BIG EAST Pitt gets break before Hurricanes

Liberty High graduate Brian Beinecke led the Panthers past Temple. He was named the conference defensive player of the week.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORTS
PITTSBURGH -- The No. 18 Pitt Panthers have waited 13 years to play a game this important. That's probably why they're content to wait a week to play No. 1 Miami.
By having an open date this weekend, Pitt (8-2) has 10 days to get ready for its Nov. 21 game at Miami (9-0), which likely will determine the Big East Conference champion.
It's easily Pitt's biggest game since Big East football started play in 1991, and its most important since the then-No. 7 Panthers lost at No. 1 Notre Dame 45-7 on Oct. 28, 1989. The Panthers finished 8-3-1 and 17th in the final poll that season, the last time they were ranked until this season.
Title aspirations
"This is a new experience for the University of Pittsburgh," coach Walt Harris said. "We have a chance to win a championship and that's been our goal since we got here. We all know what's at stake, but we will keep with the same routine as we have for the other bye weeks."
Even if it's anything but a routine week.
Pitt couldn't give eventual national champion Miami a game when the Hurricanes also were top-ranked last year, losing 43-21 at Heinz Field. Miami led 33-7 in the third quarter.
This season, the Panthers have shown they can beat a highly ranked opponent in a hostile environment, winning 28-21 at then-No. 3 Virginia Tech on Nov. 3. It was the first time Pitt has beaten a team ranked as high as No. 3 since defeating then-No. 2 Georgia in the January 1982 Sugar Bowl.
"This is a huge game for us," defensive end Brian Guzek said. "We want to win the Big East, but we're going to prepare for this game like we would any other game. We've worked so hard to get to this point, there is no need now to panic or get away from the things that have made us successful to this point."
That's why Harris gave his players two days off from practice following a demanding 29-22 victory Saturday over Temple, one that followed the emotional upset at Virginia Tech and a come-from-behind overtime victory over Boston College.
Local connection
Liberty High graduate Brian Beinecke was named Big East defensive player of the week for his 20-tackle performance against Temple. Beinecke, a senior linebacker, had 17 solo hits and seven for losses. He also had two sacks and forced a fumble.
Two of his biggest plays occurred in the second half. Midway through the third quarter, Beinecke sacked Temple quarterback Mike McGann, forcing a fumble. The Panthers recovered at the Owls' 16, and scored the go-ahead touchdown moments later.
In his third season as a starter, Beinecke is fourth on the team with 66 tackles and third with 13 tackles for loss.