PITTSBURGH — Pat Bostick is warming up in Pitt's bullpen again.

Bostick, then a freshman who had been on campus only a few weeks, was forced to play most of last season at quarterback after starter Bill Stull injured a thumb in the season opener. Bostick guided the biggest upset in school history, the 13-9 decision at then-No. 2 West Virginia that ended Pitt's season.

With Stull's status for Saturday's game at Notre Dame (5-2) uncertain because of the concussion he received in a 54-34 loss to Rutgers, Bostick is readying to play if needed.

Unlike last season, coach Dave Wannstedt won't have to accommodate him by oversimplifying the game plan so it resembles that of a high school team.

"I would hope that he would have a lot better understanding of what it takes to go out there and perform," Wannstedt said Monday. "I would hope that he would have a lot better understanding of the offense that we're running. I think he's definitely more prepared today than he was a year ago today. We didn't do one thing different Saturday when he came in."

Stull was taken off the field on a stretcher after his neck snapped backward on a pass play and rammed into teammate LeSean McCoy's back. Stull spent Saturday night in a hospital before being released with a concussion and sore neck.

Stull must pass a series of tests before doctors determine if his concussion has cleared up and he can play again.

"We're just going to take things with him day to day," Wannstedt said. "Everything we've received from Billy and everything we've received from the doctors is positive."

However, it's unlikely Stull would play if he isn't cleared until late in the week, especially given the opponent, so Bostick may have to make his first start since West Virginia.

Wannstedt flirted with redshirting Bostick and preserving a season of eligibility, only to play him late in the 42-21 win at Navy on Oct. 18. Bostick took over from Stull against Rutgers and immediately drove Pitt inside the 20-yard line before throwing an interception. He finished 6-of-11 for 69 yards.

In 2007, Bostick's statistics were more than acceptable given how raw he was — 155-of-252 for 1,500 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 10 games, including eight starts.

"Last year, it was a different story because he was so young and he was a little nervous," offensive lineman C.J. Davis said. "But he stepped in and did a great job, and we just have to do a little better job of protecting him if he plays this week."

Wannstedt has spent several days figuring out how Rutgers ended its season-long problems on offense by throwing for 371 yards and six touchdowns against Pitt (5-2) — with five TD passes in the first half.

His conclusion? Rutgers' ability to hit deep throws early in the game, when Pitt was expecting running plays, provided the confidence the Scarlet Knights' offense was lacking.

Mike Teel had thrown three TD passes in seven games, only to double that in a single afternoon.

"The players were there. The ability was there," Wannstedt said. "It just hadn't happened. Why did it happen? A couple of times there were mental breakdowns (in pass coverage), the other times they made some great plays."

Wannstedt knows what that means against Notre Dame, which is predominantly a passing team. Jimmy Clausen has thrown for 1,832 yards and 15 touchdowns while hitting on 60.8 percent of his passes in an offense that has thrown for 1,838 of its 2,697 yards.