June 13, 2006

    Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko and linebacker H.B. Blades were named to the "watch lists" for two of college football's most prestigious awards today.

    Palko was named a preseason candidate for the Maxwell Award, annually presented to the collegiate player of the year. Blades is up for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the outstanding defensive player of the year.

    Each award watch list is comprised of 60 candidates compiled by the Maxwell Football Club Advisory Committee. Twelve semifinalists for each award will be announced in October and the field will be trimmed to three finalists in November. The winners of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will be announced at the Home Depot College Football Awards Show that will be broadcast on ESPN in December 2006.

    The formal presentation of the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards will take place at the Maxwell Football Club Awards Banquet in March 2007. Two previous Pitt players have been honored with the Maxwell Award - running back Tony Dorsett in 1976 and defensive end Hugh Green in 1980.

    Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) enters his senior season as one of the most prolific passers in school history. He has thrown for 5,472 yards to rank fifth all-time at Pitt. His 5,481 yards in total offense rank sixth.

    Palko has thrown 41 career touchdowns against just 16 interceptions. He has been named to the All-Big East Team each of the last two seasons.

    Blades (Plantation, Fla./Plantation) has been named to virtually every preseason All-America list heading into the 2006 season. A two-time first-team All-Big East honoree, he led the conference last year with 121 tackles. Blades ranked 13^th nationally with an average of 11 tackles per game.

    Entering his third season as a starter, Blades has 286 career tackles to rank 16^th all-time at Pitt. He has compiled 229 of those stops over the last two years and should finish his career as one of the top five all-time tacklers ever at Pitt.

    Pitt will play a 12-game regular season, including seven home contests at Heinz Field in 2006. The Panthers open this year's campaign at home against Virginia on Sept. 2. The Cavaliers are one of seven bowl teams the Panthers will face this year.

    For season ticket information, call (800) 643-PITT or log on to www.PittsburghPanthers.com.