Published September 21 2006
Three conferences monopolize college football's top 10 this week.

The Southeastern Conference: In other shocking news, Auburn's linemen feasted on barbecue and hushpuppies yesterday.

The Big Ten: Woody Hayes' ghost stuffed the ballot box.

The Big East: Excuse me?

Yes, the Bowl Championship Series conference that suffered most during the expansion mania of 2003 and '04 has two teams among the top 10. That's two more than the ACC, which pillaged the Big East in hopes of creating a football uberpower.

Moreover, Big East teams are 4-2 against the ACC this season entering Saturday's interconference game between Virginia Tech and Cincinnati. The Big East boasts seven victories against teams from fellow BCS leagues, five more than the ACC.

Enjoy the irony. Chuckle even. Also understand that conferences rise and fall like Wall Street, and while the ACC's expansion tactics - Gordon Gekko would have approved - were troubling, its long-term football prospects appear secure.

So, too, the Big East's, a startling revelation for the masses who ticketed the league for football irrelevance.

The Big East's revival began immediately after its pillars - Miami and Virginia Tech, followed soon thereafter by Boston College - bailed for the ACC. Remaining Big East schools, in concert with commissioner Mike Tranghese, added Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida, each of which began league play last season.

Not an equitable swap by any measure. And when an average Pittsburgh squad earned the Big East's BCS bid in 2004, and lost to Utah by 28 points in the Fiesta Bowl, college football's chattering class pounced.

"The hard thing was when we were looking to reconfigure, a lot of people were saying we wouldn't survive," Tranghese said during a phone interview Wednesday. "We got bashed pretty good that first year (2004) and we didn't even have our league together. All I kept telling people was, 'Give us some time. Give us a chance.' "

Preaching patience? To fans and media? Tranghese knew words were more futile than an end-zone Hail Mary. He knew only results mattered.

Thanks to Louisville and West Virginia, he looks downright prescient.

Despite injuries to all-conference quarterback Brian Brohm and running back Michael Bush, Louisville humbled Miami 31-7 last week and jumped to eighth in the Associated Press poll. Last season the Cardinals finished 9-3 and ranked 19th.

Like Louisville, No. 4 West Virginia embarrassed an ACC outfit last week, routing Maryland 45-24. A home loss to Virginia Tech was the Mountaineers' only blemish last season, and they gave the Big East instant credibility with a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, in the Georgia Dome no less, an upset that elevated them to fifth in the final polls.

"It wiped out all the negativity," Tranghese said of the Sugar Bowl. "People took a step back."

Including the power brokers at ABC and ESPN, who last month agreed to televise Big East football games through 2013. Such stability was unimaginable two years ago.

"They're taking a chance on us," Tranghese said of the networks.

He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

But Tranghese is nothing if not practical. He understands that while the Big East's 16-team basketball alignment always will rate nationally, its eight-team football league won't have Keith Jackson yelling, "Oh, Nellie" from the retirement porch.

After all, there sit the Big Ten's Ohio State and Michigan in the top 10. Not to mention the SEC's Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana State.

Indeed, even for all the ACC's travails this season and the coaching turnover that may follow (a subject for another day), let's not forget that ACC teams were 7-2 against the Big East last season, with the ACC 5-3 in bowls to the Big East's 1-3.

"I've never engaged in the conference debate," Tranghese said. "We want to be a part of the BCS and have the chance to compete for the national championship. We are not the ACC or SEC, with 12 teams and a championship game. All we want to do is carve out a niche and win some games."

Big East teams are carving, winning, and then some. Given the expansion nastiness, good for them.

David Teel can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at dteel@dailypress.com

cuseroc Wrote:He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I guess he thinks UC will never amount to anything - they are just along for the ride. And what about UConn?

bearcatfan Wrote:Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I think MT forgot UC was in the league. Just look at the basketball TV schedule.

bearcatfan Wrote:

cuseroc Wrote:He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I guess he thinks UC will never amount to anything - they are just along for the ride. And what about UConn?

Just following the lead of the conference office. If you're never on TV nobody cares.

Well thankfully we play our friends in Memphis for one TV game.

Just out of curiosity has there been any discussions between Memphis and KSU since Huggs and Cal are friends for future games?

3601 Wrote:

bearcatfan Wrote:

cuseroc Wrote:He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I guess he thinks UC will never amount to anything - they are just along for the ride. And what about UConn?

Just following the lead of the conference office. If you're never on TV nobody cares.

Ummm, UC has been on TV the last two weeks against #1 Ohio State and Pitt. As for basketball UC will be on TV, Ohio State for one. The Big East isn't the only way for UC to get on television.

CatsClaw Wrote:

3601 Wrote:

bearcatfan Wrote:

cuseroc Wrote:He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I guess he thinks UC will never amount to anything - they are just along for the ride. And what about UConn?

Just following the lead of the conference office. If you're never on TV nobody cares.

Ummm, UC has been on TV the last two weeks against #1 Ohio State and Pitt. As for basketball UC will be on TV, Ohio State for one. The Big East isn't the only way for UC to get on television.

What channel were they on?? They didn't come on down here (then again VT-Duke was).

Crewdogz Wrote:Well thankfully we play our friends in Memphis for one TV game.

Just out of curiosity has there been any discussions between Memphis and KSU since Huggs and Cal are friends for future games?

It has been mentioned.

fsquid Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:Ummm, UC has been on TV the last two weeks against #1 Ohio State and Pitt. As for basketball UC will be on TV, Ohio State for one.

What channel were they on?? They didn't come on down here (then again VT-Duke was).

I believe the OSU game was on ESPN+, meaning a few states got it probably. Not sure if I got it because I was down in Louisville for the Miami game.

fsquid Wrote:

CatsClaw Wrote:

3601 Wrote:

bearcatfan Wrote:

cuseroc Wrote:He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I guess he thinks UC will never amount to anything - they are just along for the ride. And what about UConn?

Just following the lead of the conference office. If you're never on TV nobody cares.

Ummm, UC has been on TV the last two weeks against #1 Ohio State and Pitt. As for basketball UC will be on TV, Ohio State for one. The Big East isn't the only way for UC to get on television.

What channel were they on?? They didn't come on down here (then again VT-Duke was).

UC/Ohio State was on ESPN+. UC/Pitt was on ESPN2.

fsquid Wrote:

Crewdogz Wrote:Well thankfully we play our friends in Memphis for one TV game.

Just out of curiosity has there been any discussions between Memphis and KSU since Huggs and Cal are friends for future games?

It has been mentioned.

Fsquid, Off Topic, but you have to be happy about us clinching the Division Monday Night! I was quite ecstatic watching it happen, only wish I coulda made it over to Shea that night.

[quote="cuseroc"]Published September 21 2006
Three conferences monopolize college football's top 10 this week.

We are not the ACC or SEC, with 12 teams and a championship game. All we want to do is carve out a niche and win some games."

David Teel can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at dteel@dailypress.com

and UC @ Virginia Tech is on ESPNU Saturday @ Noon.

[quote="twentyseven"][quote="cuseroc"]Published September 21 2006
Three conferences monopolize college football's top 10 this week.

We are not the ACC or SEC, with 12 teams and a championship game. All we want to do is carve out a niche and win some games."

David Teel can be reached at 247-4636 or by e-mail at dteel@dailypress.com

Cincinnati will have plenty of games picked up on TV as the season gets closer and progresses, especially if the team is winning, people are going crazy about nothing. I know the schedule looks bad now, and I think the Big East office may have screwed up, but there is no way they won't make sure a good team of Bearcats gets their share of TV games. Schedules are adjusted all the time and there is no way what we have seen will be the last word.

Now, back to the real topic of this thread, the ACC sucks and they deserve every bad thing that happens to them from here on out. With the way things look now, if they can keep up their early success, I hope Wake Forest and Boston College end up atop the ACC Atlantic while Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech dominate the ACC Coastal. I also hope Wake Forest beats Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game and then gets routed in their BCS bowl.

bearcatfan Wrote:

cuseroc Wrote:He's convinced the chance is not spinach-salad risky. He believes West Virginia and Louisville - the Mountaineers and Cardinals collide Nov. 2 in a game that could match 7-0 teams - are committed to retaining their first-rate head coaches, Rich Rodriguez and Bobby Petrino. He's proud of Rutgers' progress (the Knights earned their first bowl bid since 1978 last season and are 3-0 this), envisions renewals at Pitt and Syracuse, and thinks South Florida's location and financial commitment will create a first-rate program.

Oh - and by the way, Cincinnati and Connecticut are also in the league.

I guess he thinks UC will never amount to anything - they are just along for the ride. And what about UConn?

Cincinnati and UConn are fairly irrelevant when talking about national recognition in football. Basketball dominance doesn't count for much in the early fall.

CatsClaw Wrote:UC/Ohio State was on ESPN+.

The UC-OSU game was on, but that's about all I can say for it. It was about as exciting as watching bread dough rise. UC could do nothing offensively, and OSU's offense shot themselves in the foot for the first 3 quarters. The UC defense looked decent, but OSU helped them out considerably.

Please explain how Ohio State "shot themselves in the foot". Through the first three quarters, Cincy held them to four three and out possessions. OSU had no turnovers the entire game. They did commit quite a few holding/blocking penalties, but a lot of that had to do with the quickness of UC's defensive line.

If anything, it is UC who shot themselves in the foot, with three interceptions. Not saying we should have won, but I'm a bit tired of hearing about OSU's "slow start", "looking ahead to Penn St.", with little or no credit given to UC for playing them tough for much of the game.