Dave Wannstedt, whose blood and sweat are said to be part of the very soil of western Pennsylvania, has a pretty good idea which two Pittsburgh Panthers victories of the past 50 years stand out most.

No. 1, of course, is the 1977 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia that gave Pitt's football program its most recent national title.

No. 2?

"Upsetting (No.2-ranked) West Virginia (in 2007)," Wannstedt said.

The architect of that win was Pat Bostick, a Manheim Township product who was a true freshman at the time.

Wannstedt, a Pittsburgh native and former Panther player and assistant coach, returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2005.

At a press conference prior to his serving as the guest speaker Tuesday night at the 11th Annual Manheim Touchdown Club Awards Banquet at the Lancaster Host Resort, Wannstedt said that the position of Pitt's starting QB for the 2009 season will go to "who moves the team (in spring drills) and makes the fewest mistakes."

Bostick, a junior, will compete with senior and returning starter Bill Stull, redshirt freshman Tino Sunseri and sophomore walk-on Andrew Janocko.

Wannstedt said he told Bostick recently that one thing he shouldn't lack is self-confidence.

"We're very proud of Pat and the success he's had," Wannstedt said. "It was an unbelievable situation (in Bostick's freshman season). We were getting ready to open our season and I told Pat he would be the third quarterback. All I asked is that he learn our offense.

"First game of the season, we lose our starting quarterback. Within 14 days, things had changed. I said, 'Pat, you're our new starter, and we have no backup.' "

Bostick started eight games his freshman season and appeared in six games as a sophomore, including an historic four-overtime win over Notre Dame, the longest game in either team's history.

Wannstedt also praised walk-on and Penn Manor grad Chas Alecxih for earning a scholarship and a spot on the depth chart at defensive tackle, and former Comets' star Jordan Gibbs, who is competing for a tackle spot on the O-line.

One player Pitt won't return this fall is All-Big East tailback LeSean McCoy of Bishop McDevitt. McCoy declared early for the NFL Draft and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles.

"The Eagles got a steal," Wannstedt said. "They got the best deal in the draft. A lot of people weren't quite sure if he was ready for the next step. My response was, 'Put the film on.'

"I've been around a lot of great backs (Tony Dorsett, Emmitt Smith, Ricky Williams) and he has that kind of ability."

Ability on the field helped Lebanon QB James Capello earn the MTC's L-L League High School Player of the Year award.

That he beat out all-purpose back Kyle Fisher of Cocalico and Lancaster Catholic QB Kyle Smith added to the honor, Capello remarked.

"They're both good players," he said. "This is more important to my school, my family and my coaches."

Capello's former teammate at Lebanon and current star lineman at Penn State, Jared Odrick, was named Division I College Football Player of the Year.

Hempfield grad and current Lebanon Valley star running back Charlie Parker was honored as the D-II and III Player of the Year.

Sam Collins of Abilene Christian University won the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award.

Notes: MTC scholarship awards were given to the following Manheim Central students: Zach Derr (football); Melanie Nolt (tennis, track, cross country); Dresdon Rohrer (football, tennis); Alex Shenk (football, wrestling); Natalie Snyder (soccer, cross country); and Jeff Strait (football, soccer, volleyball).

E-mail: egruver@lnpnews.com