I think once Pitt and SU get back to there regular ways this league can become even stronger. Tradition and History wise both SU & Pitt outrank BC,MD and VT .The Orange and Panthers have shown in years past to go far beyond what VT has been able to do.

I think the Big East can shoot past the Big 12,Pac 10,ACC in Contract $$ and Prestiege. I just hope it doesn't take Wanny and GRob too much longer to get it done.

this season i hope to see pitt win all of its home games. and steal a victory or 2 on the road. 7-8 wins is what i expect. 2008 is the year pitt contents for a top 10 or even higher.

PusherT Wrote:I think once Pitt and SU get back to there regular ways this league can become even stronger. Tradition and History wise both SU & Pitt outrank BC,MD and VT .The Orange and Panthers have shown in years past to go far beyond what VT has been able to do.

Devil's advocate says those programs getting back to their regular ways may come at the expense of others within the conference. It also says SU may have a difficult time keeping up with the larger, State sponsored institutions. Tough to get past what VT has done recently considering the Hokies played for a national title under Beamer's regime and are regular contenders for BCS bowls.

I only throw that out there because I grow nervous at quips suggesting (insert program/conference here) is the only one with potential and/or the only one striving for the big time. No fewer than 1-A 40 different programs have already invested heavily in football facilities since 2000, with even more schools hoping for the same pending current capital campaigns. Both programs can and should get better, but I think that speaks more to where they are now.

BTW, did you mean to include Miami in that bunch or was MD for a regional reference?

animus Wrote:this season i hope to see pitt win all of its home games. and steal a victory or 2 on the road. 7-8 wins is what i expect. 2008 is the year pitt contents for a top 10 or even higher.

Before you start talking about Pitt contending for the top 10, you should see if Pitt is able to compete - period. Their offensive leaders are all gone. The one they thought they had was lost for the season before it even had a chance to start. Wandstedt's history isn't one to cause me to anticipate any kind of greatness for Pitt at any time in the future.

PusherT Wrote:I think once Pitt and SU get back to there regular ways this league can become even stronger. Tradition and History wise both SU & Pitt outrank BC,MD and VT .The Orange and Panthers have shown in years past to go far beyond what VT has been able to do.

I think the Big East can shoot past the Big 12,Pac 10,ACC in Contract $$ and Prestiege. I just hope it doesn't take Wanny and GRob too much longer to get it done.

-- The league is a lot tougher then people give it credit for. The 2008 yr is probably the one that Panther and Orange fans should have circled on their calander. There will probably be a lot of star power leaving the leauge and the door will be open for a school to make a move.

-- Pusher, how do you feel about Robinson and the directon of the program? Wanny and Pitt can point to the recruiting classes as a sign of progress. From the outside looking in, just don't see as much movement from the Cuse

-- Va Techs big advantage in this argument is its fan base, and I'm assuming the money it contributes. From someone who is old enough to remember WVU playing at Lane Staduim in the late 80s and there being almost more Mountaineer Fans in the stands, the progress Va Tech has made in putting together a fan base is amazing. Of course, Va rapidly growing population doesn't hurt either

-- Maryland is an interesting case because it sounds like the natives are getting restless with The Fridge. From the outside looking in, no schools was hurt by ACC expansion more then Maryland. Before the league expanded it looked like big Ralph was putting together a program to challenge FSU. However, with each passing yr, it seems the talent and the recruiting get progressviely worse at UMD.

I wonder what UMD could have done if expansion had not taken place. There was certainly a power vacum forming with FSU/Clemson on the decline and the Terps might have jumped right in

Jackson

VT has come a long way from the days when they were known as VPI. The changes have been amazing.

I don't think The Fridge will last much longer at Maryland. I think Maryland fans want more than Freidgen has been able to give. How long they will wait is the question.

bitcruncher Wrote:VT has come a long way from the days when they were known as VPI. The changes have been amazing.

I don't think The Fridge will last much longer at Maryland. I think Maryland fans want more than Freidgen has been able to give. How long they will wait is the question.

I dont know if I can agree with you regarding Maryland Bit. There were quite a few barren years at Maryland before Freidgen got there. And now that program may get back to winning for at least a couple of more years, since they just won 9 games last year, and return a good nucleus of that team. The fans maybe willing to put up with him for awhile. Especially if they remenisce a liitle about their recent past, before he got there.

True. But if Maryland fans want more, they probably won't be satisfied.