updated 7:33 p.m. ET April 16, 2005

At Monroeville, Pa. - Dave Wannstedt’s first spring game as Pitt’s coach was notable for two sights rarely seen around Panthers football this time of the year.

A power running game. A turnaway crowd.

With Heinz Field unavailable while new grass is being grown, Wannstedt moved Pittsburgh’s scrimmage to suburban Gateway High School and was greeted by an overflow crowd of 8,007. It was a bigger turnout than those during Walt Harris’ eight seasons as coach, when the 2001 spring game was held sans crowd at the school’s practice complex.

“We had a lot more fans, obviously, than we had room,” said Wannstedt, the former Bears and Dolphins coach who is still adjusting to his first college head coaching job. “It’s a nice problem to have when you don’t have enough room.”

Freshman running back Rashad Jennings powering through the No. 1 defense for 119 yards on 19 carries.

With the top three backs from Pitt’s 8-4 Fiesta Bowl team (Tim Murphy, Raymond Kirkley and Marcus Furman) injured and out, the 239-pound Jennings is clearly the top candidate to start heading into summer camp in August.

Tyler Palko was 18-of-27 for 151 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, including middle linebacker H.B. Blades’ 56-yard interception return for a touchdown.

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