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Tuesday, December 18, 2001

By Shelly Anderson, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

ORLANDO, Fla. -- If ever there was a reminder of what Pitt has accomplished this season, it came when the team arrived here late yesterday morning.

A dreary, rain-soaked bus trip to Pittsburgh International Airport gave way to a blast of warm air upon landing in Florida.

"As soon as we stepped off the plane, it kind of smacked you in the face, the hot weather," Panthers receiver R.J English said. "It's definitely a wake-up. It's like, we're here. It's time to play football."

It was in the low 80s, unseasonably warm this time of year even in the land of Disney, when Pitt practiced in the afternoon. No one was complaining.

Coach Walt Harris realizes warm weather and loads of local attractions could steal his players' attention from the job at hand -- the Visit Florida Tangerine Bowl against North Carolina State Thursday night -- but he's not worried.

He figures after running the table the last five games of the regular season to earn this trip, the team won't let itself be driven to distraction.

"We're not down here very long," Harris said. "I talked to the seniors about how we want to handle the curfew. There really isn't a lot of time where we're just going to let them go, other than [last night]. That game is not very far away. If we were down here for a week or something, it would be a lot different."

The Panthers got a chance to get any sightseeing out of their system last night, with a liberal 3:30 a.m. curfew. That tightens to midnight tonight and tomorrow night.

"For the guys that want to, they can get it out of their system, but I'll probably lay low," English said, smiling, and adding that he would rather forgo partying than wind up with cramps in the warm practices.

Bryant's limp is gone

Junior receiver Antonio Bryant's participation in practice was pretty much what it has been the past week or so. He ran a few routes early, then mainly watched.

Bryant, though, did not appear to be limping on his sprained right ankle like before.

Asked about Bryant's chances of playing, Harris said, "I really don't know."

Bryant was not available for interviews.

Bosnic still out

Senior offensive tackle Mike Bosnic had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Dec. 4, four days after Pitt's regular-season finale against UAB.

Bosnic, an Albert Gallatin graduate who has been shuffled between lineman and tight end during his Pitt career, was hoping to be able to play in the bowl, but he's still having trouble with swelling and has not been able to practice.

He was injured several weeks ago and continued to play until he was forced out the week of the UAB game, meaning he missed senior day.