2011 Power Polls

WEEK 4 HONORS ANNOUNCED

Sanu, Schaffer and O’Donnell honored by Big East

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mohamed Sanu • Jr. • WR • Rutgers • South Brunswick, N.J.
Sanu set BIG EAST and school records with 16 receptions in the Scarlet Knights’ 38-26 win against previously unbeaten Ohio, shattering the previous mark of 13 catches set in 1993 and held by six players.  He finished with career highs of 176 receiving yards and two touchdown catches in the win, giving him 29 receptions in the last two games. Sanu ranks as the national leader in receptions (12.0 per game) and is eighth nationally in receiving yards (121.0 ypg).

Mohamed Sanu had a record-setting performance on Saturday (Photo Credit: Francis Micklow/Newark Star-Ledger)

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
JK Schaffer • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Cincinnati, Ohio
Schaffer had a team-high nine tackles with an interception to key Cincinnati’s defense in a 44-14 win against North Carolina State. Schaffer’s 16-yard interception return set up a Cincinnati scoring drive and helped the Bearcats take an early 21-0 lead against the Wolfpack. Schaffer is the BIG EAST leader in passes defended (6) on a defense that has 16 takeaways — the most in the nation this season.

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Pat O’Donnell • Jr. • P • Cincinnati • Lake Worth, Fla.
O’Donnell was pivotal in establishing field position in Cincinnati’s 44-14 win against North Carolina State as he averaged 59.7 yards on three punts, pinning the Wolfpack inside the 20-yard line twice. North Carolina State’s average starting field position in the first half was its own 17-yard line, which helped the Bearcats build a 24-7 halftime lead. O’Donnell is averaging 47.6 yards on nine punts this season.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Isaiah Pead • Sr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries and had three receptions for 24 yards and a TD in a 44-14 win against North Carolina State.

B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Completed 15 of 24 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 130 yards and a TD on 15 carries in a 52-24 win against UTEP.

Lindsey Lamar • Jr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Had 215 all-purpose yards and two touchdown receptions in a 52-24 win against UTEP. Had four receptions for 85 yards and had 94 kickoff return yards on five attempts.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 16 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime win against Toledo.

Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Completed 38 of 65 passes for 463 yards (all school records) and two touchdowns in a 47-21 loss to No. 2 LSU.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. USF (4-0; last week: 1st)

Last week: beat UTEP 52-24
The Bulls went out and took care of business on Saturday night, but all was not well in Tampa. Head coach Skip Holtz once again voiced his concern with the team’s depth as the second unit didn’t take full advantage of the extra playing time. The good news to come out of the game was that as a team USF rushed for 373 yards. But the bad habits will have to be taken care of with Big East play opening this week.

This week: at Pittsburgh (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

2. West Virginia (3-1; 2nd)

Last week: lost to LSU 47-21
The Mountaineers fought their way back into the game Saturday night, cutting the lead to 27-21. But the combination of poor tackling and poor special teams did them in on the ensuing kickoff return (99 yards to push the LSU lead back out to 13 points), and a minus-4 in turnover margin is not how you beat one of the best teams in America. But Geno Smith and company will bounce back.

This week: Bowling Green (3:30 PM, Big East Network)

3. Cincinnati (3-1; 4th)

Last week: beat NC State 44-14
The Bearcats exacted a measure of revenge on the Wolfpack on Thursday night, putting forth their best performance of the season when considering the caliber of the opponent. Zach Collaros and Isaiah Pead were two of the offensive stars while the defense got back to the ball-hawking ways that have been evident in each of the team’s wins. Keep an eye on Cincinnati’s ability to force turnovers as the season wears on.

This week: at Miami (Ohio) (1:00 PM, ESPN3)

4. Syracuse (3-1; 5th)

Last week: beat Toledo 33-30 (OT)
Syracuse’s win over the Rockets wasn’t without controversy (Toledo has requested that the game be vacated as a result of a missed PAT being ruled good and upheld by replay) but there were positives to be found. Ryan Nassib was once again accurate and didn’t turn over the football, and backs Antwon Bailey and Prince-Tyson Gulley moved the ball on the ground.

This week: Rutgers (Noon, Big East Network)

5. Pittsburgh (2-2; 3rd)

Last week: lost to Notre Dame 15-12
The issues on offense remain (it should also be noted that Ray Graham hasn’t reached 100 yards rushing in either of the last two games) but there’s also the matter of Pitt giving up leads in the fourth quarter. And there isn’t a great deal of time to solve the issues with USF arriving in town for the league opener on Thursday night. Todd Graham’s team needs to find a way to turn things around, and soon.

This week: USF (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

6. Rutgers (2-1; 6th)

Last week: beat Ohio 38-26
It was the “Mohamed Sanu Show” at High Point Solutions Stadium on Saturday as he caught 16 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. But while he was outstanding Sanu was the lone Scarlet Knight to catch more than one pass. Where’s Brandon Coleman? Mark Harrison and Tim Wright? These three will need to step up if Rutgers is to continue winning games. It was also good to see Jawan Jamison rush for 97 yards, providing a spark to the running game.

This week: at Syracuse (Noon, Big East Network)

7. Louisville (2-1; 7th)

Last week: Bye
Will the Cardinals be able to get running backs Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright untracked following the bye week? The good news for the Cardinals is that Dominique Brown played very well in the win over Kentucky, and the bye should allow some of their banged-up players to get healthy (center Mario Benavides sticks out). Louisville will need to have everything clicking against a Marshall team that’s already faced WVU and Virginia Tech.

This week: Marshall (3:30 PM, WHAS)

8. Connecticut (2-2; 8th)

Last week: beat Buffalo 17-3
The Huskies may have found a playmaker on the perimeter in Nick Williams, who’s been used primarily as a kick returner for much of his career. Johnny McEntee had his best game from a numbers standpoint but still needs to get better, especially with opponents keying on the run. Speaking of which, D.J. Shoemate saw limited duty (only a handful of snaps) on Saturday so the question remains whether or not he’s 100%.

This week: Western Michigan (3:30 PM, SNY)

WEEK 3 HONORS ANNOUNCED

Smith, Heyman and Bitancurt receive honors

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Smith set a school record by completing 36 passes on 49 attempts for 388 yards — all career highs — to lead West Virginia to a 37-31 win at Maryland. He registered his second 300-yard game of the season and the fourth of his career, and saw three separate receivers finish with at least 100 yards for the first time in school history.

BIG EAST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dexter Heyman • Sr. • LB • Louisville • Louisville, Ky.
Heyman was named the Howard Schnellenberger MVP of the annual Governor’s Cup matchup between Louisville and Kentucky after he had 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble recovery in the Cardinals’ 24-17 win in Lexington. Heyman keyed a Louisville defense that limited Kentucky to just 35 rushing yards.

Louisville linebacker Dexter Heyman (Credit: Associated Press)

BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Bitancurt • Jr. • K • West Virginia • Springfield, Va.
Bitancurt scored 13 points, making field goals of 21, 34 and 35 yards and going 4-for-4 on PATs, in West Virginia’s 37-31 win at Maryland. Bitancurt leads all BIG EAST players in scoring, averaging 12.0 points per game, and ranks fifth on West Virginia’s career scoring chart (186 points).

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Derek Wolfe • Sr. • DT • Cincinnati • Lisbon, Ohio
Had two sacks and forced a fumble that was returned 54 yards for a touchdown in a 59-14 win against Akron.

Andre Davis • Fr. • WR • USF • Tampa, Fla.
Blocked a punt and scored a touchdown on the ensuing 11-yard return as part of a 70-17 win against Florida A&M. Also had three receptions for 39 yards and another touchdown.

Darrell Scott • Jr. • RB • USF • Ventura, Calif.
Rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries and had an 84-yard touchdown reception in a 70-17 win against Florida A&M. Finished with 230 all-purpose yards.

Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Completed 23 of 37 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in a 38-17 loss at Southern California. Had a streak of 22 consecutive completions spanning two games.

Terence Garvin • Jr. • S • West Virginia • Springfield, Va.
Had nine tackles, an assisted tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 37-31 win at Maryland.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

1. USF (3-0; last week: 1st)

Last week: beat FAMU 70-17
The Bulls went out and took care of business on Saturday in beating Florida A&M. B.J. Daniels tied Matt Grothe for the most passing yards in a game in school history, Darrell Scott went off and USF scored off of a turnover for the third straight game.

This week: UTEP (7 PM, ESPN3)

2. West Virginia (3-0; 2nd)

Last week: beat Maryland 37-31
The Mountaineers were well on their way to an impressive beating of Maryland as they led 34-10 in the second half. But they allowed the Terrapins back into the game, not locking things down until Eain Smith picked off Danny O’Brien late in the fourth quarter.

This week: LSU (8 PM, ABC)

3. Pittsburgh (2-1; 3rd)

Last week: lost to Iowa 31-27
Talk about giving one away. The Panthers led at Iowa by three scores early in the fourth quarter, only to see the offense sputter and the defense run out of gas. Tino Sunseri still has a way to go with regards to how quickly he gets through his progressions, and whether or not Pitt can win the conference depends on his development.

This week: Notre Dame (Noon, ABC)

4. Cincinnati (2-1; 5th)

Last week: beat Akron 59-14
Cincinnati took advantage of a hapless opponent on Saturday, especially from a defensive standpoint. The Bearcats scored three times on defense…in the first half. In two wins UC has forced ten turnovers, but failed to force any against their one credible opponent to date (Tennessee). There’s still a lot of work to be done on both sides of the ball.

This week: NC State (Thursday 8 PM, ESPN)

5. Syracuse (2-1; 4th)

Last week: lost to USC 38-17
Don’t be fooled by the final score: the Orange did some good things out in Los Angeles. QB Ryan Nassib performed well in the face of a tough pass rush, not turning the ball over and pass-catchers such as Alec Lemon and Nick Provo were productive as well. But the running game struggled, and that’s the main concern that comes out of that game for Syracuse.

This week: Toledo (Noon, Big East Network)

6. Rutgers (1-1; 6th)

Last week: Bye
The Scarlet Knights had a bye week but that doesn’t mean that they weren’t busy. De’Antwan Williams has decided to transfer, meaning that Rutgers is down to three backs (all possibilities to start): Savon Huggins, Jawan Jamison and Jeremy Deering. Rutgers will also shake some things up on the offensive line in hopes of getting the running game going.

This week: Ohio (2 PM, ESPN3)

7. Louisville (2-1; 8th)

Last week: beat Kentucky 24-17
Starting quarterback Will Stein went down with a shoulder injury in the second quarter, and that could have been a good time for the Cardinals to fold. But they didn’t thanks to Teddy Bridgewater and Dominique Brown, who led the way in the win over Kentucky. Look for Brown’s role as a runner to expand as his performance (14 carries, 91 yards) was the first time this year Louisville truly got going on the ground.

This week: Bye

8. Connecticut (1-2; 7th)

Last week: lost to Iowa State 24-20
Once again the quarterback position underwhelmed, with Johnny McEntee getting the majority of the snaps. Scott McCummings was able to move the ball some in his designated packages, but Paul Pasqualoni and his staff have to figure the position out before the season tumbles downhill. The defense has had a few breakdowns but has performed well; how much longer before they truly crack from having to carry the offense?

This week: at Buffalo (3:30 PM, ESPN3)

WEEK 2 WEEKLY HONORS ANNOUNCED

Daniels, Thomas and Joyce honored

Press Release

BIG EAST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

B.J. Daniels • Jr. • QB • USF • Tallahassee, Fla.
Daniels posted career highs in completions (28), attempts (39) and passing yards (359) to lead USF to a 37-7 win against Ball State. Daniels, who played only two series in the second half, was 24-of-31 for 289 yards and a touchdown in the first half, helping to stake the Bulls to a 30-0 halftime lead.

USF quarterback B.J. Daniels (Credit: Associated Press)

Phillip Thomas • Jr. • S • Syracuse • Miami, Fla.
Thomas had four tackles (all solo stops), two interceptions and a pass breakup to help Syracuse hold off upset-minded Rhode Island in a 21-14 win, lifting the Orange to a 2-0 start. He had a 10-yard interception return in the first half, while his second pick came in the fourth quarter on Rhode Island’s final possession to clinch the win.
 
BIG EAST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Mark Joyce • So. • S • USF • Deland, Fla.
Joyce set an early tone in USF’s 37-7 win against Ball State as he recovered a fumble for a 17-yard touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff, tying the record as the fastest scoring play in school history (eight seconds). Joyce also had two tackles as part of a defense that limited Ball State to 225 yards of offense.
 
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Isaiah Pead • Sr. • RB • Cincinnati • Columbus, Ohio
Rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, averaging 11.1 yards per attempt, in a 45-23 loss at Tennessee.
 
Will Stein • Jr. • QB • Louisville • Louisville, Ky.
Completed 30 of 43 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns — all career highs — in a 24-17 loss to Florida International.
 
Ray Graham • Jr. • RB • Pittsburgh • Elizabeth, N.J.
Rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries in a 35-29 win against Maine. Leads the nation in rushing (161.0 ypg) through two weeks of the season.
 
Ryan Nassib • Jr. • QB • Syracuse • West Chester, Pa.
Tied a school record with 29 completions and threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in a 21-14 win against Rhode Island.
 
Geno Smith • Jr. • QB • West Virginia • Miami, Fla.
Completed 20 of 34 passes for 371 yards and matched his career high with four touchdowns in a 55-12 win against Norfolk State.

Weekly Power Poll

By Raphielle Johnson

With all eight teams having two games under their belts this seems like a good time to put together the first power poll of the season. Below are the rankings along with brief notes, and their Big East preseason poll spot is in parentheses.

1. USF (Big East preseason poll: 3rd)
The Bulls have taken care of business with the toughest schedule that any Big East team has played to date. The caliber of both Notre Dame and Ball State is up for debate but the Bulls are the lone team to have played FBS opponents in both games. B.J. Daniels threw for 359 yards on Saturday night and running back Darrell Scott showed flashes of why so many were excited about his arrival via Colorado. Add in a defense/special teams that has scored in both games and you’ve got a team that should be undefeated heading into Pittsburgh on the 29th.

2. West Virginia (1st)
In the second half of their 55-12 win over Norfolk State the Mountaineers finally looked like the team offensively that many expected to see when Dana Holgorsen took over. And the outburst came just in time for West Virginia, who visit Maryland then host LSU in the next two weeks. Win those two games and WVU moves to the top of this list and gains a great deal of respect nationally. Geno Smith has a number of options to throw the ball to but the running game has to improve.

3. Pittsburgh (2nd)
Tino Sunseri didn’t look too good in the 35-29 win over Maine on Saturday, throwing for just 224 yards and a pair of interceptions. But the Panthers do have Ray Graham, who leads the conference in rushing yards (322) and rushing touchdowns (6) through two weeks. Tight end Hubie Graham has also played well for Pitt, who needs better execution on both sides of the football if they’re to win at Iowa on Saturday.

4. Syracuse (4th)
The Orange did not look too good against Rhode Island on Saturday, squeaking by 21-14 in spite of a running game that failed to get going. But the fact remains that Syracuse is 2-0 for the first time since 1999. Ryan Nassib threw for a career-high 318 yards and three touchdown passes in the win, but the level of competition jumps considerably this week as they head west to take on USC.

5. Cincinnati (5th)
The poor defense of last season reared its ugly head in Knoxville on Saturday as the Bearcats fell 45-23 to Tennessee. Cincinnati missed a number of tackles and lost the battle in the trenches from the second quarter on, falling behind for good in the second quarter with a pair of failed fourth downs playing a role. Isaiah Pead rushed for another 155 yards and a touchdown and offensively Cincinnati moved the football, but they couldn’t get Tennessee off the field. Things get easier this week with Akron visiting.

6. Rutgers (8th)
It can definitely be argued that the Scarlet Knights looked better in their defeat than Cincinnati, losing by just two at North Carolina. But when you account for just one net yard on the ground it’s tough to throw stones. Chas Dodd did well to throw for 243 yards and two touchdowns given the amount of pressure he was under, but Rutgers’ inability to take full advantage of five Tar Heel turnovers cost them the game. Rutgers has a week off before hosting Ohio.

7. Connecticut (6th)
Connecticut has a defense worthy of being ranked in the top half of the this poll. But the offense? It was a night to forget as they failed to get much of anything done in Saturday’s 24-21 loss at Vanderbilt. Johnny McEntee played most of the game and failed to get anything established through the air, which allowed the Commodores to focus on slowing down Lyle McCombs after he got off to a hot start. UConn gets Iowa State in a short week, and one would have to think that Michael Nebrich and Scott McCummings get more game reps.

8. Louisville (7th)
Louisville fell victim to T.Y. Hilton on Friday night in their loss to FIU. But the more troubling aspect of that defeat was the line play, which had a number of errors and failed to open up holes for the running game. The Cardinals take on in-state rival Kentucky on Saturday, and with both teams having their issues offensively this season the game could finish with fewer than 35 total points.

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