NBE Big East College Football Report

BELK BOWL PREVIEW: LOUISVILLE vs. NC STATE

Cardinals looking for 8th win of season By Raphielle Johnson The Big East makes its first foray into the bowl season on Tuesday night as tri-champion Louisville (7-5, 5-2) takes on NC State (7-5, 4-4 ACC) in the Belk Bowl (8 PM, ESPN) in Charlotte. Big East Rookie of the Year Teddy Bridgewater has had a month of practice with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, who took over the play calling duties after the fourth game of the season, and the hope that the time to fine-tune that wasn’t there when the change was made will benefit the Cardinals offensively. Both teams enter the game having... [Read more.]

BIG EAST ANNOUNCES END OF SEASON AWARDS

Pead, Wolfe and Jones among honorees Press Release PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cincinnati, Louisville and West Virginia – which finished in a three-way tie for the BIG EAST title – joined Rutgers as schools that had individual winners of the BIG EAST postseason football honors as chosen by the league’s eight head coaches. Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead was named BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year, while defensive tackle Derek Wolfe joined Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene as the BIG EAST Defensive Players of the Year. West Virginia wide receiver and return specialist Tavon Austin was tabbed... [Read more.]

BIG EAST ADDS FIVE NEW MEMBERS

Three in all sports, Boise State & SDSU in football Press Release PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST Conference formally announced the addition of five prestigious universities to its ranks today, bringing its football membership to 10 and securing a strong core group of FBS schools as it expands into two divisions and works toward its goal of staging an annual conference football championship game. The University of Central Florida, University of Houston and Southern Methodist University have accepted full membership into the BIG EAST while Boise State University and San Diego State University... [Read more.]

FINAL WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED

McClung, Lindsey and Austin honored Press Release BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Anthony McClung • So. • WR • Cincinnati • Indianapolis, Ind. McClung had eight catches for a career-high 142 yards with two touchdowns to help Cincinnati to a 35-27 win against Connecticut, giving the Bearcats a share of their third BIG EAST title in the last four years. McClung had touchdown receptions of 13 and 31 yards, giving him a team-high five touchdown receptions in the regular season. Cincinnati WR Anthony McClung (Photo Credit: Tyler Barrick/Getty Images) BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE... [Read more.]

BIG EAST ANNOUNCES 2011-12 BOWL MATCHUPS

Mountaineers Discover Orange Bowl Bound Press Release PROVIDENCE, R.I. – West Virginia will face Clemson in the 2012 Discover Orange Bowl, marking the Mountaineers’ first appearance in a Bowl Championship Series game since 2007 and highlighting five bowl appearances by BIG EAST teams to cap the 2011 season. West Virginia won a share of its record seventh BIG EAST title Thursday as the Mountaineers finished in a three-way tie for first in the final standings. The Mountaineers tied Louisville and Cincinnati for the top spot, but were awarded the BIG EAST’s automatic BCS bid based on the league’s... [Read more.]

WEEKLY HONORS AND UPDATED POWER POLL

Bridgewater, Miller and Smith honored Press Release BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Teddy Bridgewater • Fr. • QB • Louisville • Miami, Fla. Bridgewater engineered a comeback from a 17-3 second-half deficit to lead the Cardinals to a 34-24 win at USF, giving Louisville at least a share of the BIG EAST championship. He completed 19 of 28 passes for 241 yards and three second-half touchdowns, helping the Cardinals outscore the Bulls 31-7 in the second half. Bridgewater has helped Louisville to five wins in its last six games as the Cardinals claimed their second BIG EAST title. Louisville... [Read more.]

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Jamison, Heyman and Bushell honored Press Release BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Jawan Jamison • Fr. • RB • Rutgers • Starke, Fla. Jamison rushed for 200 yards and scored two touchdowns on 34 carries to lead Rutgers to a 20-3 win against Cincinnati and vault the Scarlet Knights into a tie for first place in the BIG EAST standings. Rutgers entered the game a half-game behind the Bearcats in the standings, but stands just one win shy of earning a share of its first BIG EAST title. Jamison became the third freshman running back in school history to rush for 200 yards in a game and is... [Read more.]

LEGAUX STRUGGLES AS RUTGERS RE-ENTERS RACE

Scarlet Knights, Cardinals share first place By Raphielle Johnson Many had questions as to how sophomore quarterback Munchie Legaux would perform in his first collegiate start as he took over for injured senior Zach Collaros. Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones didn’t think the Bearcats would change much from a strategic standpoint, and Legaux is an outstanding athlete who can give opponents fits in this system. But against one of the best defenses in the Big East Legaux struggled mightily, and Rutgers’ 20-3 win over the Bearcats turn the Big East race into a wide-open sprint to the... [Read more.]

WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED & UPDATED POWER POLL

Sanu, Miller and Smith honored Press Release BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J. Sanu had 13 receptions for 129 yards to key Rutgers’ 27-12 win against Army and set school and conference records in the process. With 92 receptions on the season, Sanu broke the BIG EAST single-season record of 91 catches, which was held by Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald since 2003. He also broke Kenny Britt’s school record of 87 catches set in 2008. Sanu ranks second nationally in receptions, averaging 9.4 catches per game this season. Mohamed... [Read more.]

BEARCATS LOSE GAME…AND COLLAROS

How long will Cincinnati be without senior QB? By Raphielle Johnson Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1) entered Saturday’s game against West Virginia looking to apply a stranglehold to the top of the Big East standings. Unfortunately for the Bearcats they didn’t accomplish that mission, and they lost their starting quarterback to boot. Senior Zach Collaros was lost for the season in the second quarter with a fractured right ankle and the Bearcats fell 24-21 to the Mountaineers (7-3, 3-2) at Paul Brown Stadium. Munchie Legaux took over for Collaros and the sophomore from New Orleans kept Cincinnati... [Read more.]

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NBE Big East College Football Report