Dan Hutchins News

Urban Meyer resigned Saturday as Florida's football coach after five seasons and two national titles because of health concerns that came to light when he suffered chest pains following the Southeastern Conference title game Dec.

About the moment that Urban Meyer jolted the American football mind last night, North Carolina jumped offside and helped Pitt kick a shorter field goal for a 19-17 victory.

Pitt freshman linebacker Dan Mason made his third career start. He replaced Greg Williams, who practiced sparingly during bowl preparation.

Matt Barkley threw two touchdown passes and added a third score for the University of Southern California in the Trojansa 24-13 victory over Boston College in the Emerald Bowl.

It wasn't the bowl Pittsburgh wanted to be in, but the Panthers made a case that they've returned to prominence.

Senior tight end Dorin Dickerson was the most decorated player in Pitt's heralded recruiting class of 2006, but after three rather undistinguished seasons he was on the path to becoming one of the largest busts in Panthers history.

Pitt, which will play North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Dec. 26, swept both the Big East Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards Wednesday.

Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt on his program: "Right now we are light years ahead of where we were when I arrived." Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt spoke with reporters Sunday, the day after the Panthers' 45-44 meltdown against Cincinnati, and insisted that the football program was much brighter than the outcome of the regular season would indicate.

Receiver Jonathan Baldwin was one of the many offensive stars for Pitt with six receptions for 113 yards, including two touchdown catches in the second quarter as the Panthers built a 31-10 lead before Cincinnati began its comeback.

The UC Bearcats defeat the Pittsburgh Panthers 45-44 to win their second straight Big East Championship.

Noel Devine rushed for 134 yards and Tyler Bitancurt kicked four field goals, including a 43-yarder as time expired to lift West Virginia to a 19-16 win over No.

Former Pitt standout LeSean McCoy set the Big East freshman rushing record in 2007 when he ran 276 times for 1,328 yards.

By JIM BUTTA, jbutta@newsandsentinel.com AND STEVE HEMMELGARN, shemmelgarn@newsandsentinel.com MORGANTOWN-When one team plays another more than 100 times, one would believe that anything that could happen in a game would have.

The annual Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia is often hard-fought close game played between two rivals and won in the final few moments by a big play on offense or a heroic defensive stand.

PITTSBURGH -- Jonathan Baldwin made two exceptional catches that allowed No. 8 Pittsburgh to open an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter before Notre Dame rallied behind two touchdowns by star Golden Tate, and the Panthers held on for a 27-22 victory Saturday night that may raise more cries for Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis' ouster.

With the eyes of the nation - or at least 83% of the viewing public - on Heinz Field Saturday night, No.

Pittsburgh Field Goal - 19-yarder by Dan Hutchins. 9:24 Remaining Pittsburgh Field Goal - 45-yarder by Dan Hutchins.

Think Greg Paulus has it bad? What happened last week is just a blip compared to the boo carnage shoveled by University of Pittsburgh fans at starting quarterback Bill Stull.

Austin Signor kicked three field goals and Eastern Illinois beat Murray State 16-10 on Saturday.

Pitt, seeking its first 7-1 start since 1982, hopes to remain atop the conference before its demanding three-game finish .