I'm making my way to Chicago today and will be in South Bend on Saturday for UConn's trip to Notre Dame. In the meantime, let's knock out some more correspondence:
Ben from Louisville writes: Brian, please tell me that I will soon wake up from this three-year nightmare and Louisville will soon have a new football coach. Kragthorpe has been given three seasons and everyone can see that its just not a good fit. The Louisville football program has dwindled with him at the helm and with a stadium expansion on the horizon we need a fresh face to fill the stadium.
Brian Bennett: You know, last week I went to the West Virginia-Cincinnati game on Friday night, followed by a noon kickoff between Syracuse and Louisville. In a little more than a 12-hour span, I saw the alpha and omega of Big East football -- one fan base fully energized by an exciting team, and another slogging through a miserable season.
The Kragthorpe era is in its final stages. I don't think there's any question that he will be let go within the next two weeks. A change has to be made and will, especially with the expanded stadium opening next year (and what cruel irony it was seeing the shell of the new addition to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium hovering over a 70 percent full building last week). One word of caution to fans like Ben, however: I don't think the next coach is going to automatically make Louisville into a Big East contender. This program needs some rebuilding and a major upgrade in talent at several positions.
Brian from Washington, D.C., writes: Thanks for the blog. I am addicted. Anyway: Earlier in the week, you said that you weren't ready to put Rutgers in your Top 25 because of their résumé. This is staggering to me -- unlike many teams in the Top 25 that have lost games to chumps, Rutgers only losses includes two games to Top 10 opponents. And frankly, we all know that Rutgers would likely give both teams a run for their money right now. What gives? I understand that they don't have many marquee wins, but don't be ridiculous.
Brian Bennett: As I said in my chat this week, I think it's a weak argument to point toward who beat you. I want to know, who did you beat? So let's look at Rutgers' body of work. Wins over Texas Southern, Howard, Florida International, Army and Maryland are virtually worthless in determining their Top 25 value. So that leaves good wins over UConn and South Florida. That's just not enough, in my eyes, to merit a Top 25 ranking.
On the other hand, it's getting pretty difficult to find teams worthy of filling out the end of my Top 25 ballot every week. If Rutgers wins again this week and some others fall off, I will strongly consider the Scarlet Knights for my power rankings.
Clayton from Cincinnati: Do you have any idea on when Nippert Stadium is going to be expanded? You've been to the games, and I'm sure you noticed how cramped everyone is, especially the student section. It's even difficult to walk anywhere because the masses of people can't fit into the small pathway that is provided. A bathroom trip is a 15-minute journey. It's very frustrating having to deal with crowds of obnoxious drunk people who literally have panic attacks because you bump their beers. I've heard very little discussion about expansion this season, and it appears the university is more focused on an indoor practice facility. What's the deal?
Brian Bennett: That's the tradeoff in having such an intimate environment -- sometimes things are a little too close for comfort. I know that Brian Kelly wants some luxury boxes and refurbishing at Nippert, at the very least, and the university is studying the feasibility of expansion. But right now the school is still trying to figure out how it's going to pay for it. As you may have see this week, Cincinnati is borrowing more than $9 million to construct its long-awaited practice fields. The university as a whole has some budgetary concerns, so it may be a while before you have faster bathroom breaks and more room to stretch out.
Aaron from Dallas writes: Oregon State is the biggest win so far for the Bearcats? The same team that needed a field goal with 37 seconds left to beat Mountain West bottom feeder UNLV? Impressive.
Brian Bennett: Well, Oregon State is ranked higher than anyone TCU has beaten and has a chance to win the Pac-10. TCU likes to boast about its win at Clemson, which looks better as the Tigers continue to improve. But using Aaron's logic, you can say that makes TCU only as good as Maryland, which also beat Clemson. The bottom line is that TCU and Cincinnati have better out-of-conference wins than Florida or Texas.
Patrick M. from Somerset, Penn., writes: I have been a Pitt season ticket holder for many years and can just about guarantee you that Heinz Field will not be completely filled on Dec. 5 for the Cincinnati game. The problem manifests itself every year because 8,000 to 10,000 season tickets are sold to either Notre Dame or West Virginia fans who can purchase a season pass for about $100. They will use the ticket for the one game that they are interested in and chuck the other games. This problem will not be resolved until and unless Pitt continues its success on the field and increases the local support from the 40,000 to 45,000 diehard fans.
Brian Bennett: There probably are a number of Notre Dame fans who did that this year, Patrick, especially since some of the upper-level season-ticket seats are not that expensive. I would think, though, that many people who did that would try to unload their Cincinnati ticket somehow. I mean, who doesn't like extra cash? Pitt fans may have to get creative in filling the place, but that should still be the goal.
M.D. from Cincinnati writes: How about a little help with a disagreement I have with my old man? He's old school and says you never should run up the score in college sports. I say you score until they stop you. Early in the season UC wasn't getting any love in the polls and are now playing catchup with TCU. Looking back, isn't it safe to say that had they kept the starters in longer and scored more points they might be ranked higher now? They could have put at least two more touchdowns on the board at a handful of games, but let off in the second half. I say no mercy. Who knows when they'll have another chance at be No. 1 in the nation?
Brian Bennett: I'm not a fan of running up the score, M.D., but there's little doubt that winning with so-called style points has an affect on teams' poll standings. On the other hand, I'm not sure any of that matters with Cincinnati this year. There's simply no way the Bearcats are going to be ranked ahead of undefeated Alabama, Florida and Texas, and we all know that. TCU is getting attention for its wins over three ranked teams and some residual respect for the Mountain West after Utah's showing last year. I think, if anything, Cincinnati was hurt a little bit by very close wins over UConn and West Virginia in prime time national TV games. An extra touchdown over Syracuse or Louisville wouldn't have made much difference.
Ryan from Pittsburgh writes: Although it's only two years old, is "Sweet Caroline" already the best tradition in Big East football?
Brian Bennett: Best tradition in the A.L. East, maybe. I understand that Pitt fans like getting their Neil Diamond on at the end of the third quarter at Heinz. I'm all for public singing, and anything that gets the crowd excited and improves the atmosphere is a good thing. But you basically stole that from the Red Sox, and I'm waiting for someone to tell me what connection that song has with Pitt football.
Ben from Louisville writes: Brian, please tell me that I will soon wake up from this three-year nightmare and Louisville will soon have a new football coach. Kragthorpe has been given three seasons and everyone can see that its just not a good fit. The Louisville football program has dwindled with him at the helm and with a stadium expansion on the horizon we need a fresh face to fill the stadium.
Brian Bennett: You know, last week I went to the West Virginia-Cincinnati game on Friday night, followed by a noon kickoff between Syracuse and Louisville. In a little more than a 12-hour span, I saw the alpha and omega of Big East football -- one fan base fully energized by an exciting team, and another slogging through a miserable season.
The Kragthorpe era is in its final stages. I don't think there's any question that he will be let go within the next two weeks. A change has to be made and will, especially with the expanded stadium opening next year (and what cruel irony it was seeing the shell of the new addition to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium hovering over a 70 percent full building last week). One word of caution to fans like Ben, however: I don't think the next coach is going to automatically make Louisville into a Big East contender. This program needs some rebuilding and a major upgrade in talent at several positions.
Brian from Washington, D.C., writes: Thanks for the blog. I am addicted. Anyway: Earlier in the week, you said that you weren't ready to put Rutgers in your Top 25 because of their résumé. This is staggering to me -- unlike many teams in the Top 25 that have lost games to chumps, Rutgers only losses includes two games to Top 10 opponents. And frankly, we all know that Rutgers would likely give both teams a run for their money right now. What gives? I understand that they don't have many marquee wins, but don't be ridiculous.
Brian Bennett: As I said in my chat this week, I think it's a weak argument to point toward who beat you. I want to know, who did you beat? So let's look at Rutgers' body of work. Wins over Texas Southern, Howard, Florida International, Army and Maryland are virtually worthless in determining their Top 25 value. So that leaves good wins over UConn and South Florida. That's just not enough, in my eyes, to merit a Top 25 ranking.
On the other hand, it's getting pretty difficult to find teams worthy of filling out the end of my Top 25 ballot every week. If Rutgers wins again this week and some others fall off, I will strongly consider the Scarlet Knights for my power rankings.
Clayton from Cincinnati: Do you have any idea on when Nippert Stadium is going to be expanded? You've been to the games, and I'm sure you noticed how cramped everyone is, especially the student section. It's even difficult to walk anywhere because the masses of people can't fit into the small pathway that is provided. A bathroom trip is a 15-minute journey. It's very frustrating having to deal with crowds of obnoxious drunk people who literally have panic attacks because you bump their beers. I've heard very little discussion about expansion this season, and it appears the university is more focused on an indoor practice facility. What's the deal?
Brian Bennett: That's the tradeoff in having such an intimate environment -- sometimes things are a little too close for comfort. I know that Brian Kelly wants some luxury boxes and refurbishing at Nippert, at the very least, and the university is studying the feasibility of expansion. But right now the school is still trying to figure out how it's going to pay for it. As you may have see this week, Cincinnati is borrowing more than $9 million to construct its long-awaited practice fields. The university as a whole has some budgetary concerns, so it may be a while before you have faster bathroom breaks and more room to stretch out.
Aaron from Dallas writes: Oregon State is the biggest win so far for the Bearcats? The same team that needed a field goal with 37 seconds left to beat Mountain West bottom feeder UNLV? Impressive.
Brian Bennett: Well, Oregon State is ranked higher than anyone TCU has beaten and has a chance to win the Pac-10. TCU likes to boast about its win at Clemson, which looks better as the Tigers continue to improve. But using Aaron's logic, you can say that makes TCU only as good as Maryland, which also beat Clemson. The bottom line is that TCU and Cincinnati have better out-of-conference wins than Florida or Texas.
Patrick M. from Somerset, Penn., writes: I have been a Pitt season ticket holder for many years and can just about guarantee you that Heinz Field will not be completely filled on Dec. 5 for the Cincinnati game. The problem manifests itself every year because 8,000 to 10,000 season tickets are sold to either Notre Dame or West Virginia fans who can purchase a season pass for about $100. They will use the ticket for the one game that they are interested in and chuck the other games. This problem will not be resolved until and unless Pitt continues its success on the field and increases the local support from the 40,000 to 45,000 diehard fans.
Brian Bennett: There probably are a number of Notre Dame fans who did that this year, Patrick, especially since some of the upper-level season-ticket seats are not that expensive. I would think, though, that many people who did that would try to unload their Cincinnati ticket somehow. I mean, who doesn't like extra cash? Pitt fans may have to get creative in filling the place, but that should still be the goal.
M.D. from Cincinnati writes: How about a little help with a disagreement I have with my old man? He's old school and says you never should run up the score in college sports. I say you score until they stop you. Early in the season UC wasn't getting any love in the polls and are now playing catchup with TCU. Looking back, isn't it safe to say that had they kept the starters in longer and scored more points they might be ranked higher now? They could have put at least two more touchdowns on the board at a handful of games, but let off in the second half. I say no mercy. Who knows when they'll have another chance at be No. 1 in the nation?
Brian Bennett: I'm not a fan of running up the score, M.D., but there's little doubt that winning with so-called style points has an affect on teams' poll standings. On the other hand, I'm not sure any of that matters with Cincinnati this year. There's simply no way the Bearcats are going to be ranked ahead of undefeated Alabama, Florida and Texas, and we all know that. TCU is getting attention for its wins over three ranked teams and some residual respect for the Mountain West after Utah's showing last year. I think, if anything, Cincinnati was hurt a little bit by very close wins over UConn and West Virginia in prime time national TV games. An extra touchdown over Syracuse or Louisville wouldn't have made much difference.
Ryan from Pittsburgh writes: Although it's only two years old, is "Sweet Caroline" already the best tradition in Big East football?
Brian Bennett: Best tradition in the A.L. East, maybe. I understand that Pitt fans like getting their Neil Diamond on at the end of the third quarter at Heinz. I'm all for public singing, and anything that gets the crowd excited and improves the atmosphere is a good thing. But you basically stole that from the Red Sox, and I'm waiting for someone to tell me what connection that song has with Pitt football.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
