PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh would have trouble enough replacing Heisman Trophy runner-up Larry Fitzgerald, the best offensive player in the school's history not named Tony Dorsett or Dan Marino.

But Fitzgerald's departure after only two seasons - and what seasons they were - is only one of a myriad of problems coach Walt Harris confronts in what might be his most challenging season since his arrival in 1997.

Problems? There are plenty. Answers? They're not readily available. As a result, even a weakened Big East Conference poses a challenge to a Pitt team coming off an underachieving 8-5 season.

Not only did Fitzgerald leave after breaking nearly every Pitt receiving record, but quarterback Rod Rutherford is gone, too. That means the Panthers not only must replace the two best hands in college football, but also one of its best arms.

"Replace him?" Harris said. "I don't think anyone can replace Larry Fitzgerald."

The running game that never got going because of NFL draft pick Brandon Miree's season-long injury problems has been weakened by running back Jawan Walker's academic ineligibility. The offensive line has only two starters back. The defense that was a sieve for any talented opposing running back has not been appreciably upgraded, though possible future stars such as sophomore linebackers Clint Sessions and H.B. Blades got valuable playing time.

The schedule isn't as rough now that Miami and Virginia Tech have bolted for the ACC. Still, the Panthers have Nebraska and West Virginia at home, Syracuse and Notre Dame in consecutive November road games and possible upsets-in-waiting at South Florida on Labor Day afternoon and Connecticut.

All this would be worry enough to any coach, but Harris' job security is also likely to become an issue should the Panthers struggle. He has turned a consistent loser during the 1990s into a reliable winner, even though his overall record is only 44-40, but he has not gotten Pitt into a major bowl game or made them a Top 25 fixture.

Maybe that's why Harris has been testier than usual during training camp, even questioning the toughness of team leaders such as Vince Crochunis for not practicing with minor injuries.

The offense, which Harris controls, is being rebuilt from the ground up. The quarterback will be either highly recruited sophomore Tyler Palko or Luke Getsy, a pair of former Pittsburgh-area high school players. Palko looks to have the edge, but only a slim one.

Palko is deflecting all questions about who will start to Harris, saying, "That's why he gets paid the big bucks."

Harris' response? "It's not fun to play quarterback derby."

Left tackle Rob Petitti probably is Pitt's best player on either side of the ball, but the question is whether anybody can run well enough to take advantage of his blocking. There is so little experience at running back that Harris is considering moving fullback Tim Murphy to tailback. Ray Kirkley, who started most of the 2001 season, is still around despite plunging on the depth chart the last couple of seasons.

And while Harris likes to refer to Pitt as Wide Receiver U. because of the depth and quality of the wide receivers it producers, a more accurate description might be Wide Receiver Who?

Besides Fitzgerald, Harris will have to replace starter Princell Brockenbrough, who will likely miss the season with a knee injury. Terrell Allen is also out with a wrist injury.

That leaves Greg Lee, who made 10 catches for 211 yards last season, as the most experienced available receiver at a school that has had at least one all-Big East wide receiver every season since Harris arrived. Behind him are mostly walk-ons and freshmen.

"When you have a walk-on (Joe Del Sardo) who looks like he is going to have a tremendous chance to start, that's not the grand plan," Harris said.

Kicker David Abdul was also lost for the season with a broken right leg, meaning junior college transfer Josh Cummings takes over the job.

Defensively, coordinator Paul Rhoads has a mostly veteran cast led by defensive end Thomas Smith (two sacks), safeties Tez Morris and Tyrone Gilliard, defensive linemen Dan Stephens and Crochunis and the two sophomore linebackers. The question is whether the unit will play like the one ranked in the Top 25 nationally in seven major statistical categories in 2002 or the one that allowed 440 yards or more seven times last season.