Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City is 4,657 feet above sea level, but Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and the players have downplayed what role the high altitude might play in the game Thursday night.

Wannstedt said the Panthers have not trained differently for this game, and he believes, in general, the high altitude is an overrated factor.

"No [the elevation won't be a factor]. When we were at the [NFL's Miami] Dolphins, they used to go out a couple of days early [to Denver], but, when we got there, just like every other place I coached in the NFL, we showed up the day before the game and played," Wannstedt said. "And that was in Dallas, Chicago and Miami. All the studies will tell you from the Olympic athletes that if you even wanted to make a total adjustment, you have to be out there three days, it takes 72 hours.

"So, even going out there for the extra day like some of the NFL teams do, it doesn't do anything. You go out and line up and play."

Fullback Henry Hynoski added, "it is more in people's heads than anything else. We are going to go up there and play football and we're probably one of the most-conditioned teams in the country.

"We had a heck of a summer workout program with lifting and conditioning and we're just in such good shape.

"We're in the best shape we can be, so I really don't think that the elevation is going to be an issue."

For the record, Wannstedt-coached teams (as an assistant or head coach) were 3-1 in Denver.

Only two true freshmen were on the first official two-deep depth chart of the season that was released Monday in conjunction with Wannstedt's news conference that mostly previewed the opener at Utah.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald (Penn Hills High School) and cornerback K'wuan Williams made the depth chart as backups, and both of the true freshmen are due to play Thursday. That continues a theme of stability which developed early in camp and was reflected by so little movement on the depth chart.

According to Wannstedt, the Panthers are a healthy team, and that includes defensive end Greg Romeus (back spasms) and tailback Ray Graham (knee), who both missed most of camp.

Romeus has been practicing the past week at full speed, but Graham has been more limited and when pressed about Graham's actual status Wannstedt was a little less than forthcoming.

"Greg Romeus looked great the last week," Wannstedt said. "Ray Graham is very close, he practiced in team drills and will be available to play Thursday. We have three more days. He was in team period yesterday."

Two walk-ons were put on scholarship, redshirt junior holder Andrew Janocko and redshirt sophomore Pat Costello (Hempfield), a special-teams ace. This is the second year Janocko has received a scholarship. ... Utah has one player -- tight end Brad Clifford -- who played against the Panthers in the 2004-05 Fiesta Bowl. ... The starting kick-returners are Jason Douglas and Cameron Saddler, and Saddler will also return punts.

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