I want to end-ish tonight on my beloved "Panthers". It appears very likely after just two games that Pitt has two stars, first and uppermost, Desmond Reid. In two games, one against a Big XII foe, Desmond has lugged the pigskin 33 times for 293 yards at 8.88 yards a clip. He has also caught nine balls, six in today's game, for a season total 117 yards, 106 of those against Big XII Cincy, a two game ave of 13 yards per catch, and one TD, also today. And he returned a punt for a touchdown against Kent State, which I don't think is factored into runs or pass receptions. Desmond was born in Miami Gardens, where the hometown "Hurricanes" play and went to high school right up the road at Miramar HS. He's a transfer from Western Carolina and followed his OC, young (31) Kade Bell. Desmond is a junior.

The second incipient star we have is QB Eli Holstein. He's a big kid, has pro size, 6'4" 225. He's a redshirt freshman, a transfer from Alabama. He started his first college game ever against Kent State and his first road game against Cincinnati. On the young season he is 50/75 (67%) for 635 yards, 8.5 yds per throw, 6 TDs, 2 INTs. Kade Bell, our OC, figured out today that the best offensive strategy for these Cats is to put the ball in Desmond's hands a.m.a.p.

Offensive weapons such as Desmond and Eli are going to take this Pitt team far, this year and in years to come.

The defense, which gave up 24 points to sorry Kent State, looked Olé-ish through almost three quarters today. But in the last one-fourth of the 3Q and the entirety of the 4Q they shut out Cincinnati. The D is HC Pat Narduzzi's baby. It has to play more consistently, especially in the secondary, it can't be giving up 24 points to Kent State and 27 to Cincy through 2.75 quarters and expect to win a ton of games no matter how dazzling Reid and Holstein are. But if the defense can tighten up and get consistent, the "Panthers" are going to be a tough out on anybody's schedule this season.