ACC

WVU SUES BIG EAST; LEAGUE MOVES FORWARD

Marinatto given go-ahead to invite schools

By Raphielle Johnson

The never-ending saga that is the long-term stability of the Big East Conference moved a little closer to a solution on Tuesday as the 13 presidents gave commissioner John Marinatto the go-ahead to invite new members. The goal of the Big East is to get to 12 football members, with a couple of those institutions being “football-only” members. Three are expected to be full members of the conference, and there have been plenty of rumors in recent weeks about which schools are in line for the spots. Following the meeting at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott, Commissioner Marinatto issued the following statement:

“We had a very productive meeting and were able to discuss the great progress we have made in the last few weeks regarding conference realignment.

“Our Presidents voted unanimously to extend invitations to specific institutions, including both football-only and all-sport members to join the BIG EAST Conference. I will be speaking to representatives of those schools shortly and look forward to announcing with them their acceptance into the BIG EAST. The addition of these members will extend our reach, bring us to exciting new markets, strengthen our status within the BCS, and lay the foundation for possible further expansion, all while maintaining the high quality and standards our Conference is known for.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto (Photo Credit: William Perlman/Newark Star-Ledger)

“In light of the lawsuit filed by West Virginia yesterday, the Presidents also discussed and confirmed our continuing commitment to enforce the Conference’s 27-month notification period for schools choosing to leave. The Conference believes these claims to be wholly without merit and will explore all its legal options to protect its interests and to ensure that West Virginia lives up to its obligations.”

Obviously the other key aspect of his statement was the portion on the league’s response to West Virginia filing a lawsuit on Monday, with the hope being that they’ll be allowed to leave the conference for the Big 12 following this academic year as opposed to being subject to the 27-month notification period as written in the conference’s bylaws. The suit can be read here (.PDF file), and a very good explanation of the lawsuit and it’s validity was given by Brian Ewart of VUHoops.com.

The question now likely isn’t when the Mountaineers get to leave but rather how much this will cost them. Whether or not any of the parties involved want this to go to trial is debatable, especially if the Big 12 were to find themselves dragged into the litigation, but this doesn’t look to be a situation that will be solved immediately. It’s also relevant to both Pittsburgh and Syracuse, who cast their lot with the ACC, and could have an idea of what a possible settlement could look like should they attempt to take that route.

ACC commissioner John Swofford stated at the league’s basketball media day in Charlotte that the league is ready for the two schools whenever they can join, be it in 2012 or the expected 2014. But unlike the Big 12 their TV deals are in good shape with their current membership. Since the Big 12 signed their deals with a 10-member league in mind, dropping below that number (should Missouri actually move to the SEC) would cut the value of their contracts (the Big 12 was able to get ESPN and FOX to agree to paying as if the conference were still a 12-member league following the departures of Colorado and Nebraska).

These are definitely interesting times for the Big East, who will more than likely announce new members within the next week or so.

WEST VIRGINIA HEADED TO THE BIG 12…BUT WHEN?

Mountaineers to become league’s 10th member

By Raphielle Johnson

It was announced this morning that West Virginia University will leave the Big East and join the Big 12 Conference in a move that surprised no one in spite of Louisville’s efforts to become the league’s 10th member. But in comparing the statements from the Big East and Big 12 there seems to be a question of when WVU will become a member of the Big 12. The statement from the Big 12 reads as follows:

“The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have voted unanimously to accept West Virginia University as a full conference member effective July 1, 2012. The Mountaineers will begin competing in the Big 12 beginning with the 2012-13 athletic season.

Beginning with the 2012-13 season it is expected that the Big 12 Conference will be comprised of 10 Universities – Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The Big 12’s footprint will encompass five states with over 36 million people. More than 4,100 student-athletes from across the United States and around the World compete annually in the 23 sports sponsored by the Conference.”

Obviously the plans of the conference and West Virginia are to have the school join the conference beginning with the next academic year, with Texas A&M and Missouri (who still hasn’t announced their expected move) going to the SEC. Missouri and the Big 12 are expected to settle on financial terms, which would pave the way for the Tigers to move while also shielding the SEC from possible legal action. But there’s also the matter of the Big East’s 27-month notice, which is what Pittsburgh and Syracuse are being held to before they leave for the ACC. Commissioner John Marinatto released the following statement:

“This move by West Virginia does not come as a surprise. League officials, members of our conference and the candidate schools to whom we have been talking were aware of this possibility. We have taken West Virginia’s possible departure into account as we have moved forward with our own realignment plans. West Virginia is fully aware that the Big East Conference is committed to enforcing the 27-month notification period for members who choose to leave the conference. We are confident that in the coming weeks we will complete our own realignment program, adding a number of high-quality members to remain among the top conferences in both football and basketball.”

Everything has its price so there could be some talks involving the Big 12, Big East and West Virginia in the coming weeks with regards to a settlement that would free WVU to make the change for next season. In turn, the door likely opens for Pitt and Syracuse to negotiate their departures and ACC commissioner John Swofford has stated that they’ll be ready for the new members as soon as next season (but were willing to wait until 2014 if it came to that).

The Big East presidents will meet with Commissioner Marinatto in Philadelphia on Tuesday, where they’re expected to give him the go-ahead to invite new members. Once the membership is finalized then the talk of settlements can begin, but don’t expect the conference to budge on the 27 months until after that happens.

TELECONFERENCE ADDRESSES SOME ISSUES

Withdrawal fees conditionally doubled for football members

By Raphielle Johnson

Big East Conference commissioner John Marinatto held a teleconference this afternoon in hopes of answering some questions on the path the conference was headed. With the news last night that Missouri could well be on their way to applying to join the SEC, some wondered if that would speed up the Big East’s expansion timeline. According to Marinatto that won’t have an effect on how the Big East goes about identifying and inviting prospective members.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto hopes to hold the league together (Photo Credit: William Perlman/Newark Star-Ledger)

“Stay tuned (on time frame),” said Marinatto. “We’re not rushing ourselves to meet anyone’s deadline. The sooner, the better.”

One thing that the conference members did agree to in their conference on Monday night was the conditional raising of the league’s exit fee for football members from $5 million to $10 million (the basketball members will remain at $5 million). That fee increase will be triggered by the acceptance of an invitation to join the Big East by one institution (according to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com this would stand for either Navy or Air Force; fee remains the same in the case that another school is the first to join), as opposed to when the league gets to its established goal of 12 football-playing members (the number is at six with Pittsburgh and Syracuse heading to the ACC and TCU going to the Big 12).

“This development is a significant step forward, as well as a positive demonstration and acknowledgement of the continued benefits of being in the BIG EAST Conference,” said Marinatto. “It sends a message to those institutions we are talking to about joining us. In addition, our members have given us their support to move towards a 12-team football model. Each of our member schools is behind this effort, and we are confident we can achieve it. We hope to have an announcement soon concerning new members.”

As for possible candidates Marinatto could not go into specifics or identify the schools that the Big East has had discussions with, but he did state that he was pleased with the candidates. Marinatto also stated that no invites have been handed out, which contradicts the Houston Chronicle’s report late Monday that the University of Houston received an invitation to join the conference.

“When the dust settles, we will emerge stronger than ever,” said Marinatto. “It’s our commitment to meet the standards to meet our BCS qualifications.”

The question of whether or not the new exit fee figure was considered to be “low” when compared to that of other conferences, Marinatto said, “I don’t think there’s a magic number to prevent schools from leaving a league.” In regards to whether or not the low fee was an issue, Marinatto also stated that the figure wasn’t an issue for the schools that he’s had discussions with.

The conference will communicate with the leaders of conferences in which prospective members currently reside, and Marinatto added that “I don’t think anyone will be blindsided or feel bushwhacked when the process is complete.”

No conferences have contacted the Big East about discussions with their members since the Big 12 inquired about TCU, and there is a chance that the football conference could consist of 14 teams in 2013. Marinatto stated that Pitt and Syracuse will be held to the 27-month notice even if the Big East has its 12-member configuration, and he would like for a possible football championship game to be played in New York City in hopes of having success similar to the basketball tournament.

BEARCATS WHIP NC STATE 44-14

Cincinnati picks up much-needed win

By Raphielle Johnson

Both Cincinnati and NC State went into Thursday night’s game with something to prove, given the fact that both had lost their toughest challenge to date. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, they were unable to run the football offensively, and their defense wasn’t much better in stopping the run in what would become a 44-14 beating at Nippert Stadium. Cincinnati (3-1) running back Isaiah Pead took control of the game in the third quarter on his way to a 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. As a team the Bearcats, who entered the game leading the Big East in rushing offense, rushed for 246 yards with an average of more than five yards per carry.

Zach Collaros accounted for four touchdowns in the win (Photo Credit: Cincinnati Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II)

Quarterback Zach Collaros was effective with both his arm and his feet, with his dual-threat capabilities proving to be too much for an NC State (2-2) defense depleted by injuries. Collaros completed 25 of 34 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 52 yards and two touchdowns. NC State had no such luck, with their quarterbacks being sacked six times and as a team rushing for minus-26 yards.

Neither Curtis Underwood (6 yards) nor James Washington (minus-1 yard) could get going on the ground, which made Dana Bible’s offense far too one-dimensional to keep up with Cincinnati. Glennon threw for 334 yards and two touchdowns but also threw a pair of interceptions, with both leading to Cincinnati touchdowns in the first quarter.

“We were really disappointed in the way we played last year,” noted head coach Butch Jones after the game. “They dominated us in all three phases, it wasn’t even close. The thing is they really dominated us in the physicality of things and we take great pride in being a physical football program. That has kind of been a rallying cry.”

The two teams exchanged punts on their first possessions of the the game, but the momentum turned in favor of Cincinnati on a Drew Frey interception at the Wolfpack 35. Six plays later Pead would score from two yards out to give the Bearcats a 7-0 lead, and it would become 14-0 on their next drive on a Collaros run from 13 yards out. NC State showed some life, driving down to the Bearcat 24-yard line, but a JK Schaffer interception ended that drive. The ensuing Cincinnati possession would go into the second quarter but they kept things rolling as Collaros scored his second rushing touchdown of the game.

The Wolfpack would eventually get on the board as T.J. Graham turned a quick pass from Glennon into an 87-yard touchdown, but they went into the locker room down 24-7 at the break thanks to a Tony Miliano field goal. The game was essentially determined in the trenches, with the Cincinnati defensive line eliminating the threat of the the run (falling behind 21-0 had something to do with NC State’s reliance on the pass as well) and the offensive line taking advantage of a front four that’s been decimated by injuries.

“I think two things stand out tonight: we have to contain the quarterback on defense which would solve a lot of problems and we do not protect the quarterback well enough to consistently throw the ball,” remarked NC State head coach Tom O’Brien. “When we are behind we have to throw the ball. I know its tough. They know we’re throwing, they are going to be coming but we still have to do a better job than we did.”

Miliano capped the Bearcats’ first drive of the second half with a career-long field goal from 48 yards out, and after the defense forced another NC State punt the offense shut the door on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Collaros to Pead. Three Cincinnati receivers caught at least five passes with Anthony McClung’s six receptions (94 yards) leading the way. D.J. Woods and Kenbrell Thompkins caught five passes apiece with Thompkins’ 4-yard reception making the score 41-14 early in the final quarter. To say the least it was a good night for Cincinnati, who now gets ready for a trip to reigning MAC champion Miami (Ohio) next week.

“I just thought our kids were very focused and that our staff did a great job preparing them,” said Jones. “Obviously we will enjoy this one and have a great challenge playing the defending Mid-American Conference champions next week.”

BEARCATS LOOK FOR PAYBACK AGAINST NC STATE

Cincinnati hosts Wolfpack on ESPN

By Raphielle Johnson

Finally what happens on the field takes center stage again after a tumultuous few days in college athletics, and while many will still think about the overall landscape the games will be a much-needed diversion for many. Cincinnati (2-1) kicks off the Week 4 for the Big East in front of a national television audience as they host NC State (2-1) at Nippert Stadium (8 PM, ESPN). It’s the second game of the season for the Bearcats against a respected opponent, and if they need any more motivation than that there’s always what happened in Raleigh last year.

A win on Thursday would be a boost for Butch Jones' program (Photo Credit: Al Behrman/AP)

Russell Wilson led the Wolfpack to a 30-19 win that wasn’t as close as the final score would lead one to believe. But Wilson is now at Wisconsin, meaning that Mike Glennon in the signal-caller that Cincinnati will have to deal with. Glennon, one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the Class of 2008, is a 6-6 passer who doesn’t offer the same threat with his legs that Wilson did (Wilson threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns) but can get it done through the air.

Glennon (who is mobile) is coming off of his best game as a starter, completing 17 of 20 passes for 274 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-13 win over South Alabama. On the season, Glennon has completed 64% of his passes, throwing for 248 yards per game and eight touchdowns to just one interception.

“He’s extremely smooth,” noted Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones earlier this week. “He’s athletic now, he can scramble and make some plays, but you’re looking at a 6-6 kid who can seal, rush and is very poised in the pocket and he throws with great rhythm. He has a great sense of the rhythm and timing of their throw game.”

Glennon is also fortunate to have two of the best targets in the ACC at his disposal. Wide receiver T.J. Graham and tight end George Bryan are the two players the Bearcat secondary must keep an eye on in the passing game, because if they fail to do so Dana Bible’s offense can pick them apart in a way similar to what Tennessee did. Graham’s 12 receptions are second on the team through three games but his yardage (252 receiving yards) leads the way by a wide margin. His listed backup, Tobais Palmer, leads the team with 13 receptions, and they’re the lone Wolfpack players in double figures in catches to this point in the year.

“I believe he’s the fifth all-time leading returner in the history of the ACC,” said Jones of Graham. “He’s extremely dynamic with the ball in his hands either in the return game or in the receiver position. He has the ability to flip field position in a hurry.”

Bryan may have just four receptions through three games, but the preseason All-ACC selection is more than capable of getting hot at any time. NC State goes with a two-headed attack at running back with Mustafa Greene out until October due to a foot injury. Junior James Washington and senior Curtis Underwood are the backs in this system, averaging a combined 130 yards per game, with Underwood having the tandem’s lone 100-plus yard rushing game with 114 in the opener against Liberty.

Cincinnati may not have been great against the pass in Knoxville but they haven’t been particularly good against the run either. The Bearcats currently rank last in the Big East in rush defense, allowing 127.7 yards per game. Defensive tackles Derek Wolfe and John Hughes in addition to middle linebacker JK Schaffer need to control the middle of the field if Cincinnati is to force Glennon to deal with long-yardage situations.

Defensively the Wolfpack arrive in Cincinnati a bit banged up, but they aren’t to be underestimated due to the presence of senior linebacker Audie Cole. Cole leads the team with 29 tackles through three games, and in 2010 was tied for the team lead in tackles with 97. Cole’s moved from the SAM to middle linebacker this season, and to have a player as experienced as Cole in the middle of things is a benefit for head coach Tom O’Brien. Dwayne Maddox is one player who NC State will ask to step up, along with safeties Brandan Bishop and Earl Wolff, and the hope is that their scheme can do enough to confuse Zach Collaros and company.

“I don’t think that will have much of an impact because they do so many things that challenge you in preparing for them and then with a short week of preparation,” noted Jones of the Wolfpack injuries. “All their fires and movement and different blitz schemes and coverages, they’re skilled in the back end.”

Defensive end Jeff Rieskamp is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to start, but linebacker Terrell Manning is not listed on the pregame two-deep due to a knee injury. Add in the injuries that hit the defensive tackles (J.R. Sweezy and Thomas Teal are both out until sometime next month), and it could be a nice day for Isaiah Pead on the ground. Pead has rushed for 257 yards and four touchdowns, and as a team the Bearcats average a conference-best 239 yards per game on the ground.

NC State ranks ninth in the ACC in total defense (due in large part to a pass defense that’s 11th in the league), and that’s against a schedule that outside of their loss to Wake Forest hasn’t overwhelmed. Add in the likes of Anthony McClung, Kenbrell Thompkins and D.J. Woods, and Collaros should be able to move the Bearcats down the field through the air. But if Cincinnati struggles to run the football they’re going to get themselves in trouble.

“Our players have great confidence in what we’re doing,” said Jones. “One thing is very evident and that’s Isaiah Pead is a very good player. He’s one of our weapons. D.J. Woods continues to get better and better the more reps that Kenbrell Thompkins gains.”

Obviously this will be a stiffer challenge for Cincinnati than last week’s game against Akron was, a beating that provided the bonus of getting to rest a number of key players in the second half. There won’t be such luck against NC State, and a key for both teams will be turnovers especially in the passing game.

The Wolfpack (seven interceptions) and Bearcats (six) rank third and fourth respectively in interceptions nationally, and a short field via turnover or kicking game will prove costly for whichever team gets into this kind of trouble. If Cincinnati is to show that they’re more than capable of rebounding from last season’s tumble this is a game they have to win.

Pick: Cincinnati -7.5 (31-20)

Last Week: 5-2 overall (5-1 ATS)

Overall: 17-6 overall (11-8 ATS)

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BIG EAST?

Pac-12 news gives league a reprieve

By Raphielle Johnson

In the immediate aftermath of the Atlantic Coast Conference expanding to 14 teams by grabbing Pittsburgh and Syracuse things looked dire for the Big East. A charter member (Syracuse) and a member who had been a part of the league for nearly 30 years were both moving on to a situation that both find to be more stable. The result was a football conference that, already suffering from perception problems nationally, was short on the number required to be a recognized FBS conference (eight teams). The seven remaining football-playing members met on Tuesday night in New York City and while the message coming out of the meeting was one of unity, is that really the case?

Embattled Big East commissioner John Marinatto hopes to hold the league together (Photo Credit: William Perlman/Newark Star-Ledger)

“The fact that all of our schools, on less than 24 hours notice, made this meeting shows they’re committed to moving forward together,” said commissioner John Marinatto. Also of note is that Marinatto will hold Pitt and Syracuse to the 27-month notice portion of the Big East bylaws on leaving the conference. According to the rules each school will also have to pay $5 million.

What also came out of that meeting was Marinatto stating that all seven schools pledged their allegiance to the Big East, committing to moving forward and aggressively seeking out new members. But that may not be completely true, as officials from the University of Connecticut said that both UConn and Rutgers did not make such a pledge. Those two schools, according to many reports over the last few days, have been on the phone with the ACC and will keep their options open. Obviously the hope would be to going the caravan to the ACC, and remaining in a reconfigured Big East seems to be a last resort for both.

That’s where the Pac-12’s decision to remain a 12-team league instead of moving to 16 (adding Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech) comes into play. With the Pac-12 presidents deciding that they would not allow commissioner Larry Scott to go ahead and invite the Sooners and Longhorns (the other two would tag along to avoid political issues in each state), the “need” to move to 16 is delayed. That also rules out a proposed merger between the remaining Big East and Big 12 schools, a union made out of necessity more than anything. With Oklahoma not moving (cynics wonder if the Pac-12 watched the Big 12 circus and decided they wanted no part of it) the meeting that was supposed to take place in Chicago was scrapped.

To figure out what happens with the Big East also means figuring out what the nine (Texas A&M joins the SEC after this school year) remaining Big 12 members can do. And there’s an awful lot of work to do, with egos bruised and many upset about the path that has led to three schools moving on. Missouri head football coach Gary Pinkel voiced his displeasure with the events of the last two years in the Big 12, and the fact that a lot of concerns regarding revenue sharing (there’s also the matter of the Longhorn Network) still haven’t been addressed has Oklahoma stating the commissioner Dan Beebe needs to be replaced. Obviously the Big 12 will look to add schools at some point in the near future, but how many schools they get and the caliber of those institutions will depend on the leadership in the conference.

So where does this leave the Big East? With the statement that all remaining football schools are unified in committing to the league coming under question it’s best to simply say that schools are evaluating their options. UConn’s made no secret about what they’d like to do, but the most recent strike against a possible move to the ACC may have come on Wednesday night. ACC commissioner John Swofford stated on “The Tony Barnhart Show” that he doesn’t see 16-team super-conferences as being “inevitable”. And with recent events it’s tough to see the ACC taking a step in that direction…unless there’s a sudden change of heart at Notre Dame about placing their football in a conference (no chance of this right now). Connecticut and Rutgers may be on a possible list, but there’s no need for the ACC to make such a move right now.

West Virginia was rumored to have been turned down by both the ACC and SEC, meaning that they’re likely in the reconfigured Big East. But the prospects for both the Mountaineers and Louisville could change if the Big 12 were to come calling, but the issues noted earlier in this post need to be rectified in order for the conference to make moves. Unfortunately for Cincinnati and USF they find themselves in positions where they have to watch this all unfold, with the hope likely being that the Big East remains a viable football conference by adding new schools. The two names that have come up in the aftermath of Tuesday’s meeting are Navy and Air Force, with both joining the league as football-only members.

Navy (a football independent) plays their other sports in the Patriot League and Air Force is an all-sports member of the Mountain West. And according to Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com Navy could have very well become a member of the Big East by now, but the move of Pitt and Syracuse put that on hold. And East Carolina announced today that they have applied for membership as an all-sports member, so there’s another possibility to look at but it may not be a realistic one for the Pirates. But at this stage the Big East may find itself in the same position it was in back in 2003: looking to Conference USA for replacements.

Related Links

- USF athletic director Doug Woolard sent out an email to USF supporters.

- Cincinnati interim athletic director Bob Arkeilpane remains optimistic that the Big East will be able to navigate the troubled waters. The same can be said for school president Dr. Gregory Williams, who released a statement today.

- In addition to the service academies UCF and Temple have been mentioned as expansion possibilities.

- With College Gameday headed to Morgantown for Saturday’s game against LSU this should be a happy time for West Virginia. But there’s too much worry in the air to completely focus on the Tigers for administrators or fans. WVU athletic director Oliver Luck released a statement on Wednesday as well.

- Could Rutgers have avoided their current situation had they won more games? That’s the argument presented here.

- The gentlemen over at the Big East Coast Bias have done well in keeping track of all of this. Be sure to check them out.

PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE MAKE MOVE TO ACC OFFICIAL

Charter member, Panthers leaving Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

The news became official early Sunday morning, with Pittsburgh and Syracuse being unanimously approved as new members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was essentially a formality due to the idea that schools don’t apply to join a conference without knowing that they’ll have the votes necessary for inclusion. The ACC now sits at 14 members, but while commissioner John Swofford stated during the teleconference that his job is to focus on making this new union work no one closed the door on moving to 16 members at some point.

Pitt and Syracuse will join the ACC (Credit: Syracuse Post-Standard)

That’s a big deal for Big East commissioner John Marinatto, who must now attempt to pick up the pieces of a league once again fractured by the rival ACC. But how can that be done when no one knows what the future may hold for them. According to the Hampton Pilot, Connecticut and Rutgers could be on the ACC’s radar if (or when) they decide to move to 16 schools. And with just seven football-playing schools the Big East is not a viable BCS conference (according to BCS rules you need eight teams in a league), which has everyone one concerned and rightfully so.

Connecticut president Susan Herbst released a statement on Sunday, and while she did say that the school remains committed to the Big East they will keep their options open. That would essentially sum up what the other football-playing schools are thinking at this time. There’s talk of a possible union between the Big East’s remainders and those of the Big 12 (should Oklahoma and friends head west to the Pac-12), but it’s pretty obvious that the “strategy” of waiting to see what happens (also, waiting to negotiate a new TV deal) is a really bad idea.

But what can the league really do in this case? Obviously an unstable entity (a keyword used by administrators of both Pitt and Syracuse during their teleconference to announce their acceptance into the ACC was “stability”), the Big East really doesn’t have a lot that it can do at this time. Media outlets in both Connecticut and New Jersey have come to the same conclusion: that neither UConn nor Rutgers can afford to not act quickly on finding the best possible situation for their athletic departments.

The next critical decisions will likely be made by Oklahoma and Texas, who both have Board of Regents meetings scheduled for tomorrow with conference affiliation being on the agenda for both. Texas was rumored to be a possibility for ACC membership, but that may have been squashed with the ACC holding their equal revenue sharing plan in high value. The Longhorn Network, which upset Texas A&M to the point of leaving to the SEC (a move being held up by litigation led by Baylor), would likely have to be reconstructed in some form for Texas to fit into either the Pac-12 or ACC.

So this all likely means that the Big East and its football members will be rooting for the same thing (the Pac-12 moves to 16, including Texas) but for possibly different reasons. On one hand that would be the conference’s best path to survival, but on the other there would be two open spots should the ACC decide to go to 16 at some point as opposed to one or zero (if Texas were to succeed in bringing Texas Tech along). The ACC struck first in a move that surprised many, confirming the fact that we know nothing when it comes to realignment. But this much is certain: John Marinatto and company had better roll up their sleeves. No longer can the Big East afford to simply sit and watch the landscape of college athletics change, hoping that they avoid the “bullets” that will fly.

Oh yeah, the Big East played football yesterday. The league won four of its six games, with the two defeats (interestingly enough) being suffered by Pittsburgh and Syracuse. And the ESPN show College Gameday will be in Morgantown next week for West Virginia’s huge contest with LSU. Possible audition for the SEC? Who knows, but it wouldn’t hurt Oliver Luck’s program if the football team and fans treated the day as such.

Iowa 31, Pittsburgh 27

Leading 24-3 at one point, Pittsburgh’s offense went flat in the fourth quarter and the defense ran out of steam in Iowa City as the Hawkeyes came back to win. Slow progressions in the passing game were once again an issue for QB Tino Sunseri, and while it may be too early to call for Trey Anderson to take over the job one can’t blame Pitt fans for thinking such today. But with the news of the day, Saturday was a day of mixed emotions for those around the school.

West Virginia 37, Maryland 31

The Mountaineers jumped out to a big lead but had to hang on to win in College Park. After giving up three straight touchdown drives to make a 34-10 lead 34-31, the WVU defense stood its ground and gained a critical turnover in the fourth quarter. Eain Smith’s interception in the final minutes deep in Mountaineer territory gave the ball back to the WVU offense, which drove down the field for the game-sealing field goal.

Cincinnati 59, Akron 14

The Bearcats got out of the gates quickly in taking care of the Zips, who can make a case for being one of the worst teams at the FBS level. After failing to force a turnover in their loss at Tennessee last week, Cincinnati forced five in the first half alone (returning three for touchdowns) in taking a 49-0 halftime lead.

Louisville 24, Kentucky 17

Senior quarterback Will Stein was knocked out of the game in the first half with a shoulder injury, opening the door for freshman Teddy Bridgewater. The Miami native got the job done for the Cardinals, who snapped their four-game losing streak in the series. Louisville’s defense shouldn’t be overlooked however, as they limited the Wildcats to 35 yards rushing on 32 carries and sacked Morgan Newton six times. The Cardinals were also able to get their running game going, rushing for 181 yards on 40 attempts and Dominique Brown supplying the spark.

USF 70, Florida A&M 17

USF took full advantage of the Rattlers in Tampa, rewriting parts of the school record book in the beating. The Bulls established new marks for total yards (745, which is now also a Big East record), and quarterback B.J. Daniels tied Matt Grothe’s school record with 382 passing yards. Darrell Scott scored on a 56-yard run and an 84-yard reception…in the same quarter. It was that kind of night for USF, who moves to 3-0 with UTEP visiting next week.

USC 38, Syracuse 17

While the final score may be taken by some as a picture that things got out of hand in Los Angeles, there were positives to be taken out of the game for the Orange. Most notably the play of quarterback Ryan Nassib, who is now up to seven touchdowns and one interception on the season. The problem for Syracuse was that they couldn’t slow down Matt Barkley, who threw for 324 yards and five touchdowns in leading the Trojans to the win.

PITTSBURGH, SYRACUSE APPLY FOR ACC MEMBERSHIP

Big East finds itself in big trouble

By Raphielle Johnson

In a story that’s picked up considerable speed over the last 20 hours or so, the Big East Conference could take a serious (and immediate) hit to its membership. Reported first by Pete Thamel of the New York Times and Brett McMurphy of CBSSports.com, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have applied to become members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Pitt could be reunited with Miami very soon (Photo Credit: Chaz Palia/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

The story broken by Thamel on Friday night acknowledged conversations between the schools and the conference, only to be followed by a report from McMurphy that the schools had formally applied for membership. To make a long story short, school presidents don’t apply to join a new conference without knowing that they’re going to have the necessary votes from said league’s presidents to make the move. According to McMurphy, Big East commissioner John Marinatto did not find out about the schools applying for ACC membership until earlier today while in College Park attending the West Virginia/Maryland game.

The move will get the ACC to 14 all-sports members, and with prevailing wisdom being that the future of college athletics will be four 16-team “super-conferences” that leaves two spots to fill there. Could the ACC, which would now have five former Big East members within its ranks, come calling for two more schools? That’s a big question to answer, but to say the least the other seven Big East football members (this number includes TCU) are working the phones frantically.

The same can be said for the Big East, which has been reported to have been in contact with each of the remaining Big 12 schools save Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Do the two weakened conferences look to band together to form a fifth league and stave off (temporarily) the “wave of the future”? To say the least there’s an awful lot still in the air for the Big East and its members, but to say the least they’ve been put on notice in a big way. Super-conferences will likely be here sooner rather than later, and the goal for each school now is to make sure they have a seat at the table before the music stops.

Related Links

- Rutgers and Seton Hall looking at uncertain futures due to the latest news

- Cincinnati president Greg Williams stated at the Bearcats’ game against Akron that UC remains committed to the Big East. Interim athletic director Bob Arkeilpane said the same while also noting that the school will keep all options open. Cincinnati has not applied to another conference.

- The Louisville Courier-Journal caught up with athletic director Tom Jurich, who doesn’t seem too thrilled with the administration at Pittsburgh right now.

- USF president Judy Genshaft and athletic director Doug Woolard released a statement that really didn’t say a whole lot.

WEEK 3 SATURDAY PREVIEW

Important road games highlight schedule

By Raphielle Johnson

Unfortunately for the Big East the talk of expansion hit its doorstep on Friday night with the reports of Pittsburgh and Syracuse being in discussions with the ACC. How far along are the parties? Will something happen in the near future? That’s all unknown right now, but the most pressing item of business for the Big East members is to take care of business on the field. And there are some important challenges on the table for the league, with the big games all being on the road.

WVU quarterback Geno Smith (Photo Credit: Dan Friend/MSN SportsNet)

Preseason favorite #19 West Virginia (2-0) takes on Maryland (1-0) in the biggest game of the day (Noon, ESPNU) from a conference perception standpoint. The Mountaineers won last season’s meeting 28-14 but while they controlled the action for much of the game they were unable to pull away. First-year head coach Randy Edsall is looking to strengthen the program in College Park and the win over Miami was a good start. But he hasn’t had much success against WVU throughout his career, finally beating the Mountaineers for the first time last season.

To be fair Edsall didn’t have this kind of overall talent at Connecticut, with one difference being the presence of quarterback Danny O’Brien. O’Brien threw for 348 yards and a touchdown in the season opener, but he’ll have to deal with the loss of two targets for this game. Seniors Ronnie Tyler and Quinton McCree were suspended indefinitely by Edsall due to an off-field incident, and their absence from the lineup will force other receivers to step to the forefront.

Juniors Kevin Dorsey (led the team in receiving in the opener) and Kerry Boykins look to be the first two who will get the chance to make plays, but the Terrapins also have a solid running back in senior Davin Meggett. Meggett rushed for 92 yards against Miami and can also get some things done as a receiver. The key for WVU defensively will be to make Maryland a one-dimensional team, and if they can force O’Brien to have to do things by himself the Mountaineers should be in decent shape.

“They do good things offensively,” said WVU head coach Dana Holgorsen. “What they showed against Miami is a lot of the stuff that we do. They try to get the ball out of their hands quickly. They use the perimeter to utilize space.”

One aspect that West Virginia needs to improve upon is how they begin games. In the wins over Marshall and Norfolk State the Mountaineers got off to slow starts, something they can’t afford to do against a quality team on the road. Being able to run the ball effectively will play a role in that, with Vernard Roberts and company needing the offensive line to open up lanes. But that could be tough due to the presence of one of the best defenders in the ACC in Maryland linebacker Kenny Tate.

Tate was a safety last season but he’s been moved up a level, which conceivably allows for the senior to be even more involved in the defense. Corner Cameron Chism, who sealed the win over Miami with an interception return for a touchdown, will be a tough customer on the outside. But West Virginia has the weapons on the outside needed to make plays in the passing game, led by Tavon Austin. Austin will also be a factor on special teams, an area that Coach Edsall wasn’t thrilled with following Maryland’s win over Miami.

“Kickoff and kickoff coverage we have made some changes and hopefully we can be better because we have to be better in that area this week,” remarked Edsall. “If not we will get burned because of the outstanding young man [Austin] that they have returning kickoffs and punts.”

West Virginia’s had their issues in the kicking game as well, but the returns haven’t been a sore spot. Maryland has some speedsters but if this were to turn into a full-on track meet the Mountaineers may have the edge. If Geno Smith and company can move the ball offensively it could be tough for Maryland to keep up in a shootout. But the game won’t get out of hand despite Edsall’s overall history against WVU. Look for this to be one of the better games of the day.

Pick: West Virginia (pick) (31-27)

Pittsburgh at Iowa (Noon, ESPN2)

It’s up to Pittsburgh (2-0) to make sure that the Big East doesn’t go 0-for-Iowa this weekend following Connecticut’s loss to Iowa State on Friday night, and the play of Tino Sunseri will have a lot to do with it. Sunseri has struggled in the new high octane offense, as he’s been slow in his reads according to head coach Todd Graham. In a system that stresses quick decisions it should come as no surprise that both Sunseri and the offense has struggled as a result.

Luckily for Pittsburgh the same can’t be said for running back Ray Graham, who leads the country in rushing with an average of 161 yards per game. Iowa (1-1), who had their troubles with Iowa State last week from a defensive standpoint, will need to force the Panthers to rely on the arm of Sunseri to move the football. The senior can make plays but through two games he’s been sporadic while Graham has been a constant. It’s pretty obvious who Iowa should force to go out and win the game.

James Vandenberg has yet to throw an interception for the Hawkeyes, completing 59% of his passes for 426 yards and four touchdowns. Marvin McNutt and Keenan Davis are two solid receivers for Iowa, but this is a offensive unit that wants to establish the run as well. Marcus Coker is tied for second in the Big Ten in rushing (90.5 yards per game), and as a team the Hawkeyes averaged more than 150 rushing yards per game.

Chas Alexcih and Myles Caragein will need to win their share of the battles in the trenches if Pitt is to slow down Iowa and eliminate the run. And Brandon Lindsey makes the move back to defensive end, which should improve the pass rush of a team that is tied for fourth in the Big East in sacks per game (2.5).

“I’ve probably spent more time with him personally than any kid on our team because I think he’s got a lot of potential and we’re going to have to move him around a little bit,” said Graham. “That also helps him, he’s got two sacks now, and he played very well at the field-side end.”

While it will be a tough road environment in Iowa City this is a game that Pitt is more than capable of winning. But whether or not they do ultimately comes down to Sunseri. If he can make quick, sound reads against Norm Parker’s defense the Panthers have a very good chance of winning. But if not, it will likely be a tough afternoon on the road.

Pick: Pittsburgh +3 (28-24)

Syracuse at USC (8 PM, FX)

After a lackluster showing in their 21-14 win over Rhode Island, Doug Marrone’s Syracuse (2-0) team hits the road for the first time to take on USC. The Trojans (2-0) haven’t looked great themselves but Lane Kiffin’s got some talented players to rely on. Two of those players are quarterback Matt Barkley and wide receiver Robert Woods, who have formed one of the game’s best connections this season. Woods is second nationally in receptions, and while Utah was able to keep him in check Woods caught a school-record 17 passes against Minnesota.

That’s particularly troubling considering the fact that the Orange have had their issues in the secondary, although Keon Lyn has been solid through two games. Phillip Thomas and Shamarko Thomas will need to help out their cornerbacks from their safety positions if Syracuse is to be able to slow down USC in the air.

“Well, obviously, we’ll have to know where he is because he moves around quite a bit,” said Marrone of Woods. “Again, we’re not going to try to put in a lot of new things and create a sense of doing things that we’re not. I think that’s the wrong type of thing to do.”

Running back Mark Tyler has returned following a suspension and he rushed for more than 100 yards last week, adding a dimension to the USC offense that was missing in the win over Minnesota. Syracuse won’t be helped by the fact that defensive end Chandler Jones will likely miss the game due to injury, but either way they need to win the battle up front and get the Trojans off the field in third-down situations.

Offensively the Orange will need to establish their running game just one week after struggling to do so against an inferior opponent. If Antwon Bailey can’t get going on the ground Syracuse will be in trouble. No running game leads to more passing situations, which would likely mean that USC is controlling things on the line of scrimmage as well. Ryan Nassib has been solid for the Orange, but to expect him to win the game with his arm would be a really tough thing to do.

Pick: USC -14.5 (35-17)

Louisville at Kentucky (7 PM, ESPNU)

The battle for bragging rights in the Bluegrass State may not be the easiest on the eyes from an offensive standpoint, but the aesthetics should be of little concern to both Louisville and Kentucky (2-0). The Cardinals (1-1) have been unable to get the running game untracked thus far, and with Victor Anderson and Jeremy Wright that’s a fact that’s been hard to fully comprehend. But a look at the offensive line shows why Louisville has struggled: five new starters, thanks to center Mario Benavides being out due to injury.

“There are not many options because we are playing the best that we have right now,” said Louisville head coach Charlie Strong. “You look at our offensive line and the more they play together, they’ll jell.”

But even with Benavides on the field Louisville would still have their share of problems due to the overall youth of the group. Run blocking is usually thought to be the easier part of the occasion for linemen but that hasn’t been the case for the Cardinals. Will Stein has been productive through the air, connecting with tight end Josh Chichester and receivers Josh Bellamy, Michaelee Harris and DeVante Parker on a consistent basis.

Louisville will need to find Danny Trevathan when going up against the Kentucky defense, but they have the ability to move the football. The same goes for Kentucky despite their struggles on that side of the football, due in large part to the fact that quarterback Morgan Newton is a very good athlete. But he’s hasn’t been accurate as a passer, completing less than 50% of his passes and throwing four picks to two touchdowns. Running back Josh Clemons and wide receiver La’Rod King will be two key cogs for the Wildcats that Louisville will need to slow down, and they’re more than capable of doing so.

The outcome will boil down to the team that makes fewer mistakes while capitalizing on those of the opposition. That can be said for any football game, but may apply even more to the Governor’s Cup due to the inconsistent nature of each offense. Can Louisville establish the run? If so, they’re more than capable of winning in Lexington.

Pick: Louisville +4.5 (Kentucky 17-13)

Akron at Cincinnati (3:30 PM, ESPN3)

Cincinnati (1-1) looks to bounce back from their rough outing at Tennessee, and to be honest there are few teams who fit the bill of being a good team to see after a loss than Akron (0-2). Rob Ianello’s Zips have struggled in just about every phase of the game thus far, and it’s extremely difficult to see them being able to slow down Zach Collaros and company. The Bearcats were outstanding on offense in the early going last week, but the two fourth down stops in the second quarter got things rolling in the wrong direction.

“It’s getting back and the details of playing winning football at each and every position,” said Cincinnati head coach Butch Jones. “It’s the fundamentals of tackling, stripping the football, blocking – it’s situational football.”

The Zips do have a very good linebacker in Brian Wagner, but overall they don’t look to have the horses to stick with Cincinnati’s offense. The problem for Akron: inexperience. 46 of their 76 scholarship players are freshmen or sophomores, which has been a problem in games against Ohio State and Temple (outscored 83-3). It could very well get to the five-touchdown margin once again for Akron given the gulf in experience and Cincinnati looking to atone for last week’s showing.

Pick: Cincinnati -34 (48-10)

Florida A&M at USF (7 PM, Big East Network)

Here’s another game that will more than likely get out of hand. USF (2-0) displayed good maturity last week as they whipped Ball State 37-7 to end a roller-coaster week that began with their win at Notre Dame. B.J. Daniels threw for 359 yards in the win and running back Darrell Scott ran the ball well behind the offensive line. Games like this one are more about avoiding bad habits and injuries since the majority of FCS teams don’t have the depth to hang around for 60 minutes.

FAMU quarterback Austin Trainor has thrown for more than 500 yards through two games, but the issue for the Rattlers is the running game. Levante Page leads the team with 39 yards rushing, a number that won’t get it done against the Bulls’ speedy defense. Can the Bulls score on defense or special teams for the third straight game? It’s more than possible, but at the least look for a dominant effort from the Bulls as they get closer to that conference opener against Pitt on the 29th.

Pick: USF (44-13)

Record: 13-4 overall; 7-7 ATS

QUINTON JEFFERSON HAS IOWA, PITT STRONG IN HIS RECRUITMENT

2011 PA defensive end has two schools standing out in his recruitment as he works through visits

The Woodland Hills program in Western Pennsylvania is no stranger to producing big-time college football prospects. Names such as Jason Taylor, Steve Breaston, Ryan Mundy, Shawntae Spencer, Lousaka Polite and Rob Gronkowski have come through George Novak’s program in recent memory. In fact, between 2001 and 2010, Woodland Hills had over 30 players earn Division 1-A scholarships, the most in the talent-rich WPIAL.

The number will certainly rise once signing day in February of 2011 rolls around as the Wolverines have three players currently on Chris Dokish’s Class of 2011 PA Top 25 High School Football Players which was posted on NBE Football yesterday. At #12 is 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end prospect Quinton Jefferson, who is being heavily recruited by some top football programs across the country.

“Most active teams right now are Cincinnati, Iowa, Pitt and Maryland,” said Jefferson about his recruitment. “I would say the leaders right now are Pitt and Iowa.”

Being recruited as a defensive end, Jefferson has some explosiveness off the edge and could be as good as any pass rusher in the state this year. As a junior Jefferson counted five sacks and nine passes batted down while helping Woodland Hills to a 12-2 record. His highlight of the year was recording a sack at Heinz Field against rival Gateway as the Wolverines won the WPIAL championship, 10-0, on the home field of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The championship was the 6th for coach Novak (five at Woodland Hills and one at Steel Valley), a mark only two other coaches have achieved in the storied history of the WPIAL.

While Jefferson certainly has his mind on recruiting, he also is motivated for a successful senior season with the Wolverines and knows they will have a target on their backs as defending Class AAAA WPIAL champions.

“This summer I would like to maybe see some more colleges but I want tp work on concentrating on getting better for my senior season,” said Jefferson.

One of those colleges he has seen left a big impression on him. Jefferson visited the campus of Iowa earlier this month to get an up-close and personal view of Kirk Ferentz’s program. Ferentz is a native of Western PA himself, having graduated from Upper St. Clair High School in Pittsburgh.

“I have to set some more visits up,” said Jefferson, “but the visit that impressed me the most was Iowa. The campus is very nice and so are the people, [the]coaching staff is great and their art studio was the best I [had] seen so far, [it] just blew me away and that is what I wanna major in college.”

NBE Sports will certainly keep an eye on the recruitment of Quinton Jefferson as it sounds like he will be one of the next Division 1-A products from the football factory of Woodland Hills. Stay tuned…

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

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