Time for your mid-week mailblog.
Charles Shacklette in Louisville writes: Hi, Andrea, Thought you might be interested to know how this got started. Several years ago, the University of Louisville purchased a billboard along I-64 about 1/2 way between Louisville & Lexington. Heading west towards Louisville, on top of a mountain and right in the middle of Big Blue territory is the sign that reads "Louisville is Miles Ahead. "The sign is still there. It's been "Game on" ever since.
Andrea Adelson: Thanks, Charles. I saw this billboard mentioned in a few posts. I am just happy to see the "game on" now extends to football.
Chris in New York writes: Andrea: How is Logan Ryan not on the breakout stars list? Is it because he's already considered a star? I watched him eight times last year in person and he is (by far) the best lockdown corner the Big East has to offer. And he's only a junior. Either he's already emerged in their eyes...or this is a glaring omission.
Adelson: I would say his performance last season means he already has emerged. By the end of the year, I thought he had emerged as the top cornerback in the league. So I consider last season to be his breakout year, and my guess is the Big East did, too.
MJ in Wilton, Conn., writes: First, I am not a youngster but a senior citizen who has followed Pitt since the 1950s. Your evaluation and ratings of Athletic facilities was incredibly bad unless you personally have visited each program in the Big East. Many people miss the closeness of Pitt Stadium to the campus but the new facilities are awesome both on the South Side at the UPMC Training Center and Heinz Field (not Steeler field), both of which are shared equally by Pitt and the Steelers. Take a tour, talk to Steve Pederson and see how Pitt has taken a serious step to being attractive to the ACC and other conferences. You overestimate other programs and I am very disappointed in your reporting as you have done a credible job on other subjects.
Adelson: Thanks for your note, MJ. I have heard from plenty of disappointed Pitt fans about these rankings. I have been to Pitt, both the facilities and football stadium. The facilities are great, there is no doubt about it. But I downgraded for proximity. In the games I saw at Heinz, there was really no college atmosphere at all. The stadium was half full. It didn't feel like Pitt was playing at home. I took that into account. The reality is I am just a blogger making subjective rankings based on my own experiences, with the input of former Big East blogger Brian Bennett. What should count are the recruits who fall in love with the facilities and end up going to Pitt.
Paul in New Jersey writes: Andrea, With the way the future and current football teams are recruiting and with power conferences and/or teams cyclical, the Big East could be on track as a power conference in five years or less. Your take?
Adelson: What is your definition of power conference? My definition is one that has a seat at the big boy table that includes the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and ACC. I don't think that is happening for the next iteration of the BCS cycle that includes a playoff.
Mike J. in Cincinnati writes: Hey Andrea, I always appreciate your perspective and it's hard to see any way that Munchie doesn't get the job, but I'd be interested to hear your analysis of Brendon Kay. Brian Kelly recruited him and really talked him up as being a prototypical quarterback. He's 6-foot-3 and athletic. I don't know if you know much about him, but I'm sure you've done your homework. I believe he hasn't played because he has been injured for four years, but has spent that time on the sideline and studying the playbooks of both Kelly and Jones. If he's healthy do you think he could steal the job and perhaps have a breakout senior year?
Adelson: Thanks, Mike. The last time I talked to Butch Jones, he assured me that he meant it when he said the quarterback competition between Kay and Munchie Legaux is open headed into fall practice. Jones was extremely pleased with the way Kay performed this spring. You are right, Kay has been hampered by a knee injury that he sustained as scout team quarterback in 2008. But he is healthy now and making a really strong push. Legaux knows it, too. As for what he brings to the field, Kay is more of a pocket passer, but Jones praised his athleticism and said the fifth-year senior is no slouch when it comes to running the football. He has mastered the offense while he's been on the sideline waiting his turn. I think all of us expect Legaux to be the starter, but I won't be surprised if Kay plays this year.
Charles Shacklette in Louisville writes: Hi, Andrea, Thought you might be interested to know how this got started. Several years ago, the University of Louisville purchased a billboard along I-64 about 1/2 way between Louisville & Lexington. Heading west towards Louisville, on top of a mountain and right in the middle of Big Blue territory is the sign that reads "Louisville is Miles Ahead. "The sign is still there. It's been "Game on" ever since.
Andrea Adelson: Thanks, Charles. I saw this billboard mentioned in a few posts. I am just happy to see the "game on" now extends to football.
Chris in New York writes: Andrea: How is Logan Ryan not on the breakout stars list? Is it because he's already considered a star? I watched him eight times last year in person and he is (by far) the best lockdown corner the Big East has to offer. And he's only a junior. Either he's already emerged in their eyes...or this is a glaring omission.
Adelson: I would say his performance last season means he already has emerged. By the end of the year, I thought he had emerged as the top cornerback in the league. So I consider last season to be his breakout year, and my guess is the Big East did, too.
MJ in Wilton, Conn., writes: First, I am not a youngster but a senior citizen who has followed Pitt since the 1950s. Your evaluation and ratings of Athletic facilities was incredibly bad unless you personally have visited each program in the Big East. Many people miss the closeness of Pitt Stadium to the campus but the new facilities are awesome both on the South Side at the UPMC Training Center and Heinz Field (not Steeler field), both of which are shared equally by Pitt and the Steelers. Take a tour, talk to Steve Pederson and see how Pitt has taken a serious step to being attractive to the ACC and other conferences. You overestimate other programs and I am very disappointed in your reporting as you have done a credible job on other subjects.
Adelson: Thanks for your note, MJ. I have heard from plenty of disappointed Pitt fans about these rankings. I have been to Pitt, both the facilities and football stadium. The facilities are great, there is no doubt about it. But I downgraded for proximity. In the games I saw at Heinz, there was really no college atmosphere at all. The stadium was half full. It didn't feel like Pitt was playing at home. I took that into account. The reality is I am just a blogger making subjective rankings based on my own experiences, with the input of former Big East blogger Brian Bennett. What should count are the recruits who fall in love with the facilities and end up going to Pitt.
Paul in New Jersey writes: Andrea, With the way the future and current football teams are recruiting and with power conferences and/or teams cyclical, the Big East could be on track as a power conference in five years or less. Your take?
Adelson: What is your definition of power conference? My definition is one that has a seat at the big boy table that includes the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and ACC. I don't think that is happening for the next iteration of the BCS cycle that includes a playoff.
Mike J. in Cincinnati writes: Hey Andrea, I always appreciate your perspective and it's hard to see any way that Munchie doesn't get the job, but I'd be interested to hear your analysis of Brendon Kay. Brian Kelly recruited him and really talked him up as being a prototypical quarterback. He's 6-foot-3 and athletic. I don't know if you know much about him, but I'm sure you've done your homework. I believe he hasn't played because he has been injured for four years, but has spent that time on the sideline and studying the playbooks of both Kelly and Jones. If he's healthy do you think he could steal the job and perhaps have a breakout senior year?
Adelson: Thanks, Mike. The last time I talked to Butch Jones, he assured me that he meant it when he said the quarterback competition between Kay and Munchie Legaux is open headed into fall practice. Jones was extremely pleased with the way Kay performed this spring. You are right, Kay has been hampered by a knee injury that he sustained as scout team quarterback in 2008. But he is healthy now and making a really strong push. Legaux knows it, too. As for what he brings to the field, Kay is more of a pocket passer, but Jones praised his athleticism and said the fifth-year senior is no slouch when it comes to running the football. He has mastered the offense while he's been on the sideline waiting his turn. I think all of us expect Legaux to be the starter, but I won't be surprised if Kay plays this year.
Andrea Adelson | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big East/Nation blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2010
- Wrote for The Orlando Sentinel
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.
Matt Fortuna
Fortuna joined ESPN.com in 2011 after working for MLB.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he covered college sports. He grew up in New York and is a Penn State graduate.
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