BIG EAST Pitt eyes rare win over BC on road

The Panthers have lost their last five games played at Boston College.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pitt's players say they're not extra-motivated because Boston College is preparing to leave the Big East. They just want to win in Boston before the Eagles fly off to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Unlike Syracuse, which talked openly of wanting to beat Boston College because the Eagles are abandoning the Big East, No. 25 Pitt doesn't share those feelings of hostility going into Saturday's game in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Instead of feeling mad, the Panthers are sad to be losing a rival.
"It doesn't affect me, I just want to win," Pitt fullback Lousaka Polite said. "It's sad to see them leave and that the conference is breaking up, but we have no control over that. All we do is play football."
Lost last five there
What the Panthers (5-2, 2-0) traditionally don't do is play it very well at BC. They've lost their last five games at Chestnut Hill dating to 1991, and haven't won there since 29-10 in 1989, when Mike Gottfried was their coach.
Pitt's 45-7 loss at BC in 2001 probably was the low point of coach Walt Harris' seven seasons at the school, though it ultimately led to a turnaround that saw the Panthers win their final six games that season. Since that loss, Pitt has won 20 of 26 games.
"Coach Harris said directly, 'I believe we quit, and that's the first time since I have been here that I've seen a Pittsburgh team actually quit,' " cornerback William "Tutu" Ferguson said. "It was just rock bottom, and there were some things that needed to be said that were said."
Won last year in OT
Pitt bounced back last season to beat BC 19-16 in overtime as David Abdul kicked four field goals, including a 30-yard thump that barely got through with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to tie it. He won it with a 42-yard kick in overtime.
The Panthers' challenge now, Ferguson said, is to keep their turnaround going. Pitt has beaten Rutgers (42-32) and Syracuse (34-14) since upset losses to Notre Dame and Toledo dropped them out of the Top 25.
Pitt also wants to build momentum going into its Nov. 8 home game against No. 10 Virginia Tech.
"We want to beat Boston College (5-3, 1-2) because they're the next game on our schedule," Ferguson said. "We can't get to where we want to go unless we win this game right here. We don't care too much about who's going to the ACC."
Contrasting attitude
Ferguson's attitude contrasts to that of Syracuse tight end Joe Donnelly, who, after a 39-14 victory over Boston College, said, "We're happy to send them off with a loss. We wanted to stick it to them. We're happy they're going to the ACC."
Harris said his players' attitudes may differ from Syracuse's because the Orangemen were expected to accompany Boston College to the ACC, only to be voted down. Instead, Miami and Virginia Tech will join BC in leaving for the ACC.