Around The Big East In 80 Sentences

by Sean Keeley on Jul 9, 2007 12:45 PM EDT Comment 0 comments

News and notes concerning the Big East, which in turn, better damn well concern you.

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If you visit this website after every Syracuse game this season in which the Orange gain less than 100 team rushing yards, your chances of self-immolation go up 157%.

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Card Chronicle noted the Top 25 Best Defensive Players in the Big East this season. Syracuse gets one mention:

Jameel McClain (DE, Syracuse) -- Sadly for Orange fans, it appears that McClain is the Amadeus of the F. Murray Abraham career that is the 2007 Syracuse defense. The preseason Bronko Nagurski Watch List member led the Big East in sacks last season with 9.5, and his 14.5 tackles for loss ranks sixth in school history. He was named to the Big East's Second-Team Defense, and was a semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the nation's best lineman. Though labeled as undersized by NFL scouts, McClain is going to have to play like Landon Middlecoff if he wants Syracuse to be competitive in his senior season.

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Rutgers fans have begun whining that they aren't getting the respect they deserve. I'm sorry but its still weird to me. Like the US Soccer team complaining that they aren't being ranked high enough in the World Cup.

Fear not Scarlet Knight faithful, at least you'll have your new and improved dance team to keep you going. (I'm just glad that Sopranos' star Steve Schirripa is still finding work)

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What's the best rivalry in college football these days? It's not Michigan-Ohio State, nor is it Oklahoma-Texas or even UCLA-USC. It's West Virginia-Louisville, at least according to Yahoo!

This series has developed into one of the nation's most anticipated games so rapidly that it's hard to imagine these two teams weren't playing annually until 2005 - when they emerged as the elite programs in the revamped Big East. Not since Florida State-Miami became a big rivalry in the 1980s has a "new" rivalry been created that means so much. This year, the game again could have national championship implications. These teams have helped the Big East gain respect because the winner of this game has gone on to win a BCS game each of the last two years. Along the way, they have developed a reputation for creating fan-friendly shootouts. Each team had only one loss two years ago when West Virginia rallied from 17 points down in the final 9 minutes of regulation to beat Louisville 46-44 in triple overtime. Last year, the teams were undefeated heading into a 44-34 Louisville triumph that featured more than 1,000 yards of total offense. This could also be called the "Thursday Night" rivalry. The conference has taken advantage of non-traditional game days to increase its exposure, and this game is the crown jewel of those contests.

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Finally, its back to Card Chronicle for the EA Sports NCAA College Football Top 25. The Big East gets three entries and they are who you thought they were. #20 Rutgers, #11 Louisville and #6 West Virginia. Steve Slaton gets a 97 rating while Brian Brohm lands a monster rating of 98. As you can see in the photo here, Brohm's cod piece scored a 99. (Not that I was trying to look but, geez...put the women and children to bed early on Thursday nights...)

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