Redshirt junior Scott McKillop is Pitt's starting middle linebacker and is considered the leader of the defense.

That is a designation most players have no trouble accepting, but one other starter, McKillop's older brother, Chris, a fifth-year senior defensive end, still struggles with the idea of deferring to his younger brother.

That's not a surprise considering the two were competitive growing up. So when Scott started barking orders at the defense in the spring, Chris objected. What ensued was an old-fashioned sibling argument -- complete with a "you're not the boss of me" moment.

"It actually happened during the spring game," said Chris, a fifth-year senior from Kiski Area High School. "We were arguing out on the field and he, being the leader of the defense, was yelling at me. And since I'm the older brother I didn't want to take it from him, so I yelled back at him.

"He finally told me, "Shut up or I'm going to tell coach [Paul] Rhoads.' [It was like the old days when Scott would say,] 'I'm going to tell on you. So I shut up pretty quick.'

"I mean, at first, he's my younger brother, and I'm not going to let him boss me around, but then the mind-set goes back to football mode and I realized he is the quarterback and what he says out there goes, so you just have to step back and be humble about it."

McKillop said he and his younger brother have ironed out their differences, and he's proud that both will be starters this year. And there is no truth to the rumor that Rhoads put Chris McKillop in the timeout chair for 10 minutes after the spring game.

A Kiski reunion

The McKillops along with redshirt junior strongside linebacker Adam Gunn give the Panthers three former Kiski Area players on their starting defense. And since the three have been teammates for the better part of 10 years, they are looking forward to this weekend when they take the field for the first time in the opener against Eastern Michigan.

"It is really special," Gunn said. "We all grew up together, we are all good friends and we've been playing on the same teams since we were 11 years old. So this is exciting for us. [Our high school team] did not do as well as we hoped, but we are all here now, and this is our focus and hopefully things will be better."

Under the radar

Gunn is an interesting story because he was not considered a serious candidate to be a starter when spring practice began. Even coach Dave Wannstedt admitted he underestimated how good of a player Gunn could become.

Gunn, however, outlasted all the candidates fighting for the job, including heralded sophomore Dorin Dickerson, and last week was named the starter. Wannstedt said at the time that Gunn had become one of the most consistent players on the defense.

"[Becoming the starter] won't really set in until it actually happens Saturday," Gunn said. "I just tried to stay away from all that discussion about who would be the starter and tried to stay focused and take camp each day. I think the key for me was consistency because once you become a consistent football player, you are able to go out and make plays and the things will come to you."

Quick hit

Kickoff for the Connecticut game was set for 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Heinz Field. ... Kicker Conor Lee was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list. ... Despite reports to the contrary, the Grambling band will accompany the football team when the Tigers visit Heinz Field Sept. 8 and perform at halftime. The world famous band will join the Pitt band in "The Ultimate Battle of the Marching Bands" the night before the game at the Petersen Events Center. ... Wannstedt's call for a kickoff specialist was heard as the Panthers had two walk-on kickers auditioning for the job yesterday.