The Quad: Live Analysis: Third Saturday of October

Pete Thamel is the national college sports reporter for The Times, where his primary responsibilities are college football and basketball. He is in his sixth season with The Times, witnessing everything from the Bush Push at Notre Dame to Ian Johnson's sideline engagement at the Fiesta Bowl to Mario Chalmers's long 3-pointer to give Kansas the national championship. Before joining The Times, Thamel covered college sports for ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, The Syracuse Post-Standard and The Daily Orange. A native of Ware, Mass., Thamel graduated from Syracuse University in 1999.

Connor Ennis has been a staff editor in the sports department of The New York Times since November 2006. Before coming to the Times, he worked for The Associated Press, where he was a supervising editor on the national sports desk in New York. While with the AP, he covered the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, and the 2006 World Cup in Germany. A native of Dallas, Pa., he graduated from Syracuse University in 2000.

Ray Glier is a freelance reporter who, in addition to The New York Times, contributes to USA Today, AOL FanHouse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Miami Herald and Unboundary, a strategy/communications firm based in Atlanta. Glier is a graduate of West Virginia University.

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Third quarter: Pitt 34, USF 17

PITTSBURGH -- The Panthers built on their lead against USF, taking a 34-17 lead into the final quarter. They continued to pound Ray Graham, but Tino Sunseri also has made some plays and is having his best game for the Panthers so far this season.

Through three quarters, Graham has 150 yards rushing and a touchdown. Sunseri is 21-of-31 for 199 yards and a touchdown but perhaps most importantly -- no interceptions and no egregious mistakes.

But remember, the fourth quarter has been a familiar bugaboo for Pitt this season, so this is the perfect opportunity for the Panthers to learn how to finish. The Panthers have allowed 49 fourth-quarter points this season -- more than double what they have allowed in the second and third quarters this season.

They blew a 24-3 lead to Iowa, and they gave up a fourth-quarter touchdown last week to Notre Dame to lose despite a valiant effort. But the Panthers seem to be playing inspired football tonight on both sides of the ball. The offensive line is just having its best game of the year, especially in pass protection. Pitt has punted just once all game.

The defense has gotten pressure on B.J. Daniels, who is having his worst game of the young season. Daniels has been harassed, and missed open receivers as a result. Because of the large deficit, the Bulls have had to all but abandon the run, which was a strength in the first half. USF only had 13 rushing yards in the third quarter.

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Panthers’ Davis tears ACL for third time

Published: September 19th, 2011 | Tags: Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers, Jon Beason

Thomas Davis certainly is willing, but it appears his right knee is determined to undermine his NFL career.

The Panthers linebacker confirmed Monday via Twitter that he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for a third time in less than three years.

“I would like 2 take the time and thank every1 that has supported me over my career,” Davis tweeted. “Unfortunately, I have re torn my acl. Thx 4 da prayers!!”

The Panthers’ linebacker unit already was reeling after the loss of star MLB Jon Beason, who tore his Achilles’ tendon in the season opener. Their depth issue at the position only grows more dire with Davis’ exit from the picture.

Despite ACL tears in November 2009 and June 2010, the Panthers were confident enough in Davis’ health to give him a five-year contract extension this summer.

The Panthers made Davis the 14th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. His best season came in 2008, when he finished with 113 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

– Dan Hanzus

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