It all starts tomorrow night @ 7:30 with Norfolk State @ Rutgers, with Pitt @ Utah starting an hour afterward. The rest of the conference games have Saturday kickoff, with Cincinnati @ Fresno finishing the weekend in the wee hours Sunday morning...

The Charleston Gazette Wrote:Time for Big East to rock and roll
By Mitch Vingle
The Charleston Gazette
August 31, 2010

EVERY YEAR, it seems, the Big East has something to prove in football.

The teams within the league play with so many proverbial chips on their shoulders, they should employ Erik Estrada as mascot.

It happens, of course, because of the competitive nature of sports. It happens because followers love to compare teams and leagues. And it happens because of the media exposure given to the popular sport. TV announcers, newspaper columnists, radio talk show hosts all compare and contrast as a way to pass time, to stir the pot. It's always fun.

If you're the SEC.

Every other conference is dinged at one time or another. And, of the six BCS conferences, none is dinged more often than the smallish Big East.

The positive sign this season for West Virginia University's league is it has members in both major preseason polls. Pittsburgh is ranked No. 15 in both the USA Today (coaches) and Associated Press (media) polls. Last season, there were no Big East teams ranked. (Ding, ding, ding.)

Yet here we go again.

Beginning on Thursday, Big East teams face opponents that will be key in assessing the conference's strength.

At 8:30 p.m. that day, for instance, Pittsburgh, the Big East's preseason favorite, plays at Utah, picked to finish just behind TCU in the Mountain West Conference. Those within the MWC believe that league to be just as strong as the Big East and worthy of a like BCS berth.

On Saturday, another Big East title contender, Connecticut, visits Michigan, which has struggled under ex-WVU coach Rich Rodriguez. A UConn victory at the Big House would help pad the league's resume, while a loss, especially a sizable one, would certainly hurt.

There are others to keep an eye on this week. Like Louisville's home game with Kentucky and Cincinnati's contest at Fresno State.

New Louisville coach Charlie Strong would be off to a fine start if his Cardinals can win the Bluegrass State's Governor's Cup. Defeating Fresno State, meanwhile, would be a nice feather in the cap of new Cincinnati coach Butch Jones. FSU was in the news this summer because of its impending jump from the WAC to the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs, however, also boasted the nation's No. 8 rushing team last season behind FBS rushing leader Ryan Mathews, now with the San Diego Chargers.

Down the road, South Florida is at Florida; Miami, Fla., is at Pitt; WVU travels to LSU and Cincinnati plays host to Oklahoma. All are important because the Big East has to produce.

Once again.

* * *

The first few weeks will not only be tests for the Big East as a whole, but for some starting quarterbacks on league contenders.

Of course, most in the Mountain State know of WVU's situation. The Mountaineers have a ton of returning starters, but will go with true sophomore quarterback Geno Smith, who hasn't started a college game. Smith, who finished No. 2 in voting for the high school Mr. Florida award, did, however, play in difficult situations last year, specifically at Auburn.

Pittsburgh will start redshirt sophomore QB Tino Sunseri, who played behind Bill Stull last season and, like Smith, hasn't started a college game. Understand that Pitt not only plays Utah this week in non-conference play, but also Notre Dame and Miami later.

Youth is certainly the league's QB theme. Heading into the season, the league's most heralded QBs are both true sophomores: South Florida's B.J. Daniels and Rutgers' Tom Savage.

* * *

And finally, a few Big East observations to go:

# New South Florida head coach Skip Holtz will take his team to Florida on Sept. 11, but the real test is whether he can do what his predecessor, Jim Leavitt, could not: bubble the Bulls to the top of the league standings. The first real quiz in that regard is the Oct. 14 game at WVU.

# When Connecticut travels to Michigan, the Huskies will boast 16 of 22 starters returning, as well as their kicker.

# New Cincinnati coach Butch Jones won't have Tony Pike or Mardy Gilyard, but he's excited about starting QB Zach Collaros and his receiving corps, which includes Armon Binns, J.D. Woods and USC transfer Vidal Hazelton. In addition, he has tailback Isaiah Pead. "We're very skilled," Jones said.

# WVU has a distinction within the Big East. The Mountaineers have not one but two true freshmen listed to back up their starting QB. Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson are co-backups to Smith. But there's another true freshman listed No. 2 within the league. At Rutgers, Chas Dodd will begin the season as the backup signal-caller to Savage. Redshirt freshman Michael Box is No. 2 to Zach Frazer at Connecticut.

Two other Big East true freshmen will start immediately. At Syracuse, linebacker Marquis Spruill will start on the defense. At Louisville, Preston Brown will start at middle linebacker.

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvingle@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.

Huge game for UCONN against Michigan. A real national game (either ABC or on ESPN2) except areas showing UL/Kentucky. Huge statement game for the Huskies and the Big East.

Hope Cincy can take out Fresno. It will not be an easy game plus Cincy has to travel to the West Coast. Pitt at UTAH is huge too.

Biggest game this weekend is UCONN vs. Michigan. Let's hope our boys are ready to rock n roll. Greg Lloyd is back playing LB along with Wilson and Lutrus. These 3 will be one of the top LB corp in the country. I hope they can stuff the spread run Michigan will deploy.

The most high profile game will be UConn-Michigan. But the biggest game IMO is Pitt@Utah. Utah is expected to be very good - Michigan not so much...

(09-01-2010 05:52 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  The most high profile game will be UConn-Michigan. But the biggest game IMO is Pitt@Utah. Utah is expected to be very good - Michigan not so much...

Its all about perception unfortunately. Beating UTAH will get some respect from folks who really know college football but beating Michigan is what will get respect from average fan who votes looking at names in the front of the jersey.

Here is ESPN blogger debate on UCONN vs. Michigan.

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id...onnecticut

I think UConn will be able to handle Michigan. We'll find out for sure shortly...

Pitt and UConn were my two biggest questions. I may change either or both before tomorrow. Pitt has the best RB in the game, but also a new QB.

I'm going to stick with my original prediction. When I switch I almost always end up being wrong...

(09-01-2010 05:52 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  The most high profile game will be UConn-Michigan. But the biggest game IMO is Pitt@Utah. Utah is expected to be very good - Michigan not so much...

Agree, as much as UConn fans want this to be a big impact game its more so the Pitt away game at Utah also a formidable opponent. Far a beyond trumps the UConn v UM game for picture reasons.

Yes UConn going there and winning will be nice, but Michigan is not good yet.

(09-01-2010 09:48 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  

(09-01-2010 05:52 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  The most high profile game will be UConn-Michigan. But the biggest game IMO is Pitt@Utah. Utah is expected to be very good - Michigan not so much...

Agree, as much as UConn fans want this to be a big impact game its more so the Pitt away game at Utah also a formidable opponent. Far a beyond trumps the UConn v UM game for picture reasons.

Yes UConn going there and winning will be nice, but Michigan is not good yet.

Hope Pitt wins, but they are more likely to lose as well. UTAH is a good team, especially at home. Pitt is hyped every year and I am pretty sure they won't win the BE due to the usual Wanny factor. Lewis is an awesome RB but Todman to be is just as good if not better.

Grand opening of the new Big House on national TV across the country. Sorry Card fan I will take a win against Michigan over UTAH any day of the week even if UTAH is ranked top 5 right now. A win againist Michigan will be like a win against ND last year. It will get way more press than beating UTAH.

I hope both win, but if I have to choose one it's UCONN over Michigan.

I want to see both win. But I'd prefer Pitt, the consensus pick to win The BEast, do well @ Utah. If Pitt falls we'll all here how The BEast is so weak because the consensus pick to win the conference lost to Utah, who was tabbed to be the runner up to TCU in the MWC...

(09-02-2010 08:42 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  I want to see both win. But I'd prefer Pitt, the consensus pick to win The BEast, do well @ Utah. If Pitt falls we'll all here how The BEast is so weak because the consensus pick to win the conference lost to Utah, who was tabbed to be the runner up to TCU in the MWC...

It is unfortunate every year Pitt gets all the hype because they got more recruiting stars than other teams. It does not mean they are more talented, it just means they got more hype. UCONN got disrespected again this year in the voting but that's nothing new. Yeah it would be nice if both can win, but I got a lot faith in my Huskies than Pitt with a brand new QB at the helm.

I'll agree with you about Sunseri, Husky. Bostick came to Pitt with all the hype and promise, and has shown little beyond the ability to give the opposition the ball. Let's see what Tino Sunseri can do. And if he can't do it, Gonzalez is waiting in the wings...