PITTSBURGH - Only a few of Pitt's current players weren't around for South Florida's previous visit to town, one of the most memorable games - if for the wrong reasons - of former coach Walt Harris' eight-season tenure.

Those who were there might want to share their memories with their younger teammates, if only because the game offers a classic example of the dangers of overconfidence, skimpy scouting, an inability to make in-game adjustments and, again, overconfidence.

South Florida came to brand-new Heinz Field on Sept. 8, 2001, to play its eighth game against a Division I-A team. The Bulls' only previous win over a Division I-A opponent was against fellow startup program UConn, and their six losses to established major college teams were by an average of 20 points.

Despite being 24-point underdogs, the Bulls turned an onside recovery of the game's opening kickoff, four touchdown passes by Marquel Blackwell from a spread offense and Pitt's game-long complacency into a 35-26 victory. The upset loss ranks among the most improbable in Pitt's 115-season history.

So, during a 2005 season in which these Panthers (2-4, 1-1 in Big East) were upset by Ohio U. and Rutgers, they might want to approach South Florida's first Big East road game Saturday with more than a note of caution.

Just as in 2001, Pitt is favored - if only by 2 points, not the four-touchdown margin of four years ago. Just as then, South Florida (3-2, 1-0) runs a spread offense that can feature as many as five receivers.

There's also been a big upset by the Bulls along the way, their 45-14 rout of then-No. 9 Louisville on Sept. 24 that eclipsed the Pitt win as being the biggest in the school's short football history.

"The people in Tampa know it's going to take a while before they can compete with the powerhouses down there," Pitt receiver Greg Lee said, comparing South Florida to Miami, Florida and Florida State. "But they've definitely been progressing."

That previous upset loss served the Panthers well last season when, taking all due precaution to avoid the mistakes of 2001, they romped over South Florida 43-14 in Tampa during a stretch of six victories in seven games. Tyler Palko threw three touchdown passes to Lee, who had 153 yards receiving.

"You never like to get whipped on like that," South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said.

But that was when the Panthers were throwing the ball with ease, something they haven't done at all this season. With the season more than half over, Palko has only about one-third as many yards passing (1,366) as he finished with last season.

Pitt hasn't been able to compensate with a running game that, until freshman Rashad Jennings ran for 102 yards in last week's 38-20 win over Cincinnati, hadn't had a 100-yard runner all season.

South Florida couldn't duplicate against Miami what it did against Louisville, losing 27-7 on Oct. 1 in its last game. The Bulls have since had two weeks to work on generating a passing offense of their own.

Pat Julmiste starts at quarterback, but he was pulled for Courtney Denson after going only 8-of-25 for 47 yards and three interceptions against Miami. Julmiste starts Saturday, but Leavitt is likely to have a quick hook.

"I just think about Pat going out and doing well," Leavitt said. "As the game plays out, we'll make those decisions. But I don't think, `Well, if Pat does bad, what do I do?' "

Much of South Florida's offense has been provided by Andre Hall, who leads the Big East with 521 yards rushing and has six touchdowns.

Notes:

Pitt has lost five of seven dating to last season. ... Palko was only 14-of-32 for 175 yards against Cincinnati. ... This is South Florida's first Big East road game. ... Lee said the Bulls' defense is one of the fastest Pitt will face.