Brian Bennett

  (3:01 PM)

Hello, everybody. Big news in the Big East today, as Brian Kelly says he's staying in Cincinnati. Let's talk some football

Larry (Cincinnati, OH)

Kelly seems to be taking the opposite road taken by Rich Rodriguez upon his departure from WVU, the former believing that the road to a National Championship can go through the Big East. In your opinion, how much does the nightmare at Michigan possibly influence Kelly?s decision in light of a possible dream position opening up at Notre Dame?

Brian Bennett

  (3:03 PM)

I doubt that Rich Rodriguez had any influence on Kelly's decision. I think he enjoys living in Cincinnati and thinks he can do some good things there. And maybe he doesn't like the options available to him with other jobs right now. I'd still hesitate to say he's staying for sure until the Notre Dame job is figured out.

Vince (Austin, Tx)

Brian, This may be wishful thinking here, but it never hurts to dream. IF coach Kelly sticks around and UC commits to an indoor practice field & stadium expansion, can the program grow similar to Va Tech? Many things are on UC's side: great local high school talent, premium facilities, an easier road to the BCS versus many SEC/Big 10 teams, etc. Your thoughts? Thanks,

Brian Bennett

  (3:05 PM)

That's an interesting thought. The stadium really does need to be upgraded to keep attracting good players. But there are an awful lot of good recruits in Ohio that can keep the program growing. I think Louisville might be a better comparison, since it's another city school in the Big East. Maybe the Bearcats take that mantle as the Cardinals are down right now

Jeff (Bristol CT)

Hey Brian, So is it almost 100% that Uconn goes to International. What are their chances of going to this bowl?...Is it too early to start planning a trip to Canada?....Let me know man! Thanks

Brian Bennett

  (3:06 PM)

Nothing's 100 percent, but I think this one is at least 85-90. The Sun, St. Pete and Meineke aren't really options, and you do not want to go to Birmingham.

Scott (Keyport, NJ)

What's your take on Donald Brown possibly coming out? He's obviously ready, 5-10/210, 4.4 fourty and squats 600 lbs. What round do you see him going?

Brian Bennett

  (3:08 PM)

I talked to Donald today, actually. He said he won't make any decision until the end of the season. Pros: He's had a great year and is a fourth-year junior. Cons: Running backs just aren't drafted the way they used to be unless they're truly elite talents. I tend to think he comes back.

Zach, Sunbury PA

Brian, How can a desperate Notre Dame team have a slight chance to get a Sun Bowl bid from Pitt? Pitt beat them in head to head and have more wins overall, and with one more win will have 2nd in the Big East. I understand Notre Dame has better traveling fans, and yes i'll admit if Pitt goes to El Paso I won't be in the crowd but come on it's time for Notre Dame to join a conference or get out of the Big East's bowls. What do you think that the Big East should do with Notre Dame? Thank You

Brian Bennett

  (3:09 PM)

Notre Dame will only go to the Sun Bowl if Rutgers loses to Louisville. Wins don't matter. Money does. And money is why ND doesn't need a conference.

Josh, stockbridge, ga

Who do you predict to win the s.e.c. championship this saturday in atlanta??

Brian Bennett

  (3:10 PM)

I've gone back and forth on this one. RIght now, I'm leaning toward an Alabama upset, especially if Harvin isn't 100 percent.

Jim Zuravnsky from Rockaway, NJ

I am a WVU alum and have had a hard time dealing with our season. I have not idea what this new coaching staff has done to our offense that returned nine starters and Pat White. Is it safe to say that winning the Fiesta Bowl(which that got Bill Stewart the coaching position)was the worse thing that could have happened to the future of the WVU football program?

Brian Bennett

  (3:11 PM)

It's been a tough transition, but I'm not sure it would have been a whole lot better with a different coach. Fact is, this offense isn't that hard to stop without any threat of a power running game and with receivers who just aren't that good. It hasn't been a banner year for Bill Stewart, but let's see what he and Jeff Mullen can do with another year as they reshape this offense.

David (Storrs, Connecticut)

Hey Brian, What is the picking order for the Bowls, and when this weekend will we find out (other than the obvious choices) who goes where? Also, just wondering on a scale of 1-10 on how surprised you were of the Big East working out the way it did. I mean with Cincy winning the Conference and Rutgers reincarnating with the UConn loss.

Brian Bennett

  (3:13 PM)

The Big East pecking order is: Gator/Sun, followed by Meineke and then International, St. Pete and Papajohns.com work together for the best fits. I think Rutgers is one of the biggest surprises in college football for its turnaround this year. I thought Cincinnati could be really good, and I had them ranked in the Top 25 the first week. But to do what they did with the QB injuries was amazing (and they got a bit of a break on the timing of those problems, too).

Shonne Green (Iowa CIty)

I am the best running back in the nation without a doubt. How did all the Big East teams let me slip through the cracks?

Brian Bennett

  (3:15 PM)

Well, you're from New Jersey, and Rutgers had a pretty good RB named Ray Rice, while UConn has Donald Brown. So that's understandable.

Joe (Moundsville WV)

What do you think Pat White's chance is to get back to a New Years bowl and set the record for a QB winning 4 such bowls?

Brian Bennett

  (3:16 PM)

Zero percent. The Big East doesn't have any New Year's Day bowl slots other than the BCS because the Gator is going to take Nebraska

Brian: (Austin TX)

Brian, what do think about a Texas-OU rematch in the title game is OU takes care of business and Florida wins in a messy SEC game. The computers really seem to dislike Florida and I wonder even if they beat number 1 Alabama, will have enough to pass Texas in the BCS pole.

Brian Bennett

  (3:17 PM)

I've heard this theory, but I think the voters will move Florida up to No. 2 in both polls with some first-place votes, and I think the computer rankings will shoot up with a win over Alabama.

Patrick (Dallas)

If Florida wins the SEC, will Dolphin Stadium have "home-game feel" for the Gators (similar to LSU in the Sugar bowl)? Or does being in Hurricane country offset the 5 hour drive?

Brian Bennett

  (3:18 PM)

It's not quite the same as being 80 miles away as LSU was in New Orleans. Yeah, there would be a lot of Florida fans there, but I suspect Oklahoma would find a way to get in as well.

Ted (Hartford, CT)

So are they letting you cover the Big East Champion Bearcats in Hawaii this weekend or they keeping you on the mainland?

Brian Bennett

  (3:19 PM)

Ooh, I wish I was going to be in Honolulu. Instead I'll be on my couch and it'll probably snow outside.

Matthew (Huntington WV)

Im sorry UC fans out there; Brian do you think that Brian Kelly is overrated? His recruits havent gotten a chance to play. These are Dantonio's kids out there winning games. Ben Mauk was dropped in his lap. It just seems like I dont think teams are going to hire him until they see if he is not a fluke. I sure do love watching those Bearcats play though.

Brian Bennett

  (3:20 PM)

I do not think anyone who goes 21-5 and leads Cincinnati to a BCS game can be called overrated. Let's not forget that Dantonio's recruiting classes were not highly rated and he played a totally different offensive style than Kelly. That said, I do think the one question we have about Kelly is how he can recruit at this level. We won't really know for a couple of years.

Mark(Pittsburgh Pa)

Brian...why is it almost understood that Pitt fans don't travel well. We haven't had a bowl to go to in 5 years let alone a high profile bowl like the Gator. I would expect if Pitt fans knew that if(when) Pitt would win saturday they would sell out their allotment of seats. Plus the Gator Bowl would be getting a high profile player in Mccoy and large TV market as well as a team who most likely may get 10 wins to boot.

Brian Bennett

  (3:22 PM)

That's the reputation, fairly or unfairly. I will say that bowl officials noticed when Pitt brought almost nobody to a huge road game at Cincinnati, which was an easy drive away. There's one way to change that, and that's by turning out en masses for whatever bowl you go to. And it won't be the Gator.

Larry (Glendale, CA)

It seems to me that a round-robin schedule is more legit than a two division/conference championship schedule because LSU did not have to play Georgia last year. What do you think?

Brian Bennett

  (3:23 PM)

12-team conferences are always going to have unbalanced schedules, and then we have farces like Missouri playing for the Big 12 title. The Big East and Pac-10 have the fairest conference races of the big six.

Alex (Orlando, Florida)

Will the St. Pete Bowl be a challenge for USF?

Brian Bennett

  (3:25 PM)

Right now, it looks like Southern Miss or Memphis would be the opponent. Neither one moves the needle much for me. But it would be an old C-USA rivalry redux. If South Florida plays like it has the past six weeks, it can lose to anybody. Should be a home game, though.

joe (new orleans)

i don't buy that "home game feel" thing at all. if a team just happens to be located close to the site of the championship game, so be it. if you don't want LSU to have "home field" in the sugar bowl or florida to have it in the orange bowl, then beat them and keep them out of it. plain and simple.

Brian Bennett

  (3:26 PM)

It's an advantage, but not an unfair one. Everybody knows where the game will be many years in advance.

Allen (Cleveland, OH)

This is Brians second year at UC and already in a BCS bowl game. Lets not forget with the qaurterback injuries he had to face during the season. How long do you think it will be until Cinci is playing for the national title?

Brian Bennett

  (3:26 PM)

Let's not get carried away.

Tim Tebow (Gainesville, FL)

What do I have to do this Saturday to win the Heisman?

Brian Bennett

  (3:27 PM)

Erase Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford's stats.

Dylan Painter (Norman, OK)

Will OU blowout Missouri in the Big 12 title game?

Brian Bennett

  (3:28 PM)

I sure think they will. Mizzou hasn't impressed me all year and lost to Kansas last week. Oklahoma wants to prove it deserved the South Division spot. I say three touchdowns, at least.

Fo Sheezy, Pittsburgh

BRIAN, GREAT JOB ON THE BLOG!!! Let's play the what-if game for a minute. Let's pretend Rutgers loses to Lousiville Thursday night, thus opening up Notre Dame, even at 6-6, for the Sun Bowl. Pitt beats UCONN and gets to 9-3, with a road win against Notre Dame despite playing with their backup QB. Assuming the Sun Bowl still takes Notre Dame, which everyone thinks would happen, does a then 9-3 and top-20 Pitt team then get shafted to the PapaJohns Bowl against a Sun Belt team while WVU goes to Charlotte for a farily attractive matchup against an ACC team, such as Clemson or UNC? This despite Pitt beating both teams head-to-head? If so, I argue that other than Texas Tech being 11-1 and not going to the BCS, Pitt would get the biggest raw deal in all of NCAA with that bowl invitation.

Brian Bennett

  (3:29 PM)

It's very possible, although Pitt would also have a chance at the International Bowl, which has a better payout. But Toronto in January isn't exactly the most desirable locale.

Mark (Boca Raton, FL)

Are you in favor of the Big East expanding it's football program to a 10 team conference?

Brian Bennett

  (3:30 PM)

No. If they could find a ninth football-only member who would add something, that would be worthwhile. But that team's not really out there, and there definitely aren't two more.

Matt Port Monmouth, NJ

Whats your very very early '09 Big East Rankings?

Brian Bennett

  (3:32 PM)

Pitt is the favorite. If Kenny Britt comes back and they find a new QB, Rutgers is No. 2. It looks pretty wide open again. Cincinnati will be good if it can find lots of replacements on defense.

Adam (Pittsburgh)

A hypothetical here, but am I crazy to think Pitt would be a national title contender next year if Shady comes back AND they managed to get a QB who can get their receivers the ball without under/over throwing them every time?

Brian Bennett

  (3:33 PM)

I think national title is a little strong. You're losing your best player on defense, and that quarterback isn't walking through that door.

Ryan (BCS, USA)

Brian - I get OU, Texas, and Bama, but can someone explain to me why Florida is ranked like 2 in most polls and USC is 5? Same record, same fairly soft schedule now that everything has played out, I mean Pac-10 is bad, but LSU, SC, and Georgia wins aren't that great now. Both lost early but Florida does it at home to Ole Miss, and USC does it on the road, Thursday night, to a team that ended up being pretty ok. Fill me in on what I missing? Maybe the Florida blowout of the Citadel in November put them over the edge?

Brian Bennett

  (3:34 PM)

Two reasons: The SEC gets lots of credit in voters' minds, even though outside of Alabama and Florida this year, it's nothing special. And Florida gets all the style points from people who see their big point totals. USC is more defensive-minded and doesn't win as many blowouts. I doubt there's much difference between the teams in reality.

Gretchen (Seattle, WA)

I had thought you have to win your conference to be eligible for the BCS National Championship. If OU loses to Mizzou, does Texas still get to play the SEC Champion for the National Championship even though they aren't the Big 12 Champion?

Brian Bennett

  (3:35 PM)

That is not a rule for the BCS title game. Maybe it should be.

Terry (Pittsburgh)

Where can you get the best Hot Brown Sandwich in Louisville?

Brian Bennett

  (3:35 PM)

Go to the Brown Hotel, where it supposedly was invented.

Richard (Atlanta)

Explain why McCoy and Bradford are even in the Heisman discussion. The award goes to the "most outstanding" player in college football and those two aren't the best in their own conference (Crabtree).

Brian Bennett

  (3:37 PM)

Um, Bradford has thrown for 4,000 yards, 46 touchdowns and only six interceptions. I'd say that's pretty outstanding.

Billy (Boston)

If Uconn has Donald Brown back and two serviceable QBs in Frazer and Endres, what else does the team need to get on top of the Big East?

Brian Bennett

  (3:37 PM)

Receivers, receivers, receivers.

John (Fremont, CA)

If there was a playoff this year, who would you pick to win it all?

Brian Bennett

  (3:37 PM)

The fans

Matt (Louisville, KY)

Hey Brian: Are you hearing any credible rumors regarding Kragthorpe? The Cardinal message boards are loaded with stories, but you can't believe those things. Our recruiting is falling apart and the program is tanking. Thanks.

Brian Bennett

  (3:38 PM)

Here's what's credible: He'll be the coach next year at Louisville.

zach(muncie)

is it safe to say that ball st could beat every team in the big east!!!

Brian Bennett

  (3:39 PM)

I like Ball State. But what's their best win? Indiana? Navy? That doesn't convince me they could beat Cincinnati, Pitt or Rutgers.

Fo Sheezy, Pittsburgh

BRIAN, you say there isn't a team that adds anything as a 9th member. I argue for Central Florida. They are a huge state school (like 10th biggest school in the country), and are located in the heart of one of the richest recruiting bases in the country. They would also give USF a natural rival. Finally, they would provide all Big East teams at least 1 road game in Florida every year, which is huge when recruiting in the state of Florida. UCF also has a new stadium that is pretty decent from what I understand. What would be the downfalls of adding UCF in football only?

Brian Bennett

  (3:41 PM)

The downfall is, they stink. 4-8 this year. Also, South Florida would fight tooth and nail to keep them out. The Bulls (and other Big East programs) wouldn't want a conference rival in their same recruiting area.

George (NYC)

Every seems mad at the tie-breaker system in the Big-12. But when you have a three way tie like this is has to come down to some type of ranking system, even if that is only to get you to two teams (as with the SEC). I have another idea, how about SOS as the final tie-breaker. After all, whoever plays the harder schedule probably deserves it more anyway.

Brian Bennett

  (3:42 PM)

College football just doesn't deal well with ties. That's the inherent problem with a system not based on a playoff on the end. So whatever you used, somebody would be unhappy and think it unfair.

Shiv (Austin)

Brian. OU wins BCS Championship. Texas destroys Ohio St. in Fiesta. AP voters give Texas No. 1 and Split Championship???

Brian Bennett

  (3:42 PM)

No, because no one would be impressed with a BCS win over Ohio State. They're toxic right now in people's minds.

Brian (Ithica)

Whats the latest on the Syracuse HC Job, been hearing a lot, but seeing nothing. Anyone been interviewed yet, they need to quit sleeping on this so recruting can get going.

Brian Bennett

  (3:44 PM)

Daryl Gross has been keeping it very close to the vest. From what I'm hearing, he's talking to a whole lot of people, which is a good idea. Don't forget that Randy Edsall and Skip Holtz have games left, too. Just a thought ...

Matt Grothe (Tampa, FL)

Should I go to the NFL this year?

Brian Bennett

  (3:44 PM)

Love watching you play in college, Matt, but a 6-foot quarterback with an average arm isn't going to excite any NFL general managers.

zach(muncie)

bowling green did beat pitt, and they aren't even one of the best teams in the mac. Ball st would probably beat every team in the big east by at least 14 pts

Brian Bennett

  (3:45 PM)

Yes, and Pitt beat Iowa which beat Penn State. Does that make Pitt the best team in the Big 10? We could do comparative scoring all day.

Michael (Tustin, CA)

I'm working on a playoff proposal as I type this. Should I send it to you once I have all the kinks worked out?

Brian Bennett

  (3:46 PM)

Please don't. I get dozens per week, and it doesn't make any difference. We're not getting a playoff anytime soon.

Colt McCoy (Austin, TX)

Should I enter the draft this year?

Brian Bennett

  (3:46 PM)

See: Grothe, Matt. Though you are a bit taller.

Brian Kelly, Cincinnati

I am staying because I didn't get a ny good offers. What do you think?

Brian Bennett

  (3:48 PM)

I wouldn't rule out the possibility that you've heard through back channels that you aren't getting the ND job. Those things happen a lot. But, I do think you could have gotten a big name job if you wanted to.

Steve (SLC)

Hey Brian...have you ever heard of the University of Utah?

Brian Bennett

  (3:48 PM)

No, what is that?

Johnstone (Wicker Park)

Do you think that OU is guaranteed to be in the MNC game if they win the Big 12 on Saturday, or do you see a scenario in which the Longhorns get more human votes to pass them. (See Mack Browns political stumps last week)

Brian Bennett

  (3:49 PM)

Absolutely guaranteed. Oklahoma has the big edge in the computers, and that's only going to get better with another win

Joe

Isn't the real problem with college football the fact that we rank teams preseason? It'd solve a lot of the problem, I think, if we wait until week 6 or 7 before the first rankings come out. It'd give us a chance to see who's legit and which wins SHOULD be impressive and which ones turn out to be not so much. A playoff would create just as much controversy; the only reason we don't hear more about it for March Madness is that the schools getting left out are small and nobody cares about them. It'd be very different if a Texas Tech gets left out of a playoff.

Brian Bennett

  (3:50 PM)

I don't see how that would have solved the Big 12 South mess, or how it would help distinguish between one-loss teams like USC and Penn State

Steve (SLC)

thanks for answering just wondering if you were actually receiving my questions.....any love for the non-BCS?

Brian Bennett

  (3:50 PM)

We love everybody around here. Remember, half the Big East was non-BCS just a couple years ago. I hope the Utes have a good showing in their BCS game

Change (USA)

Has Obama sent in a playoff proposal to you yet?

Brian Bennett

  (3:51 PM)

I think he's working on other things right now. I would expect it by Jan. 1, though

Will (Brooklyn)

In retrospect, what do you think is the worst OOC loss for the Big East this year? Bowling Green? ECU?

Brian Bennett

  (3:52 PM)

Syracuse to Akron

Lloyd, Oakland, CA

Just a thought, but if Texas had actually played somebody in non-conference, they probably would be ahead of Oklahoma. OK knocked of TCU & Cincinnati convincingly. Case Closed

Brian Bennett

  (3:52 PM)

I won't argue that point. Of course, schedules are made years in advance.

Brutus (Columbus, OH)

Why is there not an annual rivalry between Ohio State and Cincinnati or at least try to build one?

Brian Bennett

  (3:53 PM)

My sense is Ohio State doesn't want to play an in-state rival that does nothing but hurt if they lose. Same kind of deal with Penn State and Pitt

Ronnie (Austintown Ohio)

Do you think Joe Pa will return to the Lions next year? I don't thinke he will because he wants a ring and he will lose alot of seniors. What do you think?

Brian Bennett

  (3:55 PM)

I haven't heard or read any indications that he won't come back, so I expect to see him on the sidelines in '09.

Scott (Knoxville, TN)

Brian, You've mentioned bowl payout several times. Has the Big East done away with the bowl pool profit sharing where the whole league gets a prorated version of the pool depending upon where they finished? Or did you simply forget?

Brian Bennett

  (3:56 PM)

They share, but the team going to the bowl gets a little bigger slice of the pie.

Thane (Cincinnati Ohio)

Brian, it seems to me like the biggest factor in Kelly's decision to stay is the expansion of Nippert and an indoor practice facility. What do you think is the ideal size of a stadium for the Cats and do you think a win in the orange bowl would have them finish in the top 10?

Brian Bennett

  (3:57 PM)

I have a hard time seeing how they can get more than 5-10k more seats in Nippert without destroying every bit of the charm, especially while adding luxury boxes. Louisville has done fine with a 42k stadium, though. And Cincy could play some big games at Paul Brown downtown. They'd sure be more fun to watch there than the pathetic Bengals

Nima (Anaheim, CA

How can we take the computers seriously when Jeff Sagarin has James Madison, who is in the FCS, ranked #24 in the nation?

Brian Bennett

  (3:58 PM)

I say JMU vs. Alabama in the Sugar Bowl

Matt (Enterprise, AL)

You would call Alabama over Florida an upset? Better look at the rankings..

Brian Bennett

  (3:58 PM)

Or look at the Vegas line. That's what a real upset is

Jacob: (Austin, TX)

Why doesn't the media understand a three way tie. Even the other conferences that break the tie a different way are wrong. The Big 12 has it right. This is for the division, not for the National Championship. I don't the media or fans are understanding that. If three teams tie then it should come down to strength of non conference wins or strength of top 25 or top 50 wins. To me it is common sense.

Brian Bennett

  (4:00 PM)

I'm not a big fan of just dropping the lowest ranked team of the three, as the SEC does. The Big East has the same rule as the Big 12, though it would never determine a national championship contender. As I've said, there's just no right way in a sport with no playoff. It's all artificial and subjective

Greg P (Staten Island,NY)

Brian, any chance Boise St plays in a bowl other than Human. Bowl?

Brian Bennett

  (4:00 PM)

I think they could get TCU in the Poinsettia, and that's a game I'd watch

William (Jacksonville)

People keep saying that Florida hasn't played anyone that good this season, well if you look at strength of schedule bewtween Florida and Alabama doesn't Florida have the advantage?

Brian Bennett

  (4:01 PM)

Neither have played a great schedule. Bama beat Clemson and Florida beat FSU. Not a ton of difference. Both beat Georgia and LSU. But Bama beat Ole Miss, and Florida did not

Art (Houston)

Brian... regarding Jacob's statement, the guys on PTI put it well yesterday. They asked, "why would the Big12 want people, voters with bias, and computers outside of the conference making the decision? Your thoughts?

Brian Bennett

  (4:02 PM)

Would you prefer computers inside the conference? I just don't see a way of deciding this that everyone would agree upon and say is fair.

Brian Bennett

  (4:03 PM)

OK, I've gone over my time limit. Lots of questions today, and I appreciate it. Enjoy the final week of the college football regular season, everybody.