It's nice to see the University of Pittsburgh football program on its way back to national prominence.

That's what happens when you bring in a coach like Dave Wannstedt, a former NFL head coach and an alum of Baldwin High School and Pitt.
It doesn't hurt that some of the players Wannstedt inherited from former coach Walt Harris are making national news.
Wide receiver Greg Lee recently was named to The Sporting News second team All-American squad and is listed as the No. 3 receiver in the country.
Kicker Josh Cummings and punter Adam Graessle have also been listed No. 3 nationally at their respective positions.
But that's not all. - NFL Football -
Junior linebacker H.B. Blades and junior quarterback Tyler Palko are preseason candidates for some of college football's most prestigious awards.
Blades is on the watch list for both the 2005 Bronco Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award, while Palko, a West Allegheny graduate, is on the watch list for this year's Maxwell Award, presented to the nation's most outstanding player.
In his first year as a starter last fall, Palko threw for 3,067 yards and led the Panthers to the Big East title and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
The program's return to prominence has caught the eye of the television networks. Every Pitt road game in 2005 will be on national television.
ESPN2 will broadcast the Sept. 9 game at Ohio University and the Sept. 17 showdown at Nebraska is slated for ABC. - NFL Football -
The Sept. 30 game at Rutgers also is scheduled to air on ESPN2, while ESPN will broadcast the Louisville game on Nov. 3 and the Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving night) Backyard Brawl against West Virginia.
But is all this hype really merited?
Yes, Wannstedt has generated some excitement and he landed a handful of Western Pennsylvania recruits - Duquesne's Shane Brooks, Pittsburgh Central Catholic's Shane Murray and Seton-LaSalle's Bill Stull - but let's not forget the Panthers finished 8-4 last season and are coming off an embarrassing 35-7 loss to Utah in the Fiesta Bowl.
Now I'm not saying Panthers fans shouldn't be optimistic about the future of the program, but let Wannstedt and his staff coach and win a game first. - NFL Football -
All this persuasion hype reminds me of two seasons ago when the Panthers opened the season ranked No. 15.
Quarterback Rod Rutherford, receiver Larry Fitzgerald and running back Brandon Miree were supposed to help coach Walt Harris restore the Pitt glory years.
Pitt never lived up to the expectations, and limped to an 8-5 record after a 7-2 start.
Fitzgerald didn't disappoint, eventually becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist. In just 26 games over three seasons, Fitzgerald - now a member of the Arizona Cardinals - had 161 catches for 2,677 yards and a school record 34 touchdowns. Only Antonio Bryant and Latef Grim had more receptions. - NFL Football -
Rutherford is an NFL backup in Carolina and Miree didn't play as a rookie with the Denver Broncos last year.
What I'm saying is all of this publicity could come back to haunt a young team trying to build a championship-caliber program just as it did in 2003.
The Panthers weren't able to handle the spotlight two years ago and it could be tough this season. One loss to a team they're supposed to beat - such as that humiliating setback at Toledo in 2003 - could cost them not only this year, but for years to come.
Wannstedt has come home with hopes of building a national championship team. He should be careful what he wishes for.

The Daily News