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BIG EAST MONDAY MORNING QB: FINAL WEEK

by MICHAEL PINA

Some 940 miles away from the heart of Bearcat country, a 46-yard field goal by Texas’s Hunter Lawrence ended the possibility of a Cincinnati national championship berth. An incredible effort by Mardy Gilyard and the rest of Cincinnati’s undefeated team in a comeback win over Pittsburgh had hopes extremely high heading into Saturday night, but with Texas’s unimpressive 13-12 victory over Nebraska, the Longhorns, and not the Bearcats will be headed to Pasadena.

Regardless the Big East will be well represented in six bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl which is where Cincinnati will face defending national champion Florida.

The other bowl games are the St. Petersburg Bowl (Rutgers vs. UCF), Meineke Car Care Bowl (Pittsburgh vs. North Carolina), the Gator Bowl (West Virginia vs. Florida State), the International Bowl (South Florida vs. Northern Illinois), and the Papajohns.com Bowl (Connecticut vs. South Carolina).

Saturday saw three Big East match ups and thankfully all of them were closely contested, including the Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh instant classic which is where we’ll start.

#3 Cincinnati (12-0, 7-0) vs. #17 Pittsburgh (9-3, 5-2) (45-44 Cincinnati win)

If ever a game were highlighted to point out the critical importance of special teams, this would be it. Bitter December weather and a feiety Heinz Field crowd had the Panthers primed for an upset as they lead throughout the entire ball game, but huge plays in the kickoff return game by Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard combined with a botched extra point hold late in the fourth quarter doomed Pittsburgh’s upset bid.

Down as many as 21 points to one of the more overly aggressive defensive ball clubs in the country, Cincinnati rallied behind Gilyard, their strike-at- all-angles-weapon, overcoming a poor performance by Tony Pike in the process.

What should not be overlooked in Cincinnati’s great escape is the performance by Dion Lewis. 29 rushes in the first half, a ridiculous 47 in the game. Two fourth quarter touchdowns along with the contest’s very first score and 194 yards rushing. Lewis played like a senior in his team’s biggest game and played like a certain bright spot for Pittsburgh fans everywhere. He’ll contest for the Heisman Trophy next season.

Although they won’t get a shot at Alabama in the national championship, Cincinnati will be matched up against Tim Tebow and the defending champion Florida Gators. A win against Urban Meyer’s team would surely be as decorated as they come and prove to the rest of the country that the Big East can play with anybody.

Connecticut (7-5, 3-4) vs. South Florida (7-5, 3-4) (29-27 Connecticut win)

With all the close losses and impossible to understand hardships that this Huskies team went through all season, it’s a minor miracle that they’ll end up with a winning record. Coach Randy Edsall deserves all the credit in the world as do his deep, multi-faceted backfield. Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon served as the backbone of the team’s offense all year long and in this one the two combined for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

Connecticut can end their season on a rather high note with a match up against South Carolina, an SEC opponent. A win would be a major step forward for the program and an exclamation point on a tragic, rough season.

South Florida had a disappointing campaign but their future looks extremely promising with B.J. Daniels, one of the most exciting, talented, young quarterbacks in the nation, leading the way.

#16 West Virginia (9-3, 5-2) vs. Rutgers (8-4, 3-4) (24-21 West Virginia win)

What began as a season marred with low expectations thanks to the departure of senior quarterback Pat White, will end with one of the most plot driven bowl games in recent memory. In the Gator Bowl, Bobby Bowden in his final game will go up against the school where he started his much storied coaching career.

The Mountaineers find themselves in a very winnable game against a not-so-efficient Florida State squad.

In their 15th straight victory over the Scarlet Knights, West Virginia had a 21-3 lead in the third quarter but squandered it by allowing a 91-yard kickoff return and a 62-yard touchdown pass from freshman Tom Savage to freshman Mohamed Sanu.

The Mountaineers hung on however when JT Thomas intercepted a Rutgers pass to clinch the game. Rutgers heads to the St. Petersburg Bowl in a match up against a Central Florida team with an equal 8-4 record.

Big East Top Performers

Cincinnati Wide Receiver Mardy Gilyard- The senior wide receiver has officially established himself as a Devin Hester type game breaking talent. Anytime the ball is in his hands there’s a chance for six points; the higher the stakes, the greater the pressure, the more success he sees. Trailing the entire way against Pittsburgh, Gilyard kept his team’s undefeated aspirations alive with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown right before the half and a 68-yard touchdown reception midway through the third quarter.

Pittsburgh Running Back Dion Lewis- His numbers at halftime were more than enough for an entire game. Comparisons to Tony Dorsett are coming in abundance now and Lewis is primed to break all Pittsburgh’s rushing records if he should stay healthy and in college all four years.

Quote of the Week

“I think sometimes we kid ourselves that we have more control than we do. You’d like to think you’re really working to get it done. Look, it’s going to be what it’s going to be. If we won more games, then there wouldn’t be a situation where you have to worry. We didn’t. Right now we are who we are, and I’m not ashamed of who we are.”

Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano on his team’s disappointing trip to the St. Petersburg Bowl

Pina’s Final Power Poll

1. Cincinnati
2. West Virginia
3. Pittsburgh
4. Connecticut
5. South Florida
6. Rutgers
7. Syracuse
8. Louisville