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University’s job: Win, save the Big East

Published: Monday, October 11, 2010

Updated: Monday, October 11, 2010 22:10

Could the Big East's reputation be worse right now?

The Big East's favorites Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are both 2-3 with no wins against a respectable opponent, and Rutgers and a struggling Tom Savage – who entered the season as "the league's best quarterback" – lost at home to Tulane.

Connecticut has nothing to brag about except Jordan Todman and an undefeated home record – except those three victories were against Texas Southern, Buffalo and Vanderbilt.

Louisville may have the most impressive non-conference win out of the entire bunch – a 56-0 win over a horrible Memphis team.

Even Syracuse beat South Florida Saturday for the first time in the program's history.

WVU offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen called SU's win "shocking."

Even more outrageous is the Orange is one of only two teams in the league that one couldn't make an argument for the always admirable title of "worst team in the Big East."

The other is West Virginia.

The Mountaineers have been solid this season, minus the one slipup against the current No. 12 LSU in Baton Rouge.

It was a loss that WVU shouldn't be ashamed of.

The program should be embarrassed in the rest of its league, though. Everyone knew the Big East wasn't going to do too many special things this year, but no one thought that entering the heart of the conference schedule, the league would be 22-15 – a winning percentage of just 59 – against out-of-conference teams.

It's the worst mark in the nation among BCS bowl eligible leagues and the only winning percentage in the group under 60 percent.

No Big East team has impressed at any point this season. That is except for the Mountaineers.

West Virginia is clearly the most talented team in the conference and should win and go undefeated in the conference with little trouble.

I'm sure the folks at the Big East headquarters in Providence, R.I., are praying they do. WVU has to if the Big East wants to save any of the little positive reputation it may have left.

A standout, top-15 team is what the conference needs now more than ever. It needs a clear leader and one powerhouse team.

Big East teams have beaten each other up in the past, but this year the league doesn't need its champion going 5-2 in one of the worst leagues in the country. In a conference that prides itself on competitiveness, a close race for the Big East crown would be in the worst interest of the league.

West Virginia will begin its quest to become the much-needed standout team when it hosts South Florida Thursday in the Mountaineers' Big East opener.

WVU has an opportunity in the game to show the nation it's no laughing matter, although its conference may be.

The Mountaineers have a chance to shine a rare positive light on the Big East.

"It's on the table right now," said WVU safety Robert Sands of the Big East Championship trophy.

Those folks in Providence are ready to engrave it.

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3 comments

umwaeer
Tue Oct 12 2010 15:37
Burdening the Eers as the flagship football team in the conference is something the author of this article has given little thought to. The headquarters of the Big East is a joke to begin with and what pleases them should not concern WVU. The leadership of the Big East has little concern for WVU except when they are bailing their rearends out of their self imposed football mess. The leadership of the conference needs to get their heads out of their rears and build a football conference. WVU having to shoulder the responsibibity of maintaining the Big Easts tenative hold on a BCS invitation is the result of the stupidity of the Big East leadership, past and present. A team from the smallest populus in the conference, being the strongest, most successful of all the present football programs. Pitt, Syracuse, USF & Cincinatti all located centrally in football hotbeds should be the annual contenders for the league championship. Louisville with a new coach are making dramatic improvement each week & will contend before the season is over. Also located in a large metropolitan environment. All those programs are in transition except Pitt. Pitt with its talent should automatically make them a contender. Sadly, being short sighted about the future development of the programs depth seems to be a disease that exists outside of Morgantown. Think about this Big East bashers, there are no senior QBs starting in the league, and most are all first year starters with the exception of BJ Daniel and Enders at U-Conn. New coaches are in charge of 3 programs, and combine this with the young QBs and this is a recipe for ill percieved weakness. Next year the worm will turn, I guarntee it. The only problem with the Big East is that change happens everywhere and its in full bloom in the conference. The leadership in Providence has failed the conference in promotion, negotiations, & being forward thinkers, being proactive in the areas of change and growth. They have used a very narrow, parochial focus in leading this conference and is failing badly.
Anonymous
Tue Oct 12 2010 15:16
tobeat usf offense must go up the middle.
Alum in FL
Tue Oct 12 2010 12:19
The BE has 3 brand new Head Coaches. Skip Holtz at USF likens it to teaching Spanish to players that are used to hearing French. The Bulls were able to take it to Florida for a half, Cincy put a scare into OU, and Spitt is without their best player on Offense and Defense and play a helava schedule, too. It's good to see the school of Jim Brown, Larry Czonka and Donovan McNabb getting better. Don't know what the problem is with the Kninnies and UConn't, but I know we'll get their best. The Black 'n' Blue Conference will only get better. Time to run the table, Mounties. LET'S GOOOOOOO!




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