(10-13-2009 06:00 PM)ohio1317 Wrote:  It's harder for the Big East for several reasons. It has fewer schools (if 2 make it, that's a 1/4 the conference) and it lacks the big name universities that are attractive for at large bids.

It's definitely not impossible though, just harder. If there are 2 teams ranked in the top 4 (or maybe it's 6 now, I can't remember) they'll both be guaranteed in. I think that a good Rutgers can make it because of the media exposure it brings. Under the right circumstances, I could see West Virginia being picked as an at large too.

This year, South Florida, if it goes 12-1 and only loses to Miami, I think would get bowls looking at it even if they don't end up choosing the Bulls.

Edit: In the end, it does all come down to who the other possible at larges are though. There are only 4 and 1 looks like it's always going to be an non-BCS conference. The bowls that lose their conference often like to pick up a replacement, but that is far from guaranteed. Notre Dame being in the mix really lessens the odds.

if we go 11-1 and only lose to miami we'd be undefeated in big east play and get the auto bid...

That assumes the Bulls can run the table. We'll find out a good portion of that question on Thursday...

I would not say it is impossble that the Big East would get two bids but it is improbable. Many things would have to go Big East's way. First off, there are 10 possible spots.
- SEC = 2
- Big Ten = 2
- Big 12 = 2
- Pac 10= 1
- ACC = 1
- Big East = 1

There are 9 spots locked up every year. SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 are virtually guaranteed two teams each. Look at the history of the BCS to see this.
If Notre Dame is available at 9-3 then they will be the 10th team.
If not then it will come down to whether there is a non- Automatic qualifying team that is undefeated in the top 12 i.e. Boise State.

If both of these two happen then you are basically competing with the Pac 10, ACC and the Big East for the last spot. If each of those conferences (ACC and Pac 10) have teams with 2 losses or more and there is a Big East team (not the automatic champion) with only one loss then there is a chance. Not a good chance but there is a chance.
Note that the ACC also has not had two team from their conference either in the BCS.

(10-13-2009 08:10 PM)tj_2009 Wrote:  I would not say it is impossble that the Big East would get two bids but it is improbable. Many things would have to go Big East's way. First off, there are 10 possible spots.
- SEC = 2
- Big Ten = 2
- Big 12 = 2
- Pac 10= 1
- ACC = 1
- Big East = 1

There are 9 spots locked up every year. SEC, Big Ten and Big 12 are virtually guaranteed two teams each. Look at the history of the BCS to see this.
If Notre Dame is available at 9-3 then they will be the 10th team.
If not then it will come down to whether there is a non- Automatic qualifying team that is undefeated in the top 12 i.e. Boise State.

If both of these two happen then you are basically competing with the Pac 10, ACC and the Big East for the last spot. If each of those conferences (ACC and Pac 10) have teams with 2 losses or more and there is a Big East team (not the automatic champion) with only one loss then there is a chance. Not a good chance but there is a chance.
Note that the ACC also has not had two team from their conference either in the BCS.

I agree with this completely. It would help us tremendously if Boise and TCU get knocked off before end of year, eliminating them. Then, we woudl compete with ND, ACC, and Pac for last bid. The ACC is very mediocre, so they might not end up with 2 1 loss teams. so in theory, it is quite possible, IF all the bcs busters are eliminated, and ND is eliminated, and we have 2 11 win teams.

Sorry to say it, but it will not happen! The perception of the Big East among those that make the BCS bowl decisions is that the conference is weak with only 8 teams (5 or 6 teams if you take out the bottom feeders) and that our fans outside of WVU do not travel. Other conference can have a weak bottom, but with the Big East, each one of our teams must finish with 7, 8, or 9+ wins to gain some respect. Boise gets more respect than UC and USF because they have been to a BCS bowl, brought 30,000 plus fans with them, and won. When a team outside of WVU can do that, that is when the tide will start to turn.

(10-13-2009 04:25 PM)SUfootballfan Wrote:  The real question is what is Cinn's ranking if they lose to USF and what is USF's ranking if they win against Cinn.

I predict USF would move up to around 12-14, and Cincy would fall to about 18th. They are too high to fall out completely. I also think you will see wVU and Pitt in the 20-25 range, so we should have 4 teams in next week if Pitt can win at Rutgers.

The conference size argument doesn't wash. Since the ACC expanded to 12, it has had two BCS bowl bids exactly zero times.

(10-14-2009 11:27 AM)Sandiss Wrote:  Sorry to say it, but it will not happen! The perception of the Big East among those that make the BCS bowl decisions is that the conference is weak with only 8 teams (5 or 6 teams if you take out the bottom feeders) and that our fans outside of WVU do not travel. Other conference can have a weak bottom, but with the Big East, each one of our teams must finish with 7, 8, or 9+ wins to gain some respect. Boise gets more respect than UC and USF because they have been to a BCS bowl, brought 30,000 plus fans with them, and won. When a team outside of WVU can do that, that is when the tide will start to turn.

The perception of the BE is changing in the national media. We have seen numerous articles admitting the BE isn't weak, and that the prognosticators were wrong.

(10-14-2009 11:27 AM)Sandiss Wrote:  Sorry to say it, but it will not happen! The perception of the Big East among those that make the BCS bowl decisions is that the conference is weak with only 8 teams (5 or 6 teams if you take out the bottom feeders) and that our fans outside of WVU do not travel. Other conference can have a weak bottom, but with the Big East, each one of our teams must finish with 7, 8, or 9+ wins to gain some respect. Boise gets more respect than UC and USF because they have been to a BCS bowl, brought 30,000 plus fans with them, and won. When a team outside of WVU can do that, that is when the tide will start to turn.

We don't need any input from the Patriot League...

(10-14-2009 11:27 AM)Sandiss Wrote:  Sorry to say it, but it will not happen! The perception of the Big East among those that make the BCS bowl decisions is that the conference is weak with only 8 teams (5 or 6 teams if you take out the bottom feeders) and that our fans outside of WVU do not travel. Other conference can have a weak bottom, but with the Big East, each one of our teams must finish with 7, 8, or 9+ wins to gain some respect. Boise gets more respect than UC and USF because they have been to a BCS bowl, brought 30,000 plus fans with them, and won. When a team outside of WVU can do that, that is when the tide will start to turn.

you mean like louisville?

(10-14-2009 11:40 AM)USFMike Wrote:  you mean like louisville?

Their current and rapid demise is a big factor that killed the momentum that was built in 2006.

Did Louisville beat Florida, OU, LSU, or any major "power" team? That is where the over power perception lies is within the "power" teams of conferences such as the SEC and Big 12. Remember, Louisville played Wake Forest in their BCS match-up. Even a win over VT would give us, the Big East, more respect. If the Big East can get match-ups against the top power teams, bring a lot of fans, and win, respect will be extended to the Big East.

(10-14-2009 11:50 AM)Sandiss Wrote:  Did Louisville beat Florida, OU, LSU, or any major "power" team? That is where the over power perception lies is within the "power" teams of conferences such as the SEC and Big 12. Remember, Louisville played Wake Forest in their BCS match-up. Even a win over VT would give us, the Big East, more respect. If the Big East can get match-ups against the top power teams, bring a lot of fans, and win, respect will be extended to the Big East.

was that louisville's fault? that louisville team embarrassed a miami team and generally blew out whatever ooc bcs team they encountered and soundly beat wake forest, while packing the orange bowl. some people will never be satisfied and i say who cares, we've beaten enough big time programs in the past 4 years oklahoma, georgia, auburn, miami, fsu, georgia tech, notre dame, etc, etc.

Georgia didn't want to play WVU in the 2006 Sugar Bowl. The Dawgs thought we were beneath them. Same with Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. They wanted another matchup too. WVU wasn't worthy to play the mighty Sooners. I'm sick of that argument. Prove it on the field...

(10-14-2009 11:50 AM)BJUnklFkr Wrote:  

(10-14-2009 11:40 AM)USFMike Wrote:  you mean like louisville?

Their current and rapid demise is a big factor that killed the momentum that was built in 2006.

well that and losing rich rod. we would've been fine if louisville tanked and rich rod stayed. but losing both petrino and rich rod was too much.

(10-14-2009 11:31 AM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  

(10-14-2009 11:27 AM)Sandiss Wrote:  Sorry to say it, but it will not happen! The perception of the Big East among those that make the BCS bowl decisions is that the conference is weak with only 8 teams (5 or 6 teams if you take out the bottom feeders) and that our fans outside of WVU do not travel. Other conference can have a weak bottom, but with the Big East, each one of our teams must finish with 7, 8, or 9+ wins to gain some respect. Boise gets more respect than UC and USF because they have been to a BCS bowl, brought 30,000 plus fans with them, and won. When a team outside of WVU can do that, that is when the tide will start to turn.

The perception of the BE is changing in the national media. We have seen numerous articles admitting the BE isn't weak, and that the prognosticators were wrong.

But it's not being seen in the polls, where it counts. Wait and see how far the loser of Thursday night's game drops.

It'll be seen in the polls before the season is up. We don't get hype. We EARN our respect. We don't have it handed to us on a platter like other conferences - long before it's earned.

It'll never change as long as college football fans eat it up, and the fans of schools with the largest followings are always ranked, so they eat it up. As long as the system is heavily slanted to those schools with the largest stadiums and fan followings, it is. Everyone knows the system doesn't work. But a large portion of the college football world (when you consider fans) is in favor of this system, since they're among the favored few...

But the spotlight these schools desire to keep for themselves will end up destroying the system they've setup for such purposes in the long run...

If USF had not put it to the Mountaineers three or so years ago in Morgantown, it would have happened.

Scheduling, scheduling, scheduling is key in getting that respect and getting others to believe that we as a conference deserve another team / spot in a BCS bowl. People have already begun to criticize our schedule and stating that Cincy will be our first "real" game as FSU is down, WKU is at the bottom of the Sun Belt, Cuse is rebuilding, and Charleston Southern and Wofford are sub division teams. WVU has seemed to schedule well with a good mix of schools and has earned national respect and I think we can do the same and every Big East school can do the same by not scheduling any sub division teams.

People seem to forget that Louisville was Boise State a few years ago. Lousiville was a non BCS worthy of BCS bid when they joined the BE-remember. Things hapen and programs can rise and fall rapidly. We're doing many of the right things to raise the perceptin of BE football. The Yankee BOwl will be an asset if it can improve our profile nationally.

Also, not being a homer, but it seems as if Syracuse and Pitt can put together decent programs that will help the BE. It's funny how some in the major media still use PItt and Syr to measure the BE. I guess some tradition goes a long way. If those two programs can field national programs again then even beating them will raise the profile of the younger members of the BE. But Pitt and SYr have to field teams that are worth beating.

I think we're on our way but we all have to get better each and every year from here on down. Pitt still manages highly ranked recruits but the only signature win was knocking WVU out of the title game. After that, getting creamed by Utah in the BCS game is their most memorable moment.

I won't even talk about Syracuse.