ESPN College Football

Making the rounds.

• Video: Cincinnati's Tommy G interviews Isaiah Pead.
• UConn kicker Dave Teggart will get his NFL shot with the Bears.
• Louisville picked up two commitments. It is Louisville day at Athlon Sports, which has the Cards ranked No. 23 in the preseason rankings. Check out these predictions.
• Figuring out the positions Pitt is recruiting.
• Video: Eric LeGrand's news conference.
• B.J. Daniels is among USF's spring graduates.
• Who is up and who is down in the Big East?
• How much are students paying in fees to support athletic departments?

Whatever bond the two might have had changed right then and there on the Meadowlands turf on a cool October day in 2010.

Eric LeGrand lay there motionless. Greg Schiano stood above him, praying.

Schiano has spoken at length about how that day changed him as a man and as a coach. How it changed his relationship with LeGrand, paralyzed from the neck down after he made a tackle against Army that day. In that one devastating moment, football meant less than humanity, brotherhood, family. All the little things Schiano spoke about every day at Rutgers meant living them out in more ways than he, LeGrand and every single player on the roster could have ever imagined.

So what Schiano, who is now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' coach, did Wednesday morning seemed incredibly fitting, in his symbolic signing of LeGrand as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agent. Downright amazing, really, given the cynical times we live in today. More than ever, sports is about business. We hear it all the time. Schiano made a business decision when he left Rutgers for Tampa Bay with time ticking down to national signing day.

The future four-team playoff will be terrific for business. Branding stadiums is about business. Increasingly, bottom lines are all that matters. Fans are having a harder time finding good intentions without raising their eyebrows and wondering if there is something else going on behind the scenes.

But then a story like this comes along, and we are reminded of what we love about sports. The brotherhood, determination, hard work, perseverance, love, joy. Dreams coming true.

"Coach Schiano is like a father figure," LeGrand said on a conference call. "Going into Rutgers as a little boy and coming out a man. When you're faced with adversity, he's not going to say you back down at all. You deal with whatever it is. In life, you can't control what cards you're dealt. That's what's helped me through my whole situation. Sometimes it's hard, but I think about all the stuff I was taught at Rutgers. You fight through it. Tough times don't last. Only tough people do."

One of the biggest regrets Schiano had about moving on to Tampa Bay was leaving LeGrand behind. The two have grown incredibly close. Schiano has helped with the Believe Fund that was set up to help LeGrand. He helped get LeGrand into the radio and television booth for games to begin a sports broadcasting career. Schiano had LeGrand lead the team onto the field before the West Virginia game last year, the one-year anniversary of the injury.

Schiano also has lobbied for the elimination of kickoffs, the play that ended up changing LeGrand's life.

It is incredibly easy to see Schiano has been his biggest champion. So it is easy to see why Schiano and the Bucs decided to sign LeGrand, announcing the move on May 2 in honor of the No. 52 LeGrand wore at Rutgers. Tampa Bay has shipped a No. 52 jersey up to New Jersey for LeGrand along with a helmet.

For his part, LeGrand had no idea Schiano was going to do this. The two still talk about once a week, but Schiano never mentioned he had planned on signing him. Schiano called his mother Monday and told her his plan. She got off the phone with Schiano and merely told her son, "Coach is going to call you tomorrow. Make sure you are by your phone."

The phone rang Tuesday afternoon. LeGrand picked it up and got the news. His response: "Are you serious?"

"He said, 'It's the least we can do,'" LeGrand recalled. "[I said] 'I don't know what to say to you right now. Coach, this is amazing.' This is something I always dreamed about. Dreams do come true if you really believe. He did this out of the kindness of his heart, and he wanted to do it. I had no idea this was going to happen."

"I really appreciate it. Just shows the man he is."

Tampa Bay has done something pretty amazing.

The Bucs announced today they have signed defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, the former Rutgers player paralyzed during a game in 2010. Tampa Bay, of course is now coached by his former coach, Greg Schiano.

“Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” Schiano said in a statement. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit, and perseverance. The way Eric lives his life epitomizes what we are looking for in Buccaneer Men.”

Despite being told that he would be a quadriplegic, LeGrand persevered. Five weeks after the injury, he resumed breathing on his own. Later, he even became able to stand upright with the help of a metal frame. LeGrand is planning to graduate next fall with a degree in labor studies. He has been featured on several Rutgers television and radio broadcasts as well.

Former Rutgers defensive lineman Eric LeGrand has been awarded the 2012 Unsung Hero Award by the New Jersey Hall of Fame, the organization announced Thursday.

LeGrand has become an inspirational figure in the time since he was paralyzed from the neck down in a game against Army in 2010. Since then, he has made slow progress in his goal to one day walk again, keeping everybody up to date on his Twitter account. Most recently, LeGrand was able to sit up for 15 minutes by himself.

The fifth annual New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place June 9 in Newark. LeGrand, the Hall of Fame's fourth Unsung Hero honoree, was chosen because of courage, strength and character.

Now it is time to relive the top moments in the Big East for 2011 -- both the good, and the bad.

1. Eric LeGrand returns. Not only was this the top moment in the Big East, it was one of the top moments in all of sports in 2011. Seeing the injured LeGrand lead his Rutgers teammates onto the field in his wheelchair before the start of the West Virginia game Oct. 29 in middle of a snowstorm had to soften the hearts of even the most jaded. What LeGrand has been able to do is truly inspiring in the year since he was paralyzed making a hit against Army in 2010. He has gone further than anybody ever anticipated -- he has started rehab work on a treadmill and gotten twitches and sensations throughout his entire body. And he has begun to do radio and television work for Rutgers, as well.

2. Expansion. This is the storyline that eclipsed most everything else for the entire season. First it was Pitt and Syracuse leaving, seemingly catching commissioner John Marinatto off guard. Then TCU jumped ship. Then West Virginia. When everything was tidied up in December, the Big East had gone Big Country, adding Boise State, San Diego State, SMU, UCF and Houston. West Virginia's fate remains tied up in pending lawsuits. However that saga plays out, the Big East is prepared to launch Version 3.0 in 2013.

3. West Virginia goes BOOM! You could make the case that the way the Mountaineers dismantled Clemson in the Discover Orange Bowl should be ranked higher. In any other season, it would be No. 1. But when folks look back on the 2011 season, I think the first two stories are more likely to come to mind because of the way they transcended sports, and signaled the dawning of a new era. If we are going with purely on-the-field stories, then this one is the hands-down choice. West Virginia scored a bowl-record 70 points on the Tigers. For perspective, not even the worst teams in the nation -- New Mexico, FAU, Indiana and Akron -- had 70 scored on them this year. The ACC champ did. Unforgettable moment: Darwin Cook returning a fumble 99 yards to swing momentum, then taking down Obie the Orange Bowl mascot.

4. Down goes Collaros. One play changed the entire complexion of the Big East race. Too simple to say? Nope. Cincinnati had a two-game lead on everybody else on Nov. 12 when West Virginia came to town. In the second quarter, Bruce Irvin sacked Zach Collaros, who fumbled on the play. Julian Miller recovered in the end zone for a touchdown but the damage was done for the Bearcats. Collaros broke his ankle, and Cincinnati dropped two straight. West Virginia won out and finished in a three-way tie with Cincinnati and Louisville. The Mountaineers clinched the BCS berth -- leading to the eventual walloping of Clemson -- because they finished as the highest-ranked team in the final BCS standings.

5. Todd Graham bolts. In one of the most stunning turns of events this season, Todd Graham decided he had enough of Pittsburgh after 11 months on the job and a 6-6 record. He bolted for Arizona State without saying good-bye to his players, gleefully spewing the same speech he gave to the Panthers when he was hired for his "dream job." His coaching move drew universal scorn, and outrage from his players, as well. They took to Twitter to lambaste their former coach for his lies and unseemly departure.

6. Four clutch plays. West Virginia faced a must-win against USF in the regular-season finale Dec. 1. With the game tied at 27 and 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Bulls embarked on a drive that took them down to the West Virginia 28. That's when clutch play No. 1 happened. Najee Goode forced B.J. Daniels to fumble and the Mountaineers recovered. Geno Smith took over with 3:02 left. Clutch play No. 2: Stedman Bailey makes an unbelievable catch on fourth-and-10 for 26 yards, down at the USF 16. Clutch play No. 3: Shawne Alston drags Bailey back to the line of scrimmage after the catch so the Mountaineers can get the snap off without a penalty. Clutch play No. 4: Tyler Bitancurt hits a 28-yard field goal to win the game 30-27 and a share of the Big East title.

7. Ray Graham gets hurt. Pitt running back Ray Graham ranked second nationally and led the Big East in rushing yards per game (134.1) headed into Week 9 against UConn. But early on against the Huskies, Graham crumpled to the ground while making a cut, clutching his right knee. He had torn his ACL, and his season was over. You could almost say the same for the Panthers, who struggled to do anything on offense without their best player.

8. Charlie Strong, surfer. You know how momentous Louisville's 38-35 victory over West Virginia was this season? So momentous it sent coach Charlie Strong bodysurfing over his players in a jubilant locker room afterward. He had Adrian Bushell and Andrew Johnson to thank. On the first play of the fourth quarter, West Virginia lined up for a 23-yard field goal to tie the game. Bushell blocked the kick; Johnson returned it 82 yards for a touchdown and the momentum went to the Cardinals. It was their first win in Morgantown since 1990, and third win ever in the series.

9. Syracuse does what? Surely Syracuse's win over West Virginia in Morgantown in 2010 was a fluke. Surely the Mountaineers would gain revenge in the Dome. Yeah. About that. The Orange schooled West Virginia and reintroduced the Mountaineers to the tight end, pulling the biggest upset of the season 49-23. Syracuse had not scored that many points in the series since 1960. The game also marked the triumphant return of Chandler Jones -- who had two sacks and six tackles in his first game back from a knee injury.

10. USF collapse. The Bulls began the year 4-0 with a national ranking and a victory at Notre Dame. Then Big East play happened. USF lost seven of its final eight games and missed a bowl for the first time as members of the Big East. The Bulls also posted their worst record in Big East play (1-6). A team pegged as a dark horse disappointed in every possible way, losing five games by six points or fewer.

Lean on me, when you're not strong ...

• All signs point to Zach Collaros starting for Cincinnati.
• For young Louisville, resilience proves to be a rallying point.
• New Pitt coach Paul Chryst is taking Wisconsin offensive line coach Bob Bostad with him.
• In Iowa State, Rutgers sees an offense it is designed to stop. Eric LeGrand will attend the Broncos-Chiefs game on Sunday.
• Former USF standout Jason Pierre-Paul gets his first Pro Bowl nod.
• West Virginia has only sold 7,700 tickets to the Orange Bowl through its official allotment. Clemson receiver DeAndre Hopkins was hurt in a car accident, and coach Dabo Swinney doesn't know whether his second-leading receiver will be able to play in the bowl game.

Eric LeGrand has inspired countless people as he continues in his quest to walk again.

That showed in a major way Tuesday when Sports Illustrated unveiled its 2011 Moment of the Year -- LeGrand's return. The choice was left up to readers this year, who turned out in force to vote in the Facebook campaign SI set up. Earlier this month, editors of the magazine chose 15 moments of the year and asked voters to rank their top five via Facebook. The winner would be selected as the cover.

Thousands left comments on that page and tweeted about the voting. LeGrand got in on the campaign as well, asking fans to vote for him through his Twitter feed. A late push vaulted him to the top and the SI cover. The shot features him in his wheelchair accompanying his teammates onto the field against West Virginia -- a year after he was paralyzed while making a tackle.

“I am just so happy for Eric, I really am," coach Greg Schiano said Tuesday. "If he ever wondered what effect he is having on people worldwide, [this shows it]. This is pretty neat.”

That's what I'm talking about ...

• What's Zach Collaros' status for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl?
• Four-star linebacker Nick Dawson is favoring Louisville.
• Cowardly coaches are all-too common, writes John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. FIU coach Mario Cristobal has emerged as a front-runner at Pitt.
• Eric LeGrand will be with Rutgers for its bowl game.
• Concussions have ended the career of Syracuse fullback Adam Harris. One fan's top-10 wishes for Syracuse football.
• Could a final contract for West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen include a non-compete clause? A judge in Morgantown has denied the Big East's request to dismiss West Virginia's lawsuit against the league.

Are Louisville fans going to head to Cincinnati to root for UConn?

• Once porous, the Cincinnati defense is now strong.
• A few final thoughts from UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni before Saturday's game.
• What Louisville coach Charlie Strong stands to make in incentives this season.
• It is unfair to bury Pitt coach Todd Graham in a heap of blame for this season.
• David Epstein nominates Eric LeGrand for Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.
• Turn the page on this season USF -- better yet, burn the page.
• A breakdown of the Pitt-Syracuse game.
• West Virginia pulled out yet another close game, keeping its BCS hopes alive.

Sending thoughts and prayers to Oklahoma State today ...

• Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead is nearing school milestones.
• UConn is still waiting on cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson. Running back recruit Montrell Dobbs is academically ineligible.
• Louisville has to shore up its rushing defense.
• Pitt defensive end Aaron Donald is making a big impact.
• Quarterback Chas Dodd and Rutgers look to eliminate the turnovers. Eric LeGrand's entrance will highlight senior day activities.
• Miami coach Al Golden says the South Florida defensive line is the best the Hurricanes have faced this season.
• Syracuse safety Phillip Thomas has been suspended from the team.
• Matt Lindamood has fought through the pain for West Virginia.

Rutgers and Army are tied at 6 at halftime, thanks in part to some key Scarlet Knights defensive stops in the game at Yankee Stadium.

Army got down inside the Rutgers 3-yard line on its first two possessions, but the defense held the Black Knights to two field goals. On their next drive, Army went for it on a fourth-and-2 from the Rutgers 40, but Steve Beauharnais came up with the huge stop on quarterback Angel Santiago, starting in place of the injured Trent Steelman.

That stop led to Rutgers' only touchdown of the game, a 3-yard pass from Chas Dodd to Michael Burton. San San Te missed the extra point. The Rutgers offense has been slow to get going with Dodd back in the starting lineup. Rutgers has 35 yards rushing and has been limited to just 11 minutes of possession time because Army plays ball control with the triple option.

Receiver Mohamed Sanu already has six catches. He needs 12 to set the Big East record for single-season receptions. Larry Fitzgerald holds the mark of 92.

Eric LeGrand took part in the coin toss before the game started. LeGrand was paralyzed a little over a year ago while making a tackle during a game against Army.

Eric LeGrand leads Rutgers out of the tunnel during their game against WVU. This is the first time he's accompanied the team on the field for a game since he was paralyzed from the neck down making a tackle in a game against Army last October.

Eric LeGrand will lead Rutgers out of the tunnel Saturday against No. 25 West Virginia.

LeGrand, who serves as an analyst on the Rutgers Radio Network, will be on during his normal spots on the pregame show, at halftime and postgame during the broadcast. He is also scheduled to be on the ABC broadcast of the game.

It was just over a year ago that LeGrand was paralyzed from the neck down making a tackle against Army. He is making good progress in his rehab and has sensation across his entire body.

Happy Monday everyone. Let's check in around the league ...

• Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead has a knack for making big plays.
• UConn kicker Dave Teggart always comes up big against USF.
• Louisville has been hurt by youth on offense.
• Defense has been a strong point for Pitt. The Panthers hope to salvage the season after their loss to Utah.
• How Eric LeGrand's injury changed his coaches. Gary Nova will start again at quarterback.
• Syracuse will have a full deck on defense against West Virginia.
• USF coach Skip Holtz took issue with the officiating against UConn.
• West Virginia running backs coach Robert Gillespie talks about Dustin Garrison.
• Another set of power rankings.

Eric LeGrand was paralyzed nearly one year ago after making a tackle against Army. But since then, he has made dramatic strides in his recovery.

He knows one day he will walk again.

Ralph Russo of The Associated Press did a wonderful article looking at how the Rutgers player has handled the past year. Here is a little excerpt:

Believing is a big part of LeGrand's life.

In the two-bedroom apartment where he and his mother, Karen LeGrand, live in Woodbridge, about a mile away from the home where he grew up in Avenel -- which is being rebuilt to accommodate him -- there is a wood carving of BELIEVE on the TV stand.

The art work on the living room wall, BELIEVE.

On the front of his mom's black shirt, BELIEVE in red letters with LeGrand's number, 52.

Eric LeGrand believes he will walk again.

"When I get better ...."

He says that a lot. Never if. When.

Karen LeGrand would have it no other way.

"We have faith and we pray and we know in the long run -- we don't know how long it's going to be -- but in the long run he's going to be OK," she says. "He's going to be fine. He's going to walk and he's going to do great things. And he's going to do great things in the interim as well."

LeGrand is active on Twitter, and posts updates on his progress. To follow him, he is @BigE52_RU.