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Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
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cuseroc Offline
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Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
Compliments of Orangeeyes from the SU Scout board.


BIG PLANS IN BIG EAST ... BOTH NOW AND LATER
By LENN ROBBINS

July 16, 2007 -- NEWPORT, R.I. - These are heady times for the recently declared ‘DOA’ Big East Football Conference.

You know the patient’s history. Boston College, Miami and Virginia Tech bolt to the ACC. Television revenue takes a hit. There are questions about the Big East retaining its BCS spot.

What was the Big East’s blood type, anyway?

No worries. The Big East was the only conference to go undefeated (5-0) in bowl play last season. It recently signed a long-term deal with ESPN.

We haven’t seen this great a recovery since Meredith Grey recovered after nearly drowning on Grey’s Anatomy.

“Talk of our demise was premature,” Nick Carparelli, the Big East associate commissioner for football operations, said. “And talk about us being a dominant conference would also be premature. We’re building and we have to keep building.”

Nothing like an IV of truth fluids to keep the patient stabilized. Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia have the potential to go undefeated, but only the Mountaineers are championship-game worthy.

The Scarlet Knights have talent and one of the nation’s easiest schedules but it’s that Charmin-soft lineup (Buffalo, Navy, Norfolk State and Maryland) that would prevent the Scarlet Knights from getting to the BCS title game.

The Cardinals and Mountaineers have issues of their own.

Louisville is making the coaching transition from Bobby Petrino (to the Atlanta Falcons) to Steve Kragthorpe (from Tulsa). Kragthorpe already has one win to his credit. He convinced top recruit Matt Simms (yes, son of Phil and younger brother of Chris) to honor his commitment to Louisville. The Cardinals have a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Brian Brohm.

West Virginia has gotten more scorn for the off-field behavior of former players - defensive back Pacman Jones and wide receiver Chris Henry - than praise for the talent of current ones - running back Steve Slaton and quarterback Pat White.

With 19 starters returning, and a schedule (Western Michigan, at Marshall, at Maryland, East Carolina) that should be just tough enough to sway voters if the Mountaineers go undefeated, West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez can talk BCS title game.

But the Big East remains a long way from being mistaken for the Big Ten or any of the other BCS conferences. When the voters and computers sent Florida to last year’s title game (and then the Gators crushed undefeated Ohio State), it reaffirmed the belief that tough schedules count.

South Florida is the only Big East team that plays a non-conference game against a perennial Top 10 team - Auburn.

USC’s non-conference schedule boasts road games against Nebraska and Notre Dame. LSU hosts Virginia Tech. Michigan gets Oregon and Notre Dame. Louisville’s toughest non-conference game is Kentucky.

As the league builds, though, Big East teams are poised to play much more formidable opponents including Florida, FSU, Miami, Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC and Virginia Tech.

The league experienced a remarkable renaissance last season. Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia deserve to be consensus preseason Top 25 teams.

But a Big East team other than West Virginia playing for the national championship? Is there a psych resident on call?

lenn.robbins@nypost.com
07-16-2007 08:40 AM
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Cubanbull Offline
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Post: #2
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
To be honest none of the main contenders play hard enough teams that would put them in championship game. The only way that happens is IF the Big East champ goes undefeated and there is only one other undefeated squad.
You figure that if USF lives up to billing and cracks top 25. The BE could end up with 4 top25 squads.
So each team would face THREE top25 in conference.
The only school that realistically could face a 4rth top 25 is USF with Auburn
So we will see but I think that whoever wins BE will be battle tested in conference to play well in whichever Bowl it goes to.
07-16-2007 08:50 AM
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omniorange Offline
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RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
I just don't see any Big East team going undefeated this season in conference.

What the league needs to avoid is those four going 5-2 and 4-3 in conference this season.

Cheers,
Neil
07-16-2007 09:18 AM
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L-yes Offline
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Post: #4
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
He forgot to tell us why Louisville wasn't championship game material.

OOC is certainly comparable with WVU's: Murray State, MTSU, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Utah.

Plus we'd have some decent road wins not to mention WVU.
07-16-2007 09:30 AM
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CardHouse Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
Can someone please tell me why I keep hearing Louisville's OOC schedule is any worse then West Virginia's?

Granted, we have a Div AA school, but we also go on the road for both our BCS conference games against what will be two improving teams. Plus, I think Utah will be the tougher opponent then any of WV's non-BCS teams.


UofL:
MURRAY STATE
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
at Kentucky
at North Carolina State
UTAH


WV:
Western Michigan
at Marshall
at Maryland
East Carolina
Miss. State
07-16-2007 10:58 AM
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wvucrazed Offline
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Post: #6
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
The fact that writers are suggesting that Rutgers' OOC schedule is too weak to merit national title consideration speaks volumes as to how far that program has come. Only a few years ago, putting "Rutgers" and "National Title" in the same sentence would seem ludicrous.

I would say that arguably UL's schedule is tougher than WVU's OOC. Utah, at NC State and at Kentucky would seem a tougher trio than Miss. State, at Maryland, and at Marshall. WVU would have the edge with the remaining 2 games - WMU and ECU vs. MTSU and Murray State - but overall I'd say UL's might be tougher. If UL goes undefeated, they should absolutely have a chance at the title.

But I agree w/ those who say it's unlikely a BE teams gets thru the league undefeated.
(This post was last modified: 07-16-2007 11:09 AM by wvucrazed.)
07-16-2007 11:08 AM
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Cubanbull Offline
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Post: #7
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
I think is because you have a 1AA team and a SunBelt team both of those are lower than any of the teams WV is playing.
07-16-2007 11:11 AM
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CollegeCard Offline
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Post: #8
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
Cubanbull Wrote:I think is because you have a 1AA team and a SunBelt team both of those are lower than any of the teams WV is playing.

MTSU was actually a better team than Marshall last season, as they were higher rated by all BCS ratings systems.

Looking at the two schedules side by side, they are pretty comparable. I think the BCS computers that count I-AA's will result in UofL having a lower SOS, as Murray St is by far worse than the other 9 teams if you rated them 1 to 10. For those such as Colley, who ignore I-AA opponents, I think UofL will have the higher SOS.

In the end, neither schedule is likely strong enough to place either team in the title game at 12-0 if two other undefeated BCS teams are there. And this whole discussion assumes none of the 10 surprise us all with a sharp rise or drop in either direction. How will NC State perform with a new coach? Can ECU continue to rise back up under Holtz, or do they plummet do to a very difficult Sept that could ruin the season? Can Murray rise up from one of the worst teams in America last season 03-banghead, etc etc.
07-16-2007 12:12 PM
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GunnerFan Offline
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Post: #9
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
omnicarrier Wrote:I just don't see any Big East team going undefeated this season in conference.

What the league needs to avoid is those four going 5-2 and 4-3 in conference this season.

Cheers,
Neil
Given the debate about non-conference opponents, methinks the more important factor will be going undefeated out of conference. Few things will deflate this board more than losses to Kentucky and/or Maryland.
07-16-2007 01:36 PM
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omniorange Offline
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RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
GunnerFan Wrote:
omnicarrier Wrote:I just don't see any Big East team going undefeated this season in conference.

What the league needs to avoid is those four going 5-2 and 4-3 in conference this season.

Cheers,
Neil
Given the debate about non-conference opponents, methinks the more important factor will be going undefeated out of conference. Few things will deflate this board more than losses to Kentucky and/or Maryland.

Yeah, there is that as well. 03-wink

Cheers,
Neil
07-16-2007 01:54 PM
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CatsClaw Offline
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Post: #11
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
He's talking about USF's game against Auburn and using it not to give anyone else, including USF, any credit. Cincinnati played TWO perennial Top 10 teams last year OOC, why not give the Big East credit for that? And USF and Cincinnati played Penn State the last few years, and Louisville played Miami.
07-16-2007 03:48 PM
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bitcruncher Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
There will be a team go undefeated in the BEast this year. Bet on it. 05-mafia
07-16-2007 05:51 PM
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SF Husky Offline
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Post: #13
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
Man I hope USF can somehow beat Auburn. That would be huge for the BE. I think it will be very hard to go undefeated this year. Also, I think the bottom tier teams will be improved. UCONN definitely will have a better QB so we will be improved.
07-16-2007 07:27 PM
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Cubanbull Offline
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Post: #14
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
I dont think the Big East champion will go undefeated. Our conference has many teams that could beat anyoneelse specially at home.
07-16-2007 08:37 PM
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cuseroc Offline
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RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
SF Husky Wrote:Man I hope USF can somehow beat Auburn. That would be huge for the BE. I think it will be very hard to go undefeated this year. Also, I think the bottom tier teams will be improved. UCONN definitely will have a better QB so we will be improved.

If USF is able to beat Auburn, that will keep the BE winning streak against the SEC like 5 or 6 years straight without a loss. I fully expect Louisville to beat kentucky and WV to beat Msu.
07-16-2007 09:09 PM
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uconnbaseball Offline
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Post: #16
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
Cubanbull Wrote:I dont think the Big East champion will go undefeated. Our conference has many teams that could beat anyoneelse specially at home.

Agreed.
07-16-2007 11:26 PM
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bitcruncher Offline
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Post: #17
RE: Big Plans For BE...Both Now and Later- article
cuseroc Wrote:
SF Husky Wrote:Man I hope USF can somehow beat Auburn. That would be huge for the BE. I think it will be very hard to go undefeated this year. Also, I think the bottom tier teams will be improved. UCONN definitely will have a better QB so we will be improved.
If USF is able to beat Auburn, that will keep the BE winning streak against the SEC like 5 or 6 years straight without a loss. I fully expect Louisville to beat kentucky and WV to beat Msu.
Auburn will lose to USF. It's an early game, and I don't think they'll be ready for how good the Bulls defense is. They're used to playing cupcakes early in the season. USF is no cupcake this year.
05-mafia
uconnbaseball Wrote:
Cubanbull Wrote:I dont think the Big East champion will go undefeated. Our conference has many teams that could beat anyoneelse specially at home.
Agreed.
WRONG!!! 05-mafia
(This post was last modified: 07-17-2007 06:27 AM by bitcruncher.)
07-17-2007 06:26 AM
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