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Q: What does Scott McKillop have to do to become a game day captain? I understand the kid is only 2nd in the NCAA D-1 in tackles, I'm sure he will pick it up some. This coaching staff is famous for pumping up their own recruits and ignoring Coach Harris recruits.

Dave Murrman, Leechburg

ZEISE: There are some things this staff can definitely be criticized for but this is not one of them. And this is not even close to the truth so whoever continues to float this nonsense out there on message boards and whatnot should stop because it is silly. At Big East media day, attended by all of the national media and where teams showcase their best players, who represented the Panthers? It was Joe Clermond (Harris recruit) and Derek Kinder (Harris recruit). Mark Estermyer, Chris McKillop, Eric Thatcher, Chris Vangas, Darrell Strong, Clermond, Mike Phillips, Adam Gunn and Mike McGlynn, Jemeel Brady --- all Harris recruits -- and all have been named game captains. LaRod Stephens-Howling, who was recruited by and committed to Walt Harris, has been a favorite of Dave Wannstedt and company since he arrived. And Scott McKillop has been rolled out for the cameras and the press as a team spokesman at every opportunity and I'd be willing to bet that he'll be a game captain within the next few weeks. This staff has not divided and conquered the team based on who was recruited by whom. If that was the case, Adam Gunn wouldn't be starting ahead of prized recruit Dorin Dickerson, Chris McKillop wouldn't be starting ahead of the prodigy Greg Romeus, etc., etc. If anything, this staff has consistently favored experience over almost anything when picking starters.

Q: What do you think about Wannstedt's repeated attempts on Saturday and throughout this week to downplay the adjustments that were made on defense for last Saturday's game? I don't know if he thinks people don't watch, but that defense was more aggressive than it has been for three plus years. Do you think he really believes that the defense was the same or is he just being defensive (no pun intended) because his philosophy hasn't really worked against the spread option teams?

James W., Marietta

ZEISE: I don't know that he downplayed anything. In fact, he said that the team did blitz more because Cincinnati's offense allowed for them to do it. It was a match-up thing, something they saw on film they were able to do, and this is something he has said all week.

Q: Cincinnati is in the books and in the past, but do you think that W could springboard Pitt into a 6 win season? Louisville is good but vulnerable, 'Cuse should be a W, and maybe I'm being a homer but for arguments sake say we pull an upset and go 1-2 in the last 3.Or suppose we only win 5 and no bowl, would you consider that a successful finish considering what this team has been through the past few months?

Ben Crocker, Cherry, N.J.

ZEISE: If the team finished 5-7, I don't think you can call that a success but it would at least salvage this season. Then you have to ask yourself - how many wins did losing Bill Stull, Gus Mustakas, Derek Kinder, Elijah Fields and Jason Pinkston cost this team? I can't quantify that but I can say this - injuries had nothing to do with losing to Navy so that's at least one game in which this team underachieved. One point I agree with is that the schedule down the stretch looks far more manageable now than it did during the preseason as all of the Big East teams seem to be flawed.

Q: I was listening to DW's press conference from Monday, and was getting a little concerned. It sounds like he does not want to bring as much pressure this week. I felt like the reason the defense started to play well was because of the extra guys they were bringing, especially in the middle. What is your take? Clearly, not bringing pressure has not helped, so why not go with what seemed to work? What is the worst that could happen that has not already happened the past 3 years?

Jon Fetrow, Reading

ZEISE: Well, you'd hope he is just trying to throw Louisville off because if you sit back and let Brian Brohm stand in the pocket and throw it, he'll light it up. I think that is the wrong approach. Again, I go back to last year when Rutgers played Louisville and came from way behind to hand the Cardinals their only loss. The key to that game? Greg Schiano blitzed and blitzed and blitzed and got Brohm out of his comfort zone. That's so important. But we'll see. Again, part of me thinks that is just pregame coach speak, though there is a lot of precedent suggesting it is not.