PITTSBURGH -- A jersey number randomly assigned to a Pittsburgh walk-on center may have cost the Panthers a possible upset victory over Texas A&M (No. 23 ESPN/USA Today, No. 21 AP).

After talking with Big East Conference administrators, coach Walt Harris said long snapper Jonathan Sitter's No. 91 resulted in the Panthers twice being flagged for illegal shift penalties on extra-point attempts in the 14-12 loss Saturday.

Following Rod Rutherford's short touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, kicker J.B. Gibboney twice converted the extra point, only to have both kicks waved off by the penalties.

On the third attempt, Sitter was late getting onto the field, resulting in Gibboney pushing what by then was a 30-yard extra point attempt wide right.

The miss proved costly because it forced Pitt to go for a 2-pointer -- rather than a game-tying kick -- after Rutherford's touchdown pass with just over two minutes remaining. Rutherford threw incomplete on the 2-point attempt.

"As we understand the rule -- and we're not airtight on the rule -- there was a problem with Jonathan Sitter's number,'' Harris said. "He needed to be between No. 50 and No. 79 and he wasn't.''

The Panthers initially set up for the first extra-point attempt in the so-called Swinging Gate formation, one that some coaches call the "muddle huddle.'' Eight players on the kicking team line up to the side of the snapper, holder and kicker, then shift into a regular formation.

Harris likes the formation because it creates the possibility of going for an undefended 2-point attempt if the defense does not react.

"The reason you do it is some don't adjust,'' Harris said. "There are three options. You can run a sweep over there, or you can throw a pass or you kick. Another reason you do it is to give them something to work on.''

However, Harris apparently was unaware that there can be only one exception to the rule that a player lined up along the line of scrimmage must wear a number from 50 through 79.

When No. 45 Eric Gill shifted from guard in the Swinging Gate to end in the regular formation, it meant that two linemen -- Gill and Sitter -- were wearing numbers meant for eligible receivers.

What has irritated some Pitt fans is that the rule isn't a new one, yet Harris' staff wasn't aware of it. Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum apparently knew of it and may have alerted the Big 12 game officials to watch for Pitt's possible infraction.

"I heard they did that, but the hard part is that we've done it before with other referees in different conferences,'' Harris said.

Big East coordinator of officials John Soffey said the call was a correct one and may have been the result of the Big 12 crew being alert and knowing the rule.

Despite possibly losing a game because of the gimmick formation, Harris may employ it again Saturday at Alabama-Birmingham (1-1).

"We need an eligible number for Jon and then everything should be fine,'' Harris said.