One of the great debates that have been taking place since the Big East was forced to remake itself is which program has the best chance of emerging as a national power.
Cincinnati’s strongest argument is that in a prep football crazy state there is a great opportunity for a program to rise up and challenge Ohio State.
Connecticut is the only show in the state which is split between Yankees and Red Sox, Giants, Jets and Pats. U-C-O-N-N. UConn, UConn, UConn.
Louisville might be in the Big East, but it has all the fervor of a Southern program. Excellent facilities lure recruits from Florida.
Pittsburgh has the best tradition and like Cininnati, Pennsylvania high school football is as good as it gets. Pitt also has dovetailed its program with the Steelers.
Rutgers is the only FBS program in the Garden State, which also has quality high school football, albeit a step below Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Scarlet Knights also offer proximity to the Big Apple.
South Florida is in the best state in the nation for elite talent. Yes, we’re aware that California and Texas have not succeeded from the nation, but there’s something about Sunshine State speed and attitude.
West Virginia is part UConn (the only show in town), part Louisville (Southern flavor and the ability to recruit Florida) and part Pitt (tradition).
Looking at the current landscape, here’s the view from the Robbins’ Nest:
Pittsburgh is in the best position.
Cincinnati should continue to build on the momentum that Brian Kelly has brought to the program. But if Kelly is still the coach in two years, we’ll shred our Down comforter.
Connecticut always will be an option for quality players in the Northeast who want to stay home and players from Florida who would rather start as freshmen or sophomores rather than sit the bench at a Sunshine State power.
But we’re not a fan of the off-campus stadium (Rentschler Field) and UConn always will be a basketball school first.
Louisville needs to find some coaching stability and then we’ll revisit. Even when Bobby Petrino was there, he had one foot out the door. Steve Kragthorpe, a topnotch guy, probably will not be back next season.
Rutgers is getting better and deeper, but the Scarlet Knights are dwarfed in a pro market. Jersey guy Greg Schiano has poured his blood and sweat into the State of Rutgers but the Big East will never be the Big Ten or the NFL.
If Schian still is the coach in five years, we will shred the Down comforter we didn’t have to shred because Kelly moved on. Probably time for a new security blanket anyway.
Jim Leavitt, the league’s highest-paid coach, has built this program from the ground up. The Bulls are a reflection of him — emotional and erratic.
It’s time for Leavitt to find a program where his style will once again by energizing instead of old. And the Bulls always will be the fourth in-state option behind Florida, FSU and Miami.
West Virginia is a better fit in the ACC where Virginia Tech and Virginia would have made for natural rivals, but the Mountaineers don’t offer enough in terms of market. This can be a perennial bowl program but not a perennial BCS bowl program.
Which brings us back to Pitt. We know “never say never,” but Dave Wannstedt should never leave his alma mater, which busted up South Florida, 41-14 Saturday on Homecoming Day. He’s said this was the only college job he’d take.
Wannstedt said yesterday morning before beginning a full day of meetings with recruits, there were about 60 recruits, some of whom already have committed, at the game.
Today he will hit the recruiting trail in state where the Panthers quickly are becoming the cool school again. Pitt hasn’t been 7-1 since 1982, when Dan Marino was the quarterback.
The Steelers own this town, so Pitt’s decision to share a stadium and facilities with the Super Bowl champs was brilliant. Not having an on campus facility can work in an urban setting.
Wannstedt has his critics. Miami Dolphins fans still believe Wannstedt thinks X’s and O’s are for Tic Tac Toe.
But he can’t be criticized for taking Pitt recruiting to a new level and now the Panthers are playing with confidence. As long as he stays, Pitt should continue its ascension.
LOCO BIRD: Not only did Iowa State win at Nebraska for the first time in 32 years but the Cyclones did it without their starting quarterback and running back. The Cornhuskers made eight turnovers in a 10-9 loss and now have scored just 19 points in losing their last two games.
When asked about the team’s offensive confidence, coach Bo Pelini said, “You know a good psychiatrist?”
TOUGH BIRDS: The next time you hear an athlete complain that New York is a tough newspaper town, consider one of the stories that ran in the Reno Gazette-Journal. Wolf Pack Football: Pack’s Pass Defense Still a Work in Progress.
That after Nevada won, beating Idaho 70-45. It was the most points scored by Nevada since 1977. But the pass defense gave up 404 yards and four touchdowns one week after giving up 353 yards to Utah State.
“I know these guys are disappointed, and I so am I,” coach Chris Ault told the Gazette-Journal. “We won’t beat them up. We’ll lock them in the bathroom, though.”
BIG BIRD: Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody, known as Mount Cody, is listed at 6-foot-3, 365 pounds which is at least 15 pounds south of the truth. When asked how he managed to jump high enough to block two Tennessee field goal attempts that preserved a 12-10 Tide victory, Cody said:
“I didn’t really get off the ground. I just reached my arm up. That’s how I got it. I knocked [the blocker] back. He was on his back.”
UNBALANCED BIRDS: Navy did not attempt a pass in a 13-10 win over Wake Forest.
BIRD SANCTUARY: The three FBS programs in Pennsylvania, Pitt (7-1), Penn State (7-1) and Temple (5-2), are a combined 19-4.
