WVU had Penn State down 41-8 at the half. They beat Syracuse 31-0 at Syracuse. Miami's competition was good, but don't disparage West Virginia's in 88. They played some very good teams.

Also, when talking about Big East teams. Try to limit things to the Big East era. Prior to the creation of the league is not valid. Although Suracuse had some great teams in the 50s. So did Pitt in the 70s. I'm not detracting from those teams, but this discussion is about what team in the Big East last competed for the national championship. WVU is it.

Quote: love the Eers and their fans but when ranking the best football teams ever of the current Big East football programs the debate is between the 1976 Pitt Panthers and the 1959 Syracuse Orangemen.

-- In terms of overall talent....the "best" team may have been the Pitt teams of the early 80s that had Dan Marino...they just really flopped during Dan's senior yr


Jackson

I know the 1975 Pitt team crushed the heart of all Mountaineer faithful, and hastened Bobby Bowden's flight to FSU.

Quote:Nobody could stop him when he was healthy.

Oh, I can think of a Levon Kirkland and Chester McGlockton led Clemson team that shut down a healthy Major Harris....well, healthy before the game at least...as he was hit repeatedly in the game, giving up three fumbles in the second half alone.

bitcruncher Wrote:WVU had Penn State down 41-8 at the half. They beat Syracuse 31-0 at Syracuse. Miami's competition was good, but don't disparage West Virginia's in 88. They played some very good teams.

It's not about disparaging that Eers' team. It's about you inflating the team (understandable since you are an Eers' fan) and trying to claim that no Big East team in its entire history had a team that could have beaten the 1988 West Virginia team - which since that team did lose demonstrated that it was beatable.

Quote:lso, when talking about Big East teams. Try to limit things to the Big East era. Prior to the creation of the league is not valid. Although Suracuse had some great teams in the 50s. So did Pitt in the 70s.

Fair enough, although like another poster, I assumed when you said no Big East team in its history had a better team, including Miami, I was under the impression that you were referring to all Big East teams throughout 'their history' not throughout 'Big East' conference history allowing for the inclusion of the WVU in 1988 but eliminating teams prior to the formation of the Big East in 1979 ;-)

Quote:I'm not detracting from those teams, but this discussion is about what team in the Big East last competed for the national championship. WVU is it.

Again, the original question was anwered correctly with West Virginia in 1988, but you're the one who took the thread in a different direction with the claim you made. Since you have now clarified what 'era' you are referring to, and assuming Miami is not part of the discussion, then yes, the West Virginia team of 1988 probably edges out the early 1980/81 teams of Pitt and the 1987 Syracuse Orangemen.

Include Miami, and the 2001 Miami team (which many consider to be in the Top 5 of the greatest teams of all-time) wins the discussion hands down.

Cheers,
Neil