West Virginia News

BIG EAST FOOTBALL NEWS & NOTES (8/15/2010)

By Raphielle Johnson

Five more awards announced have their preseason watch lists this week: the Bednarik (awarded to the nation’s most outstanding defensive player), Biletnikoff (awarded to the nation’s best wide receiver), Camp (awarded to the nation’s most outstanding football player), Maxwell (also awarded to the nation’s most outstanding football player), and the Guy (awarded to the nation’s best punter). The Big East players named to each of the watch lists are as follows:

Bednarik: DE Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh), FS Robert Sands (West Virginia), LB Derrell Smith (Syracuse) and LB Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut)

Biletnikoff: Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh) and Armon Binns (Cincinnati)

Walter Camp: RB Noel Devine (West Virginia) and RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)

Maxwell: WR Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh), QB Zach Collaros (Cincinnati), RB Noel Devine (West Virginia), RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh), RB Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati), QB Tom Savage (Rutgers) and RB Jordan Todman (Connecticut)

Guy: Rob Long (Syracuse)

As for the injuries that have hit the wide receiver position within the Big East in the first two weeks of practice (not even a full 14 days), it’s a good thing the conference went with a running back from each school for the cover of its media guide. Rutgers and Syracuse have seen receivers expected to be important cogs within their respective offenses go down, with the Scarlet Knights knowing that their lost receiver will be out for the season. Tim Wright, who won the job opposite Mohamed Sanu in spring practice, went down with a knee injury on Tuesday and was officially declared out for the season on Wednesday. The man who gets the first shot at replacing Wright is Mark Harrison, who fell just short of getting the top spot on the depth chart at the end of the spring. Harrison averaged just over sixteen yards per reception in 2009 but had just five catches on the season.

As for Syracuse, the first day of practice for Delone Carter (and third day of practice overall) ended up being a bad one for freshman Jarrod West. West left practice without sock or cleat on his right foot early in the session, and head coach Doug Marrone didn’t sound too optimistic when discussing the injury with reporters following practice. With the Orange having a number of possession receivers but lacking difference makers on the outside the hope was that West, who was an all-state selection in Pennsylvania last year and originally committed to Stanford, would be a player they could count on to make a difference. Of course the true severity of the injury is still unknown, and you can only hope for good news if you’re a Syracuse fan.

John F. Silver of the Manchester Journal-Inquirer wrote a piece on Connecticut left tackle Jimmy Bennett, who’s sat out the last two seasons and is competing with Adam Masters for the starting nod. Bennett, from Alexandria, VA, was one of the Huskies’ best recruits two seasons ago and after redshirting injured his knee last season. But his return from injury hasn’t tempered the expectations of the coaching staff, which thinks Bennett has the ability to be the best offensive lineman UConn has produced during the Randy Edsall era.

As for West Virginia, who has found itself in the news more for issues involving the NCAA rules manual recently, the focus is on starting quarterback Geno Smith and his ability to lead the offense and distribute the football. Smith is just one of two new starters on the Mountaineer offense, and while he’s got a number of capable skill players at his disposal they’ll only be as good as he allows them to be. Also, Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail focused on the journey to health of left guard Chad Snodgrass, who is currently second on the depth chart behind Josh Jenkins. At the least Snodgrass remaining healthy gives West Virginia more line depth, a luxury that any team would desire.

And while it’s never a bad thing to have a visitor who possesses the resume of a Lou Holtz (who spoke to the team on Wednesday), USF didn’t go through the best of days on the injury front in Vero Beach. With RT Jake Sims out due to concussion-like symptoms, the Bulls saw another tackle go down late in practice in the form of Mark Popek (right knee). Popek, who started five games last season as a true freshman, was second on the depth chart at left tackle going into fall camp. With the number of injuries/departures at wide receiver the last thing head coach Skip Holtz needs is to have another position get hit hard by injuries. But the good news is that WR Sterling Griffin was at practice (still not participating) without the protective boot he’d been sporting due to injury.

Other Links:

Cincinnati is expecting big things from Isaiah Pead this season, and head coach Butch Jones won’t be standing in the way of the sophomore’s progress.

Louisville: A number of newcomers will provide the Cardinals with much-needed depth- and playmaking ability- at wide receiver this season.

Pittsburgh: While they do have big holes to fill in the middle of the defensive line with Mick Williams and Guz Mustakas having graduated, the Panthers aren’t without options. And it’s also helped the defense that sophomore middle linebacker Dan Mason is ready to take on a leading role.

BIG EAST FOOTBALL DEPTH CHART NEWS

Orange receive important boost in backfield

By Raphielle Johnson

With Averin Collier’s status still up in the air for academic reasons (it does not look good in terms of him playing this season), Doug Marrone was looking at going into a season with just one experienced running back at his disposal (Antwon Bailey). But Syracuse received quite the depth chart boost on Monday with the clearance of 1,000-yard rusher Delone Carter. Carter, kicked out of school in April for punching another student (February 27^th snowball incident), was cleared by the school’s judicial review board on Monday to re-enroll. While not in Syracuse for practice and the team’s media day at the Carrier Dome, Collier is expected back sometime this week.

There’s no overstating the importance of this news; behind Bailey there was a surplus of inexperienced backs, and the addition of Carter will allow Coach Marrone and running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley some time in developing those youngsters. Also, junior college transfer Lou Alexander (offensive tackle) looks to be on his way towards being cleared to join the team, and his presence will provide the offensive line with more depth and added competition. Lastly, in their quest for a downfield playmaker at wide receiver the Orange will look to Dorian Graham. Graham, who missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury, moves from cornerback to wide receiver and possesses some freakish athletic measurements.

Wide receiver talk segues into the injury woes that have hit USF at the position in their first full week of practice. Senior wideout Colby Erskin, who’d been granted a sixth year of eligibility for medical reasons (three prior ACL tears), tore the ACL in his left knee on Saturday, ending his season before it even began. Add this to the departure of Carlton Mitchell (NFL), four players deciding not to return and projected starters Sterling Griffin and A.J. Love both missing the first month of the season (at least) due to their own injuries. This is not a good start for Skip Holtz and company, who will likely lean heavily on Lindsey Lamar to make things happen from that position.

In other wide receiver news, Cincinnati learned that they will not have the services of junior college transfer Kenbrell Thompkins per NCAA transfer rules. Thompkins, who signed an LOI to play for Lane Kiffin at Tennessee, was not released from the letter by the new coaching staff and as a result will have to sit out the season. However, Thompkins will have two years of eligibility beginning with the 2011 season. Cincinnati will be fine at wide receiver without him, and he should at the very least help out the secondary as they get their reps in against the offensive scout team. Tight end Travis Kelce will not play this season due to a violation of team rules.

Connecticut kicked things off on Monday, and the big move for Randy Edsall’s team actually came in the form of a coaching move. Coach Edsall will handle the safeties this season, allowing first-year secondary coach Darnell Perkins to work solely with the cornerbacks. The Huskies have to replace Robert McClain at free safety and the overall youth is such that it could help them to hear a more familiar voice for the time being. UConn ranked 88^th in pass defense in 2009, and that area could be the difference between contending for the Big East title and simply going to another bowl game.

As for Rutgers, the absence of backup quarterback Steve Shimko (shoulder injury) could open the door for true freshman Chas Dodd to earn the #2 nod in his stead. Tom Luicci of the Newark Star-Ledger writes that the coaches have been impressed with Dodd’s demeanor and ability. But regardless of who wins the backup job the hopes of the Scarlet Knights will rest on the health of Tom Savage; they cannot afford for him to go down due to injury. Pittsburgh is looking for a big season from redshirt junior linebacker Tristan Roberts, who moved ahead of Greg Williams at WILL linebacker due to his play in the spring. Roberts getting the job done will provide even more depth to a unit that’s expected by many to be the best in the conference this season.

Louisville DE Malcolm Tatum is hoping to hold onto his starting job for the entire season, as he lost that spot after just two games in 2009. C.L. Brown of the Louisville Courier-Journal also wrote on Monday that linebacker Deon Rogers, who switched from Georgia to Louisville once the Cardinals hired Charlie Strong, was cleared to join the team. Scout.com ranked Rogers 53^rd in the nation among linebackers and gave him a three-star rating.

West Virginia, which met the deadline to respond to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations, will be looking for significant production from spur Terrence Garvin given the many responsibilities for his position within their 3-3-5 scheme. Given the overall strength of the Mountaineer defense, Garvin (one of two new starters on defense) should have plenty of opportunities to make things happen. At the very least he’ll have experienced voices on the field letting him know where he needs to be.

2010 ULTIMATE BIG EAST FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

A week-by-week look at the biggest games in 2010 within the Big East

By Raphielle Johnson

With camps getting underway (USF and Louisville kick things off on Thursday), now seems to be as good a time as any to take a look at the Big East football schedule for the upcoming season. Twelve games: seven conference and five non-conference, with the goal of those non-conference matchups to spread the wealth a bit. No teams will be seen twice on this portion of the slate, and seven of the eight Big East members will be on the schedule at some point. Feel free to add in your own thoughts below.

Week 1: Connecticut at Michigan (September 4th)

Michigan debuts their newly-renovated stadium amidst the cloud of NCAA inquiry in regards to practice time and other issues, not to mention two straight losing seasons under Rich Rodriguez. The Huskies, who won their last four games to close out 2009, never beat Rodriguez when he was the head coach at West Virginia (which received a letter from the NCAA today in regards to Rodriguez’s tenure in Morgantown) but this is likely their best chance. If the Huskies can shore up their secondary and tackling in space issues look out; it shouldn’t be a surprise if Zach Frazer, Jordan Todman and company leave Ann Arbor 1-0.

Best game: Pittsburgh at Utah (September 2nd)

Danger game: Cincinnati at Fresno State (September 4th)
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BIG EAST FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL & AWARDS WATCHLIST

Pitt receives all but two first-place votes in pre-season media poll

By Raphielle Johnson

Tuesday morning marked the official release of the Big East preseason media poll, with Pittsburgh being the pick to win the conference. Dave Wannstedt’s Panthers, who lost their final two conference games a season ago to miss out on a BCS bid, picked up the first place vote on 22 of 24 ballots to separate themselves from two-time defending champ Cincinnati and West Virginia by 48 points. The Bearcats and Mountaineers both finished with 142 points, although Bill Stewart’s squad picked up one of the other two first place votes. Connecticut, who won their last four games to end 2009, picked up the other first place vote and finished fourth in the poll. Rutgers, who has won their last four bowl games, finished fifth by twenty points over USF and Syracuse finished one point ahead of Louisville for seventh.

1) Pittsburgh -190 points (22 first-place votes)
2) Cincinnati – 142 points
(tie) West Virginia – 142 points (one first-place vote)
4) Connecticut – 131 points (one first-place vote)
5) Rutgers – 99 points
6) South Florida – 79 points
7) Syracuse – 41 points
8] Louisville – 40 points

Can’t say that this is much of a surprise; on paper well before Tuesday’s release the Big East looked to be a league of three “tiers”: the top four with Pittsburgh leading the way, followed by a pair of teams in Rutgers and USF who have the ability to be positive surprises and the rebuilding projects at Syracuse and Louisville bringing up the rear. Personal pick for surprise team is USF; the Bulls have a lot more talent at the disposal of new head coach Skip Holtz and his staff than meets the eye. The biggest question in regards to personnel has to be Syracuse. What happens if they don’t have the services of either Delone Carter (led the team in rushing last season) or Averin Collier (slated to be the starter once Carter was dismissed from school)? You’d have to drop them behind Louisville, who has RB Victor Anderson back for his junior campaign (look for him to rebound from last season should he remain relatively healthy).

My picks:

Pittsburgh
West Virginia
Cincinnati
Connecticut
USF
Rutgers
Louisville
Syracuse

Preseason Award Watch Lists

July marks the time of the year when the individual awards release their initial watch lists for the upcoming season, and a number of Big East players found themselves honored. Below are the players from member schools who are on these lists.

Nagurski Award: DE Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh), S Robert Sands (West Virginia), LB J.K. Schaeffer (Cincinnati), LB J.T. Thomas (West Virginia), LB Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut)

O’Brien Award: QB Zach Collaros (Cincinnati), Tom Savage (Rutgers)

Outland Trophy: G Art Forst (Rutgers), G Zach Hurd (Connecticut), T Jason Pinkston (Rutgers)

Thorpe Award: S Dom DeCicco (Pittsburgh), CB Brandon Hogan (West Virginia), CB Johnny Patrick (Louisville), S Robert Sands (West Virginia)

More awards watch lists will be released next week.

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL SUMMER SCHOOL: WEST VIRGINIA

Mountaineers look to regain Big East crown in 2010

By Raphielle Johnson  

When the torch was passed from Rich Rodriguez to Bill Stewart (dropping the interim tag) on the heels of an impressive whipping of Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl following the 2007 season, many Mountaineers expected to remain atop the Big East as the league’s national standard bearer. But while West Virginia remains the program the other schools measure themselves against when it comes to winning the league, it is Cincinnati who owns the throne right now. But with a number of key contributors on both sides of the football back in Morgantown, expectations for WVU to take back the top spot are high. What separates West Virginia from favorite status as we approach fall camp? Look no further than quarterback.  

While Coach Stewart has handed the keys to the spread option to a different quarterback in each of his two prior seasons, Pat White and Jarrett Brown both had a wealth of experience running the show. That won’t be the case this season, with four players vying for the job with a combined 32-of-49 for 309 yards and a score (all by Geno Smith) through the air and a paltry 14 yards on the ground (seven apiece from Smith and Coley White). And those two are the veterans; incoming freshmen Barry Brunetti and Jeremy Johnson will both be given every opportunity to earn reps in advance of the season opener against Coastal Carolina. White played for both teams in the Gold-Blue Game, accounting for a total of 189 yards and three touchdowns against a pair of interceptions.  

But fret not for offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen; whoever is handed the keys to the offense will have a very nice array of skill position options to get the ball to, led by running back Noel Devine and slot-S receiver Jock Sanders. Devine racked up 1,465 yards and thirteen touchdowns on the ground in 2009, ranking behind only Pitt’s Dion Lewis (138.4 yards/game) in rushing yards per game with 112.7 per contest. Devine also accounted for 22 receptions with an average of just eight yards per catch, but opponents know better than to think he’s not an explosive option through the air as well. As Gale Sayers once said, “give me 18 inches. That’s all I need” and this applies for the senior from Fort Myers, FL as well.  

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? JASON GWALTNEY CLOSING CAREER AT D-III KEAN

Five years And two significant injuries later, Gwaltney finishes up promising college career in Division III

By Matt Whitfield

The name Jason Gwaltney is one seldom mentioned these days in Morgantown (WV). However, five years ago, the college town had a rabid obsession with the powerful running back as he was thought to be the Mountaineers next great back from Long Island, following in the path of ‘Famous’ Amos Zeroue.

Before Gwaltney even played in his first game in college there was talk of him winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the team to a national championship and becoming one of the Mountaineers all-time great players. None of these lofty expectations came to fruition as Gwaltney only played in six games with WVU.

Gwaltney was injured in a game against Rutgers his freshman season and eventually kicked off the team by coach Rich Rodriguez for, allegedly, skipping classes repeatedly. Gwaltney’s WVU career: 45 carries, 186 yards and three touchdowns in six games.

Gwaltney was hoping to return to the team the following spring, after a brief stop at Nassau CC in January, he returned to WVU for the spring semester attempting to get himself academically eligible. However in June of 2006 Gwaltney was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol, speeding and failure to produce a license in Morgantown.

Despite two comeback attempts with West Virginia, Gwaltney now finds himself getting ready for his senior season at Division-III Kean University in New Jersey. While Kean might not sit too far from the Big East schools Gwaltney once hoped to terrorize on the field, the New Jersey Athletic Conference is light years from the Big East conference.

Today, Gwaltney is once again working on a comeback after a serious ankle injury nearly cost him his football career and wiped out all but one half of a game in his junior season. In Kean’s home opener and first game of the season they faced off against ECAC rival Delaware Valley, a team that beat them in the playoffs the last time they met, 16-7. With Gwaltney and Jared Chunn, who rushed for 1,405 yards in 2008, the offense was to set to revolve around the run. However, on Gwatlney’s eighth carry off the day, which went for 14 yards, something went terribly wrong for the North Babylon native. Gwaltney, who reportedly heard a snap on the play, was carted off the field.

Gwaltney, who transferred to Kean University last season from Division-II CW Post, saw his hopes and dreams nearly dashed with that injury and contemplated life out of football for a time after the injury. However he has recovered and has his eyes set on his final season.

“I’d have to say I’m feeling pretty good,” stated Gwaltney. “I was under the impression I would be out a year, and just be able to start training now. But with the help of the trainers at school and trainers back home I made a speedy recovery and my ankle feels good.”

Though he is not playing for a national power at the Division 1-A level, such as West Virginia, USC, Ohio State or any of the others that tried to lure him their way in high school, Gwaltney finds himself happy at Kean as the journey to this point has helped shape him as the person and player he is today.

“Honestly, I couldn’t be happier about being at Kean,” said Gwaltney. “I’m playing with a great group of guys, great coaches, and the University supports us. It’s definitely a motivational tool I use for myself though, knowing people will look at my competition in a different light than D1.”

With Gwaltney’s last season set to begin in September, the senior-to-be has high expectations for himself and his teammates.

“With this team we hope to play in Salem (VA) come seasons end,” said Gwaltney. “I know it’s a bold statement, but knowing the work we put in as a team this offseason I’d be lying if I said I expected less.”

Salem, to those unfamiliar, is the annual site of the Division III national championship game which culminates the playoffs to crown a national champion on the field. The last five years the game has been dominated as Mount Union (OH) and Wisconsin-Whitewater have played for the title against each other the last five years.

Still, Gwaltney is expecting a big final season on the gridiron and having the chance to show people he is still capable of playing past college.

“Far as I go, I wanna be the hardest working athlete on the field at all times,” said Gwaltney. “Making my weakness my strengths. That’s what I expect of myself.”

Gwaltney, who amassed 135 touchdowns and over 7,800 yards in his high school career knows he’ll always have his doubters, but today feels he’s more mature as a player.

“I respect the game a lot more,” said Gwaltney. “I’ll respond to how I do in football with my actions and not my words.”

For Gwaltney, assuming lightning doesn’t strike three times, the rising senior will likely be a force this season for Kean. Gwaltney led CW Post in rushing in 2007 with 709 yards in just 6 games, and had 45 yards in his first game with Kean before going down with the ankle injury in the second quarter. Assuming all goes well this season, Gwaltney still has hopes of playing on the next level.

“Just to make the most of every opportunity,” said Gwaltney. “Treat football at Kean like I would at the next level and at the next level treat it like it’s my business and handle it likewise. Not to say the game is no longer fun, but the intensity is turned up that much in transition from college to the pros.”

As with any college student, their time in college is a transition where one learns, matures and grows with experience. For Gwaltney, hopefully his experience can be a steeping stone to better things down the road. He certainly seems to be on his way once again.

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PHIL STEELE’S PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST TEAMS

Phil Steele Releases All-Big East Teams

Daniels, Lewis lead the way for Big East talent in 2010

By Raphielle Johnson

CLEVELAND, OH – May 19, 2010 – Phil Steele sent his Phil Steele’s 2010 College Football Preview to the press. Enclosed is Phil’s preseason All-Big East Team as well as his All-American Team as it will appear in the Magazine, hitting newsstands June 8th.

Phil Steele’s College Football Preview is the nation’s most informative preseason football magazine and has always provided a preseason All-American team as well as preseason All-Conference teams. For more information or to obtain a copy of each of the All-Conference teams, please visit PhilSteele.com

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL APPROACHING CROSSROADS?

Expansion possibilities threaten league’s viability

By Raphielle Johnson

The company line following the BCS meetings in Phoenix last month was that the Big Ten Conference would wait until December to issue invites to possible expansion targets, staying on course instead of accelerating the process as rumored. That may have been thrown for a loop if the report put out by 810 WHB in Kansas City on Monday has any truth to it. According to the Kansas City-based ESPN affiliate the Big Ten will invite four institutions to join the league: Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Rutgers. Is there truth to the report or is it merely speculation from “sources” that could be wrong? That’s the question and the report was followed by denials from those intimately involved with the process.

All four schools issued denials on Monday and with an issue such as this it’s difficult to find the truth in the midst of so many rumors. But well before this day the Big East had a simple decision to make. Is the league proactive, making a move with the idea of beating the Big Ten to the punch and gaining a little leverage for itself? Or does the Big East go the reactive route, acting only after it knows what the Big Ten’s course of action will be? You can’t blame Big East loyalists who’ve had flashbacks to the ACC’s calling of three schools back in 2003-04 when it comes to the latter course of action.

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BIG EAST FOOTBALL 2009 SEASON AWARDS

Big East Honors Announced with Panthers and Bearcats splitting major awards

By Raphielle Johnson

The Big East Conference announced its 2009 football awards on Wednesday afternoon and there were few surprises with the results. Brian Kelly, who in some circles is rumored to be headed to Notre Dame, was named the Big East Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. Kelly’s Cincinnati Bearcats finished the regular season 12-0 and will once again represent the league in the Bowl Championship Series, playing Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Bearcats also saw Mardy Gilyard win the Big East Special Teams Player of the Year, the second consecutive award for the senior and third straight for the UC program (Kevin Huber in 2007).

As for the offensive and defensive honors those went to Pittsburgh, with freshman Dion Lewis winning both Offensive Player and Rookie of the Year. Lewis led the Big East in rushing and ranked in the top five nationally in rushing yards per game. Defensively Greg Romeus and Mick Williams shared the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award and as a team Pitt had ten players named to the league’s First Team All-Big East squad. Lastly the conference made late Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard the honorary captain. Howard was tragically lost in the early morning hours of October 18th after playing one of the best games of his career in a win over Louisville.

“As a family, we wanted to respectfully remember Jasper Howard and honor his memory,” said Big East commissioner John Marinatto in the conference’s release. “In naming him the Honorary Captain of the 2009 All-BIG EAST Team, we have memorialized his name in BIG EAST Conference history.”

2009 Big East Football Awards

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BIG EAST MONDAY MORNING QB: FINAL WEEK

by MICHAEL PINA

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

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

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

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

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