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Former embattled West Virginia offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen has landed a gig, as the offensive coordinator for Charlotte's startup program.

Mullen spent three years as Bill Stewart's playcaller with the Mountaineers and drew heavy criticism from fans. Mullen's offense averaged 24.5 points in 2008, 26.2 in 2009 and 25.2 in 2010, never finishing higher than fifth in the Big East in scoring. He was let go following the 2010 season as Dana Holgorsen took over as offensive coordinator/head coach in waiting.

Mullen will be reunited at Charlotte with new 49ers head coach Brad Lambert. The two coached together at Wake Forest under Jim Grobe before Mullen went to West Virginia, and they are longtime friends.

• The West Virginia offense struggled again, and this time it was in a bowl. The Champs Sports Bowl performance justified the decision to let Jeff Mullen go. The Mountaineers didn't show up against NC State.
• Rob Long's presence at the New Era Pinstripe Bowl is inspiring his Syracuse teammates.
• Will UConn have to actually pass the ball to beat Oklahoma? Dan Orlovksy remembers the tougher times of Connecticut football. Cody Endres is heading to Slippery Rock.
• South Florida is playing to earn respect for itself and the Big East.

It's Champs Sports Bowl day, which means West Virginia leads off the links:

• Bill Stewart would talk only about the bowl, but NC State's Tom O'Brien had some thoughts on West Virginia's coaching situation. Stewart is trying to limit distractions while allowing his players to have a good time. Jeff Mullen and Dave Johnson will try to finish their jobs well for the Mountaineers.

• Syracuse and Kansas State don't have a whole lot in common.

• Some Pitt notes, including thoughts on whether Dave Wannstedt will coach the bowl game.

• Connecticut's defense is getting ready for a powerful Oklahoma offense. UConn will be missing a backup safety.

• South Florida senior linebacker Sabbath Joseph is ineligible for the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

Here are three keys for West Virginia in Tuesday's Champs Sports Bowl showdown against NC State:

1. Pressure Russell Wilson: Well, sure, you always want to get pressure on the opposing quarterback. But that's an even more important goal against Wilson, who is responsible for so much of what the Wolfpack does offensively. West Virginia will be playing without top cornerback Brandon Hogan, so if Wilson has time to scan the field, he could pick on replacement Pat Miller. Jeff Casteel's 3-3-5 scheme has been great at disguising coverages and confusing quarterbacks with blitzes from varying angles. Wilson has been more prone to mistakes this year than previous seasons, throwing eight interceptions in NC State's four losses. When the Mountaineers get near him, though, they can't let him break contain or he can burn them with his running ability.

2. Let it fly: This is the final game at West Virginia for offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen, who will be replaced next week by Dana Holgorsen. It will also be the last game for Bill Stewart before his lame-duck year begins. So what's there to lose? The Mountaineers should be aggressive on offense, and go for whatever Mullen has left in the playbook. NC State is solid against the run, and Noel Devine probably still won't be his usual explosive self. But quarterback Geno Smith has been terrific during the current four-game winning streak, throwing eight touchdown passes and just one interception. Don't be afraid to put the game in his hands.

3. Limit turnovers: Another no-brainer for any team, but this is one stat that usually tells the tale for the Mountaineers. They committed eight in their three losses this season compared to 15 in their nine wins. Ball-carriers like Ryan Clarke have had trouble with costly fumbles in big games. If West Virginia plays a clean game against NC State, it should have an excellent chance to win its third bowl game under Stewart.

USA Today has come up with another illuminating chart on coaching salaries, this time highlighting the pay of assistants.

The salary chart shows who some of the top-compensated assistants are in the Big East (Syracuse and Pittsburgh weren't included because those schools aren't subject to the same open-records laws).

Here's a look at the Big East assistants with the top salaries:

Jeff Casteel, defensive coordinator, West Virginia: $372, 268

Vance Bedford, defensive coordinator, Louisville: $300,000

Mike Sanford, offensive coordinator, Louisville: $275,000

Jeff Mullen, offensive coordinator, West Virginia: $266,583

Dave Johnson, offensive line, West Virginia: $243,333

Kyle Flood, assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator, Rutgers: $240,000

Ed Pinkham, co-defensive coordinator/secondary, Rutgers: $222,000

Kirk Ciarrocca, co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, Rutgers: $220,000

Bob Fraser, co-defensive coordinator/linebackers, Rutgers: $220,000

Steve Dunlap, assistant head coach/safeties, West Virginia: $216, 920

Some thoughts:

It's no surprise that West Virginia has the highest-paid assistants, as Bill Stewart sacrificed some of his salary to make sure his staff was well-compensated. You can also see the commitment that Louisville made with its new staff under Charlie Strong. The Cardinals also have four non-coordinators on staff making at least $200,000, while South Florida and Cincinnati are paying their coordinators on both sides of the ball a little more than $200,000 each.

It's ironic, or at least interesting, that at least four of these top 10 are either in serious hot water or have already been let go. Mullen and Johnson won't return for West Virginia, and Greg Schiano is expected to shake up his offensive staff.

I am floored by how low Connecticut's assistants salaries are -- relatively speaking, of course -- compared to the rest of the league. The top-paid UConn assistant is offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead at $170,000. That's less than almost everyone on staff at UConn's Big East counterparts on this list. And yet the Huskies are going to the BCS. If you wonder why Randy Edsall's name is often in the mix for other jobs, take a look at the pay of his assistants, which has been a constant sore spot.

West Virginia finally just made official what had been rumored/reported all week: Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen will take that same job for the Mountaineers in 2011 before succeeding Bill Stewart as head coach in 2012.

The school said in its official news release that all current coaches would remain in place until the Champs Sports Bowl. After that, Holgorsen will replace Jeff Mullen calling plays. Stewart will move into an administrative role after the '11 season.

"I think the transition year for coach Holgorsen will be very beneficial to the football program, and the opportunity to learn from coach Bill Stewart should not be underestimated,” athletic director Oliver Luck said in the statement. “Coach Holgorsen is one of the top coaches in college football. His success at Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma State speaks for itself. We know that coach Holgorsen will bring a high-powered offense that will be incredibly entertaining to watch at Milan Puskar Stadium.

“He will also provide a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our team as well as a wealth of experience. He has served under some fantastic mentors over the years, guys such as Hal Mumme, Mike Leach and Kevin Sumlin. I look forward to coach Holgorsen joining us. I cannot imagine a better combination of offensive and defensive coordinators in Dana Holgorsen and Jeff Casteel working for coach Stewart. Mountaineer football is in the best of hands."

Luck thanked Stewart for his work and said the Mountaineers "have enjoyed his steady leadership and infectious personality."

Holgorsen said his goal was to win a national championship at West Virginia. He will make $800,000 as offensive coordinator in 2011 and then $1.4 million as head coach.

Here is what Stewart had to say in the official release:

“I am proud of what we have accomplished in the last three years, culminating with a Big East championship this season. I took over as head coach in a very challenging time, and we have faced every obstacle with a passion to bring nothing but the best to West Virginia football.

“Our success on the field, in the classroom and in making our players better young men is very satisfying to me. I will continue to devote my entire energy to this program and my players next year. I look forward to having Coach Holgorsen join our staff and working with him to ensure a smooth transition in 2012."

I'll have some thoughts and reaction shortly ...

Backyard Brawl rivals may soon have a new point of contention: Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Holgorsen -- thought to be the leading candidate to replace Dave Wannstedt at Pitt -- won't be coaching the Panthers. But he might end up in Morgantown.

Colin Dunlap reports that West Virginia has reached out to Holgorsen. Wait, you might say, the Mountaineers already have a head coach. Dunlap drops the bombshell that Bill Stewart could be fired if he loses the Champs Sports Bowl -- or even if he wins it to clinch a 10-win season. Or perhaps Holgorsen could come on board as the offensive coordinator/head coach in waiting for a year, then take over in 2012. Holgorsen has ties to West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, as both lived in Houston at the same time.

Current West Virginia coach Jeff Mullen has reportedly interviewed for the head coaching job at Kent State, and his job status for next season is uncertain.

How serious Pitt was about hiring Holgorsen in the first place is unclear. The Panthers were also believed to be interested in former Temple coach Al Golden, who was hired by Miami.

There's quite a bit of speculation involved here, as there often is in the coaching carousel world. But if Holgorsen were to end up on the West Virginia sidelines in some capacity, that could add some more spice to an already salty rivalry.

• Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich says he'll do everything he can to keep Charlie Strong.
• Pitt players' reaction to the Dave Wannstedt firing shows some of the perils of social media. The Panthers need to up the ante when paying their next coach.
• West Virginia offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen is a serious candidate for the Kent State head-coaching job. So, too, is South Florida's Todd Fitch.
• Jordan Todman took his MVP award in stride.
• Syracuse gets some extra juice out of playing in New York City.

Who says West Virginia can't score?

The slumping Mountaineers broke out for a 37-10 win over Cincinnati in a game that was never in doubt after early in the second quarter. Geno Smith had four touchdown passes, and the West Virginia defense and special teams came up with four turnovers, plus a safety, to put the Bearcats away.

West Virginia is now bowl eligible along with South Florida, and the Mountaineers can still be a major factor in the Big East race, especially if they play like this on offense every week. Bill Stewart and Jeff Mullen can breathe easy for a week.

It was the third straight loss for Cincinnati, which now has to win its final three just to finish 6-6 and be in consideration for a bowl. Unless things change dramatically, the Bearcats are going to be home for the holidays after winning two straight league titles.

• Jordan Todman carried Connecticut to a big win over Pittsburgh. Randy Edsall showed he has cojones.

• Pitt wasn't ready for prime time, again. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Paul Zeise doesn't mince words in his breakdown of the "ridiculous choke job" by the Panthers.

• Jeff Mullen stands behind his play calling.

• Cincinnati is bracing for a healthy Noel Devine.

• Syracuse is hoping to plug its run-stopping problem from a week ago and continue to make problems for the Rutgers O-line.

• Charlie Strong is building something big at Louisville. Jeremy Wright will look to add to his highlight tape against South Florida. The Bulls will be without their starting left tackle.

• Rutgers has the top graduation success rate of any FBS public university.

• Bill Stewart is under fire after West Virginia's latest loss. Jeff Mullen defends his play-calling. Coaching is part of the problem, but the players have to be held accountable, too.

• UConn still has hope for this season.

• Cincinnati has taken a turn(over) for the worse.

• Syracuse's season is full of wonder.

• Pittsburgh is trying to stay focused on the task at hand, not its early cushion in the Big East standings.

• Louisville took a small step back in losing to Pitt. And how about this quote from Cardinals defensive end B.J. Butler about the Panthers: "We had a tip from the coaches that if the (offensive line's) heels were in the dirt it was pass, if they were off the dirt, it was going to be a run.” Think that will be passed around some locker rooms?

• South Florida has an edge over Rutgers in red-zone stats.

• Converted defensive lineman Andre Civil could play right tackle for Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights look to solve their offensive-line maladies. Greg Schiano has had to play father figure like never before.

1. There's Pitt, and then Syracuse, and, um ...: Who's any good in the Big East? Pitt has established itself as the clear big dog now with a 3-0 start, including a blowout win against the second-best team, Syracuse. The Orange deserve that title thanks to three straight road wins, especially beating supposed contenders West Virginia and Cincinnati. After those two, it's one big jumble, with five teams standing at 1-2 in league play. It looks like the Big East's BCS representative could have three or four losses, which is embarrassing. But at least we now have a pecking order established -- this week.

2. Bill Stewart's seat is getting much warmer: A large contingent of West Virginia fans have always doubted Stewart's ability to lead the Mountaineers to the big time. That talk died down after a 5-1 start, but now the volume is on full blast after back-to-back losses to Syracuse and Connecticut. The once high-scoring Mountaineers managed only 27 points in the two games and let a UConn team that looked putrid the week before pull off its first-ever win in the series. This was supposed to be Stewart's best team, but all of a sudden he's 5-3 and now hoping for another nine-win season. Criticism of him and offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen is at an all-time high, and they need to do something the rest of the way to calm that noise.

3. Cincinnati is in deep trouble: Bill Stewart's shoes might be the only ones Butch Jones wouldn't trade places with right now. The first-year Bearcats coach has taken a two-time BCS team and guided it to a 3-5 record. Cincinnati isn't going bowling unless it wins at least three of its last four games, and those include a trip to West Virginia and a visit from Pitt. Jones has been dealt all kinds of adversity this year, with Zach Collaros' injury being just the latest. We'll see how forgiving the nouveau riche Cincinnati fans are.

4. Syracuse could go to a big bowl: Orange fans were mainly hoping to attain bowl eligibility and get an invite to the Beef O'Brady's or Pinstripe bowls. But now they can aim higher. Syracuse still needs one more win to be eligible because of its two FCS victories, but with a very manageable schedule the rest of the way (Louisville, UConn, at Rutgers and Boston College), there's no reason the team can't get to eight or nine wins or beyond. And given the dreadful state of the league, a trip to the Champs Sports or Meineke Car Care bowls -- which qualify as big ones in this conference -- isn't out of the question. Heck, the league title isn't off the table, either.

5. UConn isn't finished yet: While much of the storyline of Friday's game centered around West Virginia's problems, don't forget the winning team. The Huskies looked like toast after starting off 0-2 in the league and getting shut out by Louisville. They showed a lot of character in bouncing back, rallying from a 10-point deficit and finally overcoming their Big East nemesis. Zach Frazer was back at quarterback, and while he wasn't spectacular, he didn't turn the ball over. People who were calling for Randy Edsall's firing were just plain foolish. It will take a near miraculous turn of events for UConn to get back into the Big East title picture, but the Huskies have a chance to go bowling now that they're back to .500

I thought the Connecticut game would show us what West Virginia was made of.

It did. Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, what they're made of is not the stuff of Big East champions.

How else to explain a true head-scratcher of a 16-13 overtime loss at Connecticut? West Virginia outgained UConn 414 to 278, but lost four fumbles, including a crucial one on its lone overtime possession.

The Mountaineers raced out to a quick 10-0 lead, but that first quarter was the only time they'd score a touchdown. The defense, strong as always, allowed only 13 points in regulation, which should have been enough for an easy victory. But the offense once again struggled to find any kind of consistency or to hang onto the ball.

I've defended Bill Stewart and Jeff Mullen as much as anybody, but it's hard to see how that combo can remain intact after this latest fiasco. West Virginia has way too much talent to have lost in consecutive weeks to Syracuse and Connecticut. That's the bottom line, and it's a failure that has to rest at the feet of the coaches right now. The Mountaineers will do no better than 9-3 in the regular season when they made a 10-win season their goal, and a Big East title now looks much more difficult to attain.

Let's not forget to give some credit to Connecticut, which started 0-2 in Big East play and had a true rally-the-troops kind of moment. That the Huskies could come back from a 10-0 deficit and beat West Virginia for the first time ever, especially after how lethargic and listless they looked last week in a 26-0 loss at Louisville, is truly amazing. They are still a long ways from getting back into the Big East race, but this win helps a lot in their quest to get back to a bowl game.

I guess it's just that kind of year in the Big East. Every week is going to be unpredictable. West Virginia shouldn't be this unpredictable, but we found out that the Mountaineers just aren't at the level we thought they'd reach this year.

Happy Friday and an early Happy Halloween to everybody. Hope your team delivers more treats than tricks this weekend.

Your e-mails are always a treat.

Joe L. from Huntersville, N.C., writes: I love the studio remodel! There's only one problem. USF already lacks the national respect and now your head seems to cover them as if you're ashamed to admit they're part of the Big East. Mind adjusting the camera angle and giving USF some love? Back to the real question, if you take away the two long passes for TDs (Landi and Hornes) against Cinncinati, USF didn't move the ball very well (only 185 yards passing and 92 yrds rushing on 36 attempts). Their formula seems pretty simple right now and should be easily stopped with a zone-blitzing scheme. Do you think the 38 points were a fluke or will the pressure continue to get to Daniels as teams shut down the long ball and force him to pass short?

Brian Bennett: Thanks, Joe, and I realize that my noggin is always going to cover up some of the background. I'll do my best to spread the pain around.

As for USF, I talked to B.J. Daniels this week and will get more into that next week as we preview the Wednesday (yes, Wednesday) game against Rutgers. I don't see the Bulls scoring 38 points regularly and think a lot of that can be attributed to Cincinnati's very generous defense, which will make a lot of teams look good. The key thing, though, is that Daniels made the right read and decisions and didn't turn the ball over. South Florida's defense is good enough to keep it in every game (Cincinnati had a ton of points and yards, but the Bearcats have the league's best offense), and if Daniels and company can just avoid mistakes and put some points on the board, the Bulls will be OK.

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Matt from New York, writes: Hey BB, I know last time they they had a big win (USF) they got pummeled (PITT), but Syracuse is a win over Cincinnati away from the Top 25. Can we please take a minute to think about how ridiculous of an idea this was for the past 4-5 years? Also, What in God's name was the AD at Michigan on when he sent away Scott Shafer to bring in Greg Robinson as his DC?

Brian Bennett: Think Rich Rodriguez is wishing for a do over on that move right about now? Syracuse would take that trade again every time. As for the Top 25, it remains to be seen if the Orange will get in with a win this week -- and I really don't see how you rank Syracuse ahead of Pittsburgh given the head-to-head result. Regardless, the job Doug Marrone has done there in less than two years is nothing short of remarkable, and he has to be on every short list for national coach of the year honors.

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Eddie F. from Storrs, Conn., writes: I know all summer I was writing to you about how UConn was in for a big breakout year, starting with a blowout aganist Rich Rod in Week 1 (well we all know how my prediciton turned out). But just looking at our depth chart, do you think it is safe to say that we might have been one year off? Considering our entire secondary is sophomores, the only seniors on defense are Lutrus and Wilson, and on offense really only Zach Hurd and Frazer, even though he as been in and out of the starting spot. Now I know a win Friday could turn our season around, and I'm not counting that out, but do you think it is possible that if we bring back right now as I count it 18 starters (hopefully J.T. won't leave early) that we can finally make some noise in the Big East?

Brian Bennett: Eighteen returning starters is a great place to start, but remember UConn had 16 back this year and that didn't work out too well. I'm going to have to view the Huskies with some skepticism until they finally do have that breakout year. My concern is bulk up front and speed defensively, and quarterback play. Unless Mike Box returns and plays well down the stretch, Connecticut is going to have a major question mark at the most important position next year, and its passing game has not been great to begin with.

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David E. from Wendell, N.C., writes: I am a true Mountaineer fan. My great-grandfather helped start the first football team at WVU and he lettered in baseball. I am also a Coach Stew fan. He was one of my first choices from the start. My only complaint with Stew is he needs to let his offense lose. I kind of miss the coach Rod years with White and Slaton the way the offense ran wild, but Rod still lost 2 games. I think Rod's problem was when the team was behind early he did not have the right personality to bring them back, but coach Stew does. I think he will have the 'Eers back on top he just needs to put it in high gear. Line up Devine and Austin in the backfield and use more screens with Austin, Devine and Sanders... get them into space. Thanks.

Brian Bennett: I'll say this: I think we'll see Friday night what West Virginia truly believes is its offensive identity. Facing a must-win game after a week of criticism, you know the Mountaineers want a big performance on national TV. I'm looking forward to seeing what Stewart and Jeff Mullen have planned.

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John from Asheville, N.C., writes: I think WVU's offense should now be described as "spectacularly average" in place of "explosive." Think about it. We have all the talent to be "explosive" but there is always something holding us back. Whether it's turnovers, the inability to compensate for injuries, penalties, horrible O-line play, or horrible play-calling, there is a minimum of one thing every game that disgusts me. It seems like when we fix one thing, something else becomes an issue. The ability to make the offense "average" is, quite simply, "spectacular."

Brian Bennett: But does West Virginia truly have elite offensive talent? The offensive line is average at best. Outside of Don Barclay, nobody is playing at an all-Big East level up front. Geno Smith is really good, but he's a first-year starting quarterback. Tavon Austin is fast, but he's in his first year of playing wideout and is, what, 5-foot-8? Jock Sanders is basically a possession receiver -- he's averaging fewer than 10 yards a catch for the second year in a row. The only true downfield receiving threat is Brad Starks, who's been injured and inconsistent in his career. Noel Devine is undeniably great, but he's also been banged up and doesn't have a great line.

Just something to think about.

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Patrick from Seoul, South Korea, writes: Hey BB! I was wondering what you think the chances are for a 3-way tie would be for the Big East? Hear me out...Syracuse looks really competitive this year, and is dangerous enough to beat anybody in the league the rest of the way. If Syracuse wins out, and WVU rebounds to win out the rest of the season, leaving Syracuse, WVU, and Pittsburgh all at 6-1 in Big East. Who would get the BCS bid?

Brian Bennett: Hi, Patrick, and thanks for adding another country to the Big East blog's ever-expanding global village. The first tiebreaker, of course, would be head-to-head, but in your scenario all three teams would be 1-1 against each other (Pitt has beaten Syracuse, Syracuse has beaten West Virginia and West Virginia would have to beat Pitt to make them all 6-1). If that's the case, then the highest ranked team in the BCS standings would take the title. And given that all three teams are pretty closely bunched in the BCS standings right now, that would be fascinating to watch.

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Duane W. from Yorktown, Va., writes: Dude, you do a good job covering the league, but how about some positives? The problem with the Big East (other than the commish) is that we are a young conference in terms of "existence" and we certainly missed the Hype Train. In every other conference they glorify themselves like crazy. Even when it's not warranted. We all know the league isn't great this year, but can you be more positive in your coverage? You're supposed to be our (BE fans) voice at ESPN.

Steven from Salt Lake City, Utah, writes: I love how you try to provide the biggest cushion you can for the Big LEast's fall. (Not that they had that far to fall in the first place.) But Big East bashing? Perhaps those teams should beat a BCS opponent (heck... an FBS opponent outside that poor league). Parity? Why can't you and ESPN just admit that conference stinks in football (and not just this season)?

Brian Bennett: You guys need to get your stories straight. Am I too negative about the Big East or too positive? Trick or treat?

Bill Stewart is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. So I sincerely hope his e-mail inbox doesn't look like mine this week.

I implored West Virginia fans recently to give the Stewart bashing a break at least until he lost another game. Well, he and the Mountaineers lost to Syracuse, and that moratorium was lifted in a big way. There's no sense in running all the "Stewart should be fired" non-questions, but I'll lead with a few of the more polite inquiries:

Mark from Brussels: As a WVU fan, do I have the right to be irate with the coaching staff (specifically, Jeff Mullen)? Despite Syracuse blitzing on nearly all downs in the second half, the Mountaineers stubbornly refused to keep a back or tight end in the backfield to assist with pass blocking. You said yourself that in last week's pregame prediction column that WVU's speed on offense should give the Orange difficulty. If that's the case, couldn't we have sent three guys out in patterns and still been a effective in moving the ball? Am I missing something?

Brian Bennett: As a fan, sure, it's your right to get ticked off at the coaches. We all have bad days at the office, and I didn't think this was a particularly strong performance by the WVU staff. Give credit to Syracuse for coming up with a scheme to confuse and fluster Geno Smith, mainly using more zone-blitz looks than the Orange had in the previous two weeks. But I agree that Mullen didn't succeed in countering that scheme.

The curious question of why West Virginia isn't more effective on offense is one that's on the mind of the entire fan base right now. Ultimately, I think, the Mountaineers have been relying heavily on Smith to be great in his decision-making, especially with Noel Devine not at 100 percent. When Smith finally had a bad day -- and remember, he's first-year starter and a true sophomore, so it was going to happen -- the offense couldn't overcome that. If I'm Mullen and Bill Stewart, I'm hoping for a major turnaround Friday night at UConn to change the conversation. (And I've just got to ask, Mark, because of your listed hometown: are you 6-foot-4 and full of muscles? If so, the Mountaineers could probably use you on the offensive line).

Christopher from Charleston, W. Va., writes: I am a huge WVU fan, and a Bill Stewart supporter (one of the few). I was wondering with all of the hate Mountaineer fans have for their head coach, how bad would we have to be for us to consider getting rid of him? Because overall we have been solid, and WVU is what it is, a mid-level program that is in serious contention every few years. And although the loss to an improving Syracuse team that could very well win the conference was tough to swallow, at least we didn't get Kragthorped and fall off the radar entirely when Coach Stew took over. And YES I am creating a new word ''Kragthorped."

Brian Bennett: First of all, Chris, I have to inform you that "Kragthorped" has been in the vocabulary of Louisville fans for a couple of years now, so you can't take credit for that. I think it is important to note that in no way has the Mountaineers program fallen off a cliff under Stewart. Did you know that Stewart had the second-best record through 33 games of any West Virginia coach (24-9) before the Syracuse game? West Virginia has won nine games each of his first two years and could easily hit that mark again this year, which is more than a lot of programs can say.

Yet the fact is that Stewart is just 11-5 in the Big East and needs to finish strong this year to avoid some heat for next season. I don't envision any way he is not back in 2011 unless the Mountaineers completely collapse. But if they don't do well in the final five games, next season will be a big one for Stewart.

Jim B. from Northville, Mich., writes: In your what we learned about the Big East this week you said Syracuse held the "explosive" Mouintaineers in check through the second half of the game. During the WVU-USF game braodcast on ESPN, the announcers used the same term to describe the Mountaineer offense. My question is, why would anyone consider the Mountaineers' offense to be explosive? Implosive perhaps, but this is an offense that has struggled from Day One under Bill Stewart and the scoring offensive productivity has dropped dramatically since 2007. The team's stats, 26.1 ppg and 363 total ypg, place it somewhere between 60th and 70th among all D-1 schools. There is nothing explosive or even very exciting about this offense.

Brian Bennett: The Mountaineers have a lot of speed and playmakers, but you're right, Jim. Time to take the word "explosive" out of the bag of cliches. I don't think it's as dire a situation as some do, but West Virginia needs to figure out more of an identity on offense.

Allen from Raleigh, N.C. writes: Last week WV was the class of the BE, they had talent galore etc. The writers loved them the coaches loved them and then they lose to Syracuse and suddenly they are in trouble, Bill Stewart needs to be fired etc. Pitt was all but put to rest and the coach fired, now they are the beast of the East. Why does the media (and fans) react and make snap judgements week to week rather than look at the bigger picture?

Brian Bennett: Way to sap all the fun out of college sports, Allen! Aren't the week-to-week judgments why we keep coming back?

O.D. from Miami, Fla., writes: "* Dropped from rankings: West Virginia 20, Texas 22 * Others receiving votes: Nevada 32, Hawaii 19, Michigan 9, SYRACUSE!!!! 8 ... 'Cuse got more votes than Florida. ... I can't even believe I just typed that. Feels so good to be relevant in college football again. Thank you Doug Marrone for fulfilling your promise to us. LET'S GO ORANGE!!!

Brian Bennett: Amazing, isn't it? Marrone would tell you he and the program are not there yet. But if the Orange can beat Cincinnati and other things break right, they might just sneak into the Top 25. Who would have thunk it? Marrone is making a case for national coach of the year.

Chris from Louisville writes: I noticed in your Monday video that you, as myself, seem to be a fan of Godzilla. and I was wanting to know who you think might win in a fight between Charlie Strong and Godzilla? Personally, I think if they two were to ever come to blows, The Universe would collapse. What do you think?

Brian Bennett: I just know I wouldn't want to be a Japanese skyscraper in that scenario.

Johnintheville from Louisville writes: I had a great nickname for the Cards' Bilal Powell, who is having a phenomenal year for Louisville. I was going to call him the "Silent Assassin" because he was a humble guy and didn't talk to the press. After talking to you and others after the UConn win, what should we call him now?

Brian Bennett: How about "The Face?" Strong gave him that nickname as the face of the program, and he's sure more of a face than a voice. Plus, it kinds of reminds me of the A-Team which is cool.

Jeff from LSU writes: Just wondering if you noticed that so far Syracuse has been involved in three homecoming games. In those three games, the homecoming team has lost. Syracuse defeated USF and West Virginia on their homecomings, while losing their own to Pitt. Oddly enough, the Bearcats' homecoming is this Saturday against Syracuse. Should Cincinnati think about switching homecoming until the Rutgers game instead?

Brian Bennett: Won't someone think of the poor homecoming queens and kings?

Alex from Piscataway writes: Thank you for continuing to cover the tragic situation regarding Eric LeGrand. I really do feel there was an underestimation about how much this would affect the RU players, coaches and community. I cannot imagine having to concentrate in practice or film study while the teammate that used to sit next to me is in a hospital bed fighting for basic life functions. Unfortunately, I would not expect much out of RU the rest of the year. There were several major flaws (O-line and QB play) on this team that spirited defensive and special teams play was overcoming but I just cannot see it continuing. Eric is not showing signs of improvement and I can tell you the local media is on this story day and night.

Being a member of the community myself, I can tell you the typical excitement of the college football season has been completely drained while we all worry more about Eric's fate. I think you can sense it in Coach Schiano's demeanor, we are all really worried, concerned and I hate to admit it but football is not first on our minds right now. Unfortunately, I think you saw that reflect in RU's play on Saturday and will likely see it going forward.

Brian Bennett: It's hard to tell how a situation like this will affect a team. I thought the Scarlet Knights came out strong on Saturday, but it sure seemed like they wore out in the second half, and that might have been due to the emotional toll. Or it might have just been that they have been relying on their defense and special teams to bail them out for so long that the dam finally broke against a really talented Pitt offense.

Either way, I wouldn't give up on this team yet. Yes, the offensive problems aren't going away and may end up being the ultimate flaw. But as far as the LeGrand situation goes, we saw how UConn responded last year with the Jasper Howard tragedy. It took the Huskies a few games to get over the hump, but once they did they played inspired football down the stretch.

And once again, if you'd like to contribute to the Eric Grand "Believe" Fund, here is the link.

Duane W. from Yorktown, Va., writes: WOW, BB, 'Cuse just got the best win in the conf, have only 1 loss and you project us to finish 5th. Oh, Ye of little faith.

Brian Bennett: I assume Duane is referencing my latest bowl projections, where I had Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl. Putting aside for a minute how impossible it is to project the Big East bowls at this point, there's one thing you must keep in mind: outside of the BCS slot, bowl positioning doesn't really take into account how the teams finish. Bowls will take the teams that they think best suit them in terms of geography and matchups. Even if Syracuse finishes second, I think the Orange make a lot of sense for the Pinstripe Bowl given their location and the fact that no one knows how the fan base will travel after the six-year postseason layoff. A team like West Virginia with its fan base would be more attractive to the Champs Sports people regardless of record.

Brad from Pittsburgh writes: Have you noticed that for the last four weeks when you order the upcoming games by importance/interest, that Pitt has been on top of the every week? Seems to me like you just can't get enough Pitt (while trying to figure them this whole season) and it's only going to continue with the exciting schedule ahead to close out the season.

Brian Bennett: It's not that I have Pitt fever. Two weeks ago, Syracuse was really the story. Last week, Pitt and Rutgers played the only game featuring teams undefeated in league play, along with the LeGrand angle. Now, the Panthers are on top the Big East standings and worth monitoring. But their finishing kick against West Virginia and Cincinnati figures to be full of drama and interest.

Greg from Chicago writes: I wanted to first thank the College Football Gods that B.J. and USF found their stride Friday night in Cincy. Second, I wanted to recognize the fans at Nippert Stadium. I had a group of about eight USF Alumni who I attended the game with Friday. We happened to sit in the 4th row behind the Cincinnati bench. The fans were mostly mild mannered, and despite the loss they showered us with praises and good luck wishes as we exited the stadium.

This reminded us of what great fans we have in the Big East. We have been to some other stadiums in different conferences around the country that have had terrible fans. But Friday night we left with an even higher respect for the University of Cincinnati and their fans. Good luck with your predictions this week!

Nathan G. from New Brunswick, N.J., writes: I'm a long-time reader, first-time commenter, and a student assistant with the video department of the Rutgers football team. While I was working on the sidelines this past weekend, one of the Pitt cheerleaders came up to me and said, "I just wanted to let you know, everyone at Pitt, all the sports and clubs and fraternities, we're praying for Eric LeGrand." I found this tremendously kind, and hope you'll share it on the Big East blog.

Brian Bennett: We'll end the mailbag this week on these happy notes.