ESPN College Football

I'm soaking up my last few rays in Miami before heading home. I'll take a quick break to answer some of your mail, though.

Walter Staab from New York writes: While Cincinnati deserves credit for their achievements this year, I am not convinced that they were the best team to represent the Big East in the BCS bowls this year. They were mighty lucky this year, and their luck finally ran out. Either Rutgers or West Virginia would have turned in better showings I'm sure.

Brian Bennett: Mighty lucky? I doubt Brian Kelly would say that losing three starting QBs to injury was "lucky." Cincinnati beat Pitt handily, won at West Virginia and beat Rutgers with a third-string quarterback. So there was no luck to it. The Bearcats were unquestionably the best team in the Big East all year. They might not have played very well in the FedEx Orange Bowl, but Virginia Tech's defense was nasty. There's no way to know whether any other Big East team would have fared better.

Scott from Pittsburgh writes: In my senior year, Pitt finally makes a bowl game - AND WE GET EMBARRASSED! The play-calling was horrific and Cavanaugh left Stull and Shady out to dry. I'm sure the Beavers' defensive coordinator is thanking us for the easiest game he's ever had to coach. What do you think needs to happen for us to turn it around next year?

Brian Bennett: That was a brutal Brut Sun Bowl showing by the Panthers offensively, no doubt about it. I didn't like the play calling very much, and the team's offensive line got steamrolled without left tackle Jason Pinkston. I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water here, though. Pitt still won nine games and brings a really talented nucleus back next season. The Panthers should still be the Big East favorites for 2009. But they will definitely need better quarterback play. I like Bill Stull's toughness and leadership, but the team needs to at least explore in the offseason whether someone like Tino Sunseri can get this team to the next level.

Angela from New London, Conn. writes: What's Pat White's next move? Will he be drafted or be a free agent in the NFL? Any chances on baseball? I know a pro baseball team drafted him out of high school.

Brian Bennett: White will definitely get drafted. In what round is anybody's guess. He needs to get to a team that believes in him and is creative enough to use his talents. But he's way too athletic and too much of a winner not to help a team somewhere along the line. And, yes, he was a good baseball prospect in high school, but he hasn't played in four years so I think that route would be only a fallback option at this point.

Morgan from Morgantown, W. Va., writes: Great job covering the Big East this season. My question is do you think Pat White is the greatest quarterback in just college football or the greatest quarterback ever?

Brian Bennett: I love Pat White, but let's not get carried away here.

Ethan from Scarsdale, N.Y., writes: Brian, first and foremost thank you for the great season of coverage. I hope that you continue this next year. As to looking forward to next year, do you you have any idea on who the front runner would be for the Rutgers QB spot?

Brian Bennett: I would have to think Dom Natale has the early upper hand, since he emerged as Mike Teel's backup and got some playing experience this year as a fourth-year junior. But the competition should be pretty wide open. Jabu Lovelace started the season as the No. 2 and will be a senior next year after redshirting, but I still view him more as a change of pace guy. D.C. Jefferson was a high school stud but we haven't seen him on the field yet. Tom Savage is one of the headliners of this recruiting class, and Greg Schiano hasn't been afraid to play true freshmen before. I see this shaping up as quite a battle, and it may be the most interesting competition to watch in the Big East this offseason.

Thanks for the kind words, as well. Just because bowl season is almost over doesn't mean the blog will stop. This is a year-round enterprise for us and hopefully a long-term one at that.