1. Pittsburgh 2-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game (2008): W 54-27 at Buffalo

Next game: Sept. 19 vs. Navy

Strong Point: In two games, the best two players for the Panthers have been the guy’s who replaced the best two players from last season. Running back Dion Lewis—Shady McCoy’s replacement—has tallied up over 100 yards a game in both wins, including a 190 yard performance in Buffalo, while linebacker Adam Gunn—Scott McKillop’s replacement—checked in with 11 tackles and three sacks Saturday, earning himself Big East defensive player of the week.

Area of Improvement: Despite annihilating their MAC opponent Saturday, the Panther defense gave up an uncharacteristic 500 total yards and 25 first down’s to Buffalo.

Overall Analysis: So if I told you Pitt’s offense ran up a near 400 total yards on offense and scored 54 points would you believe me? How about if I said the Panther defense surrendered 500 yards on defense? A usual automatic check in at the psych’-ward actually was the truth this Saturday. It’s a bittersweet surprise with the offensive unit. If the defense can string it back together, Panther fans might see one of the more sturdier squads in years.
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2. West Virginia 2-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game: W 35-20 vs. East Carolina

Next game: Sept. 19 at Auburn

Strong Point: Quarterback Jarrett Brown threw for a career-high 334 yards and four touchdowns Saturday, going 24 of 31. He also rushed for 73 yards.

Area of Improvement: Starting the game slow, penalty’s and mistakes kept West Virginia from pulling away from their opponents before the fourth quarter. Three penalty’s in the first half accounted for all 20 of ECU’s points, contributing to the Pirates 178 total yards in the half.

Overall Analysis: West Virginia improved, and especially on the offensive end where they capped on 509 total yards and punted just four times the entire game. The other end of the sword is the one that constantly buries the Mountaineers. 11 penalty’s for 104 yards and three lost fumbles Saturday is not what makes up a conference winning team. ECU is in no way the team they were a year ago, and this schedule for West Virginia only gets tougher. A date with Auburn in Alabama this Saturday will teach us a lot about where WVU is as a team. Turnovers and sloppy first half play won’t result in a win this week.
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3. Cincinnati 2-0, (1-0), Stock: RISING

National Rank: 23

Last game: W 70-3 vs. SE Missouri State

Next game: Sept. 19 at Oregon State

Strong Point: Marty Gilyard exploded on the scene last week, putting the ball in the end zone four times, scoring on a punt return, a run and two pass catches. He had six catches for 111 yards from his wideout position. He averaged 18.5 yards per catch.

Area of Improvement: It is pretty hard to find anything wrong with Cincinnati as a team in these last two weeks. Aside from a few plugs to fill in on the defensive end, the Bearcats have played all but impeccable football in their first two games this season.

Overall Analysis: Given their inferior opponent in SEMO last week, Cincinnati still did their job by looking nearly perfect, surgical football. Big East offensive player of the week Tony Pike threw up 223 yards in just one half of play—he sat the second half due to the score. The offense is definitely the highlight of this team, and in two games, they are already over 1,000 team yards combined. Even more frightening, the combined score for the Bearcats is 117-18. Now enter their toughest opponent to date, Oregon State in Corvallis aka College Football’s black hole. This will be a gigantic measuring stick for Cincinnati.
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4. South Florida 2-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game: W 35-13 vs. at Western Kentucky

Next game: Sept. 19 vs. Charleston Southern

Strong Point: South Florida’s ground assault accounted for more than half of the total offensive yards with 253 yards on 42 team carries. Moise Plancher led the way with 115 yards on 18 carries.

Area of Improvement: It’s never good when your defense gives up 200 yards rushing to the opposition. It’s even that much worse when you play a team from the Football Subdivision. While Western Kentucky has a solid team for their ranks, they are nowhere near the talent, recruiting and ability of a D-1 team like USF. It’s completely unacceptable in the second week of the season.

Overall Analysis: Another week another cupcake. Seeing the first three weeks of USF’s schedule makes me want to apologize to season ticket holders. What could you possibly gain from playing three teams out of the Subdivision other than the BCS committee completely avoiding your resume despite your record? You can’t really consider the Bulls losing stock or gaining stock because they’re playing games that are pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Sept. 26 at Florida State will be USF’s first big matchup this season.
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5. Connecticut 1-1, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game L 10-12 vs. North Carolina

Next game: Sept. 19 at Baylor

Strong Point: Connecticut did a solid job locking up one of the more solid offenses in ACC in UNC. The Huskies held the ‘Heels to just 268 total yards, and completely stifled the ground game, holding them to 35 yards on 38 total attempts.

Area of Improvement: The Huskies had an even worse performance on offense then their opponents, accounting for just 196 total yards, including a sub-par 94 yard performance from quarterback Zac Frazer.

Overall Analysis: It’s tough to take a moral victory from a ranked opponent, when that opponent posted 12 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in your house to defeat you. Connecticut lost the game on a last minute safety thanks to a holding penalty in the end zone on tackle Dan Ryan. The Huskies defense has proven themselves as a much better unit from a year ago. The problem is the offense has proven themselves as something much worse than what they were a year ago. They have to get better, and must improve on an offense averaging less than 230 yards per game this year.
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6. Syracuse 0-2, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game: L 7-28 at Penn State

Next game: Sept. 19 vs. Northwestern

Strong Point: The Syracuse defense surrendered just 78 total yards in the ground game to PSU, and forced two fumbles, as well as an impressive goal line stand in the first half of the game, forcing the turnover and gaining possession with a 7-7 tied game at the time.

Area of Improvement: Despite quarterbacks Greg Paulus and Ryan Nassib rotating on several possessions, throwing a wrench in PSU’s gameplan, the Orange still had no rhythm or solid momentum at any point in this game, posting just 200 total yards and a weak 5 of 13 on third down conversions.

Overall Analysis: I’ll reiterate from last week: you can’t expect Syracuse to all of a sudden wake up from being one of the worst teams in D-1 football last year, and start posting incredible numbers. They have so many places to improve, but they are looking better and they are doing it in tiny increments. I have faith in new head coach Doug Marrone and you should to, Syracuse faithful.
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7. Rutgers 1-1, (0-1), Stock: LEVEL

Last game: W 45-7 vs. Howard

Next game: Sept. 19 vs. Florida International

Strong Point: Rutgers’ offense bounced back from last week, putting up a solid 245 rushing yards, including 124 yards from Jourdan Brooks and 89 from De’Antwan Williams.

Area of Improvement: The defense still has a lot of work to do, as defined Saturday by the near-300 yards given up by the Scarlet Knights defense to Howard. If not for 14 penalty’s, with more than half coming from offensive possessions in Rutgers territory, Howard would’ve scored more than just a lone touchdown.

Overall Analysis: Not much to analyze from Rutgers after their matchup with the heavily outnumbered and outclassed Howard Bison. Defense still needs work and, quite frankly, so does the offense. The most exciting part from Saturday, however, came from quarterback Tom Savage who, as I thought in last weeks Stock Report, would receive the starting nod in week two, in which he did, and passed with flying colors, tallying up 223 yards going 8 of 13 and two touchdowns.
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8. Louisville 1-0, (0-0), Stock: FALLING

Last game: BYE

Next game: Sept. 19 at Kentucky

*Stats are from two weeks ago vs. Indiana State since last week was a bye week for the Cardinals.

Strong Point: Tailback Victor Anderson had a solid game, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown, anchoring a Louisville ground game that tallied up 176 yards as a team.

Area of Improvement: The Cardinals offense converted just once on 3rd down and saw a rather rugged game from new starting quarterback Justin Burke, who did have 223 yards, but two awful interceptions.

Overall Analysis: How could a win make your stock fall you ask? Easy, when one of the worst teams from the Football Championship Subdivision, the Indiana State Sycamores and their current 1-54 record over the past five years, comes into your stadium and leads you all the way to the halfway mark of the second half. The Cardinals did, however, hold ISU to 101 total yards, but their lack of execution on the offensive end and ongoing problems with penalty’s—14 for 128 yards on Saturday—continues to make me believe that this will be Louisville’s one and only win this season. So please, bask in it and marinate on it while you have a bye week coming up Cardinal fans, it won’t last.

*All stats, unless otherwise noted, are from each teams week one performance, and stock report grades the teams on that lone performance this season.

1) West Virginia 1-0, (0-0), Stock: FALLING

Last game: W 33-20 vs. Liberty

Next game: Sept. 12 vs. East Carolina

Strong Point: The Mountaineers looked like a completely different team from a year ago when converting on 3rd down opportunities. They went 6 of 12 on 3rd down vs. Liberty Saturday, with four of those conversions on the ground.

Area of Improvement: Despite throwing for 243 yards, quarterback Jarrett Brown still has plenty of kinks to work out with his offense. The miscommunication in the second half led to just one touchdown, a 24-yard run. Brown’s execution was nearly invisible throughout the final two quarters vs. Liberty.

Overall Analysis: If Saturday is any indication of how West Virginia is going to play football this year, then tears could be the heaviest precipitation in Morgantown over the next few weeks. Liberty, a Subdivision squad from the Big South Conference, tallied up 299 yards and had possession for over 30 minutes on the Mountaineers defense, despite tallying up 80 yards in penalty’s. Being cynical of a teams performance in week one is as silly as putting a slinky on an escalator. But in the same sense, the stress for improvement is still displayed, and WVU has plenty of work to do as their schedule gets closer and closer to Big East play.
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2) Pittsburgh 1-0, (0-0), Stock: RISING

Last game: W 38-3 vs. Youngstown State

Next game: Sept. 12 at Buffalo

Strong Point: “We miss Shady McCoy” was not something you would’ve heard uttered at Heinz Field Saturday, thanks to the first starting appearance for tailback Dion Lewis. The freshman tallied up 137 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. The strength of Lewis, who is said to bench 340 lbs, was witnessed in the 2nd quarter when he dragged two defenders and barreled over another one en route for the end zone.

Area of Improvement: Quarterback Bill Stull had a rugged performance, and the disappointment from the fans would not go silent, as boos filled Heinz Field after Stull’s third incompletion in a row to start the game. The senior threw for 123 yards, two touchdowns and an interception thrown right to a Youngstown State defender.

Overall Analysis: As stated before, you should never be too cynical of a team’s performance in week one, and to add to the rule, you should never be too impressed with a team’s performance when their opponent resides in the Subdivision football league. That being said, the Panthers had a very nice afternoon Saturday, getting great things from their ground game, offensive line and defense—perhaps building blocks to a successful season. A great highlight was linebacker Adam Gunn, who started at middle linebacker in his first game since being knocked out with a season-ending injury a year ago. Gunn tallied up a Panther best 8 tackles and two sacks.
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3) South Florida 1-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game: W 40-7 vs. Wofford

Next game: Sept. 12 at Western Kentucky

Strong Point: The Bulls’ defense held Wofford to just 109 yards in the second half and no points, as well as tacking on a safety. Nate Allen led the way, tallying up a team-high 10 tackles, while All Conference defensive end George Selvie posted seven tackles and a sack.

Area of Improvement: Fumbling four times and committing two turnovers, the Bulls had a mighty hard time keeping control of the ball, and a large reason why it was a 16-7 dogfight at halftime, with both turnovers coming in the first two quarters.

Overall Analysis: South Florida turned around a rickety performance in the first half, and took care of a far less superior opponent towards the end of the game. Senior quarterback Matt Grothe went 19 of 23 and threw for 155 yards, while senior tailback Moise Plancher tacked up 78 yards and two touchdowns. With the key players getting into rhythm and the defense flexing their muscles, it’s tough to find many things wrong in the Bulls week one performance.
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4) Cincinnati 1-0, (1-0), Stock: RISING

Last game: W 47-15 at Rutgers (Monday)

Next game: Sept. 12 vs. Southeast Missouri State

Strong Point: Tony Pike was called upon and he delivered…again, throwing for a career-high 362 yards and two touchdowns, terrorizing the Rutgers secondary from start to finish Monday.

Area of Improvement: While most of the game was “garbage time” with such an inflated score, the Bearcats defense still allowed Rutgers to a 4 for 4 day converting 4th down conversions and 6 of 16 on 3rd down conversions.

Overall Analysis: What Cincinnati did to Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey Monday afternoon could be deemed illegal in some states. While facing a newly renovated stadium with over 50,000 screaming fans, the Bearcats stayed composed and slapped around the Scarlet Knights defense from the beginning, quieting the crowd down real quick. Cincinnati tallied up a ridiculous 564 total yards on offense, went 5 of 8 on 3rd down and committed just one turnover, a Pike interception in the first half. And most importantly, the Bearcats get the sole rights to No.1 in the Big East standings for the entire month of September.
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5) Connecticut 1-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game W 23-16 at Ohio

Next game: Sept. 12 vs. North Carolina

Strong Point: The ground attack for Connecticut was as good as it gets Saturday night. Against a worthy opponent in Ohio, the running back core tallied up 259 yards on 49 carries. Jordan Todman led the way with 157 yards and a touchdown.

Area of Improvement: Zac Frazer never really impressed anybody last year, and it was much of the same to start this season. Frazer went just 11 of 24 for 127 yards and threw interceptions; including one in the 4th quarter that could’ve put Ohio directly back in the game had the Bobcats scored a touchdown.

Overall Analysis: The Huskies had a great night out of their defense, which held Ohio to just 11 first downs and 61 rushing yards. With the defensive unit on a high note and the ground attack as good as it can be, the pieces still aren’t in the right places for Connecticut, and it all points to their quarterback troubles. If Frazer can get his act together on the field, whose to say the Huskies can’t be a Big East title contender at the end of the year?
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6) Syracuse 0-1, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

Last game (2008): L 20-23 vs. Minnesota F/OT

Next game: Sept. 12 at Penn State

Strong Point: Give the man his due. As hard as a job it is to be a quarterback for a team like Syracuse, Greg Paulus did a fine job with all the prayers and weight of the Orange leaning on him. The former Duke Basketball star went 19 of 31 with 167 yards and one touchdown. He also threw one interception.

Area of Improvement: Getting better from last year’s disaster is just not happening when you go 0 for 8 on 3rd down conversions and scoring zero points in the second half on your home turf, especially when the other team only scores nine points, including three of those points from a field goal in overtime.

Overall Analysis: Syracuse moves to the No.6 position, slightly because of their gritty performance in the first half of Saturday’s contest vs. Minnesota, but mainly because of Rutgers humiliating first week. You have to give the Orange the credit it deserves. This is a very bad football team, and they played surgical football in the first half. They made the right plays, they made smart decisions and they got on the board and answered a quick scoring barrage from Minnesota when they needed too. Unfortunately, the second half came and blew a gust of the 2008 Syracuse season right back in all of our faces. It’s tough to say what will come of this loss.
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7) Rutgers 0-1, (0-1), Stock: FALLING

Last game (2008): L 47-15 vs. Cincinnati (Monday)

Next game: Sept. 12 vs. Howard

Strong Point: Perhaps the only silver lining for the disaster that was Monday afternoon for Rutgers was highly-touted freshman quarterback Tom Savage. The gunslinger went 15 of 23 for 135 yards and a touchdown, coming off the bench in the second half.

Area of Improvement: Where do you start? The hyped offensive line, which was said to have been better than the line that led the 2006 Scarlet Knights to a 9-0 start to the season collapsed. Domenic Natale fell apart, and would’ve gone 11 of 12 passing today, but three of those tosses went into Cincinnati’s hands. The ground game had 33 carries and just 50 yards to show for. It doesn’t end there, but I feel you’re getting the point.

Overall Analysis: The Scarlet Knights loss Monday was their worst loss since Nov. 20, 2004 when losing 54-21 to Navy. It’s in no way, shape or form a record to be proud of either. For as big of a celebration as Monday was for the history of the program and the sold out crowd, Rutgers did seem to soak it in, as a 7-7 score in the 1st quarter turned into a 40-0 Cincinnati run all the way to the 4th quarter, until the Knights finally tacked on their second and final touchdown. Hopefully, for Rutgers fans, Natale saw his first and last start Monday, and one of the best recruits in Rutgers history, Tom Savage, gets the chance to lead this team into something better than this.
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8. Louisville 1-0, (0-0), Stock: FALLING

Last game: W 30-10 vs. Indiana State

Next game: Sept. 19 at Kentucky

Strong Point: Tailback Victor Anderson had a solid game, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown, anchoring a Louisville ground game that tallied up 176 yards as a team.

Area of Improvement: The Cardinals offense converted just once on 3rd down and saw a rather rugged game from new starting quarterback Justin Burke, who did have 223 yards, but two awful interceptions.

Overall Analysis: How could a win make your stock fall you ask? Easy, when one of the worst teams from the Football Championship Subdivision, the Indiana State Sycamores and their current 1-54 record over the past five years, comes into your stadium and leads you all the way to the halfway mark of the second half. The Cardinals did, however, hold ISU to 101 total yards, but their lack of execution on the offensive end and ongoing problems with penalty’s—14 for 128 yards on Saturday—continues to make me believe that this will be Louisville’s one and only win this season. So please, bask in it and marinate on it while you have a bye week coming up Cardinal fans, it won’t last.

Welcome to the first installment of the football edition of the Big East Stock Report. Week by week, Anthony Jaskulski will break down a strong point and an area of improvement from each team in the conference, all while ranking them 1 to 8.

*Stats used this week are from the 2008 season unless otherwise noted.

**As the season begins, stats will be from this, the 2009 year.

***Stock for all teams is level before the season starts.

1. West Virginia 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 9-4, (5-2)

Last game: (2008): W 31-30 in Meineke Car Care Bowl vs. North Carolina

Next game: Sept. 5 vs. Liberty

Strong Point: The Mountaineers return the best running back in the Big East and a Heisman candidate in Noel Devine. The junior Devine rushed for 1,289 yards and four touchdowns. He helped WVU to the 2nd best running game in the Big East in 2008.

Area of Improvement: The irreplaceable Pat White has graduated and WVU will be turning to senior signal caller Jarrett Brown. The problem is, Brown got just 30 attempts under center last year, passing for 114 yards, lacking experience.

Overall Analysis: West Virginia had a bend but don’t break defense last year, giving up just over 300 yards a game. The great news is they return eight starters and three more with fantastic experience, including cornerback Brandon Hogan who led the secondary in tackles and interceptions a year ago. The main reason the Mountaineers don’t find themselves ranked, however, is an unproven offensive line, in which one starter is back, and a very inexperienced quarterback. The first three weeks of the season should be a clear indicator of where this new offense is going.

2. Pittsburgh 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 9-4, (5-2)

Last game (2008): L 0-3 in Sun Bowl vs. Oregon State

Next game: Sept. 5 vs. Youngstown State

Strong Point: Anchored by Greg Romeus, Gus Mustakus and Jabaal Sheard, Pitt’s defensive line is one of the best in the country, and contributed mightily to a rushing defense that gave up less than 120 yards a game—29th in the country.

Area of Improvement: Senior quarterback Bill Stull is still unproven. He needs to improve last season’s subpar touchdown/interception ratio of 9/10 if he wants to even think about leading his Panthers to a bowl win.

Overall Analysis: The Panthers have a lot to prove this year. They especially want to establish that despite losing the two biggest pieces of their team a year ago in running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy and linebacker Scott McKillop. If Stull can find his confidence, and one of the fresh faces in the backfield (Dion Lewis, Ray Graham and Chris Burns) can rise up to the occasion to lead the offense, we may in fact see Pitt snag that BCS birth, as the defense seems more than capable to finish the rest.

3. South Florida 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 8-5, (2-5)

Last game (2008): W 41-14 in St. Petersburg vs. Memphis

Next game: Sept. 5 vs. Wofford

Strong Point: Senior Quarterback Matt Grothe returns to lead the Bulls this year. Arguably the best gunslinger in the league, Grothe threw for a near 3,000 yards last season, as well as rushing for a near 600.

Area of Improvement: The Bulls don’t have much more targets on the offensive end. The offensive line, which buckled down towards the end of the season, has graduated all but one. With that, standout receivers Marcus Edwards and Taurus Johnson have also departed.

Overall Analysis: South Florida is a team that always ends up underachieving given the personnel on the roster. As far as skill on the roster, this year is no different. They return a solid group on the defensive side, including all four linemen, led by USF sack leader and All-Big East George Selvie. But if the Bulls want to be taken BCS-serious, then the ground game has to be improved, and Grothe must get less pressured in the pocket.

4. Cincinnati 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 11-3, (6-1)

Last game (2008): L 7-20 in Orange Bowl (BCS) vs. Virginia Tech

Next game: Sept. 7 at Rutgers

Strong Point: Tony Pike put an end to the Bearcats quarterback controversy last year, and secured his spot as the starter with flying colors. The senior tallied 2,400 yards and an impressive 19 touchdowns last season, playing in just nine games as the starter.

Area of Improvement: The defense is completely vacated as only one starter returns this year in safety Aaron Webster.

Overall Analysis: The Bearcats could easily boast the best offense in the Big East with Pike at the helm, running back Jacob Ramsey toting the rock and Pike’s two nastiest targets in receivers Marcus Barnett and Marshawn Gilyard. But if you’re a betting man, I would take the over, as a lot of Cincinnati’s games could turn into shootouts with basketball-esque scores. But that is unless the Bearcat defense can rally around their only starter returning and keep offenses at fewer than 320 yards a game, like last years unit was capable of.

5. Rutgers 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 8-5, (5-2)

Last game (2008): W 29-23 in Papa John’s.com Bowl vs. NC State

Next game: Sept. 7 vs. Cincinnati

Strong Point: With center Ryan Blaszcyk leading the way, the offensive line returns all five starters from a year ago. Running back Kordell Young, who pushed for just over 550 yards a year ago, also returns to the offensive unit.

Area of Improvement: Quarterback Mike Teel and receivers Tiquan Underwood and Kenny Britt, the heart and soul of the Rutgers offense a year ago, have all graduated. With that, three of the best defenders, including linebacker Kevin Malast and safety Courtney Greene, who led the team in tackles, have also departed.

Overall Analysis: The Scarlet Knights have the most to replace this year with their five of their biggest leaders gone. But unlike most teams, Rutgers could actually benefit from the departure of their Teel air attack. With all the offensive linemen back and a strong running attack, the Knights can get right back into Greg Schiano’s most famous “chop wood” mantra, a mantra that was started during the grind-it-out Brian Leonard and Ray Rice days. Can you say ground assault part deuce?

6. Connecticut 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 8-5, (3-4)

Last game (2008): W 38-20 in International Bowl vs. Buffalo

Next game: Sept. 5 at Ohio

Strong Point: The linebacker unit for the Huskies may be one of the best in the conference. Scot Lutrus, who tallied up 106 tackles a year ago returns with Lawrence Wilson to create quite the tandem on defense.

Area of Improvement: This offense is in complete shambles and it all starts at the quarterback position, where the Huskies averaged an abysmal 140 yards per game—109th in the country. And to make matters worse, their most experienced quarterback, Tyler Lorenzen, has graduated.

Overall Analysis: Imagine the siren you hear during every Godzilla movie or Sci-Fi flick. You know, right before the monster attacks the town or the massive volcano erupts. Or in Connecticut’s case, it’s when the offense takes the field. Zach Frazer will take the reigns as quarterback. He completed just half of his passes and had a rough 2/6 touchdown/interception ratio in his sophomore campaign. It’s up to him to turn around an offense with as many fresh faces as the Huskies have.

7. Syracuse 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 3-9, (1-6)

Last game (2008): L 30-10 vs. Cincinnati

Next game: Sept. 5 vs. Minnesota

Strong Point: The Orange’ have done the most necessary things to improve their awful season a year ago. They brought in a new coach in Doug Marrone, they actually built up a solid recruiting class and they grabbed an attention grabber in former Duke basketball star turned quarterback Greg Paulus.

Area of Improvement: Almost everything needs improvement, including an offense that averaged a horrendous 270 yards per game, and a defense that gave up over 414 yards a game.

Overall Analysis: Much like the movie “What About Bob?” this team has to take baby steps to get back up. It seems they are heading in the right direction with all the moves they made this season, including sending Greg Robinson out and bringing Marrone in. Don’t be surprised if Syracuse actually finished with a .500 or one game above record this year.

8. Louisville 0-0, (0-0), Stock: LEVEL

2008 final record: 5-7, (1-6)

Last game (2008): L 63-14 at Rutgers

Next game: Sept. 5 vs. Indiana State

Strong Point: 1,000 yard rusher Victor Anderson returns to the Louisville offense to hopefully put a much needed shock back into the unit.

Area of Improvement: Star linebacker James Bryant has graduated from a Cardinals defense that was already ranked 92nd in NCAA D-1 football, giving up just over 369 yards per game.

Overall Analysis: It’s hard to believe that Louisville finished just as bad as Syracuse to end the season. With quarterback Hunter Cantwell and running back Brock Bolin out now, who will possibly replace the only spark that the Cardinals had last season? Expect to see much of the same from the defense, and expect to see a much more insufficient offense, unlike the one last year that tallied up over 375 yards a game. Other than Indiana State, the Cardinals could, in fact, lose every game on their schedule if the youngsters don’t pan out.

By Anthony Jaskulski

The last time the Pittsburgh Panthers took the gridiron versus an opponent it was like two trains on the same track, facing each other and heading for sure disaster.

The only problem was both engines were out of gas and moved…nowhere.

That precisely sums up Pitt and their Sun Bowl bout with the Oregon State Beavers, in which the entire Panthers’ fan base scored just as many points as their favorite team, which was inevitably zero.

But much like the ways of David Bowie, Changes are all around the Panthers program for this upcoming 2009 football season.

The only question is: will those changes be for the better or the worse?

Pitt’s biggest task—without any question—is how to replace two of the biggest names from both sides of the ball in running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy and linebacker Scott McKillop; both in the NFL.

Despite the fact that the most experience from a year ago in the backfield has only 13 carries (Shariff Harris), the Panthers, surprisingly, have some great confidence in three standout backs.

Freshmen Ray Graham, Chris Burns and the all likely No.1 starter at this point, Dion Lewis, have all been quite impressive in camp, and should all get ample chances to tote the rock in the first half of the season.

“We’re very excited about the running game this year,” said Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr. “I think we have some very talented backs that can lead to this team’s success this year. I don’t think we’ll miss a step in that department.”

Cignetti Jr., a graduate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a born and raised Pittsburgher, left his OC job at California-Berkeley to join the Panthers after the OC job opened up last winter with Matt Cavanaugh’s departure. Cignetti helped the Golden Bears to a successful 9-4 season, and a top-notch running game that boasted 186 yards per game—29th in the country.

The quarterback to run the machine will be last year’s starter Bill Stull. The senior gunslinger was mediocre, at best, last season, throwing for just over 2,300 yards and a sketchy touchdown/interception ratio of 9/10. In his last game, the Sun Bowl shutout against Oregon State, Stull went a dismal 7 of 24 for 52 yards and one interception.

According to head coach Dave Wannstedt, every time he was asked about the quarterbacks and a possible battle, he simply stated: “Stull is our starter.”

The confidence in Stull that Wannstedt shows is also in the players’ mind’s as well, and Stull knows the support that he is getting, needs to be exerted on the field.

“I have to prove everybody right and do my job every single day, and please the coaches and my teammates,” said Stull. “The things I do mess up, I need to go back, see it cleaner and not make those mistakes again.”

Stull will have a veteran line with four starters returning, and will be anchored by junior tackle Jason Pinkston.

The receiving and tight end core is the most concrete unit on the offense. Standout sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin, who tallied up just over 400 yards in his freshman campaign, will join senior All-Big East and John Mackey award candidate tight end Nate Byham as two of the deadliest targets in the conference.

Looking on the defensive side of the ball, losing middle linebacker and captain Scott McKillop doesn’t seem so bad when you have, arguably, the best defensive line in the country.

Led by All-Big East senior defensive end Greg Romeus, who garnered 51 tackles a year ago, the Panthers line consists of a murderer’s row list with Jabaal Sheard, Gus Mustakus and Myles Caragein. All players are on at least one preseason award watch list this year.

“Obviously our defensive line gives you something to smile about,” said Wannstedt. “I’m happy with what we have returning in guys like Greg Romeus and Gus Mustakus, but I’m also excited about the younger guys that are making a difference. Guys like Shayne Hale (freshman) and Brandon Lindsay (sophomore) are really showing the depth we have in that area.”

The Panthers middle linebackers—those replacing McKillop—will consist of Adam Gunn and Shane Murray; both whom are coming back from season-ending injuries a year ago. Senior Steve Dell has also made some noise this camp and will more than likely see playing time.

Returning starter Greg Williams and sophomore Max Gruder will round out the linebackers, as the leading candidates for the outside backer slots.

Another unit that seems to be set in stone is the secondary.

Led by junior Dom DeCicco, who tallied up over 60 tackles last season and Aaron Berry and Jovani Chappel, the Panthers seem to have a good amount of solidarity and confidence in the safeties and cornerbacks. If safety Elijah “Scoot” Fields can get his on and off the field issues in order, the speedster will come in handy as a dangerous addition to this unit.

“We are a close group and we communicate real well, which is a big thing on the football field,” said DeCicco about the secondary. “We know how to pick each other up and know our capabilities out there. I think that is a large part in winning games, and why we are so successful as a group.”

Pitt was picked as the preseason favorite to win the Big East conference according to the media poll. But a preseason accolade and fifty cents can get you one collect call.

The real call has to come from the Panthers, who will have to rise above their two key departures and put the load on a group of seniors that Coach Wannstedt seems awfully thrilled about.

“From a coaching standpoint, it’s very exciting when you have as great a group of seniors as we have,” Wannstedt said. “It’s not the leading tackler in the conference like Scott McKillop, and maybe not the rookie of the year coming back like LeSean McCoy. But if you look at our football team, this is the largest group of seniors that we have, and this is the first class where we had the opportunity to evaluate from start to finish.”

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