CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- When Pitt hired coach Dave Wannstedt after the 2004 season, he promised to take the Panthers back to the Johnny Majors Era. So far, it looks as if he has delivered on that promise.

The only problem is these Panthers are starting to look a lot more like the 1990s' version during Majors' second stint as Pitt's head coach than the team that won the national championship in 1976.

That's not a good thing as that second Majors stint marked one of the darkest periods in the university's 117-year football history..

But for the second consecutive game, the Panthers (2-3) did their best imitation of those dead-teams walking and were soundly thrashed by Virginia, 44-14, in front of 60,888 at Scott Stadium last night. Pitt fell behind, 27-0, by the end of the first quarter, trailed 30-7 at the half and never seriously threatened the Cavaliers (4-1).

"I don't believe, and I know judging by the way that we played tonight, this does not mesh with or make sense, but I just don't believe we are as bad of a football team as we have showed out there the last two weeks," Wannstedt said after the game.

"But, and there is a big but, we are what we are right now. We haven't even given ourselves a chance, in my opinion, to show what type of team we are or what type of team we could be.

"I have been on one-win teams in college and in the NFL and I've been on undefeated teams in college and Super Bowl teams and we are doing everything in practice and in preparation that championship teams do and our kids are working as hard as any team I've been associated with. When we get into the game, particularly early on, we just have not been able to keep it together, and I wish I could give you a reason."

Pitt, which had seven penalties and a fumble in the first quarter, attempted an onside kick to open the game, but failed to get it and gave the Cavaliers a short field to work with on their first possession. Four plays later, Virginia quarterback Jameel Sewell hit tight end Jonathan Stupar with a 2-yard touchdown pass for a 6-0 lead.

Joe Clermond blocked the extra point, but that was about the only thing that went right for the Panthers in the first quarter.

The Panthers quickly were forced to punt, and the Cavaliers took possession at their 49. They needed five plays to drive 51 yards and take a 13-0 lead on an 18-yard pass from Sewell to his other tight end, Tom Santi.

Pitt kick-returner Lowell Robinson fumbled the ensuing kickoff and, six plays later, the route was on as Sewell hit Rashawn Jackson with a 5-yard touchdown pass. After another Pitt punt, Virginia took a 27-0 lead when Cedric Peerman rushed in from the 1 with 1:22 left in the first quarter.

Virginia extended its lead to 30-0 when Chris Gould converted a 23-yard field goal with 8:52 to play in the half. The Panthers caught their first break midway through the second quarter when Tyler Tkach recovered a fumble from Virginia punt-returner Vic Hall at the Cavaliers' 22.

Three plays later, LeSean McCoy scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to pull the Panthers to within 30-7. The half ended that way.

Freshman quarterback Pat Bostick finished 18 of 31 for 180 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his first start. He led the Panthers on a six-play, 57-yard drive that ended on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Oderick Turner early in the fourth quarter.

The Cavaliers, however, quickly snuffed any thoughts of a Pitt rally as they took the ensuing kickoff and drove 59 yards on six plays and pushed their lead to 37-14 on Peerman's 13-yard run.

The Cavaliers' final score came with 5:25 left, when, despite having the game well in hand, they lined up to kick a 21-yard field goal. Instead, Hall, the holder, faked it and ran for a 4-yard touchdown.