LINCOLN, Neb. -- Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt tried some razzle-dazzle in an effort to spark his sputtering offense Saturday against Nebraska.
The trick plays worked, but the offense reamined stuck in neutral.
"Anything we can do to get it going," Wannstedt said. "You'd like to get something like that and take advantage of it -- take it down and score. But we're not there right now."
The first sly move came during the Panthers' opening drive of the game. On fourth-and-1 at the 50, quarterback Tyler Palko lined up with the punt unit, then quickly slid under center.
The Cornhuskers jumped offside, which kept the drive going. However, it went for naught when a 42-yard field goal try was blocked.
On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Pitt tried its "Aliquippa" onside kick -- nicknamed in honor of former Quips standing Darrelle Revis. While practicing the play earlier in the week, Wannstedt had laughed and said, "That's like stealing," as he watched Revis come up with the ball time and again.
Yesterday, it caught the Huskers off guard. Kicker Cody Sawhill, a walk-on, pooched the ball and Revis snatched it out of the air at the 47. All the Panthers got out of it, though, was a field goal.
"(The 'Aliquippa' play) was good, it was positive, but not when you're playing Nebraska," Wannstedt said. "If you kick a bunch of field goals up here, you're not going to win."
Phillips injured
Strong safety Mike Phillips could be done for the year after breaking his right ankle with 4:04 to go in the second quarter.
Phillips sustained the injury while breaking up a pass intended for wideout Nate Smith. Phillips' foot stuck in the turf and twisted as he was hit. He was taken off the field on a stretcher, examined by doctors at Memorial Stadium, and returned to Pittsburgh with the team.
Phillips, a redshirt sophomore, started seven games last season. He was switched from cornerback to safey during spring drills.
Phillips was replaced by Sam Bryant -- who, ironically, lost his grip on the starting job after breaking his ankle during spring practice.
Delayed departure
The Panthers were supposed to return to Pittsburgh immediately after the game. However, their departure was delayed more than two hours because the chartered plane was late arriving at the airport in Lincoln, Neb.
The players and coaches got off their tour buses and spent their unexpected down time at the Hewit Center on campus.
Slow start
Pitt is off to only its third 0-3 start since 1972. The last time it happened was 1984, when coach Foge Fazio's team dropped its first four games en route to a 3-7-1 finish.
Planet of the aches
Two starters -- left guard Dom Williams (right ankle) and tailback Rashad Jennings (separated right shoulder) -- did not make the trip.
Dale Williams made his first-ever start at guard. He started the first five games last year at tackle. Ray Kirkley started in place of Jennings.
Fullback Tim Murphy (shoulder) was replaced in the starting lineup by senior Kellen Campbell. However, Murphy did play later in the game.
Got a coach?
Amid the sea of red in the bleachers, there were a few fans who wore green-and-white Ohio University t-shirts with "Got Frank?" emblazoned across the front -- a silent protest against Nebraska coach Bill Callahan and athletic director Steve Pederson.
The shirts refer to first-year Ohio coach Frank Solich. A good chunk of Husker Nation still carries a grudge against Pederson for firing Solich after a 9-3 season in 2003.
Under Callahan, the Cornhuskers went 5-6 last year, including a 24-17 win against Pitt. A week ago, Solich's Ohio team upended Pitt, 16-10, in overtime.
