pitt student), I predict Pitt will go down in flames, thus proving that the Panthers are paper tigers.
What the heck are you talking about!?! Yeah, I mean Pitt has their wins and losses just like all those other teams, they went Florida and were considered the underdogs… well look what happened their.
I mean really if you are a Penn State fan big deal, a journalist of all people should not let their ignorant attitude show in their writing.
I think Pitt is a true football team! HAIL TO PITT!!