Big East: Connecticut Huskies
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- I had a chance to catch up with UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni during the Big East spring meetings. We talked about where the quarterback race stands and some of his remaining questions heading into fall practice.
Do you have a front-runner in the race to be your starting quarterback?
PP: Chandler Whitmer had the best production in the spring game, so I think there are members of the media, and I’ve been through this before, that like to choose the quarterback. If the members of the media, based on the spring game, were choosing the starting quarterback, Chandler Whitmer would be the front-runner. But I’ve been in this long enough to know that it’s not based on one performance. It’s the body of work over an extended period of time. They all did some pretty good things in the spring. Having said that, we’re going to come back into preseason camp and we’re going to continue the competition but I would like very, very much to make a decision as soon as I can.
It did drag on into the season opener last year.
PP: I preferred for that not to happen. Years back when we had Donovan McNabb, Kevin Johnson and Keith Downing all competing, it was the same thing; we were trying to figure it out. We weren’t able to do it early in preseason, so we did it in the end to get all the scrimmages in and get all the opportunities to watch and see them play and produce. If we have to, we’re going to do that, but if we don’t have to, we’re not going to do that. I’d like to be able to say tomorrow, 'Here it is, let’s go,' but I just can’t do that. So we’re going to grind it out. It’s a big decision, obviously, and we’re going to try to make the best, informed decision that we can.
How will you manage the reps with all five still competing?
PP: We did a great job of managing the reps in the spring, so we’ll go back in and we’ll manage the reps the same way. They’ll each get a significant number of reps. Scotty McCummings will still have the majority of the Wildcat reps, although he works on the entire game plan and we’re trying to develop him as a drop-back passer as well. We’ll divide them up and we’ll do the best we can with it.
If Casey Cochran doesn’t emerge as your starter, have you given thought to redshirting him?
PP: We haven’t discussed any of that yet. We really don’t talk about redshirting anyone at this point. My policy is I want them coming in with a non-redshirt mentality when they get on campus. My fear has always been if you start to talk that redshirt mentality and they come into camp and they’re not ready enough, it affects their conditioning and the way they go through practice. I want them coming in and all competing.
How about the development of your offensive line this spring. Where does that group stand?
PP: We’re anxious to get Jimmy Bennett back. He’ll be back. He’s been cleared, he’ll work out full go here in early June. He was really one of our better tackles last year. The biggest issue with Jimmy is to get him ready to go but keep him healthy. Adam Masters got nicked up in the spring, we have to get Adam back, and over at right tackle, Kevin Friend has been working hard. So if Jimmy’s back and Jimmy’s playing tackle, it gives us flexibility to put Adam back at guard. Alex Mateas and Tyler Bullock are competing at center. There are a few freshmen I want to see practice, Tyler Samra, Rennick Bryan. I want to see where they can fit in the top 10. So those are going to be all really big things for us with the offensive line in camp.
How about the defensive line? It seemed Ryan Wirth had a good spring game.
PP: Ryan Wirth got nicked up but then he came back for the spring game and had a very productive spring game. He’s a senior, and we expect to get senior leadership out of him. Shamar Stephen, Angel Pruitt, I thought Julian Campenni had a productive spring until he got hurt. He cut his ear and was unable to play in spring game but he had a productive spring. We’re not there yet on the defensive line, and we’re not there yet on the offensive line, but we’re going in the right direction. We’ve got the right guys on the bus. It’s a matter of getting them in the right seats now.
What are your biggest questions then, aside from quarterback?
PP: Offensive line, defensive line, and what the depth is going to be at both the tailback position and the wide receiver position.
Losing D.J. Shoemate was obviously tough.
PP: It was. We know what Lyle McCombs can do. But we’ve got to find out who the next two guys are.
At receiver, Shakim Phillips seemed to have a good spring as well.
PP: Shakim had a good spring, Mike Smith is back and he’s played a lot of football for us. Nick Williams is back. We’ve got the two young guys in Tebucky Jones and Geremy Davis who have done pretty good, and then we moved Deshon Foxx out to wide receiver and he showed some promise. I think we know who the older guys are there. Now we have to figure out the younger rookie guys and see what kind of depth we have. I want each of them to have a role. To say that I’ve got all that figured out right now -- I don’t.
Do you have a front-runner in the race to be your starting quarterback?
PP: Chandler Whitmer had the best production in the spring game, so I think there are members of the media, and I’ve been through this before, that like to choose the quarterback. If the members of the media, based on the spring game, were choosing the starting quarterback, Chandler Whitmer would be the front-runner. But I’ve been in this long enough to know that it’s not based on one performance. It’s the body of work over an extended period of time. They all did some pretty good things in the spring. Having said that, we’re going to come back into preseason camp and we’re going to continue the competition but I would like very, very much to make a decision as soon as I can.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Tomasso DeRosaPaul Pasqualoni still has a decision to make regarding his starting quarterback.
AP Photo/Tomasso DeRosaPaul Pasqualoni still has a decision to make regarding his starting quarterback.PP: I preferred for that not to happen. Years back when we had Donovan McNabb, Kevin Johnson and Keith Downing all competing, it was the same thing; we were trying to figure it out. We weren’t able to do it early in preseason, so we did it in the end to get all the scrimmages in and get all the opportunities to watch and see them play and produce. If we have to, we’re going to do that, but if we don’t have to, we’re not going to do that. I’d like to be able to say tomorrow, 'Here it is, let’s go,' but I just can’t do that. So we’re going to grind it out. It’s a big decision, obviously, and we’re going to try to make the best, informed decision that we can.
How will you manage the reps with all five still competing?
PP: We did a great job of managing the reps in the spring, so we’ll go back in and we’ll manage the reps the same way. They’ll each get a significant number of reps. Scotty McCummings will still have the majority of the Wildcat reps, although he works on the entire game plan and we’re trying to develop him as a drop-back passer as well. We’ll divide them up and we’ll do the best we can with it.
If Casey Cochran doesn’t emerge as your starter, have you given thought to redshirting him?
PP: We haven’t discussed any of that yet. We really don’t talk about redshirting anyone at this point. My policy is I want them coming in with a non-redshirt mentality when they get on campus. My fear has always been if you start to talk that redshirt mentality and they come into camp and they’re not ready enough, it affects their conditioning and the way they go through practice. I want them coming in and all competing.
How about the development of your offensive line this spring. Where does that group stand?
PP: We’re anxious to get Jimmy Bennett back. He’ll be back. He’s been cleared, he’ll work out full go here in early June. He was really one of our better tackles last year. The biggest issue with Jimmy is to get him ready to go but keep him healthy. Adam Masters got nicked up in the spring, we have to get Adam back, and over at right tackle, Kevin Friend has been working hard. So if Jimmy’s back and Jimmy’s playing tackle, it gives us flexibility to put Adam back at guard. Alex Mateas and Tyler Bullock are competing at center. There are a few freshmen I want to see practice, Tyler Samra, Rennick Bryan. I want to see where they can fit in the top 10. So those are going to be all really big things for us with the offensive line in camp.
How about the defensive line? It seemed Ryan Wirth had a good spring game.
PP: Ryan Wirth got nicked up but then he came back for the spring game and had a very productive spring game. He’s a senior, and we expect to get senior leadership out of him. Shamar Stephen, Angel Pruitt, I thought Julian Campenni had a productive spring until he got hurt. He cut his ear and was unable to play in spring game but he had a productive spring. We’re not there yet on the defensive line, and we’re not there yet on the offensive line, but we’re going in the right direction. We’ve got the right guys on the bus. It’s a matter of getting them in the right seats now.
What are your biggest questions then, aside from quarterback?
PP: Offensive line, defensive line, and what the depth is going to be at both the tailback position and the wide receiver position.
Losing D.J. Shoemate was obviously tough.
PP: It was. We know what Lyle McCombs can do. But we’ve got to find out who the next two guys are.
At receiver, Shakim Phillips seemed to have a good spring as well.
PP: Shakim had a good spring, Mike Smith is back and he’s played a lot of football for us. Nick Williams is back. We’ve got the two young guys in Tebucky Jones and Geremy Davis who have done pretty good, and then we moved Deshon Foxx out to wide receiver and he showed some promise. I think we know who the older guys are there. Now we have to figure out the younger rookie guys and see what kind of depth we have. I want each of them to have a role. To say that I’ve got all that figured out right now -- I don’t.
Is there such a thing as a Big East coach being hated because he wins too much?
The answer is clearly no when you look at the current group of head coaches. Three of them have never coached in a Big East game. Three are going into their third seasons in the league and are barely above .500. Paul Pasqualoni has a bushel-full of victories, but nearly all of them came at Syracuse two decades ago.
So let us take a dip back into history to find an answer. Here are the all-time winningest coaches in Big East history, by overall percentage. I am using this statistic because many of the biggest winners do not stick around the Big East for long.
The conclusion is an easy one: Much more than one hated coach, Miami was a hated team because of all the wins it racked up while playing in the Big East from 1991-2003. That includes two national championships and seven Big East titles, more than any other school. Coker was never vilified or hated. The man is impossibly nice.
Davis' image took much more of a hit at North Carolina because he left the place in scandal, with two major investigations hanging over the program. While at Miami, he was lauded as the man who saved the program from NCAA sanctions. It is hard to hate a coach who won 10 games only once in his career.
Erickson simply took over for Jimmy Johnson and continued what was started.
But the assignment is to find a coach hated for winning. Let's look at some of the other names on the list. Kelly and Petrino were hated much more for the way they left their programs, as documented earlier in this series. Kelly only coached three years in the Big East; Petrino only two in the Big East. I can't imagine their short stays struck fear into the hearts of opponents, despite all the victories.
So let's turn the focus to Rodriguez. He, more than any of the aforementioned coaches, probably fits the bill. In his final three seasons in Morgantown, Rodriguez won two league championships and had three 11-win seasons. His team went undefeated in league play in 2005, one of only two teams to accomplish the feat in the past seven years. He won with swagger and style, and some of the best athletes in Big East history.
But I used the word probably. Because as great as Rodriguez was, his on-field coaching career in the Big East will be defined by what he didn't do in 2007. West Virginia was ranked No. 2 in the country going into the regular-season finale against Pitt in the always heated Backyard Brawl. Win, and the Mountaineers would be playing for the school's first national title. Pitt was already out of the bowl picture, entering the game at 4-7. West Virginia was a 28 1/2-point favorite.
Slam dunk, right? Well, you guys know what happened. Pitt pulled one of the biggest upsets in the series, and Rodriguez went packing to Michigan. The loss will always follow Rodriguez, despite all of his wins in the league. On the day he needed a win most of all, he failed. But that loss did not make him a villain in Morgantown. Leaving did.
That is why it is hard to anoint any Big East coach as somebody hated for winning.
Current Big East coaches' career records in the league:
The answer is clearly no when you look at the current group of head coaches. Three of them have never coached in a Big East game. Three are going into their third seasons in the league and are barely above .500. Paul Pasqualoni has a bushel-full of victories, but nearly all of them came at Syracuse two decades ago.
So let us take a dip back into history to find an answer. Here are the all-time winningest coaches in Big East history, by overall percentage. I am using this statistic because many of the biggest winners do not stick around the Big East for long.
- Larry Coker, Miami: 35-3 (.921)
- Dennis Erickson, Miami: 42-6 (.875)
- Brian Kelly, Cincinnati: 34-6 (.850)
- Bobby Petrino, Louisville: 21-4 (.840)
- Butch Davis, Miami: 51-20 (.718)
- Bill Stewart, West Virginia: 28-12 (.700)
- Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia: 60-26 (.698)
- Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech: 108-48-1 (.691)
The conclusion is an easy one: Much more than one hated coach, Miami was a hated team because of all the wins it racked up while playing in the Big East from 1991-2003. That includes two national championships and seven Big East titles, more than any other school. Coker was never vilified or hated. The man is impossibly nice.
Davis' image took much more of a hit at North Carolina because he left the place in scandal, with two major investigations hanging over the program. While at Miami, he was lauded as the man who saved the program from NCAA sanctions. It is hard to hate a coach who won 10 games only once in his career.
Erickson simply took over for Jimmy Johnson and continued what was started.
But the assignment is to find a coach hated for winning. Let's look at some of the other names on the list. Kelly and Petrino were hated much more for the way they left their programs, as documented earlier in this series. Kelly only coached three years in the Big East; Petrino only two in the Big East. I can't imagine their short stays struck fear into the hearts of opponents, despite all the victories.
So let's turn the focus to Rodriguez. He, more than any of the aforementioned coaches, probably fits the bill. In his final three seasons in Morgantown, Rodriguez won two league championships and had three 11-win seasons. His team went undefeated in league play in 2005, one of only two teams to accomplish the feat in the past seven years. He won with swagger and style, and some of the best athletes in Big East history.
But I used the word probably. Because as great as Rodriguez was, his on-field coaching career in the Big East will be defined by what he didn't do in 2007. West Virginia was ranked No. 2 in the country going into the regular-season finale against Pitt in the always heated Backyard Brawl. Win, and the Mountaineers would be playing for the school's first national title. Pitt was already out of the bowl picture, entering the game at 4-7. West Virginia was a 28 1/2-point favorite.
Slam dunk, right? Well, you guys know what happened. Pitt pulled one of the biggest upsets in the series, and Rodriguez went packing to Michigan. The loss will always follow Rodriguez, despite all of his wins in the league. On the day he needed a win most of all, he failed. But that loss did not make him a villain in Morgantown. Leaving did.
That is why it is hard to anoint any Big East coach as somebody hated for winning.
Current Big East coaches' career records in the league:
- Paul Pasqualoni, Syracuse and UConn: 112-63-1
- Doug Marrone, Syracuse: 17-20
- Butch Jones, Cincinnati: 14-11
- Charlie Strong, Louisville: 14-12
- Skip Holtz, USF: 13-12
- Steve Addazio, Temple: 0-0
- Paul Chryst, Pitt: 0-0
- Kyle Flood, Rutgers: 0-0
Spring meetings are wrapping up today, so the Big East chat has been moved to Thursday at 4 p.m. Hope to see you then!
- The demolition of Memorial Stadium at UConn has begun.
- Lindy's college football preview has Louisville in the Orange Bowl.
- Dan Samuelson changed his commitment from Pitt to Nebraska.
- Former Rutgers football player Pat Kivlehan won Big East Player of the Year in baseball.
- Skip Holtz's son will walk on at Texas.
- Junior college commit Wayne Williams talks about why he picked Syracuse.
- Why Bill Bradshaw of Temple should be athletic director of the year.
- John Marinatto made about $600,000 as commissioner in 2010.
Earlier today, you saw my compilation of recent Big East coaches who have left their respective teams in, well, not the greatest ways.
Now it is your time to vote: Which coach do you think is the most hated or vilified in recent Big East history? Because let's be honest: there are no villains in the league right now. No coach has been in the league longer than four seasons; no coach has done anything to draw the ire or disrespect of their fellow coaches or fans.
So we have to dip back into history, and there we find plenty of guys who ruffled feathers. Your choices:
Randy Edsall. Hightailed it out of UConn after the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma, forgoing the team charter plane home to run off with Maryland. Never told his players in person he was going to leave.
Todd Graham. Hightailed it out of Pitt after a 6-6 season filled with failed promises and underachievement. Said goodbye via text message, and has since said it was a mistake to take the Panthers job. And his kids didn't like Pittsburgh. Now enjoying sunny Arizona.
Brian Kelly. Hightailed it out of Cincinnati after a 12-0 regular season for Notre Dame. Waited until the end of his team banquet to tell his players of his departure after they already found out from news reports.
Bobby Petrino. Hightailed it out of Louisville after a 12-1 season and an Orange Bowl appearance for the Atlanta Falcons, after having conversations with Auburn, Florida, LSU and the Oakland Raiders while still coaching the Cardinals.
Rich Rodriguez. Hightailed it out of West Virginia for Michigan, where he failed spectacularly in three seasons with the Wolverines. He may still be the most hated man in Morgantown.
What do you think? Did I forget anyone? Please leave your comments down below or in the mailbag and we will recap the results and some of your thoughts Friday.
So we have to dip back into history, and there we find plenty of guys who ruffled feathers. Your choices:
Randy Edsall. Hightailed it out of UConn after the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma, forgoing the team charter plane home to run off with Maryland. Never told his players in person he was going to leave.
Todd Graham. Hightailed it out of Pitt after a 6-6 season filled with failed promises and underachievement. Said goodbye via text message, and has since said it was a mistake to take the Panthers job. And his kids didn't like Pittsburgh. Now enjoying sunny Arizona.
Brian Kelly. Hightailed it out of Cincinnati after a 12-0 regular season for Notre Dame. Waited until the end of his team banquet to tell his players of his departure after they already found out from news reports.
Bobby Petrino. Hightailed it out of Louisville after a 12-1 season and an Orange Bowl appearance for the Atlanta Falcons, after having conversations with Auburn, Florida, LSU and the Oakland Raiders while still coaching the Cardinals.
Rich Rodriguez. Hightailed it out of West Virginia for Michigan, where he failed spectacularly in three seasons with the Wolverines. He may still be the most hated man in Morgantown.
What do you think? Did I forget anyone? Please leave your comments down below or in the mailbag and we will recap the results and some of your thoughts Friday.
Just put on a happy face!
- Unity is the name of the game. Is the league's fate still in doubt?
- Does an eight-team playoff work for the Big East?
- A potential TV windfall is encouraging for the Big East.
- Cincinnati defensive tackle Derek Wolfe signed with the Broncos.
- Here is an interview with UConn commit Jon Hicks.
- Matt Hayes of The Sporting News goes over the hardships Pitt players have had to overcome.
- Eric LeGrand has taken a liking to playoff hockey.
- Syracuse picked up a commitment from prep quarterback Austin Wilson out of Enola, Pa. This is a pretty cool look at the evolution of the Syracuse logo.
Time for a little game. Think of the most vilified college football coaches today.
Your list probably looks something like this:
Bobby Petrino.
Rich Rodriguez.
Todd Graham.
Randy Edsall.
You know what they all have in common. They all were Big East coaches at one point in time. Really great Big East coaches, to boot. But alas, great coaches never stick around for long in this league, a common lament among Big East fans. Perhaps the bigger question is -- what has made the Big East a breeding ground for villainous coaches?
Consider the recent history.
Exhibit A. Petrino got his first head coaching job at Louisville, and did one heck of a job, going 41-9 in four seasons. But the Cardinals were never just right, were they? I mean, how could they be when you 1) Try to negotiate a deal to become head coach at Auburn behind your boss' back. 2) Interview at Florida, Mississippi AND LSU the following year, while pledging love and loyalty to Louisville in between. 3) Forget loyalty and interview with the Oakland Raiders after Year 3 in Louisville. 4) Finally end the misery and leave for the Atlanta Falcons after a 12-1 season and an Orange Bowl berth.
That Atlanta dream job was not quite right either, so he left with good-bye statements taped to his players' lockers before the season even ended and headed for Arkansas. You all know how well his stint ended there.
Maybe all these aforementioned Big East coaches just hate good-byes.
Edsall left for Maryland after UConn lost the Fiesta Bowl to Oklahoma in January 2011 and never told his players word one about his plans. In fact, he did not even take the team charter home with the team. What may even be worse than that -- he made Jordan Todman get up in front of the team to explain why he was leaving early for the NFL draft. Edsall just finished a 2-10 season at Maryland in which he took a beating and lost 24 transfers. He is working hard to right the ship -- but you can bet some folks in Storrs are thinking, "Karma!"
Meanwhile at Pitt, Graham also had a tough time with good-byes at the end of last season. He told his players he was leaving via text message and hightailed it for Arizona State after a 6-6 season in which he had his players buying into an "high-octane" and "high-energy" offense. This, of course, came after he pretty much begged for the Pitt job after the Mike Haywood fiasco. But his shenanigans started at Rice, where he also had a one-year stint before leaving for Tulsa. ESPN.com columnist Mark Schlabach dubbed Graham the new president of the Liar's Club after his Pitt exit.
Rich Rod? Well, he is persona non grata in two states, West Virginia and Michigan. Who can forget the drama after he left the Mountaineers for the Wolverines in 2007, a few short months after signing a new contract and pledging his commitment to his school? West Virginia sued Rodriguez in the wake of his departure, and Michigan turned out to be an absolute disaster. It sure ain't easy being hated in as many spots as these guys.
There are others who left in less-than-ideal ways. How about Brian Kelly at Cincinnati, waiting until the end of his team banquet to announce his departure for Notre Dame? This was hours AFTER players began hearing news reports that they had lost their coach. Most recently, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano left for Tampa Bay less than a week before signing day, not even telling his loyal assistants, who were out on the road recruiting without any idea about what was happening.
His departure was tame compared to the rest. As for the others, I think they would make an excellent subject for a new television series.
"College Football Coaches Behaving Badly."
Your list probably looks something like this:
Bobby Petrino.
Rich Rodriguez.
Todd Graham.
Randy Edsall.
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Kim Klement/US PresswireRandy Edsall is just one of many former Big East coaches who left the league.
Kim Klement/US PresswireRandy Edsall is just one of many former Big East coaches who left the league.Consider the recent history.
Exhibit A. Petrino got his first head coaching job at Louisville, and did one heck of a job, going 41-9 in four seasons. But the Cardinals were never just right, were they? I mean, how could they be when you 1) Try to negotiate a deal to become head coach at Auburn behind your boss' back. 2) Interview at Florida, Mississippi AND LSU the following year, while pledging love and loyalty to Louisville in between. 3) Forget loyalty and interview with the Oakland Raiders after Year 3 in Louisville. 4) Finally end the misery and leave for the Atlanta Falcons after a 12-1 season and an Orange Bowl berth.
That Atlanta dream job was not quite right either, so he left with good-bye statements taped to his players' lockers before the season even ended and headed for Arkansas. You all know how well his stint ended there.
Maybe all these aforementioned Big East coaches just hate good-byes.
Edsall left for Maryland after UConn lost the Fiesta Bowl to Oklahoma in January 2011 and never told his players word one about his plans. In fact, he did not even take the team charter home with the team. What may even be worse than that -- he made Jordan Todman get up in front of the team to explain why he was leaving early for the NFL draft. Edsall just finished a 2-10 season at Maryland in which he took a beating and lost 24 transfers. He is working hard to right the ship -- but you can bet some folks in Storrs are thinking, "Karma!"
Meanwhile at Pitt, Graham also had a tough time with good-byes at the end of last season. He told his players he was leaving via text message and hightailed it for Arizona State after a 6-6 season in which he had his players buying into an "high-octane" and "high-energy" offense. This, of course, came after he pretty much begged for the Pitt job after the Mike Haywood fiasco. But his shenanigans started at Rice, where he also had a one-year stint before leaving for Tulsa. ESPN.com columnist Mark Schlabach dubbed Graham the new president of the Liar's Club after his Pitt exit.
Rich Rod? Well, he is persona non grata in two states, West Virginia and Michigan. Who can forget the drama after he left the Mountaineers for the Wolverines in 2007, a few short months after signing a new contract and pledging his commitment to his school? West Virginia sued Rodriguez in the wake of his departure, and Michigan turned out to be an absolute disaster. It sure ain't easy being hated in as many spots as these guys.
There are others who left in less-than-ideal ways. How about Brian Kelly at Cincinnati, waiting until the end of his team banquet to announce his departure for Notre Dame? This was hours AFTER players began hearing news reports that they had lost their coach. Most recently, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano left for Tampa Bay less than a week before signing day, not even telling his loyal assistants, who were out on the road recruiting without any idea about what was happening.
His departure was tame compared to the rest. As for the others, I think they would make an excellent subject for a new television series.
"College Football Coaches Behaving Badly."
As part of “College Football Live’s” 100 Days Till Kickoff countdown, here’s a look at the top 10 players in the Big East. For those wondering, the Big East blog will still have its annual preseason Top 25 player countdown a little later in the summer.
Without further adieu:
1. Ray Graham, RB, Pitt. Taking a calculated risk here, considering we have no idea how Graham is going to look a year after tearing his ACL. Coach Paul Chryst says Graham will be ready for fall camp. If Graham is able to return to form, he should be the best player in the league.
2. Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers. Greene goes into the season as the preseason favorite to win Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight season, after sharing honors with Derek Wolfe in 2011. Though he broke his ankle in the bowl game, he will be ready for fall camp. Side note: Isn't it a neat that he and Graham are brothers?
3. Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt. Donald emerged last season, finishing second in the league with 11 sacks. He has shifted inside to tackle this year, but he is the most productive and experienced player returning to the Pitt defensive line and should continue his upward trajectory.
4. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. Bridgewater had a sensational freshman season, winning league Newcomer of the Year honors. Hopes are high for him to build off his impressive campaign in his second year as a starter. Louisville will do more to take advantage of his athleticism, with plans to install some hurry up offense.
5. Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers. Ryan led the league with 16 passes defended -- 13 breakups and three interceptions last season. Defensive back is one of the strongest positions across the league, and Ryan leads the way as the Big East's best cornerback.
6. Hakeem Smith, S, Louisville. Smith has gotten better in each of his seasons with the Cardinals, so this season should feature more of the same. In 2011, he had 84 tackles, tied for second in the league, with nine pass breakups. He also tied for second in the league with three forced fumbles and made the Big East first team.
7. Ryne Giddins, DE, USF. Giddins emerged in the second half of last season (yes, I know many of you still remember him for his personal foul against West Virginia), and is in line to have a breakout year for the Bulls, who should have one of the stronger defensive lines in the Big East.
8. B.J. Daniels, QB, USF. Daniels should be the best quarterback in the Big East, considering he is going into his fourth year as a starter. Is this the year he finally lives up to expectations and delivers a long-awaited -- and first -- league title?
9. Walter Stewart, DE, Cincinnati. Coach Butch Jones says he has not been around a player as focused as Stewart in a long time. That is saying something, considering the defensive stars the Bearcats had last season. Stewart is poised to give Cincinnati a huge presence at rush end.
10. Lyle McCombs, RB, UConn. McCombs ran for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman last season and returns for 2011 with much more confidence -- and the Huskies hope a better offensive line. He goes into the season as the unquestioned featured back.
Without further adieu:
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AP Photo/Keith SrakocicRay Graham could be the Big East's best player if healthy.
AP Photo/Keith SrakocicRay Graham could be the Big East's best player if healthy.2. Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers. Greene goes into the season as the preseason favorite to win Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight season, after sharing honors with Derek Wolfe in 2011. Though he broke his ankle in the bowl game, he will be ready for fall camp. Side note: Isn't it a neat that he and Graham are brothers?
3. Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt. Donald emerged last season, finishing second in the league with 11 sacks. He has shifted inside to tackle this year, but he is the most productive and experienced player returning to the Pitt defensive line and should continue his upward trajectory.
4. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville. Bridgewater had a sensational freshman season, winning league Newcomer of the Year honors. Hopes are high for him to build off his impressive campaign in his second year as a starter. Louisville will do more to take advantage of his athleticism, with plans to install some hurry up offense.
5. Logan Ryan, CB, Rutgers. Ryan led the league with 16 passes defended -- 13 breakups and three interceptions last season. Defensive back is one of the strongest positions across the league, and Ryan leads the way as the Big East's best cornerback.
6. Hakeem Smith, S, Louisville. Smith has gotten better in each of his seasons with the Cardinals, so this season should feature more of the same. In 2011, he had 84 tackles, tied for second in the league, with nine pass breakups. He also tied for second in the league with three forced fumbles and made the Big East first team.
7. Ryne Giddins, DE, USF. Giddins emerged in the second half of last season (yes, I know many of you still remember him for his personal foul against West Virginia), and is in line to have a breakout year for the Bulls, who should have one of the stronger defensive lines in the Big East.
8. B.J. Daniels, QB, USF. Daniels should be the best quarterback in the Big East, considering he is going into his fourth year as a starter. Is this the year he finally lives up to expectations and delivers a long-awaited -- and first -- league title?
9. Walter Stewart, DE, Cincinnati. Coach Butch Jones says he has not been around a player as focused as Stewart in a long time. That is saying something, considering the defensive stars the Bearcats had last season. Stewart is poised to give Cincinnati a huge presence at rush end.
10. Lyle McCombs, RB, UConn. McCombs ran for more than 1,000 yards as a freshman last season and returns for 2011 with much more confidence -- and the Huskies hope a better offensive line. He goes into the season as the unquestioned featured back.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- There are plenty of items on the agenda for the Big East spring meetings, which begin Monday and run through Wednesday. Here is a brief primer on what the league's administrators, coaches and interim commissioner Joe Bailey will have on the table.
1. Conference stability. Though a league official told Joe Schad that Boise State has reaffirmed its commitment to the conference, you can bet that is going to be among the topics discussed. The Big East needs Boise State to join in a pretty bad way, and the Broncos must find a home for its non-football sports now that the WAC appears to be on the brink of collapse. Boise State is the big-ticket school the Big East needs moving forward. But beyond Boise State and the non-AQ schools joining, the Big East needs to know that all its member schools are committed so it can move forward in a meaningful way. That goes for teams like Louisville, UConn and Rutgers to name three. All of the new members -- Boise State, San Diego State, SMU, Houston, UCF, Temple, Memphis and Navy will be represented at the meetings. Syracuse and Pitt will not be there.
2. Commissioner search. The Big East has to find a new leader for the conference and fast, what with BCS negotiations set to continue in June and TV negotiations set to begin in September. What will the consensus be among those in attendance about the type of person they want in charge? How will Bailey assist in getting the Big East the best leader it can find among a rapidly changing landscape?
3. TV contract. The Big East has to get an excellent TV deal when it begins negotiations in September. First and foremost, it needs to be in the same ballpark as the deal that it turned down last year; and it is going to have to be in the same ballpark as the ACC to really be able to move forward. How will the Big East negotiate, which TV partners are interested, and will this finally lend stability to the league?
4. BCS, playoff. It appears to be a certainty that a four-team playoff will be coming to college football for the 2014 season. Which format does the Big East approve? More importantly than that, how does the Big East keep its seat as one of the top-six conferences in terms of BCS revenue distribution? The league is in danger of falling out of that grouping. That leads to the next topic.
5. Bowl tie-ins. The recent news that the Big 12-SEC champions would play in a bowl game is not good for a league like the Big East. Colleague Mark Schlabach writes: "And what about the depleted Big East? It's pretty clear the Big East is no longer sitting at the same table with the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, after it lost Pittsburgh, Syracuse, TCU and West Virginia to other leagues. Now the Big East might not even be sitting in the same room as the other BCS conferences." The possibility of a Big East-ACC matchup might be on the table, but Schlabach writes, "That matchup has really worked out well for the Orange Bowl. Maybe they'll increase the stakes by giving the winner an at-large invitation to the NCAA men's basketball tournament."
6. Divisional alignment. Lost among all the hot topics is divisional alignment once the Big East expands beyond eight teams for 2013. All reports point to Temple joining the West with Boise State and San Diego State, along with Houston and SMU. The other team moving out West has not been completely determined. Once Navy joins for 2015, then there will probably be more shifting. Of course, the Big East may look totally different in 2015 so ...
1. Conference stability. Though a league official told Joe Schad that Boise State has reaffirmed its commitment to the conference, you can bet that is going to be among the topics discussed. The Big East needs Boise State to join in a pretty bad way, and the Broncos must find a home for its non-football sports now that the WAC appears to be on the brink of collapse. Boise State is the big-ticket school the Big East needs moving forward. But beyond Boise State and the non-AQ schools joining, the Big East needs to know that all its member schools are committed so it can move forward in a meaningful way. That goes for teams like Louisville, UConn and Rutgers to name three. All of the new members -- Boise State, San Diego State, SMU, Houston, UCF, Temple, Memphis and Navy will be represented at the meetings. Syracuse and Pitt will not be there.
2. Commissioner search. The Big East has to find a new leader for the conference and fast, what with BCS negotiations set to continue in June and TV negotiations set to begin in September. What will the consensus be among those in attendance about the type of person they want in charge? How will Bailey assist in getting the Big East the best leader it can find among a rapidly changing landscape?
3. TV contract. The Big East has to get an excellent TV deal when it begins negotiations in September. First and foremost, it needs to be in the same ballpark as the deal that it turned down last year; and it is going to have to be in the same ballpark as the ACC to really be able to move forward. How will the Big East negotiate, which TV partners are interested, and will this finally lend stability to the league?
4. BCS, playoff. It appears to be a certainty that a four-team playoff will be coming to college football for the 2014 season. Which format does the Big East approve? More importantly than that, how does the Big East keep its seat as one of the top-six conferences in terms of BCS revenue distribution? The league is in danger of falling out of that grouping. That leads to the next topic.
5. Bowl tie-ins. The recent news that the Big 12-SEC champions would play in a bowl game is not good for a league like the Big East. Colleague Mark Schlabach writes: "And what about the depleted Big East? It's pretty clear the Big East is no longer sitting at the same table with the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC, after it lost Pittsburgh, Syracuse, TCU and West Virginia to other leagues. Now the Big East might not even be sitting in the same room as the other BCS conferences." The possibility of a Big East-ACC matchup might be on the table, but Schlabach writes, "That matchup has really worked out well for the Orange Bowl. Maybe they'll increase the stakes by giving the winner an at-large invitation to the NCAA men's basketball tournament."
6. Divisional alignment. Lost among all the hot topics is divisional alignment once the Big East expands beyond eight teams for 2013. All reports point to Temple joining the West with Boise State and San Diego State, along with Houston and SMU. The other team moving out West has not been completely determined. Once Navy joins for 2015, then there will probably be more shifting. Of course, the Big East may look totally different in 2015 so ...
Time to close out the week with a final installment of the Big East mailblog. It was a busy week at the ACC meetings. There will be plenty more next week with the Big East meetings in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Stay tuned for updates, and a few more notes from Pitt and Syracuse.
Now who has some questions?
Paul in New Jersey writes: AA, If there is no agreement with any of the new BCS proposals, is it possible the conference commissioners would just throw up their arms and continue to operate the BCS under the current rules in 2014?
Andrea Adelson: Anything is possible, Paul, especially when each conference has its own agenda. Just look at this comment from ACC commissioner John Swofford from our media availability Wednesday: "The more this gets focused, the more difficult it will become in terms of getting us all to agree on something. I don’t think we’ll end up back with where we are right now, but it’s possible. We’ll have to see how that plays out."
Paul in the Adirondacks writes: SU fan here who's still bitter about the move to the ACC. Is it wrong of me to feel some joy that FSU might bolt the ACC for another conference? That way they get a taste of their own medicine? Also at this point why don't the Big East and ACC be proactive and join the conferences together to form a beast in all sports?
Adelson: I feel your pain, but you have to come to terms with the fact that Syracuse will indeed become a member of the ACC. Therefore, you should feel no joy that Florida State might bolt for another conference. Florida State is one of the few high-profile football teams the ACC has. If the Seminoles go, then you are looking at potentially another addition from the Big East. If you just want another version of the Big East, then you can jump for joy. But if you want a strong football conference, then you should worry. As for the super conglomerate ACC/Big East, a 27-team conference is really not a conference. C-USA and the Mountain West just tried to create an association, but it appears that might not work out. The ACC has its own interests, so I'm not sure how it would benefit with a joint Big East venture.
Petey D. in Ansonia, Conn., writes: What's the deal with UConn having a plethora of quarterbacks with the offer to the prep school kid
from Plano (Richard Lagow)? Not saying that he even signs with UConn, but, when do they take what they have and develop a couple quarterbacks instead of trying to use a stable of quarterbacks, because we all know if you have more than one starting QB you have no starting QB. And is the front-runner Chandler Whitmer?
Adelson: I don't have any issue with UConn offering a quarterback. Most teams carry somewhere in the neighborhood of four scholarship quarterbacks at one time. That is one position where depth is really important, particularly if the players you sign don't pan out, which has been the case recently for the Huskies. As for the front-runner, my guess is it's Whitmer after his spring-game performance, but coach Paul Pasqualoni has not said anything official.
Frank in Sarasota, Fla., writes: There is no way USF has the support for an on-campus stadium. Ray Jay is a better place than USF will ever be able to build and the student athletic fees are already fairly high. Let us figure out if we will be in Conference USA by 2015. I know I will be at the games no matter what, but how many fans will come out to see the Bulls play Rice, Tulane or another third-tier football school without any regional draw?
Adelson: As opposed to SMU, Houston, San Diego State and Boise State? Or heck, even Rutgers and UConn? As I mentioned in the post, I think it is good that USF is thinking big. But the only way the Bulls should ever do it is if they have the financial backing and are certain they will be able to get a better deal than they have at Raymond James Stadium. The old saying "If you build it, they will come" does not ring true for on-campus stadiums everywhere.
John in Louisville, Ky., writes: AA, hope you are having fun at the ACC meetings, and taking notes on how they are worse than the BE. I have a bowl question. With so many schools located in the north, and quite a few domes in those areas, why don't we have bowls there? Example in Indianapolis, shouldn't be that hard to find a weekend the Colts have an away game and have a B1G vs. BE (or ACC, or B12). Fans would love it and show up in larger numbers than having to travel to the south every year.
Adelson: I will be comparing meetings between the two, that is for sure. As for your questions, cities must want to host bowl games. Indianapolis might be interested in hosting a national championship game. But a second-tier bowl game? Maybe not. There also is an extensive application process even to be approved to host a bowl game. Detroit does host the Little Caesars Bowl, which pits the Big Ten against the MAC. But I'm not sure what other cities would want to start up their own games.
Jonathan in Storrs, Conn., writes: Concerning that USA Today study of the percent of subsidies each school receives from student fees, the 23.8 percent that UConn receives go to the Student Recreation Services as UConn puts that under the athletic department. So the fees technically go the athletic department, but are funneled to the student recreation services for the rec center and intramurals.
Adelson: Thanks for the clarification, Jonathan. Excellent information.
Now who has some questions?
Paul in New Jersey writes: AA, If there is no agreement with any of the new BCS proposals, is it possible the conference commissioners would just throw up their arms and continue to operate the BCS under the current rules in 2014?
Andrea Adelson: Anything is possible, Paul, especially when each conference has its own agenda. Just look at this comment from ACC commissioner John Swofford from our media availability Wednesday: "The more this gets focused, the more difficult it will become in terms of getting us all to agree on something. I don’t think we’ll end up back with where we are right now, but it’s possible. We’ll have to see how that plays out."
Paul in the Adirondacks writes: SU fan here who's still bitter about the move to the ACC. Is it wrong of me to feel some joy that FSU might bolt the ACC for another conference? That way they get a taste of their own medicine? Also at this point why don't the Big East and ACC be proactive and join the conferences together to form a beast in all sports?
Adelson: I feel your pain, but you have to come to terms with the fact that Syracuse will indeed become a member of the ACC. Therefore, you should feel no joy that Florida State might bolt for another conference. Florida State is one of the few high-profile football teams the ACC has. If the Seminoles go, then you are looking at potentially another addition from the Big East. If you just want another version of the Big East, then you can jump for joy. But if you want a strong football conference, then you should worry. As for the super conglomerate ACC/Big East, a 27-team conference is really not a conference. C-USA and the Mountain West just tried to create an association, but it appears that might not work out. The ACC has its own interests, so I'm not sure how it would benefit with a joint Big East venture.
Petey D. in Ansonia, Conn., writes: What's the deal with UConn having a plethora of quarterbacks with the offer to the prep school kid
from Plano (Richard Lagow)? Not saying that he even signs with UConn, but, when do they take what they have and develop a couple quarterbacks instead of trying to use a stable of quarterbacks, because we all know if you have more than one starting QB you have no starting QB. And is the front-runner Chandler Whitmer?
Adelson: I don't have any issue with UConn offering a quarterback. Most teams carry somewhere in the neighborhood of four scholarship quarterbacks at one time. That is one position where depth is really important, particularly if the players you sign don't pan out, which has been the case recently for the Huskies. As for the front-runner, my guess is it's Whitmer after his spring-game performance, but coach Paul Pasqualoni has not said anything official.
Frank in Sarasota, Fla., writes: There is no way USF has the support for an on-campus stadium. Ray Jay is a better place than USF will ever be able to build and the student athletic fees are already fairly high. Let us figure out if we will be in Conference USA by 2015. I know I will be at the games no matter what, but how many fans will come out to see the Bulls play Rice, Tulane or another third-tier football school without any regional draw?
Adelson: As opposed to SMU, Houston, San Diego State and Boise State? Or heck, even Rutgers and UConn? As I mentioned in the post, I think it is good that USF is thinking big. But the only way the Bulls should ever do it is if they have the financial backing and are certain they will be able to get a better deal than they have at Raymond James Stadium. The old saying "If you build it, they will come" does not ring true for on-campus stadiums everywhere.
John in Louisville, Ky., writes: AA, hope you are having fun at the ACC meetings, and taking notes on how they are worse than the BE. I have a bowl question. With so many schools located in the north, and quite a few domes in those areas, why don't we have bowls there? Example in Indianapolis, shouldn't be that hard to find a weekend the Colts have an away game and have a B1G vs. BE (or ACC, or B12). Fans would love it and show up in larger numbers than having to travel to the south every year.
Adelson: I will be comparing meetings between the two, that is for sure. As for your questions, cities must want to host bowl games. Indianapolis might be interested in hosting a national championship game. But a second-tier bowl game? Maybe not. There also is an extensive application process even to be approved to host a bowl game. Detroit does host the Little Caesars Bowl, which pits the Big Ten against the MAC. But I'm not sure what other cities would want to start up their own games.
Jonathan in Storrs, Conn., writes: Concerning that USA Today study of the percent of subsidies each school receives from student fees, the 23.8 percent that UConn receives go to the Student Recreation Services as UConn puts that under the athletic department. So the fees technically go the athletic department, but are funneled to the student recreation services for the rec center and intramurals.
Adelson: Thanks for the clarification, Jonathan. Excellent information.
Time for my long-awaited post-spring power rankings. I made only a few changes from the pre-spring rankings. Here goes ...
1. Louisville: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looked better than ever this spring, giving me renewed confidence the Cardinals are going to be the preseason favorite in the league. The secondary should be exceptionally strong, and the offensive line should be better. Questions remain at running back and with depth in the front seven. But of all the teams in the league, I think the Cardinals have the most stability headed into the season. Plus, it hugely helps to have Charlie Strong entering Year 3.
2. USF: Big jump for the Bulls. I know I said I refused to buy into USF until the Bulls actually do something. But what they have returning is hard to ignore. Generally speaking, teams with 18 returning starters -- many of them seniors -- do really well. So do teams with veteran starting quarterbacks. While USF still has some major question marks on paper -- can B.J. Daniels develop, what happens at running back, where is the depth at linebacker -- the Bulls look like they have a shot.
3. Rutgers: At one time, I had Rutgers as my preseason favorite. But I am a little nervous about the situation at quarterback. I thought there would be a resolution this spring, but neither Chas Dodd nor Gary Nova did much to impress. Mohamed Sanu is gone, there are more shifts on the offensive line, and the running game has to prove something. I think the defense will be the best in the Big East. The offense is scaring me right now, which is why I moved the Scarlet Knights down.
4. Cincinnati: The Bearcats do return talent, and players who saw some significant action last season. But they also lose 21 seniors, including Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead and Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year Derek Wolfe. I don't have any doubts that the Bearcats will have a good season. I just don't know if they will win another championship.
5. Pitt: If there is any team with "ifs" all over the roster, it is the Panthers. They have a new head coach. They are returning Tino Sunseri at quarterback. Nobody knows how Ray Graham is going to do after major knee surgery. The offensive line has to be better. There is not much depth on the defensive line. If all of these come together, the Panthers could be really good. If they don't, they could be really bad.
6. UConn: The Huskies will be good on defense. But what about quarterback? I feel like a broken record saying the same thing over again. Quarterback uncertainty always makes me hesitant to rank a team in the top half of the league. I was hesitant last year, and I am hesitant again this year.
7. Syracuse: I have said this before, but it bears repeating: I think Syracuse is the hardest team to gauge in the Big East. The Orange have to be more consistent on offense. They have to find a running game to help ease some of the burden off quarterback Ryan Nassib. Does Ashton Broyld give them enough to get them more explosive plays? The defense still has depth concerns in the front seven.
8. Temple: I worry about how the Owls will make the transition to the Big East in Year 1. I think Temple has a good team, but the Owls also lost a lot of their best players and have depth concerns on the offensive and defensive lines. That is enough to worry any coach in Year 1 in a major conference.
1. Louisville: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looked better than ever this spring, giving me renewed confidence the Cardinals are going to be the preseason favorite in the league. The secondary should be exceptionally strong, and the offensive line should be better. Questions remain at running back and with depth in the front seven. But of all the teams in the league, I think the Cardinals have the most stability headed into the season. Plus, it hugely helps to have Charlie Strong entering Year 3.
2. USF: Big jump for the Bulls. I know I said I refused to buy into USF until the Bulls actually do something. But what they have returning is hard to ignore. Generally speaking, teams with 18 returning starters -- many of them seniors -- do really well. So do teams with veteran starting quarterbacks. While USF still has some major question marks on paper -- can B.J. Daniels develop, what happens at running back, where is the depth at linebacker -- the Bulls look like they have a shot.
3. Rutgers: At one time, I had Rutgers as my preseason favorite. But I am a little nervous about the situation at quarterback. I thought there would be a resolution this spring, but neither Chas Dodd nor Gary Nova did much to impress. Mohamed Sanu is gone, there are more shifts on the offensive line, and the running game has to prove something. I think the defense will be the best in the Big East. The offense is scaring me right now, which is why I moved the Scarlet Knights down.
4. Cincinnati: The Bearcats do return talent, and players who saw some significant action last season. But they also lose 21 seniors, including Big East Offensive Player of the Year Isaiah Pead and Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year Derek Wolfe. I don't have any doubts that the Bearcats will have a good season. I just don't know if they will win another championship.
5. Pitt: If there is any team with "ifs" all over the roster, it is the Panthers. They have a new head coach. They are returning Tino Sunseri at quarterback. Nobody knows how Ray Graham is going to do after major knee surgery. The offensive line has to be better. There is not much depth on the defensive line. If all of these come together, the Panthers could be really good. If they don't, they could be really bad.
6. UConn: The Huskies will be good on defense. But what about quarterback? I feel like a broken record saying the same thing over again. Quarterback uncertainty always makes me hesitant to rank a team in the top half of the league. I was hesitant last year, and I am hesitant again this year.
7. Syracuse: I have said this before, but it bears repeating: I think Syracuse is the hardest team to gauge in the Big East. The Orange have to be more consistent on offense. They have to find a running game to help ease some of the burden off quarterback Ryan Nassib. Does Ashton Broyld give them enough to get them more explosive plays? The defense still has depth concerns in the front seven.
8. Temple: I worry about how the Owls will make the transition to the Big East in Year 1. I think Temple has a good team, but the Owls also lost a lot of their best players and have depth concerns on the offensive and defensive lines. That is enough to worry any coach in Year 1 in a major conference.
Let's put one final bow on the spring with a look at five top breakout players.
JaQuez Jenkins, safety, USF. With starting strong safety Jon Lejiste out for the spring because of injury, Jenkins made his presence immediately felt in the defensive backfield and had one of the best springs of anybody on the Bulls roster. Jenkins was everywhere, making big plays and hard hits. His emergence gives USF a nice problem to have once Lejiste returns in the fall.
Scott Radcliff, receiver, Louisville. The most talked-about receiver after the Cardinals' spring game the former walk-on, who played with the first team and led all receivers with nine catches for 119 yards. He is listed ahead of Eli Rogers at the H-receiver spot on the post-spring depth chart.
Walter Stewart, defensive end, Cincinnati. Yes, Stewart is a returning starter. But he has never had a spring like the one he just completed, in which he was able to maintain what he started as his position. Stewart had been switched to several positions earlier in his career, but now he has a home at end and is ready to be a force this season.
Ray Vinopal, safety, Pitt. Safety could actually turn out to be a position of strength across the Big East with some of the talent that has emerged this spring. Vinopal sat out a year after transferring in from Michigan, and despite the coaching change, had an outstanding spring. He made big plays, forced turnovers and now makes safety a bright spot for the Panthers with Jarred Holley, Andrew Taglianetti and Jason Hendricks all returning.
Ryan Wirth, defensive tackle, UConn. The Huskies lost an NFL player in Kendall Reyes, along with their other starting tackle, so this is a huge question going into the season. But Wirth showed he can make an impact inside, especially after his spring performance, with 4.5 sacks and a safety.
JaQuez Jenkins, safety, USF. With starting strong safety Jon Lejiste out for the spring because of injury, Jenkins made his presence immediately felt in the defensive backfield and had one of the best springs of anybody on the Bulls roster. Jenkins was everywhere, making big plays and hard hits. His emergence gives USF a nice problem to have once Lejiste returns in the fall.
Scott Radcliff, receiver, Louisville. The most talked-about receiver after the Cardinals' spring game the former walk-on, who played with the first team and led all receivers with nine catches for 119 yards. He is listed ahead of Eli Rogers at the H-receiver spot on the post-spring depth chart.
Walter Stewart, defensive end, Cincinnati. Yes, Stewart is a returning starter. But he has never had a spring like the one he just completed, in which he was able to maintain what he started as his position. Stewart had been switched to several positions earlier in his career, but now he has a home at end and is ready to be a force this season.
Ray Vinopal, safety, Pitt. Safety could actually turn out to be a position of strength across the Big East with some of the talent that has emerged this spring. Vinopal sat out a year after transferring in from Michigan, and despite the coaching change, had an outstanding spring. He made big plays, forced turnovers and now makes safety a bright spot for the Panthers with Jarred Holley, Andrew Taglianetti and Jason Hendricks all returning.
Ryan Wirth, defensive tackle, UConn. The Huskies lost an NFL player in Kendall Reyes, along with their other starting tackle, so this is a huge question going into the season. But Wirth showed he can make an impact inside, especially after his spring performance, with 4.5 sacks and a safety.
Welcome to your mid-week Big East mailblog. Let's get to some questions.
Andrew in New York writes: Hi Andrea, Regarding the move by Gov. Dan Malloy - his peace plea to BC may also be due to UConn's interest in joining the Hockey East (as the 12th member after they recently added Notre Dame), with an invite possibly coming in June. Naturally, another block by BC would be a giant blow to the schools repairing relations and would also further prevent UConn from any ties with ND, who could be looking for a home in the ACC (with rivals Cuse, BC and Miami and where they would likely have the best shot at going 12-0 in football) if the BE collapses. I don't think the timing on this statement has much to do with the FSU rumors.
Adelson: Thanks, Andrew. I believe that point was made in the article I linked to, and I think that definitely has something to do with his comments. But I also found the timing interesting from a football perspective -- especially since UConn has been on record with its interest in the ACC and some of the speculation surrounding FSU. Whether it was intentional or not, I don't think it hurts to ease any tensions with the BC for Hockey East or the ACC.
Mike Canger in Clifton, N.J., writes: Please, speak up for the Big East. Or say nothing. There are great arguments to be made to support the relevance of the Big East. We just need a strong spokesperson to make them. I pray that you will stand up and make the case for the Big East. Lord knows, no one else is doing it. Millions of Big East fans are looking for a spokesperson. Please, be the one. We need you to be a courageous spokesperson for us. Be not afraid. Please, stir the pot and DO IT!
Adelson: Mike, I guess you missed my Friday post in which I made incredibly stellar arguments for the Big East. But just remember the Big East does not pay my bills so I don't think I'm the best spokesperson.
Atticus Wegman of Tustin, Calif., writes: You said this: "It should be an absolute outrage that the Big East is teetering on the brink of being left out of the big BCS money." I'm sorry, but I can't agree with you here. In fact, I'm at a loss for words as to how anyone could make this argument. The Big East is nothing like it used to be. THINK! They lost two of their most longstanding members and brought in a mix teams that have failed to perform even in smaller conferences i.e. UCF (one good year), SDSU, SMU. Boise and Houston are good additions but are nothing like Syracuse and Pitt when it comes to national television watchers and prestige. Mark my words, the Big East will fall. No matter how you laud their efforts and seem to be an ardent believer that they will triumph, they will not.
Adelson: That line was in reference to the Big East compared to the ACC. My point is this one -- why is nobody complaining about the ACC being lumped into the grouping with the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 for BCS revenue while the Big East is being left out? The ACC has done little to nothing in BCS games to merit such consideration. If I was working in the Big East offices, I would be banging fists to get that message out.
John writes: Hello Andrea, I watched your Big East out of conference games preview and was surprised you did not mention Virginia Tech versus Pittsburgh. That should be a good one, too! And of course, to a much lesser extent, The Edsall Bowl -- UCONN at Maryland. I enjoy your blog as it is a good college football fix that helps football fans get through the summer months!
Greg in Charlotte writes: Andrea, How do you leave the Cincinnati-VT game out of your big nonconference highlights? Also, the pundits have been 0-for in predicting the Bearcats will be middle of the pack, only to see them win the league three of those four years. We will see if fewer returning starters with a solid coach can beat the new coach with supposed better returning talent (Rutgers). They have done nothing in five years to deserve league champion predictions.
Adelson: John and Greg, I think those two Virginia Tech games are going to be good. But I could only pick three for that quick video, so I went with the two nonconference games that are going to feature the most high-profile opponents (Syracuse-USC, Rutgers-Arkansas), plus the league game that I think will have a huge impact on the conference champion. You are right, Greg, none of the experts have accurately predicted Cincinnati's finish. But isn't that what makes the Big East so fun -- the sheer unpredictability that makes people like me look silly?
Brian in Cincinnati writes: Andrea, I am so confused with all the current AQ, realignment, and playoff talk. Is it everyone that loses the AQ status? Do you think that when they say AQ is now gone that it is just a way of saying, "Hey there is no official AQ but we all know who is gonna be getting the bowl games and berths." What is your view on the stability of the conference? Are certain schools just hovering over the phone waiting for that magic call from another conference? Thanks!
Adelson: Do not fear, Brian, I am here to clarify for you. Automatic qualifying status is going away for the next BCS cycle, beginning with the 2014 season. That means the Big East retains its BCS spot for 2012 and 2013 along with the other five AQ conferences. None of the details have been worked out on what all this means for the bowls, BCS games and tie-ins. Still plenty of discussion left on the table. As for the stability of the conference, I think we will know more once this TV deal is hammered out. Are there schools hovering over the phone? Probably not hovering. But I am sure they would pick up if the phone rang and it was another conference that could offer more TV money and more stability.
Andrew in New York writes: Hi Andrea, Regarding the move by Gov. Dan Malloy - his peace plea to BC may also be due to UConn's interest in joining the Hockey East (as the 12th member after they recently added Notre Dame), with an invite possibly coming in June. Naturally, another block by BC would be a giant blow to the schools repairing relations and would also further prevent UConn from any ties with ND, who could be looking for a home in the ACC (with rivals Cuse, BC and Miami and where they would likely have the best shot at going 12-0 in football) if the BE collapses. I don't think the timing on this statement has much to do with the FSU rumors.
Adelson: Thanks, Andrew. I believe that point was made in the article I linked to, and I think that definitely has something to do with his comments. But I also found the timing interesting from a football perspective -- especially since UConn has been on record with its interest in the ACC and some of the speculation surrounding FSU. Whether it was intentional or not, I don't think it hurts to ease any tensions with the BC for Hockey East or the ACC.
Mike Canger in Clifton, N.J., writes: Please, speak up for the Big East. Or say nothing. There are great arguments to be made to support the relevance of the Big East. We just need a strong spokesperson to make them. I pray that you will stand up and make the case for the Big East. Lord knows, no one else is doing it. Millions of Big East fans are looking for a spokesperson. Please, be the one. We need you to be a courageous spokesperson for us. Be not afraid. Please, stir the pot and DO IT!
Adelson: Mike, I guess you missed my Friday post in which I made incredibly stellar arguments for the Big East. But just remember the Big East does not pay my bills so I don't think I'm the best spokesperson.
Atticus Wegman of Tustin, Calif., writes: You said this: "It should be an absolute outrage that the Big East is teetering on the brink of being left out of the big BCS money." I'm sorry, but I can't agree with you here. In fact, I'm at a loss for words as to how anyone could make this argument. The Big East is nothing like it used to be. THINK! They lost two of their most longstanding members and brought in a mix teams that have failed to perform even in smaller conferences i.e. UCF (one good year), SDSU, SMU. Boise and Houston are good additions but are nothing like Syracuse and Pitt when it comes to national television watchers and prestige. Mark my words, the Big East will fall. No matter how you laud their efforts and seem to be an ardent believer that they will triumph, they will not.
Adelson: That line was in reference to the Big East compared to the ACC. My point is this one -- why is nobody complaining about the ACC being lumped into the grouping with the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and Pac-12 for BCS revenue while the Big East is being left out? The ACC has done little to nothing in BCS games to merit such consideration. If I was working in the Big East offices, I would be banging fists to get that message out.
John writes: Hello Andrea, I watched your Big East out of conference games preview and was surprised you did not mention Virginia Tech versus Pittsburgh. That should be a good one, too! And of course, to a much lesser extent, The Edsall Bowl -- UCONN at Maryland. I enjoy your blog as it is a good college football fix that helps football fans get through the summer months!
Greg in Charlotte writes: Andrea, How do you leave the Cincinnati-VT game out of your big nonconference highlights? Also, the pundits have been 0-for in predicting the Bearcats will be middle of the pack, only to see them win the league three of those four years. We will see if fewer returning starters with a solid coach can beat the new coach with supposed better returning talent (Rutgers). They have done nothing in five years to deserve league champion predictions.
Adelson: John and Greg, I think those two Virginia Tech games are going to be good. But I could only pick three for that quick video, so I went with the two nonconference games that are going to feature the most high-profile opponents (Syracuse-USC, Rutgers-Arkansas), plus the league game that I think will have a huge impact on the conference champion. You are right, Greg, none of the experts have accurately predicted Cincinnati's finish. But isn't that what makes the Big East so fun -- the sheer unpredictability that makes people like me look silly?
Brian in Cincinnati writes: Andrea, I am so confused with all the current AQ, realignment, and playoff talk. Is it everyone that loses the AQ status? Do you think that when they say AQ is now gone that it is just a way of saying, "Hey there is no official AQ but we all know who is gonna be getting the bowl games and berths." What is your view on the stability of the conference? Are certain schools just hovering over the phone waiting for that magic call from another conference? Thanks!
Adelson: Do not fear, Brian, I am here to clarify for you. Automatic qualifying status is going away for the next BCS cycle, beginning with the 2014 season. That means the Big East retains its BCS spot for 2012 and 2013 along with the other five AQ conferences. None of the details have been worked out on what all this means for the bowls, BCS games and tie-ins. Still plenty of discussion left on the table. As for the stability of the conference, I think we will know more once this TV deal is hammered out. Are there schools hovering over the phone? Probably not hovering. But I am sure they would pick up if the phone rang and it was another conference that could offer more TV money and more stability.
So I don't think Pitt fans are too happy about the Sunseri news. Understatement?
- Cincinnati linebacker JK Schaffer was tabbed Mr. Bearcat, the first student-athlete in the last 20 years to win the award.
- UConn is the first to offer prep quarterback Richard Lagow of Plano, Texas.
- A look at Kentucky vs. Louisville financially.
- Here is a Pitt preview.
- Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti is flattered, but he isn't thinking about becoming the next Big East commissioner.
- Skip Holtz talks USF football.
- Syracuse received its first commitment for the class of 2013 -- Tyler Provo, brother of Nick Provo.
- The Big West may take in Boise State's other sports.
- UCF is looking ahead to its Big East future.
USA Today has come out with its thorough annual study into expenses and revenues at every single Division I public school, and the results are not all that surprising.
Only 22 schools among all Division I public schools operate in the black, generating enough revenue to cover all athletics expenses. UConn and Louisville are the only two Big East schools that fit that category among the six public league schools that provided information to the news organization.
According to USA Today, revenue generated across all schools increased by $190 million. But spending across 227 public schools in Division I rose by $267 million from a year ago. Subsidies across all schools also have grown. Rutgers receives the greatest help among the Big East schools when it comes to subsidies, at 47.3 percent of its revenue. West Virginia was the only Big East school getting less than 10 percent of its revenues from subsidies.
Check out the interactive database to see where your school stands. Syracuse (private) and Pitt (state exemption) are not included.
Only 22 schools among all Division I public schools operate in the black, generating enough revenue to cover all athletics expenses. UConn and Louisville are the only two Big East schools that fit that category among the six public league schools that provided information to the news organization.
According to USA Today, revenue generated across all schools increased by $190 million. But spending across 227 public schools in Division I rose by $267 million from a year ago. Subsidies across all schools also have grown. Rutgers receives the greatest help among the Big East schools when it comes to subsidies, at 47.3 percent of its revenue. West Virginia was the only Big East school getting less than 10 percent of its revenues from subsidies.
Check out the interactive database to see where your school stands. Syracuse (private) and Pitt (state exemption) are not included.
Serving up your links. ...
- Cincinnati was the only Big East team to finish in the top 25 in the ESPN "College GameDay" contest.
- Former UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway will take over at Hofstra.
- Without Howard Schnellenberger, the College Football Hall of Fame class lacks fire. Video: former Louisville defensive end Greg Scruggs doesn't like the term "turf toe."
- Pitt's lawsuit against the Big East will most likely benefit the Panthers. Penn State coach Bill O'Brien has talked at length about resuming an annual game with Pitt. But there is one small problem.
- You'll be hearing more about Rutgers' inside look at spring practice, airing Saturday.
- Lee Roy Selmon's legacy will live forever at USF.
- Syracuse the No. 92 team in the nation? Four incoming Syracuse freshman will play in the New York State High School Football Classic.
- Is Temple in store for a letdown in the Big East?
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
