Media Savvy
Time For Palko Now
By Paul Alexander, KDKA TV Sports Reporter

I never minded when former Steelers' Coach Chuck Noll would opt for the ever popular "best athlete available" in the latter rounds of the NFL Draft.

Hey, that even works for pick-up basketball games after all the real players have been chosen. But its no way to anoint a starting quarterback at the major college level.

Aside from the annual game against Miami, Pitt's Rod Rutherford is often the best athlete on the field when the Panthers are playing football. The problem is, he's not the best quarterback.

Unless Coach Walt Harris is going to abandon the West Coast Offense completely and go with some type of Nebraska-like option game, Rutherford cannot be behind center.

We did learn last year that Harris isn't afraid to experiment offensively.

Maybe the offensive guru is cooking up a little veer attack. The Panthers do lack experience at wide receiver. They do have solid performers and great potential at fullback and the offensive line returns pretty much intact.

I know it sounds crazy but could the vaunted Pitt passing attack be grounded in favor of an option game? If that's the case, Rutherford is the man.

I just don't see Harris going away from his strength. He has built his reputation with the forward pass and thanks to some outstanding play at wide receiver the last several seasons, he has proclaimed Pitt as the next Wide Receiver U.

The problem with the tremendously gifted Rutherford is the fact that he just can't throw the football. His lack of accuracy and touch is abundantly clear in simple passing drills. When it comes to running with it, this kid has skills.

Do you remember him at wide receiver against Penn State? If he plays at the next level and he certainly has the athletic ability to do so. It will be as a receiver.

While Harris' first priority is this football team and not grooming certain players for NFL careers, I think he helps both Pitt's and Rutherford's future by moving Rutherford to his more natural position.

OK. I know what the big question is. Then who plays quarterback?

Unfortunately, Pat Hoderny isn't the answer. The 6-6, 230-pounder from Erie can throw a football through the wall of the indoor practice facility but the position is more about decision making than just chucking the football.

Hoderny doesn't appear to be ready to handle the intricacies of Harris' offense.

Dare I say that a freshman is? Absolutely. The Panthers have one of the most polished freshman in history in quarterback Tyler Palko. The kid who led West Allegheny to two straight WPIAL Class AAA titles and last year's PIAA championship can handle anything and everything Harris is willing to throw at him.

Palko is a natural leader that is mature beyond his years. He's been drawing up plays on napkins since the fourth grade. He knows exactly where everyone on the field is and more importantly where they should be.

His arm is not his best attribute but he completed nearly 60 percent of his passes last year and connected for 18 touchdown passes. He also can tuck the thing under his arm and run effectively. Palko runs well enough that the Panthers could still throw a few option wrinkles in there. Palko brings with him every intangible you could imagine and even a couple that you can't.

In a perfect world, Palko would red-shirt this season. Even the great ones could use a year of seasoning and the opportunity to slowly adjust to the speed of the game. The Panthers simply don't have that luxury. Pitt needs to build on the consecutive bowl appearances and last year's Tangerine Bowl win over NC State.

Would he take a few lumps? Make his share of freshman mistakes? No doubt. But he also would give the Panthers a quarterback who can run an offense with which Harris would be comfortable.

Palko also brings some Western Pennsylvania toughness to the position. If he wasn't so insistent about playing quarterback, he could also be a freshman starter at one of the safety spots.

I have no idea what Harris has in mind for 2002 but if he allows Palko to compete for the starting QB spot, Palko won't be denied. The kid is all about winning and that's all he's known.

In fact, if it is an open tryout, fellow frosh Luke Getsy from Steel Valley, might provide the stiffest competition. Getsy was a four-year starter at the position and is poised beyond belief. He also can put a little more touch on the ball than Palko and throws deep with ease.

Meanwhile, with Palko at quarterback, Rutherford instantly adds depth to a position that desperately needs it and he becomes one of the better wideouts in the Big East.

The choice is simple. Either the Panthers keep it on the ground with little hope of developing a passing game or they go with the hired gun they recruited to take Pitt to the next level.

I vote to pass the position to Palko.