Pitt Panthers: Dave Wannstedt Now 0-3 in Season Openers When Team's Ranked

The Wannstedt apologists are working OT in the wee hours of the morning to explain why Mr. Pittsburgh can't coach a ranked team, this year's #15 the highest pre-season ranking he has achieved, to a victory over big bad Utah.

How will they defend their man after another disappointing opening game performance?

Was it the thin mountain air Wannstedt told reporters would not be a problem that did in his team?

Was it time for Pitt's luck to run in in OT games? Didn't the Panthers use up their luck quota in 2008 when they pulled out a 36-33 win at Notre Dame in four extra periods?

Was it playing a tough opponent to open the season?  Everyone knows how tough Utah is at home.

Starting a new quarterback who wore opening day jitters on his sleeve?

Failing to overcome 12 penalties and two turnovers?

Being forced to play catch-up after falling behind 17-7?

Deon Lewis only running for 75 yards?

Coverage on Jonathan Baldwin, Pitt's star receiver, reducing him to a non-factor until late in the game?

A word of caution to disappointed Pitt fans who expect at some point to go 12-0 and compete for the national championship: Wannstedt's cadre will be in full excuse mode all day.

Don't be swayed. In this loss the facts over-power excuses, especially with the classic elements of a Wannstedt stinker: 

*Secondary looked like it hadn't practiced at all.

*Defensive line struggled without pressure.

*Star receiver over-covered and under-utilized.

*Missed opportunities - many of them - like Utah's first half fumbles the Panthers couldn't transform into points.

Wannstedt fans will tell us to be happy. The Utah game isn't a Big East contest so it doesn't mean anything. That's fortuitous for Pitt. The Utes are 8-0 against the Big East.

Maybe this Pitt loss is evidence Wannstedt is actually doing better despite another season opening screw-up. After all, Pitt-Utah wasn't like the Notre Dame blowout in 2005 when Pitt was ranked #21, took at 7-0 lead, but fell big, 42-21. Last night's three point OT loss to Utah shows progress over the stinkero Wannstedt coached against unheralded Bowling Green in 2008, a 27-17 loss. Pitt built an early lead over BG, then Wannstedt played all conservative-like and the Panthers lost.

For the record book, Wannstedt is 3-3 in season openers, 0-3 when his team is ranked.

Unlike the NFL, college football has no playoff. As Jim Delany has said, "College football is unique. Each game is important in winning the national championship."

Wannstedt apologists will take consolation today in the fact that Pitt is 0-0 in the Big East. They probably would be satisfied with a 7-5 record in 2010 if it includes a Big East title.

If Wannstedt is ever going to win a championship at the college level - national  championship that is - he has to win the season opener, especially when fellow coaches and sports writers acknowledge his team's talent by ranking the Panthers in the early polls.