NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com NCAA Football FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NCAA Football FanHouse http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/UConn Wins for Jasper Howard, at Lasthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/uconn-wins-for-jasper-howard-at-last/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/uconn-wins-for-jasper-howard-at-last/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/23/uconn-wins-for-jasper-howard-at-last/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

FanHouse Big East writer Brett McMurphy looks back at the week that was in the Big East Rewind.

Two weeks ago, UConn coach Randy Edsall and senior running back Andre Dixon both said how much the Huskies' really needed a bye week after a third consecutive last-minute loss at Cincinnati.

If no other team needed a bye like UConn, no other team in the country needed a victory like UConn. And that's exactly what the Huskies' got. UConn went into South Bend, Ind., and defeated Notre Dame 33-30 in double overtime Saturday.

It was the first victory since the murder of UConn cornerback Jasper Howard. After the game, Edsall pointed skyward in honor of Howard, while the Huskies' players held aloft Howard's No. 6 jersey.

Did anyone else notice UConn's final score just happen to be 33 (3+3=6)?

UConn's victory highlighted last week's Big East action as the Big East's bests -- Cincinnati-Pittsburgh or Pittsburgh-Cincinnati, if you prefer -- were idle last week.

In the only other two games involving league teams, South Florida thumped Louisville to secure a bowl berth for a fifth consecutive season and Syracuse upset Rutgers to avoid a winless Big East debut season for Doug Marrone.

Some things we may have figured out in the past week

1. Don't believe the preseason magazines, at least concerning offensive lines

Rutgers offensive line was hailed as (pick one): the best offensive line in the history of the Big East or one of the nation's best offensive lines. Athlon's ranked Rutgers' o-line as the nation's eighth best, while literally every preseason magazine and dot-com preseason preview touted Rutgers as the league's best. Yet, the Scarlet Knights allowed nine sacks in Saturday's loss at Syracuse and have the league's second-worst offense.

2. South Florida's B.J. Daniels should concentrate strictly on football

On Saturday against Louisville, Daniels had 445 yards of total offense, becoming the first player in Big East history and only 28th player in FBS history with 100 yards rushing and 300 yards passing in a game. The redshirt freshman is easily one of the league's most talented football players. But Daniels also has a love for basketball. That was the main reason he signed with USF because of an opportunity to play both sports. He played sparingly last season for USF's basketball team and has said he will play again after the conclusion of USF's football season. Unless the basketball team suffers a rash of injuries, Daniels likely won't get much playing time again this season and playing both sports will only curb his development on the football field.

3. Cincinnati fans are having some restless nights

UConn's victory all but sealed the fate of Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis. So in the matter of days (minutes?), Bearcats faithful will find out exactly how serious a candidate Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly is for the Fighting Irish. The Bearcats, though, aren't going down without a fight. The school has decided to borrow $9.7 million to start construction on athletic practice fields, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Building the new practice fields are a requirement in Kelly's new five-year contract.
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Re-Tweeting Week 12

Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: On Friday, Brian Kelly matches wits with Illinois' Ron Zook. This really doesn't seem fair, does it?
2. Pitt: Does Dave Wannstedt wake up at every night wondering how in the world his Panthers ever lost to N.C. State?
3. West Virginia: Not quite the same, but Mountaineers can damage Pitt's season Friday much like Panthers did to WVU in 2007
4. UConn: Win against Notre Dame -- we're not going to call it an upset -- improves Huskies' bowl hopes
5. Rutgers: Sacked nine times by Syracuse Saturday, QB Tom Savage was on his back more than (insert your own bad joke here)
6. South Florida: Bulls stop the bleeding against Louisville and become bowl eligible for a fifth consecutive season
7. Syracuse: The Orange's upset of Rutgers gives Syracuse's seniors four consecutive seasons with one Big East victory
8. Louisville: Does Steve Kragthorpe end his Cardinals career Friday against Rutgers with a win or loss?

Follow Brett McMurphy on Twitter at twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY

UConn Wins for Jasper Howard, at Last originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jasper howardBrett McMurphyMon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST Big East Rewind: Ready for the Big Finishhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/big-east-rewind-after-further-review/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/big-east-rewind-after-further-review/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/16/big-east-rewind-after-further-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Pittsburgh fanAfter further review: Cincinnati and Pittsburgh remain on a collision course to determine the Big East championship and BCS bowl berth.

The Bearcats and Panthers experienced some anxious moments down the stretch, but both survived to move a step closer to delivering the Big East its first matchup of Top-10 ranked teams since 2006.

Cincinnati held off West Virginia, 24-21, and Pittsburgh outlasted Notre Dame 27-22 over the weekend. Did we mention both UC and Pitt were playing at home and benefited from two game-changing replay reversals?

And who says the SEC has the monopoly on all the controversial replay calls?

The No. 5 ranked Bearcats (10-0, 6-0 Big East) and No. 8 Panthers (9-1, 5-0) get a chance to catch their breath this weekend. West Virginia also is off this weekend, giving the Mountaineers time to reflect on their first two-game Big East losing streak since 2004 and watch Rich Rod against Ohio State.

Some things we may have figured out in the past week:

1. Chris Fowler isn't half as embarrassed as Jim Leavitt should be

During Rutgers' 31-0 seal-clubbing of South Florida on Thursday night, ESPN's Chris Fowler remarked he was embarrassed that he had voted for USF on his AP Top 25 ballot last week. (Hey Chris, I feel your pain: I had USF at No. 25 and I should really know better). When the Bulls joined the Big East in 2005, they were expected to compete for a league title: yet they've never finished higher than third (Syracuse is the only other league team without a top two finish). USF is 2-3 in league play and regressing. The Bulls' three Big East losses this year are by a combined 75 points and they're 4-8 in their last 12 Big East games. For a second consecutive year, the Bulls could be headed for a sixth-place finish. Perhaps, Fowler and I should have listened to SI.com's Stewart Mandel, when he wrote about USF's struggles last year: "I fell for the myth that Jim Leavitt's built-from-scratch program had established itself as a nationally relevant program."

2. Is the gig up for Cincinnati?

Another team has discovered Cincinnati's kryptonite that might eventually cost the Bearcats an undefeated season. West Virginia became the third team this season to crack the 200-yard rushing mark against the Bearcats and, not so coincidentally, the third team to hang within a touchdown of Cincinnati. The Bearcats allowed more than 200 yards rushing in close wins against Fresno State (28-20), UConn (47-45) and West Virginia (24-21). In their other seven victories, they allowed an average of 91 yards rushing and had an average winning margin of 28.9 points.

3. The 'R' on the helmet stands for red-hot

Whatever Greg Schiano is doing with his Rutgers teams in the second half of the past four seasons, he should bottle it and sell it -- or try doing the same thing in the first half of the season. Once again, the Scarlet Knights are heating up in the second half of the year. Since 2006, Rutgers' combined record - not including games against FCS opponents -- in the first six games of the year is 10-9. In the same span in the second half of the year, the Scarlet Knights are 19-5. Last year, Rutgers ended the year on a 7-0 run and after Thursday's dismantling of USF, the Scarlet Knights have won their last three games.

Re-Tweeting Week 11

Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: Bad news is the close wins don't impress pollsters. Good news is the 'Cats are now experts at recovering onside kicks
2. Pitt: Nation's only team with a RB (Dion Lewis) and QB (Bill Stull) ranked among the nation's top six in rushing and pass efficiency
3. Rutgers: QB Tom Savage gets all the credit, but the Big East's top-rated defense has been the key to Rutgers' recent resurgence
4. West Virginia: Unless the Mountaineers defeat both Pitt and Rutgers, WVU will finish with its most Big East losses since 2001 team went 1-6
5. UConn: Huskies hoping to extend the Big East's winning streak against Notre Dame to four games
6. South Florida: In five seasons in Big East play, the Bulls are 16-17 and have never finished better than 4-3
7. Louisville: The Cards like 'em close. UL's three wins against FBS teams this season are by a combined 11 points
8. Syracuse: Just like Greg Robinson, Doug Marrone appears headed toward a 0-7 Big East record in his debut season

Follow Brett McMurphy on Twitter at twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY

Big East Rewind: Ready for the Big Finish originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyMon, 16 Nov 2009 17:19:00 EST Big East Commish: Old Bowl System Preferable to Playoffhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/big-east-commish-doesnt-expect-bcs-to-last-past-2013/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/big-east-commish-doesnt-expect-bcs-to-last-past-2013/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/04/big-east-commish-doesnt-expect-bcs-to-last-past-2013/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

John MarrinattoTAMPA, Fla. -- The demand for a college football playoff could break up the BCS after the 2013 season, but instead of adding a playoff, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) would likely just revert back to the old bowl system, Big East commissioner John Marinatto told FanHouse.

"It [the BCS] is such an entity where there's so many diverse things that come together that make it work," Marinatto said. "I don't know if all that will continue to go on the way it is. If they're pressured to create a playoff, they would simply go back to what the system used to be like and have it as an at-large, free-for-all where people can go [to whichever bowl] they want.

"I don't think the pressure would cause people to create a playoff. I think it would cause them to go back to where we used to be [before the BCS]."

Marinatto also told FanHouse that the Big East has "no intention" of adding a ninth-football member. However, if the Big East was approached by another school that would "add value," the conference would be receptive to adding another member even it grew the basketball league to 17 teams. Marinatto stressed it would not "raid" another league to add a ninth-football member.

Also in Marinatto's interview with FanHouse, he said the BCS wants the coaches to make their ballots public after next season. He said he's optimistic they will and the coaches' poll will remain a part of the BCS formula. Marinatto also said it's possible a one-loss team could get selected over undefeated Cincinnati for a spot in the BCS title game and why the Big East's Yankee Bowl will be a success -- no matter how cold the weather might be in New York in late December/early January.

When will you add a ninth football member?
There is no intention of adding a ninth member at this point. There hasn't even been a discussion.

Do you want a ninth football member?
I understand the reasons why people feel like we could or should have a ninth member and it's primarily for scheduling. Again, we've had this discussion in the room the last five years since we expanded to 16 [schools]. It always comes down to: we'll take a ninth member if that member brings value to the membership.

Even if that means increasing the basketball membership to 17 schools?
Even if that means going to 17. We're structured in such a way that we've provided for that in our bylaws. If a ninth member of value became available tomorrow, we'd expand and go to 17.
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Would you pursue a ninth football member?
Will we raid someone to do it? No. It's not our intention to raid someone to accomplish what we want to accomplish. If under the right set of circumstances ... where someone might be disenfranchised and look for a new home. And if that school brought value, then we would be amenable. The world could change. The costs of travel could become such that an Eastern school that's now in a non-Eastern quote-unquote conference might want to look [and think] 'it makes more sense to be in the Big East.' There could be a shifting around. In that scenario, we would go to 17.

But we're not going to go out there and try and raid someone. That's not our intention.

Do you believe the BCS will continue to exist after the 2013 season?
The contract with ESPN is through [the end of the 2013 season]. There's so much resistance, or seemingly vocal resistance [to the BCS]. It's such an entity where there's so many diverse things that come together that make it work. I don't know if all that will continue to go on the way it is.

If they're pressured to create a playoff, they would simply go back to what the system used to be like and have it as an at-large, free-for-all where people can go to [to whichever bowl] they want. I don't think the pressure would cause people to create a playoff. I think it would cause them to go back to where we used to be.

We like the current system for a lot of reasons. It brings (the) regular season value because of the number of bowls that are available that provide so many students with the experience of being to a bowl game and that's a valuable thing.

The theory is if a playoff is created, the most you could do would be an eight-team playoff and those eight teams are going to be the ones that get to experience a post-season bowl. Whereas today you have probably 68 schools that get that experience, half of them walking away feeling good and winning. From a student-athlete's standpoint, we think the current structure allows for a better overall experience for more student-athletes. And that's really what, in the world of football, it's about: going to a bowl and experiencing that post-season experience.

In the Bowl Subdivision, people really cherish the post-season experiences. Whether it's the Rose Bowl or one of the lower level bowls, to get to a bowl is considered a positive experience. People around our table don't want to lose that.

Is there any scenario in which a one-loss team could be selected over a 12-0 Cincinnati team to play in the BCS title game?
I don't know until it unfolds. There are inherent flaws in the BCS system, it's not perfect. Injustice is possible. It's an attempt simply to get the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country identified to play each other. Over the years there have been injustices and we know it's not a perfect system. To answer your question, it could happen. It would be hard to see how it could happen, but again, the system is not perfect.

Should the coaches' ballots remain public and if they are not public, would the coaches' poll no longer be a part of the BCS formula?
Yes, transparency is important in a lot of things, but particularly in this at this point. We've talked about this around the room. We think chances are better that it [the coaches' poll] becomes transparent [than dropping the coaches poll from the BCS formula]. I think they understand at some level that it's important. Transparency is important for credibility. Hopefully that will happen; we'll see.

There clearly is a desire on the part of the commissioners around the country to have it transparent. We all feel that's important for a number of reasons, including credibility. I understand the logic of not publishing [the ballots] because of the pressure within certain conferences to help their own schools and a lot of other reasons, friendships and what not. But the reasons for making it transparent are more compelling than the reasons for keeping it secret.

The final [ballot] is the most important one. I would prefer that [all ballots through the season were public] but I don't know if that's a deal-breaker. The most important one is the final one.

Temple was kicked out of the Big East after the 2001-02 school year ...
My understanding, the group [Big East] created standards that they wanted everyone to adhere to and Temple wasn't able to meet the standards. [Marinatto was not with the Big East when the decision was made]

Could the same thing happen to another Big East school for not being competitive enough?
We have standards. In 2000, we created a strategic plan. Within our strategic plan were three elements.

One of the elements is referred to as the program standards for all of our team sports, a minimum number of scholarships you must commit; you also have to meet a certain percentage of the commitment for coaches and a facilities requirement.

When we expanded in 2003, we re-wrote the constitution and bylaws and created the contracts with the five new schools [Cincinnati, DePaul, Louisville, Marquette, South Florida]; an exhibit to the agreement was the strategic plan. We told everyone these are the standards we created, you have to adhere to these if you want to join and make the commitment that you're going to commit to the standards, so it's built into the contracts. It's an overall commitment to excellence. They are not competitive standards.

How close was the league to restructuring the men's basketball tournament and eliminating byes for the top eight seeds?
The way it happened, at our summer meetings, several of our coaches raised the concept of changing the format of the tournament. What I said to them was we've really not talked about this. When we expanded the tournament to 16 [teams], the current structure was the only one they could accept and go to 16 because it protected the best teams.

At the meeting this year, there was a reversal of opinion [because] on the women's side, three of the top four seeds lost, and on the men's side, two of the top four lost [their opening game]. I said to them this is all new.

I had [men's basketball associate commissioner] Danny Gavitt do an analysis. Does it require more class days, etc. Basically it was a neutral effect on all of those things. We could have changed the format. Several of the coaches in the room who were advocating for it, upon reflection, weren't as excited about doing it any longer. I've said we've only done it [this way] for one year, let's just table the idea for a year and if we feel that way next year we can revisit it. For the time being let's keep it the way it is.

I decided to keep it the way it was for another year at which point and time, we'll reevaluate to whether we want to make a change.

Are you in favor of all 16 teams playing in the Big East Tournament or would you rather it be limited to only the top 12 teams?
A year ago, I would have said no [to all 16]. But it seemed to work from a crowd standpoint. We had such good crowds last year. Now ESPN is televising the first day [the first-round wasn't televised last year]. We've got ESPN2 for the first session, ESPNU for the second session. We were afraid we would devalue our tournament by going to 16 and diluting it. That didn't happen last year, so let's see again what happens this year.

The BCS is considering hiring a full-time BCS coordinator. Is former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese the obvious choice?
We've been talking about [having a coordinator] for a while. People [BCS league commissioners] who are sitting in the chair as the [BCS] coordinator often times feel conflicted wearing two hats because they have a built-in conflict of interest.

We've been talking about how we could potentially eliminate that perception because that person acts as the coordinator and also acts as the spokesperson. Within their own conference when you're the [BCS] coordinator, your own people [from your conference], you're not representing because you're representing the whole group.

We haven't resolved the fact we want to hire an executive director. We're talking about the idea. We haven't identified names. We haven't determined titles. We're not sure what the best scenario is to follow primarily to avoid that perceived conflict of interest.

You took over for Tranghese on July 1 as Big East commissioner. How have your first 100 days gone so far?
In so many ways I feel like we've accomplished so much. We got the Champs Bowl deal done. We got the Yankee [Bowl] deal done. We extended the [Madison Square] Garden contract [to host the Big East Tournament through 2016]. We hired a woman [associate commissioner Danielle Donehew] to take over for [associate commissioner] Donna DeMarco.

On the women's basketball side, we created the SWA [senior woman administrator] initiative for sportsmanship and ethical conduct. There are so many things we've gotten done in a short time, but there are so many things we need to start to deal with. The biggest of the logistical things is simply trying to relocate our office [Brown University bought the building the league's office is located in]. It sounds like a simple thing, but it's so all-consuming. Our intention is to stay in Providence.

The Big East added a bowl game to be played in Yankee Stadium starting next season. How can a bowl game played potentially in sub-freezing weather be a success?
We have three objectives [for our bowl games]: opponent, destination and geography.

Geography we address by being in New York because it's the center of where we are. Destination? New York City, Christmas, holidays. Opponent? Big 12. We have our three criteria met. If [Yankee Stadium] had a cover on the stadium it would be perfect, but it didn't. We had talked about doing this eight years ago. We had announced if the [New York] Jets built a new stadium with a roof we would create the Big Apple Bowl and we would host it. That would be perfect for us. The idea of being able to play this game in New York City on New Year's Day is what where shooting for.

When you go to Times Square and see the ball come down, it was just so appealing. I think that people would want to experience that. When you've watch it on TV since you were a kid, when Guy Lombardo would welcome in the New Year, then Dick Clark and so you grew up watching it. If your team is in New York City playing in Yankee Stadium on New Year's Day, wouldn't you want to go see New York lit up for the holidays and the ball coming down in Times Square?

I think we offset the weather with all those other things. And then as Randy Levine, president of the Yankees, keeps telling me: We're the New York Yankees, don't worry about the weather. The proposed dates are Dec. 29, 30, 31 or Jan. 1, but we're shooting for Jan. 1. That's ideal, you get there for the 31st to watch the ball and next day have the game. A day start would be ideal. The Yankees are in conversations with different networks to televise it, but haven't finalized what they want to do with it.

Big East Commish: Old Bowl System Preferable to Playoff originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>John MarinattoBrett McMurphyWed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST Rewind: Big East Primed for Big Finishhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/big-east-rewind-two-be-determined/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/big-east-rewind-two-be-determined/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/11/02/big-east-rewind-two-be-determined/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

And then there were two.

Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are now the lone undefeated teams in Big East play after last weekend's action.

The No. 4 ranked Bearcats and No. 14 Panthers continue on a collision course for the de facto Big East championship game on Dec. 5 in Pittsburgh. By the way, whatever Nick Carparelli, the Big East's senior associate commissioner for football, is making, he deserves a raise.

Carparelli is in charge of the league's schedule and his philosophy is having the league's top games played later in the year. That's easier said than done, but the Big East could have a pair of Top 10 teams playing for the league title if the Bearcats and Panthers don't stumble.

Stumble is exactly what West Virginia did -- again -- at South Florida. Playing in Tampa, Fla., on a Friday night for the second time in three years, the Mountaineers' league title hopes took a big hit with the 30-19 loss to the Bulls, who had lost their previous two games to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh by a combined margin of 75-31.

At just past the halfway mark in league play, five of the league's eight teams already have two league losses.

Some things we may have actually figured out in the past week

1. They are so ready for basketball to start in Louisville and Syracuse.

Last week's home football games at Louisville and Syracuse drew ridiculously small crowds. Louisville's game against Arkansas State drew a Papa John's Cardinal Stadium crowd of 21,497, the smallest in the stadium's 11-year history. The low attendance was probably a combination of UL fans being fed up with Steve Kragthorpe and the caliber of opponent. However, a top-flight opponent didn't help Syracuse. Only 33,082 showed at the Carrier Dome to see the Orange battle No. 5 Cincinnati. Even with free tickets provided to SU students and $10 tickets available in the upper level, it was smaller than any home crowd during Greg Robinson's past four seasons. Apparently the honeymoon is already over for first-year SU coach Doug Marrone, whose job didn't get any easier when WR Mike Williams quit on Monday.

2. Tim Brown never felt better - or worse - about a victory.

Tim Brown, Rutgers wide receiver, grew up in Miami two houses from UConn's Jasper Howard. Saturday was UConn's first home game since Howard was murdered. Brown had considered flying to Miami for the funeral last Monday, but ended up watching it on the internet. Before the game, he walked onto the field, knelt on one knee, said a short prayer and raised six fingers to the heavens -- for Howard, who wore No. 6. More than three hours later, Brown was racing into the end zone with the winning 81-yard TD catch with 22 seconds remaining. After crossing the goal line, Brown held up six fingers. "I played for him," said Brown, who cried after the game. "I dedicate this win to him and my teammates, for helping me keep my head up and keep me strong."

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3. South Florida has gotten into West Virginia's head.

USF's victory last week against West Virginia was only the third in five all-time meetings between the schools. But has a 3-2 advantage ever appeared so dominating? West Virginia has been favored in all five meetings, but has only won one comfortably. Since winning the first meeting, 28-13 in 2005, West Virginia has been lucky it hasn't lost four in a row to the Bulls. In 2006 USF won at WVU 24-19 as a 21-point underdog; in 2007 USF won 21-13 as a 7-point underdog when WVU was ranked No. 5 and last year USF nearly won again (and probably should have if not for some critical turnovers) in Morgantown in Pat White's final home game, losing 13-7. In last week's 30-19 victory by USF, the Bulls put the clamps on RB Noel Devine the same way they've shut down RB Steve Slaton and White in past seasons.

Re-Tweeting Week 9

Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: Bearcats are nation's only team that has not lost a fumble this season. Did I just jinx a no-hitter?
2. Pitt: After Syracuse this week, Pitt hits a tough closing stretch vs. Notre Dame, West Virginia & Cincinnati, who are combined 20-4
3. USF: Bulls among eight teams with two victories this year against ranked opponents. They'll get a shot for a third vs. Miami on Nov. 28
4. West Virginia: Only Syracuse has allowed more yards passing than Mountaineers. Any chance Noel Devine can also play cornerback?
5. Rutgers: Scarlet Knights rank fourth nationally having forced 25 turnovers in eight games
6. UConn: Déjà vu again. Huskies suffer 28-24 loss for second consecutive week when defense gives up a late big play in crushing loss to RU
7. Syracuse: Will the Orange be looking past Pittsburgh this week to their Nov. 14 Battle of the Basement at Louisville?
8. Louisville: Cards' 21-13 win vs. Arkansas State was UL's first in 13 games under Steve Kragthorpe when scoring less than 24 points

Follow Brett McMurphy on Twitter at twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY

Rewind: Big East Primed for Big Finish originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyMon, 02 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST Incredible Finish for UConn, Rutgershttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/rutgers-player-dedicates-dramatic-victory-to-slain-uconn-player/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/rutgers-player-dedicates-dramatic-victory-to-slain-uconn-player/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/31/rutgers-player-dedicates-dramatic-victory-to-slain-uconn-player/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tim BrownEAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- On a day Connecticut honored slain teammate Jasper Howard, one of his best friends won the game for Rutgers.

Tim Brown, who grew up with Howard in Miami, scored on an 81-yard touchdown pass from Tom Savage with 22 seconds left to give the Scarlet Knights a 28-24 victory over the Huskies in UConn's first home game since Howard was stabbed to death.

"I just went out there and played that game for my friend," Brown said. "He was a special guy to me and I just went out there and dedicated that game to him."

Connecticut (4-4, 2-2 Big East) scored to take a 24-21 lead with under a minute left, and the crowd was roaring, when Brown got behind cornerback Robert McClain, and outraced the entire UConn secondary to the end zone.

Howard, Brown said, might have had the speed to catch him.

"We was ready to play [each other]," he said "It would have been a great game for me if I'd had my other friend on the other side."

Howard was killed outside a school dance on Oct. 18. Since the Huskies have played twice and taken two tough losses.


There were numerous tributes to Howard before the game and fans lined up three-deep to greet the Huskies as they made their way into the stadium wearing T-shirts with his number "6" on it.

Last week, UConn lost 28-24 at West Virginia when Noel Devine broke a 56-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left in the game. The Huskies' four losses are by a total of 13 points.

"Could we be [undefeated]? Yeah, but the reality of it is that we're 4-4," coach Randy Edsall said. "And the reality of it is, we've got to understand how to finish these games off and make the plays at the end in order to win."

Savage, the freshman quarterback, threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns for Rutgers (6-2, 1-2) in his first Big East road game. But he gave all the credit to Brown, who finished with 162 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

"He made one of the best plays you could probably make in college football," Savage said. "I know he was down all week, and he was down during the game, but he just made the play and I'm sure Jazz is proud of him."

Backup quarterback Zach Frazer, who entered the game in the first quarter after Cody Endres went down with an injury to his left shoulder, threw for 333 yards and a touchdown for UConn. He led the Huskies on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives after they trailed 21-10.

UConn's Marcus Easley cut the lead to 21-17 when he caught a pass over the middle, bounced off linebacker Ryan D'Imperio and went in for a 32-yard touchdown with just over 10 minutes left.

The Huskies tried an unorthodox 2-point conversion, hitting tackle Mike Ryan on what was supposed to be a lateral screen. The 320-pound lineman dove into the end zone, stretching the ball over the left pylon. But Ryan was ruled an ineligible receiver, and UConn had to settle for a kick after the penalty.

Connecticut got the ball back for a final time with about 3 1/2 minutes left. A 31-yard diving catch by Michael Smith got the ball into Rutgers' territory, and a 32-yard catch by Kashif Moore on fourth down got the Huskies into the red zone. When Jordan Todman ran it in from 2 yards out on another fourth down with 38 seconds to go, the home crowd erupted, thinking the Huskies had completed the comeback.

Edsall said Endres is likely done for the season. He is scheduled to have surgery on Sunday.


Frazer, who lost the starting job after he suffered a knee injury in the second game of the season, completed 21 of 46 passes, but also threw three interceptions.

The game started with the stadium buzzing and the UConn crowd energetic on an emotional day for the school.

A lot of that energy seemed to drain from the building after Delvin McCourty took the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown for Rutgers.

A week ago, West Virginia's Tavon Austin went 98 yards for a score with the opening kick.

Joe Lefeged's interception set up a seven-play, 81-yard Rutgers drive that ended with Brown's first touchdown catch, a 37-yarder.

Robby Frey brought the crowd back into the game by taking the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, cutting across the field behind the blocking of Todman and diving into the end zone.

But UConn senior cornerback Robert McClain limped off the field late in the second quarter, leaving the Huskies with three redshirt freshmen in the secondary.

Savage took advantage, finding Mark Harrison over the middle for a 20-yard touchdown that made it 21-10 at the half. McClain returned in the second half.

UConn gamely came back, but for the second consecutive week a victory the Huskies wanted so badly wasn't to be.

"I don't know," he said. "We'll just keep fighting. That's all I know to do."

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
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Incredible Finish for UConn, Rutgers originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jasper howardFanHouse NewswireSat, 31 Oct 2009 19:19:00 EST Big East Rewind: No Longer the Pittshttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/big-east-rewind-no-longer-the-pitts/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/big-east-rewind-no-longer-the-pitts/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/26/big-east-rewind-no-longer-the-pitts/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Pitt PanthersJust three weeks ago, we called Pittsburgh the Pitts-ophrenic Panthers after their up-and-down performances earlier this season against Buffalo, N.C. State, Louisville and UConn.

Uh, is it too late to take that all back?

As impressive as Cincinnati has been all season, Pittsburgh might be playing the best overall of any Big East team. The offense is balanced and the defense gets more dominating each week. Saturday, the Panthers (7-1, 4-0 Big East) scorched South Florida 41-14.

Since allowing 505 yards at N.C. State, the Panthers have improved their defensive numbers in each of the past four games. Pitt allowed 305 yards to Louisville on Oct. 2, 303 to UConn on Oct. 10, 286 to Rutgers on Oct. 16 and 212 to USF on Saturday.

Led by DE Greg Romeus, the defense just continues to get stronger and stronger. The offense also is doing its part. QB Bill Stull ranks third nationally in passing efficiency and RB Dion Lewis is the nation's fourth-leading rusher. Against USF, Pitt never had to punt.

The Panthers are off this week before closing the season against Syracuse (Nov. 7), Notre Dame (Nov. 140, at West Virginia (Nov. 27) and Cincinnati (Dec. 5).

Some things we may have actually figured out in the past week

1. Sorry Brian Kelly, Randy Edsall is the Big East coach of the year

Yes, we already anointed Cincinnati's Brian Kelly as the league's coach of the year in this column a couple of weeks ago, but Randy Edsall deserves the honor as much, if not more. What Edsall did the past week in an incredibly difficult situation was inspiring to say the least. The class, dignity and professionalism that Edsall displayed in dealing with the tragic death of Jasper Howard situation was extraordinary. Perhaps other coaches would have done as admirably, but I doubt it. Then Edsall somehow managed to take the Huskies into Morgantown and nearly pulled off the upset. UConn outgained WVU 501-387 -- the first team to gain 500 yards on WVU this season -- but couldn't overcome four turnovers and a late Noel Devine TD in the 28-24 loss.

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2. Rece Davis is a genius

While showing highlights of Pittsburgh's 41-14 rout of South Florida, ESPN's Rece Davis remarked the following about the Bulls: "Once again just as the leaves drop, South Florida falls off the face of the Earth." Yes, as the calendar nears Halloween, USF's season turns into all tricks -- no treats. In 2007, USF started 6-0, only to finish 3-4. Last year, USF started 5-0, only to finish 3-5. After this year's 5-0 start, the Bulls are 0-2 and could very well be sitting at 5-4 after hosting West Virginia Friday and traveling to Rutgers Nov. 12. After that 5-0 start, the Bulls have been outgained in each of their Big East games against Syracuse, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

3. The end is near for Steve Kragthorpe at UL

When Steve Kragthorpe was hired at Louisville in 2007, it was generally regarded as a solid hire. Kragthorpe came to UL from Tulsa where he led the Golden Hurricane, 2-21 the two seasons before he took over, to bowl trips in three of his four seasons. At Louisville, though, it just hasn't worked out. In 2007, gut-wrenching, close losses to Kentucky, Syracuse and UConn kept the Cards from a bowl berth. Last year, the Cards looked to have turned the corner after upsetting No. 14 USF to get to 5-2. However, they promptly ended the year on a five-game losing streak. This year has been more of the same: a 2-5 start with their only wins against Indiana State and Southern Miss (on a last-second field goal). UL will not play in a bowl game for a third consecutive season for the first time since Ron Cooper was coach from 1995-97. That will leave AD Tom Jurich with no other choice than to replace Kragthorpe.

Re-Tweeting Week 8

Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: Off to their best start since 1954, the Bearcats have committed a national-low four turnovers
2. Pittsburgh: In only loss at NC State, Panthers allowed 505 yards. In last two wins vs. Rutgers and USF, allowed only 498 combined
3. West Virginia: Last time WVU visited USF was also a Friday night in 2007 and No. 5 Mountaineers were upset. Does history repeat?
4. UConn: Huskies' three on-the-field losses have been by two, three and four points. RIP Jasper Howard
5. Rutgers: Since allowing 47 points in opener to Cincinnati, Rutgers is allowing only 10.5 points per game in past six games
6. South Florida: TGFS -- Thank God For Syracuse. Since joining Big East in 2005, USF is 5-0 vs. the 'Cuse, 10-16 against rest of Big East
7. Syracuse: After defeating Akron, Syracuse returns to Big East play vs. Cincinnati. Since 2005, SU is 3-27 against the Big East
8. Louisville: When scoring less than 24 points under Steve Kragthorpe, the Cardinals are 0-12

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Big East Rewind: No Longer the Pitts originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brian kellyjasper howardnoel devinerandy edsallsteve kragthorpeBrett McMurphyMon, 26 Oct 2009 15:33:00 EST Notebook: QB Injuries Ravage Big Easthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/notebook-qb-injuries-ravage-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/notebook-qb-injuries-ravage-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/07/notebook-qb-injuries-ravage-big-east/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Adam FromanOn Monday, Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe was asked who would be the Cardinals' starting quarterback Saturday against Southern Miss.

"I don't want Southern Miss to know who the quarterback is," Kragthorpe said. "You guys will find out when they walk out on game day."

Forget the Abbott and Costello routine "Who's on first?", "Who's starting at quarterback?" has become the all-too-common theme in the first month of the Big East.

Last year, the league was stockpiled with clear-cut starting quarterbacks at West Virginia (Pat White), South Florida (Matt Grothe), Rutgers (Mike Teel), Pittsburgh (Bill Stull), Louisville (Hunter Cantwell) and Syracuse (Cameron Dantley). At Cincinnati and UConn, Tony Pike and Tyler Lorenzen ended up getting the majority of the starts, but the Bearcats and Huskies each used three different starting quarterbacks last season.

This year because of injuries, determining a starting quarterback at several league schools has been more like musical chairs.

Last season in the Big East, 12 players started at least two games at quarterback. This year, the league already has had 11 players start at least two games at quarterback -- and if Adam Froman starts for Louisville Saturday, he will be the 12th league QB with at least two starts this season.

Injuries have had a great impact on the position throughout the league and the No. 1 example is at South Florida where QB Matt Grothe was lost for the season with a torn ACL. In a cruel irony, Grothe's injury occurred a week after he passed White as the league's all-time leader in total offense.

Overall, the league's list of wounded QBs who have missed a start because of an injury could fill a MASH unit: USF's Grothe (knee), UConn's Zach Frazer (knee), Louisville's Justin Burke (bruised sternum) and Rutgers' Tom Savage (concussion).

Rutgers' coach Greg Schiano, who has had Savage and Domenic Natale split four starts this season, was asked about Savage's availability for Saturday's game with Texas Southern. Schiano's answer summed up how most of the coaches in the league are feeling about their own situations.

"We hope to have him back," Schiano said.

Buckeye State Bragging Rights

Forget health care, the big debate in Ohio these days is who has the better football team? Cincinnati or Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have the storied tradition, the only two-time Heisman winner, the dotting of the I, the most BCS title game losses, etc. Cincinnati has -- uh -- the better chili.

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This year, though, the Bearcats also might be better on the field. At least in the eyes of the Associated Press voters.

The Bearcats are No. 8 in this week's AP poll, one slot ahead of No. 9 Ohio State. It's the first time since 1951 that the Bearcats are ranked higher than Ohio State. Ohio State won the last meeting 37-7 in 2006, but unless they meet in a bowl game, they won't play again until 2012.

"By that time hopefully we've continued to accelerate our program where Ohio State has something to gain by playing us," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said. "In years past, this [which is the best team] wasn't really a conversation because Cincinnati wasn't the kind of program that would merit that kind of conversation."

While the AP voters gave Cincinnati the slight edge, it's not even close according to one member of the Kelly household.

Kenzel Kelly, Brian's 8-year old son, recently pitted Cincinnati against Ohio State on his PlayStation. The final score was Cincinnati 91, Ohio State 0 - and it wasn't even that close.

"I promptly took him to McDonald's," Brian Kelly said.

Big Four Billboard Boasting

Near downtown in Tampa, Fla., USF's marketing department put on a USF-sponsored billboard: "Big 4: Welcome to the Club Bulls Fans." It's in reference to USF's win at Florida State two weeks ago and the Bulls' quest to make the state's Big Three of Florida, Florida State and Miami a Big Four.

The billboard has the No. 3 crossed out and includes team logos of UF, FSU, UM and USF.

USF coach Jim Leavitt, who called the win at FSU the "biggest in school history, no question," was not thrilled about the new billboard.

"I had nothing to do with it, I don't know how it got up and I don't know who put it up," Leavitt told the Tampa Tribune. "We have not won national championships and we have not won conference championships. What gives us the right to sit there all of a sudden like we've won all these championships and done all this stuff? That's not me. That's never been me.

"I don't want people to sit there and think I think we're all that -- because we're not. We're a program that's trying to get competitive. We're a program trying to build."

The Bulls, who are 1-0 against FSU, 0-1 against Miami and have never played Florida, get their next crack at a Big Three/Big Four program Nov. 28 when they host Miami.

Around the League

Last season, UConn's Donald Brown led the nation in rushing with 2,083 yards. This season, the Huskies are ahead of Brown's pace -- albeit it's the combined numbers of Andre Dixon and Jordan Todman. Dixon and Todman are combining for 191 yards per game, compared to Brown's 160-yard per game average last season. "Andre is more of a slasher, while Jordan is a little bit shiftier," UConn coach Randy Edsall said about his dynamic duo. ... Pitt QB Bill Stull has gone from being booed by the home fans in the season opener to No. 5 nationally in passing efficiency. The difference? "This may be too simple, but the No. 1 thing is he's not throwing interceptions," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. ... Louisville has held second-half leads in two of its three losses this season, but has been outscored 41-24 in the fourth quarter this season. Pitt outscored UL 28-0 in the second half of Friday's 35-10 win. "The first three series of the second half were catastrophic," Kragthorpe said. ... How hard has it been for USF to replace kicker Maikon Bonani, who suffered a back injury this summer falling from a Busch Gardens skyride? Delbert Alvardo and Eric Schwartz have combined to miss six of nine field goals - with five of the six misses from 40 yards or closer.

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Middle Tennessee State quarterback Dwight Dasher (9) avoids the tackle of Troy's Bear Woods (48) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
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    NEW YORK - OCTOBER 06: Matt Moore, a former college football player at Texas Christian attends The 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner benefiting The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis (national fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis) at The Waldorf=Astoria on October 6, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Miami Project) *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore

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    NEW YORK - OCTOBER 06: Matt Moore, a former college football player at Texas Christian attends The 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner benefiting The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis (national fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis) at The Waldorf=Astoria on October 6, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Miami Project) *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore

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    NEW YORK - OCTOBER 6: Matt Moore, a former college football player at Texas Christian University, attends The 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner benefiting The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis (national fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis) at The Waldorf-Astoria on October 6, 2009 in New York, New York. (Photo by Brian Bedder/Getty Images for The Miami Project) *** Local Caption *** Matt Moore

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    Middle Tennessee State quarterback Dwight Dasher (9) avoids the tackle of Troy's Bear Woods (48) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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    Troy receiver Chip Reeves (8) celebrates with teammate Sergio Perez, rear, after scoring on a 52-yard pass reception in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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    Troy linebacker Boris Lee (2) breaks up a pass intended for Middle Tennessee State receiver Malcolm Beyah (4) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. At left is Troy defender Tebiarus Gill. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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    Troy running back Shawn Southward (20) reacts after scoring in the first quarter during an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee State in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Middle Tennessee States's Emmanuel Perez (91) and Jeremy Kellem (20) walk away. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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    Troy receiver Chip Reeves (8) is pursued by Middle Tennessee State's Marcus Udell (3) on a 52-yard touchdown reception in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Troy, Ala., Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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Notebook: QB Injuries Ravage Big East originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyWed, 07 Oct 2009 11:02:00 EST Rewind: Fab Four Emerge in Big Easthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/05/rewind-fab-four-emerge-in-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/05/rewind-fab-four-emerge-in-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/10/05/rewind-fab-four-emerge-in-big-east/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


The past week was fairly routine and predictable for the Big East: Cincinnati, South Florida, West Virginia and Pittsburgh all won fairly easy as they were expected against lesser competition.

The season isn't even to the halfway mark -- heck not every team has even started Big East play yet -- but that quartet has emerged as the Big East's Fab Four.

Entering the season, the consensus of all the preseason magazines and .com's was that any one of five teams would win the league. Those four plus Rutgers were considered good enough to win the league in a race that would be too close to call.

The Scarlet Knights lost to a Cincinnati buzzsaw in their season opener, but have allowed only 35 points in winning three consecutive games against subpar competition since, so they might be better than they showed in Week 1.

Whether Rutgers or, maybe even Connecticut, deserves to be included in the upper half of the league should be known fairly soon. In the next two weeks, UConn visits Pitt Saturday and the following week Rutgers hosts the Panthers.

Some things we may have actually figured out in the past week

1. I guess Cincinnati really doesn't need the ball that much.

In its past two games combined, Cincinnati's offense has had the football for only 35 minutes and 27 seconds or about the same amount that some teams have in one game. Yet, the Bearcats are doing plenty with their limited opportunities. In the two wins against Fresno State and Miami, Ohio, Cincinnati has scored nine offensive touchdowns in 35:27, or an average of one touchdown every 3 minutes and 56 seconds it has the ball. You want efficiency? Check this out: the Bearcats' nine TD drives the past two games averaged to a remarkable 1:54, a virtual two-minute drill. Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly isn't worried about the time of possession disparity or slowing down the Bearcats' scoring drives by saying "I'd rather score quickly."

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2. West Virginia's worst enemy is ... West Virginia.

OK, maybe this was obvious after the six turnover night at Auburn, or the four turnovers against East Carolina, or ... West Virginia is averaging 465 yards a game -- and nearly as many turnovers a game. The Mountaineers have lost 14 turnovers in the past three games. But they aren't biased toward a particular turnover. Against East Carolina, the Mountaineers lost three fumbles. At Auburn, they had five interceptions. In Thursday's win against Colorado, they lost four fumbles. "We're sloppy," WVU coach Bill Stewart said. WVU's offensive numbers -- second in the Big East, 13th nationally -- would be even more impressive if the Mountaineers could ever hold onto the dang football. In WVU's three games against FBS teams, the Mountaineers have more turnovers (14) than punts (10). Beware the Mountaineers if they can ever stop giving the football away.

3. USF is really, really good -- or maybe just taking advantage of an easy schedule.

For the third time in as many seasons, South Florida is back in the national rankings. Despite losing senior QB Matt Grothe to a season-ending knee injury in their third game, the Bulls (5-0) are No. 23 in this week's AP Top 25. Off this week, they might sneak into the top 20 this weekend if enough ranked teams lose. The Bulls' most impressive win so far was clearly at Florida State, but the Seminoles are struggling big-time this season. Also, two of USF's wins were against FCS teams (Wofford and Charleston Southern) and a third victory was against Western Kentucky, possibly the nation's worst FBS team. All of their first five opponents currently have losing records and are a combined 7-17. It won't take long to find out if the Bulls are legit contenders or pretenders. USF's next four opponents (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Rutgers) has a combined record of 15-3.

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In this Saturday Oct. 3, 2009 photo, Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden is shown walking the sideline during the second half against Boston College of an NCAA college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston. Boston College won 28-21. The chairman of the Florida State University trustees wants Bobby Bowden to retire at the end of this season. Jim Smith said Monday, oct. 5, 2009, the arrangement with Bowden as head coach and his successor, Jimbo Fisher, as offensive coordinator isn't working. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)
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    In this photo taken Sept. 12, 2009, Illinois' QB Eddie McGee (10) heads down field against Illinois State during the second half of the NCAA college football game at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill. Illinois will start backup quarterback Eddie McGee on Saturday against Michigan State instead of Juice Williams. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

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    In this photo taken Oct. 3, 2009, Illinois' quarterback Juice Williams (7) scrambles out of the pocket against Penn State during the first half of the NCAA college football game in Champaign, Ill. Illinois will start backup quarterback Eddie McGee on Saturday against Michigan State instead of Juice Williams. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

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    In this Saturday Oct. 3, 2009 photo, Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden is shown walking the sideline during the second half against Boston College of an NCAA college football game at Alumni Stadium in Boston. Boston College won 28-21. The chairman of the Florida State University trustees wants Bobby Bowden to retire at the end of this season. Jim Smith said Monday, oct. 5, 2009, the arrangement with Bowden as head coach and his successor, Jimbo Fisher, as offensive coordinator isn't working. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

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    In this photo made Oct. 3, 2009, Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher makes a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College at Alumni Stadium in Boston. Boston College won 28-21. The chairman of the Florida State University trustees wants Bobby Bowden to retire at the end of this season. Jim Smith said Monday, Oct. 5, 2009, the arrangement with Bowden as head coach and his successor, Jimbo Fisher, as offensive coordinator isn't working. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

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    Washington State running back Logwone Mitz, top, attempts to leap in for a touchdown but is stopped short by the Oregon defensive during the second half of their NCAA college football game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. Oregon beat Washington 52-6.

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    In this Oct. 3, 2009 photograph, Mississippi State linebacker K.J. Wright (34) attempts to block a first half pass by Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt (9) during their NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss. Josh Nesbitt is making it tough on defensive coordinators. The Georgia Tech quarterback did a little bit of everything the last two weeks, baffling defenses in wins over Mississippi State and North Carolina. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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    Stanford running back Toby Gerhart (7) scores a touchdown past UCLA cornerback Alterraun Verner (1) in the first quarter of their NCAA football game in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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    Houston quarterback Case Keenum and UTEP defender Aaron King chase a fumble during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game Saturday Oct. 3, 2009 in El Paso, Texas. Keenum was unable to recover the ball and it was instead picked up by UTEP's Roddray Walker and run 70 yards for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Victor Calzada)

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    Houston's Brandon Brinkley agonized after UTEP's Donald Buckram scored his fourth touchdown of the evening during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game Saturday Oct. 3, 2009 in El Paso, Texas. UTEP linemen celebrated with Buckram in the background. (AP Photo/Victor Calzada)

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    UTEP defender Roddray Walker sprints 70 yards for touchdown after recovering a Houston fumble during the fourth quarter of their NCAA college football game Saturday Oct. 3, 2009 in El Paso, Texas. (AP Photo/Victor Calzada)

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Re-Tweeting Week 5

Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: Start the hype: No. 8 Bearcats visit No. 23 USF Oct. 15 in nationally televised contest of league's only unbeatens

2. USF: Behind new defensive coordinator Joe Tresey, Bulls are third nationally forcing 16 turnovers

3. WVU: Just call RB Noel Devine "The Human First Down." Against Colorado, he had career-high 220 yards on 22 carries

4. Pitt: Bill Stull, former whipping boy of Pitt fans, is now fifth in nation in passing efficiency (11 TDs, one interception)

5. UConn: Huskies best chance for upset at Pittsburgh Saturday will be taking advantage of league's second-worst rush defense

6. Rutgers: Another FCS cupcake (Texas Southern) Saturday moves Rutgers to 4-1 before hosting Pitt on Oct. 16

7. Syracuse: Is turnover-machine hyphenated or two words? Greg Paulus' five interceptions part of SU's seven TOs in USF loss

8. Louisville: Flag day coming Saturday when nation's No. 6 (So. Miss) & No. 8 (UL) most penalized teams meet

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Rewind: Fab Four Emerge in Big East originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyMon, 05 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EST Good Weekend for Big East, Despite Grothe's Injuryhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/good-weekend-for-big-east-despite-grothe-injury/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/good-weekend-for-big-east-despite-grothe-injury/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/21/good-weekend-for-big-east-despite-grothe-injury/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Brian KellyIt was a good week for the Big East, but it was oh-so-close to being a great week for the league. If not for a fumbled punt return by Louisville's Trent Guy and a turnover-fest by West Virginia on a rainy night in Auburn, Ala., the Big East would be have been a perfect 8-0 last week in non-conference action.

The league went 6-2, including a 3-2 mark against BCS opponents and upsets by UConn at Baylor and Syracuse against Northwestern.

For as well as the league did, though, there was a touch of melancholy with the news that USF QB Matt Grothe, the league's all-time leader in total offense, suffered a torn ACL Saturday against Charleston Southern, ending his USF career.

The Cincinnati Bearcats - one team that's all too aware of having to replace quarterbacks - posted the most impressive win of the week, knocking off Oregon State in Corvallis. It ended a 26-game winning streak by the Beavers against non-conference teams at home.

Some things we may have actually figured out in the past week

1. No matter how good your starting QB might be, you better have a quality backup.

Besides the devastating news about Grothe's season-ending torn ACL, a couple of other league teams had some anxious moments with their quarterbacks. Rutgers' Tom Savage was knocked down against Florida International and was motionless on the turf for about 45 seconds. Savage appears he'll be OK. Also, West Virginia's Jarrett Brown left late in Saturday's loss at Auburn with what appeared to be an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Savage and Brown should return this week. Grothe, however, doesn't have that luxury.

2. The bottom of the Big East isn't as bad as I thought.

To UConn coach Randy Edsall: I apologize. I thought you guys would tank it, stink up the joint at Baylor. Yet, without three offensive starters, the Huskies pulled off the upset. And kudos to Syracuse. Even though I predicted a Syracuse upset against Northwestern, that doesn't diminish the job the Orange did in outlasting the Wildcats. Even though Syracuse blew a 17-0 first quarter lead. And poor Louisville. The Cardinals had the game won at Kentucky, but a fumbled punt return proved to be the difference.

3. And the top of the Big East is better than most people think.

Winning at Oregon State is no easy task -- just ask USC. The Bearcats keep chugging along and continue to climb in the polls. It's only a matter of weeks, I guess, before we start seeing the "does an undefeated Cincinnati deserve a spot in the BCS title game?" storylines. Pittsburgh also keeps winning, but victories against Youngstown State, Buffalo and Navy doesn't exactly qualify the Panthers as world beaters just yet. West Virginia's offense has proven it can run up and down the field, but if the Mountaineers don't get a handle on the ball or improve their turnover margin, it's not going to matter.

4. The preseason is over for USF.

The Bulls played nearly as many preseason games as NFL teams opening against Wofford, Western Kentucky and Charleston Southern. This week, the Bulls will finally find out what kind of team they have when they visit Florida State.

Re-Tweeting Week 3

Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: We've already touted that Bearcats are best team in city. Heck, they might be best team in state of Ohio, including OSU.

2. Pitt: Say it ain't so: Pittsburgh's home fans are actually cheering for QB Bill Stull. What's next? Philly fans cut Santa Claus some slack?

3. WVU: Mountaineers still drying out from Saturday's sloshing at Auburn. WVU off this week before hosting Colorado next Thursday.

4. USF: I might rank the Bulls higher if they had played anybody so far. QB B.J. Daniels makes his homecoming to Tallahassee Saturday.

5. UConn: Baylor won't ever be confused with Texas, or Texas Tech, or you get the point, but UConn got an impressive win on the Big 12 road.

6. Syracuse: What an impact former Duke point guard Greg Paulus has had at quarterback. Two of SU's first three games decided on last second treys.

7. Rutgers: If Scarlet Knights win at Maryland Saturday, they have an open date and Texas Southern on tap before Pitt comes to town Oct. 16.

8. Louisville: Muhammad Ali attended UL's loss at Kentucky, but Cards never could deliver the knock out. UL may get KO'd at Utah this week.

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Good Weekend for Big East, Despite Grothe's Injury originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyMon, 21 Sep 2009 16:35:00 EST Big East Picks: Is Bluegrass Victory Finally in the Cards?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/big-east-picks-is-bluegrass-victory-finally-in-the-cards/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/big-east-picks-is-bluegrass-victory-finally-in-the-cards/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/big-east-picks-is-bluegrass-victory-finally-in-the-cards/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Steve KragthorpeWhen Louisville visits Kentucky Saturday, Lexington police officials said they will increase security around Commonwealth Stadium with an additional three dozen officers. But enough about the added protection they're providing to make sure basketball coaches John Calipari and Rick Pitino get to their seats safely.

This game is for the Governor's Cup. The trophy weighs 110 pounds or approximately the same weight of the monkey resting squarely on Steve Kragthorpe's back as he tries to avoid becoming the first Cardinals coach to lose three consecutive games to Kentucky.

While Kragthorpe has not enjoyed the success most expected when he took over in 2007, he has maintained his sense of humor. At this week's press conference, he joked that the reason for Louisville's very vanilla offense in its lackluster season opener was because the Cards weren't showing their cards and only used two percent of the playbook.

"We got a little Wishbone package," Kragthorpe said. "I just got off the phone with Barry Switzer."

Switzer may have called, but he was trying to see if Kragthorpe could put him in touch with Pitino. Switzer wanted to make dinner reservations for two at Porcini's restaurant in Louisville, known for its final Northern Italian cuisine -- among other things.

This game should be a blowout: Kentucky enters on a 15-game winning streak in non-conference games, while UL enters with a shaky offense, a coach whose seat is getting hotter and a quarterback making only his second career start.

Then again, crazier things have happened in rivalry games. Call me crazy. Running back Victor Anderson leads the two-TD underdog Cards to the upset.

Cincinnati at Oregon State: Bearcats coach Brian Kelly joked that a few of his players probably couldn't find Oregon on a map. The Bearcats, though, have had no trouble finding the end zone, averaging 58.5 points this season. True, the season is only two games old, but Oregon State has the nation's 26th-worst pass defense. That's not good, especially going against UC QB Tony Pike. The game is rated even, but the Bearcats are too strong offensively and continue their climb up the national rankings.

West Virginia at Auburn: After every Auburn home victory, the locals "roll" Toomer's Corner, at the intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue. The oak trees -- and anything else that doesn't move -- are engulfed with toilet paper. West Virginia fans prefer burning couches after games. If the two fan bases aren't careful, the whole city might go up in flames Saturday night. Auburn will be on fire to get revenge from last year's loss at WVU and easily covers the 7-1/2 points.

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UConn at Baylor: The Huskies are without their starting quarterback and may be without their best defensive player. Plus they have to travel to Waco, Texas -- have you ever been to Waco? -- and are coming off last week's fluky two-point loss to North Carolina. Baylor and athletic QB Robert Griffin easily hurdle the Huskies and the 10-point spread.

Northwestern at Syracuse: The Orange has lost the past two weeks to Big Ten opponents and faces another Big Ten club this weekend. If Syracuse doesn't win here, the Orange could become the first team in NCAA history to finish dead last in two conferences in the same season. That ain't gonna happen. The 3-point home underdogs pull off the small shocker as QB Greg Paulus looks frantically for nets to cut down after the upset.

Florida International at Rutgers: FIU actually was scheduled to play USF this week, but in January the Golden Panthers paid $200,000 to buy out of the game. FIU then signed a home-and-home deal with Rutgers. So instead of losing big at USF Saturday, FIU will lose big at RU. But hey, at least FIU gets a home game with Rutgers in 2010 out of the deal. Led by freshman QB Tom Savage, the Scarlet Knights cover the 14.

Navy at Pittsburgh: Little known fact about the Panthers. Since the Big East was formed in 1991, the Panthers have never gone undefeated in non-conference play. Some how, some way, some where Pitt always stumbles. Not this week. Pitt survives, but Navy's option attack keeps it within seven.

Charleston Southern at USF (no line): Less said the ... USF 52-6.


The not-as-gory-as-last week details:

Last week: 7-0 straight up; 2-3 against the spread

Season: 13-1 straight up; 2-6 against the spread

Each week FanHouse Big East writer Brett McMurphy will preview the Big East and make his weekly predictions.

Big East Picks: Is Bluegrass Victory Finally in the Cards? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>steve kragthorpeBrett McMurphyFri, 18 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST Big East Set for Major Proving Groundhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/17/big-east-set-for-major-proving-ground/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/17/big-east-set-for-major-proving-ground/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/17/big-east-set-for-major-proving-ground/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Tony PikeWest Virginia coach Bill Stewart, whose club visits Auburn this weekend, said he's never been to historic Jordan-Hare Stadium.

UConn will be making its first visit to Waco, Texas, in what will be longest road trip in school history when the Huskies play Baylor.

And then there's the Cincinnati Bearcats, who head to the Left Coast to visit Oregon State. Earlier this week, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly joked that a couple of his players "would have a hard time finding Oregon on the map."

Big East teams might be unfamiliar with where they're headed this week, but they should have a better idea where they're located on the national landscape after this weekend's games.

Of the Big East's eight non-conference games, five are against BCS conference schools. The Big East is playing every BCS league Saturday, except for the ACC.

There are five games -- Louisville also visits Kentucky and Syracuse hosts Northwestern -- and five major opportunities for the Big East.

"Every time you play outside the league is important," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "Can one game make or break you? No. But every time you go outside the conference it's important."

Perception is reality and so far the perception is that the Big East isn't so big -- or bad.

"It seems like we never do enough," Stewart said.

Since the league added Cincinnati, Louisville and USF in 2005, the Big East is 30-35 against the other BCS leagues during the regular season, including a 0-3 start this season. In that same time span, the Big East is 7-7 in bowl games against BCS teams, although the Big East champions are 3-1 in its BCS bowls.

Since 2005, the league's most successful team against BCS competition in the regular season has been Louisville, which is 8-2. In fact, Louisville, West Virginia and USF are a combined 18-6 against BCS opponents since 2005 -- accounting for 60 percent of the league's BCS regular season victories.

Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said the league's performance in non-conference games this week can help the Big East's reputation.

"They are (important), no question about that," Wannstedt said. "So is it there? Yes. Is it real? Yes. Is it a focal point? I would say no."

Making this week even tougher for the Big East is that four of the five teams are playing on the road and four of the five are underdogs. Only Cincinnati, which is listed even at Oregon State, isn't an underdog, but they're headed to Corvallis, where the Beavers have won 26 consecutive non-conference home games.

After this weekend, the Big East has more BCS tests in the next two weeks, including Pittsburgh at N.C. State, Rutgers at Maryland, USF at Florida State and Colorado at West Virginia.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto told the Birmingham News that these next few weeks are important.

"Every single game is important in some way or some form," Marinatto said. "You try not to put too much weight in any specific game, but obviously the way we perform out of conference is critical and we take it seriously."

The question is: how seriously will the nation take the Big East after the next couple of weeks?

Big East Set for Major Proving Ground originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bill stewartdave wannstedtgreg schianoBrett McMurphyThu, 17 Sep 2009 02:45:00 EST Big East Picks: Can Punters Get PTSD?http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/11/big-east-picks-can-punters-get-ptsd/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/11/big-east-picks-can-punters-get-ptsd/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/11/big-east-picks-can-punters-get-ptsd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Desi Cullen, Bruce CullenEach week FanHouse Big East writer Brett McMurphy will preview the Big East and make his weekly predictions.

Excuse Connecticut senior punter Desi Cullen if he's having trouble sleeping this week and having flashbacks to last year's nightmare game with North Carolina.

Last year against the Tar Heels, Cullen had three punts blocked -- all in the second quarter, all by UNC's Bruce Carter -- as the Tar Heels routed the Huskies.

UNC visits UConn Saturday and bad news for the Huskies and Cullen, Carter is back for another run at Cullen.

And according to Carter's bio on UNC's official Web site, his New Year's resolution "was to work twice as hard as he did in 2008." Good grief, has anyone ever blocked six punts in one game?

To Cullen's credit, he has maintained his sense of humor. On Tuesday when meeting with Connecticut reporters, he happened to be the last UConn player to show.

Cullen came from his psychology class, he told the Hartford Courant. "Which is good for this week," he said.

Cullen probably wanted to visit a psychiatrist after last year's game.

Then, a few weeks before playing in last year's International Bowl, Cullen underwent an emergency appendectomy, the Courant reported. That pain probably wasn't anything like what Cullen experienced last year against UNC.

Cullen, though, persevered and ended up finishing second in the league with a 39.5 average.

Saturday's game marks the first time the Tar Heels have visited UConn since 2005. That year, UNC pulled out a seven-point win (77-70) and went on to win the national championship. What? OK, so that was in men's basketball, but history repeats itself Saturday: UNC leaves UConn with another seven-point win, covering the 4½ points.

USF at Western Kentucky: Speaking of national championships, with little fanfare last week, USF captured its first national title in the program's 13-year history by winning the Fulmer Cup. The coveted title, as determined by EveryDayShouldBeSaturday.com, awards points to football programs based on their players' alleged violations with law enforcement. USF's newly crowned 2009 Fulmer Cup champions visit Western Kentucky Saturday. Last week, Fulmer's old school, Tennessee, could have been charged for assault after pistol-whipping the Hilltoppers, 63-7. The Bulls, who likely will be suffering from a Fulmer Cup title hangover, get the easy victory, but the Hilltoppers manage to stay within the 24½ -point spread.

Syracuse at Penn State: Syracuse QB Greg Paulus played admirably last week in his first competitive football game in five years. But it wasn't quite enough in the overtime loss to Minnesota. At Duke, Paulus played in his share of tough road environments, but how will playing North Carolina at the Dean Dome compare to his first football road start before 105,000 fans in Happy Valley? After a strong first half last week, Paulus was 0-for-5 on third down passes in the second half and overtime. This will be a new experience for him and beating Penn State would be a unique experience for SU coach Doug Marrone. From 1983-85 when Marrone played at SU, the Orange went 0-3 against Penn State, losing all three meetings by a combined 33 points. Coming off an OT loss, Syracuse will be fortunate to stay that close to the Nittany Lions. Penn State covers the 28½ points.

East Carolina at West Virginia: WVU coach Bill Stewart called last year's 24-3 loss to East Carolina a "thrashing." I'm not sure if he was referring to the game or the reaction from WVU's Board of Governor members and donors when Stewart's six-year contract was announced days after the defeat. The following game, WVU went to Colorado and lost with ESPN's Erin Andrews remarking the Mountaineers' sideline was "mass confusion." By the way, how is that search for weapons of mass confusion coming? Confusion reigns as the TD favorite Mountaineers escape on a Tyler Bitancurt field goal.

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Pittsburgh at Buffalo: The Bulls are coming off a road win at UTEP. Ah, El Paso. True story: at the 2007 Sun Bowl, a friend and I walked across the border into Juarez. The first words we heard upon stepping onto Mexican soil were "Amigos, you want to see Donkey show?" We declined. Saturday will be the "Dion Lewis Show" as Pitt's freshman RB goes for his second consecutive 100-yard game. With a dominating defense, Pitt covers the 13½ points.

Howard at Rutgers (no line): The National Football Foundation recently reported that 17 colleges, including Vermont's Castleton State College, the University of Incarnate Word in Texas and South Dakota's Presentation College, are starting up football programs in the next five years. Interestingly, Rutgers already has scheduled a game with each new program through 2026. Rutgers 38-6.

Southeast Missouri State at Cincinnati (no line): Like last week's laugher at Rutgers, Cincinnati QB Tony Pike will finish this game watching from the sidelines. Cincinnati 41-17.

The gory details

Last week and season: 6-1 straight up; 0-3 against the spread (Unlike the ACC, at least my losses involved strictly FBS teams)

Big East Picks: Can Punters Get PTSD? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyFri, 11 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST Cincinnati Still On Top of Big Easthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/cinci-still-on-top-of-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/cinci-still-on-top-of-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/cinci-still-on-top-of-big-east/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You know, the big flaw in thinking of Rutgers as the favorite to win the Big East this year? Most of it was based on a schedule that has the best teams in the conference playing in Piscataway. That theory blows up if the Scarlet Knights cannot win those games.

A 47-15 shellacking at the hands of Cinci puts Rutgers back in the pack of Big East teams that might win. Instead, the Bearcats move to the head of the Big East class. Their offense looked like a machine against Rutgers. Tony Pike picked apart the secondary and dealt with very little pressure. Cinci piled up 564 yards on offense.
The big question for Cinci was replacing ten of eleven starters on defense. Not to mention a new defensive coordinator and switching to 3-4 scheme. The early returns were beyond positive. The Bearcats shut down the Rutgers rushing attack and picked off three passes in the first half. The Scarlet Knights were supposed to have one of the best offensive lines but provided little protection for their quarterbacks and few openings for the running backs.

With no other Big East teams playing each other until the beginning of October, the Bearcats will be atop the Big East standings for the rest of the month. This is fitting as Cinci definitely had the best start to the season of any team in the Big East.

The biggest issues for Rutgers was who would throw the ball and who would catch it? The receiving questions seemed to be answered with Mohamed Sanu and Tim Brown. As for who will be throwing it, well Dom Natale did not exactly impress and the Scarlet Knight faithful is ready to embrace the Tom Savage era.

Another slow start to the season for the Rutgers team suggests that next year, they need to start with one of their patsy games. They definitely need to avoid going for a third straight Labor Day flop.

Cincinnati Still On Top of Big East originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichMon, 07 Sep 2009 23:07:00 EST Big East Rewind: For Next 25 Days, Cincinnati Is Clear Beast of Easthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/big-east-rewind-for-next-25-days-cincinnati-is-clear-beast-of/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/big-east-rewind-for-next-25-days-cincinnati-is-clear-beast-of/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/big-east-rewind-for-next-25-days-cincinnati-is-clear-beast-of/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Tony Pike Charlie NoonanFor at least the next 25 days, Cincinnati is the Beast of the East. Everyone in the Big East is now officially chasing the Bearcats following Monday's 47-15 seal clubbing of Rutgers.

The Bearcats and Scarlet Knights opened the Big East season Monday and now there is a 25-day break until the next conference game is played.

The way the Bearcats looked Monday, they may not only stay on top of the Big East standings for 25 days, but for the entire season. The Bearcats made a strong statement in defending last year's Big East title.
More Coverage: Bearcats Roll Over Rutgers


The Bearcats' win was so impressive, I think Cincinnati will emerge in the Top 25 on Tuesday (I know they'll be on my Associated Press Top 25 ballot -- I'll post it here on FanHouse on Tuesday).

Cincinnati's victory capped a decent -- if not predictable -- week for the league. The Big East went 5-1 in non-conference play, but its degree of difficulty wasn't that tough. UConn used its running game to get past Ohio 23-16, while Syracuse lost to Minnesota in Greg Paulus' debut on -- ironically -- a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime.

The bad news for the Big East last week is the Mountain West now has even more ammunition in its "we're better than the Big East" campaign/crusade after BYU's upset of Oklahoma.

The good news, however, for the Big East is the ACC cannot use that argument. The ACC now ranks as the nation's eighth- or ninth-best league sandwiched somewhere between the MAC and the Sun Belt after Duke and Virginia each suffered embarrassing losses to Division I-AA/Colonial Athletic Association members Richmond and William & Mary.

By the way, Richmond and William & Mary will meet on Nov. 21 for what could determine the Colonial and ACC championships.

And, be sure and get your tickets early, the Titanic Duke-Virginia contest will be played -- and I can't make this stuff up -- on Halloween.

The Big East also was spooked in the early going against I-AA clubs, but West Virginia, USF and Louisville managed to pull away in the second half. Only Pittsburgh, against Youngstown State, never appeared in danger of an upset.

There were certainly some anxious moments. West Virginia only led Liberty by 10 points until late in the third quarter; Louisville only led Indiana State by 10 until six minutes left in the third quarter and USF was tied with Wofford in the final minute of the second quarter until bad snaps on a pair of Wofford punts literally gave USF nine points for a 16-7 halftime lead.

Some things we may have actually figured out in the past week

1. Losing a star running back to the NFL might not matter that much to Pittsburgh or UConn: Pittsburgh true freshman Dion Lewis, replacing LeSean McCoy, rushed for 129 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns, while UConn got 257 yards rushing from Jordan Todman (157) and Andre Dixon (100) in the Huskies' first game without Donald Brown. These obviously were games Pitt and UConn were supposed to win, but still an impressive performance by the trio.

2. One way or another USF wide receiver Carlton Mitchell might be the next Chad Ochocinco: Mitchell not only led the Bulls in receptions (six) against Wofford Saturday, but also in Tweets from the locker room. Less than an hour before USF's kickoff, Mitchell Tweeted "Lil weather delay sittin n the locker room still... so ready man I need 2 get out there. I understand the man upstairs run the show tho" Then about 15 minutes before kickoff, Mitchell Tweeted "ight not game time enough said!... Blessed" Mitchell was one of at least three USF players who Tweeted Saturday during team meetings, the pre-game meal, the bus ride from USF's campus to Raymond James Stadium or in the locker room. USF coach Jim Leavitt said he was not aware his players had Tweeted until reading it in Sunday's Tampa Tribune. He said it was "disappointing," but did not specify if any of the players would be disciplined.

3. Better days are ahead for Syracuse: The first play of Greg Paulus' college football career sailed over his head. The final pass of his first game was intercepted in the end zone. In between those two plays, Paulus proved he can do enough of the right things to give Syracuse a chance for improvement this season (it can't get any worse, right?) The results may not show anytime soon. The Orange appears locked into a 0-3 start (at Penn State this week, home vs. Northwestern on Sept. 19) before hosting Division I-AA Maine.

4. Who needs defense: The common theme for those who didn't pick Cincinnati to defend its title (yes, I'm guilty as charged) was having to replace 10 defensive starters. As long as the Bearcats can roll up (almost) half a hundred each week, they won't need much defense. Rutgers obviously has some offensive shortcomings, but the Bearcats clearly established themselves as the league's team to beat.

Re-Tweeting Week 1
Ranking the league from top to bottom and summarizing each team, in 140 characters or less.

1. Cincinnati: First impression: the Bearcats are Big East's best -- and even best football team in the Queen City (sorry NFL's Bungles)

2. Pitt: Oh No! Mr. Bill. Pitt fans boo its own QB Bill Stull -- No. 2 in Big East in pass efficiency

3. WVU: How often does this happen? A Big East team seeking revenge on a C-USA team after East Carolina's 24-3 thumping of WVU in 2008

4. USF: Jim Leavitt ranked his club 18th in preseason coaches' poll. How low will they go on his ballot this week?

5. UConn: No huddle offense? No problem. Jordan Todman + Andre Dixon > Donald Brown? At least for Week 1

6. Rutgers: Is Cincinnati really that good or -- gulp -- is it possible we're really this bad?

7. Syracuse: Unlike hoops, former PG Greg Paulus finds out in football that one turnover in OT is one too many

8. Louisville: At least Cards were balanced in opening win vs. Indiana State: 128 penalty yards, defense allowed 101 yards

You can follow Brett McMurphy on Twitter at twitter.com/BrettmcmurphY

Big East Rewind: For Next 25 Days, Cincinnati Is Clear Beast of East originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:24:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>andre dixonAndreDixonbill stullBillStullcarlton mitchellCarltonMitchelldion lewisDionLewisgreg paulusGregPaulusjim leavittJimLeavittjordan todmanJordanTodmanBrett McMurphyMon, 07 Sep 2009 22:24:00 EST Big East Picks: A Not-So-Golden Debut for Marrone, Syracusehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/big-east-picks-a-not-so-golden-debut-for-marrone-syracuse/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/big-east-picks-a-not-so-golden-debut-for-marrone-syracuse/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/03/big-east-picks-a-not-so-golden-debut-for-marrone-syracuse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

On Monday's Big East media conference call, Syracuse coach Doug Marrone was being asked his first question when the reporter's question was drowned out by a loud siren in the background.

Marrone remarked it sounded like a fire truck. Let's hope it wasn't an omen for the 2009 season -- an ambulance's siren -- because Syracuse's past four seasons were DOA.

Under former Coach Greg Robinson, the Orange was 3-25 in Big East games - but, hey, they batted .500 against Notre Dame, going 1-1.

Looking to turn its program around, Syracuse turned to its past. Marrone was a three-year starting offensive lineman for SU from 1983-85.

He most recently spent the past four seasons in the NFL. Last year, Marrone was New Orleans' offensive coordinator. But now Marrone goes from the Saints to the Aints where his alma mater has not posted a winning record since 2001.

Marrone named former Duke point guard Greg Paulus, who hasn't played competitive football in five years since he was in high school, as SU's starting quarterback.

Paulus hasn't played competitive football in five years? Well, he should fit right in: neither has Syracuse.

Saturday Syracuse opens the Marrone era by hosting Minnesota in the Carrier Dome. The Golden Gophers, who return 18 starters, are a 6½-point favorite. It's a new season and a chance for a fresh start at Syracuse, but 2009 will begin with a familiar feeling for 'Cuse fans: with a loss.

Minnesota covers the 6½-point spread.

UConn at Ohio: With RB Donald Brown carrying the offense, the Huskies had virtually no passing game last season, ranking as the nation's 11th-worst passing offense. This year, they're going with a no-huddle attack. Maybe not having to face each other in the huddle after every incompletion will make for better team camaraderie?

UConn has won 13 consecutive games against MAC teams, including last year's 12-9 overtime win at Temple (on penalty kicks, I believe). The last time Ohio hosted a Big East team, the Bobcats upset Pittsburgh in 2005.

On a side note, I'm just curious, but is Ohio considered "The Ohio University?" Anyway, the Bobcats won't pull off another home upset against the Big East, but will come close, very close.

The Huskies win, but fail to cover the 3½ points.

Liberty at West Virginia (no line): The first APW game (after Pat White) for the Mountaineers. The Flames have won back-to-back Big South titles. In honor of Liberty's nickname, West Virginia will torch a couple of extra couches along with former coach Rich Rodriguez's 2001-2007 practice schedules. West Virginia romps - and if you really need a score -- how about 45-7?

Youngstown State at Pittsburgh (no line): The Youngstown State Penguins (one of the top college nicknames) visit Pittsburgh. So who will the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins root for in this? Pittsburgh or the Penguins? Who knows, but Pitt fans are rooting that 2009 doesn't start like 2008 when the Panthers lost at home to Bowling Green. These schools are located 70 miles apart, which means one thing: Youngstown State employees will be putting in for $77 in mileage (if they get the IRS' 55 cents a mile) on Monday. If the Panthers lose this one, they should be required to walk to Youngstown and back. Pitt 28-7.
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Wofford at USF (no line): Another Big East vs. Division I-AA (I refuse to use the politically correct FCS school terminology) matchup. The Terriers run something on offense called the "Wingbone." Not sure exactly what a wingbone is, but I had a dozen of them with medium sauce and curly fries the other day at Hooters. The only suspense in this one should be waiting for USF QB Matt Grothe to reach 288 yards of total offense to pass Pat White as the Big East's career leader. USF 31-14.

Indiana State at Louisville (no line): Indiana State lost its opener last week to Quincy 26-20. Quincy is an NAIA school named after the old TV series Quincy M.E. (sounds good to me, anyway). UL coach Steve Kragthorpe is on the hottest seat in the Big East, but Jack Klugman could start at quarterback for the Cards and they would seal club the Sycamores. Louisville 63-6.

Cincinnati at Rutgers (Monday): The Scarlet Knights ended last season by winning the Papajohns.com Bowl. This year they are planning for bigger things - the newly named Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, perhaps?

Nope, Rutgers has its sights on a Big East title. But to do so, Rutgers must stop a three-game losing streak to Cincinnati. The last two losses were only by a combined eight points. The Scarlet Knights should feature the league's top offensive line, but who will be named the starting quarterback between Dom Natale, Jabu Lovelace or Tom Savage remains a mystery that not even Quincy M.E. could solve before kickoff.

The defending league champion Bearcats feature 10 new defensive starters and a new defensive coordinator. Cincinnati is switching to a 3-4 alignment on defense this season, while Rutgers' defense will face Cincy QB Tony Pike for the first time (he did not play in last year's 13-10 victory).

Rutgers started 2008 as one of the worst teams in the country, but finished 2008 on a seven-game winning streak and as one of the nation's hottest teams. Rutgers stays hot and wins with a superior defense before a newly expanded, raucous Rutgers Stadium crowd. Rutgers covers the 5½-points.

Each week Brett McMurphy will preview the Big East and make his weekly predictions straight up and against the spread.

Big East Picks: A Not-So-Golden Debut for Marrone, Syracuse originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:37:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyThu, 03 Sep 2009 21:37:00 EST Big East Coaches Say Absence From Top 25 Is Only Temporaryhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/02/big-east-coaches-say-absence-from-top-25-is-only-temporary/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/02/big-east-coaches-say-absence-from-top-25-is-only-temporary/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/09/02/big-east-coaches-say-absence-from-top-25-is-only-temporary/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

CincinnatiThere they are -- what are considered the 25 best teams in college football. From No. 1 Florida down to No. 25 Kansas. The best of the best, at least in the minds of the 60 voters in the Associated Press' preseason poll.

In all, there are five teams each from the Big 12 and SEC, four from the ACC, three each from the Pac-10, Big Ten and, yes, even the Mountain West. Also ranked in the Top 25 is a WAC team and Notre Dame.

Basically every conference in America is represented except for a few of the so-called mid-majors (Conference USA, the Mid-American, Sun Belt). And one other league is notably absent: the Big East. The same Big East that automatically receives a BCS bowl bid as one of the "Big Six" BCS leagues.

"I can guarantee at the end of the year there will be a Big East team ranked in the Top 25," Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly said.

When the Big East was blanked in this year's AP preseason poll, it marked only the third time since the football league began in 1991 that the Big East did not have a team in the AP rankings. And unless the winner of Monday's Cincinnati at Rutgers nationally televised contest emerges with a dominating victory, the Big East's Top 25 exclusion may stretch a couple more weeks.

That's because among the teams receiving votes in the AP Poll (No. 28 Pittsburgh, No. 30 Rutgers, No. 32 West Virginia, No. 33 Cincinnati and No. 45 USF), there aren't many marquee non-conference opponents on their schedules in the opening month that could propel them into the Top 25. The exceptions would be on Sept. 19 when Cincinnati visits Oregon State and West Virginia visits Auburn; and Sept. 26 when Pitt visits N.C. State and USF visits Florida State.

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Kelly, whose club has finished each of the past two seasons ranked No. 17, said he wasn't shocked by the Big East's snub because the polls are "based on name recognition and what you've done in the past" - i.e. a popularity/beauty contest.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a lot of folks don't necessarily think the eight-team Big East is that attractive.

"A lot of it has to do with perception and traditions of programs," Kelly said "We're establishing our program. It's not like we can harken back to our national championship days. A lot of it is, there are new teams that are really blazing a trail for their own kind of identity, so we're still a work in progress on that part of it."

West Virginia coach Bill Stewart has been very vocal about the strength of the Big East. "I have pounded the table," he said.

Stewart then rattled off the league's record in BCS bowl games (3-1 in last four), record in bowl games (12-4 in last 16) and record in non-conference games (winning 75 percent of the time).

"I can't tell you why we get hammered," Stewart said. "I guess everyone thinks we're a basketball league. They're full of baloney."

One stat Stewart conveniently forgot was the league's 6-14 record in non-conference games against AP ranked opponents since Cincinnati, Louisville and USF joined the Big East in 2005. However, toss out the Big East's 1-7 record in 2005 and the league is a much-more respectable 5-7 vs. AP ranked teams in the past three years.

Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt, whose club was the media's preseason pick to win the league, and USF coach Jim Leavitt said they are not really concerned with the preseason rankings.

"I would," Wannstedt said, "be concerned if it was the end of the season, maybe."

UConn's Randy Edsall had a similar viewpoint.

"I think the Big East will show its merit at the end of the season, when it really matters," he said.

Despite the Big East missing from the preseason AP and USA Today/coaches' polls, Kelly said the league has earned the respect of some other individuals who are known to have a pretty good eye at judging the talent of college football teams.

"NFL scouts know they'd better come in and watch Big East teams because we've got a lot of good NFL players," said Kelly, who had six players selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. "So if we have the respect of NFL teams out there and we've got the respect of other teams and other conferences we play against, then to me, at the end of the day, that's probably more important than what other people think about us."

Big East Coaches Say Absence From Top 25 Is Only Temporary originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Brett McMurphyWed, 02 Sep 2009 15:31:00 EST Rutgers Stadium Expansion Gets Lounge, Whininghttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/rutgers-stadium-expansion-gets-a-lounge-and-whining/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/rutgers-stadium-expansion-gets-a-lounge-and-whining/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/07/27/rutgers-stadium-expansion-gets-a-lounge-and-whining/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Nothing worse than a planned construction project running headlong into a recession. Financing shrinks, credit gets tighter and there is just less money available. It does not matter if it is for a private project or a public deal. Rutgers was dealing with just that problem as they started to expand their stadium.

The plans were not quite grandiose, but they did have a lot of extras beyond simply expanding the seating capacity. There were suites, expanded facilities, all sorts of amenities that have become standard in modern stadiums. Of course, with New Jersey facing a major budget crisis, donations running way behind projections, layoffs on the academic side of the university, tuition hikes and even cutting some sports from the athletic department the expansion of Rutgers Stadium was suddenly limited to expanding the seating.
That is until Rutgers was given $5 million by two private donors earmarked for one specific extra feature in the stadium. A "recruiting lounge."
The Brown Football Recruiting Lounge and Welcome Center will be named for one of the donors, Motorola CEO and Rutgers alumnus Greg Brown. The second donor, also an alumnus, requested anonymity, officials said. They said both donors explicitly directed the money toward the recruiting lounge, whose project budget is estimated at $4.85 million.

Board members voted in December to scrap the lounge -- along with other extras such as locker rooms and media facilities -- when faced with a $30 million shortfall in the $102 million project that will add 11,500 seats.
The lounge will feature a private elevator to access the lounge, plasma TVs, along with other features. It will be able to accommodate about 300 people -- or roughly a big recruiting weekend including the family and friends of the potential recruits.

An extravagant, but nice extra that did not add to the public cost of the expansion. At most places, that would be the end of it.

Follow NCAAFanHouseFollow Chas RichInstead, there has been a small but vocal contingent outraged by the money being given to a specific item that Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano had been lobbying to be restored to the project. Some wanted the money used for the general stadium expansion debt, restoring lost athletic programs, or even giving it back rather than use it this way.

All in all, some rather comical bloviating and inability to comprehend the idea of specifically targeted donations, coaches that don't stop agitating for the things they think are necessary to help them, Added bonus, neither of the donors were elected officials in New Jersey or Rabbis in the NY/NJ area.

Rutgers Stadium Expansion Gets Lounge, Whining originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 16:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichMon, 27 Jul 2009 16:32:00 EST Paterno Wants Bigger Big Ten, But Says No Irish Need Applyhttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/05/29/paterno-wants-bigger-big-ten-but-says-no-irish-need-apply/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/05/29/paterno-wants-bigger-big-ten-but-says-no-irish-need-apply/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/05/29/paterno-wants-bigger-big-ten-but-says-no-irish-need-apply/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Even though by Lord Voldemort Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has already shot down the idea, Penn State coach Joe Paterno still thinks the league should add a twelfth teams and a championship game. JoePa added a twist on Wednesday, saying who he doesn't want to see added to the conference: Notre Dame.

Stating the Irish have "had their chance," Paterno wants the league to look east, as in Big East. He recommends adding Syracuse, Pitt, or Rutgers to the conference. Paterno wants to see the Big Ten pick up the New York market, which would argue against Pitt. Rutgers has to like its chances in the Big East more than in in the Big Ten. As for Syracuse, well, at this point, you couldn't blame them if they decided to join Temple in the MAC. So there's no school out there that makes sense as a twelfth Big Ten Team, right?

Well, what about Louisville? The Cardinals have already shown they want to be a big player in football, moving up from Conference USA to the Big East. Louisville obviously wouldn't add the New York media market, but it is one of the top 50 TV markets, and more importantly, it would give the conference a presence in the South.

Of course, as long as Delany's on the job, expansion and a championship game aren't forthcoming. But if it ever should happen, I've already got a response to the inevitable "now the Big Ten really can't count" crackbacks: Just tell everybody the conference has switched to base 12.

Paterno Wants Bigger Big Ten, But Says No Irish Need Apply originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 29 May 2009 11:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jim delanyJimDelanyjoe paternoJoePaternoMark HastyFri, 29 May 2009 11:55:00 EST Looking for Offense in the Big Easthttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/04/17/looking-for-offense-in-the-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/04/17/looking-for-offense-in-the-big-east/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/04/17/looking-for-offense-in-the-big-east/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

College Football Spring Storylines 2009 looks at the key developments and big news from spring ball.

Spring. The time for rebirth and renewal. At least that is the theory. While there was only one change at head coach, there will be plenty of new in the Big East, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

Half the teams have a different offensive coordinator. To say nothing of the departures of top offensive talent including quarterbacks Pat White and Mike Teel, running backs LeSean McCoy and Donald Brown, along with wide receivers Kenny Britt, Dominick Goodman and Tiquan Underwood. Defense will definitely lead the way in the conference this year.
For the Big East, a disappointing year gives way to the hope of a new season. The Big East lost in a BCS Bowl for the first time since 2005. The conference did not have anyone finish in the top-ten in the polls. West Virginia was a season long disappointment when they were expected to contend for a possible national championship. Things definitely could have gone better.

Counting out the spring storylines of one through four:

1) The number of new head coaches and coaches sitting on the hot seat...

There's an odd set of feelings in Syracuse this year. Most Orange fans vaguely recall them, but cannot quite place them. They are called hope and optimism. Greg Robinson is gone and new head coach Doug Marrone and a new staff actually makes the fans think that there might be something approaching a football team. No one is expecting them to win the conference or even get to a bowl this year. The hole that the Orange are digging out is too great for that in year one.

Down in Louisville, it was not a shock that Steve Kragthorpe gets a third year to prove he has not been a total flop as the Cardinals head coach. This does, however, have the feel of a make-or-break season. The coaching staff has been overhauled with Kragthorpe also taking over offensive coordinator duties and for the third straight year, a new defensive coordinator. The roster has been almost gutted of Petrino's players. That means the high talent is gone, but so are the "problems" that Kragthorpe has often claimed to have inherited that hurt the team.

2) The only number of sure starting quarterbacks in the Big East...

In Cinci, Tony Pike is set as the starter. Of course given the way QBs went down with injuries for the Bearcats last year, nothing is assured beyond spring practices. Matt Grothe at USF is still running the show for one more year. After those two, things are much less sure. Pitt is likely going to stick with Bill Stull as the starter, but spring practice hardly made the case a lock.

West Virginia has the biggest gaping hole with Pat White gone. Jarrett Brown is a fifth year senior and expected to be the starter. In Rutgers, it seems to be Dom Natale by default as the only other quarterback competitor -- the excellently named Jabu Lovelace -- still has not come back from injuries. Louisville has three junior QBs and looks to be leaning towards Justin Burke over Adam Froman and Tyler Wolfe. Only Wolfe has any pass attempts in a game.

UConn has it coming down to Zach Frazer and Cory Endres. Frazer appears to be slightly ahead right now. Syracuse has named redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib as the starting quarterback, but the wildcard may be Greg Paulus who has expressed some interest in coming back to his hometown team for one year if the opportunity at Michigan does not happen.

3) The teams hoping to win with defense while figuring out the offense...

Assuming the Big East is wide open -- and that is a fair assumption -- then Pitt, UConn and Rutgers all believe they have a chance. They appear poised to dominate on the defensive side, and at the moment are just hoping the offense does not make things worse.

Pitt will look to a deep and strong defensive line to lead the way with Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard coming off the ends to terrorize opposing QBs. Rutgers will be counting on a veteran linebacking corp with seniors Ryan D'Imperio and Damaso Munoz along with redshirt sophomore Manny Abreu who played in all 13 games last season, starting eight games.

4) Lines that have fanbases worried...

Every fan worries about the overall strength of the offensive and defensive line for their teams. West Virginia and Cinci fans have to be especially concerned coming out of the spring. West Virginia is replacing their entire offensive line, while Cinci is doing the same on their defensive lines.

West Virginia not only will be replacing the best offensive player in the Big East for the past four years, but most of the starting offense is turning over. Noel Devine will be counted on to be even more dynamic and try to bounce outside while the offensive line tries to figure itself out.

Pitt is another team concerned with the offensive line. Center Robb Houser still does not look right coming back from a fractured right ankle, and they have no true back-up. They may have to move left guard John Malecki to center. The problem is, that the Panthers really lack the depth on the O-line to shuffle too many players. Jason Pinkston, the left tackle was out for the spring with shoulder surgery.

With Cinci, it is really one big question mark on defense. They have a new defensive coordinator who has nine new starters. The Bearcats lost both defensive ends and defensive tackles to graduation. Along with two of the three linebackers. Oh, and both corners as well which just puts more pressure up front.

Looking for Offense in the Big East originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chas RichFri, 17 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST The Rollercoaster Report: Who's Missing Out on the Scouting Combinehttp://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/02/20/rollercoaster-report-whos-not-at-the-scouting-combine/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/02/20/rollercoaster-report-whos-not-at-the-scouting-combine/http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/02/20/rollercoaster-report-whos-not-at-the-scouting-combine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Getty ImagesEach week, FanHouse's Rollercoaster Report will take a look at several NFL Draft prospects to find out which players' stocks are on the rise, and who's stuck in freefall.

More than 300 prospects begin workouts at the NFL scouting combine on Saturday in hopes of improving their draft stock. But what about the guys that didn't get the invitation to Indianapolis? The event features the best of the best, of course, but that does not mean there's no value to be found in the players staying home this weekend.

After the jump, a breakdown of five college stars that could hear their names called in April, despite being left off the Indianapolis invite list, and another handful who missed out on the combine for a reason.

On the Rise

Devin Moore, RB, Wyoming: It's hard to know what to make of Moore, but it's safe to say that some people were surprised when he did not make the cut for Indianapolis. Way back in May, WalterFootball.com called Moore the "2009 version of Chris Johnson," and the similarities -- quickness, smallish stature, non-BCS school -- are definitely there. Moore looked like he was making a move on the draft's first day after a strong senior season, but may have undone that progress when he ran a disappointing 4.41 in the 40 at his own, personal "combine."

Greg Carr, WR, Florida State: Between his own lethargy, and Florida State's abysmal quarterback play, Carr never took off like the Seminoles hoped he would. But he closed his career with a strong bowl-game showing, had a nice week as an injury replacement at the Senior Bowl and now teams are noticing his athletic 6-foot-6 frame again.

Mike Teel, QB, Rutgers: Teel (pictured) closed his final college season strong, guiding Rutgers to a second-half surge and a PapaJohns.com Bowl victory. He's not a sensational athlete, and he doesn't have a rocket for an arm, but he showed that he's capable of making an NFL roster.

Jason Williams, OLB, Western Illinois: Williams became just the second Leatherneck to attend the East-West Shrine Bowl, and he made the trip worthwhile. Even without then trekking to the combine, Williams will stay on teams' minds during the draft's second day; he's a versatile linebacker that could add some solid depth somewhere in the league.

Dropping Off

Willie TuitamaWillie Tuitama, QB, Arizona: After a nice senior campaign, Tuitama (pictured) was disappointed to be left out of the Indianapolis roll call. His 2008 numbers couldn't mask the fact, though, that he's a long-term project at best in the NFL's eyes, with far too many inconsistencies to be considered a hot prospect.

Brad Lester, RB, Auburn: There was some initial thought that Auburn's Brad Lester-Ben Tate combo could be reminiscent of Cadillac Williams-Ronnie Brown. Uh, not even close. Lester had a very disappointing senior season (and, really, college career), then suffered a late knee injury. He needs to do a lot to get back into sixth- or seventh-round consideration.

Maurice Crum Jr., LB, Notre Dame: Do you want the good or the bad? The good is that Crum was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, a two-year captain -- almost unheard of for the Irish -- and allowed himself to be moved around the field for the team's benefit. The downside? He's small (6-foot-0), never produced the numbers he was expected to and it's unclear which linebacker spot he's best suited for.

Jorvorskie Lane, FB, Texas A&M: You could argue that no player's NFL stock has plummeted as much in one year as Lane's. He might have inched into the first day in 2008, but instead returned to A&M, where Mike Sherman barely used him in the Aggies' new offense, and questions about his weight and desire lingered. Fullbacks are a dying breed as it is, so Lane must prove that he can both block and run the ball well to find a roster spot.

The Rollercoaster Report: Who's Missing Out on the Scouting Combine originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brad lesterBradLesterdevin mooreDevinMooregreg carrGregCarrJason williamsJasonWilliamsjorvorskie laneJorvorskieLanemaurice crumMauriceCrummike teelMikeTeelwillie tuitamaWillieTuitamaChris BurkeFri, 20 Feb 2009 19:15:00 EST