The Big East Is What Everyone Else Thought They Were
by Sean Keeley on Sep 3, 2010 10:51 AM EDT
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PrintThat noise you heard this morning? That was UConn, Cincy and West Virginia collectively licking their lips after Big East favorite Pitt lost to Utah in an OT thriller in the season-opener.
In retrospect, how did we not see Pitt losing this game? So much hype for so much Wannstache. It was practically predestined to happen. Pitt Blather tries to look at the game from a glass half-full perspective but spends most of their time looking at it glass half-empty.
Here’s the deal in college football. This isn’t the NFL. There is no playoff. If you want to play on the national stage, you have to win. You have to win all of the time.
Maybe that allows justification of the fact that aside from Notre Dame in 2008, Pitt has not won a non-conference game where they were the underdog. Right now Pitt is a decent to good team, but not much more than that.
Personally, I prefer Cardiac Hill's response to the game the most.
Rutgers hosted Norfolk State last night and although the final score was 31-0, it took a while to get there. The Knights led only 6-0 at the half before the offense finally woke up in the second. A pattern is emerging with Rutgers football, one of early-season lags and missteps. Schiano usually finds a way to right the ship but if the program really wants to take itself to the next level, they need to be a complete team the entire season.
With Pitt's loss, that means the chances are good the Big East will not have a team in the Top 20 of any poll. West Virginia is the only ranked team and they sit on the cusp. Not to mention that Pitt just lost to a MWC team and the implications that sends to the nation. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
The Big East has a chance to redeem itself tomorrow. Syracuse travels to Akron, West Virginia hosts Coastal Carolina, Louisville hosts hated rival Kentucky, Cincy travels to Fresno State and South Florida hosts Stony Brook. And of course there's the big one, UConn at Michigian. If the Huskies can win, it will erase the pain of the Pitt loss and catapult them into the rankings. If they lose, the Big East continues to be what everyone else thinks we are.
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Ugh is right
I hate to say this now…but aside from Syracuse winning tomorrow, the most important game for me all weekend is now UConn over Michigan. I hate having to root for the Huskies, but Pitt’s complete inability to cash in on three first half turnovers last night against Utah have forced me into this unpleasant situation. God damn it Big East, that’s not the way to start things off.
Oh, and Rutgers sucks. 6-0 at the half against Norfolk State? Maybe we can beat them again this year after all.
"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998
Yes yes and YES
I right with ya man. As nauseating as it is to say it, for approx. 3.5-4 hours tomorrow I will be rooting hard for UConn. Thats how much I hate Greg Robinson and Michigan. But when its all over with, Edsall and UConn can still kiss my a**.
On the bright side, I was not impressed with Pitt. Not one bit. Depending on how we are playing when they come to the Dome, I like our chances better now.
GO ORANGE
by bloodyyank44 on Sep 3, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
That is the only bright spot – their lackluster play makes an Orange upset more plausible!
As much as I hate UConn, I do hate Greg Robinson more. UConn is evil, but Robinson all but killed our football program. In a head to head matchup, that makes UConn the lesser of two evils.
"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998
Lesser of 2 Evils
I like that…thats exactly how I feel towards rooting for any Big East team in OOC games. Except Rutgers.
GO ORANGE
by bloodyyank44 on Sep 3, 2010 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
They’re just EVIL. My future brother in law is a Rutgers grad (I live in Jersey), and my sister has joked about him trying to convert my infant son to being a Rutgers fan.
I was not amused.
"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998
Not in my house
Rutgers conversion attempts are not permitted (I also live in NJ). My children know that Orange is the only color worn on Saturdays. R’s have to go!
by JSOrange97 on Sep 3, 2010 12:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I would have taken the low road
I’d have shot him multiple times for that…well with a BB gun at least. I am a lesser man.
GO ORANGE
Not at all
The thought crossed my mind…but JSOrange97 is right, and I subscribe to that theory. No “R” in our house, hell no, only the orange “S” is allowed.
Aren’t you SICK of seeing those fucking red “Rs” on everyone’s car in NJ? Makes me ill.
"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998
I honestly have no problem rooting for UConn in this one
Because it makes me giggle to see team after team put up 30+ against Greggers’ defense.
Yeah
I really am not surprised by the final outcome, its honestly right about what I expected. Pitt had every opportunity to steal a victory in regulation AND Utah made some huge mistakes early. Like my Buffalo Bills…Pitt always seems to find a way to lose when it really counts.
The Big East desperately needs to do no worse than 5-1 this weekend in the rest of the games. I think they will, but even if they go 6-0 that means at best the Big East is merely treading water in terms of perceptions.
GO ORANGE
As much as it pains me to do it
tomorrow I root for the huskies. The fact that I want an SU alum (edsall) to destroy robinson’s defense, helps a little. Just a little.
Nice work dropping the ball last night panthers
I hate to say it
but I will be rooting for UConn and UofL this weekend. They need to win for the sake of the leauge
yeah
I will be rooting for U of L as well. They have a chance – its a home/opening/rivalry game and new HCs on both sides. No matter how bad I think UL is, this is a straight toss-up.
GO ORANGE
by bloodyyank44 on Sep 3, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Rutgers looks weak
They got a gift from the officials just before the half that allowed them a free play and a field goal. Otherwise they were looking at 3-0 at the half. There is no way they should have gotten that free play, but Schiano being the whiner that he is convinced the officials anyway. Disgusting.
Rutgers o-line looks worse than ours last year and that bodes well for our D, though I wonder how long their QBs can last – they’ll be plenty banged up by November. Definitely buying tickets for that game in Piscataway!
Rooting for UConn as well this weekend. If only for the league and to stick it to Michigan.
by JSOrange97 on Sep 3, 2010 11:49 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Michigan all the way
Screw it. I’m not rooting for UConn. I don’t care if they’re playing a team with Satan at QB, Hitler at RB, and Pat Dye at WR.
trick question
Hitler and Pat Dye are both Satan incarnates
GO ORANGE
by bloodyyank44 on Sep 3, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Double trick question
So is Greg Robinson!
"(BARF)" - Donovan McNabb, during his game winning drive against Virginia Tech in 1998
Eh.
Most teams will lose to a team ranked 10-15 spots lower on the road on the other coast, especially in the season opener. It’s not something Pitt should be overly concerned with, though if I’m right they’ll be kicking themselves over this game in December.
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