When you have three turnovers, two of which you convert to just six points, you're asking for trouble.
When your quarterback ( Tino Sunseri) is sacked ten times, with three coming at a critical time in the fourth quarter, it pretty much puts the writing on the wall.
Those were just two of the things that led Pitt to its heartbreaking 21-20 loss to West Virginia in the 104th and maybe final, for a long time edition of the backyard brawl on Friday night.
Worse than the loss for Pitt, in a season of trying times, the Panthers pretty much sealed their fate of not winning the Big East ( not that it would have been easy, a number of factors had to come in play) but now puts their backs against the wall on Dec. 3 when they meet Syracuse at Heinz Field in the season finale.
The reason? Pitt 5-6, 3-3 is a game below bowl contention at this juncture.
Below are the Bowl tie ins to the Big East and how it works.
#1 Bowl Championship Series. The Big East Champion receives an automatic bid to one of the BCS Bowls with an At-Large bid. 2011-2012-Orange, 2012-2013-Sugar, 2013-2014-Fiesta, 2014-2015 Orange. The loss to WVU eliminated the Panthers from any hopes they had of playing in one of these.
But there is a glitch, as Bowls #2-6 may select Notre Dame in lieu of a Big East school; however, the Champs Sports bowl may only due so once during a four-year period from the 2010 to 2013 seasons (it has yet to do so).
As of today, the Panthers sit with the fifth seed in the Big East, meaning the Compass Bowl or the Liberty Bowl are likely, if they don't lose to Syracuse.
So yes Virginia, there still is a Santa Claus for the Panthers, but a win, even if Pitt manages to sneak into a bowl for the fourth consecutive season, will still leave a lot of naysayers out there.
The naysayers exist despite the fact the players aren't coach Todd Graham's players, and his system, which had great success at Tulsa did not fit what former coach Dave Wannstedt had in place. These naysayers despite the fact Pitt lost potential Heisman trophy candidate running back Ray Graham mid way through the season.
Still its hard not to look back at the WVU game and not ponder why for a fourth time this season, in a game they were ahead in, a game they should have won, they failed to execute and instead of looking at a 9-2 slate and a trip to the Orange bowl, they are on the outside looking in for a bowl berth.
What people will remember is how close this season could have been to being a memorable one, if only the offense could have stayed on the field and kept Pitt's defense a little fresher.
If not for the defense, which gave the Panthers enough clout to be in the position they were in, people may be thinking about Johnny Majors second tenure with the team. It could have been that bad.
The silver lining to it all though, is this is a down year for the Big East and heading into the final weekend, anything is possible as all its teams are still in contention for a bowl berth.
Now its a matter of how badly Pitt wants it.
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