Getsy Part 2?

[Captain Kangaroo]

Backup QB looking to transfer

By Rob Biertempfel

TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt is making an all-out effort to keep backup quarterback Joe Flacco on the roster.

Flacco, who will be a redshirt sophomore this fall, asked to be released from his scholarship a few days after spring practice ended.

Monday, Wannstedt spoke with Flacco twice on the phone to attempt to persuade him to stay.

"Nothing is definite yet," offensive coordinaor Matt Cavanaugh said. "We're still talking with Joe to try to get him to change his mind."

Wannstedt was out of town and not available for comment. However, a Pitt spokesman said Wannstedt is confident Flacco will remain in the fold.

Cavanaugh said Pitt has not set a deadline for Flacco's final decision.

Rather than stay in town to train after Pitt's spring semester ended, Flacco returned to his home in Audubon, N.J. He did not return phone calls yesterday from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. His mother, Karen, declined to comment.

If Flacco leaves, this would be the second year in a row that a backup quarterback has bolted from Pitt. In August, Luke Getsy transferred to Akron after losing the battle for the starting job to Tyler Palko.

Cavanaugh admitted he was caught off guard when Flacco asked for permission to transfer.

"Joe had a good spring," Cavanaugh said. "He played well and made a lot of improvements."

Last season, Flacco played in three games, but did not attempt a pass in two of them. Against South Florida, he completed 1-of-4 passes for 11 yards.

Cavanaugh said Flacco did not give a specific reason for wanting to leave.

"Sometimes, a young guy sees who's playing in front of him and figures he's not going to get any playing time, so he has second thoughts" Cavanaugh said.

Unless he is injured or leaves a year early for the pros, Palko will be the Panthers' quarterback through 2006. As a sophomore last season, Palko threw for 3,067 yards and 24 touchdowns.

If Flacco goes, Wannstedt might be forced to move Darrell Strong back to quarterback. Strong moved to wideout in 2004 and practiced as a tight end this spring.

The only other options as Palko's backup would be incoming freshmen Bill Stull (Seton-La Salle) and Shane Murray (Central Catholic) or walk-on Matt Flauss (Thomas Jefferson).

"I heard some rumors this spring about Joe, but I didn't believe it until I heard it from the coaches," Stull said yesterday. "Coach Cavanaugh and I talked. He told me I have to really knuckle down and make sure I learn everything and I'm ready just in case something happens (to Palko).

"There definitely will be some pressure on me in camp, but I'm real anxious to get started. I can't wait to get out there."

Stull has said he wants to enroll at Pitt this June. Murray plans to take the summer off before checking into Pitt in August.

"I know Tyler is the man," Murray said. "The way he trains, with his intensity, it's not likely that he'll get hurt."