Pitt and West Virginia have vastly different offensive systems, with one team using a more mainstream offense and the other a more unconventional offense.

But the interesting thing about that is this -- although West Virginia's read-option spread is considered innovative and new, it is more popular. Spread offenses are more common in college football than Pitt's traditional pro-style, power-running offense.

So much so that Dave Wannstedt said that preparing for the spread offenses might be easier than preparing for pro-style offenses because the former is so prevalent and the latter is becoming extinct, almost like the wishbone.

"We're definitely in the minority with what we are doing here. We're dinosaurs," Wannstedt said. "There are very few college teams using a fullback like we use him. We're running a pro-style offense. That's one comment that we get after playing opponents, that their defensive coaches express to our coaches afterwards, that they don't see our offense week in and week out.

"It is different, playing against a power attack. It all sounds good, but very few people are committed to it like we are."

Wannstedt may be overstating the case of his offense being unconventional a little bit, but not by much, particularly the part about using a fullback the way the Panthers do.

Pitt fullback Henry Hynoski is clearly a throwback kind of player -- in every sense of the word -- and he is used often in the role of a traditional blocking back, which in these days of empty-set spread offenses and one-back sets is clearly an outdated position.

But it wasn't that long ago that the pro-style offense was the conventional offense and the spread offenses were gimmicks.

That changed in the early part of the decade, in part because of the success had by people such as former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez running spread offenses. A quick glance around the country suggests that the spread is no longer a gimmick.

Just look at the Big East -- West Virginia, Syracuse, South Florida and Cincinnati are all spread formation teams.

Connecticut is the only Big East team other than Pitt that uses a fullback often.

Taking a look at the top 10 -- No. 1 Florida, No. 3 Texas, No. 4 TCU, No. 5 Boise State and No. 8 Oregon are spread teams, No. 7 Georgia Tech is a triple-option team and No. 10 Ohio State is trying to figure out a system to fit Terrelle Pryor's abilities.

Only two teams in the top 10 -- Pitt and No. 2 Alabama -- are traditional, pro-style offenses built on power running.

Wannstedt said that is much different than the landscape 10 years ago, but it is clearly the way college football was headed once it became clear there were a lot more athletes available than pro-style quarterbacks.

He was asked why he has resisted the movement to the spread or one of the other versions of the offenses that abound in college football, and he said that he is comfortable with his philosophy. He also believes it helps in recruiting because players are getting trained in an NFL-style system.

"I believe in what we do," Wannstedt said. "I know that you can be successful doing what we are doing. We recruit players to fit into our system. We're going to go out and recruit great running backs, great receivers, great tight ends and quarterbacks that can throw the ball. I think it helps our defense, too.

"Our defense has to be tough. Going against our offense all training camp and in spring practice, it's not finesse."

NOTES -- Tight end Dorin Dickerson was named one of the three finalists for the John Mackey Award. The other two are Florida's Aaron Hernandez and Brigham Young's Dennis Pitta. The award will be announced Dec. 10 at the ESPNU College Football Awards Show. ... Less than 5,000 tickets remain for the Dec. 5 Pitt-Cincinnati game at Heinz Field that will determine the Big East champion and BCS bowl representative. The game will have a noon kickoff. To purchase tickets call the Pitt ticket office at 1-800- 643-7488.

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