Smith

PITTSBURGH — It's a game-time decision.

When Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said earlier this week that he might not reveal his starting quarterback for Saturday's game against Grambling until kickoff, he apparently meant it.

There is every sign that redshirt freshman Kevan Smith, a Seneca Valley graduate who has be in Pitt's program for more than a year, will get the call over freshman Pat Bostick, who has less than a full month of practice.

But with Bostick the likely starter in a year or so, the temptation is there for Wannstedt to give the freshman recruit a chance to play, and now.

"I think you have to be careful that when you name a starter that the other guy doesn't get down," Wannstedt said of Pitt's first game against Grambling, a member of the former Division I-AA. "It's more than likely that you're going to be playing both of them anyway."

Smith completed two of four passes in a 27-3 decision over Eastern Michigan last Saturday, but only after first-time starter Bill Stull tore a right thumb ligament. Stull, a junior, may be out for at a month or more.

Smith or Bostick? Could be that if one doesn't move the offense against Grambling, the other will get the chance.

There's a possibility Pitt could play much of the game with two freshmen in the backfield who weren't in the program last season. Freshman running back LeSean McCoy ran for 68 yards on 10 carries against Eastern Michigan.

"Just last week with the running backs, LaRod (Stephens-Howling) and LeSean, we didn't have a set number of plays," Wannstedt said. "I think that's what we'll do with the quarterback, see how it unfolds and see how our guys play. If somebody goes in there and lights it up and his group is playing good, we might let him play the whole game."

Pitt offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh is familiar with the difficulties of replacing a starting quarterback after one game.

In 1977, the season after Cavanaugh and Tony Dorsett led Pitt to a national championship, Cavanaugh hurt his wrist in the opening game of the season — and, with Cavanaugh out, the Panthers couldn't hold a 9-0 lead and lost to Notre Dame 19-9.

After that, freshman Rick Trocano stepped in to lead victories over William & Mary, Temple and Boston College before Cavanaugh returned. The year before that, Cavanaugh had gotten the job during the national championship season when Robert Haygood was hurt.

Pitt's biggest worry in its only game against a Football Championship Subdivision team this season is how it handles Grambling's speed. The Tigers beat Alcorn State 31-10 last week in their first game under new coach Rod Broadway.

Brandon Landers completed 19 of 36 passes for 303 yards and four touchdowns and Frank Warner ran for 143 yards on 30 carries. That's a lot more offense than Eastern Michigan put up as the Eagles were held to 39 yards rushing and 145 yards by Pitt.

"Pittsburgh should be better than us simply because they have 85 scholarships and are Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision)," Broadway said. "But we're going to go out and challenge them, and it will tell us a lot about the type of football team we have here."