PITTSBURGH — Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt made the decision he felt couldn't wait: Senior quarterback Bill Stull will start his third consecutive season opener.

Redshirt freshman Tino Sunseri has outplayed Stull during much of summer camp but, trying to prevent a quarterback debate from disrupting practice only two weeks away from the opener, Wannstedt said Stull will start Sept. 5 against Youngstown State.

Stull hurt a thumb and was lost for the season during Pitt's 2007 opener against Eastern Michigan, but came back to help lead the Panthers to a 9-4 record and Sun Bowl appearance last season despite sustaining a concussion at midseason.

Stull's production slipped substantially after he was hurt against Rutgers last year and, while he was the best of Pitt's top three quarterbacks during spring ball, he has struggled at times since camp began Aug. 10. Stull and Sunseri have gotten the majority of snaps in practice, while junior Pat Bostick — who started most of the 2007 season — is currently running third.

"Billy's the starting quarterback, and these other guys ... we're in training camp, and every day we go on the field we have to prove ourselves and continue to improve," Wannstedt said. "Improve the decision-making and throws, and that's what training camp is for. So, that's it."

Wannstedt knows that quarterback debates have a way of disrupting a season — he had ongoing quarterback issues while coaching the Bears and Dolphins in the NFL — and he doesn't want Stull worrying he might be yanked if he throws one bad pass or runs one bad series.

Until Wannstedt made up his mind following a scrimmage on Wednesday, Sunseri appeared to be pulling ahead of Stull. Sunseri was more impressive during the scrimmage, going 6 of 7 for 60 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass. Stull was 9 of 14 for 57 yards, but threw few difficult passes.

Stull realizes he wasn't as good a quarterback in the second half of last season as he was in the first, but he is certain he won't have any post-concussion issues going into this season.

Last season, Stull was 188 of 330 for 2,356 yards, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He played so poorly during Pitt's 3-0 loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl (7 of 24 for 52 yards and one interception) that it created some doubt if he could keep his starting job.

"It's good to hear that (he will start), but like I've said before, I have to prove them right," Stull said. "I have to do my job every single day. The things I do mess up on, I have to check it out and not make the same mistake again."

Stull plans to keep working in camp as if he still must win the job.

"I feel that it is a competition," Stull said. "I know how it is around here, and I know how camp is around here. I definitely feel that it is a competition, and I'm always going to compete and do my best."