Lunchtime links: Next level for Pitt?

Big East Blog

November, 6, 2008

Nov 6

11:49

AM ET

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By Brian Bennett

Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett

The "next level" is within sight for Pittsburgh, which can secure a winning record this weekend against Louisville, Joe Starkey writes in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Many people, including yours truly, predicted at least an eight-win season for the Panthers, and they're very close to reaching that plateau. Pitt's reconstituted offensive line played well at Notre Dame, and C.J. Davis excelled at center, Paul Zeise writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Tony Pike has come a long way from when the coaching staff used to call him the "seven-on-seven king," Bill Koch writes in The Cincinnati Enquirer. Now, coach Brian Kelly says the junior quarterback "could be the best player in the Big East" if he keeps developing. Koch also reports that Chazz Anderson will back up Pike at West Virginia, with Dustin Grutza available only in an emergency.
The punting matchup could be fun to watch in the West Virginia-Cincinnati game Mike Casazza says in the Charleston Daily Mail. The Mountaineers' Pat McAfee and the Bearcats' Kevin Huber are both Ray Guy Award semifinalists and among the best in college football at their chosen tasks.
Donald Brown was named a Maxwell Award semifinalist on Wednesday, but the UConn back is realistic about his chances: "A kid from UConn will never win an award like that. I know it just as well as everybody else." Desmond Conner has more in the Hartford Courant.
Cornerback Jason McCourty has given a lift to the Rutgers kickoff return team, Tom Luicci writes in The Star-Ledger. Running back Kordell Young takes the Scarlet Knights' low rushing numbers personally, Keith Sargeant reports in the Home News Tribune.

Tags:

Uncategorized, Chazz Anderson, Jason McCourty, Pat McAfee, Connecticut Huskies, Kordell Young, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, C.J. Davis, Kevin Huber, West Virginia Mountaineers, Tony Pike, Cincinnati Bearcats, Pittsburgh Panthers, Dustin Grutza, Donald Brown

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