Football: Panthers out to avoid Florida trap

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Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt wanted to make sure the Panthers (5-1) were focused and ready to play tonight against Central Florida (2-3) so he set the tone early in the week by having intense practices Monday and Tuesday.

He also set mouse traps up around the South Side complex, a subtle reminder that it might be easy to stumble in the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando. One player said Wannstedt gave one of his most passionate post-practice speeches Tuesday.

Wannstedt's tactics might seem a bit overblown, considering the Panthers aren't traveling to the Sunshine State for a showdown with No. 2 Florida or even Florida State or Miami. The Knights probably are Florida's fifth-best program and are expected to finish somewhere in the middle of Conference USA.
Paul Zeise: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette