ESPN College Football

Before I head over to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium for tonight's Louisville-UConn game, it's time to answer some more reader mail. We'll start with replies to my question earlier this week about whether the Huskies will bring many fans on the road:

Frank from Middletown, Conn., writes: Hey Brian, I was just reading your mailbag and saw you were headed to the UConn vs Louisville game on Friday. While I have not missed a game this season, home and away, I will not be making it sadly. UConn fans travel pretty well. Not good enough just yet. I am headed down to UNC next week for that game and hopefully they will travel well. You get a lot of the families who go and the same die-hards. It is still a tough sell on the road. I think UConn has to establish themselves on the road and then more will start traveling. the bowls games are good but regular season is tough. I dont know but I am always up for a good road test. There is just something about stepping into an opponents venue, getting heckled like hell and then shutting them up. Its great! I almost enjoy going on the road more than being at the 'RENT. UVA, Rutgers, Boston College, Duke, Syracuse, it doesnt matter, its great! Keep up the great work! I love the blog! Frank

Bill from Atlanta writes: I'm a UCONN alum who is heading to the game on Friday. I suspect the number of UCONN fans will be less than 250. There is no organized event planned through the university. Should be a close game.

Brian Bennett: Thanks for the replies. I know Friday games aren't as easy to make as a real college football Saturday. My former colleague Eric Crawford has an interesting take today in which he says it's time to end Friday college football. Anyway, enjoy the game and the city, Bill, and good luck in Tar Heels country, Frank.

Bobby from West Warwick writes: Any news on the mystery injury out of UConn?

Brian Bennett: Not yet, but the Hartford Courant's Desmond Conner blogged today that it's definitely not Donald Brown. I'll see what news I can dig up when I get to the stadium in a couple of hours

 UPDATE: It's been reported that defensive tackle Alex Polito didn't make the trip because of an ankle injury. Kendall Reyes is expected to start in his place. Thanks to the readers who pointed this out.

Chris from Wallingford writes: Brian, as a UConn grad from the early 90's, I go back to the days when I could've walked over to the stadium on game day, flashed my ID, and walked in for free to the Huskies get drilled by the likes of Rhode Island. I want to believe this team has a chance at a league title. Last year's co-title was a joke. You don't celebrate anything when you lose by 43 to the co-champs. I see tomorrow's night game as a pivotal one. If they win, I'll take them seriously as a legit contender. If they lose a close one, I can live with it. But if they get beat badly, I'm looking at 7-5. Am I off base?

Brian Bennett: Well, I have a hard time seeing them getting blown out tonight. I believe it will be a close game. A 7-5 record would mean they finish only 3-5 the rest of the way, and with Syracuse and Rutgers on the schedule you're giving them only one more win somewhere. I think they'll compete well next week at North Carolina, but they do have challenges at South Florida and against Cincinnati and Pitt. Still, I think eight wins are easily reachable at a minimum.

Luke from Charles Town, W. Va writes: Hi Brian, I have lived in West Virginia my whole life and been a die hard Mountaineer fan; however, the way fans are acting after THREE games is ridiculous! Calling for Bill Stewart to be fired and threating Pat McAfee; get a life people! The coaching staff is still feeling out the players and what they can and cannot do. Please give them time West Virginia will get better and will challenge for the Big East title. Instead of whining fans need to realize that Pat White only has nine regular season games and one post season game left to play. He has brought pride and recognition to the state of West Virginia. These few morons are ruining what should be one giant going away party and huge thank you to this great athlete and wonderful young man. We will NEVER see another Pat White in Morgantown. Quit complaining and enjoy the Pat White show; because beliveve me you will be sorry when he is gone. Keep up the good work Brian, I really enjoy the blog! Let's Goooooooooo Mountaineers! Thank you, Luke

Brian Bennett: I agree with everything you said, Luke. The fans have a right to be displeased with the 1-2 start, for sure. But some of the other stuff is way over the line.

BJ from Englewood, Fla., writes: With regards to N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien's comments on USF's defense, and USF D coordinator Wally Burnham's response, do you see this as being un-called-for and clearly a sign of disrespect for the Bulls' defense or is this something taken out of context? It seems pretty blatant he shows no signs of respect, but being a Bulls fan, I may be biased. Having said that, I remember a DB for the Pittsburgh Steelers popping off at the mouth about beating a Patriots team last year, which of course they lost convincingly...I see this as a "be careful what you wish for" type of scenario, how about you? And have you and Heather had any ACC/Big East discussions...im waiting for round 2 of who is the worst BCS conference...

Brian Bennett: BJ is referring to the story earlier this week, when O'Brien scoffed at the notion that the Bulls had learned to stop the spread by referencing their blowout loss to Oregon in the Sun Bowl. Burnham fired back with a quip, saying he couldn't remember which bowl N.C. State went to. (The answer, of course, was none). Personally, I like these little pre-game tweaks because they make things more interesting and fun. But yeah, if I'm O'Brien, I'd have been a bit more careful about firing up a pretty darn good USF defense that thrives on emotion anyway. Maybe he was feeling chesty from that East Carolina win. And as for the worst conference discussion, I guess we'd have to include Ted Miller from the Pac-10 now too, right?

Bill from Connecticut writes: Are your chats always going to be Tuesday at 1 p.m. I have my Rotary club lunch then and always miss them! Go UConn- great game this week. The Cards want revenge.

Brian Bennett: Actually, we're moving the chat to 3 p.m. Tuesday starting next week, because I was having conflicts with teams' interview schedules. Hope you can stop by, Bill. I doubt this next guy will ...

Tony from Greenville, N.C. writes: Brian, how long have you been covering college football? 1 or 2 years? You're knowledge is weak at best. Some of the stuff you come up with. Example: The BE getting voted out of the BCS? Are you serious? Put a little more thought into what you type, please.

Brian Bennett: I started covering college football yesterday when I fell out of that truckbed full of turnips. That's an interesting criticism of my work, Tony, especially since I've never written that I think the Big East will get voted out of the BCS. In fact, I said just the opposite, that the BCS bid is safe for the foreseeable future. What I did write is that if the league's poor start continued all season and into the bowl games, there would be critics harping on its worthiness, especially in relation to the Mountain West Conference. Not too bold of a statement when you consider that's pretty much what's happened every year since 2005. And there's already a lot of grumbling about the Big East nationally. Put a little more comprehension into your reading, ple
ase.