Bidding for a bowl
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt isn't unhappy that several players criticized their teammates' preparation and commitment following consecutive losses, but he wishes they hadn't complained publicly.
Quarterback Tyler Palko said the Panthers (6-3, 2-2 in Big East) aren't unraveling despite losses to South Florida (22-12) and No. 15 Rutgers (20-10), and he expects them to bounce back in their final three games.
Pitt, trying to rebound from a 5-6 season a year ago, has a difficult closing stretch with Connecticut (3-5, 0-3) on the road Saturday, followed by No. 10 West Virginia (7-1, 2-1) and No. 3 Louisville (8-0, 3-0) at home.
The Panthers probably need to win one of the three to go to a lower-tier bowl game. Wannstedt wants to make a bowl trip because it would give a relatively young team an extra month of practice.
"It's important to get win No. 7," Wannstedt said. "We need to get things corrected that have not given us a chance to win the last two weeks: Sacks, penalties and turnovers. It's easier said than done, but you make it real clear."
Most Panthers didn't have any trouble understanding the message sent by star cornerback Darrelle Revis, who accused some of quitting during the South Florida loss Saturday.
The Panthers' other top defensive player, linebacker H.B. Blades, also wondered if some teammates were entirely into a game that followed a week off.
"You'd rather keep it among us," Wannstedt said of the in-house criticism. "I mean, I love their attitude. These are guys who expect so much and want to perform at a high level and want their teammates to perform at a high level. I like what they're saying, I'd just like it more if they said it on the sideline."
Wannstedt also said Revis, considered one of the top cornerbacks in college football, sometimes gets frustrated because teams rarely target him and "he doesn't get much action."
The South Florida loss also was marred when tight end Darrell Strong flashed an obscene gesture after scoring a touchdown. He drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that hampered Pitt's attempt to rally in the second half, and Strong has been suspended indefinitely.
Palko, considered the leader on offense, defended the critical remarks made in obvious frustration following a game the Panthers felt they should have won.
"If you have someone out there busting his tail and he feels that someone else is not..." Palko said. "I choose not to do that in the media, but players have a right to say what they need to say.
"If a player is looking for someone else to get it done, then they need to go play tennis or some other individual sport," he said.
The Panthers also have seen their offense stall, with only 22 points in the two losses after they scored 33 or more in five of their first seven games. With the running game producing little — 122 yards in two games — much of the burden for producing yardage has fallen on Palko and his receivers.
Palko had 18 touchdown passes and three interceptions through seven games, but has thrown for only 328 yards in the two losses and had three passes intercepted by South Florida.
"It starts with me," Palko said. "We need to look at ourselves and fix what needs to be done."
