By Raphielle Johnson

On the surface three coaching changes within a conference wouldn’t be a huge deal. But when taking into consideration that only eight schools play football in the Big East this qualifies as an off-season of significant turnover. The most surprising move came on Friday with South Florida firing head coach Jim Leavitt, the lone coach in the program’s 13-year history. In a college football season that’s seen coaches fired at both Kansas and Texas Tech for their conduct towards players, Leavitt was let go over an incident with walk-on wide receiver Joel Miller at the half of their November 21st game against Louisville.

According to many testimonies Leavitt grabbed Miller by the throat and struck him in the face twice, allegations that the coach denied. Miller’s father went to the papers to change his story after it was originally reported by AOL Fanhouse writer Brett McMurphy on December 14th, saying then that Coach Leavitt had not struck his son. But in the investigation done by the school they came to the conclusion that Leavitt had indeed struck Miller after interviewing student-athletes and those who are not student-athletes. In the letter of termination sent to Leavitt by the school the school said the following in regards to its findings:

It was also reported that in the days following the incident Miller and Leavitt had a conversation in which the coach advised him to choose his words wisely because he (Leavitt) “was the most powerful man in the room”. Leavitt, who led the Bulls to an 8-5 record and a win over Northern Illinois in the International Bowl, leaves USF with an overall record of 95-47 and 17-18 in Big East play. Carl Franks, who was the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator the last six years, was named acting head coach while the school looks for a permanent solution. Franks was head coach at Duke from 1998-2003, where he had a record of 7-45 before being fired.

In regards to who could be approached by the school, Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin is one name that has been discussed by the local media. Current USF staff members Franks, offensive coordinator Mike Canales and defensive coordinator Joe Tresey have also been mentioned by the St. Petersburg Times’ Greg Auman. The school has hired Chuck Neinas to assist in their search for a new head coach.

Other Coaching Changes

Cincinnati
Out: Brian Kelly (accepted same position at Notre Dame)
In: Butch Jones (27-13 in three years (20-3 MAC record) at Central Michigan)

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree in regards to the Bearcats’ search for a new head coach after Brian Kelly took the job at Notre Dame. Cincinnati hired the man who replaced Kelly at Central Michigan, and Jones enjoyed much success in his three seasons in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas played in three bowl games during his tenure and won a pair of MAC championships. Add in Dan LeFevour Jones helped tutor one of college football’s most versatile quarterbacks, which should be a bonus when dealing with Zach Collaros in 2010. And Jones has experience coaching in the Big East as well, having been a member of Rich Rodriguez’s staff at West Virginia in 2005 and 2006.

Louisville
Out: Steve Kragthorpe (fired on November 28th)
In: Charlie Strong (formerly the defensive coordinator at Florida)

This was the one job coming into the season that many had their eye on within the conference; it was no secret that the Cardinals had to show significant improvement under Kragthorpe in order for him to keep his job. In his place is the highly-regarded Charlie Strong, whose first head coaching job is long overdue given his credentials. Strong led one of the nation’s best defenses this season to a 13-1 record and a win over Cincinnati in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and he was also an integral part of two national titles in Gainesville. Coach Strong is also regarded as one of the nation’s best recruiters, a reputation that has already begun to pay dividends for Louisville and could result in a bountiful National Signing Day. Twice named a finalist for the Broyles Award given to the nation’s best assistant coach, Strong was a defensive coordinator in the SEC from 1999-2009.

Going into the Papajohns.com Bowl the Connecticut defense was a concern due to their struggles in both tackling and execution. Having failed to hold an FBS opponent to fewer than 21 points since a 12-10 loss to North Carolina, the Huskies ran into the perfect tonic at Legion Field. South Carolina, who had struggled all season on the offensive line, was also dealing with the loss of offensive line coach Eric Wolford (he accepted the Youngstown State head coaching position) and his absence was rather apparent. The Connecticut defense limited the Gamecocks to 205 yards of offense in a 20-7 victory.

“I thought we were ready to play,” said South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier after the game. “I thought we’d practiced pretty well but obviously our offense was very sad and our defense not as good as it’s been most of the time.”

South Carolina, who finished the game with just twelve first downs (3-for-15 on third down), didn’t move the chains for the first time until halfway through the second quarter and managed just 2.9 yards per rush (76 yards). Scott Lutrus led UConn defenders with nine tackles and a sack and as a team the Huskies managed three sacks, eight tackles for loss and interception and a fumble recovery. Offensively the Huskies were led by senior running back Andre Dixon, who rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown on thirty-three carries. Dixon, who won the Fred Sington Most Valuable Player award, became the 12th back in UConn history to surpass the 1,000-yard mark.

And with Jordan Todman (9 carries, 36 yards) already passing that mark the Huskies are one of just three teams in college football this season with multiple 1,000-yard rushers (Nevada and Georgia Tech). Zach Frazer wasn’t great in regards to his completion percentage, completing just nine of twenty-one attempts for 107 yards and a touchdown, but he did a good job of avoiding the crucial mistake on a day in which neither offense was poised to explode. And his touchdown pass that kicked off the scoring was arguably the play of the bowl season.

Kashif Moore was able to gain enough separation on the sideline in the first quarter, giving Frazer room to drop the ball in which Moore snagged with one hand. From there it was a race to the end zone, with the 37-yard strike giving UConn early control of the game. And thanks to the defense and South Carolina’s struggles (nine drops) control wasn’t relinquished until the end of the game. David Teggart added a pair of field goals in the first half to send the Huskies into the locker room with a 13-0 lead.

There was no more scoring until early in the fourth quarter when Dixon gamboled into the end zone from ten yards out to give Connecticut a 20-0 lead that for all intents and purposes sealed the game. South Carolina got on the board with 3:24 remaining on a 2-yard touchdown run by Brian Maddox but Alex Molina’s recovery of the onside kick shut the door. From there the Huskies ran out the clock, winning their second consecutive bowl game in as many seasons.

Things that went right:

1. Defense! For a unit that ranked 95th against the pass coming into the game to play as well as they did in all phases was a welcome surprise.

2. Running the football: Connecticut was able to control time of possession (35:28-24:32) and the tempo of the game thanks to a rushing attack that accounted for 146 yards against a stout South Carolina defense.
3. Discipline: The Gamecocks killed themselves with some untimely penalties that kept a UConn drive alive early in the third quarter. Connecticut finished the game without being penalized.

What didn’t go right:

1. Passing game efficiency: It wasn’t a big deal due to South Carolina’s offensive issues but Frazer completed less than half of his passes. They were able to get a few big plays through the air, but there were also a couple of missed opportunities that could have led to even more points.

Unit Grades:

Offense: B (the running game got the job done and to be honest there wasn’t much they had to do besides not turn the ball over)
Defense: A (obviously a shutout would have been even better but this unit executed their assignments and made tackles to eliminate the Gamecocks’ big-play opportunities)
Special Teams: A (this was an area that the Huskies held a clear advantage in going into the game and they made sure not to mess that up)

By Raphielle Johnson

Game week is finally here for the Connecticut Huskies (7-5) with preparations for the PapaJohns.com Bowl well underway. The team will arrive in Birmingham on Tuesday, with Saturday’s kickoff slated to be at 2 PM on ESPN. On the other side of the field will be the South Carolina Gamecocks, coached by one of the game’s iconic figures in Steve Spurrier. Just like the Huskies there are a number of talented youngsters on the roster, and the hope in that regard is that a win on Saturday can be the springboard to an even better 2010.

But South Carolina is also blessed with one of the game’s best linebackers in senior Eric Norwood. Norwood leads a defense that ranked among the SEC’s best this season and if not for Lorenzo Ward (coordinator) and Ellis Johnson’s (assistant head coach) unit it could be argued that South Carolina would be home for the holidays. Other standouts on the defense include safety Chris Culliver and defensive lineman Cliff Matthews.

Norwood was a First-Team All-SEC selection by both the AP and the league coaches while Culliver was a Second-Team choice of the AP. Matthews, who was an Honorable Mention selection by the AP, was named Second-Team by the coaches. There’s also a lot of young talent on the defense and as a group they finished the season 15th nationally in total defense. The Gamecocks also rank twelfth in pass defense, a number that could prove troublesome for Zach Frazer and his receiving corps.

Offensively it’s been a different story for South Carolina, which surprisingly has been one of the stories throughout Spurrier’s tenure in Columbia. Stephen Garcia has shown some improvement at the quarterback position but the Gamecocks still finished the season ranked 76th nationally in total offense. Why is that? Start off with a running game that ranks 91st and boasts a leading rusher (Kenny Miles) with just 616 yards. Connecticut’s tandem of Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon both eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark this year.

The passing game has been better thanks in large part to freshman All-American receiver Alshon Jeffery, but the offensive line has been a problem in this area as well. South Carolina ranks 104th in sacks allowed and at times it’s a wonder that Garcia has been able to play in every game this season. He’s mobile and his ability to buy time has bailed out South Carolina on occasion. Below is the projected two-deep for the Gamecocks accompanied by a few notes.

Offense

QB 5 Stephen Garcia (RSo.)
14 Reid McCollum (RFr.)

TB 10 Brian Maddox (Jr.)
31 Kenny Miles (RFr.)

FB 47 Patrick DiMarco (Jr.)
46 Dalton Wilson (Fr.)

To be blunt if Garcia were to go down the Gamecocks would be in serious trouble, as would the Huskies should something happen to Zach Frazer. Garcia has thrown for 300 or more yards in four games this season and is one of five Carolina players to have played in all twelve games. He’s tough and the decision-making has improved over the last year; Garcia finished the regular season with 2,733 yards and seventeen touchdowns against nine interceptions. He’s also rushed for four touchdowns and he ranks second on the team in rushing yards gained (372). The total of 130 yards accounts for 242 yards lost via sacks.

The more experienced Maddox usually gets the start at tailback but it’s Miles who finished the regular season as the Gamecocks’ leading rusher. Miles ran for 602 yards on 111 carries, good for an average of 5.4 yards per rush. Another good thing about Kenny: he seldom loses yardage, giving just fourteen yards on the season to date. Maddox is second on the team in rushing yards with 305 yards and is the more likely option in the red zone; he led South Carolina with five rushing touchdowns this season.

Maddox and Miles each finished the season with seventeen receptions, with Maddox also tallying a pair of touchdown receptions. Look for Coach Spurrier, who took over play-calling duties for his son (Steve Jr. is the passing game coordinator), to work them in via the screen game on occasion. DiMarco is the most likely option at fullback, and he’s more of a threat as a blocker or receiver (14 receptions) than as a ball-carrier (ten carries).

WR 1 Alshon Jeffery (Fr.)
81 Tori Gurley (RFr.)

WR 9 Moe Brown (Sr.)
86 Stephen Flint (So.)

WR 4 Jason Barnes (So.)
82 D.L. Moore (RFr.)

TE 88 Weslye Saunders (Jr.)
87 Justice Cunningham (Fr.)

This is the area where Connecticut should be most concerned, especially if they fail to apply consistent pressure to Garcia. Jeffery was one of the nation’s best freshmen, finishing the season with team highs in receptions (43), receiving yards (735) and touchdown receptions (six). Averaging more than seventeen yards per catch Jeffery qualifies as the Gamecocks’ biggest threat through the air. Moe Brown has been the dependable senior for Carolina; in fact he’s the lone senior on the two-deep when it comes to backs and receivers. He’s second on the team with thirty-two receptions for an average of fifteen yards per catch and three touchdowns.

Tori Gurley and Jason Barnes are the other two receivers likely to see the football, combining for fifty-two catches on the season. Gurley may be considered the bigger threat down the field of the two but in most of those situations it will be Jeffery or Brown who gets the call. And the tight end position has always had a featured role during Coach Spurrier’s time as head coach, with the hot Weslye Saunders moving into the role vacated by Jared Cook. Saunders has caught all three of his touchdown passes in the last two games and ranks third of the team in receptions with thirty.

LT 68 Kyle Nunn (So.)
76 Jarriel King (Jr.)

LG 70 Garrett Anderson (Sr.)
77 Garrett Chisolm (Jr.)

C 57 Lemuel Jeanpierre (Sr.)
70 Garrett Anderson (Sr.)

RG 55 T.J. Johnson (RFr.)
57 Lemuel Jeanpierre (Sr.)

RT 66 Hutch Eckerson (Jr.)
72 Quinton Richardson (So.) doubtful (shoulder)

This is the area that the Connecticut defense may be able to exploit; in fact, they’d better if they want to win the game. South Carolina has allowed thirty-four sacks and seventy tackles for loss on the season, and the run game ranks ninety-first nationally. Those numbers make the yards lost by backs Kenny Miles and Brian Maddox (33 yards) all the more impressive for those two.

Anderson and Jeanpierre are the elder statesmen up front but overall this is a young group that’s endured its fair share of growing pains. If Lindsey Witten shows up at Legion Field focused (he should; final game that serves as an NFL audition) he could be in store for a big afternoon.

Defense

DE 96 Clifton Geathers (Jr.)
98 Devin Taylor (RFr.)

DT 95 Nathan Pepper (Sr.)
94 Kenny Davis (RFr.)

DT 91 Ladi Ajiboye (Jr.)
6 Melvin Ingram (So.)

DE 83 Cliff Matthews (Jr.)
92 Byron McKnight (So.)

This is an experienced group that also ranks among the SEC elite with Matthews leading the way. Finishing the regular season with ten TFLs and seven sacks, Matthews was a second team All-SEC selection. On the other side of the line is Clifton Geathers, who is playing his best football of the season at just the right time.

On the inside is South Carolina’s most experienced player when it comes to bowl games in senior Nathan Pepper, who is the first Gamecock to play in four bowl games. He and Ladi Ajiboye provide a stout roadblock in the middle of the defensive line, and as a unit this is a fast group. But they have had issues defending the run, which could mean a good afternoon for Connecticut’s solid offensive line.

WLB 40 Eric Norwood (Sr.)
44 Tony Straughter (Jr.)

MLB 16 Shaq Wilson (So.)
41 Josh Dickerson (Jr.)

SPUR 26 Antonio Allen (So.)
33 Damario Jeffery (Fr.)

Any conversation about South Carolina football has to include Norwood, accepted by many close to the program as their Player of the Decade. Honored as a Walter Camp All-American, the senior is the career leader in both tackles for loss (54.5) and sacks (29.0). He’s also leading the team this year in interceptions with two. Simply put Eric is one of the game’s premier playmakers at the linebacker position.

But outside of him (252 lbs.) this is a unit that’s light yet extremely fast. Shaq Wilson leads the team in tackles with seventy-eight and SPUR (a safety/linebacker hybrid) Antonio Allen has made seven starts this season. They can run so the Huskies would be wise to avoid “east/west” runs.

CB 5 Stephon Gilmore (Fr.)
36 D.J. Swearinger (Fr.)

FS 17 Chris Culliver (Jr.)
3 Akeem Auguste (So.)

SS 24 Darian Stewart (Sr.)
21 DeVonte Holloman (Fr.)

CB 3 Akeem Auguste (So.)
12 C.C. Whitlock (So.)

Coming into the 2009 season there were some concerns regarding the secondary given the loss of key contributors such as Captain Munnerlyn, Stoney Woodson, Carlos Thomas and Emmanuel Cook. Consider those fears taken care of, as they Gamecocks come into this game ranked 12th nationally against the pass.

The corners, Gilmore and Auguste, are young but willing to take on any challenge and they should make for good competition opposite the likes of Marcus Easley and Kashif Moore. Gilmore (a freshman All-American) is another of the five players to have played in every game for South Carolina and he will also see some snaps offensively in the Gamecocks’ “wildcat” formation.

Auguste racked up thirty-six tackles in nine games and also forced a pair of fumbles. Akeem is the more physical in regards to defending the run while Stephon is the better cover corner. At free safety is the aforementioned Culliver, who is tied for the team lead with eight pass breakups (Gilmore) and ranks third on the team in tackles with fifty-eight.

And at the strong safety position will be senior Darian Stewart, who is the most experienced member of the secondary with eleven starts this year and thirty-five over the last three seasons. As a team South Carolina has just six interceptions but they do boast a combined forty-four passes defensed, making them a capable challenge for the Connecticut passing game.

Special Teams

K 34 Spencer Lanning (Jr.)
81 Adam Yates (RFr.) backup on kickoffs

P 34 Spencer Lanning (Jr.)
42 Eric Davis (RFr.)

KR 22 Bryce Sherman (RFr.)
17 Chris Culliver (Jr.)

PR 5 Stephon Gilmore (Fr.)
3 Akeem Auguste (So.)

This is the area where the game could be decided and it’s a good thing the Huskies have taken care of the issues that left them susceptible to blocked punts last season. South Carolina finished the regular season tied with Alabama atop the SEC in kicks blocked with four. However, when it comes to kick coverage there are areas that the Huskies can look to exploit.

South Carolina ranks 93rd in net punting and they’re a middle of the pack team when it comes to kickoff (66th) and punt (64th) returns. Spencer Lanning handles the kicking and punting duties for South Carolina, replacing the talented Ryan Succop as placekicker. And Spencer has gotten the job done when it comes to field goals, making seventeen of twenty this season (including a streak of twelve straight) with a long of 47 yards. He’s also the punter with an average of 41.8 yards per punt and fifteen downed inside of the 20-yard line with none blocked.

Lanning also took over the kickoff duties for Adam Yates in their season-ending win over Clemson with Coach Spurrier hoping that the change would improve their numbers. South Carolina averages just 59.6 yards per kickoff with a net of 37.3 yards and just one touchback. And given UConn’s ability to run back kicks this may be an area that gives Carolina some concern heading into Saturday.

In the return game South Carolina as a team averages 21.6 yards per kickoff return, three yards less than their opponents. They’ve also given up three returns for touchdowns this season and South Carolina’s opponents average just over six yards more per punt return (14.6-8.4). If Connecticut is to knock off the Gamecocks the special teams area must be a win, and there’s no reason to believe that it can’t be.

Who has the edge?

Offense: Connecticut (the Gamecocks rank among the SEC’s worst in offensive production and have struggled to both protect their quarterback and establish the run)
Defense: South Carolina (Connecticut has struggled against the pass much of this season and if there’s a bigger culprit look no further than their shoddy tackling)
Special Teams: Connecticut (The Huskies have the edge when it comes to returning kicks and punting but Lanning gets the edge over David Teggart in the field goal department)

Quick Fact: These two teams have just twenty-one seniors on the roster between them, with Connecticut boasting twelve while the Gamecocks have just nine. Both teams can use this game (and the practices that precede it) as a springboard towards bigger things in 2010. As a matter of fact, they should.

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

Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly (Cincinnati)
Offensive Player of the Year: RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)
Defensive Co-Players of the Year: DE Greg Romeus and DT Mick Williams (Pittsburgh)
Special Teams Player of the Year: KR/PR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
Rookie of the Year: Lewis
Honorary Captain: CB Jasper Howard (Connecticut)

First Team All-Big East (*- unanimous selection)

QB Tony Pike (Cincinnati)/ Bill Stull (Pittsburgh)
RB Dion Lewis (Pittsburgh)*
RB Noel Devine (West Virginia)*
WR Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)
WR Jonathan Baldwin (Pittsburgh)
TE Dorin Dickerson (Pittsburgh)
OT Jason Pinkston (Pittsburgh)
OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers)
OG Zach Hurd (Connecticut)
OG Dave Malecki (Pittsburgh)
C Chris Jurek (Cincinnati)
K Tyler Bitancurt (West Virgnia)
RS Mardy Gilyard (Cincinnati)

DL Lindsey Witten (Connecticut)
DL Greg Romeus (Pittsburgh)*
DL Mick Williams (Pittsburgh)
DL Jason Pierre-Paul (USF)
DL Arthur Jones (Syracuse)
LB Lawrence Wilson (Connecticut)
LB Adam Gunn (Pittsburgh)
LB Kion Wilson (USF)
LB J.T. Thomas (West Virginia)
CB Aaron Berry (Pittsburgh)
CB Devin McCourty (Rutgers)
CB Brandon Hogan (West Virginia)
S Aaron Webster (Cincinnati)
S Robert Sands (West Virginia)
P Rob Long (Cincinnati)

Second Team All-Big East

QB Jarrett Brown (West Virginia)
RB Andre Dixon (Connecticut)
RB Jordan Todman (Connecticut)
WR Armon Binns (Cincinnati)
WR Tim Brown (Rutgers)
TE Ben Guidugli (Cincinnati)
TE Nate Byham (Pittsburgh)
OT Jeff Linkenbach (Cincinnati)
OT Selvish Capers (West Virginia)
OG Jason Kelce (Cincinnati)
OG Ryan Bartholomew (Syracuse)
C Samson Genus (USF)
K Dan Hutchins (Pittsburgh)
RS Trent Guy (Louisville)

DL Ricardo Mathews (Cincinnati)
DL Gus Mustakas (Pittsburgh)
DL George Selvie (USF)
DL Chris Neild (West Virginia)
LB Greg Lloyd (Connecticut)
LB Derrell Smith (Syracuse)
LB Reed Williams (West Virginia)
CB Robert McClain (Connecticut)
CB Jerome Murphy (USF)
S Dom DeCicco (Pittsburgh)
S Nate Allen (USF)
P Scott Kozlowski (West Virginia)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Big East Top Performers

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

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

Quote of the Week

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

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

Pina’s Final Power Poll

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

2001 was the year Heinz Field opened, rising from the ashes along the banks of the Ohio River. It was such an occurrence that lame-brains in some PR capacity convinced the city’s leaders to try and change the name of the area from the North Side to the North Shore. Forever leaving first-time visitors to wonder: Where’s the beach? Note to new residents/visitors: don’t ask for directions to the North Shore because you’re libel to be laughed at — I’ve seen it happen here in Greenfield — or find yourself in the parking lot of the Monroeville Mall.

Since that time there has been some monumental games played inside the generic-looking edifice that houses both the pride of Pittsburgh sports, the Stillers, and its coattails-riding nephew — Pitt football. The North Side has seen three AFC Championship games in those eight years, meaning at least three different times preliminary applications for second or third mortgages spiked in the city as the mighty Steeler Nation got busy, ready to travel to the Super Bowl should our hero’s prevail (it’s all about priorities Junior and Missy, besides, that’s what student loans are for).

But here’s the funny thing: nephew just played the greatest game ever at Heinz Field. No game, no matter how great, will ever match Pitt’s 45-44 Big East Championship loss to Cincinnati yesterday. It’s just not possible.

Why?

Because watershed moments are never topped, that’s why. Yesterday was the day that Pitt football, despite how much it hurts right now, not only re-captured the city but re-emerged as a legitimate program in the modern college football landscape. The brilliance of first-year running back Dion Lewis was on display all day long, and Lewis will be back next year. With any luck, so will the Lennon to his McCartney, the ridiculously talented wide receiver Johnathan Baldwin. How many really good high school football players watched that game yesterday, on national TV, and thought dang, that looks like a real attractive option all of a sudden. Which brings me to the next reason it won’t be topped, the atmosphere.

63,387 people were bouncing up and down as if House of Pain’s classic “Jump Around” was blasting from the speakers the entire time. Only it wasn’t, just 22 college kids putting on a show for the ages despite the snow, wind, and cold. Hell, the elements added to it. No empty yellow seats could be seen at the beginning of the third quarter (the normal pro fans beer-run) and nobody left early. The college atmosphere not only inhabited Heinz Field yesterday, it took it over. It was a passionate three hour orgy of plays being made, referees being screamed at, and Oh-my-God moments that only the college game brings. Cincinnati’s Rudy Gilyard showed why he’s one of the top-five players in the country by saving Cincinnati’s perfect season by having a game for the ages (ditto Pitt’s Lewis, who at 5-8 carried the ball 47 freaking times for 194 yards). The show those young men put on was masterful. The glory they’re feeling today is deserved, and Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly should leave a special gift behind for Gilyard when he leaves for Notre Dame. His counterpart, Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt, continued to grow on me with his post-game actions and words.

Wannstedt went out of his way to protect the holder on the botched extra point that ultimately created the one-point difference. “I told him after the game that it wasn’t one play, this game wasn’t one play,” Wannstedt said post-game, “everyone in that room could have done something during the course of the game to make a difference, he’s been great all year.” Wannstedt followed up with tunnel vision thoughts about the state of the program. He, unlike Kelly, isn’t going anywhere, and despite what some message board yahoos might think (and what I even thought early last-season) that’s a very good thing for Pitt football.

“I was convinced we were going to win this game,” he said. “I was and our whole football team was. We’re a lot closer than we were a year ago, and light years from where we were four years ago. We’ll recruit and keep building.” Wannstedt is Pittsburgh through and through, and with his ability to recruit plus the recent additions he’s made to his staff, he’s perfect for Pitt football. The players he brought to Pitt were on the brink of a championship yesterday, a real championship. They lost a heart-breaker to a team that’s now 12-0.

Pitt — and Cincinnati — played a game that will be remembered forever in this city.

A game that, in the future, will be seen as the seismic shift for Pitt football.

Wow, it’s 12:30 on Sunday afternoon — Do the Steelers even play today?

By Raphielle Johnson

One of the biggest enigmas in the Big East, both this season and in years past, has been the USF Bulls. When fully motivated and focused on the task at hand Jim Leavitt’s team can beat anyone. But on days when they show up flat they can lose to anyone, and sometimes the results can be downright embarrassing. What will their mindset be at Rentschler Field: play out the string or attempt to close the season on a high note? It’s bound to be an emotional Senior Day and the Huskies have played good football the last two weeks. But they’ll have to account for the loss of MLB Greg Lloyd Jr. (knee); Scott Lutrus slides over from the “Husky” to the middle and redshirt freshman Jory Johnson takes his place.

Offense

QB 7 B.J. Daniels (RFr.)

12 Evan Landi (RFr.)

RB 3 Mo Plancher (Sr.)

4 Mike Ford (Jr.)

HB 43 Richard Kelly (Jr.)

21 Demetrius Murray (RFr.)

Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback who may have a better arm than the injured Matt Grothe; he leads the Bulls in rushing and has thrown twelve touchdown passes to nine interceptions. But the decision-making has been spotty at times and that could be something that the Connecticut defense can take advantage of. Plancher is the only other player with more than 100 carries on the season, averaging 4.6 yards per rush. Ford will also see some reps in the backfield and he’s been banged up for a large portion of the year. Kelly and Murray will be in on plays that require a fullback (i.e.-short yardage).

X 2 Carlton Mitchell (Jr.)

1 Jason Sherman (Jr.)

H 87 Jessie Hester (Sr.)

80 Patrick Richardson (So.)

TE 82 Ben Busbee (Sr.)

85 Andrew Ketchel (Jr.)

Y 81 Dontavia Boggan (Jr.)

9 Theo Wilson (Sr.)

Z 11 A.J. Love (Jr.)

17 Sterling Griffin (Fr.)

The top five receivers for the Bulls in regards to receptions are all averaging at least 10.6 yards per reception. Carlton Mitchell leads the team with thirty receptions and four receiving touchdowns. Boggan, who also has four touchdown catches, averages 13.7 yards per receptions. A.J. Love can be a big-play threat similar to Mitchell, averaging 18.8 yards per reception with a pair of touchdown receptions. Sterling Griffin is another speedster and there’s also the dependable veteran in Jessie Hester. The tight end position isn’t used much in the passing game but if it is Busbee will likely be the receiver.

LT 63 Jamar Bass (Jr.)

55 Jeremiah Warren (So.)

LG 55 Jeremiah Warren (So.)

73 Damien Edwards (RFr.)

C 62 Sampson Genus (Jr.)

66 Kevin McCaskill (So.)

RG 79 Chaz Hine (So.)

61 Zach Hermann (Jr.)

RT 64 Jake Sims (Jr.)

74 Mark Popek (RFr.)

The offensive line came into the season as the big question mark and they haven’t been as shaky as projected, leading an offense that ranks fourth in the Big East in rushing offense. But they have given up thirty sacks on the season, so Lindsey Witten and company could get to Daniels provided they get USF into long-distance downs. If they can open up lanes for Daniels and the running backs it could be a long night for a defense that has struggled with tackling in space this season.

Defense

LE 90 Jason Pierre-Paul (Jr.)

58 David Bedford (Jr.)

NT 46 Corey Grissom (RFr.)

97 Terrell McClain (Jr.)

DT 91 Keith McCaskill (So.)

98 Aaron Harris (Sr.)

RE 95 George Selvie (Sr.)

41 Patrick Hampton (So.)

Pierre-Paul and Selvie are two of the more dangerous pass rushers in the Big East despite their combined total of nine sacks; they’ve also combined for 22.5 tackles for loss. They’ve got speed and the ability to turn well-drawn plays into a quagmire. But the Bulls are young inside, which could be an area for Connecticut to attack in the run game. USF ranks seventh in the conference in rush defense while Connecticut has the Big East’s third-best rushing offense. Terrell McClain is a player to watch when he’s on the field with his four tackles for loss.

SAM 11 Sabbath Joseph (Jr.)

57 Jacquian Williams (Jr.)

MIKE 42 Kion Wilson (Sr.)

55 Mike Lanaris (RFr.)

WILL 49 Chris Robinson (Sr.)

36 Sam Barrington (Fr.)

The linebackers could be the key in regards to the success of the Connecticut rushing attack. Wilson leads the team with ninety-eight tackles and has the athletic ability to run from sideline to sideline. As a matter of fact all three linebackers can get to the football quickly, and Chris Robinson has seven tackles for loss on the season. Joseph is fourth on the team in tackles (46) and also has four pass breakups and three forced fumbles to his credit. They can run and they can make plays; Zach Frazer and company will need to avoid mistakes with the football in all phases of the game.

LCB 2 Quenton Washington (So.)

22 George Baker (RFr.)

SS 1 Jerrell Young (So.)

16 Mistral Raymond (Sr.)

FS 5 Nate Allen (Sr.)

16 Mistral Raymond (Sr.)

RCB 3 Jerome Murphy (Sr.)

6 Kayvon Webster (Fr.)

NB 6 Kayvon Webster (Fr.)

12 Jon Lejiste (RFr.)

The secondary ranks among the best in the conference, playing a major role in a defense that’s the conference’s best against the pass. Nate Allen is second on the team in tackles (72) while also leading the Bulls with four interceptions. As a team the Bulls have twelve interceptions while giving up just twelve passing touchdowns. Jerome Murphy is third on the team with 62 tackles and also has three interceptions (six pass breakups). The younger members of the secondary aren’t as active in regards to the numbers but they aren’t lacking for speed. Look for offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead to call plays aimed at Quenton Washington and Jerrell Young as a result of their relative inexperience.

Special Teams

K 32 Eric Schwartz (Jr.)

P 25 Delbert Alvarado (Sr.)

KR 81 Dontavia Boggan (Jr.)

3 Jerome Murphy (Sr.)

PR 23 Faron Holmes (Jr.)

This is the area in which the Bulls have struggled this season, with the tone being set by the loss of kicker Maikon Bonani before the season even began. Schwartz hasn’t been terrible in handling the kicking duties, making nine of thirteen field goals with a long of fifty yards. But punting has been a bit more of an issue with Delbert Alvarado averaging forty-one yards per punt and USF ranks sixth in the conference in net punting. And for a team with so much speed it’s a surprise that they’re so poor in the return game, ranking 8th in the Big East in kick return average and 7th in punt return average.

They’re also in the bottom half of the conference in punt and kick return average, which could mean opportunities for return specialists such as Mike Lang and Robert McClain. Both teams lack much of a separation when it comes to turnover margin but the Huskies have improved in that area as the season has progressed. Which USF team shows up at The Rent will play a major role in the direction of the game.

By Raphielle Johnson

While there are three conference games on the schedule for the final Saturday of the regular season there’s only one that matters nationally. #5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0) takes its high-powered offense on the road to take on a Pittsburgh team (9-2, 5-1) coming off of a loss to bitter rival West Virginia. The winner (Noon on ABC) lands the Big East’s BCS bid, with the Bearcats winning the conference outright with a victory while the Panthers would share the trophy but not the most important spoils.

The question for the Bearcats: can they stop the run? It’s been an issue in victories over Fresno State, Connecticut and Illinois and they’re going to have their hands full with the freshman tandem of Dion Lewis and Ray Graham. Not only is Lewis a virtual lock to win the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award but a case could be made for him being Offensive Player of the Year. He leads the Big East in rushing and his emergence has taken some of the pressure off of QB Bill Stull, who’s had a banner 2009 despite his struggles last week.

The problem with first-year defensive coordinator Bob Diaco has been opponents’ ability to run between the tackles against the three-man front. Add to this a Pittsburgh offensive line that many consider to be the best in the conference and this could end up being a costly issue for the Bearcats. But if Cincinnati can take a page out of West Virginia’s book and force Stull into rushed decisions they could end up with the upper hand via turnover margin even if Lewis and Graham combine for a big afternoon.

As for the Cincinnati offense, Tony Pike returned to the full-time starter role last Friday and posted a record-setting performance, throwing six touchdown passes in the Bearcats’ 49-36 win over Illinois. But he and the rest of this explosive unit will have its hands full with the conference’s best defense. The Panthers have gotten the job done with their front seven, led by defensive tackles Mick Williams and Gus Mustakas, and DE Greg Romeus. They can get to the quarterback, leading the Big East in sacks as a team, and watching Romeus battle Cincinnati LT Jeff Linkenbach will be a treat for enthusiasts of line play.

Sixth-year senior Adam Gunn spearheads the linebacking corps, and the Panthers will need to hit Pike early and often if they’re to entertain thoughts of slowing them down. The Pitt secondary has been a bit banged up this season but they should be ready for the likes of Mardy Gilyard, Armon Binns and D.J. Woods. Isaiah Pead, who has proven to be a dangerous factor out of the backfield on the ground as well as in the passing game, will also need to be accounted for.

The Bearcats will likely enjoy an edge in special teams due to the presence of Gilyard, and if the Panthers decide to kick to him “gap discipline” will be crucial. One mistake and the senior from the Sunshine State could go the distance. Time of possession won’t be key unless the Panthers can also keep Cincinnati off of the scoreboard; the Bearcats rank dead last nationally in that statistic due to their explosive nature. Lastly, will the playing surface be a factor? The Bearcats have played on grass just once (at USF), and although they won 34-17 the climate in Tampa is far different from the Steel City. It could be a “mudder’s track”, which may favor the Panthers.

Other Games in the Big East:

West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) at Rutgers (8-3, 3-3), Noon on ESPN

The Mountaineers could very well be playing for a Konica Minolta Gator Bowl spot (against former WVU head coach Bobby Bowden no less) while the Scarlet Knights will also look to improve their bowl standing. How good is Rutgers? Eleven games into the season and one could argue that we still don’t know; they haven’t beaten a team ahead of them in the conference standings and they also own a bad loss at the hands of Syracuse. This is their final chance, in front of a national audience, to impress the bowl executives who tend to go with known quantities in selecting attractive matchups.

Offensively the Scarlet Knights are going to look for a variety of ways in which to get freshman WR Mohamed Sanu the football. Sanu at quarterback was a success against Louisville last week but he’ll have a tougher time against one of the conference’s more opportunistic defenses. Something must be said for Jeff Casteel’s defense; any other unit could have caved from the pressure heaped upon it by an offense that’s been far too charitable with the football this season. Rutgers will need a good day from Joe Martinek on the ground in order to keep the pressure off of Tom Savage in the passing game.

West Virginia has the athletes to be an explosive offense, and that’s been the case at times with RB Noel Devine and WR Jock Sanders leading the way. But the key will be QB Jarrett Brown, a dual-threat signal-caller who has to avoid bad decisions against a defense that leads the Big East in both turnovers forced (30) and turnover margin (+20). If he can do that and not give the ball away to the likes of CB Devin McCourty the Mountaineers could be well on their way to yet another victory over Rutgers.

South Florida (7-4, 3-3) at Connecticut (6-5, 2-4), 8PM on ESPN2

The final game of the Big East football season matches two teams seemingly heading in opposite directions. The Huskies have clinched bowl eligibility with back-to-back wins over Notre Dame and Syracuse while you have to wonder how much motivation the Bulls will have. USF was supposed to be ready for Miami last week; their chance to stake the claim that the Sunshine State has the “Big Four”. All the Bulls did was show up flat, falling behind 21-3 in what would become a 31-10 loss.

B.J. Daniels has been inconsistent for the Bulls since taking over for the injured Matt Grothe, alternating performances worthy of a seasoned vet with showings that remind you that’s he’s just a redshirt freshman. But this could be a good matchup for USF’s offense given UConn’s issues at times with tackling in space and the loss of MLB Greg Lloyd Jr. due to a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee. Mike Canales’ offense will have to take care of the football, something that’s been an issue in a number of their games this season. If they do that and show up ready to play, look for the Bulls to score some points.

As for the Connecticut offense, they didn’t necessarily rack up the yards against Syracuse but they did account for forty-two of the Huskies’ 56 points (special teams and defense accounted for the other fourteen) in the 56-31 triumph. Backs Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon have played well, with Todman eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark last weekend and Dixon within striking distance of that number. UConn has also been helped by the growth of the passing game under offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead; QB Zach Frazer has limited his turnovers and receivers Marcus Easley and Kashif Moore have increased their production.

Look for the Huskies to be fully motivated on Senior Day, a final chapter in what has been an emotionally draining season. Whether or not the Bulls rise to the challenge will determine the direction of the game.

Thanksgiving is officially behind us and Bowl Season is rapidly approaching. The Big East still has a national title contender that seems to dominate its opponents no matter who’s at quarterback and thanks to Notre Dame’s loss at Stanford on Saturday, the Gator Bowl will officially include a Big East team.

The Big East now has six bowl eligible teams (sorry Syracuse and Louisville) and has shaped itself into an extremely underrated, competitive football conference. Given that a few schools were forced to start young, unproven quarterbacks like Tom Savage, B.J. Daniels and Zach Collaros, the conference faired surprisingly well and should only progress over the next few years.

More heralded seasons by youngsters like Dion Lewis only reinforce the notion that the Big East isn’t standing pat, but rising up quicker than ever before.

Rutgers (8-3, 3-3) vs. Louisville (4-8, 1-6) (34-14 Rutgers win)

A team that normally hangs their hat on defense busted out this week with an explosive rendition of the wildcat offense. Freshman running back Mohamed Sanu ran for 148 yards out of the formation while finding the end zone twice. After an ugly opening week loss against Cincinnati that really exposed their youth and inexperience, the Scarlet Knights have rebounded greatly and put together a rather impressive season that holds a bright future.

On the other hand we have Louisville. Back to back losing seasons led to the firing of head coach Steve Kragthorpe who had two more years left on his contract. With literally no progress in his first three seasons at the helm, a firing was looking inevitable.

#5 Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0) vs. Illinois (3-8, 2-6) (49-36 Cincinnati win)

In his return to a starting role for the first time since Oct. 15, Tony Pike looked better than ever, throwing for a school-record six touchdowns including one flick of the wrist across his body that had to be seen to be believed. Bad news for Pittsburgh.

Pike looks firmly in control headed into next week’s showdown against the Panthers which could vault Cincinnati into a possible national championship or at the very least a major bowl game.

The Bearcats looked one dimensional on Friday, but it’s probably the best one dimensional performance a football team can have. Head coach Brian Kelly chose to hand the ball off just four times in the game’s first three quarters but with the success they had through the air who can blame him.

While it’s certainly a debatable subject as to whether or not Cincinnati’s spread can overcome the same scheme instilled in Gainesville or outsmart the likes of a stout Alabama defense, at #5 in the nation and four undefeated teams in front of them, it doesn’t look too likely that a no loss season will guarantee the opportunity to play for the title.

#9 Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1) vs. West Virginia (8-3, 4-2) (19-16 WV win)

Touted as the Backyard Brawl, this annual match up almost always plays like a close, tough battle no matter what the rankings say. Friday’s night’s showdown proved no different.

A back and forth tussle that saw a 16-16 tie with 45 seconds to play and a fourth and one for West Virginia, fullback Ryan Clarke converted on the game’s most climactic moment. Three plays later a 43-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Tyler Bitancurt sealed the deal.

With a game against Cincinnati next week, Pittsburgh now finds itself in a sticky situation in that they were once locks for second, and possibly even first place in the Big East, but now could finish as low as third if West Virginia can defeat Rutgers while they fall to the Bearcats.

West Virginia on the flipside is looking good at 8-3 and bowl eligible.

The conference’s two best running backs, Noel Devine and Dion Lewis did not disappoint, running for 134 and 155 yards respectively.

Connecticut (6-5, 2-4) vs. Syracuse (4-8, 1-6) (56-31 Connecticut win)

Undoubtedly the best 6-5 team in the country, Connecticut didn’t let this easy victory slip through their hands like so many this season. The Huskies amassed 204 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground for a season high 56 points in the rout.

Connecticut now finds themselves bowl eligible and is most likely headed for the St. Petersburg Bowl which would pit them against a Conference USA opponent.

Syracuse has now totaled four wins, which is a one game improvement over last season, and the program looks to be headed in the right direction. The Orange played hard in this contest and the final score wasn’t that accurate an indicator of how close things were as the Huskies scored two touchdowns in the final minute of action.

South Florida (7-4, 3-3) vs. #17 Miami (9-3, 5-3) (31-10 South Florida loss)

Earlier this season a dominating 17-7 win against then #18 ranked Florida State signaled a breakthrough performance against inner state big three rivals, but this past weekend South Florida fell back to earth after a 31-10 beat down at the hands of #17 Miami.

The Bulls defense gave up 401 total yards and looked overmatched all day long. A loss this ugly is a little alarming for South Florida as they probably headed into it expecting a more competitive performance.

Big East Top Performers

Connecticut Linebacker Lawrence Wilson: Granted he was lined up against a depleted Louisville offense, the Big East’s leading tackler added 17 more including a sack.

West Virginia Kicker Tyler Bitancurt: He was the difference maker in a game that saw just two touchdowns scored, kicking the winning 43-yarder as time expired as well as three more.

Quote of the Week

“They weren’t that much better than us. It’s just we didn’t execute.”
-South Florida defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul on his team’s lackluster performance against Miami.

By Raphielle Johnson

While the football series between Connecticut and Syracuse isn’t on the level of the basketball version in terms of vitriol there are still things to be gained in Saturday’s meeting (Noon on the Big East Network). The Huskies are looking for one more win to become bowl eligible (two wins would essentially guarantee them a bid) while the Orange will be staying home for the holidays.

Look for head coach Doug Marrone to sell his players on their season finale being their bowl game with Syracuse aiming to finish the season on a positive note. With both teams rejuvenated by recent victories this should be a game that doesn’t lack energy. Below is a quick scouting report on the Syracuse two-deep.

Offense

QB 2 Greg Paulus (Sr.)
12 Ryan Nassib (So.)

RB 3 Delone Carter (Sr.)
29 Antwon Bailey (So.)

U TE 48 Carl Cutler (So.)
27 Averin Collier (So.)

Quarterback has been an issue for the Orange this season but they did get better play from the position in their beating of Rutgers last week. Paulus, who has completed 66.8% of his passes despite a ratio of 11 TD/ 14 INT, tends to be asked to make quick reads and rely on the receivers to make a play after the catch. Despite the criticism of the former Duke basketball player he hasn’t been the train wreck that some have made him out to be.

Nassib will also see time and he’s completing less than half his passes to this point in the season. Carter is the feature back and is closing in on a 1,000-yard campaign (currently at 919 yards) and Bailey is usually the first option when the senior needs a break. Averin Collier is another back that you may see carry the ball although that won’t be very often. Cutler is the closest player to a fullback on the roster.

Z WR 5 Marcus Sales (So.)
11 Lavar Lobdell (RSr.)

A WR 15 Alec Lemon (Fr.)
7 Donte Davis (Sr.)

X WR 82 Van Chew (So.)
22 Torian Phillips (Fr.)

Y TE 85 Mike Owen (RSr.)
9 Andrew Robinson (Sr.)

In regards to big-play ability this position took a hit when Mike Williams quit the teams. However, if you have questions about how much you can count on a guy do you really lose that much? The issue for the Orange on the outside is their youth; Lavar Lobdell and Donte Davis are the elder statesmen of the unit. Davis and Marcus Sales are tied for the position lead in receptions (21), three fewer than RB Antwon Bailey. And none of the receivers are averaging more than twenty-five yards per game. It will be interesting to see how the Huskies’ young corners Dwayne Gratz and Blidi Wreh-Wilson match up on the perimeter when called upon.

LT 74 Nick Speller (So.)
77 Tucker Baumbach (Sr.)

LG 70 Ryan Bartholomew (Sr.)
72 Nick Lepak (So.)

C 60 Jim McKenzie (Sr.)
72 Nick Lepak (So.)

RG 71 Adam Rosner (Sr.)
66 Andrew Tiller (Jr.)

RT 78 Josh White (Jr.)
77 Tucker Baumbach (Sr.)

The only group that may surpass the Syracuse offensive line when it comes to bad play may be their special teams; the front line has improved but there’s still much work to be done. Overall this is an experienced group, which has made their errors all the more maddening for Coach Marrone (a former offensive lineman at SU). The Orange are last in the Big East in both total and rushing offense, and seventh in passing offense. The line hasn’t consistently opened up holes for the running backs or kept the quarterbacks upright. Could be a good day for DE Lindsey Witten if he’s on his “A” game.

Defense

DE 54 Mikhail Marinovich (So.)
95 Torrey Ball (So.)

NT 94 Bud Tribbey (Jr.)
52 Ollie Haney (Jr.)

DT 51 Andrew Lewis (Sr.)
55 Anthony Perkins (Sr.)

DE 99 Chandler Jones (So.)
53 Chad Battles (So.)

The Syracuse defense is rather solid, ranking second in the conference in total defense while leading the league in rushing defense. Chandler Jones leads this group with forty-six tackles and eight tackles for loss. Marinovich, the younger brother of Todd Marinovich, leads the front four in sacks with three. Overall this is a stout group that does a good job in clearing areas for the linebackers to make plays.

SLB 32 Doug Hogue (Jr.)
33 Dan Vaughan (So.)

MLB 58 Mike Stenclik (RSr.)
33 Dan Vaughan (So.)

WLB 34 E.J. Carter (Fr.)
41 Ryan Gillum (Jr.)

Arthur Jones and Derrell Smith were lost for the season and many wondered who would step up. The answer: Doug Hogue, who totaled 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in Syracuse’s 31-13 win over Rutgers. Hogue is the leading tackler at this level with sixty-six but the loss of Smith could be an issue this week given Connecticut’s desires to run between the tackles. Outside of Hogue this unit lacks experience, combining for forty-one tackles on the season. If the Huskies can take care of the front four in the running game they may be able to find some holes with Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon.

H 13 Phillip Thomas (Fr.)
26 Kevyn Scott (Jr.)

SS 43 Shamarko Thomas (Fr.)
20 Randy McKinnon (Jr.)

FS 35 Mike Holmes (Jr.)
20 Randy McKinnon (Jr.)

CB 6 Da’Mon Merkerson (Jr.)
28 Nico Scott (Sr.)

The secondary is where the Orange have struggled defensively, ranking seventh in the Big East in pass defense. Mike Holmes leads the team with three interceptions, equal to the total for defensive backs Kevyn Scott (2) and Phillip Thomas (1). Max Suter is out for the season so they’re short an experienced playmaker and Syracuse has intercepted just eight passes on the season. They also rank last in the Big East in pass efficiency defense; this could be a good Saturday for Frazer provided he continue to not turn the ball over.

Special Teams

K 19 Ryan Lichtenstein (Fr.)

P 47 Rob Long (Jr.)

PR 7 Donte Davis (Sr.)

KR 29 Antwon Bailey (So.)
27 Averin Collier (So.)

Special teams have been below par for the Orange all season with unit coordinator Bob Casullo drawing the ire of fans as a result. Syracuse ranks sixth in the conference in both punt and kickoff return coverage but they do have an all-conference candidate in kicker Rob Lichtenstein. The freshman has made twelve of fifteen field goals, including all six attempts from a distance of 40+ yards. Long is averaging just under forty-four yards per punt and the return game hasn’t been terrible. As mentioned earlier it’s been the coverage, and with Jordan Todman running back a kickoff last week and Robert Vaughn owning a punt return TD this season the Huskies could break one on Saturday.