College Football Nation: Jason Pierre-Paul
Draft history made at Rutgers, South Florida
April, 23, 2010
4/23/10
10:30
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
As expected, three Big East players were drafted in the first round. That still qualified as big news for two league schools.
Rutgers' Anthony Davis went 11th to San Francisco, the highest draft pick in school history. Devin McCourty later joined him in the first round when New England took him No. 27 overall. The Scarlet Knights' only other first-round pick in their history came last year with Kenny Britt.
Rutgers is the first Big East school with two first-round picks in the same draft since Miami and Virginia Tech in 2004.
Former University of South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul made history tonight when he was selected with the 15th pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the New York Giants, becoming USF’s highest draft pick ever and the 12th selection in USF history.
Meanwhile, Jason Pierre-Paul became South Florida's highest-ever draftee when he went to the New York Giants at No. 15. The Bulls have only one other first-rounder in their short history, and that's 2008 selection Mike Jenkins, who was taken with the 25th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Big East's three first-round selections were one more than the Pac-10, the same as the Big Ten and one fewer than the ACC. And of course, the Big East has fewer teams than any of those leagues.
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Bill Stiener/Icon SMIJason Pierre-Paul is the highest-drafted player ever from the University of South Florida.
Bill Stiener/Icon SMIJason Pierre-Paul is the highest-drafted player ever from the University of South Florida.Rutgers is the first Big East school with two first-round picks in the same draft since Miami and Virginia Tech in 2004.
Former University of South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul made history tonight when he was selected with the 15th pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the New York Giants, becoming USF’s highest draft pick ever and the 12th selection in USF history.
Meanwhile, Jason Pierre-Paul became South Florida's highest-ever draftee when he went to the New York Giants at No. 15. The Bulls have only one other first-rounder in their short history, and that's 2008 selection Mike Jenkins, who was taken with the 25th overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Big East's three first-round selections were one more than the Pac-10, the same as the Big Ten and one fewer than the ACC. And of course, the Big East has fewer teams than any of those leagues.
Cal's Alualu surprise 10th pick in NFL draft
April, 23, 2010
4/23/10
10:08
AM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Here's a prediction: California defensive end Tyson Alualu is going to surprise some folks and end up a top-10 NFL draft pick.
Little late on that one, eh?
Alualu was the first Pac-10 player drafted Thursday night -- which was projected by no one -- going 10th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Bears teammate Jahvid Best was the only other conference player selected on Day 1. Best went to the Detroit Lions with the 30th pick.
Round 2 begins today at 6 p.m. ET. Expect the second round to include a number of Pac-10 players, including those who slipped during recent weeks, such as USC safety Taylor Mays and UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price.
Alualu is the highest Cal selection since Andre Carter was taken seventh overall by San Francisco in 2001. He is the Bears’ ninth top-10 pick in the draft’s history. And his selection was rated the "biggest reach" of the first day by Todd McShay.
Wrote McShay, "Jacksonville used the 10th overall pick to take California DT Tyson Alualu, who we feel is a good player but is only the No. 35 overall on our board. Top-10 money is pretty rich for a player like Alualu, especially when pass-rushers like Derrick Morgan and Jason Pierre-Paul would have offered much more value at that point."
Another notable pick is the Seattle Seahawks' selection of safety Earl Thomas at No. 14. That means former USC coach Pete Carroll wanted a safety but didn't want Mays.
Ouch.
Got to admit: I thought at least one team would jump on Mays just because of his athleticism, much like it took only one team to make Tim Tebow a No. 1 pick (Denver).
Another observation: Former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford going No. 1 overall is a good thing for college football. It shows players who want to come back for their senior season that even a major injury won't automatically ruin your draft prospects.
Of course, Mays right now is probably questioning his decision to return, considering he likely would have been a top-15 pick in 2009.
Little late on that one, eh?
Alualu was the first Pac-10 player drafted Thursday night -- which was projected by no one -- going 10th overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Bears teammate Jahvid Best was the only other conference player selected on Day 1. Best went to the Detroit Lions with the 30th pick.
Round 2 begins today at 6 p.m. ET. Expect the second round to include a number of Pac-10 players, including those who slipped during recent weeks, such as USC safety Taylor Mays and UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price.
Alualu is the highest Cal selection since Andre Carter was taken seventh overall by San Francisco in 2001. He is the Bears’ ninth top-10 pick in the draft’s history. And his selection was rated the "biggest reach" of the first day by Todd McShay.
Wrote McShay, "Jacksonville used the 10th overall pick to take California DT Tyson Alualu, who we feel is a good player but is only the No. 35 overall on our board. Top-10 money is pretty rich for a player like Alualu, especially when pass-rushers like Derrick Morgan and Jason Pierre-Paul would have offered much more value at that point."
Another notable pick is the Seattle Seahawks' selection of safety Earl Thomas at No. 14. That means former USC coach Pete Carroll wanted a safety but didn't want Mays.
Ouch.
Got to admit: I thought at least one team would jump on Mays just because of his athleticism, much like it took only one team to make Tim Tebow a No. 1 pick (Denver).
Another observation: Former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford going No. 1 overall is a good thing for college football. It shows players who want to come back for their senior season that even a major injury won't automatically ruin your draft prospects.
Of course, Mays right now is probably questioning his decision to return, considering he likely would have been a top-15 pick in 2009.
Biggest shoes to fill in the Big East
February, 8, 2010
2/08/10
10:04
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
A year ago at this time, the Big East was dealing with the loss of a plethora of stars, including some of the best players in league history. Guys like Pat White, Donald Brown, Kenny Britt, LeSean McCoy and Scott McKillop seemed difficult, if not impossible, to replace.
The league fared just fine in 2009 without those stars, and the good news for 2010 is that many of its top performers will be back. But that's not to say there aren't still some key losses that teams will have to adjust to this spring. Here's a look at the biggest shoes to fill this season in the Big East:
The league fared just fine in 2009 without those stars, and the good news for 2010 is that many of its top performers will be back. But that's not to say there aren't still some key losses that teams will have to adjust to this spring. Here's a look at the biggest shoes to fill this season in the Big East:
- Mardy Gilyard, WR, Cincinnati: The Bearcats aren't exactly hurting at wide receiver with Armon Binns, D.J. Woods and USC transfer Vidal Hazelton around. Still, someone must replace Gilyard's leadership and knack for making the big play at crucial times. What might be even more difficult to replace is Gilyard's production on special teams. The two-time Big East special teams player of the year was always a threat to score on kickoffs and punt returns. And hopefully someone will step in Gilyard's role as the best quote in the entire conference.
- Tim Brown, WR, Rutgers: Brown may not have received a ton of attention nationally, but he was vitally important to the Scarlet Knights. The speedster averaged 20.9 yards per catch and amassed 1,150 receiving yards and nine touchdowns as the team's only true deep threat. With a still very young receiving corps surrounding Tom Savage, Rutgers will need to find someone who can stretch the field the way Brown did.
- Mick Williams, DT, Pittsburgh: The 2009 co-defensive player of the year in the conference, Williams was a wildly disruptive force in the middle of that Panthers defensive line, as well as an inspirational leader. With fellow senior tackle Gus Mustakas also gone, Pitt needs more production from backups Myles Caragein and Chas Alecxih, among others.
- Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers: McCourty was an underappreciated gem for the Scarlet Knights, a lockdown cornerback who also was seemingly everywhere on special teams. He was the leader of the secondary. Guys with his skills don't come around that often.
- Reed Williams, LB, West Virginia: The Mountaineers had to deal with Williams' absence for most of 2008 and at times this past season because of various injuries. But it was clear that they were a different team whenever Williams was healthy. A smart player (he's the 2009 Big East football scholar-athlete of the year ) who anchored the defense at middle linebacker, Williams was like a coach on the field.
- George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida: Say what you will about Selvie's dwindling production, but opposing offense still always had to account for him. And Pierre-Paul ascended to star status in his one year on campus. Combined, the two produced 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2009. The Bulls now need the next wave of pass-rushers to emerge, with former stud recruit Ryne Giddins one possible candidate.
South Florida a plum job for the right guy
January, 8, 2010
1/08/10
3:48
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
Over the years, I've had several Big East coaches and administrators point to South Florida as the sleeping giant of the league.
They knew that if the Bulls got everything going, that program could turn into a dominant force in the conference. That's saying a lot for a school that didn't even field a football team until 1997, but South Florida has many advantages.
The No. 1 advantage, of course, is easy access to the gold mine that is Florida high school football talent. Bulls coaches rarely had to leave the state or even spend much time on airplanes in recruiting. Jim Leavitt's rosters usually were made up of about 95 percent Floridians, with the occasional player from Georgia or somewhere else mixed in. Everybody wants to recruit Florida; the Bulls are right in the heart of that talent pipeline in Tampa.
Leavitt's recruiting began to really gain steam recently as well. He pried defensive end Ryne Giddins away from Florida and others, like receiver Sterling Griffin, out of the clutches of Miami. The administration allowed Leavitt to mine the junior college route as well, and he plucked gems like Kion Wilson and Jason Pierre-Paul out of those ranks.
South Florida may never consistently outrecruit Florida, Florida State and Miami, but as one of only four BCS conference schools in the state, it has plenty of drawing power. And just winning a few of those battles, augmented by other outstanding local high school players, is enough to make the Bulls highly competitive in the Big East year in and year out.
The university is trying to shake free of its image as a commuter school, and the facilities aren't up to par with some of the Bulls' Big East counterparts. The team has no indoor practice facility, for instance, and has had to either cancel workouts or go inside the Sun Dome -- the school's basketball arena -- during big storms, which of course are commonplace in Florida. With little history and tradition to draw upon, the program lacks the well-heeled booster presence of other schools on its level.
But the Tampa location is enticing for recruits, as is the chance to play in Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls play in a large metropolitan area that loves football and will support a winner, as evidenced by the huge crowds for games against West Virginia, Cincinnati and Miami recently.
There will probably be a lot of piling on Leavitt in the coming hours and days. But let's pause here to applaud the job he did of bringing the program from nothing to this point. Whatever you think of the guy, he worked tirelessly and pulled off some stunning wins, including victories at Auburn and Florida State. He guided the Bulls to top-10 rankings in 2007 and 2008, peaking at No. 2 two years ago. He gave legitimacy to the idea that Florida would have a Big Four.
The next guy, if the Bulls make the right hire, could make things even better.
They knew that if the Bulls got everything going, that program could turn into a dominant force in the conference. That's saying a lot for a school that didn't even field a football team until 1997, but South Florida has many advantages.
The No. 1 advantage, of course, is easy access to the gold mine that is Florida high school football talent. Bulls coaches rarely had to leave the state or even spend much time on airplanes in recruiting. Jim Leavitt's rosters usually were made up of about 95 percent Floridians, with the occasional player from Georgia or somewhere else mixed in. Everybody wants to recruit Florida; the Bulls are right in the heart of that talent pipeline in Tampa.
Leavitt's recruiting began to really gain steam recently as well. He pried defensive end Ryne Giddins away from Florida and others, like receiver Sterling Griffin, out of the clutches of Miami. The administration allowed Leavitt to mine the junior college route as well, and he plucked gems like Kion Wilson and Jason Pierre-Paul out of those ranks.
South Florida may never consistently outrecruit Florida, Florida State and Miami, but as one of only four BCS conference schools in the state, it has plenty of drawing power. And just winning a few of those battles, augmented by other outstanding local high school players, is enough to make the Bulls highly competitive in the Big East year in and year out.
The university is trying to shake free of its image as a commuter school, and the facilities aren't up to par with some of the Bulls' Big East counterparts. The team has no indoor practice facility, for instance, and has had to either cancel workouts or go inside the Sun Dome -- the school's basketball arena -- during big storms, which of course are commonplace in Florida. With little history and tradition to draw upon, the program lacks the well-heeled booster presence of other schools on its level.
But the Tampa location is enticing for recruits, as is the chance to play in Raymond James Stadium. The Bulls play in a large metropolitan area that loves football and will support a winner, as evidenced by the huge crowds for games against West Virginia, Cincinnati and Miami recently.
There will probably be a lot of piling on Leavitt in the coming hours and days. But let's pause here to applaud the job he did of bringing the program from nothing to this point. Whatever you think of the guy, he worked tirelessly and pulled off some stunning wins, including victories at Auburn and Florida State. He guided the Bulls to top-10 rankings in 2007 and 2008, peaking at No. 2 two years ago. He gave legitimacy to the idea that Florida would have a Big Four.
The next guy, if the Bulls make the right hire, could make things even better.
A brief primer on Saturday's International Bowl game between South Florida (7-5) and Northern Illinois (7-5):
WHO TO WATCH: B.J. Daniels. The South Florida quarterback is a boom-or-bust player. He can make eye-popping plays or head-scratching freshman mistakes. Putting him on the turf indoors at Toronto's Rogers Centre should allow Daniels to use his speed on scrambles and quarterback keepers -- he is, after all, the Bulls' leading rusher. South Florida fans would love to see Daniels have a big game and gain some positive momentum going into his sophomore year, when most of the offense returns intact.
WHAT TO WATCH: These teams are actually very similar statistically, with Northern Illinois a better offensive team. Of course, the Huskies haven't played as strong a schedule as South Florida, but they did win at Purdue. They rank 17th nationally with more than 200 rushing yards per game, and running back Chad Spann has scored 19 rushing touchdowns. A big key will be whether their offensive line can handle the Bulls up front in what is the last game for star defensive end George Selvie and possible NFL early entree Jason Pierre-Paul.
WHY WATCH: It's hard to keep a straight face and sell this game as terribly interesting. But South Florida is a box-of-chocolates team; you never know what kind of effort you'll get from the Bulls. If they're fully invested into this long trip to a foreign climate, they should have too many athletes for Northern Illinois to handle. The scrutiny of Jim Leavitt may also intensify if he can't manage to beat a 7-5 MAC team in a bowl.
PREDICTION: I've got to believe that South Florida is too fast and talented to lose this game, no matter how little it may actually want to be there. Bulls win 31-16.
WHO TO WATCH: B.J. Daniels. The South Florida quarterback is a boom-or-bust player. He can make eye-popping plays or head-scratching freshman mistakes. Putting him on the turf indoors at Toronto's Rogers Centre should allow Daniels to use his speed on scrambles and quarterback keepers -- he is, after all, the Bulls' leading rusher. South Florida fans would love to see Daniels have a big game and gain some positive momentum going into his sophomore year, when most of the offense returns intact.
WHAT TO WATCH: These teams are actually very similar statistically, with Northern Illinois a better offensive team. Of course, the Huskies haven't played as strong a schedule as South Florida, but they did win at Purdue. They rank 17th nationally with more than 200 rushing yards per game, and running back Chad Spann has scored 19 rushing touchdowns. A big key will be whether their offensive line can handle the Bulls up front in what is the last game for star defensive end George Selvie and possible NFL early entree Jason Pierre-Paul.
WHY WATCH: It's hard to keep a straight face and sell this game as terribly interesting. But South Florida is a box-of-chocolates team; you never know what kind of effort you'll get from the Bulls. If they're fully invested into this long trip to a foreign climate, they should have too many athletes for Northern Illinois to handle. The scrutiny of Jim Leavitt may also intensify if he can't manage to beat a 7-5 MAC team in a bowl.
PREDICTION: I've got to believe that South Florida is too fast and talented to lose this game, no matter how little it may actually want to be there. Bulls win 31-16.
I meant to get to this last week but never did because there was so much news going on. But with the regular season over and bowls approaching, it's time to look back at some of the preseason predictions I made for the Big East and laugh at how dumb I was. (I'll also be revisiting my best case/worst case scenarios for each team starting later today).
Yes, I picked Rutgers to win the league, which should subject me to ridicule in the public square. Here are some other wonderfully naive preseason prognostications from yours truly:
Well, Pike almost certainly would have won this award had he stayed healthy. And he did have a huge year when healthy. Nothing wrong with this pick.
Well, that sentence was true, as Jason Pierre-Paul added a lot to the defensive line. But Selvie was never able to really put up monster numbers even with that help. I went with the safe pick and got burned.
Oy, vey. Howard had three catches on the year. My reasoning was that somebody would step in for Dominick Goodman and provide big stats. I was right about that. It's just that Armon Binns was the tall guy who did it, not Howard.
Can't blame me for this one. Until mid-October, Williams was clearly fulfilling every possible expectation. Until he went and, you know, quit the team. I guess that makes him the Go-away player of the year.
This is the classic case of out-thinking yourself. I saw in person in the spring how good Lewis was, but I had heard reports of Graham's big-play ability coming out of fall camp. I projected Graham would take over instead of going with the safer pick in Lewis. So close.
Brown had a few ups and downs, but he was pretty solid for the most part. With a do-over, I'd probably award this to Dorin Dickerson.
Arguments could be made for Lewis, Jonathan Baldwin, Mardy Gilyard and others. But nothing wrong with this pick.
And they should.
Well, at least I had the date right. Sigh.
I count this one as a win.
At least I can correctly peg disappointments. Like my own predictions.
Yes, I picked Rutgers to win the league, which should subject me to ridicule in the public square. Here are some other wonderfully naive preseason prognostications from yours truly:
Offensive player of the year: Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike. "... I just get the sense that Pike is dialed in and ready for a monster year."
Well, Pike almost certainly would have won this award had he stayed healthy. And he did have a huge year when healthy. Nothing wrong with this pick.
Defensive player of the year: South Florida defensive end George Selvie. "This year, the Bulls have a deeper, more talented defensive line that should take some pressure off their senior pass-rusher ..."
Well, that sentence was true, as Jason Pierre-Paul added a lot to the defensive line. But Selvie was never able to really put up monster numbers even with that help. I went with the safe pick and got burned.
Newcomer of the year: Cincinnati receiver Jamar Howard. " ... This 6-foot-4 junior-college transfer has the size and speed to provide a compelling target for Pike."
Oy, vey. Howard had three catches on the year. My reasoning was that somebody would step in for Dominick Goodman and provide big stats. I was right about that. It's just that Armon Binns was the tall guy who did it, not Howard.
Comeback player of the year: Syracuse receiver Mike Williams. "After missing all of last year because of academic problems, the Orange's top playmaker from 2007 returns and will be the go-to guy in the passing game."
Can't blame me for this one. Until mid-October, Williams was clearly fulfilling every possible expectation. Until he went and, you know, quit the team. I guess that makes him the Go-away player of the year.
Freshman of the year: Pittsburgh running back Ray Graham. "Clearly, a freshman is going to have a huge opportunity to run behind the Panthers' offensive line, as true frosh Dion Lewis is battling Graham for the top spot on the depth chart right now."
This is the classic case of out-thinking yourself. I saw in person in the spring how good Lewis was, but I had heard reports of Graham's big-play ability coming out of fall camp. I projected Graham would take over instead of going with the safer pick in Lewis. So close.
Breakout player of the year: West Virginia quarterback Jarrett Brown. "Mountaineers fans already know what Brown is capable of doing, but the rest of the league and the country will finally see ... "
Brown had a few ups and downs, but he was pretty solid for the most part. With a do-over, I'd probably award this to Dorin Dickerson.
Most exciting player: Noel Devine. "The West Virginia running back can seemingly turn any play into a home run and is a threat to reverse field and run by 11 defenders at any time."
Arguments could be made for Lewis, Jonathan Baldwin, Mardy Gilyard and others. But nothing wrong with this pick.
Coach of the year: Greg Schiano. "If Cincinnati's [Brian] Kelly wins this award a third straight time, they should just rename it after him."
And they should.
Game of the year: West Virginia at Rutgers, Dec. 5. "This could turn into the de facto Big East championship game that league officials try to set up every year."
Well, at least I had the date right. Sigh.
Surprise team of the year: Connecticut. "Simply because no one is talking about the Huskies, and Randy Edsall always fields a solid team."
I count this one as a win.
Team that will disappoint: South Florida. "This is a program that, while loaded with athletes, still has to prove it can compete beyond September."
At least I can correctly peg disappointments. Like my own predictions.
The official league selections will come out tomorrow. Here are my choices for the best of the Big East, from a season's worth of observations and some consultation from league coaches:
Offense
QB: Tony Pike, Cincinnati
RB: Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
RB: Noel Devine, West Virginia
WR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
WR: Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
TE: Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh
OT: Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
OT: Jeff Linkenbach, Cincinnati
C: Moe Petrus, Connecticut
OG: John Malecki, Pittsburgh
OG: Zach Hurd, Connecticut
Defense
DE: Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
DE: Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
DT: Mick Williams, Pittsburgh
DT: Chris Neild, West Virginia
LB: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut
LB: Kion Wilson, South Florida
LB: Derrell Smith, Syracuse
CB: Devin McCourty, Rutgers
CB: Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh
S: Aaron Webster, Cincinnati
S: Nate Allen, South Florida
Specialists
K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia
P: Scott Kozlowski, West Virginia
KR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
PR: Robert McClain, Connecticut
Offense
QB: Tony Pike, Cincinnati
RB: Dion Lewis, Pittsburgh
RB: Noel Devine, West Virginia
WR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
WR: Jonathan Baldwin, Pittsburgh
TE: Dorin Dickerson, Pittsburgh
OT: Jason Pinkston, Pittsburgh
OT: Jeff Linkenbach, Cincinnati
C: Moe Petrus, Connecticut
OG: John Malecki, Pittsburgh
OG: Zach Hurd, Connecticut
Defense
DE: Greg Romeus, Pittsburgh
DE: Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida
DT: Mick Williams, Pittsburgh
DT: Chris Neild, West Virginia
LB: Lawrence Wilson, Connecticut
LB: Kion Wilson, South Florida
LB: Derrell Smith, Syracuse
CB: Devin McCourty, Rutgers
CB: Aaron Berry, Pittsburgh
S: Aaron Webster, Cincinnati
S: Nate Allen, South Florida
Specialists
K: Tyler Bitancurt, West Virginia
P: Scott Kozlowski, West Virginia
KR: Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati
PR: Robert McClain, Connecticut
Wrapping up the Big East regular season
December, 8, 2009
12/08/09
2:06
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
It was supposed to be a down year for the Big East.
The league entered the season with no ranked teams and much uncertainty. Every team had at least one major question mark, and several stars were lost in the 2009 NFL draft.
Instead, the conference had one of its strongest showings and most exciting seasons ever. Two teams -- Cincinnati and Pittsburgh -- cracked the top 10, five total league teams appeared in the Top 25 at some point and three finished in the final rankings. Cincinnati provided the Big East a legitimate powerhouse, going 12-0 and coming up a controversial Big 12 second short of possibly crashing the BCS title game.
While the Bearcats were clearly the league's best team, the conference remained very balanced. Cincinnati beat Pitt by one point, Connecticut by two and West Virginia by three. West Virginia beat Pitt on a last-second field goal, while Pitt pulled the same trick on UConn.
South Florida got its usual September day in the sun by beating Florida State before slinking back into the shade by mid-October. Rutgers won eight games, including a blowout of South Florida and a thriller over UConn, but couldn't get a signature win. Syracuse, despite a 4-8 record, showed signs of progress under first-year coach Doug Marrone, while Louisville ended the Steve Kragthorpe era after missing a bowl for the third straight year.
In all, the league was highly competitive each week and finished 32-8 against nonconference opponents. The Big East provided lots of great stories -- like Cincinnati's run, UConn's strength in the light of tragedy and Greg Paulus' transition from point guard to quarterback -- and several dramatic games, including the Cincinnati-Pitt finale and virtually every game Connecticut played. Many young stars, from Dion Lewis to Mohamed Sanu to Zach Collaros, came of age under the bright lights and will be making plays in this league for years.
If that's what a down year looks like, may the Big East never find its way up.
Offensive MVP: Pitt running back Dion Lewis
Had Tony Pike stayed healthy all year, he may have run away with this award. But that doesn't diminish the amazing achievements by Lewis, who did the unthinkable by dominating the conference as a true freshman. He finished third in the nation in rushing with 1,640 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards nine times and went over 150 yards in five of his last seven games. The rest of the Big East can't believe they have to face this guy for at least two more years.
Defensive MVP: Pitt defensive tackle Mick Williams
This was a very difficult choice. Several defensive players had standout years, but there was no one obvious guy like Scott McKillop last year. I asked a few coordinators around the league for help with this pick, and the consensus was that Williams and fellow Pitt defensive lineman Greg Romeus were the two most disruptive, headache-inducing defenders in the conference this year. I give Williams the nod over Romeus because he had 15 tackles for loss from the defensive tackle position, which is very impressive, and his work on the inside helped make it possible for Romeus to rush the passer on the edge.
Special teams MVP: Cincinnati returner Mardy Gilyard
Rutgers' Devin McCourty had a great year on special teams as well, but Gilyard had the uncanny ability to make a huge play when his team needed it most. Never was that more evident than his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pitt. Gilyard returned two kickoffs and a punt back for scores this year and was a threat to go all the way every time he touched the ball.
Newcomer of the year: Lewis
If he's the offensive player of the year, then this is obvious. There were other top-notch newcomers who might have won this in other years, including Rutgers' Sanu and South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul.
Coach of the year: Cincinnati's Brian Kelly
Kelly might not have any more room on his mantle for this award since it would be the third time in three years he's won it. UConn's Randy Edsall deserves strong consideration as well for the way he kept his team together and led with grace after the death of Jasper Howard. But 12-0 is 12-0, especially when you replaced virtually your entire defense.
Biggest surprise: Connecticut
Not so much that it finished 7-5, which was about as expected, but because the Huskies rebounded from tragedy to close the year strong while becoming an offensive power.
Biggest disappointment: South Florida
I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but after yet another 5-0 start that included a win at Florida State, the Bulls sure should have done better than 7-5 and the International Bowl. Yes, Matt Grothe's injury didn't help. But when you consider that five of the team's victories came over two FCS teams, Western Kentucky, Syracuse and Louisville, that 7-5 mark looks even drearier.
Game of the year: Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44, Dec. 5
The Big East saved its best for last, as the schedule worked out perfectly to create a de facto championship game at Heinz Field. And what a game it was, with Cincinnati coming back from a 21-point first-half deficit and 14-point fourth quarter hole to win on a touchdown pass in the final minute. It's a game that will remembered by both sides for a long, long time.
The league entered the season with no ranked teams and much uncertainty. Every team had at least one major question mark, and several stars were lost in the 2009 NFL draft.
Instead, the conference had one of its strongest showings and most exciting seasons ever. Two teams -- Cincinnati and Pittsburgh -- cracked the top 10, five total league teams appeared in the Top 25 at some point and three finished in the final rankings. Cincinnati provided the Big East a legitimate powerhouse, going 12-0 and coming up a controversial Big 12 second short of possibly crashing the BCS title game.
[+] Enlarge
Al Messerschmidt/Getty ImagesDion Lewis rushed for 1,640 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Panthers.
Al Messerschmidt/Getty ImagesDion Lewis rushed for 1,640 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Panthers.South Florida got its usual September day in the sun by beating Florida State before slinking back into the shade by mid-October. Rutgers won eight games, including a blowout of South Florida and a thriller over UConn, but couldn't get a signature win. Syracuse, despite a 4-8 record, showed signs of progress under first-year coach Doug Marrone, while Louisville ended the Steve Kragthorpe era after missing a bowl for the third straight year.
In all, the league was highly competitive each week and finished 32-8 against nonconference opponents. The Big East provided lots of great stories -- like Cincinnati's run, UConn's strength in the light of tragedy and Greg Paulus' transition from point guard to quarterback -- and several dramatic games, including the Cincinnati-Pitt finale and virtually every game Connecticut played. Many young stars, from Dion Lewis to Mohamed Sanu to Zach Collaros, came of age under the bright lights and will be making plays in this league for years.
If that's what a down year looks like, may the Big East never find its way up.
Offensive MVP: Pitt running back Dion Lewis
Had Tony Pike stayed healthy all year, he may have run away with this award. But that doesn't diminish the amazing achievements by Lewis, who did the unthinkable by dominating the conference as a true freshman. He finished third in the nation in rushing with 1,640 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. He eclipsed 100 yards nine times and went over 150 yards in five of his last seven games. The rest of the Big East can't believe they have to face this guy for at least two more years.
Defensive MVP: Pitt defensive tackle Mick Williams
This was a very difficult choice. Several defensive players had standout years, but there was no one obvious guy like Scott McKillop last year. I asked a few coordinators around the league for help with this pick, and the consensus was that Williams and fellow Pitt defensive lineman Greg Romeus were the two most disruptive, headache-inducing defenders in the conference this year. I give Williams the nod over Romeus because he had 15 tackles for loss from the defensive tackle position, which is very impressive, and his work on the inside helped make it possible for Romeus to rush the passer on the edge.
Special teams MVP: Cincinnati returner Mardy Gilyard
Rutgers' Devin McCourty had a great year on special teams as well, but Gilyard had the uncanny ability to make a huge play when his team needed it most. Never was that more evident than his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Pitt. Gilyard returned two kickoffs and a punt back for scores this year and was a threat to go all the way every time he touched the ball.
Newcomer of the year: Lewis
If he's the offensive player of the year, then this is obvious. There were other top-notch newcomers who might have won this in other years, including Rutgers' Sanu and South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul.
Coach of the year: Cincinnati's Brian Kelly
Kelly might not have any more room on his mantle for this award since it would be the third time in three years he's won it. UConn's Randy Edsall deserves strong consideration as well for the way he kept his team together and led with grace after the death of Jasper Howard. But 12-0 is 12-0, especially when you replaced virtually your entire defense.
Biggest surprise: Connecticut
Not so much that it finished 7-5, which was about as expected, but because the Huskies rebounded from tragedy to close the year strong while becoming an offensive power.
Biggest disappointment: South Florida
I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, but after yet another 5-0 start that included a win at Florida State, the Bulls sure should have done better than 7-5 and the International Bowl. Yes, Matt Grothe's injury didn't help. But when you consider that five of the team's victories came over two FCS teams, Western Kentucky, Syracuse and Louisville, that 7-5 mark looks even drearier.
Game of the year: Cincinnati 45, Pitt 44, Dec. 5
The Big East saved its best for last, as the schedule worked out perfectly to create a de facto championship game at Heinz Field. And what a game it was, with Cincinnati coming back from a 21-point first-half deficit and 14-point fourth quarter hole to win on a touchdown pass in the final minute. It's a game that will remembered by both sides for a long, long time.
South Florida (7-5) vs. Northern Illinois (7-5):
Jan. 2, Noon (ESPN2)
South Florida take by Big East blogger Brian Bennett: Suppose you would have asked South Florida back on Sept. 26, just hours after it scored a potentially program-changing victory at Florida State in Tallahassee, where the Bulls would end up bowling.
I bet you could have polled all 85 scholarship players and not found a single one who would have said in Toronto against a 7-5 MAC team.
Such, however, is the state of South Florida, a program that never wins enough after strong starts to matter much in the end. The Bulls won just twice after Oct. 3 and thus earned the Big East's version of a postseason banishment: Canada.
Head coach Jim Leavitt's first order of business will be to get his players excited about such an assignment and convince them that Northern Illinois is dangerous. The Huskies, after all, beat Purdue and gave Wisconsin a battle on the road earlier this year and have a strong rushing attack.
Still, there's little to suggest that Northern Illinois can keep up athletically with the Bulls, who have future pros like George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul on defense, electric boom-or-bust quarterback B.J. Daniels and a fleet of fast receivers. With proper motivation and focus, South Florida should be the heavy favorite in this game.
But that's assuming a lot for a team that too many times comes out flat emotionally. And that's why a promising start to the year is ending in Toronto for the Bulls.
Northern Illinois take by Independents and Others blogger Graham Watson: For the first time in school history, Northern Illinois will play a bowl game in back-to-back seasons. This is only the sixth overall bowl for the Huskies, and head coach Jerry Kill, who is in his second season, is responsible for two of them.
Northern Illinois finished second in the Mid-American Conference West behind league champion Central Michigan. The Huskies seven wins are the most since 2006 and that included a 28-21 win over Purdue, the school’s second-ever win over a Big Ten school.
Northern Illinois has spent most of the season dealing with injuries. Starting quarterback Chandler Harnish missed significant time and backup DeMarcus Grady put the Huskies in a position to play for a division championship.
The strength of Northern Illinois is its running game. The Huskies have a one-two punch in Chad Spann and Me'co Brown. The two have combined for 1,590 yards and Spann has accounted for 19 rushing touchdowns. Spann’s 20 total touchdowns give him the most points in the MAC.
The Huskies’ rushing attack should be able to find some daylight against South Florida, which allows 137.75 rushing yards per game.
The Northern Illinois defense will have a challenge against dual-threat quarterback B.J. Daniels, who leads the team in both passing and rushing. He is the bulk of the Bulls offense and will be a point of emphasis for the Huskies’ defense.
Jan. 2, Noon (ESPN2)
South Florida take by Big East blogger Brian Bennett: Suppose you would have asked South Florida back on Sept. 26, just hours after it scored a potentially program-changing victory at Florida State in Tallahassee, where the Bulls would end up bowling.
I bet you could have polled all 85 scholarship players and not found a single one who would have said in Toronto against a 7-5 MAC team.
Such, however, is the state of South Florida, a program that never wins enough after strong starts to matter much in the end. The Bulls won just twice after Oct. 3 and thus earned the Big East's version of a postseason banishment: Canada.
Head coach Jim Leavitt's first order of business will be to get his players excited about such an assignment and convince them that Northern Illinois is dangerous. The Huskies, after all, beat Purdue and gave Wisconsin a battle on the road earlier this year and have a strong rushing attack.
Still, there's little to suggest that Northern Illinois can keep up athletically with the Bulls, who have future pros like George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul on defense, electric boom-or-bust quarterback B.J. Daniels and a fleet of fast receivers. With proper motivation and focus, South Florida should be the heavy favorite in this game.
But that's assuming a lot for a team that too many times comes out flat emotionally. And that's why a promising start to the year is ending in Toronto for the Bulls.
Northern Illinois take by Independents and Others blogger Graham Watson: For the first time in school history, Northern Illinois will play a bowl game in back-to-back seasons. This is only the sixth overall bowl for the Huskies, and head coach Jerry Kill, who is in his second season, is responsible for two of them.
Northern Illinois finished second in the Mid-American Conference West behind league champion Central Michigan. The Huskies seven wins are the most since 2006 and that included a 28-21 win over Purdue, the school’s second-ever win over a Big Ten school.
Northern Illinois has spent most of the season dealing with injuries. Starting quarterback Chandler Harnish missed significant time and backup DeMarcus Grady put the Huskies in a position to play for a division championship.
The strength of Northern Illinois is its running game. The Huskies have a one-two punch in Chad Spann and Me'co Brown. The two have combined for 1,590 yards and Spann has accounted for 19 rushing touchdowns. Spann’s 20 total touchdowns give him the most points in the MAC.
The Huskies’ rushing attack should be able to find some daylight against South Florida, which allows 137.75 rushing yards per game.
The Northern Illinois defense will have a challenge against dual-threat quarterback B.J. Daniels, who leads the team in both passing and rushing. He is the bulk of the Bulls offense and will be a point of emphasis for the Huskies’ defense.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
As of Monday afternoon, George Selvie hadn't watched any tape of South Florida's 41-14 humiliation at Pitt, and he didn't plan on looking at it, either.
"We didn't just get beat, we got whooped," the Bulls' defensive end said. "I'm not going to watch it. I was disgusted."
Selvie and the rest of his teammates already know the plot of that film. You know, the one where the hero starts off strong and gets killed in the middle.
Or at least that's been the Bulls' story arc now for three straight years. And like most sequels, they've upped the gore in the latest installment.
Though South Florida has struggled in October before, rarely has it been so thoroughly dominated defensively. After allowing just 47 points in the first five games, the Bulls gave up 75 in losses to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Those two teams combined for 887 yards of offense.
True, the Bulls have faced the top two scoring teams in the Big East the past two times out. But the third highest scoring offense comes to Tampa on Friday night, when No. 21 West Virginia (6-1, 2-0 Big East) tries to continue South Florida's month of misery.
"It all comes down to pride," Selvie said. "You can't let people win over you like that. We've got to come together as a defense and see what our problem is."
The defensive problems have started up front. The Bulls' defensive line, so dominant earlier in the season, hit a roadblock in the form of the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh protection schemes. Pitt in particular used a lot of help to stop Selvie and Jason-Pierre Paul, leaving in tight ends and a fullback to block while making sure to get rid of the ball quickly. But even when they had solo blockers, Selvie and Pierre-Paul did no damage.
"There's no excuse for not getting a pass rush, because we're a pass-rushing defensive line," Selvie said. "When we don't, that makes it hard on our DBs and our linebackers."
The Bulls' corners tried to play press coverage at times against Pitt and got burned. Teams have also been able to run the ball right at the defense, which is never a good sign when Noel Devine is on deck.
Defensive coordinator Joe Tresey lamented that his unit gave up too many explosive plays and committed too many penalties against Pittsburgh. Curiously, the defense also seemed to lack its usual passion.
"We just never got going," Tresey said. "Our energy level and enthusiasm has got to pick up."
The Bulls talked in the preseason about how their only goal was to win the Big East. Now, barring a highly unlikely chain of events, that dream is already dead. Instead, they're back to answering questions about yet another midseason swoon.
"It's very frustrating," senior receiver Jessie Hester said. "I've been here five years, and it's been like that every year. I feel like we have lots of talent and most of the time, we beat ourselves.
"We still haven't had a 10-win season yet, and so that's still in reach. But we can't lose any more games."
If South Florida can't get back on track against West Virginia, especially defensively, it will produce another film that none of the Bulls want to see.
"We've been through this before," Selvie said. "We've got to stop it right now before it gets really bad."
As of Monday afternoon, George Selvie hadn't watched any tape of South Florida's 41-14 humiliation at Pitt, and he didn't plan on looking at it, either.
"We didn't just get beat, we got whooped," the Bulls' defensive end said. "I'm not going to watch it. I was disgusted."
Selvie and the rest of his teammates already know the plot of that film. You know, the one where the hero starts off strong and gets killed in the middle.
Or at least that's been the Bulls' story arc now for three straight years. And like most sequels, they've upped the gore in the latest installment.
Though South Florida has struggled in October before, rarely has it been so thoroughly dominated defensively. After allowing just 47 points in the first five games, the Bulls gave up 75 in losses to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Those two teams combined for 887 yards of offense.
True, the Bulls have faced the top two scoring teams in the Big East the past two times out. But the third highest scoring offense comes to Tampa on Friday night, when No. 21 West Virginia (6-1, 2-0 Big East) tries to continue South Florida's month of misery.
"It all comes down to pride," Selvie said. "You can't let people win over you like that. We've got to come together as a defense and see what our problem is."
The defensive problems have started up front. The Bulls' defensive line, so dominant earlier in the season, hit a roadblock in the form of the Cincinnati and Pittsburgh protection schemes. Pitt in particular used a lot of help to stop Selvie and Jason-Pierre Paul, leaving in tight ends and a fullback to block while making sure to get rid of the ball quickly. But even when they had solo blockers, Selvie and Pierre-Paul did no damage.
"There's no excuse for not getting a pass rush, because we're a pass-rushing defensive line," Selvie said. "When we don't, that makes it hard on our DBs and our linebackers."
The Bulls' corners tried to play press coverage at times against Pitt and got burned. Teams have also been able to run the ball right at the defense, which is never a good sign when Noel Devine is on deck.
Defensive coordinator Joe Tresey lamented that his unit gave up too many explosive plays and committed too many penalties against Pittsburgh. Curiously, the defense also seemed to lack its usual passion.
"We just never got going," Tresey said. "Our energy level and enthusiasm has got to pick up."
The Bulls talked in the preseason about how their only goal was to win the Big East. Now, barring a highly unlikely chain of events, that dream is already dead. Instead, they're back to answering questions about yet another midseason swoon.
"It's very frustrating," senior receiver Jessie Hester said. "I've been here five years, and it's been like that every year. I feel like we have lots of talent and most of the time, we beat ourselves.
"We still haven't had a 10-win season yet, and so that's still in reach. But we can't lose any more games."
If South Florida can't get back on track against West Virginia, especially defensively, it will produce another film that none of the Bulls want to see.
"We've been through this before," Selvie said. "We've got to stop it right now before it gets really bad."
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
1. Can West Virginia solve South Florida's defense?: The Mountaineers have scored 13 points in each of their last two games against the Bulls and have failed to break 20 points in the last three installments of this series. South Florida's defensive adjustments are one reason why Bill Stewart wanted to diversify the West Virginia offense. It's much more balanced now between the pass and the run, and a multiple-touchdown game would serve as validation to the system change.
2. Can South Florida solve South Florida's defense?: The Bulls' defense might have had success recently against West Virginia, but it hasn't done much right in the past two games, surrendering 75 points to Cincinnati and Pitt combined. The pass rush up front with George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul has been curtailed, and the defensive backs are getting burned. West Virginia can score in many ways and will do so many times unless South Florida fixes its gaps.
3. Noel Devine: The star running back is West Virginia's safety valve whenever the offense stalls. USF has the second-worst rushing defense in the Big East. Sounds like a good matchup for the Mountaineers.
4. Collaros in the Carrier Dome: All signs point to Zach Collaros making his second start in place of the injured Tony Pike at quarterback for Cincinnati. Collaros was brilliant last week against Louisville, but he'll have a little tougher task this week on the road against a better defense. Will he be up to it? The Bearcats' BCS title hopes depend on it.
5. Delone Carter: Carter is coming off a career day, with 170 yards and three touchdowns against Akron. He's a strong, physical back in the mold of Ryan Mathews, who gave Cincinnati fits earlier this year. If he can move the chains, that will help Syracuse keep the Bearcats' offense on the sidelines.
6. Mike Williams vs. Mardy Gilyard: Who's the best receiver in the Big East? With apologies to Jonathan Baldwin, these two guys are at the top of the list, with similarly outsized statistics. Williams missed last week because of a one-game suspension and should be plenty motivated to atone for that. He's Syracuse's best playmaker and maybe the best chance to keep this game close. The thought of Gilyard using his speed on the Carrier Dome turf is tantalizing.
7. Remembering Howard at home: UConn will play its first game at Rentschler Field since the death of Jasper Howard. It figures to be the second straight emotionally charged Saturday for the Huskies, who will try to channel those feelings into another inspired effort against Rutgers. "This is the last place we want to lose, especially under these circumstances," UConn linebacker Greg Lloyd said this week.
8. Red alert for Scarlet Knights' offense: Rutgers has not had an easy time scoring against the better teams on its schedule. The Scarlet Knights mustered 15 points against Cincinnati in the opener and 17 versus Pittsburgh. Connecticut has a physical, run-stuffing defense with ball-hawking defensive backs. Can Tom Savage get anything going consistently in the passing game, or will Rutgers have to try to grind it out while hoping its own defense saves the day?
9. Louisville's potential Halloween nightmare: The Cardinals are barely favored at home against Arkansas State, which tells you just about all you need to know about the state of the program. Fans are depressed, and it could well be a sparse crowd at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Red Wolves, who nearly won at Iowa this season, can't be taken lightly. A home loss to this Sun Belt team would likely be the final stake in Steve Kragthorpe's tenuous tenure.
10. The BCS standings: As long as Cincinnati is in the hunt, the Sunday release of the BCS standings remains something to watch in the Big East. Last week, the Bearcats dropped three spots after a 31-point win over Louisville. Beating Syracuse probably wouldn't help their strength-of-schedule much, either. Can Cincinnati get some help from other teams losing or from the pollsters this week?
1. Can West Virginia solve South Florida's defense?: The Mountaineers have scored 13 points in each of their last two games against the Bulls and have failed to break 20 points in the last three installments of this series. South Florida's defensive adjustments are one reason why Bill Stewart wanted to diversify the West Virginia offense. It's much more balanced now between the pass and the run, and a multiple-touchdown game would serve as validation to the system change.
2. Can South Florida solve South Florida's defense?: The Bulls' defense might have had success recently against West Virginia, but it hasn't done much right in the past two games, surrendering 75 points to Cincinnati and Pitt combined. The pass rush up front with George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul has been curtailed, and the defensive backs are getting burned. West Virginia can score in many ways and will do so many times unless South Florida fixes its gaps.
3. Noel Devine: The star running back is West Virginia's safety valve whenever the offense stalls. USF has the second-worst rushing defense in the Big East. Sounds like a good matchup for the Mountaineers.
4. Collaros in the Carrier Dome: All signs point to Zach Collaros making his second start in place of the injured Tony Pike at quarterback for Cincinnati. Collaros was brilliant last week against Louisville, but he'll have a little tougher task this week on the road against a better defense. Will he be up to it? The Bearcats' BCS title hopes depend on it.
5. Delone Carter: Carter is coming off a career day, with 170 yards and three touchdowns against Akron. He's a strong, physical back in the mold of Ryan Mathews, who gave Cincinnati fits earlier this year. If he can move the chains, that will help Syracuse keep the Bearcats' offense on the sidelines.
6. Mike Williams vs. Mardy Gilyard: Who's the best receiver in the Big East? With apologies to Jonathan Baldwin, these two guys are at the top of the list, with similarly outsized statistics. Williams missed last week because of a one-game suspension and should be plenty motivated to atone for that. He's Syracuse's best playmaker and maybe the best chance to keep this game close. The thought of Gilyard using his speed on the Carrier Dome turf is tantalizing.
7. Remembering Howard at home: UConn will play its first game at Rentschler Field since the death of Jasper Howard. It figures to be the second straight emotionally charged Saturday for the Huskies, who will try to channel those feelings into another inspired effort against Rutgers. "This is the last place we want to lose, especially under these circumstances," UConn linebacker Greg Lloyd said this week.
8. Red alert for Scarlet Knights' offense: Rutgers has not had an easy time scoring against the better teams on its schedule. The Scarlet Knights mustered 15 points against Cincinnati in the opener and 17 versus Pittsburgh. Connecticut has a physical, run-stuffing defense with ball-hawking defensive backs. Can Tom Savage get anything going consistently in the passing game, or will Rutgers have to try to grind it out while hoping its own defense saves the day?
9. Louisville's potential Halloween nightmare: The Cardinals are barely favored at home against Arkansas State, which tells you just about all you need to know about the state of the program. Fans are depressed, and it could well be a sparse crowd at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Red Wolves, who nearly won at Iowa this season, can't be taken lightly. A home loss to this Sun Belt team would likely be the final stake in Steve Kragthorpe's tenuous tenure.
10. The BCS standings: As long as Cincinnati is in the hunt, the Sunday release of the BCS standings remains something to watch in the Big East. Last week, the Bearcats dropped three spots after a 31-point win over Louisville. Beating Syracuse probably wouldn't help their strength-of-schedule much, either. Can Cincinnati get some help from other teams losing or from the pollsters this week?
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
PITTSBURGH -- Given that it's their last year of college and they have a bye week for Halloween, roommates Bill Stull and Dorin Dickerson are planning their costumes for next week.
"We're big scary movie guys," Stull said. "We might get some Michael Myers and Jason outfits."
Simply by wearing their home football uniforms on Saturday, the Pittsburgh teammates helped scare the bejeezus out of the rest of the Big East.
The No. 20 Panthers have always been viewed as having perhaps the most talented roster in the league, but they also held themselves back with silly mistakes or sloppy execution. This week, Pitt put everything together in a 41-14 pounding of South Florida that wasn't even as close as that lopsided score indicates.
All things considered, it was the top overall performance of the Dave Wannstedt era. Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0 Big East) is off to its best start since Dan Marino's senior year in 1982, and if it can approach this week's performance, it might well finish as the Big East champion.
The Panthers only have three more league games left, and the next one is Syracuse at home after the bye. They close the season at West Virginia, whom they've beaten two years in a row, and at home against Cincinnati Dec. 5 in what is shaping up as a possible de facto league title game.
"Up to this point, it's probably all talk (about) are you a contender or a pretender," Wannstedt said. "I think our guys now should get a taste that we should be a contender."
Put this win in context of the calendar, because October is the time of year when South Florida always wilts. Still, the Bulls have rarely gotten steamrolled quite like this.
Pitt never punted, led 31-7 at halftime and rested all of its starters in the fourth quarter after building a 41-7 cushion. The defense, which had allowed too many passing yards and hadn't created enough turnovers most of the season, bullied the Bulls into three interceptions and just 212 total yards. South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels had as many picks (2) and sacks (2) as he did completions while going just 4-of-8 for 54 yards.
The other side of the ball proved even more impressive. The ballyhooed South Florida defensive line never got any leverage against the Panthers' offensive front. Stull had enough time to finish a Primanti Bros. sandwich before he threw and was never sacked. Did he even get hit?
"I got a little push one time," said Stull, who completed his first 11 passes and threw for 245 yards and two scores in the comfy pocket.
Pitt kept tight end Nate Byham in to block and left fullback Henry Hynoski in on third down for the first time all season to neutralize defensive ends George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul. Tackles Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix did the rest.
"(Offensive line coach Tony) Wise put the challenge on me and Lucas, just to get our hands on them right away," Pinkston said. "We let Bill get hit a couple of times at Rutgers last week, so we took it on ourselves this week."
The lack of pressure opened all sorts of options. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti wisely force fed 6-foot-5 receiver Jonathan Baldwin, who had six catches for a career-best 144 yards. Freshman tailback Dion Lewis piled up 111 yards and two touchdowns while going over 1,000 yards for the season, and fellow freshman Ray Graham added 88 yards on the ground.
Apologies to Cincinnati and West Virginia, but Pittsburgh might have the most varied offensive weapons in the Big East.
"Shady (McCoy) was a great player, but he was our offense last year," Dickerson said. "That's what's difference about this team -- we've got a lot more playmakers."
"We've never had this type of balance," Wannstedt said.
Wannstedt said he heard an interview with Phil Simms on the radio while driving to Heinz Field, and Simms talked about how teams make mistakes to keep themselves average. He relayed that message to his players before the game, and Pitt played about as cleanly as possible, committing only two penalties and converting 11 of 16 third downs.
It looks like a team of horror-movie fans is developing a killer instinct.
"We definitely inflicted some pain today," Stull said.
PITTSBURGH -- Given that it's their last year of college and they have a bye week for Halloween, roommates Bill Stull and Dorin Dickerson are planning their costumes for next week.
"We're big scary movie guys," Stull said. "We might get some Michael Myers and Jason outfits."
 | |
| Justin K. Aller/Icon SMI | |
| Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull led a frighteningly good Panthers team Saturday. |
The No. 20 Panthers have always been viewed as having perhaps the most talented roster in the league, but they also held themselves back with silly mistakes or sloppy execution. This week, Pitt put everything together in a 41-14 pounding of South Florida that wasn't even as close as that lopsided score indicates.
All things considered, it was the top overall performance of the Dave Wannstedt era. Pittsburgh (7-1, 4-0 Big East) is off to its best start since Dan Marino's senior year in 1982, and if it can approach this week's performance, it might well finish as the Big East champion.
The Panthers only have three more league games left, and the next one is Syracuse at home after the bye. They close the season at West Virginia, whom they've beaten two years in a row, and at home against Cincinnati Dec. 5 in what is shaping up as a possible de facto league title game.
"Up to this point, it's probably all talk (about) are you a contender or a pretender," Wannstedt said. "I think our guys now should get a taste that we should be a contender."
Put this win in context of the calendar, because October is the time of year when South Florida always wilts. Still, the Bulls have rarely gotten steamrolled quite like this.
Pitt never punted, led 31-7 at halftime and rested all of its starters in the fourth quarter after building a 41-7 cushion. The defense, which had allowed too many passing yards and hadn't created enough turnovers most of the season, bullied the Bulls into three interceptions and just 212 total yards. South Florida quarterback B.J. Daniels had as many picks (2) and sacks (2) as he did completions while going just 4-of-8 for 54 yards.
The other side of the ball proved even more impressive. The ballyhooed South Florida defensive line never got any leverage against the Panthers' offensive front. Stull had enough time to finish a Primanti Bros. sandwich before he threw and was never sacked. Did he even get hit?
"I got a little push one time," said Stull, who completed his first 11 passes and threw for 245 yards and two scores in the comfy pocket.
Pitt kept tight end Nate Byham in to block and left fullback Henry Hynoski in on third down for the first time all season to neutralize defensive ends George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul. Tackles Jason Pinkston and Lucas Nix did the rest.
"(Offensive line coach Tony) Wise put the challenge on me and Lucas, just to get our hands on them right away," Pinkston said. "We let Bill get hit a couple of times at Rutgers last week, so we took it on ourselves this week."
The lack of pressure opened all sorts of options. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti wisely force fed 6-foot-5 receiver Jonathan Baldwin, who had six catches for a career-best 144 yards. Freshman tailback Dion Lewis piled up 111 yards and two touchdowns while going over 1,000 yards for the season, and fellow freshman Ray Graham added 88 yards on the ground.
Apologies to Cincinnati and West Virginia, but Pittsburgh might have the most varied offensive weapons in the Big East.
"Shady (McCoy) was a great player, but he was our offense last year," Dickerson said. "That's what's difference about this team -- we've got a lot more playmakers."
"We've never had this type of balance," Wannstedt said.
Wannstedt said he heard an interview with Phil Simms on the radio while driving to Heinz Field, and Simms talked about how teams make mistakes to keep themselves average. He relayed that message to his players before the game, and Pitt played about as cleanly as possible, committing only two penalties and converting 11 of 16 third downs.
It looks like a team of horror-movie fans is developing a killer instinct.
"We definitely inflicted some pain today," Stull said.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
PITTSBURGH -- Greetings from Heinz Field, where it's homecoming for No. 20 Pitt against South Florida today.
It rained nearly all day Friday, but the skies are clear this afternoon and the temperature should be about 60 degrees by kickoff.
One bit of pregame news for South Florida: Running back Jamar Taylor, who's missed the entire season with a knee injury, will dress and is expected to play. How much of a role he will have is questionable.
What I like about this game is that, using strictly the eyeball test, these two teams might have the most impressive overall rosters in the Big East. I'm not saying they're the best or even the most talented teams. But they both have athletes who look imposing coming off the bus.
And the high level of skill players on both sides makes for some enticing matchups. A few I'm most interested in today are:
I'll have much more to come throughout the day from the Steel City.
PITTSBURGH -- Greetings from Heinz Field, where it's homecoming for No. 20 Pitt against South Florida today.
It rained nearly all day Friday, but the skies are clear this afternoon and the temperature should be about 60 degrees by kickoff.
One bit of pregame news for South Florida: Running back Jamar Taylor, who's missed the entire season with a knee injury, will dress and is expected to play. How much of a role he will have is questionable.
What I like about this game is that, using strictly the eyeball test, these two teams might have the most impressive overall rosters in the Big East. I'm not saying they're the best or even the most talented teams. But they both have athletes who look imposing coming off the bus.
And the high level of skill players on both sides makes for some enticing matchups. A few I'm most interested in today are:
- George Selvie vs. Jason Pinkston: The Bulls' senior defensive end had a great battle last week with Cincinnati left tackle Jeff Linkenbach and will face another of the league's best today. Jason Pierre-Paul will give sophomore right tackle Lucas Nix a handful as well.
- Jonathan Baldwin vs. Jerome Murphy and Nate Allen: The Panthers' 6-foot-5 freak of an athlete at receiver will go against one of the league's better corners and perhaps its best safety. Murphy will have to play better than his mistake-filled game against Cincinnati.
- Dion Lewis vs. Kion Wilson: The battle of 'ions. The Big East's leading rusher will surely be met several times by the Bulls' tough-as-nails middle linebacker. We'll see if Wilson has any more success wrapping up the 5-foot-8 ball of fury than other defenders have so far this season.
I'll have much more to come throughout the day from the Steel City.
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
One of the most interesting debates you could have in the preseason about the Big East was trying to figure out which team had the better defensive line between Pittsburgh and South Florida.
Halfway through the season, there is still no definitive answer. Each unit has a strong claim to boasting the best front four in the league. Pitt ranks third nationally in sacks and 12th in tackles for loss while the Bulls are 19th in the FBS in both categories (Cincinnati, it should be noted, is ahead of both in those stats, but the Bearcats play out of a three-man front).
The debate could be settled this Saturday, when South Florida takes on the Panthers in Heinz Field. Fans will be treated to two defensive lines stacked with pass-rushing menaces and future pros.
"I think there are a lot of similarities," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "One is the scheme, because we're both 4-3 teams. And we both turn our D-linemen loose, if you will. We play aggressively with those guys up front."
Both lines feature top candidates for the Big East defensive player of the year award, including South Florida defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul (8.5 tackles for loss) and George Selvie (three sacks) and Pitt defensive end Greg Romeus (seven sacks) and tackle Mick Williams (11.5 tackles for loss). Jabaal Sheard, Romeus' counterpart at the other end spot, continues to be one of the more underrated players in the league.
While both lines have some big guys -- Bulls tackle Terrell McClain is 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, and Williams and fellow Pitt tackle Gus Mustakas are strong as oxen -- both lines share preferences for speed over size. Selvie, for example, was a high school center who has worked most of his career to put on weight, while Romeus was a slender high school basketball player who has bulked up to 270 pounds.
"They're both very athletic with a lot of speed," Pitt offensive lineman John Malecki said. "[South Florida] utilizes a lot of different things in their pass rushing, with line games and stunts, just like we do."
One major key to the game will be how both offensive lines hold up under the massive pressure. Pitt has allowed only six sacks in seven games, ranking 13th in the FBS in that statistic. But its O-line has not seen a D-line as fearsome as South Florida's yet.
The Bulls have given up 11 sacks in six games, but Cincinnati had four in last week 34-17 win in Tampa. B.J. Daniels' scrambling ability probably has saved at least a half-dozen or more additional sacks. Still, this unit came into the year as the team's biggest question mark.
"We were supposed to be the weakest link of the team," center Sampson Genus said, "and so far, we're doing pretty well."
I asked Romeus if he and his teammates were looking at this week as a chance to prove they have the Big East's best defensive line. He chuckled.
"We went into the season wanting to be the best in the conference and the country," he said. "That's something we're trying to accomplish every week, regardless of who we're playing."
Yet there's no getting around the fact that Saturday's game will provide a feast for those who like watching the trenches.
"I think it's going to be a defensive game, and obviously it starts up front," Romeus said. "Whichever D-line comes up big will have a big sway in who ends up winning the game."
One of the most interesting debates you could have in the preseason about the Big East was trying to figure out which team had the better defensive line between Pittsburgh and South Florida.
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| George Gojkovich/Getty Images | |
| Greg Romeus (91) and Mick Williams (95) have led a stout Pitt defensive line. |
The debate could be settled this Saturday, when South Florida takes on the Panthers in Heinz Field. Fans will be treated to two defensive lines stacked with pass-rushing menaces and future pros.
"I think there are a lot of similarities," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "One is the scheme, because we're both 4-3 teams. And we both turn our D-linemen loose, if you will. We play aggressively with those guys up front."
Both lines feature top candidates for the Big East defensive player of the year award, including South Florida defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul (8.5 tackles for loss) and George Selvie (three sacks) and Pitt defensive end Greg Romeus (seven sacks) and tackle Mick Williams (11.5 tackles for loss). Jabaal Sheard, Romeus' counterpart at the other end spot, continues to be one of the more underrated players in the league.
While both lines have some big guys -- Bulls tackle Terrell McClain is 6-foot-3, 306 pounds, and Williams and fellow Pitt tackle Gus Mustakas are strong as oxen -- both lines share preferences for speed over size. Selvie, for example, was a high school center who has worked most of his career to put on weight, while Romeus was a slender high school basketball player who has bulked up to 270 pounds.
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| Cliff Welch/Icon SMI | |
| South Florida's Jason Pierre-Paul has 8.5 tackles for loss this season. |
One major key to the game will be how both offensive lines hold up under the massive pressure. Pitt has allowed only six sacks in seven games, ranking 13th in the FBS in that statistic. But its O-line has not seen a D-line as fearsome as South Florida's yet.
The Bulls have given up 11 sacks in six games, but Cincinnati had four in last week 34-17 win in Tampa. B.J. Daniels' scrambling ability probably has saved at least a half-dozen or more additional sacks. Still, this unit came into the year as the team's biggest question mark.
"We were supposed to be the weakest link of the team," center Sampson Genus said, "and so far, we're doing pretty well."
I asked Romeus if he and his teammates were looking at this week as a chance to prove they have the Big East's best defensive line. He chuckled.
"We went into the season wanting to be the best in the conference and the country," he said. "That's something we're trying to accomplish every week, regardless of who we're playing."
Yet there's no getting around the fact that Saturday's game will provide a feast for those who like watching the trenches.
"I think it's going to be a defensive game, and obviously it starts up front," Romeus said. "Whichever D-line comes up big will have a big sway in who ends up winning the game."
Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
1. Honoring Howard: The rest of the country will watch to see how Connecticut reacts to the stabbing death of its starting cornerback, Jasper Howard. There will be a moment of silence before the West Virginia game, and both teams will be wearing decals to honor Howard's legacy. Perhaps the best tribute the Huskies could pay to their fallen teammate is to play with passion and pull off a victory.
2. Jarrett Brown: The West Virginia quarterback is supposedly feeling much better from his mild concussion last week against Marshall. If he does indeed start, will he be his usual effective self? Or will he be gun shy at all when he takes off to run?
3. Battle of the front fours: Pitt and South Florida probably have the best defensive lines in the Big East, and it will be a treat to see both on the same field Saturday. Who gets the upper hand in the showdown of defensive end duos? The Bulls' George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul or the Panthers' Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard? All of them could be on an NFL field very soon.
4. B.J. Daniels: The South Florida quarterback was an acrobat in escaping from Cincinnati's pass rush last week, but many times he was just running around in the backfield and not coming up with positive plays. Pitt's defense is quick and athletic and can slow him down on the option-read plays. Where Daniels can make something happen is in the deep passing game against the Panthers' secondary. Provided, of course, that he's not spending all his time dancing around would-be tacklers.
5. Dion Lewis: The true freshman leads the Big East and is second in the nation in rushing and will obviously be a key to Pitt's chances against the Bulls. As strong as South Florida's pass rush is, you can run right at them. Pounding Lewis between the tackles -- and he loves to run inside despite his small stature -- will keep those defensive ends at bay.
6. Cincinnati's quarterback situation: As of Thursday morning, it's unclear who will start under center for the Bearcats. It could be Tony Pike, who underwent an operation to repair a plate in his left arm Tuesday morning. Or it could be one of the backups, Chazz Anderson or Zach Collaros. The situation bears monitoring. Can Pike sustain his level of play with another cast on his arm? And can Cincinnati keep the same offensive pace with one of his understudies in the game?
7. Louisville's running back health: The Cardinals' top three tailbacks -- Victor Anderson, Bilal Powell and Darius Ashley -- were all hurt during last week's game at Connecticut, and the team turned to former walk-on Blayne Donnell late in the fourth quarter. The trio is supposed to be better this week. For Louisville to have any chance against Cincinnati, it will need all hands on deck.
8. Rutgers' offense: The Scarlet Knights had four different players either line up at quarterback or attempt a pass last week against Pitt. There is creativity, and then there is desperation. This offense is still seeking an identity. Army, of course, provides our nation with great defense. But the Black Knights shouldn't be able to stop a capable Big East attack. Rutgers needs to go out and have a big night on the ground and through the air in West Point.
9. Greg Paulus: Doug Marrone insists that Paulus is still his guy. Paulus says he's as confident as ever. Still, after throwing six interceptions in six quarters and being pulled for the second half against West Virginia, the quarterback could use a strong performance this week. If he can't avoid mistakes against the Akron defense, there will be questions about whether it's time to turn to Ryan Nassib.
10. The BCS standings: Cincinnati was barely ahead of Iowa in this week's initial BCS standings. Can the Bearcats maintain their No. 5 position, or even move up? Iowa plays at Michigan State, while No. 4 Boise State has to go to Hawaii. Another game that could help Cincinnati's computer ranking is Oregon State at USC, since the Bearcats beat the Beavers earlier this season. The suspense will continue each week as long as Brian Kelly's team is hovering near BCS title game qualification.
1. Honoring Howard: The rest of the country will watch to see how Connecticut reacts to the stabbing death of its starting cornerback, Jasper Howard. There will be a moment of silence before the West Virginia game, and both teams will be wearing decals to honor Howard's legacy. Perhaps the best tribute the Huskies could pay to their fallen teammate is to play with passion and pull off a victory.
2. Jarrett Brown: The West Virginia quarterback is supposedly feeling much better from his mild concussion last week against Marshall. If he does indeed start, will he be his usual effective self? Or will he be gun shy at all when he takes off to run?
3. Battle of the front fours: Pitt and South Florida probably have the best defensive lines in the Big East, and it will be a treat to see both on the same field Saturday. Who gets the upper hand in the showdown of defensive end duos? The Bulls' George Selvie and Jason Pierre-Paul or the Panthers' Greg Romeus and Jabaal Sheard? All of them could be on an NFL field very soon.
4. B.J. Daniels: The South Florida quarterback was an acrobat in escaping from Cincinnati's pass rush last week, but many times he was just running around in the backfield and not coming up with positive plays. Pitt's defense is quick and athletic and can slow him down on the option-read plays. Where Daniels can make something happen is in the deep passing game against the Panthers' secondary. Provided, of course, that he's not spending all his time dancing around would-be tacklers.
5. Dion Lewis: The true freshman leads the Big East and is second in the nation in rushing and will obviously be a key to Pitt's chances against the Bulls. As strong as South Florida's pass rush is, you can run right at them. Pounding Lewis between the tackles -- and he loves to run inside despite his small stature -- will keep those defensive ends at bay.
6. Cincinnati's quarterback situation: As of Thursday morning, it's unclear who will start under center for the Bearcats. It could be Tony Pike, who underwent an operation to repair a plate in his left arm Tuesday morning. Or it could be one of the backups, Chazz Anderson or Zach Collaros. The situation bears monitoring. Can Pike sustain his level of play with another cast on his arm? And can Cincinnati keep the same offensive pace with one of his understudies in the game?
7. Louisville's running back health: The Cardinals' top three tailbacks -- Victor Anderson, Bilal Powell and Darius Ashley -- were all hurt during last week's game at Connecticut, and the team turned to former walk-on Blayne Donnell late in the fourth quarter. The trio is supposed to be better this week. For Louisville to have any chance against Cincinnati, it will need all hands on deck.
8. Rutgers' offense: The Scarlet Knights had four different players either line up at quarterback or attempt a pass last week against Pitt. There is creativity, and then there is desperation. This offense is still seeking an identity. Army, of course, provides our nation with great defense. But the Black Knights shouldn't be able to stop a capable Big East attack. Rutgers needs to go out and have a big night on the ground and through the air in West Point.
9. Greg Paulus: Doug Marrone insists that Paulus is still his guy. Paulus says he's as confident as ever. Still, after throwing six interceptions in six quarters and being pulled for the second half against West Virginia, the quarterback could use a strong performance this week. If he can't avoid mistakes against the Akron defense, there will be questions about whether it's time to turn to Ryan Nassib.
10. The BCS standings: Cincinnati was barely ahead of Iowa in this week's initial BCS standings. Can the Bearcats maintain their No. 5 position, or even move up? Iowa plays at Michigan State, while No. 4 Boise State has to go to Hawaii. Another game that could help Cincinnati's computer ranking is Oregon State at USC, since the Bearcats beat the Beavers earlier this season. The suspense will continue each week as long as Brian Kelly's team is hovering near BCS title game qualification.
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