Big East Sports Blog

Week #5 in the Big East features six football games as the Big East takes on four non-conference opponents while two games feature Big East Conference matchups. The Big East games feature Connecticut @ Louisville and Pittsburgh @ Syracuse as Louisville looks to keep UConn from starting their seson 5-0 while Syracuse looks for their first win over a I-A/FCS opponent as they host Pitt. In the non-conference games, Big East teams face one I-AA/FBS opponent, and one from the MAC, Conference USA and the ACC. Rutgers looks for their first win of the season as they host Morgan State while #13 USF is @ NC State and Cincinnati travels inside the state of Ohio to face the Akron Zips. In the final Big East football game of the day we have the battle of West Virginia as WVU hosts Marshall.

The entire Week Five Big East football preview is now live over at BigEast-fans.com, a Big East sports fan site that also features Big East merchandise including USF apparel, UC Bearcats clothing & more.

Four years ago the Big East was thought to be left for dead after Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College announced their departure to join the ACC. Despite the controversy, the league has thrived, winning three straight BCS bowl games.

Two of those victories were shocking wins by West Virginia. In 2005, the Mountaineers stunned the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl (remember because of Hurricane Katrina the game was moved from its usual home of New Orleans to the Bulldogs backyard of Atlanta), and last year amid the controversy of departing coach Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia routed Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Although, the Mountaineers are favored to win again this year, its Big East foes are catching up with them.

Everyone knows about Pat White- one of the most prolific quarterbacks in Big East history (he averaged 6.8 yards per carry last season, and will likely become the NCAA’s career rushing leader for quarterbacks by the time this season is done). Alongside him in West Virginia’s backfield is the ultra-dynamic Noel Devine, who in limited touches last season justified his high school hype by averaging 8.6 yards behind starter Steve Slaton.

If the Mountaineers do falter, it won’t be because they didn’t score enough points, but because they gave up too many- one of the country’s top defenses last year returns only four starters.

Waiting in the wings is South Florida. The Bulls reached number two in last season’s polls before losing three straight games and ending the year with an embarrassing Sun Bowl loss to Oregon. Matt Grothe leads the offense, and much like Pat White is a quarterback who’s on the field output far outweighs his God-given talent. The inconsistent Mike Hall will get carries as the primary running back, and the offensive line returns four starters. However, it is the defense that should bring the Bulls into elite status this season- and keep them there.

The headliner of the group is All-American defensive end George Selvie, who led the nation last year with 31.5 tackles for loss as well as tallying 14.5 sacks. But don’t count out the rest of the defense, which returns six other starters including both safeties and a speedy front seven. The Bulls are a legitimate top-15 team- expect them to beat Kansas at home, and the conference schedule plays out nicely to make a run at a Big East championship. South Florida beat West Virginia in Morgantown two years ago, and will have to do so again this year to claim the conference crown. The primary difference is that this year’s match-up will be played December 6^th. Like so many other schools from Florida, the Bulls have a history of going cold when the temperatures dip below freezing.

Some believe Pittsburgh to be a contender- and although they return arguably the conference’s best running back in LeSean “Shady,” McCoy and a host of other offensive weapons, I don’t see them winning a conference championship. This is a team coming off three straight .500 or worse seasons, and Dave Wannstedt has still yet to prove he can win consistently, despite brining in the Big East’s most talented recruiting classes year after year.

Connecticut is a team that no one is really talking about, especially considering they return 16 starters off a team which shared last season’s Big East championship. However, this years schedule is significantly tougher with West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati coming to town, and road games at South Florida, Rutgers and Louisville. This is also a team that relies heavily on controlling the clock with a run-based offense. Should they fall behind early, it will be hard for them to score points in bunches. While I do think they’ll be better than the sixth place finish that the media predicted, winning nine games as they did last year is very unlikely.

By Aaron Torres
Big East Fans Staff Writer

For more in-depth 2008 Big East football previews visit BigEast-fans.com.

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost time for the 2008 college football season, but kickoff is just a few short months away. College Sports Fans has released their 2008 college football preview as they take a look at most of the 120 teams in Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) college football. Find out if the UC Bearcats can build on their 10-3 season a year ago in the Cincinnati Bearcats preview. Connecticut went 9-4 last year and won a share of the Big East Championship, and our UConn football preview looks at their 2008 squad. Louisville had a disappointing 6-6 campaign, but the 2008 Louisville football preview offers hope for this fall. Dave Wannstedt’s Pitt Panthers have been disappointing ever since the former NFL coach arrived in Pittsburgh, but fans hope that the Pitt 2008 preview will offer some hope at a bowl this season. Rutgers went 8-5 in 2007 but just 3-4 in the Big East and the Rutgers football preview looks at Greg Schiano’s 2008 squad. USF jumped all the way to #2 in the nation early in the season before falling all the way to a 56-21 loss in the Sun Bowl and a 9-4 season. Jim Leavitt will look to guide the 2008 USF football team to another solid season. Greg Robinson has been anything but good in his tenure at Syracuse going 2-10 last season, but our 2008 Syracuse football preview offers hope for better days, and West Virginia looks to continue their recent success with a new head coach. The WVU 2008 football preview looks at the post-Rich Rodriguez era in Morgantown.

There you have it. The 2008 season should be another exciting one in the Big East as we all look forward to the chase for the 2008 Big East and National Championships.

Junior wide receiver Darius Reynaud will skip his senior season at West Virginia and enter the 2008 NFL Draft.  Reynaud complete the trifecta of Mountaineers bolting from Morgantown.  Former head coach Rich Rodriguez took the head coach job at Michigan, and running back Steve Slaton is also forgoing his senior year at West Virginia to enter the draft as well.

Reynaud was the top receiving threat for West Virginia this season, finishing with 733 receiving yards.  Reynaud hauled in two touchdowns in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl trouncing over Oklahoma 48-28 on Jan.3rd.

Reynaud had 64 catches in 2007, tying him for fourth all-time in a season in school history.  His 12 touchdown receptions tied former West Virginia wide receiver Chris Henry’s school record in 2004.  Reynaud was also named to the all-Big East second team for the second consecutive year.  His departure leaves a big void in wide out core for West Virginia, with no other Mountaineer having more than one touchdown reception all season.

The exodus from West Virginia continues, as running back Steve Slaton will forgo his senior season and enter the 2008 NFL Draft this coming April, the junior running back announced on Sunday.

In 2006, Slaton set the record for rushing yards by a running back at West Virginia with 1,733 yards, but Slaton saw those numbers take a dip in 2007.  In ‘07, Slaton ran for 1,051 yards and tied his career-high with 17 touchdowns.  Slaton ran over the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season in 2007. 

Just a few days after grounding Ball State’s run defense into dust, Rutgers running back Ray Rice is skipping his senior season and taking his game to the NFL.  Rice declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft this coming April.

Rice finished his career as the Scarlet Knights’ all-time leading rusher with 4, 926 yards.  He also holds the record for most touchdowns (49), rushing yards in a game (280) and rushing yards in a season (2,012).  In the victory over Ball State in the International Bowl, Rice became the 13th player in college football history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. 

During his three seasons at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights amassed a 26-12 record.  In the previous three seasons before Rice arrived in the Rutgers backfield, the Scarlet Knights failed to finish above the .500 mark for 12 straight years.

It’s uncertain whether or not junior running back Ray Rice will return to New Brunswick for his senior senior, but if this was his last game as a Scarlet Knight, what a way to go.

Rice shook off tacklers, ran around, over, through, and past Ball State defenders to help propel Rutgers to their second straight bowl victory 52-30 over Ball State in the International Bowl on Saturday.  Rice ran for 280 yards on 35 carries and four scores, while eclipsing the 2,000-yard plateau.

Rutgers (8-5) scored in double digits in every quarter (14 poitns in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th, and 10 in the 2nd).  Rice had two scores in the third quarter, a 1-yard run and a monstrous 90-yard on the first drive of the third quarter.  Rice set a school record rushing for over 100 yards in eight straight games and finished the season with 2, 012 rushing yards.  Quarterback Mike Teel finished the day 16 of 25 for 303 yards and three touchdowns, setting a school record with his 20th touchdown pass of the year in the fourth quarter. Wideout Kenny Britt hauled in six receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown, while Rutgers finished the afternoon with a whopping 595 yards of total offense.

For Ball State, the Cardinals close out the year 7-6.  Quarterback Nate Davis was 25-of-49 for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Dante Love turned in a big day with 13 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown, and Darius Hill had nine catches for 89 yards and two scores.

The Scarlet Knights dominated every aspect of the game and put on an offensive clinic in Canada.  Rice had one of the most memorable rushing performances in a bowl game and Mike Teel set a school record for touchdown passes in a single season.  The outcome of this one was never in doubt.  Rutgers led at halftime 24-9, and turned the offense up a few notches in the second half, blowing the doors off with a 28-point effort. 

Now, the big question comes:  Will Ray Rice be running back to Rutgers or straight to the NFL?

Apologies go out to Butch Jones, Doc Holliday, Terry Bowden and Jimbo Fischer.  Your interest was both flattering and appreciated.  But West Virginia found their man to replace former head coach Rich Rodriguez.  In fact, they never really had to look far to find him.

The Mountaineers removed the interim tag and promoted Bill Stewart to head football coach just hours after West Virginia convincingly destroyed Oklahoma 48-28 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday night.

Stewart was named the interim head coach on Dec.16th when then head coach Rich Rodriguez took the same position at Michigan.  Several candidates immediately were interested in the vacant job, including a pair of West Virginia natives, Central Michigan coach Butch Jones and former Auburn coach Terry Bowden. 

A lesson to be learned from all of this, for all coaches in any sport: player support means everything.  If the players are willing to back you, stand behind you and go out there, suit up and lay it all on the line, that’s the highest reward.  It helped to have star quarterback Pat White backing him.  During the post-game press conference, White immediately began lobbying for Stewart to take over.  When White spoke,  Athletic director Ed Pastilong listened.

Stewart was the head coach at VMI from 1994-96, going 8-25 in three seasons.  Stewart has also had stops as an assistant coach at North Carolina, Arizona State, Air Force, Salem College, William & Mary, Navy, and Marshall.

This season, Stewart was the tight ends and fullbacks coach, as well as special teams coordinator.  Stewart arrived in Morgantown in 2000 after he spent a couple seasons in CFL (Canadian Football League) as an offensive coordinator.

The departure of Rich Rodriguez was supposed to be the final death blow for West Virginia leading into the Fiesta Bowl.  They lost the Backyard Brawl, the chance to play in the BCS title game, and then Rodriguez bolted for Big Blue.  The Mountaineers weren’t supposed to contend with Oklahoma, let alone beat them soundly. 

Hats off and congrats to Stewart.  He got this team back to the level of football they were playing B.P. (before Pittsburgh).  You can’t say enough about the preparation Stewart put into this game, and you could clearly tell West Virginia had something to prove, something to play for: pride, respect, and Bill Stewart.

Anyone remember that Rodriguez guy that used to patrol the sidelines for West Virginia?  Chances are you haven’t completely forgotten about him, but after seeing the performance Pat White and the Mountaineers turned in against Oklahoma, I’m certain there’s a large contingent in Morgantown saying ‘Rich who’?  This night belonged to Pat White and interim coach Bill Stewart.

 Stewart became the first of six interim coaches this bowl season to get a win and White ran for 150 yards and threw for 176 and two touchdowns as No.9 West Virginia walloped No.4 Oklahoma 48-28 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Wednesday night. Freshman running back Noel Devine had a huge coming out party, rushing for 108 yards and two touchdowns.  In all, the Mountaineers totaled a whopping 349 yards on the ground and four scores on 39 carries. 

This was a heck of a game for West Virginia to come into after losing the Backyard Brawl in the season finale to Pittsburgh, their head coach, and a chance to play for the national title.  Their reward for their recent struggles: ringing in 2008 against Big 12 champions Oklahoma.  You could argue the Sooners were national championship worthy.  Or so we all thought. 

It was surely a heck of way to rebound from all that as well.  Early in the game, West Virginia lost running back Steve Slaton to a leg injury, but Devine stepped right in and filled in nicely for the departed Slaton.  The Mountaineers played with a focus and a high level of emotion that engulfed the Sooners.  Bottom line: West Virginia was hungry, they wanted this one in the worst way.  Oklahoma did not.

Oklahoma returned to the Fiesta Bowl looking to avenge their overtime shocking loss to Boise State 43-42 a year ago.  The Sooners have now dropped four straight BCS Bowl games.  Since 2004, Bob Stoops and the Sooners have lost to LSU, USC, Boise State, and West Virginia in BCS bowls.

Oklahoma had zero answers for the spread, high-octane offense West Virginia sported.  Of their six touchdowns scored, five of them came from at least 20 yards.  The Mountaineers had touchdown scores of 57, 21, 17, 30, 79, and 65. 

Trailing 20-6 at the half, Oklahoma cut the lead to 20-15 on a one-yard run by Chris Brown halfway through the third.  A couple of shall we say, curious moves by Stoops followed.  A two-point conversation attempt that failed, then an on-side kick that also field.  West Virginia recovered the onside attempt and needed only six plays to score, a 17-yard run by Devine.  Darius Reynaud’s 30-yard touchdown run had the Sooners in a deep hole, trailing 34-15 to start the fourth quarter. 

After Oklahoma scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Sam Bradford to Quentin Chaney, White put the Sooners on ice with a 79-yard pass to Tito Gonzales, the lead now 41-21 for WVU.  Noel Devine came calling one final time, slamming the final nail in the coffin for Oklahoma with a 65-yard scamper into the endzone.  Game, set, match for the Mountaineers. 

It was a game the Sooners would like to forget, but since 2000, one begs the question in Sooner country: what have you done for me lately?  The defense was shredded by the vaunted rushing attack of West Virginia.  They couldn’t consistently allow time for Same Bradford to get comfortable in the pocket.  Take into account the Sooners had 6 penalties in the first half to match their six first downs.  A very undisciplined by Oklahoma, committing a total of 13 penalties for 113 yards.  

For the Sooners, Bradford was 21-of-33 for 242 yards and two scores, while Quentin Chaney hauled in four catches for 129 yards and one touchdown.  The 349 rushing yards allowed by the Sooners were the most Oklahoma has allowed under Bob Stoops. 

The Sooners were humiliated and the Mountaineers were elated.  Many thought Oklahoma would be the victors 48-28.  Unfortunately for Stoops and company, games aren’t based off of opinions and the consensus of what people think.  West Virginia still had Pat White and they still had each other to rally around leading up the Fiesta Bowl.  Mission accomplished.

No Dennis Dixon, no problem for Oregon.  Justin Roper filled in just fine under center and oh yeah, Oregon still had Jonathan Stewart in the backfield.  Just ask South Florida what he means the Ducks.

Oregon blitzed South Florida 56-21 in the Brut Sun Bowl on Monday afternoon.  It was a clash between two teams at different points of the 2007 college football season that were ranked No.2 in the country.  On this day, Oregon showed why at one stretch there were one of best teams in the country. 

Oregon proved that they weren’t just a flash-in-the-pan or a one-trick-pony.  Dennis Dixon already had a reputation as one of the most gifted players in the country.  Running back Jonathan Stewart made one in matter of quarters. 

Steward set a Brut Sun Bowl record with 251 rushing yards and one score on 23 carries and redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Roper threw for four touchdowns in Oregon’s romp. With Oregon scoring 28 straight points in the third quarter, the rout was in full effect and the Ducks never looked back.

Oregon won for the first time since losing starting quarterback Dennis Dixon to a knee injury in November and snapped a four-game bowl losing streak, winning for the first time since their 2001 Fiesta Bowl victory over Colorado 38-16.

Roper was the spark that started the barrage of scoring for the Ducks in the third quarter.  He tossed two scores for  Oregon, a 14-yard pass to Jaison Williams and a 15-yard pass to Ed Dickson.  Walter Thurmond intercepted Matt Grothe’s pass and took it to the house from 25 yards out and Roper tossed his third touchdown of the quarter, an eight-yard pass to Stewart.

Matt Grothe was 18-of-35 for 197 yards, one touchdown and two picks on the day for South Florida.  Defensively, the Bulls weren’t very good this afternoon.  It came down to predominantly two things for the South Florida defense: their inability to contain Jonathan Stewart on the ground and the freshman Roper played effective, mistake-free football.  The Bulls had zero answers for either player and their five turnovers provided extra ammunition for an already potent offense.

In all, Oregon set or tied four Sun Bowl records on the day: most points scored (56), 4 touchdown passes ( Roper tied with Matt Moore), 251 rushing yards (Jonathan Stewart) and 28 points scored in the third quarter.  A banner day for the Ducks and an awful day to close out 2007 for the Bulls.  Both teams finished 2007 with identical records at 9-4.