11-07-2006, 02:58 AM
Double standard on display in Big East play
Schlabach
By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Archive
So Louisville's 44-34 victory over then-No. 3 West Virginia was too high-scoring for the Big East detractors. Too many points (78). Too many yards (1,008). Not enough defense.
Bobby Petrino
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Bobby Petrino's Louisville team is third in the polls, but is criticized for its schedule and defense.
How easily we forget the final score of last season's Rose Bowl, in which No. 2 Texas upset No. 1 USC 41-38 to win the national championship. The Longhorns and Trojans combined for more points (79) and yards (1,130) than the Mountaineers and Cardinals did last week.
But because Texas and USC aren't from the much-maligned Big East, the Rose Bowl was considered an instant classic.
And never mind that No. 2 Michigan just allowed 26 points to a Ball State team that scored seven against Central Michigan. Or that Texas allowed 518 yards and trailed 21-0 in its 35-31 win over unranked Texas Tech two weeks ago.
Instead of giving the Cardinals credit for crushing the third-ranked team in the country -- a win that is arguably as impressive as Ohio State at Texas or Michigan at Notre Dame -- much of the public focused on what Louisville didn't do: shut down one of the country's most explosive offenses. What did you expect? A shutout?
There hasn't been this much of a double standard in college football since the NCAA investigated rules violations at Tennessee.
"If it was a low-scoring game, they probably would have said there was no offense," West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. "If it was a high-scoring game, they would say there's no defense. There's still a handful of people out there looking to pounce on the Big East. I think it's kind of crazy.
Schlabach
By Mark Schlabach
ESPN.com
Archive
So Louisville's 44-34 victory over then-No. 3 West Virginia was too high-scoring for the Big East detractors. Too many points (78). Too many yards (1,008). Not enough defense.
Bobby Petrino
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Bobby Petrino's Louisville team is third in the polls, but is criticized for its schedule and defense.
How easily we forget the final score of last season's Rose Bowl, in which No. 2 Texas upset No. 1 USC 41-38 to win the national championship. The Longhorns and Trojans combined for more points (79) and yards (1,130) than the Mountaineers and Cardinals did last week.
But because Texas and USC aren't from the much-maligned Big East, the Rose Bowl was considered an instant classic.
And never mind that No. 2 Michigan just allowed 26 points to a Ball State team that scored seven against Central Michigan. Or that Texas allowed 518 yards and trailed 21-0 in its 35-31 win over unranked Texas Tech two weeks ago.
Instead of giving the Cardinals credit for crushing the third-ranked team in the country -- a win that is arguably as impressive as Ohio State at Texas or Michigan at Notre Dame -- much of the public focused on what Louisville didn't do: shut down one of the country's most explosive offenses. What did you expect? A shutout?
There hasn't been this much of a double standard in college football since the NCAA investigated rules violations at Tennessee.
"If it was a low-scoring game, they probably would have said there was no offense," West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. "If it was a high-scoring game, they would say there's no defense. There's still a handful of people out there looking to pounce on the Big East. I think it's kind of crazy.