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E-mailPanthers take break before trip
Kevin Gorman can be reached via e-mail or 412-320-7812.
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With Pitt playing in its first bowl game in Dave Wannstedt's four seasons as coach, the No. 18 Panthers (9-3) practiced through the weekend before taking time off until their Friday departure for the Brut Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
Pitt's opponent, No. 24 Oregon State (8-4), is practicing through the week and will arrive in El Paso on Christmas.
The Sun Bowl will be played at 2 p.m. Dec. 31 on CBS.
"I felt like our kids needed a couple days off to go home for Christmas and take a little break," Wannstedt said. "It's been a long year for us. It's new territory for me, too, and we'll see."
• Wannstedt said senior tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling has been practicing punt returns. The 5-foot-7, 180-pounder already returns kicks and covers kickoff and punt returns, and Wannstedt believes being involved in all four phases of special teams will only improve his stock.
"If I was coaching in the NFL, I'd give him a shot right now," Wannstedt said. "He finds a way to win."
• Pitt led the nation and set a school record with 10 blocked kicks (three extra points, three field goals and four punts) this season. Wannstedt was happy to share the secret to the success, considering he has been coaching the special teams since Charlie Partridge left for Wisconsin. Safety Andrew Taglianetti had three blocks and defensive end Greg Romeus two.
"We spend an awful lot of time on teaching the details of how much push to get, what angle we need to be at to be in the best position to block it," Wannstedt said. "Little things like that I think we do that make a difference, in addition to having players."
Digits
23 — Pitt victories, in 45 games, against Pac-10 opponents. The Panthers are 1-0 against Oregon State, scoring a 38-13 victory in the 2002 Insight Bowl.
